Review: The Winner’s Crime (The Winner’s Trilogy #2) by Marie Rutkoski

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.

Goodreads | Source: ARC provided by Farrar Straus Giroux

*Release date: March 3, 2015

Review:
I’ve said this before. There is nothing harder for me than reviewing a book I LOVE. Add to that a book that is full of so many twists, turns and betrayals that I couldn’t possibly say anything without spoiling the whole damn book and…yeah. How to talk about the awsomeness that is The Winner’s Crime without babbling or spoiling is a mystery to me.

I want to discuss how wonderful Rutkoski is at world building, about her writing nuanced characters that walk a morally grey line of impossible choices and the way she throws out old, tired traditional gender roles. I’m sure there are bloggers who are capable of such feats but alas, I am not one of them. So I’ll just say this book is incredible! By the end you will be curled into the fetal position wondering what the hell just happened and OMG how do I survive the year long wait until the conclusion?? 

You will LOVE characters. You will HATE characters. You will scream at your book – contemplate throwing it across the room. You just might vomit. This book goes places that most YA’s just dance around. When reading books like this, there’s always a sense of danger of what might happen to the main characters, but no real fear. In The Winner’s Curse, there’s a sense of dread and pure terror for what might happen to characters you love. Almost ANYTHING can happen and it’s scary as hell and thrilling to read.

This book was painful and frustrating to read at times (in a good way!) but amazing and I highly recommend this series. No sophomore slump here.

I do however recommend gathering a few supplies before starting:



1. The Winner’s Crime (obviously)

2. Teddy bear. No bear provides comfort better then Winnie the Pooh but of course any soft object that you can hug/smother will work. A blanket to hide under would make a nice alternative.

3. Tissues. Still *wipes tears* months after reading.

4. Not pictured – If reading on a electronic device please add padding in case you throw it across the room.

*** Check out my friend Jen's incredible review for The Winner's Crime here. She was able to do accomplish everything I couldn't in mine. She explains the plot - why I loved it so much and all without spoiling.