The Winner's Crime

Following your heart can be a crime

A royal wedding is what most girls dream about. It 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? For 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.

The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski is the second book in the Winner's Trilogy.


“The Winner's Crime teeters on a knife-sharp edge between devastatingly romantic one moment and simply devastating the next. Marie Rutkoski has captivated me with her world of mind games, power struggles, and espionage, and left me positively desperate to see how Kestrel and Arin's story will play out.” —Marissa Meyer, New York Times-bestselling author of the Lunar Chronicles series

"The middle entry in a fantasy trilogy brings new players to the game while exponentially raising the stakes. . . . . The twisty plot is a cleverly constructed puzzle box of intrigue and deceit, couched in graceful prose that shifts from restrained to voluptuous. . . . Enthralling, agonizing and incandescent." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Brilliant plotting and absolutely gorgeous writing combine to make The Winner's Crime a standout, but it is the complex, deeply layered characters with their gut wrenching dilemmas and impossible choices that cracked my heart wide open. It left me breathless and craving more--I don't know how I will be able to wait for the final book. A truly unforgettable read!” —Robin LaFevers, New York Times–bestselling author of Grave Mercy and Dark Triumph

"The middle entry in a fantasy trilogy brings new players to the game while exponentially raising the stakes. . . . . The twisty plot is a cleverly constructed puzzle box of intrigue and deceit, couched in graceful prose that shifts from restrained to voluptuous. . . . Enthralling, agonizing and incandescent." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“The cliffhanger ending of this second installment guarantees an anxious audience for the arrival of the third book.” —BCCB

“Rutkoski's well-written prose is sumptuous . . . The shocking ending will leave readers hungry for the sequel.” —VOYA

“The Winner's Crime teeters on a knife-sharp edge between devastatingly romantic one moment and simply devastating the next. Marie Rutkoski has captivated me with her world of mind games, power struggles, and espionage, and left me positively desperate to see how Kestrel and Arin's story will play out.” —Marissa Meyer, New York Times-bestselling author of the Lunar Chronicles series

“Brilliant plotting and absolutely gorgeous writing combine to make The Winner's Crime a standout, but it is the complex, deeply layered characters with their gut wrenching dilemmas and impossible choices that cracked my heart wide open. It left me breathless and craving more--I don't know how I will be able to wait for the final book. A truly unforgettable read!” —Robin LaFevers, New York Times–bestselling author of Grave Mercy and Dark Triumph

Praise for The Winner's Curse:

“The Winner's Curse is breathtaking, a lyrical triumph in YA fantasy. Marie Rutkoski writes with tremendous power and has created an epic of fearless beauty. This book should not be missed.” —Ann Aguirre, New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of the Razorland trilogy

“Every line in The Winner's Curse is beautifully written. The story is masterfully plotted. The characters' dilemmas fascinated me and tore at my heart. This book gave me a rare and special reading experience: I never knew what was going to happen next. I loved it. I want more.” —Kristin Cashore, New York Times bestselling author of the Graceling Realm books