The Selection Series by Kiera Cass

from fantasticfiction.co.uk

3.75 stars

January was such a book reading month. I feel like those log chutes, where there are so many logs waiting to be sent through that they are jamming up because there is only room for one. I am trying to go in the order I finish them, but then I don't because for whatever reason I feel like talking about a different book and then boom, I realize I forgot one.

This is a series I read during Christmas, and I am finally getting to them now. Oh well. Better late than never!

Synopsis

It is the world after world war four. The North American continent is now on big country called Illea. Illea is in conflict with New Asia, and society is set in a caste system with 8 castes.

America Singer is in one of lower castes, a five. When a chance comes for her to enter a contest to marry the prince, soon to be king of Illea, her mother convinces her this is a great opportunity to advance. America isn't that sure. Why? Her heart is already given to another.

My Thoughts

When I think of how to describe this series I think, Hunger Games meets the Bachelor, only with way better accessories. I'm not sure why I picked the first book up but I am glad I did. I read the entire series during Christmas. While most of it is just fluff, there is still some substance in there. And reading these books made me so happy that I don't have to be a teenager again with the whole does he like me or not dilemma.

I think I liked this series the most because of the world that the author created. While the main crux of the story is the "Selection" and the love triangle between Prince Maxon, America and Aspen, Cass created a world that was very layered and seemingly well thought out. This is a society that was turned on its head to nothing that we recognize today. We learn that the first King of this new country was not as altruistic as he is remembered. The whole idea of two different kinds of rebels was interesting and I would have loved to learn more about them. The Northern rebels, who want information, and want to make a better society that is more just and fair. And the Southern rebels who just want to be elevated so they can squash those who squashed them. Those types of dynamics are part of life to day. The whole justice vs. revenge take on the ills of our lives/world. Very interesting. Perhaps she could do a spin off story that looked at the different rebel camps. (She has written a few spin off novellas available in ebook format.) There are also wars going on, but I don't think everything is truly on the up and up there. So many questions that just don't really get answered merely, teased at. Perhaps a longer book and one not written in the first person would have allowed her to focus on that a bit more too. It would be interesting to know more.

Near the end of the third book The One something is revealed about her father, and then that's all you hear about it. More answers and explanantions would have been nice. Why mention it or reveal it if it's not going to be explained later or bear any meaning after. It does connect one minor plot thing, but that's it. It would have been nice to know more and know if her father held some other role than just being an artist.

These are not books you want to read if you are looking for a serious book. But if you don't mind a little bit of teenage romantic fun once in a while this would be good a great pick. I think your teenage girls will like it, while you might be yelling at it saying "Just tell him/her how you feel!" "Be honest!!!" "Geez, just believe him already." I also found that some of the lines were a bit repetitive. 

I did like the characters. While sometimes I found America a little annoying, I liked her. She is not as strong as Catniss but she is not quite so foppish as Bella. America sticks to her moral character and does things she knows is right.

There is a fourth book coming out this year called The Heir.  It takes place many years after this series ends. I wonder if it will cover any of the changes of the society and delve more deeply in the rebellion stuff.

There was so much that was cool about this series, I just wanted a bit more substance and less "does he like me or not? Who to choose, Maxon or Aspen?" I wanted to know more about the world and society outside of the Selection. It seemed there was more going on, yet we never got to explore it.  I wonder if a movie or mini-series would be a good platform to address some of the questions I have about the society at large.

So, if you are into the YA book scene, I definitely recommend this series. It was a fun read.