The winners curse by Marie Rutkoski Book Review

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. 

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. 

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined. 

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

Marie Rutkoski is the author of the YA novel The Shadow Societyand the children's fantasy series The Kronos Chronicles, includingThe Cabinet of Wonders, The Celestial Globe and The Jewel of the Kalderash. Her next project is a YA trilogy that begins with The Winner's Curse, which is scheduled to be published in March 2014.

Marie grew up in Bolingbrook, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago), as the oldest of four children. She holds a BA from the University of Iowa and a PhD from Harvard University. Marie is currently a professor at Brooklyn College, where she teaches Renaissance Drama, children's literature and fiction writing. She lives in New York City with her husband and two sons.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/marier...

One of My goals for this year is to try to read new authors.  Mrs. Rutkoski's book the winners curse came across my good reads page and I was Drawn to the cover. I've never been one to really focus on covers to much but this one left me saying out loud, wow that's beautiful! This book had a sweet love and war type of feel to it.  Kestrel and arins story is a sweet,yet frustrating one at times. Kestrel is the daughter of the general of the volarin army and a girl rebelling against the choices set out for her. She can either join her fathers army or marry, ya she avoids trying to choose either of these options. That avoidance lands her in the craziest situations throughout this one. I guess love is a crazy thing, especially when you fall in love with the enemy. 
Ok here goes.... 

One day while at the marketplace a slave auction catches her interest and the young slave arin catches her eye. There's just something about him and that something causes her to bid insanely for his freedom. What is it about this young slave boy that pulls at her? Oh my dear kestrel there is so much more than what meets the eye. Let me introduce arin,slave and herrani rebel. Yes arin is a man on a mission, One of revenge. What he didn't count on was developing a friendship and being able to love the enemy along the way. 
This is book one of a trilogy and I can't wait to read more of this series. The ending of this one left me not able to turn the pages quick enough. The decisions and choices these two made throughout this one had severe consequences. This book was a perfect example of quote unquote 'sleeping with the enemy', loving the enemy and choosing love or country. 
Out of all the books I've read it never ceases to amaze me the choices people make for love. The one downside for me was it was on again off again attention grAber for me. As I've stated before the ending of this one was that point in the book where it grabbed you and didn't let go until you turned the last page. 
Well done mrs. Rutkoski. I really enjoyed kestrels character. Fist pumps for smart women that are masterminds of war /battle. 

Cheers,
dr. Books

Book rating: 3.5 stars

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ERWUQR4?pc_redir=1399293204&robot_redir=1