I nodded. "But I have to attend to a personal need before we leave. I'll meet you in the lower hall." I whirled to face her. “A king maybe, but a toad nonetheless. Do you mean to tell me that when you married a stranger twice your age, you didn’t think him a toad?” PDF / EPUB File Name: The_Kiss_of_Deception_-_Mary_E_Pearson.pdf, The_Kiss_of_Deception_-_Mary_E_Pearson.epub There were moments when I wasn't sure if she was toying with someone, playing a game...or if she was really sincere. Reading to find out how her strategizing and manipulating fared left me on the edge of my seat for much of the book. 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

Of course, the Komizar has zero shot (he's the villain - or one of them). In my opinion, Kaden NEVER had a shot (not even in The Kiss of Deception), but that's just my opinion. In this book, it becomes very, very clear who Lia has feelings for, who Lia cares about, etc. It's stated in her thoughts, how she loves one and how she cares for one. Two totally different emotions going on, and Kaden is not on the receiving end of the emotion he wants. I believe Kaden truly loves her, but it seems like a blind love. Honestly, Kaden's feelings for Lia seem more like obsession or fascination. And Lia... she cares about him, but not like that.I came for you, Lia, no matter who or what you are, and I don't care what mistakes I made or what mistakes you made. I'd make every single one again, if that was the only way to be with you." (28)

A deeply satisfying, intricately plotted fantasy where no one— no one—is quite what they seem. . . . A thoroughly engrossing read— I couldn't put it down!”—Robin LaFevers, New York Times–bestselling author of Grave Mercy and Dark Triumph After her strong Jenna Fox series, Pearson adeptly switches gears here from science fiction to fantasy, but her ability to write a romance featuring complex characters and a strong plot remains constant." — The HornBook As far as the romance goes, I still maintain that it's not a love triangle, even though there are now three, yes three, men vying for Lia's affections...sort of. I can't say any more without worry of spoilers. But to me, it's clear with whom Lia's heart lies. It was the same for me in the first book, too, though. 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. 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.

Publication Order of Dance Of Thieves Books

Lia herself is a likeable heroine, and the selfishness in her act of leaving a kingdom in shambles for some future love is negated by her obvious naivete about political strategies and romantic relationships . . . Most intriguing are the two love interests, though, partly because of the way Pearson structures their narrating chapters.” — BCCB 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. The two men arrive in Terravin around the same time and end up sitting together at a table at Berdi’s Inn. They both meet Lia and give unrecognizable names, Rafe and Kaden. Both know who Lia really is, though neither of them knows that the other one recognizes her. Weeks go by as Lia falls into her new role and both the prince and the assassin find her intriguing and unexpected. Both are starting to fall for her but the reader doesn’t know who is who. Is Rafe the assassin or is Kaden the assassin? Lia seems to be falling for Rafe but which one is he? I like the mysterious "gift" part of the series plot though. A lot of it revolves around Venda, curiously. And yet, I feel more lost, in terms of Lia's gift, and its connection to Venda. Hopefully all will be explained in book three. 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.