It’s been about a year since The Winner’s Curse came out, that means its second book has already arrived, so I’ll be doing a review on both books since I’ve had the pleasure of reading both already.
There are two main characters that are pretty much constant through the whole book. We meet Kestrel, the heroine I’d say and also the protagonist, and Arin, the hero and the antagonist. Now these characters are a bit confusing. I was just as confused because I didn’t know if both of them were the good characters or the bad ones. I’ll just let you determine which is which after the review.
Alright, so Kestrel, who is a Valorian woman and General Trajan’s daughter – the general is favored by the Emperor. Kestrel is a very independent person. She relies solely on reasonableness and logic most of the time, but when she meet’s Arin she deals with all this tumultuous emotions that he seems to bring out in her. She has a best friend named Jess, and a sort of suitor named Ronan – who is Jess’ brother. Coincidence? Yes, Jess wants her and Kestrel to be actual sisters, maybe not by blood but by name. Arin, a Herrani man, is introduced to the |
Kestrel has a tough choice to make regarding her future. As a Valorian, all the teens have to decide whether they will marry, to strengthen Valorian numbers, or be drafted in the war, to fight Valorian enemies and keep them strong. They have to make this decision before their 18th birthday. Kestrel is at a loss because she doesn’t want to marry, but she also doesn’t want to go to war, much to her father’s great dismay, who, wants Kestrel to fight at his right hand. All Kestrel really wants to do is play her piano, where much of her love is centered. |
Because of an arising situation, Kestrel and her father make a deal regarding her future. She will marry whomever she chooses or enter into the war. For now, though, she will strategize war strategies with her father concerning the growing war tensions between Valoria and the East.
During this time, the general goes away to war and that leaves Kestrel with Arin. Kestrel manages to get in a lot of problems, either ones she created herself or are based on her slave, Arin. Rumors start spreading when Arin and Kestrel’s relationship become apparent in her defensiveness of him. Tensions start to corrupt Kestrel’s relationship with everyone she loves.
Kestrel knows she should stay, Arin knows he should stay away, but they both can’t seem to let each other go. But no matter what, they could never have a relationship, other than the fact that he is her slave and she is his master, the Herrani hate Valorian’s and vice versa. Both Kestrel and Arin would be persecuted for their love and Kestrel would be shunned by the person she loves most – her father.
I won’t go into the book too much, so I’ll stop there.
All in all, this was a great book. I would recommend this to people who enjoy romance, a sort-of-maybe historical setting without all the history info in it . . . sort of like a fairy tale story (but more realistic), and suspense/mystery, this book excelled at that.
I gave The Winner’s Curse 4 out of 5 stars.
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