The Winner's Crime (The Winner's Trilogy #2) by Marie Rutkoski

Title: The Winner's Crime (The Winner's Trilogy #2)
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Pages: 352
Genre: Fantasy/YA
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux/Raincoast Books
Release Date: March 3, 2015
Buy: Amazon| Chapters Indigo| Kobo| B&N
*Received for review from publisher*

Summary: (Goodreads)

Book two of the dazzling Winner's Trilogy is a fight to the death as Kestrel risks betrayal of country for love.

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement…if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

Review:

This book has my emotions in a swirl! I am so torn after reading it that I need to know what is going to happen next!! Marie Rutkoski knows how to hook you into this amazing fantasy that the work was even more expanded that we got to see beyond what was happening. The chemistry and story was even more amazing that I thought it was better than the first book! 

Kestrel is a character who doesn't think of the consequences of her decisions. Especially when Arin is involved. Her love for him blinds her from the truth that she is not thinking the ways she usually does. Kestrel's character development grows as now she is engaged to the Prince of Valoria. Getting back into Arin point of view was interesting because you can see that he was still broken up about Kestrel leaving him, but he knows that she loves him, even though she won't admit it. But they are both reckless as well since many other minor characters die for their mistakes. But their chemistry was through the roof!! I had butterflies in my stomach during some scenes. 

The friendship with Jess, has been rough since what was seen in The Winner's Curse. Jess is mad at Kestrel or even warned her about what was happening. But she has become broken and she doesn't trust herself around Kestrel or her family. The Winner's Crime had more torture that both Kestrel and Arin face throughout the book. She even learns the downfalls of becoming an Empress and how she is playing a game. Rutkoski has a way of making you understand the characters and I read it so fast that I never wanted it to end because of that hangover!

I loved this book so much! Pre-order this book immediately because it was phenomenal and it will look amazing on the shelf next to The Winner's Curse. Marie Rutkoski is one author to look out for because of the amazing plot and characters that she has created. It was twisty and full of emotion that it can possibly make you cry. It feels like you are literally sucked into the story and have a book hangover by the end of the book. Now I need The Winner's Kiss (2016) is soo far away!! 

5/5

If you loved The Winner's Trilogy... 

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson 
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas