The Kiss of Deception

Title: The Kiss of Deception

Author: Mary E. Pearson

Series: The Remnant Chronicles, book 1/3

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, YA

Publisher: Henry Holt

Release Date: July 8, 2014

I am continuously looking for the book. You know, the book with characters that are so easy to love, a plot that grips you from page one, a thrilling adventure, a breathtaking romance – the book that you feel was written just for you. This book, The Kiss of Deception, did it for me. I feel like this is the book I have been waiting for my whole life – like this is the book I was meant to write. Even though I wasn’t the one who got to write it, I’m happy that I got to read and enjoy it. Having said that, you can continue to read my review below, or better yet, just go get a copy of the book and experience it for yourself.

Lia is the princess of the kingdom of Morrighan, and it is her duty to secure a marriage between herself and the prince of the neighboring kingdom of Dalbreck. But Lia, independent and headstrong, does not wish to be treated merely as another soldier in her father’s army – she wants to marry someone for love, a theme we have seen time and again in fairytales, and yet still rings true. On the day she is to wed this prince she has never met, she does what any of us would do if we were trying to escape an inevitably unhappy marriage – she runs away. By fleeing the kingdom and defying her father the king so blatantly, she has committed an act of treason.

Shortly after Lia settles in Terravin, two men – Rafe, and Kaden – arrive. It is clear that both men have an interest in Lia from the start, but for vastly different reasons. One is none other than the jilted Prince of Dalbreck, still offended from the rejection of the princess, yet equally intrigued by her. The other is a highly trained assassin from the kingdom of Venda, sent to kill her, preventing Morrighan and Dalbreck from forming an alliance. But what he does not expect is Lia: likeable, beautiful, fierce. Lia knows nothing of their true identities, assassin and prince.

One of the many things I loved about this book is that the narrator alternates between Lia, the Prince, and the Assassin, changing points of view and letting us see a bigger picture. The writer cleverly keeps us wondering which man is which – is Rafe the Prince or the Assassin? She intentionally keeps you guessing. My assumption was entirely wrong and my jaw actually dropped when I realized who was who. That’s one sign of great writing.

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2 thoughts on “The Kiss of Deception”

Andrea Ver Meer says:

September 3, 2016 at 4:02 am

I freaking love this book! Go Rafe! I'm still working my way through book 3. But boy oh boy is this series so good! Also reminds me of another, though superior, book I read a while back…Corren and all… 😉

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Rosie Adams says:

September 8, 2016 at 3:46 pm

I'm so glad that you love it as much as I do! Keep working your way through book 3 – it will be worth it!

Another book, huh? 😉

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