The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson is the first book in a suspenseful, romantic and adventurous young adult fantasy series titled The Remnant Chronicles. 

Kristin explains, "This story is set in a unique fantasy world that is rich in culture and traditions. For Princess Lia, her life follows a predestined course, as she is expected to put her kingdom, people and royal duties above everything else which is extremely hard for this strong-willed girl to accept. This is why she becomes very agitated when her parents disregard her own choices in love and life when they arrange for her to marry a Prince from a neighboring kingdom; a man she has never even met! Since Princess Lia is a smart, head-strong, and cunning heroine, on the morning of her wedding she rebels against her inherited future and flees to a distant village. Even though she has run from her kingdom, and defied the royal traditions, it doesn’t take long for her to realize she cannot run forever from the overwhelming responsibilities, but she settles into a new life where she wants no one to know her past. However, Princess Lia’s heart skips a few beats when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive unexpectedly, and she is torn between her shunned duties and the life she wants for herself. She is completely unaware that one of these men is the very prince she was destined to marry, and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception, lust and danger lurk around every corner in this village that appears safe on the surface, giving the reader a tense and exciting tale. Will the Prince be able to win the heart of his Princess, or will the assassin dismiss his task because of her undeniable beauty and charm? The Princess will soon find herself at the center of an extremely compelling love triangle, and at the same time, will be close to unlocking some totally unexpected secrets."

This novel is beautifully written and deeply satisfying. It contains an intricately plotted fantasy, where absolutely no one and nothing is quite what they seem!

"This novel is beautifully written and deeply satisfying. It contains an intricately plotted fantasy, where absolutely no one and nothing is quite what they seem! Even I, who am typically able to predict what comes next in a story, was completely astonished by a few surprises and plot twists. This is truly an engrossing book about the journey a fiery princess takes when choosing a life she wants to live for herself because it is filled with both light and dark moments. It is one of self-discovery that shows how we all have to endure our own responsibilities in life whatever that may be, but we still have a choice in the matter at the same time. You will became captivated by this story until the last page, and will want to keep coming back to this unique world with it’s fascinating settings and rich story-telling. I would suggest The Kiss of Deception to avid young adult readers looking for their next great read and adults who just might be in a reading slump looking for something to spice up their reading!"

You can reserve The Kiss of Deception from your branch of the County of Lennox & Addington Libraries or online here.