Title: The Selection (The Selection #1)
Author: Kiera Cass
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Age Group: Young Adult
Rating: 3 stars
Purchase: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N
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 a palace and compete for the heart of 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.
I’m slightly dissapointed in this series. I expected a lot going in, but didn’t get a whole lot in return. The book starts out promising enough. America Singer belongs to the Fifth caste, and she’s doomed to stay there for the rest of her life. Her family are artists, and they barely have enough food or money, except around Christmas holidays, the only holidays left. Her Mom wants her to participate in “The Selection”, a one-time only event in which thirty-five girls from all provinces randomly get chosen to participate in a program much like “The Bachelor”. One of them will get the crown, and will get to marry Prince Maxon, an eligible bachelor.
America started out as an interesting character. She was seeing Aspen, a member of caste six, even though it wasn’t allowed. She was headstrong and stubborn, and I liked her. But then, in a moment of pride, Aspen breaks up with her, America decides to join “The Selection”, and she turns into a stupid dimwit. She sees Prince Maxon and acts like a completely spoiled brat, but that gave her personality and some charm, so I decided to go with it. But then she, out of the blue, falls head over heels for the prince, although they agreed to be friends. It’s obvious Maxon is attracted to her from the get-go. I don’t like insta-love, so this was a major let-down for me.
There’s barely any world building. All right, so the world exists out of castes from one to eight, there’s a castle and a prince, and they get attacked by rebel groups. But what else? The answer is simple: nothing else. How does the world look like? Are there cities or towns? How are they grouped? Why are the rebels attacking? Nothing is explained at all. The world has no culture, social life, religion, nothing.
Maxon was all right at first, but quickly turned around. He’s awkward in the beginning, but then turns into a control-freak who thinks he’s superior just because he’s a prince. Ugh.
I’ll read the next book because I want to see how it ends, but I’m not as enthusiastic as I hoped I’d be. Hopefully America grows into a less-childish character and Maxon grows up to be more capable and interesting.
I keep seeing reviews for this book and even though the world building is lacking I’m curious to see how the story plays out.
I think that The Selection and The Elite were good, and the same with The Prince, which I just finished reading. I can’t wait for The One to come out! Next year! Ugh.
i absolutly love this series. i really enjoy dystopian society kind of books so thats just me. its like another version of the hunger games and divergent! <3 i read the first second and the short story book.. cant wait till the next comes out!!
I think you are totally wrong about this book. It is brilliantly written and I would refer it to everyone in the world if i could. If it was based show/movie I really could not tell and I’ve watched The Bachelor . She clearly took the time to write this book and didn’t seal any word if it from anywhere. I think she is one of the best authors in the world. I love this series so much that I could not tell you how many times I have read each book. Kiera Cass is amazing and if you don’t have any respect for her then don’t review her books at all. That is all I have to say about that
Thank you for your comment! I guess everyone’s tastes differ, and obviously this book wasn’t to my taste. I’m glad you liked it though, and the author has her share of fans – I’m just not one of them. I do have respect for her, I have respect for every human being. But that doesn’t mean I should like their books.
May I just state, America is a 17 year old girl. If you were 17 taken away from absolutely everyone you know, (although I agree she didn’t have to go, there was pressure pushed on the subject from her Mum and etc. to provide for the family), all for one guy, I think you might take a little anger out on the said guy. Especially when you are in the midst of a panic attack! However I agree with you opinion that not much was explained about the world surrounding the castle, I believe that is because the majority of the book is about building the relationship between Maxon and America. Another reason being I believe the author didn’t want to over explain what happens outside the castle, and the rebel attacks because they become a large part of the second and third novels in the series, but just enough to get the majority of readers to continue reading the series. I am not saying that you opinion is not valid because it is, after all it is “your opinion”, but if you ever have the time I would suggest reading all three (as it takes minimal time) and looking at the plot line of the three novels as a whole… they are not amazing but you do learn a lot more about the country and Maxon’s background.
Hey Bridie,
Thanks for your comment! I did read all three books, actually, and my opinion about the series still stands, I’m afraid.