The Kiss of Deception Book Review

Hi guys! Remember a few weeks ago when I said I’d been reading a lot? That was a warning for all these book reviews I’ve been posting. 

Today’s model is The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson. Five stars. 

The Blurb:

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. 

The Plot: 

I actually don’t like this blurb because it makes the book sound like a cliche, and I didn’t find it cliche at all. Now, there are tropes. Runaway princess, arranged marriage, love triangle. But they’re done exceptionally well in my opinion, each with a unique twist. 

The Characters:

These hooligans kept me up all night. Several times. I think I read the entire series in a week. 

Lia is a tough lead, but she’s also got some very vulnerable, and very feminine attributes, which I appreciate. I love the fact that she’s a full fledged princess and completely content to just throw that life away to become a waitress. 

And she would have succeeded too, if it wasn’t for those meddling kids.

Enter Rafe and Kaden. I’ve got bookish candles for each of them if that gives you any hints at how much I like them. What was so stinking fun about this book is that these chapters are written from the point of view of The Assassin and The Prince. No names. So you’re left guessing for a long time and have no idea which one is planning to kill her and which one is planning to marry her (boys and their horrible communication). It’s brilliant. 

There’s a slew of amazing supporting characters too. The inn keeper, Lia’s best friend. I loved them all. 

Have you read this series yet? Do you like a good love triangle, or loath their existence?