Sunday 11 January 2015

The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski

The Winner's Crime

Author: Marie Rutkoski
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Published: March 12th 2015
Rating: 4/5 
Goodreads // Book Depository

Synopsis:
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'strilogy

If I had to choose three words to describe this book they would be dark, political and sly, but in the best way possible. Having read the first and not being overwhelmingly impressed by it, this was a welcome change in atmosphere. It was made clear in this novel that this isn't a love story, it is a story of a nation at war, of politics and of relationships, whether it be between cultures or people. If you loved the first book, you'll love this even more and if you didn't I'd say give it a go anyway because I was extremely impressed. 

To keep this review tidy (as I have a lot to say) I'm going to work in sections. Spoilers will also be found after the cut, so you've been warned!