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The Winner's Curse

The Winner's Curse

FantasyHistorical Fiction
Pages
355
Published
2014
Language
English

Synopsis

Kestrel, a privileged girl from a warmongering empire, makes an impulsive decision to purchase a slave named Arin. This act ignites a dangerous rebellion that threatens to dismantle her world and challenge everything she believes in. As their lives become intertwined, Kestrel finds herself caught between loyalty to her people and a growing connection that could shatter her heart.

Prose complexity
4/10

Vibe

TenseEmotionalAdventurous
Forbidden LoveEnemies to LoversBetrayal

Genres

Fantasy Historical Fiction Romance Romantasy YA Fantasy Young Adult

About the author

M
Marie Rutkoski

Marie Rutkoski is an American author of books for children, young adults and adults. She is best known for the Winner's Trilogy, which begins with The Winner's Curse (2014), and for the earlier Kronos Chronicles, which begins with The Cabinet of Wonders (2008). Her other books include the standalone The Shadow Society, the Forgotten Gods duology (The Midnight Lie and The Hollow Heart), and the adult novels Real Easy (2022) and Ordinary Love (2025). She holds a PhD in English from Harvard and tea...

Characters

Kestrel TrajanProtagonist

A general's daughter in the Valorian Empire, a gifted strategist and pianist who must choose between joining the military and marrying.

Arin (The Winner's Trilogy)Protagonist

A Herrani blacksmith enslaved after the Valorian conquest of his homeland, bought at auction by Kestrel; formerly the son of a Herrani noble family.

General TrajanSupporting

Kestrel's father, the Valorian Empire's most celebrated general, who led the conquest of Herran roughly a decade before the story begins.

Jess (The Winner's Trilogy)Supporting

Kestrel's closest friend among Valorian high society, part of the same circle of parties and suitors that Kestrel is expected to navigate.

Ronan (The Winner's Trilogy)Supporting

Jess's brother, a young Valorian nobleman who courts Kestrel and proposes marriage to her.

All characters in The Winner's Curse

Frequently asked questions

  • Is The Winner's Curse part of a series?

    Yes. The Winner's Curse is the first book in Marie Rutkoski's Winner's Trilogy, followed by The Winner's Crime (2015) and The Winner's Kiss (2016).

  • Has The Winner's Curse won any awards?

    It hasn't won a major book prize outright, but it was named to YALSA's Best Fiction for Young Adults list, was a finalist for the Cybils Award for YA Fantasy & Science Fiction, and was a Goodreads Choice Award nominee.

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