"Once we fear to take a stand, tyranny will have won.”

Can't believe The Remnant Chronicles are nearly over! I don't want to read it...I want to read it...eventually I can't help but savoring every sweet page until it lasts....*deep frustrated sigh*

"You raised up a fine soldier.”
“More than a soldier. A future king.”
“And yet you let him traipse across the Cam Lanteux after me?”
“I didn’t let him. In fact, I tried to talk him out of it, but there was no stopping him. He had lost a treasure that he was determined to get back.”

I get a glimpse of all cross-country politics and strategic maneuvers that give the backbone of the story and I love it! It sounds pretty darn running a whole kingdom so becoming a princess doesn't sound so awesome this time. The dream of heavy gowns made of tulle and laces and glamorous balls with handsome princes is gone. All of it fly away in front of my spellbound eyes leaving a drab sheet of nothing in its place...

Hence I am also sorry for my little male baby that so many responsibilities being put on his young robust shoulders. Fear of his kingdom, of his people and of Lia is too much to bear. On the other hand, Lia has duty for Morrighan and for the people of Venda she came to love, as well. The conflict between them is sharp and bittersweet as they are paddling on bleak, tempestuous waters but I was hoping for them to bury the hatchet ASAP. Though I wouldn't say the truth if I'd claim their squabbles deeply disturbed me. I'm all over their intense heated tug of war as long as sweltering kisses and caresses interlace the story there and there. ;)

"Some things last. The things that matter."

Lia is a huge strong lead female character in the history of YA fantasies and so she should be. Legendary, even so, that's why she'd go epic in a block-buster movie. Not only because of her gift or "magic" but her "home-made" decisions and her dedication to her country, to Rafe, to her friends. Of the ability of putting her fears, guilt, doubts, grief aside and the skill of storming forward at full speed. Soooooo badass. I always use this term for the paramount heroines. Luckily, we have an abundant amount of them. They make me so proud.

"You are what matters to me, Lia. If you don’t know that already, I’ll find a hundred more ways to show you. I love you more than a port, more than an alliance, more than my own life. Your interests are my interests. Are we going to let the conspiracies and schemes of kingdoms come between us?”

Some key elements of a well-functioning YA fantasy:
—Hard-ass, sword-wielding, all-alone-against-the-conspiring-world heroine
—Swoon-worthy Prince Charming (with personality not just appearance;)
—Love triangles (yes, it is indispensable!)
—Policy of All's fair in love and war
—Battles fought until last breath
Mix the ingredients, bake it in the oven for an hour and serve it on a large silver plate. Bon appetite!

“I will not risk their lives again by sending them into a hostile kingdom. Their only duty is to escort you safely back to your border. After that Dalbreck is done with Morrighan. Your fate will be in your own kingdom’s hands, not mine.”

Have I mentioned how much an ass Rafe is? Neither can I rate it on a scale of ten and nor can't I believe that he let Lia go just like that!....then I came to know he was betrothed with another woman. I could strangle him with my bare hands right now...argghh!!! His list of imbecility is growing longer and longer. I am not fond of him at the moment.
And here's Kaden. He is another side of the coin. For him, I feel sorry because of the unrecruited love (which always sucks) but I can't set aside the fact Kaden and Lia are not meant to be. I might prefer his badass-you-can't-touch-me assassin style to the sudden exposure of his achilles' heel and the fact that he revealed himself as a vulnerable human being, after all. At the time, I half thought he's invincible. Now, I am not so sure anymore...like his importance has been put in the back line. And the unnecessary pairing with Pauline didn't help.

"Some betrayals ran too deep to ever forgive."

I no longer can keep track of the betrayals, lies, deceits and disfunctionning family relationships that weave through the threads, which is fine as long as I toss and tumble in the bed awake, determined to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Plus I appreciate the miraculous recoveries and the prodigious outcome of the battle. I expected no less.

P.S.
It's so beautifully, amazingly, enchantedly written! The wondrous words are flying smoothly from the pages piercing right into your soul and nestling in your heart.

"It doesn’t matter how many universes come and go, I will always remember who we were together."

After reading

LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE!!!

Rating

Not enough stars in the UNIVERSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Marie Rutkoski - The Winner's Kiss

"We’ve had a terrible start—it doesn’t mean we can’t have a better ending.”

How I got a strong hold of it

I'm wondering how on earth I keep on gobbling page after page that lack magic, superpowers and sci-fi elements, which sums me up basically. Still, The Kiss of Betrayal is a masterpiece of mystery, unpredictability and romance. Not to mention, it's so otherworldly-beautifully written. *dreamy face*

"This was a harsh land with no forgiveness for enemies."

Lea could be described in two words. World domination. As I think of it they're not exactly adjectives. Whatever. If she wasn't a rebellious princess, she would be a super-sensitive one-resolute assassin, for she's so strong and badass. If you are expecting obedience and modesty from her, you might be looking for the wrong girl. She does exactly the opposite she's told to and in some cases the worst you can imagine. What does it give away? That tenacity is the beauty of her nature. Anyway, what would it tell about her if she complied with the Komitzar and Vendan barbarians who ruined her life and keep her captive?
Would you like her to change ever?
I suggest you don't hold your breath.

The rules of reason

There's no more fun than well-written love triangles. It sweetens your apple pie which you're anxious to taste ASAP. In a nutshell, Kaden is a sugar cube. Except for the teeny-tiny glitch in his otherwise flawless charming demeanour. Except for the fact he betrayed Lea and delivered her to the Komitzar's liking. Hence their relationship is inevitably going down the hill. Yet, by a happy chance the author made me like him. More than like him. Not as much as Rafe, (are you kidding?), yet I root for him covertly. Who wouldn't, if his miserable past was put in the air? He'd by all means need a big inspirational hug. I bet dozens of readers would wait in line to give him the proper consolation. Including me, of course.

To my great pleasure furthermore is their uphill battle makes up the fire which is already burning high between Lea and Rafe. I got everything I wished for. Santa has come earlier this year.❤❤❤

“It was worth it, Lia,” He said. “Every mile, every day. I’d do it all again. I’d chase you across three continents if that’s what it took to be with you.”

Oh, dear Rafe! My life feels complete you being in it. I have to remind myself several times you are fictional. You. Are. Fictional. I guess, I was born under the wrong constellation. Or in the wrong universe...*deep breath*

I love their crossing swords and Rafe's delicate doubts hidden behind the otherwise convinced determination to get Lea out of the claws of the Komitzar. Instead of death hovering above his head like a perpetual memo, he could sit tight in his plush five-star castle with bountiful servants jiggling around him. But he doesn't. He prevails against his inner war and fights for her by any means. Swoon-worthy book-boyfriend takes the next level. *fangirl giggle*

“Your Highness, we’re here to take you home.”

Rescue mission doesn't go by the book which makes me ache for the next volume. I pray to the gods of Books to make the endgame of Remnant Chronicles fruitful and immortal. Amen.

How I feel now

My head is still spinning with exclamation marks plus both sad and happy face emojis. I'm pretty sure I have a shortage of oxygen, as well. How is it possible to feel so many things simultaneously without exploding? Nevertheless, I keep a fire extinguisher at hand. Just in case.

"I want a lifetime with you.”

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

How I got a good grip on The Kiss of Deception

Soulmates are meant to find each other.

"There are always choices. Some choices are just not easy to make."

Princess Arabella, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan is not the prototype of a damsel in distress, which would make a perfect candidate of a Disney princess of her, doesn't it? Apart from her refusal of an arranged marriage, she's brave enough to start fresh in an outlandish hamlet without all the grandeur she was used to. A score here.
Although her outspoken rebellious demeanour gets herself in more trouble than expected, she can take care of herself, for sure. Even if she has only some edgy phrases in her arsenal. Another score there.
Definitely a strong female heroine. That's the nature I signed up for ;)

"Some truths refused to be hidden."

I would lie if I said I could figure out who is the prince and the assassin in the very beginning. The truth is I had no clue till the kidnapping. That's made me stir-crazy! Not a single slip! Nil.

“Because ever since that first day I met you, I’ve gone to sleep every single night thinking about you, and every morning when I wake, my first thoughts are of you...I want to pull you close and never let you go,”

I love the way Rafe and Kaden crossed swords unable to knock the other off his perch. I'd have bought my ticket in the first row only to watch their wrestling. Holy cow! That could have been scorching for the senses ;) 911? We need a bucket of icy water here!

"Maybe there were a hundred different ways to fall in love."

Lia gets her hopes up that she can have a happily ever after... and that's the way the cookie crumbles and all dreams shatter. Because she can't run away from who she is. To be frank, my attention was wholly seized by the time the assassin reveals himself. What I enjoyed immensely is the heated flare-up between them. It's like I could see their angry looks and hear their mettled tone in my imagination. Just perfectly orchestrated.

"Maybe there were as many shades of love as the blues of the sky."

Getting her head around the truth what has seen the light of day is not a piece of pie. She faces deception and betrayal and loss. But as the saying went "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger". And it has.

"Some things last … the things that matter."

And the thing that matters is that the knight has ridden in his shiny armor into the vault of the dragon ready to free the princess from his locked chamber....and leaving a cliffhanger there. I can't wait the next volume of the fairytale :)

"In the farthest corner, I will find you."

P.S.

Even if I loathed the story (which I definitely don't) I would love it for the writing. So delectable! ;)

How I feel now

It hit a home run.

Rating

Number one with a bullet.