The Winner's Crime

The Winner's Crime is the second book of Marie Rutkoski's The Winner's Trilogy.

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.  Yes 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.

The Breakdown:
1. Rutkoski's follow up to The Winner's Curse, is just as amazing, if not better than the first book. The intrigue and court games games make this a hard book to put down. This book definitely kept me on my toes, and guessing on how everything would come together, and who would lose at the game they are playing.

2.  Not going to lie, there are many times I just wanted to shake Arin in this book.  He could incredibly dense at times. He so easily dismiss's Kestrel's motives at times as self-serving, when really she is trying her hardest to protect him.  He confronts her several times, without even thinking about the consequences.

3. This book had some seriously heartbreaking moments. I think one of the saddest was seeing Kestrel and Jess grow apart, and the sadness that it brings to Kestrel. Of course, there is the distance that is between Kestrel and Arin,, and his bitterness because he does not understand why she did the things she did.

4.  Rutkoski introduces some new characters in this book that keep the story interesting.  There is Prince Verex, who I really did not want to like, but there was something enduring about him.  He is very different from his father, and I wonder what role he will play in the final book. There is Tensen, the Herrani Minister of Agriculture/ Spy Master.  He plays his role well, but at times he also plays Arin and Kestrel against each other.  The royalty of East, the Queen, Risha, and Roshar, all of who I think will be important in the last book.  And most importantly the Valorian Emperor.  He is someone that is definitely not to be trusted.  He is intelligent, and cunning, and always seems to be two steps ahead of any plot.

5. Good lord the ending of this book, it killed me. Talk about a serious cliff hanger, and oh the feels!  I am super sad to have to wait until March of next year for the conclusion of the series.

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