The Kiss of Deception
Mary Pearson
The Kiss of Deception
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
The Remnant Chronicles (Remnant Chronicles, Book 1)
by Mary Pearson
The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
What if you ran away on your wedding day because you refused to marry a stranger? Imagine stepping into a world where nothing is as it seems, and the people chasing you might be friend or foe. Can you trust anyone when deception hides behind every smile?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fantasy follows Lia, a princess who flees an arranged marriage, only to find herself entangled in a web of political intrigue and danger. The story includes mature themes such as deception, loss, and some intense scenes involving death and violence, making it suitable for older middle-grade readers (ages 9-12). Parents should be aware of content warnings including animal death, blood, and sexual assault.
Why we rated The Kiss of Deception 12IE
The Kiss of Deception is written at a Level 8 reading level across 489 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Kiss of Deception works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate The Kiss of Deception as 12IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Animal Death, Blood/Gore, Sexual Content, Sexual Assault.
Thematically, The Kiss of Deception explores fantasy, love, princesses, deception, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about fantasy, love, princesses.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780805099232
- Pages
- 489
- Publisher
- Macmillan
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction