Title: The Kiss of Deception
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Series: The Remnant Chronicles
Publisher: Henry Holt
Published: July 8th, 2014
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 out of 5)
Quick Look:
This book was amazing. Amazing. The characters, the world, the story…all of it worked. It’s beautiful and wonderful and exactly what I want from a fantasy novel.The summary of The Kiss of Deception from Goodreads:
A princess must find her place in a reborn world.
She flees on her wedding day.
She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor’s secret collection.
She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.
She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.
The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can’t abide. Like having to marry someone she’s never met to secure a political alliance.
Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.
What I Liked:
I wasn’t sure I’d like Lia. I thought maybe I’d be annoyed by her, that her running away from her responsibilities instead of facing them would bother me. Instead, my heart went out to her. She feels out of control, like all of her choices have been stripped away. Running away wasn’t her ignoring her responsibilities, it was her way of taking control over her future.
Once she’s settled in the distant village, she settles into life as a normal person, without royal titles or positions. She works hard, determined to be like everyone else. She wants to love and be loved. When two strangers walk into the tavern where she works, she might finally have that chance.
I loved the prince and the assassin. The prince searches for her out of anger and curiosity. He wants to know how this girl could have the courage to run, to make her own future. He wants to see her, to understand her. The assassin is sent to kill her, yet he also finds himself curious about her. She’s not the girl either of them expected her to be and that only makes them more interested in her.
There was definitely a possibility of a love triangle. Lia is attracted to both of them, finding them handsome and interesting. However, it’s pretty clear where her heart is leading her. Instead of being the type of book where one relationship sacrifices the other, Pearson makes it clear that Lira’s relationship with both men are important, just for different reasons. I loved this aspect. It’s not done enough in books and I could have cheered at her use of it in this book.
The world is extremely well written. I felt like I had been dropped into the middle of this land, that everywhere I looked, I would see and understand a little bit more about the culture that shaped Lia, the prince, and the assassin. The customs and culture of the kingdom was perfectly interwoven into the story, making the world a character in itself.
And finally, Pauline. Lia’s friend and co-conspirator. The fact that this friendship is so important to the story is fantastic. Lia respects Pauline as her friend, not as part of the royal staff. Pauline respects Lia as a person, not a member of the royal family. I think I loved this relationship more than I loved the romance ones. It’s just so wonderful to have a real friendship, one where they support each other completely, that I could have had a story of just their friendship.
What I Didn’t Like:
That the book ended. (But I had the next one ready to read, so it was only a momentary issue…)
I’d Recommend To:
Epic fantasy lovers, this is your book. It’s well done, with interesting characters and a fantastic world. It’s probably a good book for people who are looking to try a fantasy book, as the world is so well written that you can’t help but fall into it.
You Can Purchase The Kiss of Deception Here:
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