Marie Rutkoski

A lifetime’s worth of devoted soap opera viewing has made me the perfect reader for this trilogy, not in the sense that this is particularly over the top, it isn’t really (soaps often aren’t that way either), it’s just that I think in large part because of soap operas, my favorite kind of love stories are the epic, tortured types. I like love stories with chemistry that crackles even though (maybe even especially because) the couple have sworn off one another, love stories with so show more much pushing and pulling, so many starts and stops, so many seemingly insurmountable obstacles in the way that if they ever do finally get together their happiness will feel good and truly earned. Kestrel and Arin are the very definition of that kind of love story.

While obviously I love that romance is such a huge part of these books, it speaks to the trilogy’s greater depths that my enjoyment level never dipped even in sections where Kestrel and Arin are apart, they’re just as interesting on their own and with other characters as they are together.

Arin’s friendship with Roshar never ceases to entertain, particularly whenever Roshar needles Arin, yet their sincere moments, their sincere concern for one another is equally compelling.

Though really, in this final book of the trilogy, nothing, not even the romance, was more compelling to me than Kestrel’s tattered relationship with her father (their shared scenes are few here but powerful) and her harrowing time in the work camp thanks to him. The work camp happens early on in the story and given that Kestrel’s mind has always been my favorite thing about her, seeing her continue to fight, continue to try to scheme her way out of the situation even as that beautiful mind of hers deteriorates, it’s riveting. show less

So I wasn't super invested in The Winner's Curse, but this book was so much better!

Things I enjoyed about this book:

1) Arin and Kestrel - Even though they were separated for much of the book, the tension between the two of them was just SO GOOD. I like that Arin doubts Kestrel - even though we, the readers, know that she genuinely cares for him, he doesn't know that, not for certain, especially after all that has taken place between them (her engagement, her captivity, his enslavement, show more etc). I'm not usually a big fan of the "if only we had had a discussion, all of our problems would have been solved" plot device, but it just works so well here that I can look past that. ;)

2) New characters - Roshar was my favorite, although Verex was a close second. Verex initially came across as a rather sulky little boy, but once more about him was revealed, he is really quite interesting - he's more interested in medicine than being emperor in the future , and he is apparently in love with Risha, the captive Eastern princess. And Roshar! I foresee a great friendship between him and Arin.

3) The mystery and court intrigue - It took me quite a while to piece together the "mystery" in the book. I was also sure that Tensen was going to end up betraying Kestrel to the Emperor, which isn't exactly what happened, although he did withhold critical information from Arin because he was afraid that Arin would choose Kestrel over the Herrani people - a valid fear. She was instead betrayed by her father! :O I didn't see THAT coming.

Honestly, my only complaint about this book would have been that evil cliffhanger! ;) But fortunately I didn't start this series until it was completed, so guess who is going to dive into the third book right now! ;) show less

Zephyr felt the weight of her flesh settle on the branch-and-twig network of bones.
***
His body was long, rangy, his stance somehow naturally dishonest, alive with the energy of someone who couldn’t be trusted, but also couldn’t be blamed for it, because it was easy to guess from the way he constantly shifted his weight that he couldn’t quite trust himself either.

This is how Author Rutkoski limns her two characters in this shortest-possible taste of a story. It's lovely. I like her work show more in general, though I'm not usually a YA consumer. It's not easy to beguile me into accepting majgickq or the supernatural, my eyebrows are helium-powered lifters when someone tries to splodge it all over my alternate history. But this story, and the series of books that follow it in The Shadow Society series, make the Shades (Zephyr's people) into an oppressed minority of differently abled people.

I got time for that.

Anyway. The series deals with an alternate, evil Chicago where humans, in our accustomed vile way, persecute the Others among us. It's all in this story, the basic reality that Author Rutkoski wants us to experience; and it's done with a deft and delightful touch, making words pirouette in place, so you think you see what you don't in fact see. It's lovely to watch.

AND it's free: https://www.tor.com/2012/10/17/jacks-and-queens-at-the-green-mill/ show less

This is the first book in months that I have physically read where I read all day and night. I almost finished it in one sitting, but around 2 AM finally had to give in and get some sleep. It pulled me in and I did not want to put it down. Where I normally find myself getting bored in the middle of books (too much filler), I never felt like that with this.

Normally it is hard to follow the world building in fantasy and sometimes it takes over the story. I loved how the world building was show more entwined within the story of our main characters. It was easy to follow which I appreciated.

I loved the romance and the twists that came along with the romance. I have seen reviews that this had insta love, but I did not get that feel at all. There is tension between the characters, but it takes several months before they start putting this all together. I enjoyed the development of their relationship.

I am taking off half a star for the last quarter of the book. I know this is when a lot of action happened, but it was dragged out too long. I started to lose interest for the first time. I still loved the ending though.

Overall, I loved this and am excited since I have book two already. I need more! show less