The Winner's Curse

Rutkoski, M. (2014). The winner's curse. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.  
Best Fiction for Young Adults (2015 Winner)

Summary: Kestrel, the privileged daughter of a general of the Valorians, was with her friend Jess when she purchased a Herrani slave, Arin, at an auction. Arin was once one of the privileged Herrani descendants but the war took his parent’s lives and captured him as a slave. She took him back to her manor to be a blacksmith and at first had no interest in making friends but as time passes, a friendship and eventually attraction forms. All the while life goes on for the Valorians, Arin is making plans with other Herrani slaves to start a revolution. As Kestrel and Arin grow closer, he starts to accompany her to outings and will take her to the ball that the revolution is to start at. As they leave the ball together and share their first kiss, but at the same time there is an explosion at the ball. Even with Arin’s objection, she has been taken as a slave by the other Herrani slaves, she and Jess escape and are returned to the general of the Valorians. The general overtakes the Herrani and makes a deal to let them be free but live under the rule of the Valorians. Kestrel delivers the news to Arin along with the news that she is to marry the prince and eventually rule the kingdom. She hurts Arin with this news but he doesn’t know that she is only doing it because it was part of the deal and she knew he wouldn’t agree to the deal if he knew.

Commentary: In this first book of the three part trilogy, Kestrel is a domineering character who begins the novel as a naïve, privileged girl but transforms into a compassionate, understanding, and level headed woman. Her relationship with Arin is an unlike one but against all odds and stereotypes, she sees his wonderful qualities. Although this is a fantasy story, and the setting is in a fictional land, there are no magical elements in this novel. This makes it all the more believable and relatable for the reader. The plot continues to be unpredictable with different twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. Even though there are two more books that follow this one, I was truly shocked by the ending and did not expect that turn in events. It is a cliffhanger that keeps the reader hanging on to every word of the stories to come.

Connection: The Selection Series by Kiera Cass