Ida Rentoul Outhwaite was an Australian artist and children's book illustrator who gained fame in the early 20th century. While she is mostly remembered for her whimsical and enchanting illustrations, there have been whispers and rumors suggesting that she had a connection to black magic. Born in 1888 in Carlton, Victoria, Outhwaite showed a passion for art from a young age. She received her formal education at the National Gallery School in Melbourne and later became well-known for her delicate and detailed illustrations of fairies, elves, and other mythical creatures. Her illustrations often appeared in popular children's books, including her own publications such as "The Elves and the Shoemaker" and "The Fairy Who Wouldn't Fly.".
So much happens in this novel, I was overwhelmed. As the world is such a mix of 18th century, and futuristic culture, it’s simple to understand. Not a lot of world building needs to occur. This book is more about relationships and the social implications. If you like period dramas, then this is for you. But, if you also like fast paced novels, then ‘The Winner’s Curse’ doesn’t fail to impress.
There s a lot of dramatic irony when it comes to Arin, who s been specifically placed in Kestrel s household as a traitor, to gain information needed for a rebellion. The Winner s Curse by Marie Rutkoski Also by this author The Winner s Crime The Winner s Trilogy, 2 , The Winner s Kiss The Winner s Trilogy, 3 Series The Winner s Trilogy 1 Also in this series The Winner s Crime The Winner s Trilogy, 2 Published by Macmillan on March 4, 2014 Genres Dystopian, Fantasy Magic, Love Romance, Politics Government Pages 355 Format Paperback Source Purchased Goodreads.
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The winners curde book
The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski
Genre: Fantasy, Historical, Romance
Published by: Bloomsbury
Pages: 359
Format: E-Book
Rating: ★★★★
Series: The Winner’s Crime (#2)
Where to Find: Goodreads | Amazon
First of all, the cover is beautiful. Whoever designed it deserves a medal. This book has been sat on my Kindle bookshelf for a while, and since it’s 2015, I thought I’d clear out my shelves and start reading books I bought six months ago. When I clicked on to ‘The Winner’s Curse’, I had no idea what to expect. What I got was an odd mixture of fantasy and historical fiction.
‘The Winner’s Curse’ is about a girl called Kestrel, who is the daughter of a general. In the first chapter, she buys a slave for a lot of money. (The way the girls dress and the whole slavery thing led me to believe this was 18th century fiction, expect the currency is ‘keystones’, hence fantasy.) It doesn’t take long for you to realise that Kestrel is going to fall in love with the slave, called Arin. But of course, that’s socially unacceptable.
Women must marry at the age of 20, or enlist in the army, so this world is not entirely patriarchal. It was definitely an odd blend of ideas, but it certainly was original. Kestrel doesn’t want to marry, or be part of the army, she wants to play the piano. But ‘the arts’ are reserved for slaves.
Because the book is told from a third person perspective, we get to read about both Kestrel and Arin. There’s a lot of dramatic irony when it comes to Arin, who’s been specifically placed in Kestrel’s household as a traitor, to gain information needed for a rebellion. The reader knows this, but Kestrel doesn’t, which leads to some tension.
Although Kestrel is interested in music, this doesn’t mean this isn’t capable on the battlefield. She offers to duel a man for the life of her slave and comes out with a victory, because of her cunning. Generally, Kestrel is a very strong character who is easy to sympathise with and read about.
The romance between the two is stunted by their social position, however, after 60% of the novel has progressed, the tables turn. Kestrel gets to experience what life as a slave is like (although I won’t tell you why, because…spoilers.)
So much happens in this novel, I was overwhelmed. As the world is such a mix of 18th century, and futuristic culture, it’s simple to understand. Not a lot of world building needs to occur. This book is more about relationships and the social implications. If you like period dramas, then this is for you. But, if you also like fast paced novels, then ‘The Winner’s Curse’ doesn’t fail to impress.
What I liked so much about this book is how much the title is relevant. With some YA books, you wonder how abstract the title is and what it means, but ‘The Winner’s Curse’ is explained within the first chapter.
Overall, I’d give this book 4 stars because I was very impressed with the plot, how quick it was to read and how well developed the characters were. The was an excellent debut to a trilogy, and I am in possession of ‘The Winner’s Crime’, the sequel, so stay turned to see if this trilogy continues a steak of goodness.
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Reviews for "Beyond the Fairy Tales: Ida Rentoul Outhwaite's Dark Side as a Black Magic Practitioner"
1. John - 1/5 stars
I found "Ida Rentoul Outhwaite: Black Magic Practitioner" to be incredibly disappointing. The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, and I felt like the author was trying too hard to be edgy and dark. The characters were shallow and uninteresting, and I couldn't connect with any of them. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and engaging story.
2. Sarah - 2/5 stars
I had high hopes for "Ida Rentoul Outhwaite: Black Magic Practitioner," but unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. The writing style was lackluster and lacked depth. The supposed "black magic" aspect felt forced and didn't add much to the overall story. The pacing was also a major issue, with the plot dragging on in some parts and speeding through others. I was left feeling unsatisfied and underwhelmed by the end.
3. Chris - 2/5 stars
"Ida Rentoul Outhwaite: Black Magic Practitioner" had potential, but it fell short for me. The characters were underdeveloped, and their motivations seemed unclear. The magic system in the book was poorly explained, making it difficult to fully understand the world the author was trying to create. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, with clunky and awkward exchanges. Overall, I found this book to be a letdown and struggled to maintain interest throughout.
4. Emily - 1/5 stars
I didn't enjoy "Ida Rentoul Outhwaite: Black Magic Practitioner" at all. The writing style was confusing and disjointed, making it difficult to follow the story. The plot lacked originality and felt like a rehashed version of other fantasy novels. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard for me to care about their fates. I was deeply disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.