Book: The Winner's Kiss
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Genre: fantasy
Age Rating: young adult (12+)
Page Count: 496 pages
Star Review: 3/5
Summary: 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?
Memorable Quote: "'[Your scar] doesn't change the way I see you. You're beautiful to me. You always have been.'"
Okay... this series did not go in the direction I was thinking (or hoping) it would go in. I personally was ready for the final novel to be an intense book that had an actual, physical battle as well as a mental battle with Kestrel and Arin after what they've gone through. I was also hoping this would redeem the trilogy for me after The Winner's Crime. Nope.
This book wasn't very intense at all for a book taking place in the midst of a revolutionary war. There was very little actual action and far more obsession over OH DEAR POOR MISERABLE KESTREL HAS AN AWFUL LIFE AND NO ONE WILL EVER LOVE HER OH DEAAAAAR!! I did not like that. And Kestrel as a main character is far too victimized anyway. The moment something isn't as perfect as she's used too, she freaks and while I get this particular situation, the book should have had more focus on other things as well, I believe.
The problem I've had with disliking Arin didn't get any better either. I liked him a bit more in this one than I did in The Winner's Crime but I still feel like his character was a bit self-centered at times. I also kind of wish that Kestrel and Jess made up. I was really hoping for a reunion where they became friends again in this one, but that never happened. Overall the book was really underwhelming...
Would I recommend? Meh, it's not the best closing to a trilogy
The problem I've had with disliking Arin didn't get any better either. I liked him a bit more in this one than I did in The Winner's Crime but I still feel like his character was a bit self-centered at times. I also kind of wish that Kestrel and Jess made up. I was really hoping for a reunion where they became friends again in this one, but that never happened. Overall the book was really underwhelming...
Would I recommend? Meh, it's not the best closing to a trilogy
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