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 Few books arrive on the market with such grace and finesse as The Winner's Curse did, Marie Rutkoski's novel has stolen the hearts of so many already and it's easy to see why. With a beautifully written plot, a plethora of action, and a romance that will make you question societal bounds, The Winner's Curse is truly a show-stopper. 
 The Winner's Curse is slow-moving, but each page is filled with charm and beauty, despite the grimness of Kestrel's world. Kestrel has a choice, join the military or get married and become a mother, neither of which sound so appealing to Kestrel. When Kestrel decides to bid an exorbitant amount of money for Arin, a slave, the rumors start to spread and Kestrel's position in society could be threatened. 
 There is something beautiful about the way Marie Rutkoski writes and each word seems to carry so much weight. Her sentences are absolutely lyrical and they roll off the tongue like a finely written concerto. Usually novels in the 3rd person suffer from a lack of emotion, but Rutkoski's novel doesn't suffer from that problem at all. In fact, I was touched by Arin and Kestrel's relationship and the brutal slavery which exists in the kingdom. 
 The Winner's Curse is truly one of the best YA fantasy books, fans of Graceling and Shadow & Bone will absolutely love Kestrel. The Winner's Curse is full of pleasant surprises and plot twists and I have to say that the ending is one of the best cliffhangers I've read in years. With an ending like that, readers will be begging for the sequel and have endless predictions as to what happens next. The Winner's Curse came at a fiercer price than I expected and it stole my heart and my attention for days.