The Kiss of Deception
- S.J Link
- Aug 14, 2017
- 10 min read
The Kiss of Deception was written by a wonderful author by the name of Mary E. Pearson. An American author writing out of her home in California. She has written ten books to date and she is the author of the Jenna Fox Chronicles (a book series I have yet to read).TKOD (The Kiss of Deception) is the first book in the most recent series for Mary. TKOD is part of a series called The Remnant Chronicles. The trilogy is completed and out in the world, The Heart of Betrayal (2015), and The Beauty of Darkness (2016)which was released last summer.
But we are not here to talk about the other two books, I'm here to give you incite on the first one along with a quick review for those of you wanting to refresh before reading the second.
The book it's self is beautiful. The cover is simple and doesn't give away too much of the story while doing it's job to draw you in.
I would assume that the female on the front of the cover is Lia, our main character. It has a strong title that makes you interested in reading the back and learning more of the mysteries of the Remnant Chronicles.
The inside cover holds my favorite thing about this book and the only reason (I'm a little ashamed to admit this) I actually bought the book. The inside cover is adorned with the most detailed, intricate map. (I have such a love for maps. But that's for another time)
This is clearly a fancier version of the map but still and if not more amazing. The map on the inside of the book itself is in black and grey! It has everything you need to know about the Kingdoms. It's detailed, and clean but its also got tiny surprises such as the family crests along the bottom. It also wonderful to be able to follow the path of our protagonist as she treks across the kingdoms!
Now that I've fan-girled over the map let's carry on to the actual story!
The story takes places in a far off world that consists of a few fighting kingdoms. The princess we meet in the beginning of the story is being given to another kingdom to create an everlasting bond and truce between the countries. She-however-has other plans than her father and council. She slips away with a stolen secret and her servant girl Pauline into the forests behind her family home and off to a distant village to hide. Things progress quickly and soon you meet the assassin and prince, both identities are held in secret and they are referred to as the above. The assassin sent to kill her, the prince there to see why she left, out of pure curiosity. Its a fun story of three different parties all trying not to kill one another or fall in love. Of course there is a healthy dose of sweet moments, adventure and chapters that will make you want to toss the book at something. It is full of twists and turns that keep you reading. By the end of it you truly will be running to the book store for the second installment.
Okay now for more detail! If you don't want the book ruined don't read any further than this. Enjoy the book and return to the blog to give me your input! Discussions are welcome :)
If you want more information on Mary E. Pearson I've listed her website below, along with the website for the Remnant Chronicles. Enjoy!
About Mary
This book is different from anything I've ever read before, it starts differently, progresses differently and ends suddenly. Its a fantastic read for anyone that enjoys a surprise but also reading series, because it leaves you wanting more.
We are thrown into Princess Arabella Celestine Idris Jezelia, The first daughter, and bride to be's world, on the day of her arranged wedding to a distant lands prince! Shes being strapped into her wedding dress reluctantly by her servant and mother. She is painted with dyes with the royal crest of Dalbreck (The Prince's lands). A giant Lion with vines and flowers across her upper back and onto her shoulders. When her father comes to put the ceremonial cloak onto her shoulders we learn that he is the typical cold, distant type. He comes flanked by two men, the scholar and the Chancellor that Arabella turns her nose up at and they quickly return the favor. The entire first chapter is tense, but when Arabella uses her wits and careful planning to slip away from the family home with her servant Pauline on two stolen horses the story picks up.
The two use different techniques to throw any trail and make their way to a small fishing village. Terravin. Pauline had spoken to Arabella about the about the town and how peaceful it was. Upon arrival they meet an older inn owner named Berdi, who takes them in and gives them work at the Inn. Arabella begins to use the name Lia, and truly takes on being a simple bar maid. She seems to take on all her duties with determination and happiness. But not everything is as easy to wash away. Lia spends a fair amount of time scrubbing to remove the wedding kavah from her back but even so she is still left with a partial piece of artwork. The claw of the Lion and some vines resting on her shoulder.
Soon enough we meet the young Prince who is not who Lia had imagined at all, leaving to find her. He tells his friend Sven, that he won't speak to her or interact he only wishes to understand why she ran off and admires her bravery. Sven clearly doesn't believe his prince but lets him go anyways.
Then we meet the assassin from Venda who is sent to kill Lia, in hopes that by killing her the alliance between Dalbreck and Morrighan will crumble. Both countries believe that the citizens of Venda are savages with no law or honor. By crumbling the alliance they would weaken the countries and be free to do with they wish.
Both men are in for a surprise when the meet Lia, stubbon and full of fire she makes a good first impression by snapping at a foot patrol solider who grabs Pauline forcibly. Lia proceeds to serve the two strange men, who we then learn the names of as Rafe. A tall man with strong shoulders and dark sun kissed hair in need of brushing. And Kaden, a swagger filled man who has blonde hair and not a scratch on him anywhere.
As the story progresses both men go off their paths, talking to and flirting with Lia for more information. Lia takes a quick liking to Rafe who seems to always be hot and cold. One moment hes helping and being kind and the next he's ignoring her. Kaden also follows Lia around, being kind and showing her his soft side.
Throught the story we find out that Pauline has a lover in the army named Mikael and that she is pregnant with his child. Pauline spends most of book waiting for his return!
Lia's brother Walther shows up a couple weeks after she has taken off with news of home. He leaves her a note arranging a secret meeting. Little does she know she was followed by both prince and assassin who both assume shes having an affair. (this causes so much drama)
When he arrives he seems happy to see her fully free from the restraints of her home and father. He tells her of his wife expecting and child, the good news elates Lia but it doesn't last long. He explains to her the happenings of the oncoming war with the barbarians (The Verdans) and how they are lashing out upon hearing the marriage failed. He also questions her about the stolen documents. And she tells him why she did it and how. Explaining that she never liked the way the scholar looked at her like a burden and a nuisance. The documents end up being two small books and some paper all in a different language that she can't understand.
At the end of the secret meeting with Walther she asks him about Mikael. It takes her brother a moment but then he explains to her that hes a scoundrel. He's seen him at pubs here and there with multiple women. That's when Lia realizes he's not coming back and must make the hard decision of weather or not to tell Pauline the truth about her beloved.
When Lia does tell Pauline about Mikael she decides a better fate would for him to have died. This of course sends Pauline into a time of mourning where she spends her days asleep, crying or at the Sacrista mourning her lost love.
It's not soon after than Walther returns in a fanatic state. Lia soon finds out that his wife and unborn child had been killed in a Verda lead raid which destroyed a bridge. Her brother than races off into battle with a clouded head vowing to kill the barbarians who murdered his wife.
With everything going on the town prepares for the summer festival of remembrance which is a week long. Eventually Lia is found, by another assassin who is sent to kill her and retrieve the stolen item that she took completely unaware of great importance it held to to the scholar. Kaden and Rafe spoil the plans of the assassin by shooting him. Kaden helps Lia home well Rafe deals with the body. And then the festival carries on as before, with dancing and a very exciting log wrestling between Rafe and Kaden.
As the festival draws to a close Lia quickly realizes her mistake of fleeing the wedding and looks to correct her mistake by returning. She has a heart felt good bye with Rafe, who pleads her to stay one more night, but in true Lia fashion she refuses and agrees to meet him farther down the road.
Pauline (of course) argues with Lia about her plan of going alone in fear that the king will punish Pauline for helping her but fails in convincing her to stay in Terravin. So Pauline and Lia set out back towards Morrighan. Their trip is cut short when they are ambushed by a group of Verdans, this is when you find out Kaden is the assassin (which in my opinion was a huge shock, I either really missed something while reading the book or that was one of the sneakiest surprise character twists of all time. Bravo.)
Kaden then kidnaps Lia, allowing Pauline to go free when Lia tells him she pregant. With his band of man they take off towards Verda. Kaden, who continues his efforts to be kind to Lia (despite Lia being ridiculously angry with him about his lies and hidden agenda) eventually tells Lia that she needs to keep quiet about not having the "gift". A magical vision power bestowed to the first daughters which Lia doesn't seem to have throughout the book. He explains that the gift is the only thing keeping her alive until he can present her to the king of Verda. She goes along with it well, tricking the men once or twice into thinking she actually has it.
Meanwhile Pauline races back to Terravin and find Rafe, or as we know now as the Prince of Dalbreck. She tells him what happens and he doesn't think twice about going to get her. He meets up with Sven and his men to help track her, as Pauline and a friend travel back to Morrighan in hopes of convincing the King and Queen to help get their daughter back.
One of the most endearing parts of the story happen while Rafe is travelling with his men. As they all sit around a fire his men question him about the woman they are tracking and he tells them everything he can think about her. Including their kiss.
'I told them about our first meeting and how I wanted to hate her, and all of our times together after that. Almost all of our times. I tell them she was small, a head shorter than me but she had a temper and stood as tall as a man when she was angry, and I'd seen her bring a Morrighan soldier to his knees with a few sharp words. I told them how we gathered blackberries and she flirted with me and while I had still thought I hated her, all I wanted to do was kiss her, but then later, when we did finally kiss--I paused my description and let out a long, slow breath.
"It was god?" Jeb prompted, eager for the vicarious details.
"I was good" I answered simply.'
It's a very sweet moment and truly shows that the prince did not expect to find love in such a chaotic person, but that after everything he couldn't possibly live without her.
Kaden and Lia travel until they come upon a caravan of travelers which they call,Vagabonds. The leader, Dihara, takes it upon herself to teach Lia that she really does have the gift and how to “listen” for it. Dihara also assists Lia in translating the unknown text in the books. The caravan is where Kaden professes his love for Lia in a drunken state and when she finds out it was his friends who murdered her brothers wife. (I really loved how Lia dealt with news, she reaccted exactly how I expected her to even surrounded by barabians with swords)
They continue to travel until Lia narrowly escapes a stampede and separates from Kaden and his men. This gives her time to translate the rest of the text and reveals a major plot twist. She is the Princess Arabella Celestine Idris Jezelia but also the prophet in an old tale song that predicts she will be the one to save her people.
THE ENDING
In the end, Lia is recaptured by Kaden as his men just in time to see thousands of Verdans kill her brother and his thirty or so troops. She demands that Kaden allow her to bury them which after a while one of his men lets her against Kaden's wishes. It takes a while but when it's finished the now larger group of Verdans make their way to the gates of Verda with their prize. The Princess.
Its on the bridge that Rafe decides to play hero and marches his way into an army of Verdas only to be caught. This is when she finally realizes who Rafe is. Crown Prince Jaxon Tyrus Rafferty of Dalbreck although Kaden is still oblivious to this. They are taken into Verda and that's where we are left.
Links to all the books on amazon below.
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