The winner's curse is phenomenon in auctions where the bidder overpays, never able to recoup their losses for the item. In this book, a girl named Kestrel is cursed when she pays a huge sum for a defiant slave based on their combined love of music. In doing this, a girl respected for her knowledge of secrets and strategy falls prey to powers of the human heart. In Kestrel's world, women must join the military or get married by age 20; no other option is allowed. Certainly, the general's daughter cannot fall in love with a slave, but she cannot stop herself, even when the slave fights destroy everything she holds dear. I loved Kestrel's contradictory nature. She relished her knowledge and skill at creating unbeatable war strategies, but she refused to kill. She hated slavery but owned slaves. Kestrel knew everything about secrets and strategy, but she was naive about falling in love. Equally, I appreciated the slave Arin's struggle as he came to love the girl whose father enslaved his people. I was transfixed as I sped through the tale trying to find out not only if Arin's people could be freed but if both Kestrel and Arin would fight for their heart's desire. When I finished The Winner's Curse, I was so angry at the ending. I read and reread the ending searching for more. Certainly an author so adept at making me fall in love with her protagonists would not be so cruel as to end the story as it was. Thankfully, Goodreads told me this book is the first in a trilogy, and I breathed a sigh of relief. For the first time in a long time, I am so happy to learn that this book is the first book in a trilogy. Lately, I am exhausted by the unending supply of series books; sometimes it feels like there is no originality. However, this book is no winner's curse; readers who take a risk on this original tale will come out ahead. I highly recommend it.
The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski
The winner's curse is phenomenon in auctions where the bidder overpays, never able to recoup their losses for the item. In this book, a girl named Kestrel is cursed when she pays a huge sum for a defiant slave based on their combined love of music. In doing this, a girl respected for her knowledge of secrets and strategy falls prey to powers of the human heart. In Kestrel's world, women must join the military or get married by age 20; no other option is allowed. Certainly, the general's daughter cannot fall in love with a slave, but she cannot stop herself, even when the slave fights destroy everything she holds dear. I loved Kestrel's contradictory nature. She relished her knowledge and skill at creating unbeatable war strategies, but she refused to kill. She hated slavery but owned slaves. Kestrel knew everything about secrets and strategy, but she was naive about falling in love. Equally, I appreciated the slave Arin's struggle as he came to love the girl whose father enslaved his people. I was transfixed as I sped through the tale trying to find out not only if Arin's people could be freed but if both Kestrel and Arin would fight for their heart's desire. When I finished The Winner's Curse, I was so angry at the ending. I read and reread the ending searching for more. Certainly an author so adept at making me fall in love with her protagonists would not be so cruel as to end the story as it was. Thankfully, Goodreads told me this book is the first in a trilogy, and I breathed a sigh of relief. For the first time in a long time, I am so happy to learn that this book is the first book in a trilogy. Lately, I am exhausted by the unending supply of series books; sometimes it feels like there is no originality. However, this book is no winner's curse; readers who take a risk on this original tale will come out ahead. I highly recommend it.
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The Living by Matt de la Pena Shy took a job on a cruise ship to make a lot of money during the summer. He is expecting it to be a summer of fun and flirtation when an earthquake hits the Southern coast of California. When you are hit with a mile high wave, it doesn't matter if you have a life jacket, enough life boats, and have done the training. the cruel hands of fate are the only things that decide who lives and who dies. Shy ends up in a lifeboat with a dying man, a spoiled girl, and no food. Lost and adrift in the ocean, they will have to fight to stay a part of the living. If you love survival stories, this is a harrowing one. As huge waves pound the ship, you feel yourself struggling not to drown and fighting hysteria like the other characters in the book. The only thing I did not like about the book is that it had a cliffhanger ending with plans for a sequel. Grrrrrr! The World's Strongest Librarian: A Memoir of Tourette's, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family by Josh Hanagarne Josh Hanagarne is the world's strongest librarian. However, it is not the fact that he is able to deadlift 600 pounds or whip through 500 page novels that gives him the title. It is his lifetime battle to overcome Tourette's Syndrome that will amaze you. When his Tourette's gets so severe that his vocalizations are constant and he begins attacking his own body, Josh begins a quest to take back his life from the monster controlling it. Trying everything from prescription medications that leave him exhausted, quack remedies that leave him sick, and botox injections that leave him mute, nothing works until he trains with an eccentric former Air Force Sergeant who helps him unlock the secret to controlling his condition. Written with humor and hope, Josh's struggles to have a normal life: get married, graduate from college, hold a job, and have a child will amaze you. I particularly loved his hilarious scenes from life in a public library. I was crying because I was laughing so hard. You do not have to be a librarian to laugh with Josh at the absurdity of life and fight with him to overcome the monster that continuously haunts him. It is one of the best nonfiction books I have read. I highly recommend it! Muckers by Sandra Neil Wallace The Muckers might be the smallest football team in Arizona, but that does not mean that don't have big dreams. With their school set to close at the end of the year and the mines that employ the town on the brink of closing, this hard-fighting team dreams of winning the state championship. In order to make this a reality, they will have to have an undefeated season. One loss and the hopes of the town and their dreams of glory die. The Muckers are led by quarterback Red O'Shea, who struggles to believe he is as talented and good as his brother Bobby who died in the war with Germany. Reminiscent of Hoosiers, this story of how hard work, belief in yourself, and a football can inspire us to greatness will inspire you. It was fascinating reading about how football was played in the 1950's and heartbreaking watching the proud small town citizens struggle as their hometown becomes a ghost town. Based on a true story, this is a classic football story that will leaving you dreaming of glory on the gridiron. Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge Nyx and her twin sister Astraia were born due to a desperate bargain between their father and the Demon Lord Ignifiex. For 900 years he has kept Arcadia hidden away from the world with the power of demons that destroy the people living there. Their father promised that one of the girls had to marry Ignifex when she turned seventeen. While Astraia has been raised with pampering and love, Nyx has been trained to be a cold, heartless weapon, and she despises them for it. However, she loves Arcadia and vows to do her duty to destroy the demon lord. Upon entering Ignifex's castle, she discovers that Ignifex and his castle are not what she expected. As she tirelessly searches the ever-changing castle to locate the spell that ensnares Arcadia, Nyx becomes ensnared by the charms of its master. To live by duty or love, that is the question Nyx must answer. This darkly romantic retelling of Beauty and the Beast will delight fantasy and romance fans. Nyx is a wildcat who lashes out with words and knives when she first meets her husband, and it is magical watching her bitter hatred melt away to leave a deeply passionate and self-sacrificing love. Moreover, as she fights to uncover the castles secrets, you too will become engrossed with solving the mystery of Ignifex's true identity and how Arcadia can be freed. I loved this book! I have always been a sucker for Beauty and the Beast retellings; it is my favorite fairy tale. This book brings new life to a timeless tale of a girl who fell in love with a monster. Wren has spent years at Sacred Heart Academy being the quiet good girl, and what has the got her? She is ranked in the middle of her class. She is not smart enough for National Honor Society. She can't get into Harvard. On the other hand, Grayson is the fallen prince of St. Gabe's. He went from rugby captain, Mr. Popular, and academic scholar to deviant when he was caught selling term papers. Now he is stuck at public school striving to reinvent himself. When Wren saves Grayson's life, the guy who has never been serious about a girl is inventing crazy reasons to see her again. Wren is overwhelmed by the connection that they have, but the more she learns about Grayson's past, the more nervous she becomes of trusting him. Their relationship has the promise of being amazing, but dark secrets may ruin everything. Relive the rush of falling in love for the first time: wanting to spend every minute together and feeling so alive being around someone who seems to understand and desire you just as you are. Every relationship begins with the promise of amazing, but few stay that way. You will rage and sigh as Wren and Grayson fight for the potential of their relationship. I highly recommend this book! The strange outfits, the secret alliances, the dangerous fights, and the secret missions. You think I am talking about spying; I am talking about high school. Maggie, an international spy, starts high school thinking she finally has an easy assignment, but she quickly learns that excelling in high school is going to be her toughest mission yet. She tries to make friends with the natives, and ends up with Roux, not like Kanga's son, a former mean girl who is now the most vilified girl at school. She tries to complete her mission by getting to know Jesse, her target's son, and she ends up falling for him. Maggie is going to have to step up her game if she is going to complete her mission and excel in high school. This book is a light years above most chick lit because the characters are so original and hilarious. Roux is hilarious as she banters with everyone around her, and the romance between Jesse and Maggie is sweet but not syrupy. This is like eating a pint of your favorite Ben & Jerry's ice cream, perfectly sweet and totally original. |
AuthorMs. Smith has been the librarian at Washington HS in Sioux Falls, SD, since 2005. She enjoys reading, watching K-Dramas, Harry Potter and hanging out with her family. Archives
October 2021
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