Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.
America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.
Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.
Let’s talk truth here: when I sat down to review this book, I was all expecting to tell you how it was the typical middle book in a trilogy that didn’t really go anywhere or have a point. After starting over about five times and looking back through the text, I realized that this book was so much better than the first one because it built on the first one and developed the plot farther.
Background: The Selection (book 1) was a combination of “The Bachelor” and Hunger Games, where America Singer was sent to represent her district against thirty-five other girls to win the hand of the prince and, of course, it is televised. The reader was introduced to her current boyfriend Aspen Leger and told how they were in lower castes that dictated that they would be working class forever. America was okay with this fact and was building her dreams of marriage with Aspen.
Why does she go to the castle? Money and advancement for her family. The longer she stays, the better for her parents and sister—sound familiar? However, things change throughout the book and she begins to care for Prince Maxon. Spoiler Alert: the book ends without a resolution! The competition is down to six girls, but America has decided to compete. I hate books that can’t stand alone!
Fast forward a year: The Elite (book 2) focuses on the final six girls. The characterization builds and Cass remains true to each character’s voice. America is still the naïve girl that is learning about herself, her friends, and her kingdom. The typical seventeen year-old, she doubts so much about who she can trust and makes decisions without thinking of the outcomes. Maxon is still the charming prince who will do anything he can to win the girl. Aspen is still the silent, dependable back-up guy.
What works: America’s friendship is tested when she discovers that Marlee, her closest friend in the competition, is going to be banished for treason. Blaming Maxon for not stopping this, she pulls away and into the comfort of Aspen. There is vague foreshadowing about Marlee throughout both books where you can tell she has a secret, but Cass masterfully lets the story unfold so slowly that only a second reading puts the pieces together.
Maxon also introduces America to the castle’s secret library; this is where they keep history books, banned books, and (something she has never seen) a computer! I love books with libraries in them. This reminds me of Beauty and the Beast because Maxon totally scores points with America and me…I mean, who wouldn’t want a man to give you a library?
Maxon is an absolute baby doll; he is so sweet and yet you can tell that he isn’t stupid about the workings of the castle or the world. His patience is amazing and he, similar to Peeta, is always doing things subtly to make America happy or keep her safe. Once she hurts him though, he does turn to the other girls and uses them as tools to hurt her.
Loose ends that left me hanging: There are “banned books” in the library, but at the same time, it doesn’t seem that the general population has access to Books-a-Million or Amazon. The rebels, who attack three times, are stealing books—what are they after? I know, knowledge is power, but what is the knowledge that they seek? We have foreshadowing that the rebels like America as they do not seek to capture or hurt her during the second raid but instead curtsy to her. This is in contrast to the news that they have abducted and killed one of the other contestant’s sisters. Of course, it is also interesting to note why they chose that contestant. There is a little of a “mockingjay rising” effect created, as we learn that the rebels are also pulling for America. It is no secret that they maids in the castle support her.
Most annoying issue: the love triangle. There are three attacks and during two Aspen “saves” the day. During the third, America manages to flee to safety with Maxon. This is really where they start to be honest with each other (it is one of the last chapters) and iron out their motives. Aspen is not proactive at seeking her, but is reactive to the situations that she falls into. Maxon on the other hand, is proactive and seeks to do anything he can to protect her and win her. America, much like Katniss, does everything she can to screw everything up by overthinking situations and not talking to either of the boys. This trait in characters annoys me more than anything else, but perhaps the most because it is totally what girls do. We create situations by jumping to conclusions.
So here we are, at the end of book 2, still without a clear resolution…but America has decided (once again) to compete. MSNR gave The Selection three Bards; I’ll up this one to four. Cass is slowly advancing the story, and it is my hope that book 3 will be a five Bard smash.
Moving! 