{Review in a GIFfy} The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

So, I've seen a few others doing early reviews for books pre-release by doing a less formal review and sorta just fangirling over the title prior to publication, which may be months away, depending on when they read the book. Jamie from The Perpetual Page-turner has a Save the Date feature, and Heather over at The Flyleaf Review showcases her pre-release thoughts in a Mark Your Calendars post. I have the same problem. I want to tell the world about some of the awesome books I read pre-publication, but I can't wait until just a few weeks before the release date to shout it from the rooftops.

My dilemma led me to an awesome -- if I do say so myself -- idea: Reviews in a GIFfy. I already sometimes post my reactions to a book via GIFs on Goodreads. (The one I did for World After was very well received.) But I wanted to make it a thing for those titles that I just can't wait until they appear on the ole reading schedule, and I wanted to share my reactions via GIF with all of you. Essentially, these are going to be GIF-only reviews to tide you -- and me! -- over until I can expand on my thoughts in a legitimate review closer to the book's release date.

Last week, I reviewed Of Metal and Wishes by Sarah Fine in a GIFfy. This week, since I just finished the spectacular The Kiss of Deception over vacation, I thought I'd give it the ole GIFfy treatment.

Title: The Kiss of Deception
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Series: The Remnant Chronicles, book #1
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication Date: July 15, 2014
Source: borrowed from Kristen - Thanks!
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

In this timeless new trilogy about love and sacrifice, a princess must find her place in a reborn world.

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 assasin 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.

I must admit, I've never read a book by Mary E. Pearson. So when Kristen practically forced her copy on me (hehe), I was all:

And then I got to chapter 2, and it was on.

Not only is Lia fierce and determined not to be pushed into a marriage she does not desire, but her friend and lady's maid is just as awesome.

I don't know if Pearson always writes such strong-willed female characters, but I am impressed. Not just with those characters, though...with everything.

The setting. The writing. The transitions between points of view. And there were several of them. All:

And as the story wore on, I found myself captivated, reading it anywhere and everywhere I could.

Then I found that I couldn't put the book down.

But when I got to page 300 or so:

I did a bit of this:

But then as I absorbed it all:

I can't say that the second half was lacking because my anticipation was still through the roof,

but it almost seemed like two separate stories after that point. Before: historical fantasy.

After: a quest-like fantasy, through the unyielding desert...

with the possibility of some magic.

I say possibility because, well, I haven't seen any true magic yet. But I sense it.

Other awesomeness:

Gypsies

A love triangle that isn't

Log wrestling...but with ruggedly handsome men over a mud pit  ;0)

All in all, this book was

And I think that it ended at the best possible moment, even if the wait for the next book is going to kill me.

About the author:

Mary E. Pearson is the award-winning author of The Jenna Fox Chronicles, The Miles Between, A Room on Lorelei, and Scribbler of Dreams. She writes full-time from her home office in California where she lives with her husband and two golden retrievers.

Find Mary:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Facebook

Labels: beautiful covers, favorites, high fantasy, macmillan, mary e. pearson, must-read, review in a giffy, the remnant chronicles