Book Review: THE WINNER’S CRIME by Marie Rutkoski

Genre: Fantast
Age Range: YA
Star Rating: 3/5 stars
Series: Yes - book 2

SPOILER ALERT: contains SPOILERS for THE WINNER’S CURSE

Summary:

Kestrel agreed to marry the Emperor’s son in order to give the Herrani – give Arin – their freedom. But he can’t know, no one can over know. She and Arin fell in love just as

their actions made them enemies.

The Imperial Court is a web of intrigue and lies, and the Emperor is the spider at the centre of it all. Who can Kestrel trust when she can’t even trust herself? What will the price be when her true heart is discovered?

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Thoughts:

In this book, there’s still romance but a lot more scheming. I liked the way the plans unfolded, but at times it took a back seat to the ‘I love him but I can’t because it will be the death of us’. That bugged me more than a little because it cheapened the excellent political schemes.

Kestrel feels very hollow for a large section of the book as she was fighting her feelings. Still, the schemes pulled me along and kept me reading. I particularly liked how they both went after the problem from two different ends. Arin’s solution was my favourite.

I want to know how it all resolves after the clinghanger ending.

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Read my reviews of the other books by Marie Ruktoski

The Winner’s Curse (this series):

• THE WINNER’S CURSE (#1)
• THE WINNER’S KISS (#3)