Marie Rutkoski - The Winner's Kiss

Published : 2016

498 Pages

Reading time : 21 - 23 April 2020

Rating : 5/5

FINALLY THE LAST BOOK!! *sigh*

Following the event on the last book, Kestrel find herself in the north, being a prisoner. While Arin, believing he's already move on from Kestrel find himself thinking about her every now and then, until finally (not really finally actually, he's always so impulsive about Kestrel, I think) he travel to north to save her─

─Only to find out she's not the same anymore. Sure, he believed she has changed to someone he didn't know thus made him forget her and move on with his plan. But this new Kestrel is.... a whole new level of different. (Okay, I'm being drmaatic).

Anyway, In the third book, Rutkoski took us deeper in the story. Kestrel, once lost herself will slowly find herself again and become stronger. When she first believed she's not fit in the war, find herself in one. and took a great part being a strategist, with Arin by her side (OMG I JUST LOVE THEM VERY MUCH, SORRY!). Kestrel who once could not choose between her father and Arin, is making her own revenge to her own father after being betrayed in the most hurting way (I cried so much).

Kestrel and Arin finally being able to communicate all their secrets was like a warm chocolate in the most cold winter days for me. I always love how couple find their way to communicate their problems (aside from comparing/discovering each other's scars and loving them no matter what *clutches heart*). Anyway, finally walking past to their communication problem brought them to a deeper understanding that finally give us a light and hope to a happy ending.

As I said on my review before, you'll find new characters from the last book that'll took a big part in here. One of them is Roshar. I really, really love the tree of them: Kestrel, Arin and Roshar. I always enjoy their conversation and Roshar's characters, giving a fun part between Kestrel and Arin. And same as Arin, I find it hard to let him go (No, he's not dead! he's just going back to his own capital).

Seeing Kestrel's interaction with Sarsine, I was hoping I could get more part of her because she's just as interesting! I mean, we already met her from the first book, but I love Sarsine in here much more because it feels like she's being Kestrel's sister/bestfriend. Maybe she's replacing Jess part? I don't know but I just love her! But I find it's okay that Sarsine is just like that because the whole story is so well packaged.

Now that I've mentioned that the whole story is so well packaged, let's get to the writing. Rutkoski's writing in this is absolutely good. It's so gripping, keeping you really on the edge to the moment you hold your breath and your heart is pounding in your ears (that's what happened to me). Really, I can't count how many times I nearly throw my kindle away because it just hurt so much but still... Anyway, on the last part, when our Kestrel and Arin have to fight their own battle separately, Rutkoski took us back and forth between them and made us wonder if they'll ever made it until the very last part (but not last chapter, yay!).

Reading until the last page (THE ENDING WAS SO PERFECT BTW I LOVE IT TO DEATH), you'll find yourself looking back and realized that every page is important and it was all so neat. Like looking at a well staked books, very clean window, or pouring a tea to a cup without spilling anything. There will be no loose ends and all your answers will (hopefully) be answered to the last page. I'm not being dramatic but I really think everything in this book is at the right amount, not too much and not too little. You'll see that there's so so so much happening in this last book, but somehow I think it's not rushed nor being put just to be there. It's perfectly placed and you won't feel rushed! The portion of everything is perfect. And as I said in my review on the first book, it's well balanced in romance and the other conflict.

And you'll see how Kestrel finally give a closure to her own problem with her father (which brought me to tears). It was so warm and everything. Not to mention that you'll be able to let out a breath after seeing that Kestrel and Arin made it. All those angst and hurting was worth every pages to bring them to a very warm, comforting, beautiful ending.

And the detail on he last page will bring to to the first pages on the first book. So perfect.