Here we see Book 2 smacking Book 1 in the head.
I was a little teeny tiny bit nervous* to read The Winner’s Crime (book 2) since I wrote an incredibly mediocre review about my sadness towards The Winner’s Curse (book 1). Basically I tiptoed into book 2 hoping hard.
Peoples! I WILL HAPPILY PROCLAIM MYSLEF A GINORMOUS FAN OF THIS SERIES! HUZZAH!
Book 2 absolutely changed everything. I went from “meh” to “OH OH I AM FANGIRLING ENTHUSIASTICALLY IN ALL CAPS NOW.” Although I promise this review will not be in all-caps. I will be sensible and logical.
Also there will be a lot of photos because LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS. It just screamed to be photographed.
You are so, so welcome.
* Also known as: A LOT NERVOUS.
There is a lot of Kestrel and Arin angst. I didn’t really ship them in book 1, but now? YES THEY BELONG TOGETHER. (I love messed up romances.) Basically whenever they’re in the same room, they hate on each other. Whenever they’re separate they concentrate on not thinking about each other. Adorable.
Kestrel is now betrothed to the Emperor’s son, Verex. (This could make it a love-triangle, but it really doesn’t.) I feel bad for Verex because everyone is using him. He plays with puppies and wishes he could be a doctor and his own father doesn’t like him. UM OUCH.
And Kestrel? I love Kestrel! She’s refreshingly feminine and super intelligent. I’m not saying anything against girls who punch and only wear pants. I love them too. But for once it was nice to read about a girl who didn’t loathe her beautiful dresses. I loved seeing Kestrel’s military strategies in play. She’s a smart little cookie.
Oh Arin, Arin, Arin, you KNUCKLEHEAD. Arin is totally smitten with her and he is so angry because he doesn’t want to be. He makes stupid decisions, he’s rash, he doesn’t listen. Basically I love this little knuckleheaded lad.
Although Arin and Kestrel really need to sort out their issues. They barely have any time together and, like I said, when they are THEY’RE MEAN TO EACH OTHER.
I do have a small spot of confusion about the differences between the UK and US edition.
Publishers change covers all the time, FINE. But in the book, Kestrel’s wedding dress is red. So, in the US edition (US is blue) is the wedding dress a different colour?! I’M SO CURIOUS NOW. Let me know in the comments if you’ve read the blue version.
Oh and just be warned: THERE IS A HORRIBLY WICKED CLIFFHANGER!! WHYYYY DO AUTHORS DELIGHT IN THESE ENDINGS?!! My brain is a puddle right now. I NEED TO SPEAK.
Do NOT open these spoilers unless you want the book ruined.
The author sure doesn’t spare her characters. There’s torture! Pain! Bleeding! Arin gets a ginormous permanent scar, which I approve of (NOT BECAUSE I’M A SADIST) but because it’s unrealistic when main characters get off without a scratch. And there’s a seriously unsettling torture scene. My skin crawled. I applaud the author for sparing no one, even if my inner fangirl weeps.
Basically I loved this book. It was everything I wanted and it was PERFECTION.
SO IF YOU NEED ME I’LL BE CRYING ABOUT THE CLIFFHANGER BECAUSE MY DARLINGS ARE ALL IN TROUBLE AND PROBABLY WILL DIE.
Thank you to Bloomsbury for the review-copy! The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoski hits shelves on March 12th, 2015.
Lady Kestrel’s engagement to Valoria’s crown prince calls for great celebration: balls and performances, fireworks and revelry. But to Kestrel it means a cage of her own making. Embedded in the imperial court as a spy, she lives and breathes deceit and cannot confide in the one person she really longs to trust …
While Arin fights to keep his country’s freedom from the hands of his enemy, he suspects that Kestrel knows more than she shows. As Kestrel comes closer to uncovering a shocking secret, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth.
Lies will come undone, and Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them in this second book in the breathtaking Winner’s trilogy.
Goodreads Bookworld AU Book Depository Bloomsbury
which cover is your favourite, book 1 or 2?!! and if you’ve read the blue version let me know what colour her wedding dress is! ALSO: when was the last time you read a book where you preferred the sequel??
Cait @ Paper Fury
…is doing a lot of things to avoid editing. What is even wrong with her and this book?! Usually she never procrastinates, but now she’s even cleaned her room before writing. LE SIGH. She’s currently reading Talon which is her first Julie Kagawa experience and she’s quite enjoying it. DRAGONS.
I have no clue about the blue dress. I know my sister read the first book, but that doesn’t help. What I want to know, just because I am nosy is… what do you think about the last book being called The Winner’s Kiss? A lot of readers were having a fit. I am supposing, even though I personally loved The Raven Boys, that The Dream Thieves is going to be better (from what I have been told). What do you think?
I hadn't thought about it yet, to be honest! I was thinking about the dress colour and not the title. XD HA. I thought the dress might be white…or grey. OR BLACK WOULD BE AWESOME.(I actually liked The Raven Boys better than The Dream Thieves. I'M AN ODD ONE.)
Ohh! I need to read these!! That’s basically all I can say in relation to this post.
And actually, I’ve read a few series where I’m not overly keen on the first book, but ADORE the second one… Like the Lunar Chronicles. I read Scarlet in a day, and Cress in less than four hours (yesterday, actually). So now I am OBSESSED with the series and need ALL THE BOOKS!!!
Beth x
YES. YES YOU DO. Omg, Scarlet is my favourite. Although Insurgent used to be my favourite too and I reread the series and Divergent ended up my favourite. So I'm prone to change a lot. xD
Yes, yes, I totally agree with everything that you’ve said. GAHHH, ARIN SERIOUSLY NEEDED TO BE PIANO BRAINED MY GOD. >.> But at least I ship Kestral and Arin now! In book 1 I was MEH but book 2 has convinced me that this series is on the road to awesome, or at least heading in that direction. 😉 BTW: What do you think of the third book’s title The Winner’s Kiss??!! Me doesn’t like it. It’s annoying.
DON’T TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS CLIFFHANGER! *gnashes teeth and screams* THIS WAS A DREADFUL UNKIND CRUEL WAY TO END A BOOK AND I STILL HAVEN’T FORGIVEN IT.
The red cover is waaaaaay prettier and so much truer to the book! What does BLUE have to do with it anyway??!! -__- I’m thinking book 3 will be bad ass girl holding sharp object wearing either yellow or green also rather sharp looking dress. 😉
YOU AND ME BOTH, MY FRIEND. The first book just…it did nothing for me BUT NOW I HAVE ALL THE FEELS! ALL THE SHIPS! Seriously, I am so onboard for book 3 I may just explode. Omg, I know right?! I LOVE THE RED. But I am deathly curious if the wedding dress is blue in the US book, otherwise the cover completely doesn't make sense. I'm voting white or black, hehe, for the 3rd cover. xD
HEY I JUST GOT THIS BOOK I CANT WAIT TO READ IT OMG CAIT YAY IM SO HAPPY I BOUGHT THE BOOK MARCH 12 R U SERIOUS YES THE COVERS <3
IT IS ABSOLUTELY GLORIOUS AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME READING IT AND CAN WE JUST FLAIL OVER THE COVERS FOR A MINUTE?! THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL.
Oh, no. I read The Winner’s Curse, enjoyed it but didn’t plan on reading The Winner’s Crime, but NOW I AM SERIOUSLY DOUBTING THAT DECISION. Mainly because you mention the Emperor’s son and I was a little miffed that we never got much on him in the first book and honestly he sounds like my fav type of character. (And obviously Kestrel kicks ass because Kestrel.) BUT I’M SO WORRIED ABOUT THE CLIFFHANGER.
Basically I’m an indecisive porcupine and I’ll probably end up holding out until there’s a discount on TBD/Kindle.
Dude, you muuuuust. YOU WON'T REGRET IT. This is from me! Who is being a tough rater and a moody reader these days! XD The emperor's son is adorable, I wish to hug him. I love how smart Kestrel is and I felt like we saw MORE of that in book 2. Libraries are fantastic too for books we're unsure about. 😉
You’re aaaalmost convincing me to read this. But it’s one of those hyped books where even though lots of people seem to love it, I don’t think it’s really my thing, you know? Love that she doesn’t let her characters get away too easily 😛
Oh I totally understand. buuuuuut *whispers* they are pretty though. SO VERY PRETTY.
YESSS I LOVE THAT SHE DOESN’T SPARE HER CHARACTERS! This book seriously won me over as well! I was so apprehensive BUT NOW I AM A BIG BIG FAN. And this red dress debacle. I didn’t even catch that (lol what do I actually read hahaha) NOW I AM SO CURIOUS
I LOVE THAT SHE HURTS HER CHARACTERS BUT I ALSO HATE IT, BECAUSE PAAAAAIN. Every time someone does something stupid I just want to take them out of the book and put them somewhere safe because THEY'RE GONNA GET SO HURT.
Prodigy I liked better than Legend. I was sort of ughurghmaybe about the Winners Curse, even though I like a lot of the setup, so now I’m excited for this one! And, what beautiful pictures, Cait 🙂
Haha, I completely understand the “ughurghmaybe” feeling. 😉 But seriously this is SOOOO much better than book 1.
HAHA, YOUR DESCRIPTION OF ARIN MADE ME LAUGH xD Don’t we love characters who are angsty balls of awesomeness and denial.
The Winner’s Crime has a refreshingly different from other books (or maybe I’ve just been reading to much fantasy…?) BUT IT. IS. GORGEOUS. <3 OOH, OOH, AND THAT MAP IS JUST BEAUTY.
Hmm, I was sort of unsure whether to start this series, but you've actually managed to change my mind.
~ Nirvana @ Quenching the Quill
WE DO LOVE THEM. We want to slap them, but also hug them and feed them pretzels. *nods*It is really refreshing right?! And I don't even know what genre it is. Historical fantasy?? hah. It's confusing. BUT I DON'T EVEN CARE BECAUSE I LOVE IT NOW. Maps are just awesome. Definitely start it. Because, well, THEY'RE PRETTY so that's definitely a good reason.
I just finished this yesterday and your review is basically exactly how I was and am still feeling. It made me laugh about it instead of ripping my heart out again, so thanks haha! As for the cover/dress situation: in the US edition the dress is still red. >:( I don’t understand why they changed it to blue… I hate it when cover don’t match the stories. But I love the book so much that I kind of don’t care?! Amazing review, Cait! 😀
YAY I'M GLAD YOU LAUGHED NOT CRIED. I'm still crying. My poor baby Kestrel. Omg. Ohh, really?! THAT IS SO WEIRD. I don't understand why the cover is blue at all then. I figured the wedding dress must change but NO?! WHAT ARE THE AMERICANS DOING HERE.
I haven’t started this series yet, but Kestrel has piqued my interest now. I WANT to see more books featuring girls that are feminine but also intelligent and even athletic. Just because someone is confident wearing skirts or dresses doesn’t mean that she is dumb or weak. Huzzah for authors who clearly understand that!
YOU SERIOUSLY SEE DIFFERENT COLORS IN THE COVERS?!? I see blue in both pictures… *whispers*It must be part of the bigger dress conspiracy!
…
…
…
Ahem. Just kidding. 😀
Yessss, and that's a big part of the reason I adore this series. FINALL FEMININE AWESOME GIRLS. I hate it when femininity is despised, gah. It's okay to wear pretty dresses and still plan battles that, like, wipe out the world. 0_0 OMG DO NOT START WITH THAT. >.> Is it black and blue or red and black? SERIOUSLY. hehe.
Book one’s cover is just gorgeous. I dunno, maybe her makeup is a little to harsh on the cover of book 2…
I once watched a TV show, Mr. Selfridge, where I definitely liked the second season better. The first season was basically everyone cheating on each other; you know if the couple starts out married at the beginning of the show, things are gonna go downhill. But the second season was beautiful and amazing and my ship ended up together!!!! Yaaay!!!
Book 1 does seem a bit softer, doesn't it?!! I think I do like the red book 2 cover the best, but book one is still niiiiice. Oh gosh, I totally understand that. I prefer watching shows where they have to couple up, otherwise it's just going to end up as a breakup. -_-
I NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED TO READ THIS BECAUSE HELLO HAVE YOU READ THE SYNOPSIS! (And yes, the covers!) Buuuuuttt I can’t waaiittt for the next book because IT IS FOREVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVER AWAYYYYYYYY!!! D: I can’t wait! And you said that there’s a cliffhanger so I gotta stay away! I’ll prob read it 2015 fall or early 2016. Hmm…
Awesome review/fangirling!! <3
~Fari 0:)
YES YOU DO NEED TO READ THIS, WHY HAVE YOU NOT STARTED YET. BE STRONG. READ IT AND SUFFER WITH THE CLIFFHANGER WITH ME. BECAUSE IF I HAVE TO, YOU HAVE TO.
I really want to read this series!At a certain time,everyone was talking about this book,and I didn’t even know what it is about!It sucks to be the odd one out.
And you got me at the mention of angst.I love romances with angst,they’re the best!They make me drown in feels,and I’ll be swooning over how cute the couple is whenever they’re fighting:)
Great review,Cait!
Angst has to be done right for me, or I get frustrated, (hehe) BUT SERIOUSLY THIS IS DONE PERFECTLY.
I love the image in book 2 (so vibrant!) but I love the way the font treatment in book 1. So hard to choose!
Although I was pretty excited for The Winner’s Curse when I first heard about it, I lost interest because of all the ‘meh’ reviews. Now you are making reconsider-WHAT IS THIS NONSENSE, CAIT?!
Also maps! *swoons*
We'll just have to wait until book 3 and make a decision there, right?!! x)WHAT MEH REVIEWS. OMG HOW CAN PEOPLE BE MEH ABOUT THIS?!! I am so enthusiastic I am literally throwing this book at people. Pfft. Not really. I don't want to bed the cover.
I read the first one and I’m getting the second one soon! I remember enjoying the first one and it was so great! I’m hoping that I’ll love the second one just as much if not more!
Verex sounds like he’ll be perfect for me. A guy who plays with puppies? HEART MELTS.
I’ve always loved Kestrel so that should be awesome <3
Great review
Oh oh oh I hope you absolutely ADORE this one then, especially if you already loved book 1. x) YES VEREK IS ADORABLE. Someone needs to adopt him out of this series before he gets hurt though. I mean, seriously, EVERYONE IS GETTING HURT.
Great review! Had to scroll really quickly past the spoilers part, though, haha!
I’ve heard a lot of hype these past few months about this series, but I was still kind of unconvinced.
These covers are beautiful, though!
Hopefully the spoilers were in tags though so you didn't see?!! I HOPE THEY WEREN'T BROKEN! That would be awful. :OAh, I understand being unconvinced. 😉 There are too many books that demand our attention, right?!
I’m sold. I need to read these books.
(about 85% of your positive reviews sell a book to me. Just saying XD)
I'M A GOOD BOOK SELLER. Like I've missed my calling, I should throw being an author and go into book publicity. I SHOULD.
Great review! I am glad you enjoyed the sequel. I have not read this series at all yet. Is it a trilogy? If it is, maybe I will wait to read it when the third one comes out.
And as for the differences with the US version cover, maybe it’s like that stupid dress on Facebook and some people see it as red? That’s possible, right?
Yes, it's going to be a trilogy! And with these awful cliffhangers I will NOT blame you for waiting, hehe. Haaaa. TRUST ME I thought of that stupid dress on FB and decided not to reference it because everyone would probably throw things at me. IS IT RED AND BLACK OR BLUE AND BLACK? Come now. lol
YES!!!! You have made my DAY, Cait! I am starting this tonight, and like you, felt quite mediocre about The Winner’s Curse. I wasn’t all that impressed. I didn’t DISlike it, but I wasn’t exactly in love with it either. This makes me so very happy.
I have been wondering about the dress differences! Now I am even more confused. I wonder if it is the same color in the US book, or if they say it’s blue? Why would they change such a thing? I mean, I had assumed that they had the dress be blue instead of red on the cover because the red kind of clashes with the pink of the first cover but if it is red in the story… then it should probably be red on the cover! I will obviously report back to you ASAP with the dress color of the text.
I prefer the blue cover because blue is my favorite color. But if the red one makes more sense… I don’t know! Now, the last sequel I preferred? Salt & Stone > Fire & Flood. Captive > Pawn. Half Wild > Half Bad (by FAR for me!) Oh, and of course, Catching Fire > The Hunger Games.
I REALLY HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS ONE THEN AND JOIN ME IN MY EPIC AND WAILING FLAILING. I would seriously go change this to a 5-stars now. I love it EVEN MORE in retrospect. *happy sigh**then tears**loads of tears*Apparently the dress in the book is still red in the US version, despite the dress being blue on the cover. That I find too odd. TOO ODD, I TELL YOU. THE FACT THAT YOU ADORE HALF WILD IS GIVING ME HEART PALPITATIONS. OMG. I NEED THAT BOOK.
READING YOUR REVIEW HAS MADE ME OVERCOME WITH FEELS AGAIN. THERE”S ACTUALY TEARS ABOUT TO LEAK FROM MY FACE. THIS DAMN BOOK AND THIS DAMN OTP AND AAAHHH WHY MUST IT CAUSE SO MUCH PAIN.
I’m glad book 2 changed your opinion! All the good points from The Winner’s Curse just got bigger and better in The Winner’s Crime. Let’s hope the trend continues for The Winner’s Kiss!
That’s an interesting point about the dress. I doubt they’d change the colour of the wedding dress in the book just to suit their different cover. That seems like to much effort (and imagine the fandom fights… “It’s White and Gold… I mean Red”) . It’s more likely the blue dress is the original cover and they changed it to red to match the wedding dress. Maybe the blue is related to a, uh, certain semi-spoilery thing about the betting on the dress (was the “colour change” to blue?) but idk.
*HANDS YOU TISSUES FOR YOUR LEAKING FACE* SERIOUSLY I UNDERSTAND THESE FEELS, THIS LITTLE OTP NEEDS TO SAIL OR ELSE I'M GOING TO CRY AND THROW THINGS. I NEEEEEED THEM TO GET TOGETHER. 2 BOOKS OF ANGST AND NO GETTING TOGETHER IS NOT OKAY. Is it The Winner's Kiss?? Omg. I had no idea book 3 had a title yet. WHERE HAVE I BEEN. Clearly under a rock.Isn't it a US book though??? I'm so confused to why they'd have a blue dress when she wears a red dress. HHHAAAAAA. No. I'm so tired of that dress on facebook. lol IS KESTREL'S DRES RED AND BLACK OR BLACK AND BLUE?? 😉
Wow, this book sounds so good! I like the red cover more, makes it fiercer.
I rarely read sequels that are better than the first book. The Son of Neptune (2nd book of Heroes of Olympus series) though, I think that was better than the first book, The Lost Hero. But only because it’s got Percy in it. Hehe
I agree! RED IS BETTER. Although I kind of love blue which is why I'm torn. *heavy sigh* They shouldn't make covers that make me so indecisive about which I like best. XDI liked the PJ series better as it went on too!
I’m so happy this one changed your mind! The Winner’s Curse was my favorite book of 2014, and I am absolutely TERRIFIED of The Winner’s Crime. SO MUCH ANGST. I DON’T KNOW IF MY HEART CAN HANDLE IT. I really hope the third one is out next year!
It is literally BUSTING AT THE SEAMS WITH ANGST. So. much. Oh gosh. This little OTP better sail in book 3 or else I'm getting out my evil frown. *looks fierce**ships aggressively*
Woooo! This is just so encouraging to read girl as alike you I found myself rather underwhelmed by the first installment of this series. I really do need to get myself a copy of The Winner’s Crime ASAP and get myself just as infatuated as you clearly are.
LOL your description of Verex cracked me up! Does he literally play with puppies? cause that would totally make me feel so much sympathy regarding his lack of control over everything/how tightly wrapped up he is in his cocoon. AND YASSSSS GIRL! Kestrel was actually a character I quite admired in the first installment of the series so I’m glad she’s still her awesome self here. I love character’s who can really embody strength but not in the typical BLOOD GUTS SWORD FIGHTING RAH RAH sense. It becomes even better for me when they also can embrace their feminine side and still let their strength shine. BECAUSE YOOOOO, JUST BECAUSE I WEAR LIPSTICK DOESN’T MAKE ME WEAK. Lol, okay I’m digressing a bit there, but still.
Ahhh a cliffhanger! And overall pain to the characters that will totally mess with your feels???? Marie totally knows where to hit us to make it hurt. I’ve heard so much about the tension in this one from all the reviews. Sounds like it’s gonna be an (totally amazing) heartwrenching and feels inducing ride.
ALSO YOU SHOULD APPLAUD ME FOR NOT LOOKING AT SPOILERS. I almost always do okay, so this is an momentous occasion.
Lovely review boo <33 After I've read so many reviews for this one already, I can honestly say yours stands out to me in humor and plain awesomeness.
OH YAY I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THEN. hehe. I felt sooo guilty for not falling in love with book 1 because literally everyone was loving it and, here am I, the black sheep again. -_- BUt I AM SOLD. HAPPILY AND ANGSTILY SOLD. Verex totally does play with puppies! HE GIVES KESTREL A PUPPY! And it, um, pees on her. But hey, he tried to be nice.DUDE, YES TO THE LIPSTICK. I really love kick-butt heroes, but I think the sheer amount of them is overwhelming. I want to see a few more girls who like pretty things and are still intelligent. 😉 IT'S POSSIBLE. *nods**applauds* I'm so proud of you, Larissa. :')
Oh girl! i am right there with ya! I listened to it on audio this past week and it wrecked my heart! I couldn’t believe that cliffhanger and ALL THE FEELS! I can’t wait for the next book! I’m so glad the second book made you love the series because it is SOOOO worth loving!
THE CLIFFHANGER WAS CRUEL. *glares at author* Omg, I love this series. xD
This series is near the top of my TBR for sure – I want to know what all the fuss is about 🙂 I’ll be prepared for the first book to not completely shock my socks off. So… I scrolled through all the comments because I WANT TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE DRESS QUESTION. I didn’t see an answer though 🙁 If they changed the color of the dress in the US book, that seems silly. But it also seems silly to change the color on the cover and have it be different than in the story. WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN??
Apparently the dress colour is NOT changed in the US book…just the cover. Which I find excessively weird. Whyyyy did they do it?!!!
I still havent dive in to this series. I planned to start it now when two books are out, but after everyone mentioning evil cliffhanger…I think I will wait until series is completed.
That said, I have to admit that I am super excited to start this series. Especially after reading your review. I love it when H/h have love/hate relationship but they secretly adore each other 🙂 Plus I am also masochist and like it when author doesn’t spare her characters.
Great review, Cait!
YOU ARE WISE. You are incredibly wise and I just bow to your wiseness. I've read SO many horrific cliffhangers this year, particularly with Golden Son. GAH. I'm desperate for 2016 now because I need conclusions. hehe.*whispers* I agree. love/hate is the best and mean authors rule.
AHH! You’re finally on the bandwagon! This is such an epic series, and I’ve definitely started to convince people who didn’t like The Winner’s Curse to read the second book because they will definitely fall for this series and the characters. Hmmm, I think I remember her wearing a blue dress in the book? Maybe that’s why the dress is blue in the US cover? Or maybe it’s just because that’s a really pretty blue and it looks gorgeous (no shame). I literally squealed when she said that her dress was red! I know what you mean about the cliffhanger. Unfortunately, I think she really will go back to loving him, even after what he did to her in the last book. I hope she doesn’t, but I’ve got a feeling that she will base everything around not harming him. Great review!!
YES I AM HERE TO FANGIRL AND SHIP AND FLAIL FINALLY. heeh. It took me long enough, right?! 😉 This is soooo incredible though, and I'm totally going to be yelling about the gloriousness of this series FOREVER.Ha. Yes, no shame. The covers are gorgeous enough that I don't even care. XDI HOPE SHE LOVES ARIN IN THE END OF THIS SERIES. I don't think I can handle it if they don't get together. I mean, they haven't even really BEEN together yet. This romance. Gah. It's got me hooked.
Well, I’ve never read either of those books, so I can’t help you with the dress color. I *have* read a book though where I enjoyed the second one better than the first. I’ve also read one book from an author that made me have little fits of pure joy, only to read another book by the same author and feel very “meh-ish” about it. That always makes me sad when that happens. It also kinda scares me as an author, because, OH MY LANDS, what if that happens to someone with my books some day? So then I have to suck it up and decide that SOMEONE probably loved that book that I didn’t…
Oh oh I feel that pain completely. I'm always in terror that I'll write a book not as good as the last. :O OH THE TRIALS OF BEING A WRITER. The terror is real. *nods*
YES! This is so much better than the first book. Everything seemed to work better, I wasn’t fussed about Arin and Kestral’s relationship before but now, now I care.
Also, let’s not even start with THAT cliffhanger! Why did that happen?! I’m really not sure I can wait another year. It’s an extremely evil thing to do!
Now I care so so so much I'm literally freaking out of my brain. BUT YES! I was the same with book 1…just really meh about them. My how my ship has changed. heeh.
YAY! I’m so happy you are now a fan of the series. I have to admit to loving book one, and feeling less love for book two. Not because it’s bad, but because I totally ship Arin and Kestrel and they’re barely together in this, and when they are they are mean to each other. I DON’T APPROVE! I wanted to scream at them a little. But I did enjoy it. It was very well done and I liked that the author didn’t mind hurting people. Even if I died a little inside every time she hurt one of my favourite characters. It took me forever to write my review for this one because my brain hurt just trying to explain my feelings for it.
HA. We're like opposite in how much we love the books. XD BUT I DO SEE WHAT YOU MEAN. It was a little saddening that they barely had any chapters together. And that scene with the piano had me FREAKING OUT. FOR GOOD REASONS. *hyperventilates* Arin, you little idiot. *ships hard*
Man, I haven’t preferred a sequel to the original since… I can’t remember. If I don’t love the first book, it’s incredibly rare for me to give the second one a shot.
I love the idea of a feminine heroine. I’ll be honest, when I put on a pretty dress, I probably spend a good five seconds preening. 😀
NO SHAME IN A LITTLE PREENING. If I ever get into a dress (which there's like a 2% chance of) I may or may not admire myself for a moment. haha. NAH. I admire the dress. xD
Lesson learned from this post: I NEED TO HURRY UP AND READ THESE BOOKS ALREADY. I’ve been meaning to . . . but you know when people keep raving about a book and suddenly you’re terrified to read it because you’re worried you won’t like it? YEP. Both covers are gorgeous, though. xD
YEP. I completely understand that feeling. And the hype kind of let me down for book 1, but now it's aaaaaall so good.
I have to say the only thing I know about this book so far is that….I LOVE THE UNCLICHE COVERS!!! NO ONE EVER SHOOTS COVERS FROM THAT ANGLE AND THIS DARING LEAP PLEASES ME SO!!!!! 😀
I am yet to read these books….but now I am also interested about what cover her dress is in the US edition! WHAT IS IT WITH THE INTERNET AND COLOURED DRESSES???
Thanks for sharing Cait! xoxo
OMG YOU ARE SO RIGHT. I DIDN'T THINK OF THAT. Although The Jewel cover in the US is shot from this angle too, if I recall correctly. (Although pffft, I might be mis-remembering.)GAH PLEASE. IS THE COVER SUPPOSED TO BE BLUE AND BLACK OR BLACK AND RED??? 😉
OOOH!!!! Now I really want to read these!!!! :D:D:D:D (Obviously XD) I haven’t read them, so I couldn’t tell you about the blue dress, but I can say that I like the red dress better. As for series I read where I liked the second book better, Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi. I love, love, love that series, and it’s seriously one of my favorite series EVER!! But, as much as I loved all the books, my favorite in the series is still the second one. 😀
The red dress is just stuuuunning right?! I love these covers so so much. Oh that makes me want to continue reading the Veronica Rossi series! HA. I abandoned after book one. >_< MY BAD APPARENTLY.
It’s about bloody time you realised how utterly incredible this series is. Lucky, or we would have had to beat it into you. Yes, I’m not above violence. I ship these two so hard. The angst, the tension is absolutely delicious. That cliffhanger almost ended me. What are we going to do until book three now? WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT!
Lovely review smushie, I’m so glad I don’t have to beat you. I really quite like you 😀
I very VERY much appreciate not being beaten. *nods* I have made a good life decision deciding to adore this series. GO ME.
Hah, it was only a matter of tiiiiiime before you joined the cult. So you only liked them after they were torn apart, hm? HMM? What a little sadist you are.
I’m so glad you gave the second book a chance and ended up enjoying it. Wasn’t that ending killer? What the heck is going to happen?
And wow, I will have to check my copy, but I’m pretty sure her wedding dress is red in our US version, too! I didn’t pay any attention to it at all, you know, girl on cover in dress and all that. Maybe it’s because they went with purply/burgundy type shades for our first book and they had planned on the blue for contrast already? I DON’T KNOW, who can we ask…
Gosh where is my I AM A WINNER'S CRIME FAN tee shirt?! Seriously. That ending was NOT OKAY. I won't recover. I won't. And I can't believe I have to wait 12 months for the next installment. I presume the author and publishers are just laughing over our tears by this point. *glowers*That is SO odd about the dress then! Why did the US cover go blue?! SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE ASKED.
YAY for loving this! I felt a lot of the same feels towards this one as you: mainly WHY ARE YOU BEING SUCH AN IRRITATING LITTLE RATBAG, ARIN, YOU DOUCHENOZZLE?!?!?! I mean, if he just calmed down for one darn second, and actually gave Kestrel the time of day, like HALF the crap that happened in this book wouldn’t have happened *shakes head*
And also Verex with the puppehs and not loving Kestrel? SO APPROVE OF THIS. WHOLEHEARTEDLY. 😀
The freaking CLIFFHANGER, MAN. NO. NO. NO. WHY DO THEY DO THIS? THERE WAS A CLIFFHANGER IN THE FIRST ONE, WE DID NOT NEED ANOTHER ONE BUT OH HEY WE GOT ONE. AND NOW PAINNNN FOR A YEAR, CAIT. A YEAR *SOBBING*
And uhm yes I do not understand the different colours AT ALL. In the slightest.
HE IS A LITTLE DORK, THAT'S WHAT HE IS. WHY CAN'T HE JUST SETTLE AND CALM HIMSELF AND BE RATIONAL ABOUT THIS. I nearly died in that piano scene and Kestrel is just trying to shut him up and he's blabbing on and on AND OMG, I LOVE YOU ARIN, BUT SHUUUUUUT UP. *cries*Verex is adorable.
Honestly, I’m not sure whether or not I like this more or less than the first book. They’re both so well written, and there are equally mind-blowing cliffhangers in both books. OUR POOR FEELS! *sobs* Although I feel the writing in this one was a bit less…poetic than it was in the first one. *shrugs* Not sure if that’s just me though. And Kestrel is my favorite. She reminds me so much of Annabeth (who I adore) with her strategizing and scheming.
Thanks for sharing Cait, and, as always, fabulous review! <3 I don't think I can wait another year to see what happens next!
Oooh that’s an interesting question, I’d like to know whether her wedding dress was a different colour in the US version too, or whether it’s just the cover! I actually love our red version because it seems to suit the character a lot better. Why oh why did Arin and Kestrel constantly angst against each other? That piano scene was painful. Great review Cait!
Ommgg I just love all the covers so much, I can’t choose! I still have yet to read The Winner’s Crime and I have no idea why. I remember being so freaking excited for it when I got an ARC and then I just never got around to it. I’m so glad to hear that you liked it though!
omg I loved and hated this book so much. Your review is pretty much exactly what I’m feeling, and I read this book nine months ago! I just hope that nobody dies and they end up together!! I just cannot even.
SAAAAM, Alex, same. I am chewing my nails in nerves for The Winner’s Kiss. *flails*