The Winner's Curse

          The Winner's Curse, by Marie Rutkowski is set in a world of games, lies, betrayal, and war. Kestrel is the daughter of a wealthy general. She is quick-witted and born a strategist, but despite what her father wants, she doesn't want to become a soldier. But Kestrel has a looming deadline. When she makes an impulsive decision to buy a slave named Arin, her world is flipped around. Despite trying their hardest, Arin and Kestrel fall in love. To fall in love with each other is to betray their countries, but to be loyal is to betray one another. Kestrel becomes more tangled in the web as the stakes rise higher. She has to fight to keep her head straight as duels, rebellions, dances, rumors, heartbreak, and dirty secrets threaten to overpower her.
           I would 100% recommend this book. Every chapter is a cliffhanger, pulling you in. The characters are memorable and lovable. The twists and turns of this book will shock you. Even though it has a romance element that is not all this book is about. The games, lies, and tricks will keep you on the edge of your seat. I really felt for the characters and their struggles, especially the hard decisions they had to make. Kestrel is also a really interesting character. Even if you wouldn't usually read this type of book, I recommend you try to read it, because I literally flew through the book. It was so interesting, and I found myself rooting for Kestrel and Arin, as they tried to hide their love and their secrets.

Areeba Wani
#40bookchallenge