Review: The One by Kiera Cass

Title: The One
Author: Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection #3
Publication: May 6th 2014 by HarperTeen
Genre: Young Adult ~ Dystopia
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kobo
Cover Rating: 5/5 (Gorgeous!)
Overall Rating: 3/5

The highly anticipated conclusion to Kiera Cass's #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series, The One will captivate readers who love dystopian YA fiction and fairy tales. The One is the perfect finale for fans who have followed America's whirlwind romance since it began--and a swoon-worthy read for teens who have devoured Veronica Roth's Divergent, Ally Condie's Matched, or Lauren Oliver's Delirium.

The Selection changed America Singer's life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she entered the competition to become the next princess of Illéa, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen--and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she's made her choice . . . and she's prepared to fight for the future she wants.

Find out who America will choose in The One, the enchanting, beautifully romantic third book in the Selection series!

This series has been very up and down for me. From absolutely loving The Selection to having The Elite be one of the worst books I read. The One was somewhere in between. I didn't love it, but didn't hate it either. It was much better than The Elite and I liked it. I liked what happened in the book and I really liked the ending.

I must admit I didn't have high expectations for this book, thinking it would be just as bad or even worse than The Elite. So you can understand my surprise that I actually liked The One. It had a lot to do with the fact that in this book America wasn't running back and forth between Aspen and Maxon. It made things a whole lot better, much to my relief. I've always liked America as a character and heroin in this series. Of course my love for her went down a notch in the previous book but now I'm back to liking her. I love her spunk and how she always tried to do the right thing even when people tell her to not do it. 
I also didn't think Maxon wasn't as much of an ass in this book. I'm not saying I love him (like I did in the first book) but he wasn't as bad I thought. Also the other girls didn't annoy me nearly as much as they did before. Well, maybe Kriss did a little bit but I even came to like Celeste, believe it or not. 

There was also more action in this book than was in the previous or even the first one. I'm a girl who needs action in her books to stop it from being completely boring so I was really content in that area. We got more insight into the rebels, both north and south and I loved the little twists with America's father and Kriss also. 

I have to say that some of the drama earlier on in this book between America and Maxon annoyed me a bit. I feel like it could've been avoided if only they'd been honest about their feelings. Especially America to Maxon, concerning her earlier relationship with Aspen. Speaking of Aspen... *spoiler alert* I'm so glad he's not left off to be alone and that he found someone. He deserves it!

So I'm pretty happy about the way this book ended. It was a pretty unexpectedly emotional read for me. I even cried a little bit. It was also a fast read. I read it in about a day because I just couldn't stop myself from reading. There were quite few unexpected twists and a few deaths I hadn't seen coming which shocked me but overall The One was a pretty nice book and a perfect ending.

About The Author:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Kiera Cass graduated from Radford University with a degree in History. She grew up in South Carolina and currently lives in Blacksburg, Virginia with her family. In her spare time, Kiera enjoys reading, dancing, making videos, and eating unhealthy amounts of cake. You can learn more about Kiera at kieracass.com, follow her on twitter via @kieracass, and see her silly videos at YouTube.com/user/kieracass.

Other reviews in the series:

Book #1: The Selection
Book #2: The Elite

Review: The Elite by Kiera Cass

Title: The Elite
Author: Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection #2
Publication: April 23rd 2013 by HarperTeen
Genre: Young Adult ~ Dystopian
Format: Paperback, 323 pages
Cover Rating: 5/5 (Gorgeous!)
Overall Rating: 1/5

  

The hotly-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestseller The Selection.

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 Iléa.

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.

This is going to be a tough review for me, be warned.

Last summer I read The Selection and I loved it. I thought the whole idea of a story like this was really original. I loved that it was like The Bachelor put into a dystopian book. I saw a lot of positive reviews about it so I figured it would be positive for me too. So I had to read The Elite also of course and I must say (obviously) I'm rather disappointed by it. Actually a whole lot disappointed. 

I really wanted to like this book, more so than some others because The Selection was so good for me. Maybe I had to high hopes but I wanted to enjoy this. The fact that I didn't was a big disappointment because I just wanted this book to be done and over. And that's just never good with any book.

I was so frustrated with pretty much everything and every character in The Elite. First of all, America. What was up with her? She kept running back and forth between Maxon and Aspen. It was literally one page she was loving on Maxon and the next she was crawling back to Aspen. Girl, no, just no. The whole book was like this. All about that stupid love triangle. I can like love triangles if they are done well but in this book it has got to be one of the most terrible I've ever read about. And what was up with her decision making I could hardly follow her train of thought. Doesn't she think at all? At least the 

 thing that I didn't totally hate was how America was able to read Gregory Illea's diary. What a jackass he was. That's the only thing I want to know more about. Is the diary what the rebels are after or is it something else?

I used to love Maxon to bits and pieces but this book ruined him for me. I didn't like him one bit. I guess that The Selection is some sort of game and Maxon has to be sure that he makes the right decision but please, I can't stand the whole thing. Dating all these girls, messing around with him. Ugh! No wonder America got so jealous. And really, Maxon, Celeste? REALLY? The only thing that's not totally awful is that I can sort of understand him a bit, with everything his father (who is a totally pyscho by the way) puts him through he wants distractions but there are other ways. I did feel sorry for what America witnessed at some point... 

Aspen still is some sort of vague character for me. He wasn't that much in the book but also not totally absent. He did some pretty nice things for America but after what happened to Marlee I can't understand why both him and America would take such huge risks. They are asking to get caught! And no, it doesn't mean that when I'm no longer team Maxon that I'm suddenly team Aspen. I can't pick any teams in this book because they both suck. I'm team America, get the hell out of there and work on yourself, please.

The remaining girls in The Selection are definitely on my black list. Especially Kriss. I can't stand her. I get that America messed up and that suddenly Kriss and Maxon got close but it was all so awful to read about. And Celeste, I need her to leave already. 

There were some rebel attacks again. Wonder what that's about. It's awful but I'd rather read about them attacking the palace and have some action at least than America going back and forth with her two guys. Seriously. But even with the few attacks, we don't know anything. 

So yeah, frustration everywhere for every character. 

I was also quite disappointed with the author's writing. And I'm not saying this to bash her or anything. I don't even like giving a book this low a rating because I barely do that. But I couldn't get over it. I didn't like the writing at all. It felt rushed and I can't remember I hated it this much with The Selection. What happened I wondered. I missed action. A lot of them. You'd think because there are rebels, they should've been more of that than there was. Sadly enough it wasn't so. And I really disliked the ending. Literally nothing happened throughout this book. Nothing. I am so disappointed! At least the cover is beautiful and it was a fast read.

Overall, The Elite by Kiera Cass was a huge disappointment. Everything from the frustrating characters to the lame plot to the weak writing, it all felt rushed. I wished I had liked it a lot more, but sadly enough I didn't. But I decided I will read the third book once it comes out because I want to know the ending. I hope it won't disappoint me again.

Kiera Cass graduated from Radford University with a degree in History. She grew up in South Carolina and currently lives in Blacksburg, Virginia with her family. In her spare time, Kiera enjoys reading, dancing, making videos, and eating unhealthy amounts of cake. You can learn more about Kiera at kieracass.com, follow her on twitter via @kieracass, and see her silly videos at YouTube.com/user/kieracass.
Visit Kiera at: http://www.kieracass.com

Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Title: The Selection
Author: Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection #1
Publication: April 24th 2012
Genre: Young Adult ~ Dystopia
Format: Paperback, 327 pages
Source: Sterling Books Brussels
Cover Rating: 5/5
Content Rating: 5/5
First Sentence: When we got the letter in the post, my mother was ecstatic.

~Synopsis~

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

My thoughts: 
Ever since I saw this book appear on Goodreads I've wanted to read it. The cover is gorgeous and the synopsis sounded awesome too. I found the book in an all-english bookstore I go to a few times a year in Brussels so I had to buy it when I saw it. I was a little reluctant at first because I've heard so many mixed review but I am so so so so happy I decided to read it. I truly enjoyed it!

The Selection by Kiera Cass is basically a reality TV show like The Bachelor put into a dystopian story. Prince Maxon has to find a wife and that's where The Selection comes in. When America Singer (Guess what? She does really sing!) signs up for it reluctantly because of her mother and secret boyfriend, she didn't expect to be picked as one of the 35 girls who are also in the contest. But of course she got picked. When she meets Maxon she starts to doubt about what she really wants. 

I loved The Selection right from the start. The main character America was funny, caring, loving, truthful, kind and so fun to read! Basically she's just awesome. Which really surprised me. I've come across a lot of books where the main characters is annoying, naive or just a brat. America is everything but, which is a nice change. The writing was really right up my alley. Fast paced, witty, beautiful even. 

So yes, you can say America was my favorite character. I loved Aspen right from the start. He would to everything for America clearly (since he made her sign up for The Selection), he's a hard worker too, very passionate and cute. (with green eyes! I looove green eyes!)  I could clearly see how much he loves America. Well... until he did what he did to America. (trying not too spoil thing too much...) Then I didn't like him so much anymore. He doesn't deserve her! Now prince Maxon is a totally different story. I (just like America) didn't expect to like him so much! And now after reading the whole book I just adore him. He's so cute but he also cares for his country and wants to help his people. And he really wants to find his soul mate. He kind of awkward at times with all the girls, not knowing what to do. But that's what makes him so cute. I love the way he and America met and how they have their little secret signal. So I'm rooting for those two! Other characters I loved were America's family. Her little sister, May, and little brother, Gerad were really cute. May's enthousiasm sure is contagious. I can't believe what America's older brother did though. Jerk.
I loved this dystopian world. It reminded me a little of The Hunger Games world, only less drastic I guess. There are casts. You have the Ones (who are the royalty like prince Maxon), then Two, Three all the way down to the Eights. America is a Five. 
One of the things I loved but were kind of predictable were the rebels. TGotta have rebels in dystopian novels huh? They're deviced in two groups. North, who are less dangerous and South, who are willing to kill to get at the royal family. I want to know more about them. What they both want and if they will ever get it. 
One of my favorite aspects were the interactions between the girls in The Selection with each other. Even though they are all basically competing with each other for Maxon's love they seem to be growing close. But then again there's the ones who are plain bitches who'll do anything to get Maxon. Let's just hope he sees through them (her). 
Luckily nothing too drastic happened in The Selection except a few *gasp* moments so it leaved open a lot for the sequel "The Elite". 

The romance in this book was so sweet. Both with Aspen and Maxon. With Aspen it was familiar and lots of kissing in secret. With Maxon is was more sweet and tentative which was just too adorable! 
The end wasn't a cliffhanger thank goodness! Even though you do wonder what will happen next and how will Maxon choose and even who America will choose. Wha will happen with the rebels and will Gerad find his own thing to do? (You'll know what I'm talking about when you read The Selection!) All in all the story was amazing and it flowed nice and easy to the end. I can't express enough how much I enjoyed this book. I had a hard time stopping reading for even a few hours.
It's been a while since I read a dystopian novel and now I know why I love the genre so much. My love has been reawakened! 

~Quotes~

“But you just said you loved me."
"I do, Mer. That's the point. I can't make you like me. I can't stand the thought of you hungry or cold or scared. I can't make you a Six.”

“What do you think my chances might be of finding a soul mate in the group of you? I'll be lucky if I can just find someone who'll be able to stand me for the rest of our lives. What if I've already sent her home because I was relying on some sort of spark I didn't feel? What if she's waiting to leave me at the first sign of adversity? What if I don't find anyone at all? What do I do then, America?”

...Maxon lowered his lips to mine and gave me the faintest whisper of a kiss.
Something about the tentativeness of it made me feel beautiful. Without a word, I could understand how excited he was to have this moment, but then afraid at the same time. And deeper than any of that, I sensed that he adored me.
So this is what it felt like to be a lady.

About the author:

Kiera Cass graduated from Radford University with a degree in History. She grew up in South Carolina and currently lives in Blacksburg, Virginia with her family. In her spare time, Kiera enjoys reading, dancing, making videos, and eating unhealthy amounts of cake. You can learn more about Kiera at kieracass.com, follow her on twitter via @kieracass, and see her silly videos at YouTube.com/user/kieracass.
Visit Kiera at: http://www.kieracass.com