Tuesday, March 18, 2014

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

Add to Goodreads
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:

WebsiteTwitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Facebook




27 comments:

  1. WOOT! I love these kind of posts. ^.^ And omg, so many awesome GIFs, I'm still snickering at that "you go girl" synchronised one.

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    1. Yay! I'm so glad you love the format. It just makes reviewing the book a whole lot more fun, plus it gives me something to go off when I do sit down to really write the review. :)

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  2. I love these so much! And I definitely cannot wait to read this book. It sounds fantastic and I want to feel all of those feelings from your gifs too!

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    1. Thanks! I want you to read it soon and feel all my GIFfy feels, too! :D

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  3. OMG--I LOVE THIS FEATURE, JEN!!!!

    Sorry about the all caps but YES. This is such a great way to highlight a book you have read early and loved prior to it's faaaarrrr off release date (and thanks for the shout out for Mark Your Calendars!)

    First off, anyone who can find such perfect gifs gets so much love and admiration from me because I never can. I'm seriously lucky if I can find one for a review. That's why I never have them in my reviews--or hardly ever. So BRAVA.

    Second: I have this e- ARC and you are making it really hard for me right now because this review has me desperately wanting to read it NOW. And Of Metal and Wishes, which I also have, and which I am going to visit your giffy review of next...

    BRILLIANT concept--and such a clever, catchy name too. And it's totally succeeding in making me want to read--so WELL DONE, chica. :)

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    1. Oh, wow, thank you SO MUCH, Heather. And you're welcome for the shout out! :) I'm not gonna lie...these GIFfy reviews take me just as long as a normal review, but they're so much more fun. I am so glad I've tempted you to read this early...it's so worth it, and then I'll have someone else to talk to about it. :)

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  4. You picked the perfect gifs! I just got this one last week and it looks amazing. I'm excited to read it!

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  5. Haha, I absolutely LOVE the gifs you've chosen for this (a nice mix of hilarious and totally hot)! I adored this book, and I'm so thrilled to hear you loved it too. I agree with Tennant, FANTASTIC! :-) Awesome feature, I hope you write more of these gif-tastic reviews!

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    1. Thank you, Lauren! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed this book, too! And I find that I usually agree with Tennant. :P I will definitely be making this a permanent feature...it's so much fun to put together, and I'm really enjoying the reader reactions.

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  6. I loved the gifs! I can't wait to get my hands on this one.

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    1. I hope your reaction to it is as positive as mine! :D

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  7. These gifs are perfect, haha. I love this!

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  8. I'm so jealous you got to read this book already. Thank you for the review, good to see it didn't disappoint.

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  9. I love your GIFs! Where do you get them? And I love how you were able to simplify your reaction to the book in all these pictures :) I felt your thrill for the book!!

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  10. I do love this new feature. It's very cool. I saw this up on NG, and while that cover is gorgeous, decided not to request. I'm just already swamped. I'll definitely keep my eye open for its actual release though.

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  11. I hope this love triangle really ISN'T. That's what makes me most nervous about this series. But literally everything else you said has me SALIVATING to start this one. I love fantasy and surprises in books and I need to experience this for myself!!

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  12. I don't know how I missed this review but glad that I found it after I read the book. I loved this one so much!!! Will have to email you to discuss both Ruin and Rising and this...

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  13. OMG I love the GIFs dear. Your review made me increase my anticipation for the book. <3

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  14. Ughhhhhhh. That GIF review has me making grabby hands for this book. NEED.

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  15. I really want to read this book now.

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  16. These gifs pretty much tell me that my shelf is lacking and I need this book NOW. Would you guys rank it higher or lower than Winner's Curse because that book has been hard to beat on my fave list for this year!?

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  17. LOL! This review is spectacular! I won an ARC of this from Goodreads, and I too, could not put it down until I was FINISHED!!! It was THAT good!

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  18. what a fun post!!! Thanks for sharing :)

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  19. Lol! You are genius!!! This was so brilliant and creative and makes me insanely jealous that I'm no way as techno-savvy! And now I can't wait to read this book!

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  20. That's such a fun post! But no thanks to you, I have to get my hands on that books! :)

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  21. Love your choice of GIFs! Haha this review is short, succinct, and entertaining--just my style :)

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