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!

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!

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!

-ofpaperandwords.blogspot.com

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.

The Elite is an amazing book, just like The Selection. I didn’t want to put the thing down. When it was over I almost started crying because I loved it so much and don’t want to have to wait for the next book to come out. I did scream no though.
The plot was a great continuation of the first one. I especially like how none of the characters are perfect and we get to know them even more in this book, but I think we need to know more about Aspen. I love America. She’s a feisty, but compassionate character and she stands up for what she believes in. The king though, he makes me mad for what he does to Maxon and America. Celeste never ceases to make me think of her badly but the other girls, they go from making me feel sympathetic to making me feel angry at them.
I appreciated how she explained what happened to make the government the way it is. Most of the authors don’t ever explain what happens to make the government the way they become.
I really like how the book doesn’t have just one feeling in it. Like at times I feel mad at the characters and then others I feel bad for them. Sometime I laugh and sometimes I feel sad.
I believe that Kiera is an amazing writer. I will definitely be reading the rest of her books that come out. I cant even explain how much I loved this book. I recommend this book to all dystopian likers but even if you aren’t you might like this because its not a huge part of it. Also to people who like romances.

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 girl.
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.