Books like 'The Winner's Curse'
Readers who enjoyed The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical fantasy romance high fantasy action / adventure military, war & conflict dystopia historical-fiction war enemies-to-lovers
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Kings Rising by C.S. Pacat
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 58 ratingsDamianos of Akielos has returned.His identity now revealed, Damen must face his master Prince Laurent as Damianos of Akielos, the man Laurent has sworn to kill.On the brink of a momentous battle, the future of both their countries hangs in the balance. In the south, Kastor's forces are massing. In the north, the Regent's armies are mobilising for war... -
![The Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chima]()
The Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chima
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 51 ratingsA thousand years ago, two young lovers were betrayed—Alger Waterlow to his death, and Hanalea, Queen of the Fells, to a life without love.Now, once again, the Queendom of the Fells seems likely to shatter apart. For young queen Raisa ana’Marianna, maintaining peace even within her own castle walls is nearly impossible; tension between wizards and Clan has reached a fevered pitch...Categorized as:
alpha-mc drama epic female-mc forbidden-love historical-fiction love-triangle male-mc -
![Captive Prince: Volume Two by C.S. Pacat]()
Captive Prince: Volume Two by C.S. Pacat
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 67 ratingsWith their countries on the brink of war, Damen and his new master, Prince Laurent, must exchange the intrigues of the palace for the sweeping might of the battlefield as they travel to the border to avert a lethal plot.Forced to hide his identity, Damen finds himself increasingly drawn to the dangerous, charismatic Laurent... -
![The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima]()
The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 50 ratingsHan Alister thought he had already lost everyone he loved. But when he finds his friend Rebecca Morley near death in the Spirit Mountains, Han knows that nothing matters more than saving her... -
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![Fantasy of Fire by Kelly St. Clare]()
Fantasy of Fire by Kelly St. Clare
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsFantasy of Fire is the third action-packed title in The Tainted Accords series.An army is half way to Glacium. And not just any army - it belongs to my mother. ************************************************************************** Time is running out as I rush to prevent a war which will kill thousands; The Solati people, my brothers, and the many Bruma I've come to care for... -
![Fantasy of Freedom by Kelly St. Clare]()
Fantasy of Freedom by Kelly St. Clare
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsFantasy of Freedom is the final action-packed title in The Tainted Accords series. This is the heaviest the veil has ever felt. But I am the strongest I have ever been. The veil is nothing... -
![The Rebel's Vision by Kristen Banet]()
The Rebel's Vision by Kristen Banet
Rated: 4.52 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsOne declaration was all it took. The Andinna Rebellion has begun. Knowing that the fight will be hard, Mave has taken back the title of Champion. King’s Champion. She’s resolved to stand tall beside King Alchan Andini and fight for him, and to fight for her people.But it’s off to a troubling start... -
![The Assassin and the Desert by Sarah J. Maas]()
The Assassin and the Desert by Sarah J. Maas
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 43 ratingsThe Silent Assassins of the Red Desert aren’t much for conversation, and Celaena Sardothien wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s not there to chatter, she’s there to hone her craft as the world’s most feared killer for hire. When the quiet is shattered by forces who want to destroy the Silent Assassins, Celaena must find a way to stop them, or she’ll be lucky to leave the desert alive... -
![The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima]()
The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 51 ratingsHaunted by the loss of his mother and sister, Han Alister journeys south to begin his schooling at Mystwerk House in Oden’s Ford. But leaving the Fells doesn’t mean that danger isn't far behind. Han is hunted every step of the way by the Bayars, a powerful wizarding family set on reclaiming the amulet Han stole from them. And Mystwerk House has dangers of its own... -
![In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce]()
In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 69 ratingsDisguised as a boy, Alanna of Trebond becomes a squire, to none other than the prince of the realm. But Prince Jonathan is much more to Alanna; he is her ally, her best friend, and one of the few who knows that she's really a girl...Categorized as:
alpha-mc epic female-mc historical-fiction love-triangle royalty war action-adventure -
![An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir]()
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 79 ratings▶ Alternative Cover Edition #1 Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free. Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear. It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother...Categorized as:
dystopia enemies-to-lovers epic historical-fiction love-triangle multi-pov war action-adventure -
![The Traitor Queen by Danielle L. Jensen]()
The Traitor Queen by Danielle L. Jensen
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 70 ratingsA queen now in exile as a traitor, Lara has watched Ithicana be conquered by her own father, helpless to do anything to stop the destruction. But when she learns her husband, Aren, has been captured in battle, Lara knows there is only one reason her father is keeping him alive: as bait for his traitorous daughter.And it is bait she fully intends to take... -
![Hero at the Fall by Alwyn Hamilton]()
Hero at the Fall by Alwyn Hamilton
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsWhen gunslinging Amani Al'Hiza escaped her dead-end town, she never imagined she'd join a revolution, let alone lead one. But after the bloodthirsty Sultan of Miraji imprisoned the Rebel Prince Ahmed in the mythical city of Eremot, she doesn't have a choice... -
![Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes, Michelle Rowen]()
Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes, Michelle Rowen
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 39 ratingsRebels, royals, and monsters wage war over the Mytican throne in the shocking fourth book of the Falling Kingdoms series, from New York Times bestselling author Morgan Rhodes... -
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![Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton]()
Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 39 ratingsRebel by chance. Traitor by choice.Gunslinger Amani al'Hiza fled her dead-end hometown on the back of a mythical horse with the mysterious foreigner Jin, seeking only her own freedom. Now she’s fighting to liberate the entire desert nation of Miraji from a bloodthirsty sultan who slew his own father to capture the throne... -
![Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta]()
Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsBlood sings to blood, Froi . . . Those born last will make the first . . . For Charyn will be barren no more. Three years after the curse on Lumatere was lifted, Froi has found his home... Or so he believes...Fiercely loyal to the Queen and Finnikin, Froi has been trained roughly and lovingly by the Guard sworn to protect the royal family, and has learned to control his quick temper... -
![The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay]()
The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 39 ratingsThe ruling Asharites of Al-Rassan have come from the desert sands, but over centuries, seduced by the sensuous pleasures of their new land, their stern piety has eroded. The Asharite empire has splintered into decadent city-states led by warring petty kings... -
![Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta]()
Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsThere's a babe in my belly that whispers the valley, Froi. I follow the whispers and come to the road . . .Separated from the girl he loves and has sworn to protect, Froi must travel through Charyn to search for Quintana, the mother of Charyn's unborn king, and protect her against those who will do anything to gain power... -
![The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson]()
The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 44 ratingsThe champion must not waver.The champion must not fear.The gate of darkness closes.Elisa is a fugitive.Her enemies have stolen the man she loves, and they await her at the gate of darkness. Her country is on the brink of civil war, with her own soldiers ordered to kill her on sight... -
![When We Were Dancing by Auryn Hadley]()
When We Were Dancing by Auryn Hadley
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsAS QUEEN, SHE CAN NEVER MARRY THE MAN SHE LOVES. SO SHE’S JUST GOING TO HAVE TO GET CREATIVE. They called her the Gladiator Queen, the first female heir to the throne of Norihame. Leyli never wanted this. But her cousin's scheming left no other option. He'd killed her brother, trying to claim the throne for himself, and sold her off to be a gladiator, hoping to get rid of her. It didn't work... -
![When We Were Crowned by Auryn Hadley]()
When We Were Crowned by Auryn Hadley
Rated: 4.55 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA GLADIATOR QUEEN IS JUST LIKE A GLADIATOR—SHE DOESN'T FIGHT FAIR! AND SHE'S BECOME THE THING SHE MOST FEARED BEING--A PREGNANT GLADIATOR.Long Live the Gladiator Queen!With the crown safely on Leyli's head, her problems should've been over. Her country is safe. Her family is together. What more could a new Queen ask for? Unfortunately, spending her mornings purging her stomach isn't it... -
![The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson]()
The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 57 ratingsHeld captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape . . . and even less of being together.Desperate to save her life, Lia's erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komisar that she has a magical gift, and the Komisar's interest in Lia is greater than either Kaden or Lia foresaw...Categorized as:
alpha-mc drama dystopia enemies-to-lovers epic female-mc historical-fiction love-triangle -
![Court Duel by Sherwood Smith]()
Court Duel by Sherwood Smith
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsThe evil king is dead, the war is over, and Meliara -- barefoot countess and reluctant heroine -- has been swept up into a different kind of battle in the dance halls and drawing rooms of the royal palace. Physical warfare is easy compared to the genteel skirmishes of the royal court... -
![The Fathomless Caves by Kate Forsyth]()
The Fathomless Caves by Kate Forsyth
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsIn Eileanan, victory has finally been won, and those of faery kind--from the mighty dragons to the mysterious nyx--have sworn their friendship and aid. Only the sea-dwelling Fairgean have refused to sign the Pact of Peace. Driven by ancient hatreds, they have devoted themselves to destroying all who dwell upon the land... -
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![The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson]()
The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 47 ratingsShe does not know what awaits her at the enemy's gate.Elisa is a hero. She led her people to victory over a terrifying, sorcerous army. Her place as the country's ruler should be secure. But it isn't.Her enemies come at her like ghosts in a dream, from both foreign realms and within her own court. And her destiny as the chosen one has not yet been fulfilled... -
![Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes, Michelle Rowen]()
Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes, Michelle Rowen
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 40 ratingsIn GATHERING DARKNESS, book three of the New York Times bestselling Falling Kingdoms series, the stakes have never been higher as three teams push forward on a race to find the Kindred, the four elemental crystals possessing ancient all-powerful magic, first:Prince Magnus has just witnessed torture, death, and miracles during the bloody confrontation that decimated the rebel forces... -
![Sacrifice by K.M. Shea]()
Sacrifice by K.M. Shea
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsSacrifice: the thrilling conclusion to the Snow Queen series! Rakel, once feared and exiled for possessing magic, is now hailed a hero. Leading resistance forces against the Chosen—an army of magic users that invaded her homeland—she is granted everything she has longed for: acceptance, a home, and the love of her friends. But the battle for her country has just begun...Categorized as:
alpha-mc enemies-to-lovers female-mc military royalty war action-adventure adaptations -
![Der letzte Kampf by Rachel E. Carter]()
Der letzte Kampf by Rachel E. Carter
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsHe’s the Black Mage and she’s the traitor to the Crown.Ryiah’s world was shattered the night she discovered King Blayne’s nefarious plans. Now, she has to betray the one she loves most in order to save the realm from war... -
![The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson]()
The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 52 ratingsLia has survived Venda—but so has a great evil bent on the destruction of Morrighan. And only Lia can stop it.With war on the horizon, Lia has no choice but to assume her role as First Daughter, as soldier—as leader. While she struggles to reach Morrighan and warn them, she finds herself at cross-purposes with Rafe and suspicious of Kaden, who has hunted her down...Categorized as:
alpha-mc dystopia enemies-to-lovers epic female-mc historical-fiction love-triangle multi-pov -
![Princess of Dorsa by Eliza Andrews]()
Princess of Dorsa by Eliza Andrews
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsThe fate of an empire lies in the hands of one untested princess. Princess Natasia is the eldest child of the Emperor Andreth, ruler of the Four Realms. If she were a boy, she’d be the unquestioned heir to the throne. But as a girl, her main duty in life is to marry someone her father can shape into his successor. Everything changes when an unknown would-be assassin nearly takes Tasia’s life... -
![The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon]()
The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 43 ratingsSwallow, Daughter, pull them in, those words that sit upon your lips. Lock them deep inside your soul, hide them ‘til they’ve time to grow. Close your mouth upon the power, curse not, cure not, ‘til the hour. You won’t speak and you won’t tell, you won’t call on heav’n or hell. You will learn and you will thrive. Silence, Daughter. Stay alive... -
![Wayfarer's Keep by T.A. White]()
Wayfarer's Keep by T.A. White
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsBranded a traitor by her people, Shea and her warlord—the fiercely dangerous Fallon—travel to the Pathfinders’ seat of power at her father’s request, hoping to form an alliance despite the distrust between them. It doesn’t take long before Shea and Fallon realize something is dangerously wrong in the place she once called home... -
![By Dark Deeds by Miranda Honfleur]()
By Dark Deeds by Miranda Honfleur
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHer hands shackled. An assassin hunting the man she loves. Will she save him in time?Elementalist Rielle needs to get to the man she loves before the assassin pursuing him finds her mark. There's only one problem: she's chained aboard a ship bound for a foreign land.And her new life is harsh, with her movements watched, food scarce, and safety even scarcer...Categorized as:
alpha-mc enemies-to-lovers epic female-mc love-triangle war action-adventure assassins -
![Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder]()
Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsLaying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honoured for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos... -
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![Flight of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse]()
Flight of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsExiled and on the run, Selene Ravenwood is in search of the real reason her family was given the gift of dreamwalking but first she must adapt to her marriage with the man she was originally assigned to kill. With war impending and a dark being after her gift, she finds herself at a crossroads but time is running out and soon her choice will be made for her... -
![The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski]()
The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 47 ratingsSome kisses come at a price.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...Categorized as:
alpha-mc drama dystopia enemies-to-lovers epic female-mc forbidden-love historical-fiction -
![Crystal Storm by Morgan Rhodes]()
Crystal Storm by Morgan Rhodes
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsThe ruthless Empress Amara of Kraeshia has taken the Mytican throne, and now uncertainty looms over the three kingdoms. Since Lucia unleashed the fire Kindred, wreaking havoc throughout the land, Myticans have been looking for someone—anyone—they can trust. They believe in Amara, not knowing her grand promises are built on lies... -
![Fantasy of Frost by Kelly St. Clare]()
Fantasy of Frost by Kelly St. Clare
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsSometimes it takes death to show you how to live.I know many things. What I am capable of, what I will change, what I will become. But there is one thing I will never know...The veil I've worn from birth carries with it a terrible loneliness; a suppression I cannot imagine being free of.Some things never change...My mother will always hate me. Her court will always shun me....Until they do... -
![Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder]()
Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsHunted, Killed—Survived?As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement... -
![Crier's War by Nina Varela]()
Crier's War by Nina Varela
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 38 ratingsImpossible love between two girls —one human, one Made. A love that could birth a revolution.After the War of Kinds ravaged the kingdom of Rabu, the Automae, Designed to be the playthings of royals, took over the estates of their owners and bent the human race to their will... -
![Royal Decoy (1) by Heather Frost]()
Royal Decoy (1) by Heather Frost
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA SERVANT blackmailed into becoming a princess’s decoy.A BODYGUARD determined to keep her alive. A PRINCE forced to execute his father’s brutal laws.A PRISONER used to keep him compliant. A WORLD on the brink of war. In one horrible night, Clare goes from kitchen maid to royal decoy. She has three months to become the princess's perfect double so she can ensure her betrothal to an enemy prince... -
![The Heart of the Lost Star by Megan Derr]()
The Heart of the Lost Star by Megan Derr
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsKamir is on the verge of losing everything. Knowing full well he can't meet the ultimatum his parents have issued, he instead finally puts in motion his plans to live completely independent of them. His plans are interrupted, however, by the unexpected return of his despised ex-husband—and thrown even further into upheaval when he ends up comforting the man he's secretly loved for years... -
![Fire Falling by Elise Kova]()
Fire Falling by Elise Kova
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 41 ratingsSoldier… Sorcerer… Savior… Who is Vhalla Yarl?Vhalla Yarl marches to war as property of the Solaris Empire. The Emperor counts on her to bring victory, the Senate counts on her death, and the only thing Vhalla can count on is the fight of her life. As she grapples with the ghosts of her past, new challenges in the present threaten to shatter the remnants of her fragile sanity...Categorized as:
alpha-mc drama enemies-to-lovers epic female-mc forbidden-love love-triangle military -
![Mist's Edge by T.A. White]()
Mist's Edge by T.A. White
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsThe pathfinder, Shea, has chosen to make a place for herself among her former captors, leaving behind her people and the life she once knew. However, not all welcome this outsider in their midst. Shea will find that surviving alone in the wilderness is child’s play next to navigating the politics that come with her new position... -
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![The Rook by Frost Kay]()
The Rook by Frost Kay
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe Dark Court is no place for a lady.After tricking the king, Tempest has finally won her prize - a place on the king's council - but it comes with a steep price. The monarch wishes for her to once again infiltrate the Jester's Dark Court and crush the remaining rebellion.Trapped between her kingdom and her honor, she throws herself into the task, determined to discover her true enemies... -
![The Traitor's Ruin by Erin Beaty]()
The Traitor's Ruin by Erin Beaty
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsAfter proving her worth in book one as a deft spy and strategic matchmaker, Sage Fowler is now comfortably positioned in high society as the royal tutor. When she’s called upon to teach his majesty’s soldiers how to read and write, she jumps at the chance to serve her kingdom of Demora—and to be reunited with her fiancé, Captain Alex Quinn. During a skirmish, Sage and Alex are separated... -
![Taste of Darkness by Maria V. Snyder]()
Taste of Darkness by Maria V. Snyder
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsShe's fought death and won. But how can she fight her fears?Avry knows hardship and trouble. She fought the plague and survived. She took on King Tohon and defeated him. But now her heart-mate, Kerrick, is missing, and Avry fears he's gone forever.But there's a more immediate threat: The Skeleton King plots to claim the Fifteen Realms for his own... -
![Crystal Crowned by Elise Kova]()
Crystal Crowned by Elise Kova
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsLong live Solaris. One bloodthirsty ruler has been overthrown by another, casting the shadow of death over the Solaris Empire. Vhalla Yarl stands upon the stage of fate, prepared to do battle one final time. Fragile alliances will be tested and new bonds will be formed as the world is reshaped... -
![Mystic and Rider by Sharon Shinn]()
Mystic and Rider by Sharon Shinn
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 34 ratingsGillengaria seethes with unrest. In the south, hostility toward magic and its users has risen to a dangerous level, though King Baryn has ordered that such mystics are to be tolerated. It is whispered that he issued the decree because his new wife used her magic powers to ensnare him… The King knows there are those in the noble Twelve Houses who could use this growing dissent to overthrow him... -
![Shadowcaster by Cinda Williams Chima]()
Shadowcaster by Cinda Williams Chima
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsA lifelong war.Alyssa ana’Raisa is the reluctant princess heir to the Gray Wolf throne of Fells, a queendom embroiled in a seemingly endless war. Hardened by too many losses, Lyss is more comfortable striking with a sword than maneuvering at court. After a brush with death, she goes on the offensive, meaning to end the war that has raged her whole life...
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