Review: A Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Posted January 21, 2019 by Amanda in Reviews / 0 Comments

Review: A Kiss of Deception by Mary E. PearsonThe Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson
Series: The Remnant Chronicles #1
Published by Henry Holt and Co. on 2014-07-08
Length: 497 pages
Reviewing eBook from Amazon

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.

It’s been so long since I’ve written, I’ve forgotten how much I enjoy sitting down at the laptop and letting my fingers fly. Is that a weird way to say I like typing?

*Ahem.* Anyhooooo……

Since I really want ya’ll to read this I’m not writing spoilers. You’re welcome.

I’ve just finished Kiss of Deception, not even ten minutes ago. And wow. Wow wow, I cannot wait to see how this series ends. I messaged Lillian about 15 chapters in complaining about the slow and sticky start. Kiss of Deception is written in first person, and sometimes it’s hard jumping from perspective-to-perspective. But once the story took off, it was hard to stop. The stickiness melted away, and we’re swept away to a strange land of strange magics. A strange land with it’s own histories, myths, and languages.

Heroine and Heroes
Our heroine is Lia, Princess and Runaway, working in a tavern far away from home and in hiding. Of course, when royalty is humbled, there are lots of changes which happen internally. Hers are spun out beautifully. I felt like I was right there, changing with her! Lia has a gift and is just learning what it is and how to use it. Anyone else read books like this then go outside and listen to the wind like they have “the gift”??? Just me?…right.

Our mysterious men, the assassin and the prince, are just as changeable in our story. They are both brooding, skilled fighters. But only one holds Lia’s heart. They are both so dreamy, I’m not sure who I’d choose. Kaden has a more polished look, and lays things close to the vest. Rafe is a little scruffier and easier to understand. But they both have a secret to keep from the Princess – they both know she is and they both have plans for her.

And..okay…maybe I’m just dense. But halfway through the book, Ms. Pearson FLIPS THE SCRIPT on us. First I thought I had the boys figured out, and never even questioned which was which, who was whom. AND THEN. The princess is captured by a band of rogues and WHO IS LEADING IT, but the guy I *thought* was the prince but was actually the assassin. Guys. I was MESSED UP. It totally changed the game. I was going back and rereading whole chapters to see what I’d missed. I found tiny hints that I’d totally dismissed. Am I dumb? Don’t answer that. I was messaging Lillian at 1:30 in the morning losing my mind over it. Luckily it didn’t wake her up. 😉

Details
I love all the different languages in the book as well. I tried, in my brains, to liken the languages to something I’d recognise. Some of them look French or Portuguese, and some Romani. The Tribe of Guadrel, a roving band of vagabonds, reminds me of gypsies with their bright colors, ribbons, and hospitality. Terravin is like lots of seaside fishing villages on the Mediterranean rolled into one (and I kinda wanted to go visit during a festival…). I love all the little details like that that end up sucking you into this world. It feels very believable. I feel almost like i did when I first started reading the Throne of Glass series – like what I’m reading is reality and everything else is fiction. Not sure that’s a good thing for ME *socially*, but it means this is some FINE writing.

Conclusion:
I cannot wait to see what else befalls Lia and how she will heal her kingdom! Zsu viktara!

About Mary E. Pearson

Mary E. Pearson is the New York Times Bestselling and  award-winning author of The Remnant Chronicles trilogy, The Jenna Fox Chronicles, The Miles Between, A Room on Lorelei, and Scribbler of Dreams.  She writes full-time from her home office in California.

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