I cannot even CONTAIN my excitement today, my pineapple fiends! (Okay, I never really do attempt to contain bookish excitement?? But whatever. Let’s move forward.) I was invited to be on The Winner’s Kiss blog tour and my brain basically exploded because — HELLO. THIS FANTASY SERIES IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITES.
“Why is that, Cait?” you say. “Stop shouting at us and give us some reasons.”
Okay, okay. I shall. Keep your fronds on.
What to expect from today’s glorious post?
- a list of reasons to read The Winner’s Curse trilogy (no-spoilers!)
- a review of the final book, The Winner’s Kiss (no-spoilers for the book but spoilers for the rest of the series, so it’ll be hidden behind spoiler-tags)
- 2 x sets of the ENTIRE TRILOGY to win (ohhhh glorious day)
An enormous thank you to Bloomsbury for this opportunity and raucous applause to Marie Rutkoski for this extraordinarily brilliant series!
MARIE RUTKOSKI is a professor of English literature at Brooklyn College, where she teaches Shakespeare, children’s literature and creative writing. She lives in New York City with her husband and two sons. Marie can tie a good double figure-eight knot and is very fond of perfume, tea and excellent bread and butter.
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- THEY’RE BRILLIANT AND AMAZING AND I SAID READ THEM. I just think I should put this point first, because it’s clearly the most important. When am I ever wrong about my emphatic love for excellent books? NEVER.
- THE ENTIRE TRILOGY IS OUT NOW. I’m just sayin’. You can binge read them. I 100% attest that they are BEST read one after the other. I had to die over excruciating cliffhangers, but you won’t have to. Isn’t that lovely.
- KESTREL IS CUNNING AND CLEVER. Not that I’m saying all the “kick-butt fierce heroines” are bad…I love them. But I love Kestrel SO MUCH for not being one of them. She’s really not good with weapons. Her mind is her weapon. SHE IS EXTRAORDINARILY BRILLIANT. She can think up military tactics no one else can and her plans always work. Oh! Oh! And she deduces. So it’s basically like a female Sherlock in an epic fantasy world loosely based on Grecian-Roman times. Got all that? GOOD.
- THE ROMANCE IS ABSOLUTELY MY FAVOURITE. I’m not the world’s biggest romance fan, but omggggg. I will aggressively ship this until the apocalypse comes (and even then I’ll probably still ship it, but less aggressively because the apocalypse will probably take up a lot of thinking time; but I digress). Kestrel buys a slave, Arin, in the first book. But. That’s just the BEGINNING. He’s not “just a slave” and she’s not “just a stuck-up mistress”. There are soooo many twists and turns in their identities and relationship. Honestly? They basically HATE each other. And then they take turns being infatuated with each other but not saying it. (Ermagerd let me smack them.) And then of course, their romance is FORBIDDEN. And then blood and torture and separation (separation anxiety for me) and DEVASTATION. Basically it’s my favourite romance, okay?! OKAY.
- IT’S SET IN A GRECIAN-ROMAN FANTASY WORLD. So it’s still “epic fantasy” but not the average medieval stuff. (Oh goodie.) It definitely has a Roman vibe, but there are also pretty dresses (LOOK AT THE COVERS) tons of original culture (!!!) and wars and history and customs and all the good world-building stuff I crave.
- KESTREL PLAYS THE PIANO. This should convince you. It convinces me. She wants to play her piano and not go to war and not marry. #GoKestrel
- EVERYTHING GOES WRONG AND YOU WILL CRY. Honestly, this series is BRILLIANT and yet STRESSFUL. Even in my re-read I couldn’t put it down. Plot twists? Cliffhangers? Torture? Battles? Bleeding? Stabby stabbings? You got ’em.
- EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL THOUGH, SO THERE’S SOMETHING. Between your tears you will notice that a) the covers are just gorgeous and b) they are only the prelude to the gorgeous writing inside. And characters that just melt/break/elate your heart. It’s a 5-star series, folks, through and through. And the finale does NOT disappoint. I love everything. Everything is perfect. Everything hurts. THIS TRILOGY. AHHHHHHH.
- UM, JUST GO READ IT. Yes? Good job.
But it will contain slight spoilers for the rest of the series, so it’s in spoiler tags! NO PEEKING if you haven’t started the series yet. But the basic ideas is: this book is PERFECTION.
(Also I’m really glad I reread the first two. This is a series that tastes better the second time round because you see just how CLEVER the plot is and just how carefully complex and conspiracies are.)
The characters’ suffering is ramped up to like 1000%. Kestrel got sent up to that prison camp and ohhhh she’s tortured and her father doesn’t care and she’s disowned and it’s HORRIBLE. 
And Arin is all thinking she hates him…but is ahhhhhh. I felt the pain of them! I shipped them so freakishly hard. And I loved how they were both intense characters of ACTION and they didn’t sit and cry (although crying is done by all). Honestly this is my favourite romance of the universe. I could COMBUST with the amount I ship them. They’re idiots, yes. But this book is the most honest of the three and they’re fiiiiinally getting theri stupid heads around the fact that THEY WERE MADE FOR EACH OTHER.
Actually the whole book is just perfectly written. It’s definitely larger than the first two and it DID have slowish moments. There were several battles I was blinking a little distractedly at. But it keeps the scenes snappy and short, so yay.
Also my love for Roshar doubles. We met him in The Winner’s Crime, but now he and Arin and are working together and THEY BE GREAT FRIENDS. And by “friends” I mean Roshar is an arrogant sassy prince who puts 94% of his energy DRIVING ARIN NUTS. The banter is perfect.
“I’ve been thinking.”
“Dear gods.”
I honestly choked up WITH FEELS. What is this life. My Vulcan soul betrays me. I’m just so relieved that the book grew the characters but stayed TRUE to them. Feels are had by all. Also stress. Did I mention who freaking stressful this book is?!? There are still plot twists and clever battle tactics. I love how it kept me thinking and anticipating Kestrel’s genius plans. THE ENDING PLOT TWIST IS DIVINE.
There is battles, tactics, plot twists, torture, tears, gods of death, wounds, explosions, lies, and a really really good winning kiss. NOT A SPOILER. The front cover says so.
MY HEART IS SO FULL RIGHT NOW. This is a perfect finale.
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?
Goodreads Purchase Full Review Book 1 Full Review Book 2 Full Review Book 3
4th April – Winged Reviews
5th April – So Many Books, So Little Time
6th April – Curiosity Killed the Bookworm + Europe only giveaway
7th April – Bloggers Heart Books (fancast)
8th April – Never Judge a Book By It’s Cover
9th April – Escapism from Reality
10th April – Lost in Thought
11th April – Book Passion
12th April – Dark Dictator
13th April – Sophie Reads YA
14th April – Book Nerdigans
15th April – Paper Fury (meeeeeee I’M THE FINALE…ahem)
Open to AUSTRALIANS only /// 2 x sets of the trilogy
OMGILOVETHOSECOVERSILUVEMSOMUCHAGSDWBSJSGDUBFDJS. Ahem. Major fangirling aside, I honestly cannot wait to read this! It sounds amazingly good!
AREN’T THEY JUST SO RIDICULOUSLY GORGEOUS?!?!? I CANNOT EVEN DECIDE A FAVOURITE AT THIS POINT BECAUSE I’M SO IN LOVE WITH ALL OF THEM AND AJFDKALSDFJ BASICALLY. Ahem. But I concur with the conclusion that they are good. AMAZINGLY GOOD.
I am convinced as your recommendations are always fantastic (White Cat and Splintered YAS). Fun fact: I’ve dreamt twice that I’ve bought the first book in this series so if that isn’t an indication to buy the trilogy I don’t know what is. ;D Also, YOUR PHOTOS ARE STUNNING. TEACH ME YOUR WAYS.
YES, WHY YES MY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FANTASTIC. *flips hair fantastically* I seem to be reading all the series endings at the moment too for some reason?! This was definitely not as destroying as Half Lost THAT’S FOR SURE. *sniffles*
Okay for the photos…FIRST TRADE YOUR SOUL TO THE PHOTOGRAPHY SPIRITS ON THE AUTUMN EQUINOX…(okay omg I’m totally kidding. If I did that, I’d expect better results than I get. 😂 Just point and shoot my friend, point and shoot.)
That moment when this post makes you realise that do, in fact, own the first book but haven’t read it yet. OH MY GOD CAIT HOW DID I FORGET I HAVE THIS? This is an abomination, I am an abomination. Perhaps this is a sign that I have too many books – actually that’s a lie, you can never have too many books. I must get my hat set straight and pick up this book ASAP. Thank you for the reminder and for the very import reasons as to why I should read this. To the bookshelf! *charges away*
ZOMG, KIRSTIE, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR. IT CALLS TO YOU WITH IT’S BEAUTIFUL MAGNIFICENCE. *shrieks* But, pfft, never too many books. Just not enough eyeballs. #legit
I’ve loved the Winner’s Curse for about 1482409232 years (okay, read that as since it came out) and I’m so happy to share my excitement with someone. Now, if my bookstore would please get the Winner’s Kiss, that would be great. Thank you, Australia, for having incredibly slow postage.
AHHH, I understand that feel. I DO. 😂 Although I was a nitwit and didn’t really like it the first time I read it?!? IDEK WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ME. The second time round I was hopelessly fangirl the whole time. Maybe sobbing. Maybe shrieking. My dog definitely thought I was weird… (UGH to Australia and postage. *shakes fist at it*)
I’ve heard so many great things about this series, need to read it!!
YES YOU ABSOLUTELY DO, ARI. I HOPE I WAS CONVINCING.
I want to read this book so bad now! I have way to many TBR books right now.
The endlessly gargantuan TBR is our curse, I tell you, CURSE. *collapses in a puddle of books*
My fave cover has to be The Winner’s Kiss because THAT DRESS IS LIFE! Honestly, I need a wardrobe purely for outfits featured on book covers that I’ve drooled/fangirled/cried tears of joy over. The colour of The Winner’s Kiss dress is simply stunning (plus there’s a sword and swords are badass which basically = book goals!). Am super excited for The Winner’s Kiss and I’m sure it’ll be a fantastic and memorable addition to this brilliant series <3
Swooooords YES. It is definitely my goal to wear a gorgeous dress and wield a sword. DEFINITELY. And omg, I get so so worried going into series finales…but this was perfect and didn’t disappoint at all. <3
You’d need a fiery-inspired gown to match your Queen of the Dragons status! Ooh, I can see it now – not quite Katniss Everdeen…more Celaena ‘kneel before me or die’. A dress that inspires millions to love dragons, read books, and eat cake!
And I’m so happy to hear that. I tend to worry a lot about series finales and whether they’ll live up to a year/two’s worth of daydreams and badly composed fanfiction. But it’s always a great feeling when a finale is EPIC 😀
If I hadn’t already read and LOVED this trilogy then you definitely would have convinced me with this post.
I also reread the previous two books too before this one was released because I totally agree that they are better when read in one chunk, plus I was really worried that I would have forgotten some really tiny but important detail!
I loved Kestrel for the exact reasons you mentioned. I was always fascinated reading from her POV and seeing how she thinks us all these smart military techniques etc was just so interesting to read.
And yes, the romance, one of my favourites too! As well as the bromance between Arin and Roshar!
So gutted this trilogy is over now, but no doubt I will be rereading it a lot in the future!
YUP. Rereading was the way to go. :’) It’s honestly a series best read in a rush and afdjksald all the feels and aaaaall the intense shipping moments. All the tiny details are SO important too! THAT’S WHY I LOVE IT SO MUCH. 😀
And YES, omg, I never read about super smart characters like this, and I just loved how she worked things out and gahhh, it was amazing. <3 Kestrel is my hero. And the book is written so beautifully. 😍 ALLL THE LOVE.
OMG THESE PHOTOS CAIT. *dies* THE PEACOCK FEATHER ONE. Oh and there’s this place near Central Station called Basement Books and they have really cheap books – anyway so I saw The Winner’s Crime there for like $5 so I’m guessing I should definitely get it???
I AM DEFINITELY GETTING IT.
DUDE YES. GO GET IT IMMEDIATELY. Or, ya know, just win the giveaway *nods* That can work too.
YES YES YES to all of these reasons. I finished The Winners Kiss last week and it was SO GOOD. I like the cover for the winners crime best. I feel like it’s really important to show girls who are physically strong (because gender stereotypes suck) but showing them (readers) that ladies can be intelligent and capable without big muscles is also so important. Kestrel is awesome in that way. I don’t have a preference for reading– I’lll read anything that interests me I guess. And Marie Rutkoski is like a master writer, her prose is on point. I’ll have a review for this up next week. yay!
ABSOLUTELY YES. We need both types of heroines. And we do need girls who punch and slay…but I also think we definitely need feminine girls who scheme and plot and use their incredible intelligence. <3 We need BOTH. And omg isn't the writing just incredible?! *falls in love with it* It's so concise and brutal and AMAZING.
So happy to read this!! I’ve only read the first one so as soon as I get my shiny copy of The Winner’s Kiss I will be binge reading the whole series! I can’t wait to have all the Arin-Kestrel feels!! I love that Kestrel is mind strong vs. physical strong. I thought it was so refreshing to read about a heroine who doesn’t necessarily kick ass (literally), but can still kick ass mentally. I love that it shows that strength is always about your ability to fight and chop people down with swords.
YAY!! Excellent decision to binge read the whole series. :’) You won’t have to suffer through years of torturous cliffhangers. You’re the wise one basically. 😂 And YES. I agree! I love the ones that totally punch/slay…but there are so many of them. I want more schemers and plotters!
YOU SAID SHERLOCK?! *runs away to the library*
*runs back* Wait, what was the first book again? The Winner’s Curse. Okay, got it. *runs away to the library*
Um, so I admit that I covered judged these. The covers made me think, “A fantasy chick-flick? Um, no thanks.” Not that the covers aren’t gorgeous; because they are. It just made me think about high school drama set in a fantasy world. Now you tell me that the MC is a genius and that world building is phenomenal, I shall go find myself this book. Not to mention the love/hate relationship. Those are tHE BEST! Sure, love/hate relationships don’t make sense, but who’s bringing logic into this conversation?!
Also, I looove all your photos!
And I cannot wait for another The Dead Boy and The Paper Cut chapter tomorrow. Please tell me Luca dug up the wrong grave. Tell me he dug up Ennis’ grave. He’s NOT ACTUALLY GOING TO BURN THOMAS’ BONES RIGHT?! *ahem* Okay, I will stop whining. Either way, it’s an awesome story!
YES I SAID SHERLOCK. THAT SHOULD 100% CONVINCE YOU, RIGHT?!?
Omg, I love pretty dress covers. I adore them. I admit I picked this one up 90% for cover love. 😍 And hate/love romances are my favourite toooo. ALSO GENIUS PROTAGONISTS. I want to write a genius protagonist but my brain says “HAHAH NOPE” which is super encouraging of it. -_- Ahem. But I digress.
(That would’ve actually been a fun plot twist in Dead Boy. 😂 I didn’t think of that. HEHEHHEHE.)
Love the covers! Keep seeing these ones at the bookstore. Sounds like they’re pretty good.
THEY ARE. *clutches them and shrieks* I promise they are good.
I WANT TO READ THIS NOW OMG.
TOTALLY FIND IT AND DEVOUR IT. YOU WON’T BE SORRY.
I was already extremely excited to read The Winner’s Kiss, though I’ve been putting it off because I want to reread The Winner’s Curse and The Winner’s Crime. But your post today is making me want to do it RIGHT NOW. It sounds absolutely gloooooorious.
I am sooo glad I reread them before starting the finale. 😂 The series is EVEN MORE DELICIOUS when read all at once. :’)
OK SO I ADORE THE WINNER’S CURSE TRILOGY BUT I HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO READ THE LAST BOOK YET. ARGHHH WHAT IS MY LIFE.
Honestly, I like heroines who are mentally strong, but then I also like heroines who are physically strong. It depends on the story, I guess.
My favorite cover is the Winner’s Kiss cover, but the North American cover, because it’s a red dress. The Winner’s Crime cover has a blue dress instead of a red one.
YES, MIRONIEL. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE. GO FIX THIS IMMEDIATELY. (I’m just kidding. 😂 There are so many books to read, right?!? We do what we can!)
And yes, I agree: we need both types of heroines anyway. I just feel like more of them are punching than scheming and I gotta love the schemer. :’)
I’m SO confused as to why the dress covers are different from country-to-country?!?!? IT’S SO WEIRD. Plus book 2 is ABOUT a red dress — like it’s specifically mentioned. So I have no idea why the US cover changed it to blue? Gah. #Confusion
I’ve heard soooo much about these books, but I didn’t want to start a new trilogy until all of the books were out. They sound amazing! (And your beautiful photos just make them even more attractive.)
YOU are wise. That’s all I can say. *nods* I wish I’d waited because ahhhhh the cliffhangers are CRUEL wtih this one. (Omg thank you about my photos. :’) I had suuuuch a good time taking the photoshoot. THEY ARE RIDICULOUSLY PHOTOGENIC.)
I loved the first one, but I decided to wait and read the second one till the last one was out. I guess it’s “safe” now, right?
I really liked the fantasy world, and I LOVE Kestrel – she’s awesome. To be honest, the only thing I didn’t like were the covers. I don’t think they represented the books well, and that second one – THAT is not how you hold a sword. URGH. Cover art.
But the books are good anyhow!!
Oh you are the wisest of wise tbh, because the second book’s cliffhanger is CRUEL. It is SO SO VERY CRUEL I nearly cried and actually ended up commiserating with the publicist about it. 😂 Which was kind of awesome. We are all doomed to suffer by authors — NO MATTER OUR ROLE IN PROMOTION. 😂
Duuuude, you don’t like the covers!?? I WEEP. But I kind of like that she’s not holding the weapon correctly…(not that I noticed until you said it) but she’s not good at fighting so it kinda makes sense?
That is EPIC about the publicist!
Re: “Duuuude, you don’t like the covers!??”
I’m a grumpy Scrooge, what can I say?
Anyhow – it’s more that holding an actual sword like that would strain your wrist, if it was even possible. If the sword was aluminum, it might work. – I obviously have nothing invested in this sword business, lol-
I just think that someone who didn’t know how to use a sword would hold it with both hands, and try to keep the business parts as far from themselves as possible . . .? And since the fantasy is Roman/Greek inspired in feel, why is Kestrel wearing a prom dress. (I mean, it’s a gorgeous prom dress, but still . . .) It just didn’t fit with my image of the world, that’s all 🙂
I literally saw this and SCREAMED (because duh I can’t remember anything from the first book because I’m a memory deficient ‘human bean’) – “KESTREL PLAYS THE PIANO. This should convince you. It convinces me. She wants to play her piano and not go to war and not marry. #GoKestrel”
^^ I play piano! It’s literally amazing! (Unless you’re stuck playing boring pieces – but usually pieces are beautiful and such)
And I really really really love when I read books after the entire trilogy is out already because it’s exactly as you said – WE DON’T HAVE TO SUFFER THROUGH THE DISASTROUS CALAMITIES OF CLIFFHANGERS THAT USUALLY RIP MY SOUL OUT. (*small voice* But maybe I secretly LIKE those….? *slaps small voiced self* *small voiced self slaps back because small voiced self is FIERCE and will stand up for cliffhangers though why would self do that* *realizes how far-fetched this self argument is*)
I COULDN’T REMEMBER THE FIRST BOOK AT ALL EITHER. *cue gasp* That’s why I had to re-read the whole series, but I’m like 10000% glad I did, because I ended up loving it EVEN MORE. :’) And that’s always fun. And duuuuude, piano is great! I kind of quit a few years back, but I’m hoping to get back into it soon. I miss it. :’) (Unless, yes, being stuck on boring pieces. -_- And fingering is honestly the bane of my life. Whyyyy can’t I just FINGER HOW I WANT.) Ahem. 😂
I don’t know if you have read this series, but I think that Kestrel sounds like June from Legend. I have been wanting to read this for a while.
WHY IS THE GIVEAWAY AUSTRALIA ONLY?? WHY?! There are a lot of American pineapples here too, including me.😭
I might read this now. It sounds good, and I have to do something while I wait for the Fall of Awesome Books, as I’m calling it. (Midnight Star, Heartless, Thunder and Shadow, Crooked Kingdom, A Torch Against the Night, Empire of Storms… to name a few)
Mentally strong heroines are awesome, as long as they are not cheesy.
I did read Legend! Like aaaages and ages ago. For some reason I never continued?! GAH. NEED REMEDY THAT.
Heh, I know there are many American pineapples. ;D But the Australian publisher is sponsoring and I’m nooooot rich enough to send books overseas. #sorry
THIS. We have so many YA heroines who are really physically fierce, but Kestrel proves that being your mind can be just as dangerous a weapon. I love how strategic and cunning she is (she kind of reminds me of Annabeth in a way).
And you know a romance is good when Zoe loves it! 😂
Also all the cliffhanger feels. 😭💔
Thanks for sharing Cait and, as always, fabulous review! xx So glad you found this a satisfying end to the trilogy.
YOU MEAN: IT’S A MIRACLE ROMANCE WHEN ZOE LOVES IT. 😂 😂 Just kidding. hehe. But I’m sooo glad you like this series too!! I love how the romance is pretty intense and it does drive the plot A LOT, but there’s still so much else going on. :’) War. YAY.
I think the third is my favourite cover and as to how excited to tell the truth not very because I have not paid much attention to these books or read any… and of course it is hard to be excited if you did not know it was an interesting book series, but I shall check it out.
Oh you’re wise not to get excited at just anything. 😂 I seriously am TERRIBLE. I see a pretty cover = I zoom straight to intense fangirl mode. *sighs* I need to learn to do this less. Hehhh. Anyway, good luck for the giveaway!
You don’t need to convince me, Cait. I plan to read this series soon. The entire trilogy is out! I was waiting forever to binge read this series. Forbidden romance is my favorite trope. I agree the covers are gorgeous, though nowadays I’m a little bit weary of beautiful covers, so often they hide not so good content. But not in this case.
Also are you playing piano? I see note pages in your photos.
OMG YAY!! (Pfft, we’ll just pretend I am the reason you are convinced. Ahem.) And I do so love forbidden-romances too! and OMG YES TO THE COVERS. *pets them* I feel like YA covers are getting more and more ridiculously gorgeous these days?! But yeah, ugh, it sucks when the cover is nicer than the book. But noooot so here.
(And yes, I used to play piano! 😛 I don’t really anymore but I’ve been considering getting back into it since I’ve been teaching my nephew. :’)
I’m so terrified to read the last book because the second one ended so painfully. THIS SERIES IS AMAZEBALLS and I ship Kestrel and Arin so hard but ARIN IS SO FRICKIN stupid though, like please. It physically hurts me how he hates/loves Kestrel now. AHH WHY **insert crying emojis**
OMG I AGREE. That finale of book 2?!! I WANTED TO STRANGLE ARIN WITH THE PIANO OMGGGGG. But do not fear! This one won’t let you down!! (OR, well, I don’t know. 😂 But it didn’t let me down!!)
“I wanted to strangle Arin with the piano” is hands down my favourite phrase right now
THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE MOST EPIC ROMANCE EVER OMG. Yayyy for piano playing! Kestrel sounds brilliant, and the Roman-inspired fantasy world sounds super unique.
Ellie | On the Other Side of Reality
I love how it’s not, like, outright Roman too?! It definitely has the flair but it’s also a bit Greek there AND just a bit plain ol’ fantasy. I haven’t read a series like this in EVER and now I WANT MORE.
“The Winners Kiss” is my favorite cover. Thanks for the giveaway.
Marilyn
The green is soooo pretty right?!? EEEEP.
I have to say that the strongest appeal for me to read this is that the whole series is out. I’m like a whiny child when I have to wait for books: I get really mad and then I forgot about them like two seconds later.
Your excessive flailing has convinced me to add these to my TBR list for this summer. As always, thanks for sharing!
bAHHAHA. I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND. 😂 I honestly wish I waited more when it comes to series. -_- I end up on SO many cliffhangers (this is like 94% of the reason why I am insane) and then I forget ALL THE THINGS by the time the sequel comes out. Gahhhhh.
I just finished The Winner’s Kiss and absolutely loved it! I’ve had so many bad experiences with disappointing trilogy enders, or final books that just didn’t seem like they fit with the rest of the series, so I always brace myself when I read final books. Happily, The Winner’s Kiss was everything I could’ve hoped for, and I was so, so glad that Rutkoski did justice to her characters and to her books as a whole.
Also, I want Roshar to be my BFF. 😀
YUP. Me too. I basically procrastinate series finales soooo bad. But this was PERFECT and I love love love the ending. <3
Roshar and ARIN for BFF!! And I mean Arin the tiger. 😉
I’ve been wanting to read the trilogy for a while now. I keep seeing mixed reviews but the gorgeous covers might just be enough to convince me to get started on them soon! That and this post!
Ignore aaaaall the sad reviews. ONLY LISTEN TO ME. :’) (What could go wrong?) hehe
Ahhh, what a great giveaway! And now I’m sad that I don’t live in Australia. Oh well. I do have the first one on my Kindle, so I will be reading it soon. So happy the whole series is out! If I love it (and I have a feeling that I will), then I can binge read the whole series at once.
Oh oh reading books when the whole series is out is the BEST. I need to do it more often. 😂 But noooo, my brain is like “Let’s read this series and then WAIT PAINFULLY OVER CLIFFHANGERS”. -_-
I haven’t read any of this series, though it’s been on my TBR list a while . . . it does look pretty awesome, though.
Emphasis on the PRETTY awesome. *pets covers* (I’m totally sucker for cover love and not even sorry about it. 😂)
ERMAGERSH!!! I loooooove this series so much! It quite possibly might be my new favorite series, depending on how The Winner’s Kiss goes. (Yep, pressure’s on, series finale.) I’m hoping to get to read The Winner’s Kiss soon! I think I’m going to skim-re-read the first two books first, though, since it’s been a while. I’m so excited!!!
THE WINNER’S KISS WENT BRILLIANTLY, TRUST ME. 😂 I mean, pfft, don’t trust me: go read it and see. hhhehheh. And omg re-reading is a fabulous idea. I’m so glad I did it because it made me enjoy TWK so so much more. :’)
Um, ok – don’t kill me! But I accidentally (because I’m a stupid human who never LOOKS at anything) put in about four entries before I realised it was AUS only. Can you cancel them or something? I’m really sorry to have bothered you *lowers head apologetically*.
Omg don’t even worry!! 😂 If I draw you, I’ll just draw again. *whispers* Also don’t feel alone…I usually have like a zillion non-Australian entries in these kind of giveaways. hehe. I wish it could be INT though!
That cover looks so awesome! Bahh! Awesome post! The book looks really good 🙂
Nabila // Hot Town Cool Girl
EEEP. I’M SO GLAD. And omg these are covers I could easily just stare at forever. *happy sigh*
I absolutely love this blog and I aspire to be more like you with my blogging. Based off of this amazing review, I think I really want to read this series as I have been thinking about it for a while but was never too sure. I probably won’t be allowed to buy the books but I’m going to definitely add the trilogy to my list xx
Thank you for the recommendation 🙂
Aww, Bree! YOU ARE SO SWEET. *gives you cake* And also they are just suuuuch good books. *shrieks* Maybe library them? 😀
“Open to Australians only” = the words that make me weep bitter tears of remorse/blood. It’s always USA only or AUS only (yet somehow never “Scotland only”??? Weird that.). BUT DESPITE THIS, THE FACT I AM DISAPPOINTED SHOWS THAT YOU HAVE DONE YOUR JOB. Because I used to see this series floating around without knowing much about it, I thought it was like dystopia or something, maybe because the covers remind me of The Selection. I mean, the covers DO remind me of the Selection, and I DID NOT LIKE The Selection, so I guess I’ve always been subconsciously put off? BUT THEY SOUND REALLY GOOD. You’ve converted me. I’mma read them.
Also yesss please more mentally strong heroines! I think that Katniss/Tris/Celaena have exhausted me with their fighting skills. To quote Mulan, as I frequently do, “how about a girl who’s got a brain, and always speaks her mind?”
DUDE, I AM SO SORRY. *pats shoulder* Life is notoriously cruel, I totally understand. (Blame the postoffice though with their extravagant postage habits.) Ahem. BUT ANYWAY. I’M GLAD TO SEE MY SHRIEKINGS HAVE WORKED.
But omg they’re nothing like The Selection. 😂 Not even close. I guess the pretty-dress-covers can give the idea? But they’re definitely fantasy *nods* And OH SO GOOD. (Actually I’m a sucker for pretty dress covers. 😂)
AHHHH PERFECT USE OF MULAN QUOTE!!
I love all the covers, they are just so gorgeous! I have only read The Winner’s Curse, and it is a crime that I have not read the others. I would love to win them, that would help me rectify the situation nicely 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway. I am so excited to finish this series and you just made me so much more excited to.
GOOD LUCK FOR THE GIVEAWAY THEN!! They are sooo beautiful and I can only screech good things basically. :’)
I TOTALLY WANT TO READ THIS TRILOGY NOW. I’ve added it to my TBR. (Don’t you just love it when you start reading an older series and realize that it’s such a relief not having to wait for the next books to be released?) I think my favorite cover is the one in which she’s wearing the pink dress because it looks like she’s reaching up and grasping a letter in the title (by the way, I love your book photography and the way you arrange your photos; they’re so pretty!). And I think that there should be more heroines who are BOTH mentally strong and physically strong, because a woman can be both and isn’t limited to being only one at a time.
OMG YES I REALLY LOVE NOT HAVING TO WAIT. I’m a completely deluded pineapple though and ALWAYS start series before they’re all out. Ooooone day I’ll learn. (Um, probably not. 😂)
OH oh and I totally agree about heroines shouldn’t be limited to being one or the other! 😀 It is nice (and kinda encouraging!?) to read about ones that fail at physical battle though…I can relate. 😂
I have actually read a sample of The Winner’s Curse, and found the writing to be a bit simplistic for my tastes😕 I really wanted to like it, though.
Aww, *cries* I’m sad it wasn’t for you, but I guess not every book is perfect for us all, right?!
OHMYGOODNESS GRACIOUS I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH. *hyperventilates* I just finished Winner’s Kiss this afternoon and I am so in love with it. The romance is SO GOOD. And the writing is so beautiful without going overboard. I want to write like this so bad.
*cries because I loved the series too much and the cliffhangers nearly killed me*
Seriously, though. This has to be one of my all time-favourites. And I don’t believe in picking favourites. Until now. 😀
AHHHH I’M SO GLAD YOU ARE A WILD FAN TOO!! *shrieks with you* Omg and isn’t the writing just goals?!! I AM IN LOVE WITH IT. It’s so simple and brutal and perfect. <3
Love the list of reasons to read TWK. I wasn’t originally interested in this series, but I’ve slowly become intrigued and it sounds like a really epic series.
I literally sat here for a few minutes trying to pick which cover I like best, but I finally decided on The Winner’s Kiss as my fave. THAT COLOUR. IT’S SO EYE-CATCHING. I have a thing for emerald green, OK?!
“and even then I’ll probably still ship it, but less aggressively because the apocalypse will probably take up a lot of thinking time; but I digress” YOU ALWAYS MAKE ME SMILE, CAIT. IT’S APPRECIATED, YOU STRANGE EATER OF BOOKS.
YOU ARE MOST WELCOME. *beams happily* I quite like the title “you stranger eater of books”. THE TITLE OF MY MEMOIR PROBABLY. Ahem. 😂
But I actually didn’t love TWC the first time I read it! *GASP* But now I’m a most rabid fan and it definitely goes on the shelf as one of my most favoured series. :’)
I’ve definitely been disappointed by some trilogy enders lately, but not this book. Winner’s Kiss was everything I was hoping. And I love that the Australian cover has a green dress – just did a post about this weird superstition that a) green book covers are supposed to be bad news and b) how there are SO many green book covers lately. Love the green!
I did love your post about green covers!! I’d never thought about it before tbh 😂 Now I’m going to watch out for it…but YESSSS it was glorious! And perfect and so very satisfying. <3
All 3 covers are fantastic!
I’m very excited*yay!*,heard and read great things about this trilogy and I’m so looking forward to read! 🙂
Thank you for the great post and review 🙂
THEY TOTALLY ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL COVERS. I COULDN’T AGREE MORE. <3
So while posting this I realized it was only open to Australians. Ooops! I guess I’m just used to being USA-privileged (silly me!). But STILL A COOL GIVEAWAY.
I just read the first book last week. I liked it okay, but hoping it gets more interesting in the other books? I really liked the clashing societies, but cared less about the romance.
Those covers are GORGEOUS. I’m glad their back to the original designs. =)
That’s okay! 😂 I have a lot of non-Aussie-people entering the Aussie-only giveaways. ;D
I kind of felt meh about the first book the first time I read it? But the 2nd time, me = rabid fan. BUT THE SECOND BOOK IS SO SO GOOD ANYWAY.
(I’m glad the UK/AUS never changed the designs. We are smart. ;D)
I’ve only read the first one so far, but I really enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to getting to the rest of the series.
YAYYYYYY. I hope you enjoy the rest of the series. :’) And by “enjoy” I mean “HAVE FUN WITH THE TERROR AND GLORIOUS FEELS.”
I finished The Winner’s Kiss yesterday, and then I woke up this morning all excited, and thought to myself: I can keep reading he Winner’s Kiss today! And then I suddenly remembered that I HAD FINISHED IT. And did not, in fact, have it to read any more. *cue sobbing*
But YES. I really feel like it was the perfect conclusion to this series. I really liked practically everything that happened, to be honest. And we need a spin off series about Roshar, just saying. I am 99.9% certain that he is my favourite character in the entire series because of so many reasons.
The first cover is still my favourite <3 I am not entirely sure how I feel about the red and the green. But THE PINK IS PERFECTION.
And I really do love the fact that Kestrel is badass in her OWN way. I know we need physically badass female characters, but we also need characters who are badass without having to be an assassin or a perfect archer or whatever. Kestrel is just SMART. Smart girls rule, obviously.
YES YES CUE MUCH SOBBING. I’m desperately hoping this author writes more fantasy because she does it the besssssst. I LOVE fantasies that aren’t a zillion pages long. *hugs them* It’s really refreshing to have shorter concise ones. :’) AND YES ROSHAR IS THE BEST THOUGH. And Arin. I mean tiger-Arin. 😂
AND YES FOR SURE. And I think we have plenty of physically badass heroines and I do believe we need more mentally badass ones. *nods* Balance. Because BOTH TYPES are wonderful and need to be shrieked over.
The series sounds awesome. I haven’t read them yet but I think there definitely on that list of books I want to read. You definitely convinced me. 😀
YAYYYYY. *awards self cake for being so convincing*
*on second thoughts, shares cake with you*
I hope you do like them if you get a chance to read them soon. 😀
Wow, that was a quick reply. *Hastily grabs cake before she changes her mind*
By the sounds of it I think I will like them. They sound like the type of book I would enjoy.
Hehe, yes! You commented at a good time because I’m doing a binge-replying-session. 😂