The Winner's Curse

By: Marie Rutkoski

Narrated by: Justine Eyre

Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's Summary

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 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.

©2013 Marie Rutkoski (P)2014 Listening Library

A Winning Story

This is a creative and intelligent story. I think it was well worth the credit and I am looking forward to the second book. Justine Eyre has a strange intonation to the voices; breathy with a weird uptake at the end of sentences. I could not stand it initially but grew used to it. There was definitive differentiation between character's voices though despite the strange speech pattern. It helps to keep the characters straight. Marie Rutkoski's characters are interesting and engaging. The story-line is not something I've read before so it is not predictable or boring.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Good

What did you like best about The Winner's Curse? What did you like least?

The world. It's very descriptive and unique, I loved learning about the different customs.

Least? The narration and the characters.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I didn't HAVE one. The two main characters were hypocrites.

Was The Winner's Curse worth the listening time?

Honestly, I probably would have enjoyed the book more, had I read it vs listenin to the audio.

11 of 12 people found this review helpful

The narrator

I cant even listen to the voice, it is uncomfertable to listen to so i couldnt even finish the book. Please get someone else to read it, so I can finish it!

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Good series

This was another series where the first book was OK, but I was glad I stuck with it through the end of the trilogy. The last book was the best.

Yes, the narrator is a bit annoying. I've heard her in a few other books, so was used to her.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Beautiful story, horrible narration

I couldn't speak more highly of this story but sadly the narration is absolutely horrible.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Read this book.

I don't give 5 star reviews often. This book is great. The characters are textured, the heroine is intelligent, emotional and brave. I think that the discussion about slavery could have been developed more fully but was handled well. I bought the sequel before I finished the first book, so I'm committed!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Entertaining read!

I greatly enjoyed being swept away into the world this book creates. It's not deep but there are many angles and twists that keep you hooked.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Really liked the story

If you could sum up The Winner's Curse in three words, what would they be?

Interesting, compelling, new

What did you like best about this story?

I like the strong heroine. The plot is a change from a lot of the current YA but is still fast-paced and compelling. Very enjoyable and I can't wait for the next one.

Which character – as performed by Justine Eyre – was your favorite?

Justin Eyre is a great narrator and when looking for new books, if I am unsure whether to try it or not, I will definitely pick it up if I see her narrating.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

awful narrator

10 chapters and I just cant stand to continue listening. The storyline is quite good but the narrator was awful in her cadence and lilt. She sounds like she's moaning the whole time its annoying and distracting me away from the story.

Narrating Prose never sounded this good

It took me a while to get used to this narrators voice, kinda nasal and high but i found that it suits kestrels voice very well. I’m picky with narrators but i have come to love this narration.