Review - The Winner's Trilogy

The Winner's Trilogy

5 out of 5 Winning Stars

“If you won’t be my friend, you’ll regret being my enemy.” 

I love this series. I feel like I need to lead with that statement, because it's been awhile since I've read a complete series, beginning to end, back to back with no wait for the next installment, that have left such a great impression. The progression of the story, the pacing, the characters and themes, and how everything is connected and flows together so well is not easy to do. Ms. Rutkoski, you've created one hell of a series here. 

So a bit of information for you guys: this is a fantasy series, and Rutkoski has created a whole new world for us to read about. To sum it up really quickly, there's the country Valoria, whose emperor is on a power quest to conquer pretty much everything, and one of the conquered is the country Herran. Valoria's offer after conquering land is die, or be enslaved. The Herrani chose enslavement, and that's what their lives have been for the past ten years.

Kestral is the daughter of General Trajan, who is second only to the Emperor of Valoria. While dealing with the decision of joining the army or marriage, as all Valorians must do, she ends up buying a slave. There is something different about this slave, Arin, and though the two are enemies, the connection between them grows. But with this connection, there are unexpected consequences that Kestral could have never foresaw.

"Do you think I care how you won?" her father said softly. "You won. Your methods don't matter."
Kestral thought about the Herran War. She thoughts about the suffering her father had brought to this country, and how his actions had led to her becoming a mistress, and Arin a slave. "Do you really believe that?"

"Yes," he said. "I do."

The first book in this trilogy, The Winner's Curse, does have quite a bit of romance to it, but that's not all that is happening. There is action, trickery, deceit, violence, and so much more. As the series progresses, the stories become even more intricate and intense. There is so much more to The Winner's Trilogy than the relationship between Kestral and Arin. And the best part about their relationship is that it is believable; it doesn't feel forced, and just leads to more complications (and drama).

The Winner's Trilogy is a series about alliances and treachery, secrets and revenge, gambling and plotting, and, most importantly, slavery and freedom. What will you do for your freedom? What will you sacrifice for your freedom? Compelling storytelling, intricate relationships, high-packed action and strategic plotting, along with gambling and awesome battle scenes, and doing whatever it takes to win, The Winner's Trilogy is a cleverly-crafted, complex, fantastic series, with a perfect ending. Thank you, Ms. Rutkoski, for sharing this story with the world. It's going to stay with me for a long time.

“Happiness depends on being free, and freedom depends on being courageous.”