The Kiss of Deception Book Review
The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson Book Review and Recommendation.
Date: 3-12-25 Post Written By: MK Overall Rating: 8.9/10
Book Cover Rating: 4.6/10
(My personal opinion)
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Pages: 492
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Subplots: Politics
Series: The Remnant Chronicles #1
Publisher: Henry Holt
Published: 2014
Number of Editions: 49
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook, Audio
Awards Won: Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction, Gateway Readers Award Nominee
Goodreads Rating: 3.92
# of Goodreads Ratings: 152,341
Amazon Rating: 4.4
# of Amazon Ratings: 6,872
Movie/TV Show?? : No
Book Type: Standard
POV Type: Multi, First Person
Pacing: Slow-Mid
Generally: Princess betrothed to stranger, runaway, prince and assassin sent to catch her, slower mid-book action, character DEVELOPMENT
Blurb:
She steal 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 Morrigham 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 escapes 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 Review
Going Into It:
Going into this book…. I have to admit… I’ve kinda had book two of this series for over a year and not bothered to read it or book one. Oops. 😬 Also, I was looking on Goodreads for some reviews of this and it seems to me like people are split. Some LOVE this book, some HATE it. That definitely makes me a little nervous…..
Main Characters:
Arabella Jezelia- Lia is betrothed to a prince she has never met. She is rebellious and does NOT like the thought of not having say in her future. So, she decided to take her future into her own hands.
The Prince- The prince is betrothed to Lia. He is sent to go ‘rescue’ her and marry her.
The Assassin- The assassin is sent to kill Lia. He is from a hostile country.
This was super interesting. We were introduced to Lia, Rafe, and Kaden from the beginning. But the book didn’t immediately tell us if Rafe or Kaden was the prince or the assassin (and obviously I’m not going to spoil that for you). These characters were AMAZING!! I loved the main three characters, but also all the side characters. And in some cases (Lia in particular), there was MASSIVE character development. Though, at a few points a couple of things felt cliche.
Character Rating: 9.1/10
Setting:
This book takes place in a kingdom called Morrigham.
I feel like this setting had a bit more potential than was used, but wasn’t a disappointment. Fantasy settings usually have so much freedom to embrace something new, and this book didn’t do that for me.
Setting Rating: 6.5/10
Plot:
Yes!! Yes!! Yes!! I LOVED everything about this plot!! It was slower paced but still exciting (but it wasn’t very ‘battle and adventures’ exciting), and it kept me worried about the characters.
Plot Rating: 9.9/10
Writing:
I loved this writing!! I’ve heard a few people say parts of the book are confusing, but I didn't have that problem. I thought this book was written in an engaging way.
Writing Rating: 8.9/10
Ending:
Wow!! This HOOKED me!! This ending was so suspenseful that I IMMEDIATELY needed to run to the bookstore and buy the next book (at this point I had already gotten rid of it 😫). It didn’t really wrap up book one; it more so pulled me into book two looking for answers.
Ending Rating: 9.9/10
The Overall:
Overall I LOVED this book!! It was fast paced with an AMAZING plot and ending. (Note: I do think the older of a reader you are, probably the less you will like it and the more holes you could poke in it). I loved the amount of deception and how the reader was partially left in the dark. This made a GREAT path forward into the next few books.
Overall Book Rating: 8.9/10
I would obviously recommend this book
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ChatGPT’s Opinion: The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson is a captivating fantasy novel that blends romance, mystery, and political intrigue. It follows Lia, a princess who flees an arranged marriage, and alternates between perspectives, including that of the prince she was meant to marry and a mysterious assassin. The book is praised for its rich world-building, suspenseful plot twists, and the slow-burning romance that develops alongside Lia’s personal growth. While the pacing may feel slow at times, the story builds to an exciting payoff, making it a compelling read for fans of high fantasy and character-driven narratives.
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Mary E. Pearson is the International and NYT bestselling and award-winning author of multiple novels including The Remnant Chronicles trilogy, the Dance of Thieves duology, The Jenna Fox trilogy, and more. Her books have been translated into over thirty languages world-wide.
As a child she loved reading about and living in fantasy worlds. They were a portal to possibility that provided both escape and power. These days she loves writing about those worlds for the same reasons. She totally believes in magic, because, as one of her characters once whispered to her, “What is magic, but what we don’t yet understand?”
Her first adult novel, The Courting of Bristol Keats, will be released on November 12, 2024 by Flatiron Books.
When she is not creating dangerous fantasy worlds, she enjoys the relatively safe pleasures of travel, gardening, friends, and family. Visit Mary on Instagram @maryepearson for the very latest book news and updates. -
The Heart of Betrayal
The Beauty of Darkness
Dance of Thieves
Vow of Thieves
Morrighan
The Adoration of Jenna Fox
The Fox Inheritance
Fox Forever
A Room on Lorelei Street
The Miles Between
Scribbler of Dreams
Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions
The Rotten Beast
The Courting of Bristol Keats
View Mary E. Pearson’s books on her website: Marypearson.com
Or on Amazon: Mary E. Pearson’s Books
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ChatGPT.com (ONLY for specified “ChatGPT’s opinion” portion of reviews and small information gathering)
