The Winner's Kiss
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Average rating4
Some kisses come at a price.
War has begun. Arin is in the thick of it with untrustworthy new allies and the empire as his enemy. Though he has convinced himself that he no longer loves Kestrel, Arin hasn’t forgotten her, or how she became exactly the kind of person he has always despised. She cared more for the empire than she did for the lives of innocent people—and certainly more than she did for him.
At least, that’s what he thinks.
In the frozen north, Kestrel is a prisoner in a brutal work camp. As she searches desperately for a way to escape, she wishes Arin could know what she sacrificed for him. She wishes she could make the empire pay for what they’ve done to her.
But no one gets what they want just by wishing.
As the war intensifies, both Kestrel and Arin discover that the world is changing. The East is pitted against the West, and they are caught in between. With so much to lose, can anybody really win?
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3 primary books4 released booksThe Winner's Trilogy
The Winner's Trilogy is a 4-book series with 3 primary works first released in 2014 with contributions by Marie Rutkoski.
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The Winner's Kiss was definitely one of my most anticipated novels to come out in 2016. I had read the first book as if I had journeyed into Death Valley and finally experienced what true thirst was. The second book was that holy water that finally satiated me. The third book was the way out.
The Winner's Trilogy is something that's truly magical. It stands out from all the other Young Adult books that saturate the market nowadays; instead of creating a protagonist that relies on their physical strength, Kestrel is badass in a totally different way that is sadly not as highlighted in other books. Whilst other heroines are swinging their swords and throwing daggers into the eyes of their enemies, Kestrel is working behind-the-scenes, figuring out which time is the most optimal for throwing daggers and who has the best abilities for throwing. Her mind is her greatest weapon and also her greatest flaw.
I have sung the praises of the trilogy's protagonist and now it's time to really dig deep and write about the story itself. I won't get into details about the beginning or the middle, but I do want to say a few words about the ending. Though many can feel underwhelmed with the lack of an epilogue, I feel like the ending truly fit the tone and the pace of the book. The future wasn't outlined by the author, but by the imagination of the readers themselves. Kestrel and Arin had just spent a long, long time fighting against those that wanted to tell them where to go and what to be. Now, they can write their own futures with their own hands. Perhaps I'm a bit sentimental in saying this, but in order for me to feel at peace with the ending, this is what I'm going to believe.
The Winner's Kiss is truly the type of novel that you want to end a series, no matter if it's a duology, a trilogy, or a 20-book series. There are no loose-ends and everything is tied up neatly with the right amount of emotions.
Thank you, Marie Rutkoski, for letting me into the world of Kestrel and Arin. May their own stories keep on unfurling, as they so deserve it.
4.5/5 stars
Absolutely loved this! What a wonderful conclusion! I wish this series could last forever
