The Crown by Kiera Cass

Title: The Crown
Series: The Selection #5
Author: Kiera Cass
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 3rd 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection, she didn’t think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.

Eadlyn still isn’t sure she’ll find the fairytale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible—and more important—than she ever imagined.

Review

The Crown was a great conclusion to an entertaining and fun read.  Eadlyn has come quite far from the first couple chapters of The Heir; she is more aware of other feelings, open to love, and slowly maturing.  (I felt like I wanted to strangle her less ;) ) Overall she became a more like-able and respectable leader and main character.

My main reservation with this final book is that it felt a tad rushed.  Part of the selection process drama and the introduction to a new character felt like it was forced and merely used as a plot point not really adding much to the overall enjoyment of the story.  One of the candidates dismissals felt hasty, while I understood the reasoning it just seemed to be done rather quickly disregarding their recent past interactions.

In the end, Eadlyn picked the guy I was rooting for so that did make for a cute ending.  (I don't typically pick the guy that ends up getting the girl). I did enjoy that this book did not try to be a dystopian to the extent that the first three books did.  There are elements that linger from the first three books, and politics that do come into play but they merely are additions to the romance heavy plot.  Ultimately, The Crown for me was a easy read in this Bachelorette like drama filled love story!

Stacking the Shelves (168) - May 28th

Stacking the Shelves - hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews - features books that you bought, borrowed, rented from the library, received for review, etc.

Upcoming Reads

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Breathe, Annie, Breathe (Hundred Oaks) by Miranda Kenneally
Defending Taylor (Hundred Oaks) by Miranda Kenneally
Jesse's Girl (Hundred Oaks) by Miranda Kenneally
The Crown (The Selection #5) by Kiera Cass

What books are stacking your shelves??

Stacking the Shelves (130) - June 27th

Stacking the Shelves - hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews - features books that you bought, borrowed, rented from the library, received for review, etc.

Upcoming Reads

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The Heir (The Selection #4) by Kiera Cass
None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio
 

What books are stacking your shelves??

The One (The Selection #3) by Kiera Cass

Title: The One
Series: The Selection #3
Author: Kiera Cass
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 6th 2014
Pages: Hardcover, 323 pages
Source: Bought

Summary from Goodreads:
The Selection changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever. And now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen.

America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the competition approaches its end and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

From the very first page of The Selection, this #1 New York Times bestselling series has captured readers' hearts and swept them away on a captivating journey... Now, in The One, Kiera Cass delivers a satisfying and unforgettable conclusion that will keep readers sighing over this electrifying fairy-tale long after the final page is turned.

Review

Fun, Cute, Addicting

This series is like a guilty pleasure TV show; ya know, the TV show you ended up watching when it was on a 12 hour marathon.  I know it is not the next award winning book or awe-inspiring story but man, was I kept thoroughly entertained and just wanted to finish the series.   I am glad I did!

Even though Nicole is will disagree with my feelings towards the series, I am going to tell you why I enjoyed the series and this last book :)

• The love triangle finally ends.  I personally thought the ending was a bit predictable, the fine details were not but I thought it was easy to guess at who America was going to end up with.  A bonus is the love triangle ends early in the book, leaving me like this :
  
  
  
  
• The drama.  As mentioned earlier, I love the drama in this book. Even though parts of the story were easily anticipated, I really enjoyed that there were still surprises.  Near the end of the book there was a bit of a shocking scene that I was not expecting leaving me like this :

• There was a happy ending!  The political issues (dystopian-light aspects) were an okay touch to the story, they gave America something to stand and fight for but they were not a game-changer. The ending summed up nicely both the competition for Maxon and the political unrest.
   
  
    

Bottom Line

If you have read the first two books I definitely recommend finishing the series, The One was a stronger, more action-filled book that The Elite; the love triangle drama goes away and characters take on different challenges.   Overall the series was an entertaining one, I would not say The Selection is for everyone yet if you want a fun read, I would pick this series up!

REVIEW #104: The Elite (The Selection #2) by Kiera Cass

Title: The Elite
Series: The Selection #2
Author: Kiera Cass
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: April 23rd 2013
Pages: Hardcover, 323 pages
Source: Bought

Summary from Goodreads:
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.

“My arm on his back drew him toward me, and he did the same, until we were closer to each other physically than we’d ever been. In the back of my mind, I realized we were in a crowded room, that somewhere my mother was probably fainting at the sight, but I didn’t care. For that moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the world.”

I was so excited the first half of the book, I thought the story was going to develop in a whole different way. Cass does not hold back in The Elite, there are unexpected turns and circumstances that I just was not ready for. While I am not a huge fan of the love triangle (Team Maxon all the way) I was able to side with America more in this book than in the first. The emotions America feels regarding Maxon and his other relationships are completely justified. She has some right to get jealous when she sees Maxon being overly affectionate with other girls.   But on the other hand, I do find America quite whiny sometimes. Just give Maxon the benefit of the doubt, he loves you, get with it.  There are many cute and romantic lines from Maxon that I made me root for him even more.  

“And yet…If you don’t want that burden, I could never blame you. I would welcome you home with open arms. I love you. Dad”

The Elite incorporates more of the future life a Queen/Princess is to expect.  America really has to consider what her life would be like and what kind of ruler she could become.  I enjoyed how this book incorporated more of the royal life and duties.  I thought the way America struggled with it was believable.  My favorite secondary character has to be America's father.  It is so refreshing and heart warming to read about a father who supports his daughter no matter what. 

“How was it that Dad always knew what to say? I kind of wanted someone to rearrange the stars so they spelled out his words. I needed them big and bright, and somewhere I could see them when things felt dark. I love you. And I’m so, so proud.”

Overall, The Elite was a fast and fun read.  The Elite takes the bachelor aspects from the first story and adds even more background about the caste systems and more developments in current political issues.  Although I really enjoyed the story as a whole, the book suffers a but from middle book syndrome.  Not a whole lot was really accomplished in this book, we were right where we started plus/minus a few things. 

America and Maxon's roller coaster of a relationship keeps you wanting more.  I cannot wait to see how the story ends and who will be the one.  

MINI-REVIEWS #92 & #93: Skylark (Skylark #1) By Meagan Spooner & The Prince (Selection #0.5) by Kiera Cass

Title: Skylark
Series: Skylark #1
Author: Meagan Spooner
Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab
Release Date: August 1st 2012
Pages: Hardcover, 344 pages
Source: Audiobook from the library

Summary from Goodreads:
Sixteen-year-old Lark Ainsley has never seen the sky.

Her world ends at the edge of the vast domed barrier of energy enclosing all that’s left of humanity. For two hundred years the city has sustained this barrier by harvesting its children's innate magical energy when they reach adolescence. When it’s Lark’s turn to be harvested, she finds herself trapped in a nightmarish web of experiments and learns she is something out of legend itself: a Renewable, able to regenerate her own power after it’s been stripped.

Forced to flee the only home she knows to avoid life as a human battery, Lark must fight her way through the terrible wilderness beyond the edge of the world. With the city’s clockwork creations close on her heels and a strange wild boy stalking her in the countryside, she must move quickly if she is to have any hope of survival. She’s heard the stories that somewhere to the west are others like her, hidden in secret—but can she stay alive long enough to find them?

While I did enjoy Skylark, it just felt a bit slow at times. I felt myself having to really focus or else I would lose interest. I can’t decide if it was the  audio book narration, which was dry and not the best or if it was just the story in general. Skylark is far from a cookie cutter predictable dystopian story. It has actually been one of the better dystopian worlds I have read lately.  The whole idea of having energy created from magic  was something I found fresh and unique.

The story has twists throughout the whole plot  with a slow building romance (no insta-love!). Overall I would give Skylark 3 stars, it was missing some pizzazz but the world building in the magical dystopia was well done and worth the read. I plan to read the sequel but I might stay away from the audio version of Shadowlark.

If you read/listened to  Skylark, what did you think?  

Title:The Prince
Series: The Selection #0.5
Author: Kiera Cass
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: March 5th 2013
Pages: ebook, 64 pages
Source:Library

Summary from Goodreads:
Before thirty-five girls were chosen to compete in the Selection...

Before Aspen broke America's heart...

There was another girl in Prince Maxon's life...

Don't miss this thrilling 128-page original novella set in the world of the New York Times bestselling novel The Selection. Also features a teaser to The Elite, Kiera Cass's hotly anticipated sequel to The Selection.

“She was looking at our fingers and not into my eyes, and thank goodness for that. If she were, she’d have seen how absolutely floored I was the first time I finally, truly saw her. The clouds moved at just the right moment, full lighting her face by the moon. As if it weren't enough that she was willing to stand up to me and clearly unafraid to be herself, she was dazzlingly beautiful.”

The Prince was a nice addition to the story.  It was a different perspective to actually hear Prince Maxon's thoughts on love and the selection process.   It was cute, I definitely swooned some when he described his first meeting with America.  Even though I enjoyed it, I did not find it necessary to enjoy the series. Simply put, it was a nice filler story.


  

The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass

Title: The Selection (The Selection, #1)

Author: Kiera Cass
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Pages: 327, Hardcover
Source: Audiobook
Rating: 3 stars

Summary from Goodreads:
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.

Background

For America Singer, life is defined by the cast she was born in to. As a 5, she, and the other members of her family, make up the artists and musicians of society. Money is tight and she must work hard, but she is happy with her life and what she has. In fact, she’s ready to spend the rest of her life with a 6, even though marrying down a cast is almost unheard of for women. 

As the Selection comes along, a competition of sorts from which Prince Maxon will choose a daughter of Iléa to marry, America has no desire to put her name into the drawing. But with pressure she concedes and is one of the 35 girls selected. Although America applied for all the wrong reasons, she has motivation to continue in the competition but falling for Prince Maxon is not part of the plan.

My Thoughts

I liked The Selection well enough for a light, fun read but it is first and foremost a romance and everything else just fluff. I thought the Selection itself could have been given more attention to add a bit of drama and excitement but most of the scenes with the other girls were rather tame and cordial. And then there wasn't really a steady sending-home of the girls. Maybe 10 went home throughout the story and then there was a massive cut at the end. It felt like Kiera Cass realized after 300 pages that practically all of the girls were still in the competition and needed a quick fix, reinforcing the lack of focus on this part of the story. 

In general, I found the first 2/3 of the novel better than the final 1/3. I liked the dynamic between America and Prince Maxon most in the beginning. America enters the Selection with a lot of misconceptions about Prince Maxon. In their first few encounters she is rather harsh to him but Prince Maxon just finds her amusing. They settle into some sort of mutual agreement and find friendship and comfort in each other which helps them grow close. But all of their progress hits a wall near the end and everything is left unsettled and complicated. Just when I thought things were going so well, Kiera Cass throws a sucker punch and the love triangle comes back full force. For the record, I am Team Prince Maxon.

It is probably important to reiterate that this is not a well-written, finely crafted novel. Not that it is  poorly written but the world-building, character development and sub-plots aren't that strong. Some of the descriptions and dialogue are cheesy. But I can continue to read and enjoy a book regardless if it can keep my attention, and The Selection did.

Wrap Up

Prince Maxon is really what saves this book from a lower rating. I just found him sort of adorable. I looked forward to the encounters between America and Maxon and was satisfied with the progression of events...until the end. I really felt like the end of the book was rushed and unconnected. It really left me feeling gipped. I can't imagine this series as a trilogy (otherwise, the next book will probably be painfully dragged out) so I hope The Elite concludes the story.