Review – The Winner’s Crime by: Marie Rutkoski

Synopsis: 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.

That ending. Dang! I absolutely loved The Winner’s Curse and was so excited when I finally got a chance to read The Winner’s Crime. I needed more Kestrel and Arin and couldn’t wait to see another part of the this world.

The beginning of the book leaves right off where we ended in The Winners Curse. I absolutely loved seeing the new characters, the constant tension, and the frightening turns that seemed to flow to each page. I will admit that about half way through the book started to drop for me, and I thought the ending was abrupt. Of course, that could be the evil way that authors love to leave us hanging ;).

Overall, it was a fantastic continuation of a fantasy world that I adore being in. I love the constant suspenseful moments and the world building between the different areas. With how the book ended, I cannot wait to get my hands on the next one.