The Winner’s Kiss by Marie Rutkoski [Spoiler Free Review]

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski
Series: The Winner's Trilogy #3
Published by Farrar Straus Giroux on March 29th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, YA
Goodreads

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?

I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, this does not influence my review.

I’ve been following The Winner’s Trilogy since it was first released and I am both thrilled and disappointed that it is all over. The Winner’s Kiss was a great conclusion to a wonderful series. If you haven’t picked up the series yet, I can assure you that the series ends well and engagingly.

The Winner’s Kiss picks up almost right where the last book ended and it was so intense. I was worried about where the pacing would go, as The Winner’s Trilogy is a bit slow (plot-wise) but the plot moved quickly in this captivating finale.

I loved all the development of the characters, including the side characters and the depth/expansion of the world. The world-building and plot was just phenomenal and I really enjoyed the conclusion. Arin, in particular, had to accept parts of himself that he didn’t want to and Kestrel had to adjust her views on her past and herself.

If you are worried about the romance, have no fear, it was super swoony. A lot of the side characters also got their own storylines and I just loved the development of all the characters.

Overall, The Winner’s Kiss was swoony and ended off the series so well. I am sad that the wonderful series is over, but I am pleased is that I can now recommend the entire series with certainty that you will all love it.