The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski
Series: The Winner's Curse #2
Released: 12th March 2015
Published by: Bloomsbury
Genre: YA Historical/Fantasy
Source: Publisher
Pages: 400
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Goodreads | Bookworld | Book Depository

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.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

When it comes to a book like this - what can I say? It was amazing. The Winner's Crime is a must-read for fans of The Winner's Curse, with the same political intrigue, back-room deals and risky decisions. I found this an addictive read from start to finish, and now once again have been left with a need for the next book! 

The winner knows the whole line of play. But Kestrel saw only one move, and maybe the next.

All the politics from this novel's riveting predecessor come into full play in the story. The Herrani may have some more freedom, but nonetheless there are still many lives at risk as the Emperor wishes to maintain his absolute power. I love how the intricacies of the secrets and lies brewing beneath the surface of some of the most mysterious characters were revealed. There are so many tactics and conflicting motives which are so fascinating to read about. You can sense the drama all unfolding as each new development comes to light, and Kestrel is forced to choose between the duty to her father and the Valorians, and what she feels is actually right. 

There was dishonor, she decided, in accepting someone else's idea of honor without question.

Kestrel herself had to make some tough decisions in this story, and consider how her actions would have an immense impact on those around her, including the Herrani. While not all of her choices necessarily had the best outcome, it just goes to show the difficult situation she was in, playing the game required of her. I was once again drawn into the world which Marie Rutkoski had created, with the perfect balance between show-and-tell, with some rich imagery to accompany everything from Kestrel's opulent gowns to the castle's own secret passages.

Yes, stop playing Kestrel, she told herself. Clear the bets, clear the table. Walk away from the game. Now.

There was of course more to The Winner's Crime than just Kestrel though - let's not forget the other characters like Jess and Arin, who both had their own roles to play, along with some new additions. If you've read the first book, you'd know that the 'relationship' between Kestrel and Arin was already built with tension, and in this book there is even more ANGST. 

Yes, it is frustrating at times and it just felt like there were so many obstacles and moments which were emotionally charged. Getting to look at Arin's perspective in isolation as well as Kestrel's life and way of thinking was a great way of allowing us readers to understand the complexities of their relationship and the spark between them when together. I need book three for some closure on these two...

 

FINAL THOUGHTS


I was absolutely enthralled by The Winner's Crime, and didn't want it to end. Until the third book is released, I'll be waiting on the edge of my seat to see what could possibly happen next. The foundations have once again been built upon to produce another stunning novel.

On another note - what cover do you prefer: the red one or the blue?

Genie's Weekly News (8)

Hi everyone and welcome to my weekly blog feature to recap the week with bookish news and what to expect coming up! So without further ado...

*Reading Right Now*

*Previous Posts*

• Review: Corruption by Jessica Shirvington
• Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Want to Re-read
• Waiting on Wednesday: Faking It  
• Loony Blurbs (3) 
• Cover Love: The Winner's Crime

*Recommendation of the Week*

Even though this picture book has only a small amount of writing on each page, every one of them holds meaning, where Bruce Whatley's illustrations and collection of photographs from the time carry it forward. The Beach They Called Gallipoli can be enjoyed by adults and children alike, and should be acknowledged for its simplistic and poignant insight into the land where such a momentous battle in Australia's war history was fought.


*From The Interwebs*

• Epic reads has this awesome timeline of YA historical fiction
• Kelly @ Diva Booknerd gave more blogging advice with this edition of  Dear Diva
• Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity wrote about 5 reasons to watch Grimm 
• Mel @ YA Midnight Reads talked about How to Make a Great Book to Movie Adaptation (aka Mel unleashes her fury for the Percy Jackson movie)
• Kara @ Diary of a Teen Writer revealed How to finish NaNoWriMo in five days

*Book Haul*

• Never Fade (The Darkest Minds #3) by Alexandra Bracken - 'The Darkest Minds' series is pretty much my favourite dystopian trilogy so far EVER, so I can't wait to read this. Thank you to HarperCollins Australia for the review copy!
• The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line (Veronica Mars #1) by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham - I love a good mystery, so I'm looking forward to this. I haven't watched the TV show, but now I'm definitely intrigued. Thank you to Allen and Unwin for this review copy!
• This Shattered World (Starbound #2) by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner - There will be a review, author interview and giveaway post for this book, so stay tuned! This book is also courtesy of the fantastic Allen and Unwin.
• Hope in a Ballet Shoe by Elaine and Michaela DePrince - This is actually a true story which looks like an interesting read. Thanks again to Allen and Unwin for the review copy.

• Mothers and Daughters by Kylie Ladd - This book caught my eye at the library and it's Australian adult fiction which looks like it could give an interesting insight into the mother-daughter relationship dynamic. 

• Alice in Love and War by Ann Turnbull - This and 'The Vanishing Moment' were on sale at my local library's annual book fair for $2 each and since it's historical fiction I thought - why not?
• The Vanishing Moment by Margaret Wild - For $2, I'm willing to take my chances on this one - from the premise it looks like I might love it or hate it, but let's hope it ends up being good. 

*Jackie French/Bruce Whatley Event*

Jackie French reading from The Beach They Called Gallipoli

I won tickets to this event at the State Library thanks to a HarperCollins twitter competition and feel so lucky to have finally met my favourite author of all time. Jackie French is truly an inspiration, and spoke with such conviction and sincerity. Her role as Children's Laureate for 2014-2015 has been a busy one, and I love how she spoke about how books can change people's lives and provide hope. I had read A Roze for the ANZAC Boys and so asked in the question time how that may have contributed to this release and she said that it definitely did in some way, showing the war from the nurse's perspective. She also talked about WWI in general and how it has been portrayed, as well as all the research into primary sources which she did in order to write this book. 

To top it off I got all my books signed, along with her newest picture book illustrated by Bruce Whatley pic.twitter.com/lTCLdt4vPG
— Eugenia (@Genie_inabook) November 6, 2014

It was fantastic to hear about how she and Bruce Whatley worked together in matching the words and images in order to create the work, and it is clear that he is very talented to have compiled the photographs and his own illustrations into it. In all, I had a fantastic time and it was lovely to see Amanda from HarperCollins as well and have some bookish conversation. I got all my Jackie French books signed which is amazing, and while talking to her she said that her latest novel in the Matilda saga To Love A Sunburnt Country is the best yet. Needless to say, I am very excited to read it! Thanks again to HarperCollins for this opportunity, as it is one which I will always remember as a special moment in my life as a bookworm.

*Special Announcement*



Voting is ending tonight and there is still a three-way tie for first place so there's still a chance to pick a winner! Kust click the image above to be taken to the post. looking forward to seeing what you choose :)

Cover Love: The Winner's Crime

There are so many fantastic upcoming releases to look forward to in the world of YA, and many of them have beautiful covers too! For this edition of cover love, I've picked The Winner's Crime 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.

Releasing 3rd March 2015