This was such a very good series conclusion for me. [a:Marie Rutkoski|1238111|Marie Rutkoski|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1393378883p2/1238111.jpg] really did a good job on this one.

Let me discuss the ways I would look at a series conclusion:

1. Character Development. - Did the characters grow/change/evolved towards the series?

Kestrel and Arin has both gone through so much and it was very evident in the way they looked at things during this last book. Kestrel has to overcome her father issues and is now bolder and stronger than before. She, at some point, also came to terms with her feelings and opened up more with Arin. During the first two books, it was always Arin who was vocal/showy with affections, so it was really satisfying that Kestrel was now reciprocating. On Arin's end - he who kept believing he is blessed by the god of death and is on a killing spree. But towards the end, he chose forgiveness and redemption, rather than revenge. At some point, he lost that guilt when killing, so it was really impressive how he behaved towards the end.

2. How the villain met his doom. - A good story needs a good villain, and the way the protagonists triumph over the villain must be epic. We all know our heroes will win in the end, it's thrilling to see how they do.

There is a fantastic chapter where Rutkoski's talent in storytelling really shone. The 'final battle' was written in dual POV as Kestrel and Arin both fought their own enemies. It was fantastic. That chapter kept me on the edge. SO GOOD.

Spoiler

Gambling and poison -- how very Kestrel

3. Closure - There must be a finality; questions must be answered; quests must be done.

I was truly rooting for Arin and Kestrel in the end, just living in peace and away from all the politics. But alas, we didn't get that. I still think that the ending was really good. I was smiling all throughout those last pages, and my heart is just happy and giddy. And it was super nice to see Arin and Kestrel going back to basics at the end. Like they can be happy and in love, and life is simple. And I think not everyone will agree with me, but I find the ending with the general very fitting.

Spoiler

For the general to lose his arm, means he won't be able to fight anymore. And he had to live with the guilt of everything he has done. Death would have been the easier route - but it's not what he deserved. But whether him and Kestrel reconciles, Rutkoski leaves it up to our imagination.

I think the only criticism I have is that the minor characters didn't get to shine that much: Risha, Verex, Sarsine and even the Queen. I guess the major focus is just on Kestrel and Arin. Nevertheless, I loved it - the mind games, the strategy, the drama, the friendship, and the love.

I definitely recommend this series. READ THIS ALL OF YOU!!!!!

4.5 Chef’s Kiss stars

Who was I kidding? I totally finished the pack of chips. Okay to get that random reference, please see my review of book two. Basically I dove straight into this book after the last one because holy cliffhanger, Batman! Anyway, last books in series can be tricky because they have the potential to make or break the entire thing, and so I was understandably apprehensive. Happy to report that I was extremely satisfied with what I found. Both the romance and the action reached a crescendo in this installment and I was here for it.

We are so used to seeing physically formidable heroines in YA fantasy, but I cannot stress enough how wonderful it is to see someone like Kestrel who relies primarily on her smarts and her strategic brain to win her battles, her mind her sharpest weapon. Even after all the horrors she had to face. It also helps that she won’t hesitate to make some hard choices along the way. It’s even more heartening to see her grow and learn accountability along the way, and to see that she truly understands the weight and consequences of her choices. It’s also nice to see our boy Arin get with the program, even if he’s still a sweet little Simp sometimes. His devotion to Kestrel gets me all melty when I think of it. As fascinating as they both are, Roshar might be the most interesting, and possibly my favorite character of the last two books, his layers many and inviting you to dig further. Also he’s gosh darn funny.

You can tell that a lot of research that went into this book, with the tense and complex war maneuvers the author describes in detail, as well as the implications of each strategy. Her writing is beautiful, even as she’s describing war and pain and injuries and the heavy cost of it all. Most of the book is some form of war and battle, but it neither felt slow nor rushed, and the conclusion felt satisfyingly tied up.

4,5 ⭐️

3.7 stars
This book was intense, but I expected more romance than there actually was.
Despite this, I really liked it but it was difficult to me to get through it.
There is a lot of war strategy and I love how Kestrel always helped Arin without him knowing.

Abbandonato al 53% perché forse quello che mi piaceva di più della trilogia era Gheppio. Kestrel in questo libro non è più sé stessa, e sebbene ci siano delle buone ragioni e dopo gli avvenimenti non sarebbe credibile il contrario, questo non ha tolto che per me non ci fosse più motivo di continuare. Capisco che sia un mio problema, ma la storia senza Kesterel (com'era nei precedenti libri) per me perde molto del suo fascino e impoverisce tutto il resto

Meh. It was okay. A bit too much war/strategy for me but I'm happy with how it ended.

《 4.5 / 5 stars 》

I really liked The Winner's Kiss it's probably my favorite book out of the trilogy. So much has changed from The Winner's Curse! It went from a first book focused mainly on romance to a conclusion full of war and strategy.
The Winner's Kiss picks up right where The Winner's Crime left off, throwing the reader right into the thick of it. While I found the beginning a little slow, it quickly picked up and I was swept away into all of the action that kept the pace fast throughout the rest of the book.
Marie Rutkoski's writing continued to be amazing. I like her style and how descriptive she is through it. It gave the story a real feeling and fully allowed the reader to become immersed in the world of the Valorians and the Herrani . She especially did a great job with the battle scenes. She was able to create so much tension and anxiety for the characters and for how the battle was going to end. She also does this through the changing the POV right when something major was happening, creating a cliffhanger and leaving the reader desperate for more.
The characters have changed a lot. Gone are the spoiled, rich girl and the angry, slave boy instead we have a cunning Kestrel and a deadly Arin. They are so different from the characters that were introduced in the first book and the ones that they became in the second. I loved how Marie Rutkoski continued their development, it made the story more lifelike.
The relationships in this book also developed. Kestrel and Arin's relationship was like a real one. It was full of ups and downs and hardships that both of them had to endure.
The non-romantic relationships were focused on more so than in the other books. You get a deeper understanding of Kestrel and her father's very complicated relationship and Arin and Roshar's brotherly one. It was nice to see what was happening between the characters that wasn't only focused on the romantic side like it was in The Winner's Curse.
The romance was 10 million times better! It was just like how a real romance would be. In the first book it was the first love between two teenagers. In the second book it took a back seat as there was so much happening with all of the politics. In The Winner's Kiss the romance is there, but it's matured into an older one, it's no longer a first love it's a romance that's been through good times and bad and that's constantly changing.
I definitely recommend this book to teens who like books with fantasy, romance, and action.

A tedious end to a series that did not live up to its initial promise. I felt no tension as to how this was going to end - and frankly didn't care long before the book ended.

It's almost like the author forgot who her characters are - I had trouble telling the inner voices of Arin and Kestrel apart. Also, Kestrel is suffering PTSD and, conveniently,

Spoiler

memory loss from her time in a labor camp, so Arin and Kestrel have to learn to love each other again

.

"Sometimes Kestrel recalled a moment Arin described, and then it felt to Arin as if he'd looked into a mirror and saw her instead of his own reflection." (p. 254)
Bleh.