ARC, 416 pagesRelease Date: March 3, 2015Published by: Farrar, Straus, Giroux (BYR)The Winner's Trilogy, #2Source: ATWATFor fans of: Action, Sparkly Covers, Fantasy, High Fantasy, Historical, Romance, YA
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.
*MY THOUGHTS*
When I first started this one, I wasn't really expecting to really like it since I was one of the few people who didn't give the first one 5+ stars. But in the end, it seemed like the first one was mainly just setting the story up, because this one was filled with betrayal, and action, and romance, and so much more. This one I actually really enjoyed.
Kestrell's engagement isn't really what she wants, but she knows it's the only thing to keep her and Arin's people alive. Too bad the only people that know is her, and her alone. In a world where she can trust no one, she must keep all of this to herself to ensure her safety. But as someone who loves her, Arin knows that she knows more than what she tells everyone. Even if they don't see each other on a regular basis. That's true love.
Just as everyone that's read it has been saying, it started out slow. But as things came up, it was apparent why things were going that way. Everything that happened ended up having a weird twist along with it. And when I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING. Rutoski takes grasp of your emotions in this one and doesn't let go until the end.
As for Kestrel and Arin, their relationship got more intense. Don't get me wrong, they don't make it known, but at the same time, they can tell that the other means more than what they've let on. And in their world, even that small action means they're as good as dead. Both Kestrel and Arin have to find a way to love each other without killing each other or getting the other killed.
I couldn't write a review of this and not mention the end! It will pull on your heartstrings. It will stress you out. It will make you crazy. Trust me, you will feel all of those things and more. I couldn't believe that things actually came out like that. Now I'm interested on where this story is going. Because there is no way it can get better. Where this story ends up, it seems as if nothing good can from it. But things will get better. I have to believe that lol
Although fantasy and historical fiction are different genres from what I'm used to, I still enjoyed this one. It seems that this one saved the series for me and I'm grateful for it. I can't wait to see where book three takes us.
Overall, I give this
