The Winner's Curse

"Although this trope has been played out many, many times, I really liked this take on the complexity of shifting relationships within a society that forces extreme power imbalances. Making the FMC the one in power, the one so inherently in the wrong and yet relatable/likeable, and switching points of view so subtly made this book a win. The nods to other series were also very tastefully done for the most part"

"This was pretty terrible. "

"Although there were a lot of great recs, this book is an enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers-to-acquaintances. I am usually one to judge a book by its cover, but PLEASE don't judge this book by the cover. It's a lot better than it looks. "

"Couldn’t get through this one… had to call it quits."

"."

"This book has lived rent free in my head since I read it almost six years ago. I fell in love with it and have been chasing the high it gave me in every other book I read. Also one of the very few series I've purchased despite HATING the cover. They really did this beautiful series dirty with the covers."

"I absolutely LOVED this book! I definitely recommend "

"AMAZING!!! Best enimies to lovers with no spice and a thrilling plot"

"Beautiful prose, smart and tactful protagonist, handsome and mysterious love interest, (and a love that's forbidden to boot) great! The makings of a classically good Ya.<br/><br/>Some of my favorite snips:<br/><br/>“Tell everyone you paid an outrageous sum, and they will believe they’re true jewels. Isn’t that what stories do, make real things fake, and fake things real?"<br/><br/>“You are the god of lies, Kestrel had said. He looked at his people and smiled, and the smile was a lie—but like writing in a mirror, whose reflection is the inverse of a truth.”<br/><br/>“Night had truly fallen. Arin wondered if she would lift her eyes, but wasn’t worried he would be seen in the garden’s shadows.<br/>He knew the law of such things: people in brightly lit places cannot see into the dark.”<br/><br/>Agh! Beautiful right? But here's the thing: the missing star: I enjoyed reading it, but it wasn't exactly the fast paced kingdom-to-ruin and kingdom-to-rise thriller I'd been holding out for. I wasn't left in suspense or aching to turn the page. I felt mild emotions but nothing that turned me into an emotional amplifier. <br/><br/>And while the book had good beginnings and mischievous endings, it had too much blah in the middle that we could have really done without. <br/><br/>*SPOILERS*<br/><br/>We saw too much of Kestrel being a damsel in distress. Too much of Kestrel missing Arin as he fought soldiers at the borders. We were stuck at home while the action was happening WITHOUT US. WE WERE BELLA FROM TWILIGHT STARING OUT THE ******* WINDOW. Until we weren't, and when she was "let go" all of a sudden it was a whirlwind of **** happening that made me like the book again but seriously, a spongebob blurb could have been inserted instead, saying "3 months later."<br/><br/>Despite the obvious hate for waiting for the plot to thicken (that's too IRL for me), it was actually a very well set-up plot with some not-so 2-D characters (i.e not just two main characters that have one distinctive and bland feature to distinguish them from the rest). <br/><br/>Kestrel's characteristics are not just being a strategist and playing the piano, but being at constant war with two not-so-obvious rights. She's a daddy's girl, and sees the hypocrisy of her own thoughts: she's honest where most protags are self-righteous and I find this refreshing. <br/><br/><br/><br/>"

"I loved this book and totally recommend!!! It was just so amazing I am speechless! I finished it in a day because the characters and the story capture you!!! Amazing book!!!"