The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoski
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Book 2 of the Winner’s Trilogy.
CONFESSION- I couldn’t read this book fast enough. Book 1 ends with Kestrel engaged to the emperor’s son and Arin (heartbroken) as governor of the newly-freed Herrani land and it’s people. With so many obstacles mounted against the two how would they ever overcome?
Book 2 was set primarily in what I’ve lovingly termed the “cobra pit”. Kestrel is thrust into the heart of Valorian politics. She’s forced to dance a fine line between opposing political parties, schemes against the corrupt emperor and encounters deception, deceit and greed at every turn. The romantic element definitely took a back seat to the other issues which I had expected. This is a YA novel after all and I figured they’d have to delay the romance so it wasn’t too “steamy” for their younger readers.
A delightful read for YA fans- both young and old.