After they travel on, Lia is able to escape for a day and finishes translating the book while on her own. It is a story about the beginning of Morrighan and the prophecy that someone named Jezelia will come to save her people. How does The Kiss of Deception end? The wind knew. It was the first of June, but cold gusts bit at the hilltop citadelle as fiercely as deepest winter, shaking the windows with curses and winding through drafty halls with warning whispers. There was no escaping what was to come.

He had jumped to his feet too. He grabbed my hand so I had to look at him. “You wanted to kiss me.” Maybe in one of those carriages, my oldest brother, Walther, and his young bride, Greta, sat with fingers entwined on their way to my wedding, scarcely able to break their gazes from each other. And maybe my other brothers were already at the square, flashing their smiles at young girls who drew their fancy. I remembered seeing Regan, dreamy-eyed and whispering to the coachman’s daughter just a few days ago in a dark hallway, and Bryn dallied with a new girl each week, unable to settle on just one. Three older brothers I adored, all free to fall in love and marry anyone they chose. The girls free to choose as well. Everyone free, including Pauline, who had a beau who would return to her at month’s end. Reread your favorite books a second or even a third time. On rereads you can see more of the structure of the book and just "how" the author builds this story that captured your attention. I will do my best to write a full, coherent review closer to the book's release date, but that's the beauty of these posts. I can get those feelings out now, in hopes of doing just that. For the Kingdoms rose out of the ashes of men and are built on the bones of the lost, and thereunto we shall return if Heaven wills." He lifted my chin with one hand, and with the thumb of his other hand, he smudged my forehead with ashes.I walked away without comment and stared out the window, my mother’s soft sigh following on my heels. In the far distance, I saw the lone red spire of Golgata, its single crumbling ruin all that remained of the once massive bridge that spanned the vast inlet. Soon, it too would be gone, swallowed up like the rest of the great bridge. Even the mysterious engineering magic of the Ancients couldn’t defy the inevitable. Why should I try?

Even if it doesn't come," my mother continued, "the wedding is no sham. This union is about far more than just one asset. The honor and privilege of a First Daughter in a royal bloodline is a gift in itself. It carries history and tradition with it. That's all that matters." It was worth it Lia... Every mile, everyday. I’d do it all over again. I’d chase you across three continents if that’s what it took to be with you.” I’ll take care of it,” she said, a jumble of nerves at the last-minute preparations. She left the chamber just as my mother returned with the cloak. I really enjoyed watching Lia come into her own even more. It's all about standing on your own two feet, listening to your gut, and not letting people steamroll you into doing what they think is right for your life. I'm digging the themes in this more now than I even did 6 years ago.So, this is only my second book by Mary E. Pearson, but I must say, my experience both times left me like this: The subject of First Daughter was one my mother always cleverly steered away from. Today, with only the two of us present and no other distractions, she couldn't turn away. I watched her stiffen, her chin rising in good royal form. "It's an honor, Arabella." Pauline entered my room through the dressing chamber. We stared at each other, no words necessary, clearly understanding what lay ahead of us, every detail of the day already wrestled with during a long, sleepless night.

This is the kind of story I love--a heart-pounding tale of magic and murder, betrayal and romance set in a richly imagined fantasy landscape.” — Cinda Williams Chima, New York Times–bestselling author of the Seven Realms and the Heir Chronicles Even if it doesn’t come,” my mother continued, “the wedding is no sham. This union is about far more than just one asset. The honor and privilege of a First Daughter in a royal bloodline is a gift in itself. It carries history and tradition with it. That’s all that matters.” My throat tightened, and my eyes stung. It was a kavah I might have loved … might have been proud to wear. I swallowed and imagined the prince when the vows were complete and the wedding cloak lowered, gaping with awe. The lecherous toad. But I gave the artisans their due. On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two strangers arrive. She is unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Lia is livid with Kaden for all that has happened though he keeps trying to be nice to her. The group stops at a vagabond camp to rest for a while. The leader, Dihara, teaches Lia that she really does have the gift and how to “listen” for it. Together they start to translate the ancient text that Lia stole from the Scholar. It is here that Kaden professes his love for Lia while he is in a drunken state. Lia also finds out that it was Kaden’s companions that killed her brother’s wife Gretta.

She carefully laid the cloak across my bed. It had been steamed and hung in the vault so no fold or wrinkle would tarnish its beauty. I ran my hand along the short velvet nap. The blue was as dark as midnight, and the rubies, tourmalines, and sapphires circling the edges were its stars. The jewels would prove useful. It was tradition that the cloak should be placed on the bride's shoulders by both her parents, and yet my mother had returned alone.

The Heart of Betrayal is exactly what I hoped it would be, in that the non-love-triangle- triangle didn't morph into a real Triangle. Sure, Kaden is still in love with Lia, but she doesn't return anything but friendship. There's none of that wishy-washy Who-Do-I-Really-Love shit happening here. But don't think that Lia is going to sit idly by and watch as things unfold. She's a woman of action, as we've already seen. And she may not have an entourage, but she has help.

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

This is the kind of story I love—a heart-pounding tale of magic and murder, betrayal and romance set in a richly imagined fantasy landscape.” —Cindy Williams Chima, New York Times–bestselling author of the Seven Realms and the Heir Chronicles So, in my opinion, the love triangle (or potential love triangle, however you saw it in The Kiss of Deception) is pretty much resolved in this book. The emotional romance is pretty clear-cut in this book. There are some things that made my heart ache for Lia, but once you read the book, you'll get it. I respect her for all of her decisions. And why should she have feelings for Kaden? I mean, Rafe is putting his ass on the line to save her, and, meanwhile, Kaden has turned her over to his evil boss! Sure, he's hoping he can protect her, but I'm not sure why he thinks that would make him her go-to guy for romance. So shall it be for this First Daughter of the House of Morrighan,” my mother finished, as was the tradition, and she wiped the ashes away with an oil-dipped cloth.