The Winner's Curse

Kestrel, tempted in a slaving market by a Herrani man who can sing, enters a bidding war and though she wins, her prize is a Trojan horse. 

Kestrel is the daughter of general Trajan, a member of the Valorian conquerors who serves the emperor. They live on the Herran peninsula which was overtaken by the emperor’s kingdom and its citizens enslaved. Kestrel does not want to be a warrior, though her father keeps trying to recruit her. Eventually she’ll have to choose either marriage or the military. She’s a poor fighter, but an excellent strategist has a special talent for detecting when people lie. She's an even better pianist. Musical talents were prized by the Herran culture prior to their enslavement, and this particular proclivity of hers is not valued among her own people. She’s the daughter of the general, though, so while people may gossip, she continues to do what she wants. Even though she does not agree with the enslavement of the Herrani, she winds up at a slavers market while out with her friend, and while waiting for the auction to end so she can leave, a Herrani slave is brought forward who intrigues her. Though he’s a slave, he shows defiance and strength in captivity. This resonates with her, as she feels trapped by her own destiny. And then the slaver states that he can sing. Without a thought for what she’s doing—she’d never purchase a person and contribute to the problem—she bids on him. After winning the bidding war she unintentionally created, he’s hers. But he’s not what she expected.

Smith isn’t his real name. It indicates that he’s been trained as a blacksmith. Despite what his slaver says, he won’t sing. Not for them. Maybe never again. So he’ll work as a blacksmith and bide his time. Kestrel may be an expert at detecting lies, but he’s excellent at deception and she won’t find out what secrets he’s hiding.

This book is like playing chess, or Fire Emblem — all about moves and countermoves, a game of strategy in society. Kestrel is loyal to her people. Though she doesn’t agree with enslavement, she can’t help that she was born into a more privileged position. She still loves her father and wants to make him proud, though he’s still a part of the problem. She can’t help that she’s drawn to Smith. There can’t be a future for them. He’s her slave and she’s his enemy. And he seems to hate her. Smith can’t allow himself to sympathize with Kestrel. It’d be a betrayal to his people. But he can’t deny to himself that she’s not quite the same as the people who ruined his life. They can’t completely trust each other, and people on both sides look at them with wariness and distrust believing that they’re more to each other than what they claim. They’re players on opposing teams, both excellent at strategy and playing to win. Smith’s cause is more sympathetic, but Kestrel’s attempts to protect her own people despite their past actions is something that you can identify with.

This is only the first novel, so the story ends unresolved but at a clear transition. Both characters have leveled up, and are no longer the pawns that they began as. It sets up an interesting situation for the sequel. The pacing can be a bit frustrating, as it takes awhile for the big game changers, but it never got boring and kept me hooked till the end. And it convinced me to hang on to the journey and continue on to the sequel. Overall, I’d recommend!