Book Club: The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson @NYNBC #BookReview @marypearson #4Star

Title: The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1)
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Publisher: Henry Holt
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Dystopia
Release Date: July 8th 2014
Purchase: Amazon

A princess must find her place in a reborn world.

She flees on her wedding day.

She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.

She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.

She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.

The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.

Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.

I didn't know what to expect from this book. When my book club picked out book 2 to read this month, I decided to pick up this book and read it so I wouldn't be lost. Needless to say, this one threw me for a loop towards the end, which made me go back and re-read some chapters so I had a better understanding.

When you first start to read this book, you are going through Princess Lia's POV. And while some people may think that she is a stuck up snobbish girl who is selfish and only does things for herself, you can't help but to blame her. I realize times were different back when you had kings and queens. You were married off to the highest bidder or forced to marry someone you didn't love, just to form an alliance between kingdoms. But Lia didn't care, she followed her heart and her best friend, and fled the confines of a convenient marriage for a chance at true happiness and true love. If I were in her shoes, I would have done the same thing. But that's because I have always had a bit of a stubborn streak, just like Lia.

Next you get thrown into two different POVs. We are introduced to the Assassin and the Prince. In each of these perspectives you get to glimpse into their feelings and worlds. They are both on a quest to find the runaway Princess, but for totally different reasons. When they both arrive at a tavern at the same time for a chance encounter of the Princess, things start to get pretty interesting.

However, words can be deceiving. As I found out towards the end of the book. Once these two men introduce themselves as Rafe and Kaden the chapters POV change from Prince and Assassin to Rafe and Kaden, leaving you to guess which one is which. When things are revealed towards the end of the book I was shocked and confused because I had gotten the two mixed up and had to go back and re-read a few key scenes to fix my confusion. 

This one does end on a bit of a cliff-hanger, but I have a feeling that it will be well worth it. We will soon find out, as I'm about to pick up the second book, The Heart of Betrayal, to read.

Mary E. Pearson is the author of bestselling, award-winning novels for teens. The Miles Between was named a Kirkus Best Book of the Year, and The Adoration of Jenna Fox was listed as a Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year, an IRA Young Adult Choice, NYPL Stuff for the Teen Age, and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. She is also the author of A Room on Lorelei Street, David v. God, and Scribbler of Dreams. Pearson studied art at Long Beach State University, and worked as an artist before earning her teaching credential at San Diego State University. She writes full-time from her home in Carlsbad, California, where she lives with her husband and two dogs.

Find Mary: Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

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Book Club: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir #promo #5Star #BookReview @NYNBC @sabaatahir

Love Reading? 

Well come join the online book-club over on Facebook called Not Your Normal Bookclub!  

We read 1 book a month and then discuss and share it on twitter and Facebook! 

This month we read An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir and The Taking by Kimberly Derting. However, since I have been on two separate vactions this month alone and am taking a short break from reading until my daughter goes back to school, I decided to just tackle the one and read An Ember in the Ashes.

Title: An Ember in the Ashes
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Publisher: Razorbill
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopia
Release Date: April 28th 2015
Source: Purchased
Purchase: Amazon

Laia is a slave. 

Elias is a soldier. 

Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

This was a pretty great read. It did start off slow from the start however. Each chapter you are alternated between Laia and Elias perspectives, which I honestly didn't mind. However, you are left questioning how long it will take for the two to cross paths, as it takes almost halfway through the book or more for them to finally meet.

I really enjoyed the fact that both the main characters are from totally opposite worlds. It was a nice change that the girl came from "the wrong side of the tracks" rather then the boy. But I also enjoyed that they both are dealing with the fact that they want to break free from their lives and escape into something better. I think in that sense, they are a perfect pairing. 

I can't wait for the second book to come out, which of course, has yet to be named. With action, adventure, budding romance and being dystopian, this book is sure to please almost anyone.

Sabaa Tahir grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s 18-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.


Find Sabaa: Website | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | Goodreads

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Book Club: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard #promo #bookreview @NYNBC @VictoriaAveyard #5Star

Love Reading?  Well come join the online book-club over on Facebook called Not Your Normal Bookclub!   We read 1 book a month and then discuss and share it on twitter and Facebook! 
This month we are reading Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard! 

Title: Red Queen (Red Queen #1) Author: Victoria Aveyard Publisher: HarperTeen Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Dystopia Release Date: February 10th 2015 Purchase: Amazon

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

Oh. My. God! This book was seriously amazing! I absolutely loved it and I so wished that it never ended! But, alas, it had to come to an end, but not without leaving you with a cliffhanger.

The story was absolutely awesome. I really enjoyed the contrast between the two different types of people. You have the Reds, who are normal people, who struggle everyday to make ends meet, are forced into battle if they aren't placed with a talent. They are like the working class of the everyday world. And then you have the Silvers. They are the gods. The elite, the rich and famous type people. Politicians and Royals. And they also possess special abilities that the Reds don't and can't possess. They are the type that look down their noses at the working class, who think they are above them. And all of this is set in a Dystopian world.

The characters were also amazing. I think the author captured the essence of each and everyone quite well. I really liked how Mare was witty and cunning, I didn't like how gullible she was and quick to judge people though.

The story became predictable early on, but even with that, I was still pleased with the ending and the direction the story went. And I won't go into too much more of this, because I don't want to spoil it for you if you haven't read it.  

I recommend this book if you are a fan of The Selection by Kiera Cass or Match by Ally Condie with a little bit of a fantasy/paranormal twist.

Victoria Aveyard recently graduated from USC, where she majored in screenwriting. She has sold several television pilots and feature-length screenplays, and is currently represented by the Hollywood management company Benderspink. RED QUEEN is her first novel. She currently lives in Los Angeles. Find Victoria: Website | Blog | Goodreads | Twitter

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