1. Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

    A curious beginning

    I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started, The Selection. I was more interested in the pretty cover than the story and I expected something light and fluffy. Mostly, my expectations were met but there was a little surprise layer to the plot that left me wanting more and in a way caused some disappointments in how the story ended. But, I’m getting ahead of myself.

    The Selection is much like, The Bachelor, in a post-war society. A prince, holds a contest called “The Selection” where one girl from each province is chosen to live in the palace. Once there, the Prince interacts with the girls, narrowing his choices until he makes one his wife.

    The society has a numbered caste system- one being royalty and eight the homeless beggars. America Singer, the protagonist, is a five whose especially gifted in music. Even though I felt the writing was very simplistic, I appreciated the way Kiera Cass handled the world building. We are given a bit of history in a way that was relevant to the stony. We were gradually introduced to the system and not given info dumps that can sometimes be boring.

    She did a great job in the handling of the love triangle - yes, there is one - a feat that I rarely see; so I applaud the realistic handling of the relationships. I didn’t expect the political conflict, but once it was presented I wanted more and was disappointed with the little focus that it had.

    I’m curious to see where the second book will take us as I expected the prince to have chosen a winner by the end, and The Selection to be over - this was not the case. I suppose I should have expected this as the trilogy is called The Selection, but I’m afraid that the future books might turn out to be melodramatic if this is the case.

    On its own, the Selection was a fun read and the story has great potential, so I’m looking forward to where the next book will take us.¤

    [review of ARC via Aroundtheworldarctours]

    Publisher: HarperTeen || Details →

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    April 9, 2012