the kiss of deception – GoodeyReads

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 492 pages
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Publisher: Henry Holt
Release Date: July 8th, 2014
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia’s life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight—but she doesn’t—and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom—to a prince she has never met.

On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love.

STILL GREAT.

This is a reread review.

I feel like every year a few book stick out to me that I desperately want to reread, and this year, that’s all of Pearson’s books. There is something old school YA fantasy about these that just sing to my soul. I loved getting to read this one again as it still maintains one of the best plot twists I’ve ever come across. If you saw it coming, I am impressed.

I do remember why I went with four star. There’s quite a bit of long winded traveling that I would have loved shortened, otherwise, this immaculate book holds all the nostalgia. And isn’t it amazing when a reread is positive?

I love these characters. This is a love triangle that doesn’t make me want to throw my book and the politicking and intrigue of it all builds the world with intrigue. Everything from the characters to subtle magic system is developed well. I can’t wait to continue this series!

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy Romance
Language: very little
Romance: kisses
Violence: medium
Trigger/Content Warnings: physical violence, weapons violence, small battle themes, loss of loved ones, kidnapping

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Okay, I DROPPED THE BALL LAST WEEK AND I AM SO SORRY.

I realized Tuesday afternoon that I never finished my Top Ten Tuesday post, so I am trying my best to get back in it here. I am really ahead of writing reviews (like I have the entire month of June already booked) so remembering to come and write other posts has fallen back a bit.

I’m really excited for this week because FANTASY IS THE BEST GENRE EVERRRR. And in order to try to get some different books added on here I wanted to say:

My top two choices are the A Court of Thorns and Roses and Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. I will forever love them, rave about my love for them, and try to convince everyone I know to at least give them a chance. I didn’t want to add them to the list today because I wanted to show off some other books I love.

If you want to see something funny and have read ACOTAR check out my Instagram where I have a highlight of my sister’s text conversations as she read them for the first time.

I’m also including the entire series if applicable, because YOU SHOULD READ THEM ALL.

Also, if you’ve read this far, know this is so hard because they’re too many good choices here.

Seven Realms Series by Cinda Williams Chima

The Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson

Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Adren

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

Caraval Series by Stephanie Garber

Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo

The Winner’s Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski

The Bird and the Sword Chronicles by Amy Harmon

**The Bone Season Series by Samantha Shannon (still in progress)**

Arc of a Scythe Trilogy by Neal Shusterman
(a bit dystopian but enough fantasy to count)

BONUS BECAUSE I’M ON A ROLL:

Falling Kingdom Series by Morgan Rhodes

Have you read any of these series? Any on your TBR? If you’re a fantasy fan what’s a favorite series of yours? I felt like I could go on for days!

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