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The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski, book cover

Book 1 of 3 in The Winner's Trilogy

The Winner's Curse

by Marie Rutkoski

Spice 1 out of 5, Sweet1/5 · Sweet: Kisses only

An aristocratic girl who is a member of a warmongering and enslaving empire purchases a slave, an act that sets in motion a rebellion that might overthrow her world as well as her heart.

Spice
1/5
Burn
Slow
Pages
~355
Ending
Cliffy

Cliffhanger, but Book 2 is already out.

KU Is it on Kindle Unlimited? Check on Amazon

How spicy is The Winner's Curse?

The Winner's Curse is a 1 out of 5 on our spice scale: sweet (kisses only). Kissing, longing looks, maybe a fade-to-black. Nothing on the page.

  • Steam: Glimpses and kisses
  • Burn: Slow burn
  • Pairing: One man, one woman
  • POV: Third person, dual POV (both leads)
  • Ending: Cliffhanger

Content warnings

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Show 3 content warnings
  • Sexual assault
  • War
  • Graphic violence

Our editorial notes, which may be incomplete. If something is a hard limit for you, check the author's own content notes too.

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    The Winner's Curse: quick answers

    How spicy is The Winner's Curse?

    The Winner's Curse is a 1 out of 5 on our spice scale: sweet (kisses only). Kissing, longing looks, maybe a fade-to-black. Nothing on the page.

    Is The Winner's Curse a standalone?

    No. The Winner's Curse is book 1 of 3 in The Winner's Trilogy. It is the place to start. The series is complete.

    What tropes are in The Winner's Curse?

    The Winner's Curse features forbidden love, enemies to lovers, smart / nerdy heroine. It is a slow burn M/F romance that ends with a cliffhanger.

    Does The Winner's Curse have content warnings?

    Our notes for The Winner's Curse include: sexual assault, war, graphic violence. This list may not be complete; check the author's own content notes if anything is a hard limit for you.

    What should I read after The Winner's Curse?

    If you loved The Winner's Curse, try The Queen's Rising by Rebecca Ross, Powerless by Lauren Roberts, Bloodlines by Richelle Mead. They share its forbidden love and enemies to lovers energy at a similar spice level.