The Kiss of Deception

This book grabbed me by the throat and physically dragged me out of a reading slump, so I'd give it a good rating just for that.

But besides that, this story just absolutely enchanted me. It's not the best book I've ever read but it sucked me in from the very beginning and I just flew through it. First, I'll say that I'm a sucker for any story that incorporates a tavern in a fantasy setting. I don't really know why, but it's just a little story thing that I really love. So having a princess run away from an arranged marriage to work in a tavern? I was just plain tickled and I was having a great time.

The little found family she has? Absolutely love it. Berdi being like a second mother and Gwyneth being the mysterious but loving older sister? Obsessed. She's hiding even more secrets I feel, and I can't wait to see what happens with her but something must.

Lia's relationship with Pauline is SO precious, and I'm scared about how a particular plot point is going to affect their relationship but I think they're gunna pull through.

Rafe? Love of my life. Literally riding across the continent to save her are you KIDDING?

The only thing I dislike about this book is KADAN. Oh I liked him just fine at first but after he kidnappd her and dragged her to Venda and he was pulling a full Gale from Hunger Games syndrome with me like. First of all she flirted with you ONCE. ONE TIME that was actually just to make Rafe jealous! Second of all you literally took her prisoner and are dragging her across enemy lines (under what you believe to be a LIE no less) and you want her to be...grateful that you didn't kill her? You kidnap her, keep the fact that her brother's wife's is murderer is traveling with her, and show some BASIC human empathy over your job of murdering people and you expect her to just go along and be cooperative? Give me a fucking break, truly.

Don't even SPEAK TO ME about Chapter 67-69. That was so unbelievably sad I was genuinely tearing up. Reading Lia not only burying her BROTHER whom she WATCHED DIE but also carrying each and every dead soldier to a grave she dug while their killers watched on? Singing for them and blessing them and giving them the only dignity she could in death? I am absolutely ruined after reading that.

This book was an absolute RIDE and I WILL be picking up the next one.