There are times in our lives where we just do not want to deal with what we have to do. We want to run away from our responsibilities. In Mary E. Persons novel, The Kiss of Deception, the main character, Lia, finds that running away from her responsibilities is a little more complicated than the average person.

As the princess of Morringham on her unwanted wedding day, Lia and her best friend, Pauline, test their luck and leave. They end up in faraway Terravin, a small town where they work as tavern maids. There, they meet two complicated and mysterious men, Kaden and Rafe. Though months later Lia decides to live up to her duties as monarch and leave her little paradise, though she does not make it back home.

Throughout the novel, readers find that Lia is a strong female character, one that stands out in a world where kings and queens reigned and women occupy lower social strata than men. She has a sharp tongue and a fiery temper, but she is also loving and protective to her brothers and the people she meets in Terravin. She tries to stand tall in all situations and will not have anyone look down their nose on her. Though she may need to learn to control her behavior in some situations, a strong main character like Lia can be inspirational to many readers.

There is a variety of characters throughout the story to which the reader can relate. There are some who want to bury their past, and others whose mistakes are blazoned on themselves and in the things they do. But there are also characters who are strong and some that have to pick themselves up.

At the core of the novel, the story is about making your own decisions and finding out who you are and want to be. Throughout the novel, Lia, Kaden, and Rafe learn that their preconceived beliefs of each other and one another’s culture are not as accurate as they once thought. The story can really teach the reader that they should not judge someone on the way they look or where they are from.

Pearson created this novel with a creative style that coveys that message even more. With chapters at the beginning of the book being labeled in the point of view as either Lia, the Assassin (who is sent to Terravin to kill Lia), the Prince (who Lia was supposed to marry), Kaden, and Rafe. The identities of the prince and assassin are not later revealed until later in the novel when Lia decides to go back home, and the reader may be very surprised at who they are.

This is a novel that creates humor and hardships in so many ways. It was beautifully written with strong characters. The Kiss of Deception is a great read and definitely worth a try.