Selective Collective: The Winner’s Curse

Welcome to The Selective Collective, the feature where my blogging pals and I choose a new book and discuss every element, from page to page, start to finish.

Our book this month is The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski.

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. (Goodreads)

This month, I have the pleasure of working on The Casting Call feature (which I love).  This is a fun segment because I always get the help of my amazing blogging pals, hear their ideas (and use them), most notably, my movie guru pal Sandie, from Teen Lit Rocks.

Here are our choices:

KESTREL

Sophie Turner, also known as Sansa Stark from the epically awesome Game of Thrones series, would be a perfect Kestrel. She is soft and lovely enough to suit Kestrel’s feminine, compassionate, qualities, but fierce enough to be the girl who loves without question and who is unwilling to bend to the demands that society–and her father–has placed upon her.

ARIN

You may recognize Matt Manter from various movie and television roles. He’s currently playing Roman on the CW’s Star-Crossed. Lanter would be a good Arin, fitting his build and overall description of the slave purchased by Kestrel. Arin is not quite what he seems–rough and brawny, and willing to play a role of deception–but there are layers to him, and there are things about Kestrel that surprise him.

JESS

I love Claire Holt from The Vampire Diaries and its spinoff, The Originals. I think she’d be a fabulous Jess, the best friend and confidant to our lady Kestrel.

RONAN

 Rounding it out is Austin Butler of The Carrie Diaries as Ronan, brother to Jess, and exceptional flirt to Kestrel. He’s the guy you think Kestrel would probably choose to marry if she were the type of girl to follow the rules proper society has in place.

 

Please be sure to visit my amazing blogging partners and check out their features today.

The Book Addict’s Guide- Review

Gone Pecan-Author- Interview & Giveaway

The Grown Up YA- Freebie

Teen Lit Rocks- Roundtable Discussion

Finally, thank you to Farrar Straus Giroux for providing each SC member with a copy of The Winner’s Curse.