Wow. I loved this. It was hands down the best book in the series for me.

Now, I did not love the first two books in the series. I had a lot of issues with both of them, which I fully explain in my reviews of them. But I felt like there was enough potential that I wanted to finish the series to see how it all ended. I am so glad I made that decision, because I thoroughly enjoyed myself reading this book.

I waited a couple of weeks from finishing the Winner's Crime before beginning this last book. Part of that was because I was checking it out from the library. But even after that I waited about a week because I just wasn't looking forward to reading it. In the end, I'm glad that I did wait to read this final installment. I feel like I enjoyed it more than if I would've marathoned them back to back to back, especially since I had so many things about the first two I didn't like.

Things I liked:
1. I liked (loved, actually) that Kestrel and Arin spent the majority of the book together. I was nervous after the end of the Winners Crime that they were going to keep them separated for a good chunk of the Winners Kiss, but it only took about 90 pages before they were back together.

2. I loved the fact that there were no big misunderstandings that kept them apart and obstructed their relationship. The first two books, and the second one in particular had so many misunderstandings and secrets that it just wasn't enjoyable for me to read about their relationship. Young adult books seem to use this trope a LOT and it gets really, really annoying When you see two characters that, if they would just communicate, would solve about 90% of their problems. In this book Arin and Kestrel were very honest with each other and you felt their trust build and build throughout the book. Even when one person didn't like with the other was doing they were honest with them and that was refreshing.

3. This probably goes without saying but I loved the relationship between Arin and Kestrel in this book. Their relationship through this series has been a little problematic for me. I just didn't buy that this was some epic romance. But the way that they were written in this final book was awesome. I feel like having Kestrel lose her memory and have to remember falling in love with him and basically fall in love with him all over again really made me believe their relationship. In the first book especially, the relationship is based on a lot of secrets and lies essentially. But in this final book their relationship is based on mutual respect and strength and honesty and I feel like that's really why I fell in love with this couple in this book.

4. I love Roshar and Verex and Risha and Sarsine. They are really great side characters that don't just prop up the main characters They have their own personalities and their own views and I really appreciated that. I especially Love the friendship between Sarsine and Kestrel. I feel like Sarsine is truly the kind of friend that Kestrel deserved. I absolutely hated just in the first two books. I didn't understand why Kestrel would be friends with someone like Jess who is completely accepting the status quo of having slaves and subjugating an entire race of people. When just found out that Kestrel had fallen in love with a slave, and about the different things that she had done she rejected her. Sarsine knew all of Kestrel's deeds, good and bad, and she accepted her and she befriended her. I loved it.

5. The pacing of this book was superior, in my opinion, to the first two books, which dragged on and on for me. There was a moment in the latter 1/3 of the book where I just wanted them to get on with story and it lagged just a touch. But for the most part, I stayed fully engaged in this book from beginning to end.

6. I liked that Kestrel's 'intelligence' and quick thinking actually helped propel the story. I feel like the first two books had her making some incredibly stupid and head-scratching decisions. All the while we are supposed to believe that she is this witty, quick-thinking, strategic genius. I actually believed it in this book.

Other thoughts:

1. There were a couple of parts that seem to get a little repetitive in the second half. This goes back to what I was talking about with the pacing. For the most part, the book flows along really nicely but when it felt like Arin and Kestrel we're having the same conversation over and over again about her going out into danger I did get a little bored. Ultimately I for gave that because I feel like it showed growth in both of their characters. It showed that Arin could trust Kestrel and that Kestrel could be honest with Aaron and I really appreciated that.

2. I wish we had seen more of Verex and Risha's relationship. Maybe a novella? I would be all in for that.

3. Ditto for Sarsine. I wanted more of her interactions with Kestrel and Arin. I understand why they had to move along the story and I appreciate it but I just still want more.

All in all, I am so happy that I decided to finish the series after almost giving up after the second book. This series definitely gets better as it goes along, and this final book is without a doubt my favorite in the series. If I had to grade the series as a whole I would probably give it about four stars because it did get better at the end and the ending was pretty much what I wanted.