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The Winner's Crime
The Winner's Trilogy (Related to this series)
- Author
- Marie Rutkoski
- Narrator
- Alexandra Boulton
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Publish Date
- 18 June 2026
- Run Time
- 11 hours 9 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
- Genre
- Children’s / Teenage fiction: Fantasy romance, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Relationship stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Action and adventure stories, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Warfare, battles, armed forces, Slavery, enslaved persons and abolition of slavery, Fantasy romance / Romantic fantasy
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What to expect
THE SECOND BOOK IN THE HEART-STOPPING WINNER’S TRILOGY: an irresistible story of forbidden romance and class warfare
‘Every line in The Winner's Curse is beautifully written. The story is masterfully plotted. The characters' dilemmas fascinated me and tore at my heart… I loved it. I want more’ Kristin Cashore, author of the Graceling Realm books
It's a fight to the death, where no one will escape a strike to the heart...
Lady Kestrel's engagement to Valoria's crown prince calls for great celebration: balls and performances, fireworks and revelry. But to Kestrel it means a cage of her own making. Embedded in the imperial court as a spy, she lives and breathes deceit and cannot confide in the one person she really longs to trust...
While Arin fights to keep his country's freedom from the hands of his enemy, he suspects that Kestrel knows more than she shows. As Kestrel comes closer to uncovering a shocking secret, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth.
Lies will come undone, and Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them in this second book in the breathtaking Winner's Trilogy.
Critics Review
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Every line in The Winner's Curse is beautifully written. The story is masterfully plotted. The characters' dilemmas fascinated me and tore at my heart. This book gave me a rare and special reading experience: I never knew what was going to happen next. I loved it. I want more.
Praise for 'The Winner's Curse', Kristin Cashore, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of the Graceling Realm books
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Like any epic page-turner worth its salt, Rutkoski’s richly imagined world is full of dynamic repartee, gruesome battle scenes, and shifting alliances. A high-stakes cliffhanger will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next book
Praise for 'The Winner's Curse', Publishers Weekly, starred review
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Rich characterisation, exquisite world building and rock-solid storytelling make this a fantasy of unusual intelligence and depth ... Breathtaking, tragic and true
Praise for 'The Winner's Curse', Kirkus, starred review
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A forbidden romance. The romance is heartstoppingly lovely and admittedly steamy ... but the raising of stakes and the reluctance of the couple to give up their respective causes, even as they confess their love for each other, lends their relationship a complexity not often seen in the genre ... A last-minute compromise between the lovers secures a sequel, and fans of Kristin Cashore and Robin Lefevers will be pleased to have a new romance to follow
Praise for 'The Winner's Curse', BCCB, starred review
See more reviews See fewer reviews
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Faultlessly written, home to a rich cast of mesmerising characters, and possesses just the right amount of intrigue, romance and emotion to make the story one that leaves an impression. My mind is still reeling from those final few pages
Praise for 'The Winner's Curse', Realm of Fiction
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Rich with detail, tension, and true feeling — and that goes for both the plot, and the characters. Everything about it is just incredible
Praise for 'The Winner's Curse', There Were Books Involved
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Full of high society balls, lies and deceit, stolen moments in secret places, as well as being absolutely beautifully written, The Winner’s Curse is a brilliant first book in a new trilogy that everyone should read!
Praise for 'The Winner's Curse', Swept Away by Books
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The hype is right – The Winner's Curse is a beautiful, heartbreaking must-read
Praise for 'The Winner's Curse', Icey Books
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Marie Rutkoski
- Narrator
- Alexandra Boulton
- Duration
- 11 hours 9 minutes
- Release Date
- 18 June 2026
- ISBN
- 9781037202131
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Genre
- Children’s / Teenage fiction: Fantasy romance, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Relationship stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Action and adventure stories, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Warfare, battles, armed forces, Slavery, enslaved persons and abolition of slavery, Fantasy romance / Romantic fantasy
Synopsis
Bloomsbury presents The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoski read by Alexandra BoultonTHE SECOND BOOK IN THE HEART-STOPPING WINNER’S TRILOGY: an irresistible story of forbidden romance and class warfare‘Every line in The Winner's Curse is beautifully written. The story is masterfully plotted. The characters' dilemmas fascinated me and tore at my heart… I loved it. I want more’ Kristin Cashore, author of the Graceling Realm booksIt's a fight to the death, where no one will escape a strike to the heart...Lady Kestrel's engagement to Valoria's crown prince calls for great celebration: balls and performances, fireworks and revelry. But to Kestrel it means a cage of her own making. Embedded in the imperial court as a spy, she lives and breathes deceit and cannot confide in the one person she really longs to trust...While Arin fights to keep his country's freedom from the hands of his enemy, he suspects that Kestrel knows more than she shows. As Kestrel comes closer to uncovering a shocking secret, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth.Lies will come undone, and Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them in this second book in the breathtaking Winner's Trilogy.
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