The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles, #1) in What's the Name of That Book???

Oct 05, 2015 Emma rated it liked it · review of another edition

Lia, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan, is seventeen years old. She is Morrighan's princess and a key part of her father's plans to forge an alliance with the neighboring kingdom of Dalbrek. The only problem is that Lia has no intention of marrying to further her kingdom's political standing--certainly not to a prince she has never met.

When Lia flees on her wedding day she sets a series of disastrous events in motion that leave chaos and danger in her wake.

Her hopes to start a new life as Lia, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan, is seventeen years old. She is Morrighan's princess and a key part of her father's plans to forge an alliance with the neighboring kingdom of Dalbrek. The only problem is that Lia has no intention of marrying to further her kingdom's political standing--certainly not to a prince she has never met.

When Lia flees on her wedding day she sets a series of disastrous events in motion that leave chaos and danger in her wake.

Her hopes to start a new life as a commoner alongside her faithful maid, Pauline, are threatened when two handsome strangers arrive at her new home. One is the prince Lia refused to marry, the other is an assassin sent to kill her.

Surrounded by secrets and lies, Lia's entire world could unravel when the truth is revealed in The Kiss of Deception (2014) by Mary E. Pearson.

The Kiss of Deception is the first book in Pearson's The Remnant Chronicles which continues with The Heart of Betrayal and The Beauty of Darkness.

The Kiss of Deception is a thoughtful blend of fantasy and suspense layered across a dystopian world. Tantalizing hints throughout the novel suggest that Morrighan shares a common past with the modern world, but no concrete answers are given leaving readers to draw their own conclusions.

Lia is an interesting heroine and narrates most of the novel. She is often naive and reckless but she is also kind and selfless. What originally appears as thoughtless privilege soon morphs into a strong moral compass and royal demeanor. Lia's growth throughout the novel is empowering and well handled but her character remains the most developed for most of the novel.

By all rights, The Kiss of Deception should be a fast-paced adventure beginning with Lia's flight on her wedding day. Lia's narrative is even interspersed with chapters from the Prince and the Assassin lending another level of mystery to the story. Unfortunately, these pieces take a bit too long to come together which makes the first half of the novel drag. Uneven pacing and predictable plot twists further weaken the story.

The Kiss of Deception introduces a rich world and a large cast of characters. Readers willing to forgive unanswered questions about world building and readers who don't mind characters who withhold key information will get the most out of this novel. Recommended for readers looking for a new high fantasy with a lot of romance, strong female characters, and meandering action.

Possible Pairings: Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson, Truthwitch by Susan Dennard, Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton, Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien, The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski, Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, And I Darken by Kiersten White, Blood Red Road by Moira Young

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Mar 31, 2014 Abigail rated it really liked it

Princess Lia is soon to be wed to an unknown prince from the powerful kingdom of Dalbreck and chooses to run away rather than be forced into a political marriage. She is unknowingly pursued by both the jilted prince and a wily assassin from the troublesome region of Venda. The young men catch up with Lia in the idyllic and colorful fishing village where she has settled, and both try to win her affections to suit their purposes.

I think this may very well be the first YA book which features a lov ...more

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Jan 22, 2018 Kate rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018, age-ya, fantasy, audiobooks

Instead of getting married to someone she's never met, Princess Lia decides instead to run away with her lady Pauline. She and Pauline fall into the life of barmaids with ease, and soon thereafter Lia encounters two young men who vie for her attentions: Kaden and Rafe. Unbeknownst to Lia, one of them is the prince she was meant to marry and the other is an assassin sent to kill her.

I've heard a lot about this series, so I was excited to read (listen) to this story, but for me this just didn't d ...more

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Nov 23, 2015 Laura rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mt-bookpile-2011-2015, old-reads

When a book opens with a Gormenghast-esque feel (Tradition? rituals without current meaning? etc) it's great... but then, no follow-up. Once we got past that start, and the lack of a castle like Titus Groan roams, it's a relatively ordinary story about a girl fighting her role in life, then accepting it and "growing into herself". Oh, and a love triangle. ...more

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