[REVIEW] The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

This is a book I did not expect to like or rate it high. To be honest, I was interested in reading this book because of its high ratings on Goodreads and rave by book tubers. Of course, the beautiful cover partly contributes. I'd gotten on reading it without knowing what is it about and the result was pretty shocking.

Goodreads synopsis: 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 by Marie Rutkoski 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.

Firstly, I love the story. I believe it's because it's hard to guess what would happen next and you've no choice but to keep reading it. (I finish it in one evening.) I find it hard to explain the mixed feelings I had reading this. The starting was a blur, when the author starts introducing the two communities, Herrani and Valorian. It took me a few chapters to fully understand what's going on, I'm slow I know. So basically, the Valorian conquers the Herrani land years ago and the Herrani(s) are slaves to them. The main character, Kestrel is a Valorian and she stumbled upon an auction and bought a young slave Herrani. Of course, the rest would be the forbidden love between them.

However, there's a twist which I hadn't see it coming. (read the book) The whole plot twist really got me into the story and wanting more. From reading this, I felt the pain, the sorrow and the emotions are pretty strong. Kestrel was torn between being with her love one or loyal to her people. It might seem cliché but it's a whole new feeling while reading it.

Kestrel and Arin are one superb pair. They might be from the different communities but in fact they share the same passion and character. This leads them to each other and they can't help but to fall in love with each other.

Need I say more because the rest is for you to find out when you read it. I believe this is a dystopian, historical (kinda), young-adult fiction. It's the 1st book of The Winner's Trilogy. I highly recommend this because not many books surprise me as this does.

Summer

you can get this book from book depository: The Winner's Curse

[REVIEW] The Ghost Bride by YangSze Choo

Funfact: This is my first book written by a Malaysian author. *round of applauses*

The Ghost Bride is a paranormal (& romance) asian fiction which sets place in one of the states of Malaysia, namely Malacca. This book contains many hearsay customs and traditions of Chinese (of Malaysia) and supernatural believes. Personally, being a Malaysian chinese, I do still heard or lectured on various superstitions make known on this book.

Goodreads synopsis: "One evening, my father asked me if I would like to become a ghost bride..." 

Though ruled by British overlords, the Chinese of colonial Malaya still cling to ancient customs. And in the sleepy port town of Malacca, ghosts and superstitions abound. 

Li Lan, the daughter of a genteel but bankrupt family, has few prospects. But fate intervenes when she receives an unusual proposal from the wealthy and powerful Lim family. They want her to become a ghost bride for the family's only son, who recently died under mysterious circumstances. Rarely practiced, a traditional ghost marriage is used to placate a restless spirit. Such a union would guarantee Li Lan a home for the rest of her days, but at a terrible price. 

After an ominous visit to the opulent Lim mansion, Li Lan finds herself haunted not only by her ghostly would-be suitor, but also by her desire for the Lim's handsome new heir, Tian Bai. Night after night, she is drawn into the shadowy parallel world of the Chinese afterlife, with its ghost cities, paper funeral offerings, vengeful spirits and monstrous bureaucracy—including the mysterious Er Lang, a charming but unpredictable guardian spirit. Li Lan must uncover the Lim family's darkest secrets—and the truth about her own family—before she is trapped in this ghostly world forever.

First of all, I want to congratulate Ms Choo for writing such an epic story about the Malaysian customs (mainly focusing on the Chinese community), especially the afterworld of the dead. It was unbelievably mind-blowing and certainly convincing, as those are the beliefs that I have learnt of and practised since childhood. Believe it or not, acts of superstitious can sound really absurd but some may hold a few hands of truth. Enough scaring, what I'm trying to say it's that whatever written in this book is certainly what the older generations truly believe in and some were still practiced in the later generation.

Everything written in this book was so relatable that I couldn't help but to be convinced by the story. Many things which were written in this book seem to be the answers to those customs I've been asked to follow. Of course, there's no proof to what will actually happen after death but through our customs and beliefs, we believe in having an afterworld for the dead to wander around before their reincarnations.

I love every aspects of this book, from the story to the characters. However, I find the ending was quite abrupt. Another thing about this book which slightly annoys me is the usage of vocabularies. This was pointed out by my friend and I do agree with her. Some words are unsuitable. It's not that I'm afraid of bombastic words, but some actions need not be described with such "hard" words.

Apart from that mild problem of words usage, I'm quite satisfied with this book. I like that Li Lan has picked the right guy in the end. :D

Summer

I recommend this book to everyone - The Ghost Bride (other editions available)