The Elite (The Selection #2)

I loved the first in this series, and I loved this one too.

America spent a chunk of the book flip flopping between Maxon and Aspen, between certainty and uncertainty of her future with Maxon and whether or not she wanted one at all. This was understandable, but frustrating nonetheless. But then, big things happen, things that give us insight into the two guys and suddenly, I was rooting for her to go home and abandon them both.

The story opened up a bit, embracing the Selection and delving deeper into the politics of their country. I gobbled up this book so fast that I was left scrambling to get the next in the series. Normally, I like to take my time reading, picturing everything perfectly in my head as the story unfolds, but the drama in this book took firm hold of me and carried me to the end much quicker than I would have liked. So...I guess that means I'll be reading it again!

When I first started reading this book I had really high hopes for it ,it had an interesting plot and wasn't like most dystopians and sort of refreshing ,(I really liked the cover that's what actually sold me on it ) .Anyway,I liked America and the other characters except Aspen (I really hate him he is soo stupid and a really dislike able character not only that but manipulative) then the story progresses and its like wait I think that I hate both America and Aspen, I like the supporting characters, like her sister and Maxon I mean he is just so amazing, fairy tale material. I continued reading hoping that it would get better, but it didn't. I know that not everyone is perfect and characters can have flaws and make mistakes (except Maxon because anyone else would of said Goodbye America when they first met) , but, America is really annoying but she is so stupid and rash and selfish and overall one of the most dislike-able characters that I've ever read in my life and I know that I'm not the only one who feels this way. I really thought that this would be a lot better but instead it feel like Kiera Cass watched the Bachelorette and read Divergent and try to combine it .This has soo much potential but overall this could of been better this not good this could of been better if only America was more like able.

I liked The Selection but I have to say I loved The Elite. This book sucked me in and played with my emotions like no book has in quite sometime. I did find myself tearing up at times and gasping as I was taken on this roller coaster ride. I found myself staying up into the wee hours of the morning to finish reading it. I could not put it down and needed to know what was going to happen next.

I love Prince Maxon. For a Prince he seems pretty down to earth. There were moments where my heart just ached for him. I could see his struggles and I just want him to end up happy. While I do like America and admire her no nonsense attitude I found myself wanting to scream at her. I just wanted her to stop being so indecisive and make a choice already.

This book managed to make me feel all the feels. I seriously needed a hug after reading this or a cupcake! I felt like I was on this journey right there with the characters experiencing it all. I cannot wait for the next book. I need to find out what happens to America and Maxon. I know where I want this to end up but I have a feeling it isn't going to be that easy. I will make sure I have my box of tissues next to me. I am hooked!

I don’t think this will be a formal review. This will be more of a rant, mainly about America.

America.. I don’t know if this girl can ever make me totally like her. In the first book, she whined too much. But in this one, her whining came with a stronger spirit that made her character stronger and fiercer. Unfortunately, her confusion compared to the previous book was worse. In the first book, her confusion between Aspen and Maxon was understandable but in this one, she seems to play ping pong with the two of them. One moment she’ll be head-over-heels over Maxon but would jump to Aspen’s arms the next. And she had the nerve to be jealous towards Maxon and other girls. There were parts where I was cheering for her and urging her to fight and push back more but there were parts where I want to rip my hair out of my head because of frustration.

But other than her, everything significantly improved since The Selection. The action I’ve been looking for since the first book was definitely there, but I wish the kingdom would fight back—or maybe they are fighting back but what’s usually mentioned is what they do when they’re hiding in the palace’s safety house.

Maxon’s character also improved and he is definitely unpredictable. He managed to surprise me in where I least expect it. He also had some character more than he used to. I have a feeling that I am being bias with him, though I don’t know why.

Among other character, it was still Aspen that intrigued me. There is something in him that I can’t point out and I have a bad feeling about it. [spoiler] As in him being part of the rebels. [spoilers] But this bad feeling is something I want to happen to make things more exciting. I really think that there’s something more than America being in the palace that made him work there as a soldier.

At this point, I am looking forward to know more about the rebels and the king’s connection to everything. But I seriously hope that America would irritate me lesser than she did in the past two books.

See. I told you this would be more of a rant.

Hopefully it gets better.

Although I was hoping by this point, America would truly be focused on one man, I still cannot put this series down.

At the start of the book only six remain, and America is the underdog in the public's eye. I mean after all, she was a five. And although she never felt like an underdog before, Prince Maxon is no longer paying as much attention to her, and is showering some of the others with it. While she knows it isn't fair to be jealous, she is.

On top of that, she has Aspen problems as well. He has made it clear that he does not want to lose her, loves her, and he will fight for her no matter what. With the lack of attention from Maxon, it is tempting for her to fall back into his arms, but dangerous. In fact, it is considered treason and is punishable by death, which one of America's friends can attest to.

Maxon is aware of America's withdrawal too, and while he claims she is still "the one" for him, his actions with the other ladies does not prove it. Just when America is ready to call it quits and make her grand exit, Maxon makes a sacrifice for her she just cannot ignore. The novel ends with her being allowed to stay as the numbers dwindle, but with harsher conditions and the loss of Maxon's trust.

I honestly cannot wait for the next book to come out. I 100% team Maxon, and I hope he wins her heart in the next novel, for good!

The Elite...

*Sigh*

I'll try not to say any spoilers. The only spoilers that are here is in the spoilers section down at the bottom of the review.

(Love the quote "35 GIRLS CAME TO THE PALACE ONLY 6 REMAIN" on the cover. It's pure genius. Perfect and the truth.)

It was outstanding. I love the ups and downs of this book. The twists and turns were pure and awesome. To Kiera Cass: HURRY UP WITH THE LAST BOOK!!!!!!!!!!

The writing was good. It flows like a rushing river running down the terrain. I truly loved this book. Too bad I don't have a copy on my hands. I had to borrow from my friend. But when I go to a bookstore, I'll pick up my copy of this book. For all you unsatisfied people reading this post about The Elite, I would like to say that this book has a killer ending to it. You should NOT, I repeat, NOT read this book until the last book comes out. Then you have my blessing to read this book.

The cover... IT'S GORGEOUS. :'( I'll do anything to wear that dress. (But it isn't really my color. I don't do well with red.) Like the previous cover, this one follows suit. All red. (The Selection was all blue). Mirrors in the back. YEAH! Definitely following suit.

Ahh!!! The ending is the gripping sensation that killing my nation. (I put nation there because it's the only thing that would rhyme. And it is a tiny bit of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.) I love the ending. It is the killer.

In this book, one love triangle ends and another one begins. (Biggest Spoiler here)

Marlee! I feel so sorry for that girl. OMG! I was so shock by what happen to her. Why would she do that and how romantic! Ahh!

America... I like this girl. I love her courage and compassion. It's clear that most of the other characters love her too. She's smart when she isn't mad. She's easily jealous and wild. She is stuck in a love triangle and is easily confused by her feelings. It's hard to not feel sympathetic for her. She is one for fairness and rights and justice. She wants equality. She's the Frederick Douglass in the future time. Of course, these decisions were affected by a choice. And in turn, these choices will change the world.

Maxon... Ugh! It really does seem that the most awesomest boys in books really have a pattern. You'll see what I mean when I get to the spoilers part or when you read the book. Maxon is getting a little over his head in this book. (And those haters of Maxon? Give him a break! He deserves one. After all, he has been through a lot. Rebels and those girls! You can't blame him for wanting to do something crazy and mind shocking.)

Aspen... I don't like. And that's all you need to know. He reminds me what Johnny Depp has said.
“If you love two people at the same time, choose the second one. Because if you truly loved the first one, you wouldn't love another. There are four questions of value in life… What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for, and what is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same. Only love.” -Johnny Depp
King Clarkson makes a huge appearance at the end of the book. I won't tell you what happened exactly, but let's just say he makes a big impression. I don't like this guy. Just NO! I thought that the relationship between him and his son was bad, but I never thought--no dream--it was like that.

The rebels. Yes! They do appear. Not once. Not twice. But even more than that. And you'll find them, I'll say, interesting. Hints are in the spoiler section of this review. :)

Celeste is evil. I hate her. That's all you need to know. She is ten times the witch before. You will see what I mean.

I hate Kriss. I mean, she's sweet and everything, but I just don't like her. I think she is just too soft and all meat. No backbone. No armor.

Let's get to the spoilers, shall we? IF YOU DON'T WANT THE SPOILERS, SKIP THIS SECTION.

Spoilers:

1) Maxon is abused by his Father, King Clarkson.
2) The rebels are after the diary of the first king.
3) America is supported by the Italians. They love her. They support her. (I hope she does get rid of the castes, but that is just my opinion, so just ignore this.)
4) America eventually chooses to take the crown. To fight for it, I mean.
5) Maxon is caught making out with Celeste.
6) Maxon might choose Kriss.
7) Marlee is gone. She was caught with Officer what's-his-name-and-I-believe-it-is-Waterlow-though-I-am-just-not-sure. They are eights now.
8) Maxon saves Marlee and the ex-Officer. They live in the kitchens of the palace.
9) Maxon's only pick is America. Kriss is "safe."
10) Kriss is in love with Maxon.
11) The rebels are after books.
12) King Clarkson officially hates America. And he will do anything to bring her down. I mean, remove her from the Selection.
13) Maxon and America share a tender/heart to heart moment.

End Spoiler

This book is as awesome as The Selection. My rating is five out of five for the legendary plot and feelings. *Sniff* Genius!

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I really wanted to give this a 4, but the main characters just plain annoyed me in the book. America is being all - who to choose, Aspen or Maxon? Aspen is being stringed along and so are the other Selection girls. Maxon feels it okay to make out with girls who he doesn't like Celeste? (gasp!) And both are hiding their insecurities from each other. I think I only liked the final chapter fully. Oh, and the King, what to say about him? He is such a d-bag!
And will someone tell us what is going on with the rebels? From two books it's all surprise attacks by the Northern and Southern rebels. There is only outlawing and dropping of caste as response by the Crown.

I liked the first book of this series. The whole Bachelorette thing was new and interesting. A normal girl has to compete with 24 other girls to marry the prince, never seen that before in a book. The book had a good pace and I liked the relationship of prince Maxon and America. The whole dystopian theme in the book was not really there, but just as YA romance book it was pretty good. So I was excited to read the second book: The Elite. The cover looked amazing, so I had my hopes up.

But when I started reading the Elite, I soon discovered it was not merely as good as the Selection.
The whole Bachelorette/competition thing was reduced to a minimum. There were a few challenges for the remaining girls, but the concept that made book 1 good was gone.
Another thing that made me not like the book was America constantly getting mad at Maxon for spending time with other girls. She just could get her mind around it that he did that because he had to in the competition. She was constantly doubting herself and being jealous of the other girls. Her character therefore came accross as weak and insecure.
Also the 'violent' rebels that were described in the summary were non-existent. Sure there were a few 'attacks', but nothing really happened with that and they sure were not violent.
The worst was that the whole plot of the book only revolved around the love triangle of America, Aspen and Maxon. America and Maxon in the first book were cute together, but adding Aspen, her boyfriend before the Selection, in the second book did certainly not make the book better. A love triangle as such is not bad, but America became really irritating because of it. She was constantly changing her mind who she wants to be with and this most of the time without apparent reason. This becomes very annoying after the third change, make up your mind already! The character of Aspen also was not developed, to me he just remained this annoying boy who kept getting between America and Maxon.
With this book I got the feeling that if I skipped half of it I would still understand everything perfectly. The ending was pretty boring, no cliffhanger or anything and I am not sure I will read the next one. So, the first book was not good as a dystopian book and this one is not even good as a romantic one.

I would not recommend this book, the love triangle is just too annoying and all-consuming and the protagonist is unlikeable.

http://www.evelinesbooks.blogspot.nl

Well my gosh, that was quite the sequel. Days later, I am still feeling the emotional aftershocks of that book. I spent Wednesday groaning and yelling and "ahhing" and smiling and laughing. SO many feels!! I feel like Ms. Cass has a death grip on my heart. I can't believe I have to wait a whole other year for the next one.

Ok so the book picks up sometime after the last books ended. American Singer is an Elite, one of the six remaining girls, and she is still torn between Aspen, her first love, and Prince Maxon, the man fighting for her heart and affection. I have spent days weighing my team. The Elite made it so much harder to say decisively, but I still believe I am Team Maxon. He adores America, enough to sacrifice his dignity and endure horrific things for her. Plus I pretty much adore him, though there were some touch and go moments in the book. I will warn you, by the end of the book America will have to seriously fight for Maxon's affections too.

With less characters, Ms. Cass was able to do a lot more extensive character development. Girls like Elise, Natalie, and Kriss are shown a lot more in depth. Marlee and Celeste seemed to have been so well developed in the first book. She didn't really have to do as much work there. The book also gives more insight into the royal family. The queen is amazing. The king? Not so much. Ugh. I can't stand him.