The Elite by Kiera Cass

The Elite 

by Kiera Cass

Book 2 of the Selection Series

Goodreads Summary: 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. 

This is the second book in the Selection series.  If you have not read my review of The Selection click here to check that out.  I will try to avoid spoilers here but unless you have read The Selection first I wouldn't read this.  And you should definitely read The Selection.  If you  haven't GO DO THAT RIGHT NOW, and then come back!!

So on to The Elite.  This book picks up right where The Selection leaves off.  We are still with America, but now there are only 5 other girls left (the Elite), we have Marlee: America's best friend of the girls; Kriss: the sweet one that we get to to meet alot more in this book; Celeste: the one we all love to hate (every book needs a character we all love to hate, right?); Elisa: she has ties to New Asia; and lastly Natalie: the spacey one.

Throughout the book America is wavering between Aspen and Maxon.  We learn more about how Illea came into being (which I am really interested in).  America is face with more , tasks, and choices.  She doesn't always make the best decisions either.  We get to see more of the rebels.  America admits that she has feeling for Maxon, but is unable to let her feelings for Aspen go either.  What to know more go pick up the book. 

I really liked this book, but at the same time wanted to shake America.  I am really hoping in the next book that America can grow up as a character, because in this book she acts childish at times, acts without thinking and makes some terrible decisions with considering other people in the process.   

I really liked that we get to dive into some of the other contestants in this book. In the 1st book America was really the only on that Maxon really seems to have any interest in, but in this book america actually has some competition that is giving her a run for her money.  Which I really enjoyed.  I like that Maxon has started to take more control and be less passive.   

This book is definitely worth reading. 

I would give this book 4 stars.

Check out the video review of The Elite  

I like the first book better, but still really enjoyed this book.  I can't wait until May when I can get my hands on The One.

For more information about Kiera check out her website.

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Until next time.....Happy Reading

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Book 1 of the Selection series

GoodReads Summary:

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.

The basic plot of this book goes something like this: Our main character America Singer lives in the country of Illea, which is ruled by a King and Queen. Illea is made up of what use to be the United States, Canada, and I think Mexico. After the fall of the USA to China, the North America country bound together to get their country back. Illea was created and with it the people where divided into a caste system with the royal family as Ones all the way down to homeless people as Eights. America Singer is a Five, so she is on the lower end of the system but not as low as she could be. Depending on what caste you are, dictated what kind of job you can have. As a Five America and her family are musicians and artists.

America is secretly in love with a boy named Aspen who is a Six. Women being with a man from a longer caste is just not done so they have to keep their relationship a secret. Meanwhile at the palace Prince Maxon has come of age to be able to get married. He does not get to just meet someone and fall in love, he has to go through something called the Selection. This is where 35 girls from the different providences are picked and brought to the castle for a Bachelor like competition to become a princess and Maxon's wife.

America' mother pressures her to sign up for the Selection, unaware the she is in love with someone else. Her mother wants her to sign up because they could be raised up to a higher caste if she wins plus they will receive a payment for each week she is in the competition. Obliviously America doesn't want to join, but when she meets with Aspen he to wants her to try as well. He wants to give her the best life and knows that he can't give her that.  She finally agrees thinking that there is a very small chance she will get picked.

The night before they announce who is chosen for the Selection Aspen breaks up with America. She is brokenhearted as you would expect. The next day her name is called as one of the 35 girls. She sees this as her escape from Aspen and the pain she feels from losing him. When America meets Maxon she tells him that her hear belongs to someone else bu that she doesn't want to go home because they aren't together anymore. She offers Maxon a deal that is he lets her stay for awhile she will help him pick the right girl for her.

To see what happens next you are going to have to pick the book up for yourself.

I truly loved this book. Kiera's writing and storytelling pulled me in from page 1 and didn't let me go until the end. I did not want to put this book down. The day after I finished I rushed our to buy the next one in the series (The Elite). The characters were relatable and I felt like I was really getting to know them. The story moved at a good pace. The relationship (and I am not saying what kind of relationship it is) between Maxon and America felt genuine and not rushed. The details about the other characters were prefect to give you a good sense about them without being overly wordy.

I give this book a BIG OLD 5 STARS!! I would recommend it to anyone. Thank you Kiera for a great series and I can't wait to see what is in story for America next.

You can check out my YouTube review of this book here.

Until next time...Happy Reading!!!