Mary E. Pearson

I mistakenly assumed when I started reading this book that it was a standalone novel (likely due to the size - it is THICK)... That's pretty obviously not true, especially as one gets to the last third of the book.

Bristol is alternatively relatable and shakeable (in that I wanted to shake her and shout, "What are you doing?") I wasn't sold on her relationships with everyone around her, from her family to her friends, and most especially her love interest. (It went from enemies-to-lovers very quickly in my opinion.)

I did enjoy the alternate reality aspect of Faerie, but overall I had a lot more questions at the end that I was frustrated not to have answers for... I will likely read the next book when it's eventually released. I did enjoy this book: I just didn't love it.

This book was received through a Goodreads giveaway, but it is my unbiased opinion.… (more)

As of March 2024, I’ve read “The Kiss of Deception” SIX TIMES in under 10 years. Not only has my love of the book grown, my respect for the writing has grown. And I was still buzzing when I finished the book last night–even though I knew everything that was going to happen!

Lia is the Princess of Morrighan and she’s unwilling to be forced into an arranged marriage. Lia and Pauline, her maid, run away to a small town to make a new life for themselves. Everything is seemingly idyllic. Except there are two newcomers in town who are not who they seem.

A unique part of this book is that there are 5 POVs between 3 characters. There’s Lia, the Prince who was part of the arranged marriage she ran away from, and the Assassin from a hostile kingdom who was ordered to kill her. The Prince and the Assassin also have POVs under their own names. We just don’t know which is the Prince and which is the Assassin! It is impossible to figure out who is who, and I switched my guess a dozen times when I first read it. You’d think that since I’ve read it so many times, this trick would get old. You would be wrong. It’s still so much fun to read and to catch the hints and the ways it plays off the reader's assumptions.

This was written during the height of YA love triangles, but I honestly don’t mind it. Lia, Kaden, and Rafe each have their own arcs in the series and are interesting to follow. Lia grows so much as a character over the course of this book, and her character journey throughout the series is so satisfying to watch. The political complexities of each of their situations are also very interesting… and we’re off to the next reason I love this series so much: world building.

The book is set in a world hundreds, if not thousands, of years after a practically world-ending devastation happened, and the ruins of the Ancients are scattered throughout the world. One aspect of the series that continues to bring me joy: we are the ancients! You can find plenty of easter eggs in the series referencing places and landmarks in our modern world. And take a look at that map! The world of the Remnant Chronicles being built upon the ruins of the Ancients enhances the themes in the series of the cyclical nature of history.

If you are a fan of grounded-fantasy with a side of romance, give this series a try. The first book is just the beginning of an epic fantasy series with great character development and world building. I’m never going to get over “The Remnant Chronicles.”… (more)