Marie Rutkoski - The Winner's Crime

Published : 2015

417 Pages

Reading time : 19 - 20 April 2020

Rating : 5/5

ALL THOSE PAGES IN ONLY TWO DAYS??!! I read the second book as soon as I finished the first book. The second book, I must say is even better than the first.

Our two main characters are walking down on their separate ways on the first part of the book in here. You'll meet new interesting characters in here which will hold a great part until the last book.

If the first book took the place in (the former) Herrani, the second book mostly took place in the Capital. After being separated in a hurting way and left so many unanswered questions between Kestrel and Arin, they finally reunited, only in difficult situation.

They both have so much secret to tell to each other yet they have to kept it to themselves because of each other's safety. As much as communication is important in relationship, they can't bear to tell each other and endanger them. Which is left them with a huge misunderstanding.

In the first book, I can tell I get how's the relationship between Kestrel and her father, but in the second book on the last part of the book, I get the feeling about how distant they really are. Kestrel only want to have the persons the loved (Arin and her Father), and yet she left with a choice that she have to pick between them. She can't have both of them and she can't bring herself to choose because both of them are simply important to her.

Which is sad, because Kestrel give all of her priority to them and not getting the same treatment. Sure, they have their own responsibilities but I can't help but feel sorry for her because she's making her own sacrifices even endanger herself for nothing. (O o p s . .)

Rutkoski managed to throw me into so many hurting plot twist in here, like giving me hope that it'll be okay just to snatch the hope from me abruptly after that. Not to mention Kestrel and Arin were SO CLOSE so being honest with each other which I think will solve it all, but everything has its own perfect timing, right? All of them are so beautifully written, taking bit by bit of my feelings with them. I'm not a very patient person but I found that the way Rutkoski write is so neat that everything in here is just the right amount. The story is not too rushed and the plot twist is so smooth (even though it hurts me!!). I'll hope I can tell you more about her writing in the review of the last book.

I found my favorite part in this book. It was so warm yet hurting me. It's like looking from my own vision and feeling it all through my bones. The feeling of hope so close yet so out of reach.

"She turned to look at him, and he was already looking at her. “I’m going to miss you when I wake up,” she whispered, because she realized that she must have fallen asleep under the sun. Arin was too real for her imagination. He was a dream. “Don’t wake up,” he said."