Well, I read this one in a matter of hours…This author always lucks out with gorgeous covers. Really, I can’t take my eyes away from this one, again. I was kind of hoping this would be a book series of 2 books because I knew having to wait on Prince Maxon’s final choice for a third book would be unbearable. Alas, there will be one more in the series, and I now have some serious waiting to do.
The Elite
immediately follows the actions of The
Selection. Prince Maxon is down to the elite of his girls. There are six
left, including America. The competition is tight at the castle, with girls
resorting to all sorts of behavior. America, as before, is ever indecisive of
what and who she really wants. Also, the rebel attacks have been becoming more
violent, and more frequent.
America is always asking the men in her life for more time.
Does she clearly love both? Yes. Does she know if she can be a princess? This,
she doesn’t know. Maxon is still enamored with her, no matter how America
pushes him away. And Aspen has become a worthy opponent in the love triangle,
always attempting to get a moment alone with America and remind her of the
wonderful past they had once shared.
There’s more challenges, more parties, more hiding from
violent attacks on the castle, and so much more world–building! America gets
her hand on a historical diary and with this book, the history of her very
disturbing, yet also believable caste system becomes explained. There’s a lot
more politics in this one, a lot more history, and a lot more drama!
A lot of the book is about America realizing that no choice
is perfect and that no one is perfect either. We learn a lot about Maxon and
his evil father. And we learn a lot more about the remaining selected girls.
There’s terrifying confrontations, rebellious live TV moments, dancing,
debating, and one terrifying moment that actually caused me to step back in
shock. I was crying for these characters and I was fighting against them too.
What it all comes down to for America is not just who she loves the most, but
how willing she is to make a difference.
This was definitely an interesting sequel. A lot was learned
about this world in turmoil. A lot was learned about Maxon. And a lot was
learned about America and what she is capable of handling and accepting. I sort
of had a love/hate relationship with America though. What I loved most about her
was that she was always willing to hear all sides of an argument. She listens
to the hired help as much as she listens to the queen. She gets all sides of an
argument before making a decision. This also caused me to hate her for
stringing these two young men around for so long.
I also found myself on multiple occasions kind of wanting to
slap some sense into America. Yes, she was always listening to everyone, acting
as the one moral compass of the entire cast of characters. But, she changed her
mind too often, all the time. Aspen would piss her off and she’d run to Maxon.
Maxon would allow some atrocity to take place, and she would ache for Aspen. I just
don’t think love works this way. I think it’s clear which boy she loves more.
She’s just letting so many other things get in her way, and maybe rightly so.
I guess my major problem with America was I just kept hoping
for her to be tougher/stronger. I wanted her to come to the realization that
she could change things for the better much quicker. I want her to want to be
queen. I want her to want to change the horrible world she lives in. And above
all else I want her to stand up to the king! I kept hoping for the book to take
a more rebellious plot turn, but it never really went there.
I get that it’s a far step from musician to leader, but
America has all the things a great leader needs; I just wish she saw that.
Maybe she comes to this conclusion in the final book? And maybe all the things
I keep hoping for, will all come to pass. I’ll have to wait and see.
I enjoyed all the wake-up call moments for America. The
hardest one was the unfair treatment of a close friend, and while this pulled
at my heartstrings, I also see how this can act at the turning point for
America and it needed to happen. I also like that Maxon came off as much more
human in this one. He’s not just prince Charming any more. He has a lot of
serious flaws. I also love how important books and history have become here.
The rebels were stealing books!
And of course there is all the Bachelor-type drama that
happened in book 1. It is so addicting, reading a book that reads like a
reality show. It’s an easy read (though slightly more intense now). It’s fast
paced. There’s a love triangle to end all love triangles. There’s rebellions
and politics. There’s dances and fear. I give it a 9/10. And I’m dying to keep
reading. Please hurry, Kiera Cass!
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