I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski Series: The Winner's Curse #2
Published by Farrar Straus & Giroux on March 3, 2015
Genres: Fantasy YA, Young Adult
Pages: 416
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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Book two of the dazzling Winner’s Trilogy is a fight to the death as Kestrel risks betrayal of country for love.
The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement…if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.
As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.
Guys, THE WINNER’S CRIME took the drama of THE WINNER’S CURSE and amped it up tremendously. WORD, THIS IS THE BEST. There were parts of THE WINNER’S CURSE that weren’t perfect to me, but this is one of those instances for me where book 2 is better than book 1. I love it when this happens. Things with Kestrel and Arin are truly at a crossroads in so many ways: Their relationship is basically in tatters, the politics in Valoria are driving both of them to cross lines, and they are each living every day just trying not to make any more enemies. This should sound very perilous. Because it is. As the world expands in THE WINNER’S CRIME, so does the danger surrounding our star-crossed pair.
So if you haven’t read THE WINNER’S CURSE yet, spoilers ahead for you. Now, when we left Kestrel and Arin off, she’d gone to the capital and promised herself to the Emperor’s son in order to save Arin’s rebellion in Herran. Some time has passed since then. Herran is struggling with post-rebellion life. They’re running out of food and water and are still under the thumb of Valoria. Kestrel’s marriage to the crown prince is being planned at the behest of the Emperor, a manipulative, devious dude. When Herran needs to replace a spy in the capital, Kestrel winds up filling that role while also juggling the Emperor, her father, and her feelings for Arin, who arrives to celebrate her impending nuptials. ALL THE THINGS ARE BOILING OVER!
If I had to pick one word to describe what’s going on with Kestrel and Arin in THE WINNER’S CRIME it would be “jeopardy.” They are both in it constantly. The Emperor wants to subjugate Herran and is playing Arin. Kestrel is spying for Herran–treason against her Valoria–unbeknownst to Arin but maybe not so unbeknownst to the Emperor. There were so many times when I was biting my nails because the anxiety was too much. There’s SO much at stake in THE WINNER’S CRIME, and you just know that it can’t ALL work out.
The relationship between Arin and Kestrel is hanging on by a thread in THE WINNER’S CRIME. They have a swoony moment, but for the most part their relationship has morphed from one of steamy tension to barely-veiled antagonism. Kestrel must not appear too interested in him lest the Emperor notice, and Arin doesn’t fully understand her actions and so he’s torn and angry and EMO. They’re both so EMO! There isn’t much romance in THE WINNER’S CRIME because, truthfully, these two have way more stressing things going on. But that doesn’t mean we don’t understand how deeply they are connected. Kestrel is risking her life for Arin and his country. Arin tortures himself trying to figure out Kestrel’s mindset. The way things end in THE WINNER’S CRIME promises more hardship before these two might find some kind of happy ending.
I found myself particularly struck by Kestrel in THE WINNER’S CRIME. Her interactions with the Emperor are fraught and vaguely threatening. She can’t let her guard down ever. He watches her closely. She knows for a fact that at least one of her maids spies on her for her betrothed–who actually isn’t a bad guy at all–and isn’t foolish enough to think others aren’t in the employ of other dangerous people. Despite all of this danger she’s in as it is, she volunteers to be Herran’s spy in the court at tremendous risk to herself and her plans. I can’t imagine living like this! I would never sleep, I can tell you right now. Also, I’d have panic attacks. But Kestrel is stone cold, you guys. Scared, for sure, but she never quails. I was really impressed with her mettle.
Of course, she’s not the only one who must undertake dangerous things for a cause close to their heart: Arin travels to the country of Dacra, well-known for its ferocity towards outsiders, in order to gain allies for Herran. I loved seeing more of the world in THE WINNER’S CRIME, and not only because it meant we get a map. (But, like, YAY MAPS!) Dacra reminded me quite a bit of Egypt. Or a mix between Egypt and Native American tribes, both things I adore.
The thing about THE WINNER’S CRIME that killed me the most, though, was Kestrel’s relationship with her father, the general. They had such sweet moments together, for them anyway, and the way things ended with them was pretty devastating. In fact, the way things end in general in THE WINNER’S CRIME is devastating. I’m convinced that Marie Rutkoski just likes toying with my feelings. I can’t imagine how things are going to fix themselves in book 3, but I know for sure that I am READY FOR IT.
Ah! Your review just gave me ALL THE FEELS again. I wasn’t super in love with The Winner’s Curse, but The Winner’s Crime? I was head over heels in love. There’s just something spectacular about how Rutkoski developed her plot and coaxed her characters to grow and change, and I LOVED IT. I loved it all. Loved it so much that I’m so, so nervous and excited for The Winner’s Kiss 😉