3.5/5
great book! I really enjoyed this trilogy, the whole plotting, strategic mind of the characters is just absolutely amazing!!

still I'm a tiny bit disappointed by the end, there's still a lot I wanted to know... :)

Satisfying.

This was the best book of the whole series!

If I could use two words to describe this book it is Disappointing and Anti-Climatic. Now here's why:
1. Trope:Amnesia

To me, this is lazy writing on Rutoski's part. Kestrel and Arin have enough drama on their own. It was a plot device to make it harder for Kestrel and Arin to be together. When they defiantly didn't need it,they already had major issues like: communication, trust, and a hundred other things.Because of this trope, no new events happened in the first half of the book because Kestrel was trying to get her memory back. As a reader, I was annoyed because the things that she was discovering/remembering we(the reader)already knew. The Kestrel that I loved in the first book was gone. It would have been more of an exciting read if the slave camp didn't cause her amnesia and it hardened her instead of making her vulnerable.

2. Anti-Climatic

As a whole the book was boring. Their several scene jumps within a chapter. it was a lot of walking, and glossed over war/fight scenes. The slave camp rescue was vague and could have used more description. And Kestrel's showdowns with her Father and Emperor was Anti-climatic.

A small annoyance was the writing. In moments it flowed like poetry, but at some points it was bit dramatic and too much.

Review can be found on *Milky Way of Books*

Before I began reading the final book of the trilogy I really had my objections concerning the new covers for the series. Yes, I love the old ones. I mean how can you not love the dresses and the cover model?

I really didn't want this book to end! After reading "The Raven King" I finally understood that 2016 is the year of concluding series. "The Winner's Kiss" was everything I expected; angst, suspicion, redemption, love and war. Kestrel and Arin became one of the best pairs in YA and I am pretty sure you will be more than willing to re-read the books.

The story begins with Kestrel in the road to the mines after the events of "The Winner's Curse" and Arin still deep into the deception of Kestrel's words. Even from the first chapters it was agonizing to know what had really happened and how Arin lost so much time wondering about Kestrel and her words. War is looming over the continent and the Emperor is determined to destroy both the Henari and Roshar's queenship over the other parts of their world.

I both loved and worried over some parts in the story. While the writing was epic and crafted down to every emotional detail, I was actually afraid for the lives of all the main characters. Roshar's character was a welcome distraction with his sarcasm and witty humor. I would totally read a novella dedicated to him.

The ending was very, very satisfying with a touch of bittersweet in it, especially between Kestrel and her father. I will anxiously wait for anything new written by Marie Rutkoski and hope that she will always deliver flawlessly written characters, even when they do have flaws!

A very satisfying end to the series. I liked that it was lulled into a very pleasant and almost dreamlike mood at the end, after all the intensity of the novel.

I love that was I engaged 100% with the story and the characters, right till the end.

FULL REVIEW SOON

- An incredible finale to an incredible series! This is now one of my favorite YA series! I know it's older, but this series has held up so well over the years, and I absolutely loved it!
- Kestrel was such an amazing and refreshing character to read. I loved every moment that she was on the page, and I really appreciated that she was a normal girl. She had no magical gifts, and was not especially good with weapons (though she can still handle her own), but she had her mind. She was brilliant, cunning, with an eye for strategy, and I loved seeing such an intelligent and strong main character.
- Arin and Kestrel have been through so much, and their relationship was quite complicated. I think the author did a beautiful job working through issues for a resolution.
- I honestly Rishard (sorry if I spelt it wrong, I listened to the audiobook lol) and his whole arc through the story! He was such a comedic relief, but also so serious, and it was the perfect blend.
- Arin the Tiger, my heart <3
- Kestrel and her father's relationship was so sad and painful to watch through the series, and I think this book broke my heart the most for them...
- Varyx was honestly such a sweetheart, and I feel so bad for him and the abuse he underwent from his father. I thought the ending for him was really good, and I hope he can find peace and happiness.
- That ending was STELLAR!! There was so much suspense in the final battle, and I loved that Kestrel stayed true to herself to beat the Emperor.
- I really enjoyed how well the author tied up all the threads at the end of the book, and really gave us closure with all of the characters.
- There may not have been any magic in this book, but the author's writing felt like pure magic itself. I absolutely loved Marie's writing style and found it so beautiful and immersive!
- I had so much fun devouring all of these books, and I am so sad that they are over. The story, characters, and writing were all incredible! This series is definitely a favorite that I will be re-reading and will always recommend!

TW: war, slavery, drug addiction, murder, torture, sexual assault