Most Popular Books by Marie Rutkoski

The Winner''s Crime, the dazzling follow-up to Marie Rutkoski''s The Winner''s Curse, reveals the high price of dangerous lies and untrustworthy alliances. Following your heart can be a crime A royal wedding is what most girls dream about. It means one celebration after another: balls, fireworks, and revelry until dawn. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement: that she agreed to marry the crown prince in exchange for Arin''s freedom. But can Kestrel trust Arin? Can she even trust herself? For Kestrel is becoming very good at deception. She''s working as a spy in the court. If caught, she''ll be exposed as a traitor to her country. Yet she can''t help searching for a way to change her ruthless world . . . and she is close to uncovering a shocking secret. The truth will come out, and when it does, Kestrel and Arin will learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

Set in the world of the New York Times–bestselling Winner’s Trilogy, Marie Rutkoski''s The Midnight Lie is an epic LGBTQ romantic fantasy about learning to free ourselves from the lies others tell us—and the lies we tell ourselves. Where Nirrim lives, crime abounds, a harsh tribunal rules, and society’s pleasures are reserved for the High Kith. Life in the Ward is grim and punishing. People of her low status are forbidden from sampling sweets or wearing colors. You either follow the rules, or pay a tithe and suffer the consequences. Nirrim keeps her head down, and a dangerous secret close to her chest. But then she encounters Sid, a rakish traveler from far away, who whispers rumors that the High Kith possess magic. Sid tempts Nirrim to seek that magic for herself. But to do that, Nirrim must surrender her old life. She must place her trust in this sly stranger who asks, above all, not to be trusted.

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Winner''s Trilogy comes Marie Rutkoski''s Tor.Com Original short story, "The Bridge of Snow." Here readers are introduced to Arin during more innocent times. In his childhood, before the war, there was still time to tell stories. This story is set in the same world of the author''s stunning YA trilogy, which begins with book one, The Winner''s Curse. At the Publisher''s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

War has begun. Arin is in the thick of it with untrustworthy new allies and the empire as his enemy. Though he has convinced himself that he no longer loves Kestrel, Arin hasn''t forgotten her, or how she became exactly the kind of person he has always despised. She cared more for the empire than she did for the lives of innocent people--and certainly more than she did for him. At least, that''s what he thinks. In the frozen north, Kestrel is a prisoner in a brutal work camp. As she searches desperately for a way to escape, she wishes Arin could know what she sacrificed for him. She wishes she could make the empire pay for what they''ve done to her. But no one gets what they want just by wishing. As the war intensifies, both Kestrel and Arin discover that the world is changing. The East is pitted against the West, and they are caught in between. With so much to lose, can anybody really win?

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.

Brimming with magic, political intrigue, and heroism, this debut novel kicks off a riveting new series featuring Petra Kronos, a young girl who risks everything to protect those she loves.

Intrigue, romance, and magic abound in The Hollow Heart, the heart-stopping conclusion to Marie Rutkoski’s Forgotten Gods duology. At the end of The Midnight Lie, Nirrim offered up her heart to the god of thieves in order to restore her people’s memories of their city’s history. The Half Kith who once lived imprisoned behind the city’s wall now realize that many among them are powerful. Meanwhile, the person Nirrim once loved most, Sid, has returned to her home country of Herran, where she must navigate the politics of being a rogue princess who has finally agreed to do her duty. In the Herrani court, rumors begin to grow of a new threat rising across the sea, of magic unleashed on the world, and of a cruel, black-haired queen who can push false memories into your mind, so that you believe your dearest friends to be your enemies. Sid doesn’t know that this queen is Nirrim, who seeks her revenge against a world that has wronged her. Can Sid save Nirrim from herself? Does Nirrim even want to be saved? As blood is shed and war begins, Sid and Nirrim find that it might not matter what they want...for the gods have their own plans.

Bringing to mind Gillian Flynn and Tana French but completely unique, Marie Rutkoski''s Real Easy is a compulsive, tenacious, and unexpectedly hopeful thriller. "[R]iveting...An adrenaline ride filled with grit and compassion." —People, Book of the Week It’s 1999 and Samantha has danced for years at the Lovely Lady strip club. She’s not used to mixing work and friendship—after all, between her jealous boyfriend and his young daughter, she has enough on her plate. But the newest dancer is so clueless that Samantha feels compelled to help her learn the hustle and drama of the club: how to sweet-talk the boss, fit in with the other women, and make good money. One night, when the new girl needs a ride home, Samantha agrees to drive: a simple decision that turns deadly. Georgia, another dancer drawn into the ensuing murder and missing person investigation, gathers information for Holly, a grieving detective determined to solve the case. Georgia just wants to help, but her involvement makes her a target. As Holly and Georgia round up their suspects, the story’s point of view shifts between dancers, detectives, children, club patrons—and the killer. Drawing on her experience as a former dancer, Marie Rutkoski immerses us in the captivating world of the club, which comes alive with complicated people trying their best to protect themselves and those they love. Character-driven and masterfully plotted, Real Easy gets to the heart of the timeless question: How do women live their lives knowing that men can hurt them?

Sixteen-year-old Darcy Jones knows little about her past except that she was abandoned outside a Chicago firehouse at age five, but when the mysterious Conn arrives at her high school she begins to discover things about her past that she is not sure she likes.

Download the first five chapters of THE WINNER''S CURSE by Marie Rutkoski! Winning what you want may cost you everything you love... 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 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.

When Prince Rodolfo''s monsters attack her, Petra Kronos is spirited away to London. As she struggles to escape, Neel and Tomik sail the high seas, in search of her. Though separated by many miles, the three friends draw closer together in this sequel to The Cabinet of Wonders, called "astonishingly accomplished" by Publishers Weekly. Readers will not be disappointed in this adventure-filled novel that includes man-made monsters, the unraveling of a murder mystery, and the hunt for the Celestial Globe, which the prince of Bohemia will do anything to own.

Upon arriving in the Romany homeland to deliver the Mercator Globes, Petra Kronos, Tomik, and Neel formulate a plan to save Petra''s father, who has been transformed into a Gray Man. But when a long-held secret is revealed, Neel finds himself bound to his country. The friends are quickly swept up in an epic battle for power. Thrones are at stake. Spies are afoot. Murder is common. Worst of all, Prince Rodolfo is close to becoming emperor, and ruling half of Europe. How much is Petra willing to sacrifice to defend the people she loves? Her search for answers will take her to castles and cities, through mountains, and even underwater as she tests her strength and gambles her life.

Few know that the Great Chicago Fire was started deliberately, as a genocide of deadly creatures called Shades. Fewer still know that they didn''t die, not quite...but one human will confront the truth when an ominous beauty makes him gamble for his life. At the Publisher''s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Petra Kronos has a simple, happy life. But it''s never been ordinary. She has a pet tin spider who likes to hide in her hair and give her advice. And her brilliant father has been commissioned by the prince of Bohemia to build the world''s finest astronomical clock. When the prince steals her father’s eyes to wear them as his own, Petra sets off for Prague to steal her father''s eyes back. And that is only the beginning of this series brimming with magic and adventure that Publishers Weekly called a "heady mix of history and enchantment." Includes all three books in the series, The Cabinet of Wonders, The Celestial Globe, and The Jewel of the Kalderash.

This anthology includes short stories from six fierce young adult authors! Inside, you''ll find a futuristic zombie tale from Ann Aguirre, a science fiction thriller from Gennifer Albin, a nautical mermaid story from Elizabeth Fama, a story full of unicorns from Lish McBride, a postapocalyptic story from Caragh O''Brien, and a paranormal alternate future from Marie Rutkowski. This free anthology will give you an exciting taste of the fierceness of these YA authors'' novels. For more information about Fierce Reads, visit our Facebook page.

The Macmillan FIERCE READS Fall 2012 Chapter Sampler includes chapter excerpts from Crewel, Monstrous Beauty, Necromancing the Stone, The Shadow Society, Outpost, and Promised — available for free — check out the Fierce Reads website for more information about these much anticipated new YA reads.

Como hija del general de un gran imperio que se deleita en la guerra y en la esclavitud, Kestrel solo tiene dos opciones: unirse al ejército o casarse. Sin embargo, todo su mundo da un giro radical cuando la chica encuentra un esclavo cuyos ojos parecen desa ar al mundo entero y, siguiendo su instinto, termina comprándolo por una cantidad ridícula de dinero. Pero el joven guarda un secreto, y Kestrel aprende rápidamente que el precio que ha pagado por otro ser humano es mucho más alto de lo que podría haber imaginado. Que ganar aquello que quieres puede costar todo lo que amas. Ambientada en un mundo imaginario, La maldición del ganador es una historia de conspiraciones, rumores, secretos y rebeliones en la que todo está en juego y en la que la verdadera apuesta consiste en conservar la cabeza o seguir al corazón.

A sweeping queer love story about desire, friendship, mistakes and the possibility of second chances, for fans of The Paper Palace and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.[Bokinfo].

Kestrel ist die Verlobte des Prinzen – für viele ein Traum. Aber für Kestrel fühlt es sich an wie ein Käfig, den sie selbst errichtet hat. Je näher die Hochzeit rückt, desto mehr sehnt sie sich danach, Arin die Wahrheit zu sagen: Sie hat eingewilligt, den Prinzen zu heiraten, um Arin zu schützen. Doch kann Kestrel Arin trauen? Kann sie sich selbst trauen? Andere zu täuschen fällt ihr erschreckend leicht. Sie wird zur Spionin am kaiserlichen Hof und verrät das Reich Valoria, das sie so sehr liebt. Es gibt nur eins, das sie noch mehr liebt: Arin. Noch spannender, romantischer und überraschender – Band 2 der Fantasy-Serie »Die Schatten von Valoria«. Alle Bände der international erfolgreichen Serie: Spiel der Macht (Band 1) Spiel der Ehre (Band 2) Spiel der Liebe (erscheint am 23.12.2019)

Download a FREE sneak peek of THE MIDNIGHT LIE by Marie Rutkoski. Set in the world of the New York Times–bestselling Winner’s Trilogy, The Midnight Lie is an epic LGBTQ romantic fantasy about learning to free ourselves from the lies others tell us—and the lies we tell ourselves. Where Nirrim lives, crime abounds, a harsh tribunal rules, and society’s pleasures are reserved for the High Kith. Life in the Ward is grim and punishing. People of her low status are forbidden from sampling sweets or wearing colors. You either follow the rules, or pay a tithe and suffer the consequences. Nirrim keeps her head down, and a dangerous secret close to her chest. But then she encounters Sid, a rakish traveler from far away, who whispers rumors that the High Kith possess magic. Sid tempts Nirrim to seek that magic for herself. But to do that, Nirrim must surrender her old life. She must place her trust in this sly stranger who asks, above all, not to be trusted.

La boda de un miembro de la realeza es el sueño de muchas chicas. Implica una celebración tras otra: bailes, fuegos artificiales y diversión hasta el amanecer. Pero para Kestrel significa vivir en una jaula en la que ella misma se ha metido. A medida que se aproxima la fecha de la boda, anhela contarle a Arin la verdad sobre su compromiso: que accedió a casarse con el príncipe heredero para que él pudiera ser libre. Pero ¿puede confiar en él? ¿Acaso puede confiar en sí misma? Kestrel está convirtiéndose en una maestra del engaño. Ha empezado a hacer de espía en la corte. Si la descubren, su país la considerará una traidora. Sin embargo, debe encontrar el modo de cambiar su despiadado mundo... y, en el proceso, está a punto de descubrir un espeluznante secreto. TRILOGÍA D EL GANADOR # 2

Některá vítězství stojí víc, než jen velký balík peněz... 1. díl bestsellerové série Jako dcera generála Valoriánské říše má Kestrel dvě možnosti – přidat se k armádě, nebo se vdát. Jenže ona nechce ani jedno. Když na trhu s otroky koupí muže, jehož hrdost ji na první pohled učaruje, netuší, že následky tohoto rozmaru ji budou stát hodně. Zakázané přátelství, které mezi nimi vznikne, se stane nebezpečným pro ně i pro celou zemi. Oba se totiž stanou důležitými figurkami ve vysoké politické hře plné intrik, tajemství a zrady.

Algunos besos pueden tener un precio muy alto. La guerra ha comenzado. En el centro del conflicto, Arin se enfrenta al imperio acompañado de nuevos aliados de incierta lealtad. Aunque se ha convencido a sí mismo de que ya no ama a Kestrel, no la ha olvidado, ni tampoco cómo la chica que conocía ha acabado convirtiéndose en la clase de persona que él siempre ha despreciado. Alguien a quien le importa más el imperio que las vidas de personas inocentes... y, desde luego, más que él. Al menos, eso cree. En el norte helado, Kestrel está prisionera en un brutal campo de trabajo. Mientras busca desesperadamente la forma de escapar, anhela que Arin pudiera saber los sacrificios que hizo por él. Anhela hacerle pagar al imperio lo que le ha hecho.

Zrada má řadu podob. Některá jen bolí, kvůli jiným se umírá... 2. díl bestsellerové trilogie. Kestrel svolila ke sňatku s korunním princem a zajistila tak herranskému lidu svobodu a územní autonomii. Sama se však ocitla ve zlaté kleci císařského paláce. Svoje nové postavení ovšem hodlá maximálně využít. Chce změnit kruté válečné taktiky svého národa, a tak se bez Arinova vědomí stává tajnou informátorkou herranského ministra špionáže. Pouští se do nebezpečné hry, za kterou hrozí trest nejvyšší – smrt.

Gemeinsam mit wankelmütigen Verbündeten kämpft Arin gegen das mächtige Imperium. Er redet sich ein, dass er Kestrel nicht mehr liebt, und doch kann er sie nicht vergessen. Obwohl sie das Imperium über das Leben unschuldiger Menschen gestellt hat – zumindest denkt er das. In Wahrheit ist Kestrel Gefangene in einem Arbeitslager. Verzweifelt versucht sie zu fliehen, bevor es zu spät ist. Denn ein erbarmungsloser Krieg ist ausgebrochen, mit Kestrel und Arin im Zentrum. Kann es überhaupt einen Sieger geben, wenn so viel auf dem Spiel steht? Das fesselnde Finale einer meisterhaft erzählten Trilogie – Band 3 der Fantasy-Serie »Die Schatten von Valoria«. Alle Bände der international erfolgreichen Serie: Spiel der Macht (Band 1) Spiel der Ehre (Band 2) Spiel der Liebe (Band 3)

FIlle du général le plus titré de l''Empire, Kestrel a eu la faiblesse, alors quelle réprouve l''esclavage, d''acheter dans une vente aux enchères un jeune homme du nom d''Arin. Pire encore, elle a eu la bêtise de lui permettre de devenir son ami... et de laisser la ville entière s''en émouvoir. Elle n''a compris qu''au dernier moment son erreur, en découvrant l''impensable : espion aux ordres de son peuple oppressé, les Herranis, le jeune homme était là depuis le début pour la trahir, pour renverser le pouvoir. A présent, tout a changé. Kestrel a été contrainte de lutter pour sa survie. Elle a vu ses amis tomber autour d''elle et a dû supporter la douleur de la trahison d''Arin - elle dont l''éducation entière lui souffle de tout faire pour se venger. Mais, quand il a fallu choisir son camp, elle a préféré, à son tour, l''impensable : sacrifier son bonheur pour celui des Herranis, céder à un terrible chantage qui la force à tourner le dos à Arin une bonne fois pour toutes. Elle est désormais la fiancée du fils de l''Empereur. S''ouvre, à la cour, un terrible jeu d''échec où Kestrel doit mentir à tout le monde, depuis le monarque - un homme sans pitié qui se délecte de la souffrance d''autrui - jusqu''à Arin lui-même, en passant par la masse des courtisans qui n''espèrent que sa chute. Gagner sera-t-il pour elle la pire des malédictions ? Jeux de pouvoir, coups de bluff et pièges insidieux : dans un monde nouveau, né de l''imagination d''une auteure unanimement saluée pour son talent, deux jeunes gens que tout oppose se livrent à une partie de poker menteur qui pourrait bien décider de la destinée de tout un peuple !

Um noivado imperial significa uma celebração após a outra: cafés da manhã com cortesãos e dignatários influentes, bailes, fogos de artifício e festas até o amanhecer. Para Kestrel, porém, significa viver numa gaiola forjada por ela mesma. Com a aproximação do casamento, ela deseja confessar a Arin, seu ex-escravo e atual governador de Herran: só aceitou se casar com o príncipe herdeiro do império em troca da liberdade dele, Arin. Mas será que Kestrel pode confiar nele? Ou, pior: será que pode confiar em si mesma? No jogo do poder, Kestrel está se tornando perita em blefes. Age como uma espiã na corte. Se for pega, será desmascarada como traidora de seu próprio império. Ainda assim, ela não consegue deixar de buscar uma forma de mudar seu terrível mundo... e está muito perto de descobrir um segredo tenebroso. Nesta sequência fascinante e devastadora de A maldição do vencedor, Marie Rutkoski desvela o alto custo de mentiras perigosas e alianças pouco confiáveis. A revelação da verdade é iminente e, quando finalmente vier à tona, Kestrel e Arin vão descobrir o preço exato de seus crimes.