Book Review: The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski

Book Review: The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoski
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux/Macmillan
Publication Date: March 3, 2015
Genre: Romance/Dystopian
Pages: 402 pages

Summary: Kestrel endures her engagement to the crown prince of Valoria and struggles to keep the truth of her deal with the Emperor a secret from Arin. Meanwhile, a broken-hearted Arin refuses to give up on Kestrel and remains determined to be a good leader to the Herrani despite the obstacles thrown his way by the Emperor.

Review: 

The Winner’s Crime picks up soon after the events of The Winner’s Curse. Kestrel is now living in the palace as the fiancé of the heir to the Valorian Empire, Prince Verex. This is a nice change of setting for the story because we are introduced to new characters and it allows for more world building. The new setting also gives Kestrel a different perspective on things which is interesting to read. Kestrel isn’t happy with her self-created situation but is trying to make the best of it. 

Back in Herran, Arin is having a really rough time being a good leader to his people. The Emperor may have granted their freedom but he is making them pay for it. He’s charging them exorbitant taxes and taking most of their food supply as payments. This leaves the Herrani poor, hungry, destitute, and very sick. On top of all this stress, Arin is dealing with a broken heart courtesy of Kestrel’s engagement to Prince Verex. But throughout the story he isn’t willing to accept that things are over between him and Kestrel. Against all odds he continues to fight for her and convince her to give him another chance. 

My favorite aspect of The Winner’s Trilogy are the characters of Kestrel and Arin. I loved getting to know them in The Winner’s Curse and I enjoyed the build up of their relationship. In The Winner’s Crime, Kestrel and Arin spend most of their time apart. I actually didn’t mind this because it gave Kestrel and Arin an opportunity for individual character growth without the immediate influence of the other. They each had to learn to find their own solutions to their obstacles. When they do interact, their dynamic is filled with angst, longing, and intensity. Their chemistry still burns up the pages and it’s clear they love one another, but circumstances and Kestrel’s stubborn refusal to tell Arin the truth keep them apart. While I understand why Kestrel won’t admit the truth, it is very frustrating that Arin can’t figure it out for himself. There are moments where he gets close to figuring it out or Kestrel is about to tell him but something always prevents the truth from being known. Rutkoski seems determined to keep Arin in the dark until the final book, The Winner’s Kiss. I’m still rooting for these two to have their happily ever after. They so deserve it.

I really like the addition of political machinations and intrigue that occur in the Valorian government as a plot point. This raises the stakes for all the characters about who to trust and where loyalties lie. We get an up close and personal look at how this plays out through Kestrel. The Emperor is eager to mold Kestrel into a great empress and invites her opinion on political matters and war strategy. Even though the Emperor may have ulterior motives, he does genuinely value and respect Kestrel’s ideas. 

There is a mystery woven throughout the story that involves Kestrel. It’s not a surprising choice for her but a very dangerous one. The way the mystery unravels at the end will surprise readers and Kestrel’s outcome will leave you with your jaw hitting the floor. 

The Winner’s Crime did suffer from similar pacing issues like its predecessor. It doesn’t take long to engage in the story because the characters are already familiar to you but it does slow down at certain points. I wanted to see more pro-activeness on the characters part to develop the plot instead of them waiting for the plot to happen. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this sequel. It’s a great character driven story that expands on the world building and continues the thread of forbidden romance between Kestrel and Arin. I’m even more emotionally invested in these characters than before and a happy ending for them is a must! Can’t wait to read the last book in the trilogy, The Winner’s Kiss, coming out March 29th.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Reviewer: @perusingya (Amna)