The One (The Selection #3) by Kiera Cass

First impression

After I finish the second book in this series I thought maybe the series could end on a good note (it was supposed to be a trilogy, but now I learnt there is a new one coming) so I decided to read the third one. Oh boy was I disappointed! America goes back to being helpless and most all the stuff that happened was predictable. It felt like a long teenager fight with some tiny unexpected moments here and there.

Final thoughts

First a rant: 2 more books? Seriously? Why? Well, no I know why but still...ugh

Now for the review. The reason why I gave an extra star to the second book was because America was finally showing some guts, seemed like she was going to stop being the "My life depends on a boy" face and more of "well I've learned some serious stuff about the country, maybe there are bigger things than having a boyfriend" but then this book is her fighting with Maxon over and over. "Oh I love him, oh maybe not, oh actually yes, but I won't say it first"

There are a couple of moments related to the rebels during most of the book, but this seems to be pushed back more than a notch , which saddens me because giving an actual development to the political side of the story was what, for me, would've set it apart from the ton of similar stories being published.

There were 2 things I didn't see coming, and while I will not discuss them at length to avoid spoilers I will tell you that for me were charged with forced sadness and it didn't add much to the story. While some may argue that the first sad event does bring something extra to the background I would counter that there was no need for the sad part.

Anyway, that's it for me with this series. I have one of the novellas that I got for free through Kobo, but I don't think I will read it anytime soon.

 

The Elite (The Selection #2) by Kiera Cass

Love is beautiful pain

Why I read this book?

I have this thing where is very hard to leave things unfinished...including book series. It might take me a bit to re catch with a series, especially if I feel that it has been going down in quality, but unless they make me very mad I will be back. This is case for the series by Kiera Cass, and since the second book was also available in Overdrive I just went for it.

What's the book about?

So one again we are following the passage of America Singer in the "contest" for the crown. If you haven't read The Selection, I would suggest to you stop reading, just in case you find this review a spoiler. America has made it into the Elite, but she is still unsure about her feeling for Maxon, particularly with Aspen at the palace.

But the competition is not the only thing that is worrying America; the attacks by the rebels seem to get worst and are now apparently related to the Selection itself.

Final thoughts

Well that was a surprise. I went into this sequel with very low expectations, thinking it was going to be boring...but I was pleasantly surprised. The Bachelor inspiration is still there but as the group of girls grows smaller is easier to see her characteristics and what makes them interesting characters.

I was very shocked at the turn of events with Marlee. Albeit I was suspecting what was going on with her (no spoilers I promise) I did not see the resolution coming. But at the same time it gave me a different light to see Maxon. I still don't like Aspen, for me he is just obnoxious most of the time.

Although America was less bland in this sequel, I still think she has some ground to cover before I can say I genuinely like her. I applaud her courage and determination with her new projects and is through her that we learn some things that have been hidden about this royalty (I told you it was a bit weird that THAT was the road the new country went for) but I still wish she was more...aggressive towards her goals and how she addresses problems.

I'm getting used to the voice of Amy Rubinate and I feel that in this book her "guy" voice got better. I just would like her to make a bit more emphasis in intonation as sometimes dialogues sound very flat.

The Selection by Kiera Cass

                                                   

                                                No picture this time :(



Why I read this book?

I think I've established several times that once in a while I will go for a very light, very un challenging if you want, book, just for the sakes of fun. In this case, another girl in the lab was reading the sequel to this book and a blogger I follow published the review for the sequel fairly recently, so I figured if they have it in my library, I will give it a go.

What's the book about?

Years from now, after WWIV for some reason not fully explained a big part of North America, now named as Ilia (USA-->Attacked by China-->American States of China-->attacked by Russia-->failed--> defended by Gregory Ilia hence the country named Ilia and he is "Elevated to King" so Ilia is a kingdom) has become a monarchy and society is now organized in casts. When the prince of the realm becomes of age (?) there is a contest where girls are taken to the palace to gain the heart of the prince and the crown of Ilia.

What about the main character?

Amongst these girls we have America, a 16 year old girl, part of the artist cast, that is very beautiful although she doesn't think so (shocker). She is in love with Aspen, a boy from a lower cast and as you may guess, this is a no, no. She registers for "The Selection" just because both her mother and Aspen suggest she does...

I don't like America, I really don't. The author tries to make her look like she is very selfless and "just a girl in love". But at the same time, she seems to plain! Unlike the "higher cast" girls she meets at the castle, she does care for her new servants, and granted she is the only one that seems to act genuinely, because, you know, she didn't want to be there in the first place, but other than that, she seemed to me like a very predictable character to me, no depth, no uniqueness...

Final thoughts 

I'm sure I am not the first person to guess that Cass loves The Bachelor. And what would it be The Bachelor if you could have the show with teenagers? The Hills meet The Bachelor? Well you get The Selection!. I liked the fictional history part, but the story itself is very predictable. By the end of my book, I would walk around our apartment saying "Oh, c'mon! Seriously? Oh! Quelle surprise America!" My boyfriend thought I was losing my marbles. So the book was ok, it was entertaining I will give you that. And I'm already in the waiting list for the sequel because the same way I wanted to know what happened to Lauren when she moved out of Laguna Beach even though I sort off already knew...I want to see what happens to America, Aspen and prince Maxon.

I did like the reader, Amy Rubnate, she has a very pleasant voice, easy to follow, very nice vocalization