The Winner's Curse

At what cost does the price of winning become counterproductive? That is the question in this book by Marie Rutkoski. Kestral is the daughter of the great General Trajan. She is coming to the age when she must decide if she will join him in the military or marry. She isn't keen on either. While out in the market one day, she is trapped at a slave auction. Before she knows it, the defiant slave for sale has caught her interest, mainly because of the claim he could sing Without thinking, she buys him and brings him back to the General's home. Arin is this slave. He is angry, strong and far more clever than his new owner gives him credit for. And he has a plan. As the two of them forge an uneasy friendship, Arin's people are planning to take back their lands. But Arin isn't as sure of his enemy's evil as he once did. Kestral finds herself falling for the boy, against her better judgement. When things come to a head, Kestral must use all her military prowess to find a way to save the boy who betrayed her. And he isn't going to like the cost. This is a great book that examines the meaning of freedom and the sometime cost of being free. This is book one in a soon to be trilogy and I, for one, hope Kestral comes up with a better plan for her future than the one the book ends with.  You never know what you're going to get in a book you pick up at Costco, but this one certainly didn't disappoint. My girl Rylee will enjoy this one, (but not the ending). So happy reading my friends.