Tuesday, May 6, 2014

The Selection Stories: A Review

I have read The Selection and The Elite, and was super excited when I went to Barnes and Noble and discovered that The Prince and The Guard were in paperback. So of course I had to buy it!

Here's my review for The Prince:

This just made me love Prince Maxon even more. He's really the only character I like in this series and the only reason why I keep reading these books.

Seeing the beginning of The Selection from his point of view kind of made my heart hurt. Maxon is incredibly lonely and clueless when it comes to love. His father is a terrible person, and though he is somewhat close to his mother, the attachment doesn't seem strong.

Some people see him as dull, but I see him as someone who is forced to retreat inside himself or else face the beatings from his father.

All Maxon wants is to be loved.

We see the hope he has for The Selection, the first chance he has to find the woman of his dreams. Of course, he is nervous and has to take in account who will be the best for his country, but I can tell he is excited. Totally opposite of what America Singer thinks from her point of view in The Selection.

I was surprised that Maxon was looking forward to thirty-five girls coming to the palace, but then I realized just how much he needed friends, and someone to love. I always thought The Selection was a terrible process, but now that I've seen it from Maxon's point of view, and how it is sort of liberating for him, it makes me rethink my original thoughts.

Maxon is intelligent and observant. He is a gentleman, despite his circumstances. His best characteristic is that he wants to do what is right for the people around him and for his kingdom. He is good man. I believe that when he becomes king, he will do far better than his father and will bring his kingdom from the depression it is in, to it's once former glory.

In all honesty, I wish I could read more from his point of view. Prince Maxon is by far the best character in this book, the most genuine and lovable. I hope that he gets a happy ending.



Now my review for The Guard.

First things first. I never liked Aspen. In fact, I was enraged that he even showed up as a guard in The Selection. He made his end with America and then he came back and ruined everything.

I still don't like him, even after reading this novella, but I think I may understand him a bit more.

Aspen's motives are well enough. He does genuinely love America, he's a good man, and cares for his friends and family. But I still think he's an idiot.

He just watched Marlee and Woodwork get caned for their secret rendezvous, and then what does he do? Oh, he goes and does the same thing with America.

I mean, seriously? If he really loved her he wouldn't risk her getting whipped or tortured.

Also, he said something that really bothered me. Just because Maxon was vying for America's heart too, Aspen couldn't think one good thing about him. I've read enough love triangles and enough bad relationships to know there usually is one good thing even the worst of enemies can find about each other. I just thought it was shallow of Aspen to think that way.



All in all, I thought the story was great and Cass certainly has a talent for writing. I love this story, I do. I just don't like some characters. It is a four out of five for me.

12 comments:

  1. I could never get into this series. I "tried" to listen to the first book, but the narrator was HORRIBLE, so now that is all I can hear when I read it.

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    1. I told you not to listen to this one ;) There are just certain books that are not meant to be listened to. And this is one of them. I love the series, but that's because I read them.

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  2. I haven't read this series but I've been curious lately. The author is coming here for a signing so if I can go I'll probably pick up the first book.

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    1. It's a great series. Also, that's exciting that the author is coming, I always love going to book signings.

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  3. I really, REALLY need to read this series. I have The Selection on my shelf (honestly because the cover was so gorgeous I just HAD to purchase it!) and I just need to make some time to get to it. Glad you enjoyed these! :)

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    1. I do have the say, the covers on each book in this series is absolutely wonderful. The One just came out and I think its cover is my favorite. Sometimes it's so hard to decide!

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  4. I keep thinking I should try this series, but IDK something about it keeps putting me off. I am glad that you enjoyed these novellas overall even though the second one seemed to irritate you a little bit. I hope you enjoy the next installment of this series.

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  5. I do enjoy this series over all, yes. And the writing is fantastic, it was just reading The Guard in Aspen's POV that got to me.

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  6. I don't know, I never liked Aspen or Maxon. Not sure why, I just didn't. I enjoyed the books enough, but had very little love for America, Maxon or Aspen. And yet I still liked the series. I am still tempted to read both the novellas though, maybe it will change my mind about the characters. Great review :)

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    1. Thank you! I remember that Maxon is one of you Not-So-Favorite-Leading-Lads :) It made me smile. I love to see other people's reactions toward the same books I read. As you can see I do like him. And, I can honestly say that I don't like America very much either. Most of the time I just want to hit her, but I CAN'T STOP READING THESE. The story is great!

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  7. I am so glad you liked these! I really do like this trilogy even though I know a lot of people don't. There is just something about it that is hard to explain.

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    1. I totally agree with the hard to explain reason of why I love this series. I am not completely sure why I do enjoy it so much, but the writing is fantastic and the story is fun and quick.

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