This book just got better than the prequel. In Winners' Curse, we see a revolution just brewing. In Winner's Crime, the country is in total unrest. The Herranis have rebelled and they are at constant war with the Valorians, trying to capture their territories. Kestrel takes that ultimate decision from which she can never return. She is forced to do what the emperor decides. She is forced to marry the man she does not want to.She is forced to smile on the occasions she does not want to. She is forced to hide her love for Arin for the sake of Valoria. She is forced to take decisions against Herran, just to please the emperor and her father, (who is ready to sacrifice anything for the country). She has lost her best friends, Jess and Ronan forever. There is fierce political scheming, new alliances, mistrusts and spying. In spite of all this, the love still thrives. Love still conquers. 
 In the second installment, we see Kestrel fulfilling the deal she made made with the emperor: marry Prince Verex and set Herran free. She chooses to sacrifice her love for Arin and accepting her fate until Arin and Herran' s minister of agriculture,Tensen make her think otherwise. She takes up such a role, which would cost her life, lose Arin's faith completely,and put others' in danger. 
 The sequel is definitely more intense than the first one. There are vicious wars, new alliances, entry of new characters and exit of the old ones. Verex was meek, but I still could not help liking him. Although in between all this chaos, the chemistry between Arin and Kestrel is lost, but it still there. 
 The writing makes the reader continue to read further. Also, the astonishing but equally amazing ending compels the reader to read The Winner's Kiss :)