Book Review: The Selection Series, The Elite.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day, I spent mine going to family grill-out after family grill-out. Not that I'm complaining, the food was wonderful but I could feel it today. Today pretty much felt like the most Monday Tuesday ever, though. It's always the four day work weeks that feel like the longest.

So, not much new to report on my end. Still writing the Sequel to Masquerade, while simultaneously working on another novel that's been dancing in my brain at the same time. Sometimes I need to step away from the series because it's just intense. That being said, one of my friends is working on a cover for me in the near future. Shamelessly throwing out her website: http://www.jrfieldillustration.com/. Looking forward to seeing what Jessie has in store for me.

I have Query letters into about ten Literary agents, I'm trying not to put anymore than that out there at a time. I'm hoping for constructive criticism as opposed to "It's just not for me".

So, without further adieu. I'm moving onto the next book in The Selection series. Let's talk about The Elite.

As you can see from the cover (in small font) only six girls remain now, we're down from thirty-five teenage girls to six! We have:

Marlee: the running favorite, and a just a generally decent human being. She and America are good friends.

Celeste: Evil model who spills drinks on people and is just generally NOT a good human being.

Kriss: Also generally a decent human being, someone educated with the knowledge and compassion to be a Queen.

Natalie: She just doesn't stand out for anything. Throw away character, like Whoa.

Elise: Again, throw away character.

America: 'MERICA!!!

So, *SPOILER ALERT* Aspen is now at the Palace as a guard and this has now become a love triangle. For the love of God, why is there a love triangle in every young adult trilogy? As if there isn't enough going on in your teenage years: like you know, trying to figure out who you are and what you're about. Let's throw in thirty five teenage girls and another love interest into the mix. No wonder the public in Illea eat this up, the drama is plentiful!

So, the action is picking up a little bit in this novel. The castle is being attacked by "rebels" (people who don't believe in/support the Caste system) pretty consistently. There's the possibility of a war brewing in New Asia and things are just generally tense. But we open with Maxon and America on a date, and despite America not wanting to fall for Maxon; she is. But she's torn, naturally. Because Aspen's around now. She can't distance herself from what she feels from him with him right there in her face.

We're introduced to a little bit more of the back-story for Illea in this novel (For those critics who complained it was lacking in the first book, BOO-YAH! Keep reading, suckers!) Maxon show's America a secret library in the Palace, and she ends up borrowing one of Gregory Illea's (the founding father of the country) diaries. Several times throughout this book, America is reading the diaries and we start to learn that this man was not as great as he seemed. He did some really devious stuff not just to the people of the land formally known as America, but to his own damn family. I mean, really, has anyone ever heard of an honest politician? It's kind of like a unicorn. We all knew something was up.

Maxon and America also talk about the notion of how things used to be, America mentions that she knows that there used to be a holiday called Halloween that people celebrated. So, Maxon decides there going to have a Halloween party in an attempt to have some fun. He also decides to invite the Elite's families to the castle for this gathering.

America is naturally thrilled to see her family, especially her Dad. She and her Dad are especially close throughout the series, and that's one of the redeeming factors of the book for me. America is rough around the edges and sometimes unrelateable, but her attachment to her Dad is what makes her human to me. He tells her that he thinks she could be a Princess, and for the first time she starts to believe that she could, too. The doubt she's held for so long starts to leave, and she starts to get comfortable in the role. She's ready to be with Maxon, and we all think we're going to get the happy ending that we want. But you're wrong, because there's a THIRD BOOK and nothing ever comes easily when you're a teenager.

So, they have the Halloween party. Maxon is ready to call off the selection and propose marriage to America. But he's also being diplomatic about it. He's trying to spend time with the other girls. America is jealous (She's a red-head, duh). But then just as you think maybe something fishy is going on, Maxon returns to America's side and they dance the night away. He had to spend time with the other girls first so he could "enjoy the rest of the evening".

Things seem to be falling into Place until the next morning when America is awoken by her maids, dressed in dark clothes and lead out to the front of the Palace with the other elite and their families. No one seems to know what's going on until Marlee and one of the guards are brought out before the crowds and it's revealed that Marlee "cheated" on Maxon with this guard and they're going to receive a public flogging as punishment. This scene shocked me, I didn't see it coming but it was good. High five, Kiera Cass. You fooled me, we all knew Marlee was getting cold feet about the whole thing but we never knew why. So, she's beaten and made an eight on the caste system. If you're curious about the rest of Marlee's story, Mrs. Cass wrote a novella about it. I've read this as well, it's pretty good if not a bit dramatic.

Naturally, America is upset, going as far as trying to stop the whole thing. (You go, girl. Way to keep your moral scruples). This, naturally damages things with America and Maxon's relationship. She holds him responsible for the beating of her friend. All hell breaks loose because God hath no fury like a pissed off red-head, and when evil Celeste starts to badmouth Marlee you beat that America kicks her arse. It's amazing, it's the hit we all wanted to see. But it also almost gets America kicked out of the selection. Maxon (AKA the voice of reason) keeps both the girls because he knows things are exceptionally emotionally charged at the Palace right now.

The families go home, the competition resumes. America kind of half-asses it now because she's still angry about Marlee and she's doubting her ability to be a Princess/Queen again. She's doubting Maxon's affection while he's spending time with the other girls. But then the Palace is attacked by the rebels again, and in the may lay America runs into the woods behind the Palace while the others try to flee inside. She decides to hide in a tree, and her interaction with these rebels is very interesting. They don't attack her, one of them bows to her and goes on their merry way. Huh?

America goes back to the Palace, she and Aspen keep having these stolen moments with each other because Maxon thought it would be a good idea to have someone from her Provence guard her room so Aspen is there EVERY NIGHT. Aspen is still determined to fight for America which makes her decision that much harder to make. Prince or Pauper? Tale as old as time...

Oh, and guess what?! Maxon's compassion is never ending. Marlee is still at the Palace, working there undercover because Maxon decided to spare she and Kile (her now husband). America softens a little towards Maxon, but this girl can hold a serious grudge.

Near the end of the book, the girls are told that they're going to have to come-up with a charity like plan and present it on The Report for all of Illea. America struggles with this idea, the other girls come up with things like new schools and more education. It's all very Ms. America. But then, as America is walking the hall one night she see's Maxon in the arms of Celeste and America is PISSED. She decides that she's going out, and she's doing it with a BANG!

Guess what her plan is? The one that she presents on live, national television? Let's get rid of the Caste's! Bad life choice. But surprisingly, Maxon attempts to defend her from the rage of his father. As she's getting ready to go back to her rooms to pack her stuff and go, she runs into Maxon and guess what; the rebels attack at that very moment. Maxon and America are forced to take cover together. Maxon is injured because his father beat him, and she suddenly realizes that Maxon REALLY does care for her. But he also admits he's lost his trust for her (understandably, she flies off the handle A LOT).

So, the novel ends with America still at the Palace against the Kings wishes (Because as a five, she was basically meant to be a "throw away" anyway). Maxon's trust is seriously injured, but he's willing to try to work with America on their relationship because, true love, man.

So, on the scale this one is up to a A-. The thing with Marlee threw me, America is still feisty as ever and I find it refreshing that America is aware of what being with Maxon means, and that she doubts her ability to be a Princess/Queen. I sometimes find myself thinking: "When is this girl going to learn that flying off the handle like this is NOT THE WAY TO DO THINGS?!" But then again, which one of us wasn't impulsive at seventeen? Especially when dealing with our love-lives. Hormones, just walking hormones.

So, next up? The One.

Until next time, Readers.