The Winner's Kiss Blog Tour: MY FAVOURITE KISS!

The wait is finally over, and the final book in The Winner's Trilogy, THE WINNER'S KISS, is here!!! In honour of this fantastic release, the publisher, Macmillan, has organized an interesting blog tour all about kisses! I'm so excited to be a part THE WINNING KISS Blog Tour! Readers are encouraged to share their favourite literary kisses, and dish on the kisses they hope to see in THE WINNER'S KISS! :D

First, here's a bit about THE WINNER'S KISS, and the fabulous author of this wonderful trilogy, Marie Rutkoski!

THE WINNER'S KISS
(THE WINNER'S TRILOGY #3) 

by Marie Rutkoski

On Sale March 29th, 2016

War has begun. Arin is in the thick of it with untrustworthy new allies and the empire as his enemy. Though he has convinced himself that he no longer loves Kestrel, Arin hasn’t forgotten her, or how she became exactly the kind of person he has always despised. She cared more for the empire than she did for the lives of innocent people—and certainly more than she did for him.

At least, that’s what he thinks.

In the frozen north, Kestrel is a prisoner in a brutal work camp. As she searches desperately for a way to escape, she wishes Arin could know what she sacrificed for him. She wishes she could make the empire pay for what they’ve done to her.

But no one gets what they want just by wishing.

As the war intensifies, both Kestrel and Arin discover that the world is changing. The East is pitted against the West, and they are caught in between. With so much to lose, can anybody really win?

About the Author

Marie Rutkoski is the author of The Kronos Chronicles, including The Cabinet of Wonders and The Celestial Globe. The Cabinet of Wonders, her debut novel, was named an Indie Next Kids’ List Great Read and a Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year, among other honors.

Rutkoski grew up in Bolingbrook, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago), as the oldest of four children. She attended the University of Iowa, where she took Writers’ Workshop classes and studied with Pulitzer Prize-winner James Alan McPherson. After graduating, she lived in Moscow and Prague. Upon receiving her Ph.D. from Harvard University, she held dual appointments as a lecturer there in both English and American Literature and Language, and History and Literature. Rutkoski is currently a professor at Brooklyn College, where she teaches Renaissance Drama, children’s literature and creative writing. She lives in New York City with her husband and cat.

Connect with Marie: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Website | Goodreads

 Now to the hard-hitting questions!!! I'm about to tell you all about my FAVOURITE literary kiss! ;)

What book is your favourite literary kiss in?
This is SUCH a tough question!! How do you pick just ONE literary kiss?! I'm a pretty big fangirl, so I swoon after A LOT of kisses and ship so many couples! But, if I'm forced to choose I'd have to go with City of Bones by Cassandra Clare!

Who is kissing?
Jace & Clary 

Why is it your favourite?

I've always been a reader, but I wasn't always as prolific as I am now, and back when I first read City of Bones, I was just getting hooked on reading like crazy. I've definitely read kisses that have made me swoon, fangirl, and get all giddy since reading CoB, but no kiss has really stuck with me quite like that one! Jace and Clary's first kiss gave me butterflies, and I've been hardcore shipping them ever since that epic midnight garden kiss...their kisses only got better after that, but that first one had me HOOKED!

Bonus question:
What kiss do you hope will occur in Marie Rutkoski's The Winner's Kiss?
Well...I'm a major shipper of Arin and Kestrel, so it's pretty easy for me to pick who I want to kiss in THE WINNER'S KISS. :P Ever since THE WINNER'S CRIME, I've been DESPERATELY waiting for an absolutely epic kiss between Arin and Kestrel!!! I don't care when, where, or why...I want kisses! Seriously...lots of them! ;)

You can find the full schedule and follow the entire Macmillian THE WINNING KISS Blog Tour, here: http://fiercereadsya.tumblr.com/post/136882501433/the-winning-kiss.

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I was lucky enough to get an egalley of The Winner's Kiss through Netgalley...and I just have to say that I was definitely satisfied with the kisses in it. ;)

There are only a few more weeks until the book's official release day on March 29th!
I can't wait to get a finished copy of it. Who else is excited for The Winner's Kiss? 

And what's your favourite literary kiss? 

Feel free to share in a comment, or to create your own post! 

Make sure to share the link if you post though so we can all see it, and share your own winning kisses on social media using the hashtag #TheWinnersKiss!

Review: The Winner's Kiss (The Winner's Trilogy #3) by Marie Rutkoski

Source: Received an egalley from the publisher for an honest review.
Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux
Release Date: March 29, 2016
Number of Pages: 352 (Hardcover)


Description from Goodreads:

War has begun. Arin is in the thick of it, with the East as his ally and the empire as his enemy. He’s finally managed to dismiss the memory of Kestrel, even if he can’t quite forget her. Kestrel turned into someone he could no longer recognize: someone who cared more for the empire than for the lives of innocent people—and certainly more than she cared for him. At least, that’s what he thinks.

But far north lies a work camp where Kestrel is a prisoner. Can she manage to escape before she loses herself? As the war intensifies, both Kestrel and Arin discover unexpected roles in battle, terrible secrets, and a fragile hope. The world is changing. The East is pitted against the West, and Kestrel and Arin are caught between. In a game like this, can anybody really win?

I've been hooked on The Winner's Trilogy since I first read The Winner's Curse back when it released...and The Winner's Kiss was no exception! My immediate reaction upon finishing it was stunned silence. I try not to make predictions before finishing trilogies or series, but nothing that I could have predicted would've prepared me for The Winner's Kiss. It was heart-wrenching, wonderful, and far greater than anything that I could've possibly imagined!

It was absolutely spectacular returning to Kestrel and Arin's story....it felt like torture waiting for it, but it was well worth the wait! From the very first page of The Winner's Kiss right until the very last, I was riveted! It made me anxious, it made me laugh, it made me smile, it made me cry...it made me feel so much, and it was amazing!!!! If you're already a fan of The Winner's Trilogy, I'm absolutely positive that you with love this book and that you won't be disappointed. While it does have moments that will mess with your heartstrings, it will leave you completely satisfied! I've been let down by the final books in trilogies before, but The Winner's Kiss was PERFECT!

It's too easy to accidentally post spoilers once you review the last book in the trilogy, so I'll just say that I loved the story! It was complex, well-developed and all of my questions have been answered! I've been recommending this trilogy right from the start, but now that I've read The Winner's Kiss and absolutely loved it, I want to recommend it even more!! The Winner's Trilogy is an absolute favourite of mine. It's packed full of amazing, strong characters. The world-building is intriguing, breathtaking, and it comes to life as you read the page. And the story...the story is an adventure that you will be glad you took!

I'd gladly recommend The Winner's Kiss, and the entire Winner's Trilogy to anyone who loves fantasy series that have a bit of a historical/medieval feel to them, especially if you love smart, headstrong heroines and determined heroes! Oooh and forbidden love, too. ;) If you decide to read this trilogy, I hope you love it as much as I do, and if you're eagerly awaiting The Winner's Kiss, trust me⎯it was well worth the wait!

What do you think?
Have you already started reading The Winner's Trilogy?
Do you want to?

Review: The Winner's Crime (The Winner's Trilogy #2) by Marie Rutkoski

Source: Received an egalley from the publisher for an honest review.

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux

Release Date: Already Released!

Number of Pages: 402 (Hardcover)

Description from Goodreads:

Following your heart can be a crime

A royal wedding means one celebration after another: balls, fireworks, and revelry until dawn. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement: that she agreed to marry the crown prince in exchange for Arin's freedom. But can Kestrel trust Arin? Can she even trust herself?

Kestrel is becoming very good at deception. she's working as a spy in the court. If caught, she'll be exposed as a traitor to her country. Yet she can't help searching for a way to change her ruthless world...and she is close to uncovering a shocking secret.

This dazzling follow-up to The Winner's Curse reveals the high price of dangerous lies and untrustworthy alliances. The truth will come out, and when it does, Kestrel and Arin will learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

  Sometimes when you read a trilogy, the middle book falls a bit flat compared to the first book, but The Winner's Crime doesn't do that at all! It sucks you right back into Arin and Kestrel's world and it doesn't let you go until the very last page!

After the dramatic events of The Winner's Curse, I was extremely eager to start reading The Winner's Crime. Just like the first book, it was an extremely addictive read, and I pretty much kept reading until I was finished. The scenery changes a little bit in this one, and there is a lot going on, but I still really loved both Arin and Kestrel. I wanted to knock their heads together every once in a while, but I still absolutely loved this book!

  

The Winner's Crime is extremely intense! It still has the whole forbidden romance element going on, but it's completely different than it was in The Winner's Curse. And The political stakes and military plots are much fiercer! Kestrel and Arin are both making nuanced moves behind the scenes like a high-stake game of Sting! I'm not going to say anything else because it would be far too easy to spoil this book, but it's intense and it definitely isn't one of those sequels where nothing actually happens. This book is action packed...and when you finish, you will be DESPERATE for The Winner's Kiss!

Overall, The Winner's Crime was the perfect follow-up to The Winner's Curse! If you haven't started reading The Winner's Trilogy yet, I highly recommend it! It's intense with fantastic, dynamic main characters!! 

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What do you think? 

Have you started The Winner's Trilogy yet? 

Review: The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy #1) by Marie Rutkoski

Source: Received an egalley from the publisher for an honest review.
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Release Date: Already Released!
Number of Pages: 355 (Hardcover)


Description from Goodreads:

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.

I meant to post this full review a long time ago, so with the final book in the trilogy right around the corner, here it finally is!

Right from the very first page of THE WINNER'S CURSE, I was hooked! The world-building, the characters, the story, and writing were all absolutely wonderful, and I loved every single moment! I loved the chemistry between the main characters, Arin and Kestrel! I loved it all so much and I thought it was amazing!

I loved Kestrel right away, and as soon as Arin was introduced, I was completely intrigued. They're extremely strong characters, and they complement one another perfectly. I loved that they were both willing to fight for what they believe in and they never stopped trying to protect their loved ones. I also loved the chemistry between Arin and Kestrel! I won't lie, I love it when books have a romantic element, so I thoroughly enjoyed the romance in The Winner's Curse, but I also really loved that the romance fit so well into the narrative. It provides a dimension to both Arin's and Kestrel's character, and as they grow closer, they open up and we learn so much more about both of them.

Along with the fantastic characters, the world-building is superb! I loved learning more about Kestrel and Arin's world, and the dynamics between the different countries was extremely interesting. While on the surface, the story might seem to focus on the forbidden romance between Arin and Kestrel, it's so much bigger than that. It encompasses a growing rebellion, political tensions, family legacies, and the difficulty in choosing your own path in life.

Overall, I LOVED The Winner's Curse. I loved the story, the world-building, the chemistry between the characters⎯absolutely EVERYTHING! If you like fantasy books with historical elements and some good ol' forbidden romance then you will LOVE this trilogy!

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What do you think?
Have you started The Winner's Trilogy yet?