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Review: The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski

December 26, 2015 Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Series: The Winner’s Trilogy #1

the winner's curse -marie rutkoski Winning what you want may cost you everything you love…

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

4 Drink Me Potions

There were many things that I absolutely adored about The Winner’s Curse, and also left me feeling like a complete wreck.

Kestrel was aptly named. She was as fierce and fearsome as the bird for which she was named after. She may not be an excellent fighter, which was unique in itself, ’cause these days a lot of heroines in fantasy novels are the best fighters out there. No, that wasn’t where her skill lies. It was her ability to see through the lies people try to weave and her amazing aptitude at strategizing for war and battle tactics. It was like a game of chess, or in this world, a game of Bite and Sting. You’ve got to know your opponents, but most importantly, you gotta know where their weaknesses and strengths lie. You’ve got to know them better than yourself.

Kestrel, however, wasn’t ruthless, as the above description may have depicted her. Yes, she was good at strategizing, for which her general father was extremely delighted about. But, she hated to take a life and just wanted to stay at home to play her piano and make music. In a moment that had seemed like weakness, she ended up buying a slave at an auction that changed her whole life. That slave, Arin, would change her whole perspective.

Arin and his people the Herrani were captured and made into slaves 10 years ago when Kestrel’s people, the Valorians, in particular her father, had overrun and won the Herran War. Their city was captured, their homes taken and their families were separated or lost as casualties of war. In the midst of all the party-going and boring fun that the Valorians were enjoying after a decade of luxury, a rebellion was quietly brewing.

The Winner’s Curse is full of action and adventure, heartbreaking decisions and misunderstandings. Kestrel and Arin come from two different worlds, yet they could find it in themselves to fall for one another for simply who they were inside. Was it possible that a Valorian and a Herrani could care for one another like that? The romance wasn’t explicitly dwelled upon. Sure, there was a kiss or two, but it was the kind of romance that brewed beneath the surface. One that kind of snuck up on you without either party knowing how they could have such strong feelings for the other, to the point that they would sacrifice for one another.

I loved how it was a story that was just simply a romance centering on two star-crossed lovers. It wasn’t just a story of war either. It was a whole mess of everything put into one, with betrayals and heart stopping outcomes. All I can say at the end of it was that I couldn’t wait for more, and I surely hope there would be a happy ending for two such strong characters as Kestrel and Arin. This was a brilliant start of a series. I hope the rest won’t disappoint.

Overall Recommendation:
The Winner’s Curse had elements of many things that I enjoyed. I always love a good ol’ story of forbidden love that seems to conquer all. Kestrel and Arin’s story was that and way more. Their peoples are brewing for war and it seems they’re caught up in the middle of it. With a hefty amount of strategizing and a conclusion that swept my heart away with sorrow, I’m holding my breath for more and can’t wait to see how their story continues from here. This is one series I would recommend giving a shot.

Of Triton by Anna Banks

November 26, 2015December 26, 2015 Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Series: The Syrena Legacy #2

of triton -anna banks Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half-Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?

Once again, Anna Banks infuses Emma and Galen’s points of view with humor, intrigue, and waves of romance.

2 Drink Me Potions

I’m starting to think that Banks can only write female characters as psychotic, PMSing hellcats. Like, I sure complained about Rayna’s actions in the previous novel, Of Poseidon, but it just escalated almost immediately with Emma’s mom. She literally whacked Galen and attempted to maim (kill?) him out of the blue. Oh, and let’s not forget where she chloroformed a pretty much helpless Rayna in order to escape and get a head start.

Whatever could be the reason for such maniacal actions? Why, that would be paranoia, of course. Emma’s mother believed she had killed the love of her life ages ago and so thought Galen had come to arrest her or something. Um, a little overboard? You know, just a little?

The plot didn’t give Of Triton any bonus points. The Syrena from both camps, Triton and Poseidon, were at an impasse in the middle of the ocean, holding some sort of court decision whether or not the Royals were still capable of leading their society. It wasn’t all that exciting to be honest. It was an impasse, for goodness’ sakes. Not an all-ensuing battle between the two, which frankly could’ve given some much-needed brownie points for the plotline. It ended all too quickly and without too much drama (or at least, worthwhile drama).

I’m tired of this series already. If Banks doesn’t make Of Neptune, the last of the series, any better, I’m gonna scream in frustration. You decide whether or not this sequel was even worth reading – although, if I’m to be honest, I somewhat regret reading it myself.

Overall Recommendation:

Of Triton felt like a mini story rather than a full-fledged, developed plot. With barely any true action, it followed flighty characters who haven’t improved on their tempers and the melodrama they brought on themselves through miscommunication. I wouldn’t say this book was worth reading at all, but it may prove entertaining if you like seeing just how these amusing characters flail about in their problems.

Review: Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

November 25, 2015November 28, 2015 Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Series: The Syrena Legacy #1

of poseidon -anna banks

Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he’s heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen—literally, ouch!—both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma’s gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom…

Told from both Emma and Galen’s points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance.

2.5 Drink Me Potions

Of Poseidon is like staring at a car accident on the highway – or should I say, like a shipwreck in the ocean? It’s kinda sad, not all too great to look at, yet there’s something oddly addicting that draws the eye towards it either way. That is exactly how I felt towards this novel.

First off, the romance between Galen and Emma is eerily instant. They feel some “pulse” that makes them curious and oddly attracted to each other? Uh, it could’ve gone so much better with the girl meets boy scenario that was first introduced at the beginning of the story. It just left a sour taste in my mouth seeing their reactions to each other, in BOTH POVs.

And beyond the not-so-believable love attraction, the absolute worst aspect of this? The terrible characterization of the female leads.

Emma, honest to goodness, is one of the worst protagonists I’ve had the chance to follow. She is exasperating and annoying. How many times can a girl say Ohmysweetgoodness in her head? And said it in THAT way too. Ok, I can live with her naivete and her more annoying traits. But does it stop there? OH NO.

She has the WORST temper. One minute she’s okay, and the next there’s this “uh oh” look on her face that tells you she’s gonna do something awful ’cause a temper tantrum is brewing. She could be throwing you out – I mean, through – a glass window in the next second and you wouldn’t know what hit you.

That’d be the glass window you’ve just been thrown through, by the way.

She also toys with Galen for the most bizarre reasons or motives. I just don’t understand how he can stand her and her mood swings. Even I have a hard time figuring out what her motives are and I’m a girl.

“Galen, do you mind?” Emma says, drawing a distracting circle on his arm with her finger, sending fire pretty much everywhere inside him. He recognizes the mischief in her eyes but not the particular game she’s playing.
“Get whatever you want, Emma,” he tells her. With a coy smile, she orders seventy-five dollars worth of candy, soda, and popcorn. By the cashier’s expression, seventy-five dollars must be a lot. If the game is to spend all his money, she’ll be disappointed. He brought enough cash for five more armfuls of this junk.

Like…what just happened there? If you say that’s exerting dominance in a relationship, well that’s one messed up way of doing it. And it’s definitely not what one should do in a fun and loving relationship. This scene also popped up in the middle of nowhere. I was blinking in astonishment at her games. Like, who the hell does she think she is? She also doesn’t even eat all of it and just ditches it later.

Besides Emma, there’s also Galen’s twin sister, Rayna. If you think Emma’s awful, I flipping don’t know what to think of Rayna except I absolutely would wring her neck if I knew her personally.

She’s a spoiled princess who craves attention. If you don’t give that to her, she’ll play her games with you to draw it out. Toraf, the one guy who, for I dunno what reasons, honestly loves her could only get her attention by playing hard to get. But even when finally succumbing to probably the best thing she’d ever get in life, Rayna constantly throws her own tantrums and acts like some self-righteous idiot. Like she’s the best thing there is and Toraf should do whatever she dictates to him. It doesn’t help that he actually would do anything for her, probably including grovelling at her feet all day.

“What’s Toraf’s favourite color?”
Rayna shrugs. “Whatever I tell him it is.”
I raise a brow at her. “Don’t know, huh?”
She crosses her arms. “Who cares anyways.”

Did I mention she’s selfish and never listens to what anyone says, even if it’s for her own good?

Why the heck do all the main female portrayals represent tantrum-throwing as a good thing because they get rewarded by their men falling for just this thing, rephrased in a better way as their feisty spirits? ‘Cause honestly, I’d be fed up and tell them to grow up. And soon.

So why did I just not give up? Well, Of Poseidon was hard to look away. It was mesmerizing watching it sink further and further in the characters’ crazy antics. I didn’t really care for any of them. It was just amusing to see the “twists” that weren’t really altogether surprising considering the synopsis of the sequel gives it away. Note to self: do NOT read the sequel synopsis next time. But it was rather obvious even without having accidentally ruining it for myself.

So like the shipwreck that it is, I finished it in a few sittings. I couldn’t help it. And that ending? When I saw the Acknowledgements page, I knew I had to see what a wreck the next one may turn out to be. It was too sudden and my curiosity was piqued. Otherwise, I’m telling you, don’t go further than this novel. Not everyone would find this wreck of a book amusing. The world building with these mermaids – whoops, I mean, Syrena – wasn’t even significant in this novel. Sure, some tidbits were thrown out, but it could’ve been a lot better and more exciting.

If only Emma wasn’t such a terrible protagonist.

Overall Recommendation:
Of Poseidon sank like the shipwreck it was, where it was hard to look away even though it was a terrible sight. It had such potential with the background and history of the Syrena but most of the novel was spent on land and followed the most annoying and temper-tantrum-throwing girl ever. Add an insta-love romance on top of that, I’m not sure what else could possibly redeem this book as these points were all that it advertised. If you find it as amusing to read, then sure, go ahead and read the sequel, but otherwise, I wouldn’t recommend it at all.