Feature: The World of Morrighan: A Brief Guide for First-Time Readers of The Remnant Chronicles

With the brand-new sprayed-edge editions of The Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson hitting shelves (and our bookshelves 😍), there’s never been a better time to start this iconic YA fantasy series. But before you dive into Lia’s world of secrets, fate, and forbidden love, here’s a spoiler-free guide to the lands, lore, and political tensions at play in the Kingdom of Morrighan and beyond.

Whether you’re new to the series or brushing up for a re-read, consider this your passport to the world of The Remnant Chronicles.

The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles, #1)

by Mary E. Pearson
Published by: Henry Holt and Co.
on October 8, 2024
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In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia’s life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight—but she doesn’t—and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom—to a prince she has never met.
On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love. The Kiss of Deception is the first book in Mary E. Pearson's Remnant Chronicles

The World of Morrighan: A Brief Guide for First-Time Readers of The Remnant Chronicles

The Setup

At the heart of The Remnant Chronicles is a runaway princess, a mysterious assassin, and a prince on her trail, each with secrets, each with something to lose. But Lia’s personal story unfolds within a richly layered world full of ancient prophecy, political unrest, and a fractured past that continues to shape the present.

The Three Kingdoms

The story takes place across three rival territories, each with its own culture, values, and agendas:

1. Morrighan

• Lia’s homeland and one of the oldest and most structured kingdoms.
• Known for its devotion to tradition, royalty, and a belief in “the gift”, a prophetic ability believed to have been passed down through royal bloodlines.
• While politically stable, Morrighan is bound by rigid expectations, especially for women.

2. Dalbreck

• A neighboring kingdom with a strong military presence and an aura of quiet power.
• Wealthy and influential, Dalbreck plays its political cards close to the chest.
• Known for diplomacy, discipline, and ambition: its prince is more than just a pretty face.

3. Venda

• The wild card of the three.
• A nation often dismissed by the others as uncivilized or dangerous, but one with a powerful undercurrent of rebellion.
• Venda has a harsh history of oppression and marginalization, but its people are fiercely loyal, cunning, and deeply rooted in their own traditions.

The Remnant Myth

Long ago, a great cataclysm shattered the known world, leaving behind only a few survivors, the “Remnants.” These people were said to have been guided by sacred texts and divine intervention to rebuild civilization.

Over generations, the story of the Remnants evolved into a mythology that shapes each kingdom’s identity. But whose version of the story is the truth? And what might still be hidden in the past?

The Gift

The concept of “the gift” is woven throughout the series, a mystical ability that allows certain individuals to receive visions or intuit truths. Some view it as a divine blessing, others as dangerous or imagined. For Lia, the gift is something she doesn’t fully understand…yet.

Why This World Matters

The Remnant Chronicles doesn’t just give us fantasy kingdoms and court intrigue, it gives us a world shaped by power, stories, and who gets to tell them. As you read, pay attention to the way myths become tools, truth becomes a weapon, and history is anything but simple.

And with the new editions gracing our shelves, it’s the perfect time to lose yourself in this world all over again.