But he has secrets. Kestrel has learned that the price they paid for a fellow human being, is much higher than they ever could have imagined soon. "
...
The story is set in a high fantasy setting. There are several countries, peoples and regimes. Kestrel is the daughter of a powerful general of the empire Valorians who subjected and enslaved the people herrani. Valorian does not rest on their accomplishments, there is always the next fight before to spread even further. For Kestrel therefore only a career in the military, or a family remains reasons. Actually, she is interested in far more for music and social Ränkespielchen. But the closer she comes of age, she has to make a decision.
Your decision is not easier than it acquires the slave Arin at an auction. From the outset, it is clear the relationship of mistress and servant is out of control, the only question is when. The first five chapters have been read correctly even promising. Rather leisurely one is inserted into this unknown world, one gets his time to get to know the characters. But after that it goes on just as slow. Kestrel equips from social visits, always her favorite slave in tow. That inevitably leads to talk, is self-evident. Nevertheless Kestrel is blind when it comes to Arin. Otherwise always sensible she throws caution to the wind quite fast with him.
The relationship between the two has not developed in my opinion in a healthy pace. First they are understandably far, but from one moment to the next, they are at once familiar and almost friends. For my taste, Kestrel has him too blindly trusted and allowed him freedoms, without that he has earned through these acts. In a brief conversation she just thinks it may please her, to talk with someone who says what he thinks and not kowtowing. It builds the entire framework of their relationship and that's not enough for me.
It perish forever, until the story gets going properly. And even then it remains rather predictable. I also found the sequences do not always logical. Particularly memorable is my "battle" remained quite comfortably minutes holding chat with your opponents at the Kestrel. Um, huh? All spectators around it found that did not appear strange.
In and of itself to me a part of the development towards the end has very well-liked. But it could not previously hinwegtrösten moderate action and character development lame me. Ultimately, the end will also be relatively open.
Conclusion: I had so much of "winner's curse" awaits me! A complex imaginative world, strong characters and a compelling love story. Commandments unfortunately I only got a good start and a good ending. In between, it was for my taste too uneventful and not always logical. Kestrel and Arin are a couple no piece exceptional. In vain I searched for a special chemistry between the two. "Winner's Curse" was a new release of the year for me. Insanely promising, ultimately it unfortunately all the more disappointing. Pity!
