Review: The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

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.

Let me just get this out of the way and say that I loved this book. It's probably one of the best books I've read in the past 3 months.

The first thing that I noticed about story was the writing. Mary E. Pearson's writing is phenomenal! It's descriptive and lush and beautiful and so many other things. It made me fly through this book easily and not once left me feeling confused. 

Another thing, was the setting. Terravin, the little village in which the princess heads to so as to start a new life, is up in the list of fictional places I would not mind living in! It's basically a small little town outside the kingdom that everybody seems to ignore it exists which grants the residents a peaceful and easy-going life. Which happens to be exactly what our princess needs!

This book is also told in three perspectives. Lea's (who is the narrator of the story), The Prince's and The Assassin's. Did I mentioned we don't know who is who? The Boys' names are Rafe and Kaiden but we have no absolute idea for at least half the book who is the Assassin and who is the Prince. I really liked that. I think it made it easier for the reader to connect with Lea as we go through almost the same journey as her since we actually get to know those two characters in the same way she does. Of course, it really killed me not knowing who was who! I kept trying to find any hinds in their PoVs that might lead me to a conclusion and when i thought I was on the right track something would happen that made go like "Nope, that's not it..". Needless to say I belong to the group of people that didn't get it right.... Oh well!

The story is also, I would think, separated into two parts. The first half of the book leans towards historical fiction while in the second part the story takes a more journey-like, adventurous turn where most of the character development happens since this is where our Main Characters goes through some more dark situations and starts being more connected with the element of magic and prophecies and her supposed destiny.

Lastly, I also loved our main characters! Lea was such a brave, loyal, stubborn and clever character with a bit of recklessness running through her veins (but we wouldn't have it any other way) and I loved seeing her grow through the book from an unsure princess that yearns for a little freedom to a strong female character who has the potential to be a great leader. The Assassin and The Prince were both very complex characters with unique personalities. They were both very strong male characters (although I liked the Prince more). 

The romance was really sweet and although a lot of people say that the love triangle took centre stage throughout most of the book i think it was not really that much of a triangle and nevertheless, Pearson managed to beautifully wove it with the story.

Overall, this story was beautifully written and heartbreaking at times, with amazing characters and swoon worthy male interests! I really do think this is the beginning of a great series!

Book info:

• Paperback, 489 pages
• Published, July 8th 2014
• Publisher: Henry Holt
• Genre: Fantasy, Romance
• Rating: 5/5

Green Cover  = Kiss of Deception

Stacking the Selves #2

Stacking the Selves is all about sharing the books you recently added to your selves. Wether they are in the form of a paperback, hardpack, ebook, audiobook, or a book you borrowed from your friend or the library and of course review book. It's hosted by Tynga's Reviews!

                 

               Wow, i haven't done a haul in while, have I? Well this is going to be a long post...

Purchased

1.

I've been hearing a lot about the Arkadien Trilogy by Kai Meyer recently so I decided to  buy the first two books and give them a try.

2.

I bought this in the beginning of September as Cassandra Clare is one of my favorite authors and Holly Black really captivated me with her previous book 'The Coldest Girl in ColdTown' . Still haven't read this though...

3.

This is another book that I've been hearing plenty about lately, so I said why not? It's also fantasy (which you probably knew from the cover) and I'am trying to get more into that genre these days.

4.

They say it's a contemporary book with a paranormal twist about three girls who seek revenge upon the people who hurt them in the past.... Need I say more?

5.

                         My first road-trip book! Yay! I've been wanting to read one for ages!

6.

Last week I saw the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen and I really loved it. It made me obsessed with Jane Austen. Well I can't really say i'm a fan of hers since i've never read a book by her but I have a feelling Pride and Prejudice will make me one! Also, how gorgeous is this cover?

7.

This book is just so beautiful! And it has Morpheus on the cover! *fangirls* It's the second book in the Splintered trilogy by A. G. Howard which is a retelling of Alice in Wonderland and a current obsession of mine!

8.

I haven't read a dystopian novel in a while and this one seems really interesting! I mean who wouldn't  read a book where just a drop of rain can instantly kill you?

9.

The Lynburn legacy by Sarah Rees Brennan has come to be really popular lately and it's also a Gothic novel which is all the more interesting!

10.

This is also a second book in a trilogy. The White Rabbit Chronicles by Gena Showalter. I really loved the first book which i read almost two years ago and i am planning to reread it and continue with the second book soon!


11.

So this is a mixture of ebooks and physical books. Awake at Dawn and Turned at Dark the novella I have in my kindle while all the others I have purchased as physical books. I read the Shadow Falls series 2 years ago and really loved it so I finally decided to buy the books and reread them.

And that was my second Stacking the Selves! I think these are about 15+ books..... wow, i need to get on book buying ban or else I'm going to be broke very soon....

Top Ten Tuesday #5: Books Whose Titles Or Covers Made Me Buy Them

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday. This meme is created and hosted at The Broke and The Bookish. Every week there is a new top ten list for bloggers to take part in and enjoy!

1.

The Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

It was during my Vampire Diaries phase that i came across Vampire Academy and well at that point i would have read anything with the world vampire in it.

2.

Splintered by A. G. Howard

*scrolls through amazon* *find book* *drools over cover for about 30 minutes* *buys it* that's about how it went.

3.

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Just look at that amazing dress! ..... I mean cover.... :D

4.

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

A retelling about Beauty and the Beast with a beautiful cover like this one? I was sold!



5.

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Page

Just the title of this book made me want to snatch it and run to the register. I was always a fan of Wizard of Oz and a retelling of it with the title 'Dorothy Must Die' is too intriguing to pass up.

6.

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

I just want this cover as a giant poster on my wall! *drools*

 

7.

The Coldest Girl In Coldtown by Holly Black

One of my favorite books of 2013.  

8.

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Funfact about me! I love Alice in Wonderland! So a book whose title said it was a retelling of Alice and had zombies in it was like a Christmas treat for me!

9.

Peculiars by Maureen Doyle Mcquery

As the title says bought this one (still haven't read it though) because of its peculiar cover!