Review: The Heir by Kiera Cass

The Heir (The Selection #4) by Kiera Cass

Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.
But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.
Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.

Publishes in US: May 5th 2015 by HarperTeen
Genre: YA Light Dystopia
Source: library
Series? The Selection #4
#1 The Selection
#2 The Elite
#3 The One
Untitled (The Selection #5) 

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Author stalk away: website. Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook

 

    I wanted to read The Heir because I flew through the rest of the series and hoped the same for this one. I ended up liking it the same and would have read the whole book in one sitting if my meds wouldn't have knocked me out. 

    Eadlyn is fierce, and she has been raised to lead the country next. She has let in her parents and siblings, but she hasn't really formed many friendships or relationships outside of them. When there is some unrest in the country even after the abolishment of the caste system. And Maxon and America had the idea to have a selection for Eadlyn. She was completely against it at first, and I can understand because it was something that she'd never really prepared for. She wasn't ready to get married, she wanted to keep learning and getting ready to take over the throne. 

   But she does care for Illea and she begins to see some wisdom in this, giving the people something to cheer for, and take their minds off of their instability. Eadlyn had a hard time when the men came to the castle, but when she finally did realize she needed to put forth full effort, and flirt a bit, we got to see some of the guys personalities and who they were. 

    I actually had a favorite, and it was someone who shouldn't have even been in the selection to begin with, but she kept getting closer to him because he was seen as a safe person, and she wanted to give something to the media. But as the book progressed and she got to know some of the guys more, I also formed soft spots for them, and could see how they could make her happy. 

    There were also some scandals, some of the guys were violent, some didn't show respect for Eadlyn. But like Maxon, and America, she figured it out more and more as the process went on. It went from a duty, to something that she got so much out of emotionally and intellectually. She was able to sympathize, and have new ideas that could work with the new violence and people not understanding they have more control over their life instead of their hardships being solely on the monarchy. 

    It ended at a cliffie spot, and like the previous, I am totally ready for the next one. 

Bottom Line: Flew through it just like 1-3.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Would you consider having a selection?

Review: The One by Kiera Cass

The One (The Selection #3) by Kiera Cass

The highly anticipated conclusion to Kiera Cass's #1 New York Timesbestselling 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'sDivergent, 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!

Publishes in US: May 6th 2014 by HarperTeen (first published 2014)
Genre: YA light dystopia
Source: library
Series? The Selection #3
My reviews:
#1 The Selection by Kiera Cass
#2 The Elite by Kiera Cass

Buy it: Amazon Barnes & Noble IndieBound  Book Depository

Author stalk away: website. Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook

 

    I wanted to read The One because I enjoyed the other two. The selection process has been hard, and I have seen a lot of change in America. The love triangle and some of America's lack of decisiveness when it comes to her preferred man has been on my nerves a bit, but the first two were still addicting to me and I grew to like Maxon more and more, and saw the desire to be a princess and future queen bloom in America and then see the ideas for chance that she had. 

   

    The One didn't let me down, and I really enjoyed her journey. There were so many times when I thought that her rash decisions, or her strength and desire for justice to be done were going to the the end of her quest to the crown. 

     I also loved the tension between the two of them. America and Maxon both kept some secrets and didn't want to fully express their feelings, and while I understood where they were coming from and their reasonings, it was still hard because I just wanted them to be together and happy. 

    America had some big losses in this one, but she's grown a lot, and amassed quite the fans and followers. As well as making friends with her maids as well as some other unexpected people who make a return appearance. The friends that she made within the other Elite were unexpected to me, and some sage wisdom from the queen helped to actually bring them together, which in some ways, made their quest even harder but others easier, because they had someone who understood them on their sides, and closest to ever walking in their shoes. 

    The ending wrapped things up in the way that I'd hoped, and brought about some changes that I wasn't quite expecting but it gave me a lot of hope for America, Maxon, Aspen, and the others that I came to care about. 

   

Bottom Line: Good ending to addicting series.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Would you want to be a princess?

Review: The Elite by Kiera Cass

The Elite by Kiera Cass

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.

Publishes in US: April 23rd 2013 by Harper Teen

Genre: light dystopia, (more romance with a different government)
Source: ARC from HarperTeen
Series? the 2nd. The 1st The Selection is out (see my review here), the 3rd The Selection #3 still untitled releases in 2014


Buy it: Barnes & Noble   Amazon   IndieBound   BookDepository.com

Find Kiera online:  website. Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook

    I flew through this one and enjoyed getting to see another side of all of the characters. This one did a much better job at elaborating on the other girls, and I really enjoyed that. I know it was impossible in the first because getting to know America, Maxon and Aspen, and of course, there were just TOO many other girls. 

   Oh, America. She still needs time. I don't know why I am surprised by this because it is only the second book in the series, and of course she hasn't made a decision. I just feel for her heart as well as Maxon and Aspen, because someone is going to get hurt. 

   I enjoyed getting to know Marlee more, and interested at her reasoning for why she doesn't think she and Maxon are a good match. I, of course, have some speculations, but wanted more events to unfold. Besides, I just like her and America's friendship. It is refreshing to read about with all of the politics and love triangle afoot. Not saying that I don't like the romance, and getting deeper into that, I just like that aspect as well. 

   But oh, at the event that the synopsis hints at with the devastating loss--oh my goodness. I couldn't believe it and wished that there was something I could do to change it. It made me want to cry and scream. 

    And while I can understand America questioning herself and what she thought was her choice, I just wanted to strangle her because she wasn't looking at the whole picture. 

     I was so mad at her at times, because while I understood needing to get her feelings straightened out, and I am usually all for the forbidden love, I just didn't want for anyone to get hurt. And she was playing with huge fire still having feelings with Aspen, and the risks that they took in Selection alone were enough to be charged with treason according to the rules. 

    I couldn't look away from the book though, and my heart was torn just like hers with each twist and thing that happens, but I know that I am rooting for Maxon overall, and I think that America could do great things with him for the nation. 

    I am so ready for the next book in the series, and it is almost sad that I got the arc because now I have to wait longer... But I was immersed in this story and counting down until I can read more. 

Bottom Line: Emotional second book where America's choices only get harder.
Video review: 

My question to you, my lovely readers:

Do you think you could make it to the top 6 in a contest like this?
Or for those who have read selection: Maxon or Aspen?

Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass

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

Publishes in US: April 24th 2012
Genre: light dystopia, (more romance with a different government)
Source: bought
Series? the 1st. The second The Selection #2 The Elite releases April 23 2013, the 3rd The Selection #3 still untitled releases in 2014

Find Kiera online:  website. Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook

Buy The Selection: Amazon, The Book Depository,Barnes & Noble


    The Selection drew me in from the beginning. I really connected with America. I could see similar character traits in her as myself, and then others that makes her stronger, others that I knew she had much room to grow and change. Character development and growth is really what gets me involved emotionally and otherwise in stories, and I knew that watching America would be a journey that I did not want to miss out on.
    I feel like I have read this before. And I can't figure out where. Maybe it is just my readings of Ester or a christian fiction that was based on Ester... But anyways. The addition of Aspen and her loving a lower class definitely makes it unique and puts America, the main character in a more precarious position. I understand completely her choosing to participate in the selection to help her family because while she isn't the lowest class, they do struggle for food. She also decides to do it because Aspen doesn't want to live with the guilt of holding her back. There was a lot of tension going into making this decision, and that was just the beginning of what kept me reading this book.
    The other girls in the competition were fun to read about. Some, like Marlee made me smile. She was so open and I loved the budding friendship between her and America. Others, like Celeste--well, let me just say that she made a perfect character to hate. There are others that I wished I could get a peek inside their mind and their time with Maxon.
    And oh, Maxon. At first, I thought much like America, that he was stuck up and unreachable. But as she got to know him, my heart melted and I was pulling for her to be able to leave Aspen in her past and chose him. Ms. Cass did a great job writing this and set this up, because I was all prepared to pull for first love and forbidden romance, but I loved the interactions between America and Maxon. How their friendship formed, and their bantering and open, vulnerable moments together.
    The ending completely took my breath away, and I can't wait for The Elite so I can figure out where America goes next in her journey, and figure out more to make my decision as well as find out hers.

Bottom Line: Breath taking romance with an underdog main character that I was cheering for with all my heart.

Books Similar to The Selection by Kiera Cass: Matched (Matched, #1) by Ally Condie, Delirium by Lauren Oliver, Bumped by Megan McCafferty, Wither by Lauren DeStefano

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Would you want to participate in a process like the Selection?