4.0 

The Winner's Kiss

By Marie Rutkoski
The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

The Winner's Kiss brings a stunning conclusion to the irresistible romance between Kestrel and Arin and the crippling war that has torn about their world in the Winner's trilogy, by New York Times bestselling author Marie Rutkoski.

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?

Download the free Fable app

app book lists

Stay organized

Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.
app book recommendations

Build a better TBR

Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building tool
app book reviews

Rate and review

Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tags
app comments

Curate your feed

Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities
app book lists

Stay organized

Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.
app book recommendations

Build a better TBR

Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building tool
app book reviews

Rate and review

Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tags
app comments

Curate your feed

Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities

The Winner's Kiss Reviews

4.0
“Okay, this was definitely my favorite book in the trilogy. The character development was sooo good. You could really see how much everyone had grown, and it made the story feel way more satisfying emotionally. I also really liked Roshar. He actually felt important to the story instead of just being another random side character thrown in for nothing. Every character felt like they had a purpose. And the ending??? I really loved it. It felt rewarding after everything they went through.”
“Wow. First off, this is the best book in the trilogy. I loved the first and second books but wow, was this a stunning conclusion. We pick up right after the end of the second book and are immediately hooked in by Kestrels “new life” and how she is navigating being exiled. Then, we follow Arin who is still grappling with his mixed feelings about Kestrel and her involvement in the war. I love how the author made it a point to add more of Arins POV so we can see how he was impacted by, not only Kestrels “betrayal, HIS role in the war. The author mentioned in a note at the beginning of the book that in order for both characters to truly understand and fully love one another, they would need to BE equals, which is hard to navigate considering the power inequality shown throughout the first two book. However, Kestrel learning first hand what the empire and what *her father* are capable of inflicting (whether directly or indirectly) is what ultimately is the first step toward Kestrel and Arin finally seeing each other FULLY beyond the versions of each other that they loved (as cruel as that sounds). Kestrel experiencing the pain & dehumanization the Herrans felt is *why* she is able to understand and grasp how the emperor and her father changed the lives of thousands, including Arins. It was GUT WRENCHING to see how Kestrel dealt with her identity loss and how Arin tries to understand that Kestrel isn’t the same girl as before. We also learn and see more of how Kestrel is struggling with her feelings towards her father and his betrayal. Their storyline is like a punch to the gut because of how fundamentally different they view each other and their relationship. Side note: Roshars and Arins friendship is so wholesome and Roshar is my favorite character🤞 This entire book/series was truly beautifully written and I don’t understand why more people are not talking about this series.”

About Marie Rutkoski

Born in Illinois, Marie Rutkoski is a graduate of the University of Iowa and Harvard University. She is a professor of English literature at Brooklyn College and a New York Times bestselling author of books for children and young adults, including The Shadow Society and the Kronos Chronicles, which includes The Cabinet of Wonders. She lives in Brooklyn with her family.

Start a Book Club

Start a public or private book club with this book on the Fable app today!

FAQ

Do I have to buy the ebook to participate in a book club?

Why can’t I buy the ebook on the app?

How is Fable’s reader different from Kindle?

Do you sell physical books too?

Are book clubs free to join on Fable?

How do I start a book club with this book on Fable?

Notification Icon