Review: Kiss of Deception

Book One of the Remnant Chronicles
By Mary E. Pearson
Available now from Henry Holt & Co. (Macmillan)
Review copy

Mary E. Pearson has tacked contemporary and science fiction, and now she's taking on fantasy.  KISS OF DECEPTION is the story of Lia, a princess angered by her upcoming marriage - a marriage she had no say in.  So she runs (with her best friend Pauline) and becomes a bar maid.

There she is joined by the two men following her: Rafe and Kaden.  One is the prince she is supposed to marry, the other is an assassin from a third country sent to prevent the alliance.  The narrative goes through hoops with the point of view to obscure which is which, but it's not that hard to figure out.  I thought it was a bit of trickery that didn't add much to the story.

I don't think KISS OF DECEPTION will convert people who are tired of love triangles.  Especially since it doesn't make that much sense for the assassin to be that soft hearted.  But for those who can stomach them, Lia is a terrific heroine.  She honestly adapts pretty well to a much smaller life, although she is haunted by the knowledge that she has a duty that is going unfulfilled.  She has to find a balance between herself and her country.

I'm also intrigued by the world presented in KISS OF DECEPTION.  It's a historical-type fantasy world, with hints of magic around the edges.  As a First Daughter, Lia is supposed to have a magical gift, but she's never felt she had one.  The politics between the three countries aren't the focus, but they do add a bit of flavor.  I'm ready for the assassin's country to become more defined in the next book.

KISS OF DECEPTION does have a cliffhanger ending, which annoyed me.  But Pearson's writing is so good that I'll still be back for more.  This looks to be the beginning of a great series, one that will appeal to fans of Megan Whalen Turner.

Review: Fox Forever

Book Three of the Jenna Fox Chronicles
By Mary E. Pearson
Available now from Henry Holt and Co. BYR (Macmillan)
Review copy

THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX was one of my favorite books when it came out.  It was a perfect storm of things I love in science fiction.  With FOX FOREVER, Mary E. Pearson brings the trilogy to a fitting end. 

Despite the name of the book and series, Jenna Fox is not the main character of FOX FOREVER.  That would be Locke Jenkins, one of her best friends and fellow accident "survivor."  To escape the lab that created him, he promised a Favor.  Now, that Favor is being called it.  It requires him to get close to Raine, the daughter of an important man, and surely you know where that is going.

FOX FOREVER does share a weakness with the other books in the series.  Mainly, that it ends with a chapter about the future that summarizes that the characters did make a difference but you don't get to see the decades of hard work that made that difference.  But while that bothers me, it's a feature of the series, not a bug.  For all that the Jenna Fox Chronicles span centuries, it's a series about the little moments that lead to big decisions in the characters' lives.

The worldbuilding continues to be fantastic.  The Non-pacts, people who aren't citizens, are an enforced underclass.  Locke's mission could mean everything for the rebellion, giving them the means to take things up a notch.  His success could mean everything for a large community, but he could mess everything up by getting too emotionally involved.

I highly recommend the Jenna Fox Chronicles.  If you haven't read them, please don't start with FOX FOREVER.  I think it stands well alone, as Locke's adventure is self-contained, but there's a real sense of payoff to FOX FOREVER.  This is the book where things really get better for the future, things that have needed to change the entire series.  Considering Mary E. Pearson didn't intend to write a sequel to THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX, she's done a fantastic job.