The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book had a slightly slow start, but it was a barreling downhill ride from there, and it’s always so great to discover an already-published trilogy, versus having to wait for the next books to come. I definitely will be starting book 2 tomorrow!
The premise: Lia is a First Daughter and princess of her realm, but on her wedding day to a mysterious prince she’s never met, she flees with her bestie Pauline for a faraway seaside port town, where they take up the lifestyle of industrious barmaids.
Two men track her and arrive simultaneously: the prince she was supposed to marry, who isn’t sure exactly why he’s tailing her, except that he’s spurned by her abandonment; and an assassin, charged with murdering her.
What ensues? Secrets, lies, love triangles, stand-offs, magic, mythology, and a berry picking adventure! In all sincerity, it’s great. A fast and imaginative fantasy tale with great characters and an incredible central heroine who is, at different turns, vulnerable, spiky, strong, flawed, and lovely.
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