Audio Book: The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection by Kiera Cass

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Description:

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 the palace and compete for the heart of the 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.

My Review:

***This Review is for the AUDIO version of the book.***

This is a great book!  America Singer is a teenager who has been chosen to be in the Selection, a competition to become the princess and bride to Prince Maxon.  And this is the last thing that she wants.  She would rather be with Aspen, a servant in the caste below her, and living life as she wants.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be.  Instead she is thrown in this interesting and difficult competition to become Princess.  So think of it as “The Bachelor” meets the Royal family… There are definitely tons of funny moments to be had.

I like how this story is set in a country that if familiar, but isn’t.  It is in the same continent where the USA once existed, but now has become a new country after several world wars, plus a current war going on.  Now, even the government has changed, with the country now being under a monarchy, rather than a democracy.  I really like how Ms. Cass relates how WWIII occurred and how it changed the USA to the new country it is in her book.  It all has to do with current events with the USA borrowing money from China and China finally calling in the debt and requiring payment.  It is definitely a relatable fear that could happen.

This new country has a caste system (ranges from 1s, which are royalty to 8s which are homeless, poor, and mentally ill).  The changes of the dynamics are interesting, especially when you see the different caste interact. 

This country even has laws for everything:  virginity, what jobs you can have in your caste.  There is even a draft with a mandatory 4 years of service. 

America kind of pissed me off throughout the book.  She mopped through half the book, and was just plain stupid the other half of the book.  Why would you want an ass like Aspen, when you can have a wonderful man who likes to do wonderful special things for you and cherishes you and takes care of you (and he is a PRINCE!)?  What really made her a redeemable character in my eyes was when she finally stood up for herself at the end of the book.  That was almost 9 hours of her doing everything and anything but that. 

I BLOOMING LOVE MAXON!!!!  Forget Aspen, America, and just marry Maxon! I mean, Maxon is a wonderful character, and is everything you would hope a prince would be.  I think that I couldn’t help but love him as a character. J, now if only he was real.

Side Note:  For those listening to the audio book, it is definitely beneficial to go to Kiera Cass’ website to see some visuals, like the name of the Selection contestants and the caste system.  I wish that there could have been a map of the new providences/countries, or something like that.

Overall, this is a great book.  I can’t wait to read more by Ms. Cass.  Highly recommend. 

Happy Reading!

Cana