Publisher: Bloomsbury
Source: Netgalley
Pages: 368
Release Date: March 12th, 2015
Series: The Winner's Trilogy #2
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Lady Kestrel’s engagement to Valoria’s crown prince calls for great celebration: balls and performances, fireworks and revelry. But to Kestrel it means a cage of her own making. Embedded in the imperial court as a spy, she lives and breathes deceit and cannot confide in the one person she really longs to trust ...
While Arin fights to keep his country’s freedom from the hands of his enemy, he suspects that Kestrel knows more than she shows. As Kestrel comes closer to uncovering a shocking secret, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth.
Lies will come undone, and Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them in this second book in the breathtaking Winner’s trilogy.
This is a book review I probably shouldn’t be writing right after I finished reading, but if I don’t write it now all my feelings will be gone and I won’t know what to say. I’m devastated. Not because THE WINNER’S CRIME was bad, but because it was brilliant and oh so heartbreaking. That ending was so terribly painful and I’ve been making strange noises ever since being constantly punched in the feels during those last chapters.
The ending wasn’t the only painful part. The entire novel was filled with feels. Mostly romance, OTP related feels. Kestrel and Arin are one of my favourite ships and they are ruining me. They dance around their feelings, trying to keep each other safe but at the same time not entirely understanding the truth behind the other’s actions. It causes many scenes that will rip your heart to pieces. I just want them to be happy, but they’re so determined to make it as difficult as possible. Mostly Arin makes it difficult. Damn you, Arin. I love you as a character but I swear you were just frustrating and stupid sometimes.
Don’t think this novels is just about the romance because it’s most definitely not. Kestrel and Arin’s relationship is a major aspect of the story, but time isn’t unnecessarily wasted only on them. The plot has stepped up a notch from THE WINNER’S CURSE. There’s more political games and war discussion. More spying and intrigue. Plenty of deaths and betrayal. Brilliant new secondary characters are introduced, some I love while others make my skin crawl. Characters from THE WINNER’S CURSE who appeared in a few brief scenes are developed further (in mostly heartbreaking ways). AND AND AND the best bit: we got to see more of the world outside Herran and the Valorian capital. It’s a very diverse and interesting world with a wide range of people and cultures and I hope book 3 explores even more of the continent. (I would also appreciate if a finished copy of either this book or the next had a map because maps are cool )
Kestrel continued to be her amazing self. She was my favourite character in the first book and once again blew me away in this sequel. I love her brain, how she deduces like a fantasy Sherlock. How she plays other people to save those she loves. How she works out a puzzle and schemes her way to winning. I love reading about smart girls being badass (in a not necessarily physically kick ass way. It gives nerdy weaklings like me hope XD)
THE WINNER’S CRIME was a gloriously painful sequel to THE WINNER’S CURSE. We get to watch Kestrel be even more of an intellectual badass and come up with brilliant schemes, explore more of the world, and meet an exciting cast of new secondary characters. You also get to go through quite the emotional journey because of Arin and Kestrel as they tumble through big road blocks and shocking twists and stumble toward a heartbreaking cliffhanger that has me terrified for the third and final book.
| Rating Report | |
|---|---|
| Plot | |
| Characters | |
| Writing | |
| Pacing | |
| Romance | |
| Overall: | 4.6 |
Renee Bookboyfriends
I love the cover of this, and I’ve heard ALL THE GOOD THINGS about it! You’re lucky to get an ARC!!!!! SPIES, ACTION, MYSTERIES TO SOLVE!!!!!! It sounds great! I’m goad that you enjoyed it and thanks for sharing your review!
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Bec
These have gorgeous covers!
I may or may not have squealed and jumped around when I got approved haha. It was so good with so many amazing elements!
Kirsty-Marie
WELCOME TO THE CLUB. IT. HURTS. ON ALL ACCOUNTS. But, especially those missed chances and all the almost-s, frustrating isn’t the word, haha. I do love the direction it took plot wise (despite that ending because holy crap) but Kestrel’s my favourite too, she totally stepped up in the game this time. THE WINNERS KISS NEEDS TO BE OUT NOW. THE PAIN.
Kirsty-Marie recently posted…Review: The Glory
Bec
I DON’T KNOW IF I WILL EVER RECOVER.
The plot definitely went up a notch! I’m so excited for the last book. It’s going to destroy us.
Melliane
Oh yes this book is so great but at the same time so draining. So emotions there…. difficult thing but so curious to see what will happen now!
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Bec
So many feels. It was great. I wonder if the last book will be even sadder?
Frannie Pan @ In Clouds of Pages
Loved this!! *-*
Though the romance was so frustrating (but awesome), I need them to sit down and TALK!
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Bec
Better communication and trust would have solved 90% of the angst. But that would have been too easy haha.
ShootingStarsMag
I still need to read the first book, but I’m so happy to see you loved the sequel. Nerdy kick-ass girls? Awesome!!
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…Theming Thursday: St. Patrick’s Day
Bec
This is such an amazing, character driven series with some awesome characters!
Rachel @ A Perfection Called Books
This book literally broke my feels. I loved how the stakes rose higher and higher. The political game of wit and strategy was pretty cool as was the espionage. I feel so bad for my OTP, I just want them to be happy! The culture and world-building was fascinating. Lovely review!
Bec
Yes to all of this! Everything was delivered so well and it was worthy of my tears.
Thanks :)
Aimee @ Deadly Darlings
I do really love this trilogy so far, but I kind of… didn’t get too much feels with this one? Which totally sucks because The Winner’s Curse broke me! But still, ARIN AND KESTREL. I WILL GO DOWN WITH THIS SHIP. And it was great seeing more of the world, and more of the politics behind everything. :) Lovely review, Bec! Glad you loved this one. ^_^
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Bec
Are you heartless? :P I was just overcome by all the angst, and it doesn’t take much to give me a case of the feels haha.
Seeing more of the world was so cool! I wonder how much more we will see in book 3?
Thanks!
Joy @ Thoughts By J
Can I just say how happy I am that Crime was such an improvement overall on Curse? I might be one of the black sheeps out there that didn’t enjoy the first book as much as others, but I saw the potential there and gave Crime a go – so happy that I did! The politics and backstabbing that was missing in the first book is thoroughly addressed and I’m so happy that the romance took a somewhat back seat. I can now accept their love because I just wasn’t buying it before. EEEEP! That ending…I’m SO excited for the next book now. WHYYYY!!!
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Bec
There’s a few people out there who gave it three stars, and I can understand. Crime really brought everything that was good about the first book up to another level!
Jeann @ Happy Indulgence
YESSS I absolutely loved this book as well, I just wanted to push Kestrel and Arin together and be like WORK IT OUT! Gosh there was so much dancing around, so many feels, and I do love how Kestrel is strong because of her intelligence and mind. Lovely review Bec! The next one can’t come sooner!
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Bec
That “now kiss” image/gif comes to mind haha.
Kestrel is awesome! I love girls who can fight but smart girls who fool their opponents with their intellect are just as amazing!
Thanks :)
Micheline @ Lunar Rainbows Reviews
I still NEED to read The Winner’s Curse but I got a copy gifted to my this past Xmas and it WILL be one of my next reads. Seeing how much your freaking LOVED The Winner’s Crime is only encouraging me more to dive in!! The romance sounds like perfection and the glorious feels that destroy one’s soul tend to be my favorite kind XD Kestrel sounds like my kind of MC too, fabulous review Bec^^ xx
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Bec
Yes, Micheline, read it! The world and the characters are so good and thare are feels aplenty. I hope you like it!
Kate
I wrote a review on this too. I LOVE it. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I just… the feels!! SO MANY FEELS
Also I love your blog :D
Kate recently posted…The Winner’s Crime Book Review
Bec
It’s so good! SUCH GLORIOUS AND PAINFUL FEELS
Faye M.
Haha, isn’t it amazing when we find extremely intelligent girls, we all go “I LOVE HER BRAIN” :)) I love me some smart girls, too! Girls who think ahead, girls who are cunning, girls like Kestrel, or at least the person she will have become in this book (I didn’t like her much in Book 1). Glad to see that this installment was a monumental success to you, Bec!
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Bec
Yes! I always love it when smart girls appear, because I can relate to them a whole lot more. Sure I dream about being kick ass, but my brain is my best attribute. I actually wish my brain could strategise as well as Kestrel’s!
Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity
UGH. I can totally understand why your feels were breaking over this one, Bec, but N O. All the lying and misunderstanding etc etc just ANNOYED ME. I was like: FFS, YOU SHITHEADS, MAKE UP YOUR MIND. TELL THE TRUTH. BELIEVE HER. JUST DO ONE OF THE OTHER FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY.
I’m sure I was *supposed* to feel all angsty and stuff, but I just couldn’t get over my annoyance at the back and forth, back and forth that was rife in this novel.
BUT I still freaking loved it. I devoured it, I want the next book in my hands right now. Because THAT ENDING, and I also want to see if Kestrel and Arin ever get their crap together >.>
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Bec
It was a bit frustrating but THE ANGST. I may be a tad too emotionally invested in these characters haha.
THAT ENDING WAS SO SHOCKING AND TERRIFYING AND AAAHH. They will surely get their shit together in the next book. They’re both better than this.
benish
I’ve heard so much praise about this series, I still have to check it out for myself – happy to hear you enjoyed it though. Fantastic review & Oh, you have a beautiful blog :)
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Bec
I love this series so much. The world and the intrigue and the angst is just perfect. I hope you decide to try them one day!
Thanks :)
Laura Plus Books
Yay! It makes me so happy when I find people loving this book. But it also makes me question why I still have it sitting on my shelf. I really really do have to get to it soon! Thank you for the lovely review Bec!
Bec
It’s so good, Laura! I hope you find time to get to it soon!