This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic 
 The Winner's Curse has easily been one of the most buzzed about books this spring. It has a great premise, a gorgeous cover and was blurbed by Kristin Cashore. It seemed like a perfect fit for me. 
 The story takes you inside the complicated world of the Valorians and the Herrani. A few years before the events of the novel the power-hungry Valorians conquered the lands of the Herrani, taking it's citizens as slaves. I think one of the greatest strengths of this novel is its detailed and complex world building. The beginning is a bit slower then most YA novels, but I was grateful for that in the end. It allowed me the time to really get to know Kestrel's and Arin's world. And trust me you want to get to know it - there are some complex and dangerous politics involved in daily life here. 
 Through these politics Ruthoski offers some great social commentary on how we treat other people and the cost and value of freedom. The story is told from both Kestrel and Arin's perspective - the slave owner and the slave. It shows how that dynamic affects both parties and the harm it does to society as a whole. But these themes also extended to other relationships as well. Like between Kestrel and her father. Women in this society basically have two options - the army or marriage. Kestrel doesn't really want to choose either. She's smart and a good strategic thinker, but following in her father's footsteps doesn't really appeal to her and neither does being married. She wants to be her own person, to walk around the streets without a chaperone, and play the piano (something else that is frowned upon in their world). She may not be a slave like Arin is, but that doesn't mean she's free either. 
 I found the cast of The Winner's Curse to be well balance. Both male and female characters are important and equal players. It wasn't about some characters being smarter then the others. It was about strategy and right or wrong choices. I also liked that women in this world were given equal opportunity in the armed forces and that once they proved themselves they were given more autonomy in society. So often high fantasy novels follow similar world building patterns and those patterns often involve subservient positions for women. It was nice to see Rutkoski take a different route. 
 The only part I wasn't completely sold on was the romance. Both Kestrel and Arin were well developed individuals and I completely understand how their personalities would match up. But the power dynamic between them (that she purchased him as a slave and then owned him) made their relationship feel unbalanced. I wanted to root for them, I really did, but I had a hard time feeling right about it. 
 The Winner's Curse was a well plotted book that's pacing increased with every chapter. At around the half way point I just couldn't put it down. The stakes got higher, the world got more dangerous and every move that Kestrel made was a gamble. Though it may have had a slow beginning, the ending was anything but. The Winner's Curse is a solid start to what I predict will be a strong series and I can't wait to see where the story goes next.