Book Review: Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Kiss of Deception 

by Mary E. Pearson

Series: The Remnant Chronicles #1

Genre: YA, historical, romance, fantasy
Source: Publisher
Published July 8th 2014 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Purchase: Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Book Depository
Local purchase/order: Fullybooked * National Bookstore

Blurb (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.

My Thoughts:

*This is not deja vu. Originally posted last December 20, 2014 but I accidentally deleted it (UGH, I know!) so I'm reposting. Thank God one of my emails was subscribed to this blog so I was able to copy my review!

I've heard so many great things about Kiss of Deception and that's one of the reasons why I'm dying to read it. It's one of my need-to-read-soon list. However, with great expectations comes a possible great disappointment, and I'm not looking forward for the latter. When I finally had a copy of Kiss of Deception, I did my own crazy I-got-THE-book! dance. (It's not something you want to witness. :3) I'm so excited to read it but because I have a reading schedule to follow, I end up just staring and sniffing at it for a while.

I couldn't seem to understand or dive into Kiss of Deception's world when I started reading it, so I got worried that I might end up on the disappointment part. After a couple more pages, it's like the world of Kiss of Deception had opened and swallowed me whole--in a good way. I was sucked in it, not wanting to go back to reality. I couldn't put the book down.

Kiss of Deception was primarily told in Lia's (the runaway princess) POV but there were also some from The Prince and The Assassin, which remained a mystery until the 3/4 of the book. It made my reading more interesting. I looove being curious. I like Lia in so many ways. She's sweet and thoughtful but sharp-minded, independent but not whiny, strong but soft-hearted. She's also quite funny. I like her note to the prince before their supposed to be wedding day. 

The characters and events were familiar, but the plot, mystery, romance, and thrill of it all was graciously wrapped and written. Especially the mystery of the identity of the prince and assassin. It drives me crazy and excited. The fantasy part wasn't shown on the book, but there are traces of it. I think book two would be more fantasy. Despite little fantasy and action, the book has its own elements of beauty that didn't bore or frustrate me. I actually loved every single of it!

The ending was the worst of it all not because it sucks (it doesn't!) but because it was freaking amazing! I was holding my breath until the end and that was the only time I got frustrated. I've never--NEVER--wanted a sequel to be in my hands this bad right now--not even after I read The Hunger Games (yeah, because the entire trilogy were already published and I just have to grab them). I. Want. More!!! Wasn't it unfair to wait for another year? If I could ask Santa for one gift this Christmas, that would be the sequel. *puppy dog eyes*

Kiss of Deception is like a kiss of sweetness, bitterness, and everything beyond amazing. Although it had the ingredients I hated the most (love triangle and somehow insta-love), the author made a twist on each of the characters' stories that made me forget or not mind it. It added spice and turned out romantic. Clever, breathtaking, and achingly beautiful. I would recommend Kiss of Deception to all kinds of readers. I wouldn't even pick particular ones--it's just that good you'd want to read it. I swear. Read it!

*Thank you so much Ruth and Macmillan International for the review copy on exchange of an honest review!

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