The Winner's Kiss (The Winner's Curse #3)

5.0

4.7 (1)

433 0

Write Review Add to favorites

The Winner's Kiss (The Winner's Curse #3)

Author(s)

Marie Rutkoski

Genre(s)

Age Range

12+

Release Date

March 29, 2016

ISBN

978-0374384739

Buy This Book

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?

At least, that’s what he thinks.

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?

Editor reviews

2 reviews

A perfect ending to a fantastic trilogy!

February 12, 2017

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

N/A

Characters

N/A

Writing Style

N/A

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

The Winner’s Trilogy is without a doubt one of my favourite series ever, from its captivating writing, the incredible characters and those crafty plot twists, Rutkoski has proven with each new release that she can still leave us in a complete state of shock…. The same can definitely be said for The Winner’s Kiss; my dear friends, you may want to brace yourselves.

The Winner’s Kiss is the best book of the series and best way to end a trilogy, it was completely perfect, and faultless! Well, Roshar’s story would be nice. I can’t even put into words how sad I am to see this beautiful series come to an end, I am in no way ready to say goodbye to Arin and Kestrel and I’m also in no way ready to be parted with Rutkoski’s magical writing, I am praying to all of Arin’s Gods for her to have some crafty series up her sleeves. The Winner’s Kiss will make you cry, laugh, cry some more, warm your heart and cry some more, it’s an extraordinary ending and I am so thankful to have read this early but for also picking this up in the first place. It’s been one hell of a ride but I couldn’t have asked for more, now go read it and enjoy!!

Good Points

What I loved: The romance, The Winner’s KISS is a befitting title. Kestrel and Arin's romance is so slow and it’s been full of disaster and complications but they are perfect together and they are so deserving of each other.

The action never stops, from the very beginning you can feel the high stakes of this dangerous game Arin and Kestrel play but they play to win so be prepared for some epic and sometimes intense scenes that will have you holding your breath.

I adored Roshar and Arin's friendship, I found myself excited for their next interaction. It’s filled with friendly banter, backhanded compliments and lots and lots of sass and sarcasm. Roshar became a main character in this book; he has in own struggles within his kingdom and family, trying to figure out where his own alliances lie but the friendship with him and Arin was extremely heartwarming, I felt so spoiled for all his page time.

The Winner’s Kiss is the best book of the series and best way to end a trilogy, it was completely perfect, and faultless! Well, Roshar’s story would be nice. I can’t even put into words how sad I am to see this beautiful series come to an end, I am in no way ready to say goodbye to Arin and Kestrel and I’m also in no way ready to be parted with Rutkoski’s magical writing, I am praying to all of Arin’s Gods for her to have some crafty series up her sleeves. The Winner’s Kiss will make you cry, laugh, cry some more, warm your heart and cry some more, it’s an extraordinary ending and I am so thankful to have read this early but for also picking this up in the first place. It’s been one hell of a ride but I couldn’t have asked for more, now go read it and enjoy!!

Cody Duffy, Staff Reviewer Top 500 Reviewer 35 reviews

Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0

User reviews

1 review

Overall rating

4.7

Plot

5.0(1)

Characters

5.0(1)

Writing Style

4.0(1)

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A(0)

Already have an account? or Create an account

A Great Wrap Up!

February 15, 2017

Overall rating

4.7

Plot

N/A

Characters

N/A

Writing Style

N/A

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

Okay let's just jump into it, shall we? I'm left speechless, I swear I'm trying to collect my thoughts but I'm not sure how. I got my notes beside me and I can't even read them. I have terrible handwriting by the way.

So I want to talk about this series as a whole for a second. The first book was just amazing! The second book wasn't as good to me, it felt like that bridge book completely. This last book though... it blew everything I'd thought away. It was AMAZING!

Things I never said about the first book was how well these characters balance each other. Kestrel and Arin are perfect together. He's not just some alpha male and that waltzes around with his head in ass. He is kind and I love how he would sometimes take a back seat to let Kestrel take the reins. How they needed each other and relied on each other. Like a real freaking couple! It made me so happy to see this for once!

The writing is so lovely in this series, I love that these characters are flawed, the feel so real. This is what more books should follow. More YA books that is, I don't read much else. Well, some NA on the side but still... yeah.

This series felt so original, I mean the plot is driven by words and games, not fighting or magic. Kestrel is not some kickass girl, she's smart as hell though! Arin is not some big brute that is only there to look good and give the readers romance for the sake of romance.

So if you haven't read this series, go! It's so great and you're missing out big time! Now there may be spoilers ahead, haven't read? Don't read past the gif below.

Sadly, my happy dance would look a lot like this... if not worse. I can't dance at all.

The plot wraps up perfectly, the end was just what I wanted. No one we love dies and while I know that may not feel real as in war people die, it's a hard, sad fact. I'm just glad it didn't happen, I like my endings happy and bright. There is enough darkness in my world already, I don't need it added too.

Also I wrote a note and had to keep it in my book because I was so happy to see this part, it's on page 247, where the awesome sauce Roshar says he's gay. It was perfect! It's just how it should be done. It doesn't change his character at all, it's just who he is.

I can't stand when there's a gay character and just everything about them is just gay. Like if you took the fact that they were gay away would just make the character vanish. I'm probably not explaining this correctly and I'm sorry.

It's just... people are more than their sexuality! Yes it's a part of who we are but it is not all we are.

Anyway, I love the ending. I didn't even see it coming. I wasn't ready for that. I knew she would poison the emperor, I just did not think it would through the tiles! I thought she was going to use those to cheat! That was a perfect twist!

I do have one problem with this series and it's her father... I feel so robbed there. Did they patch things up? Does he stay in prison till he dies? I want to know!
This series is just amazing! It's now one of my favorites! Read it if you haven't!