Review: The Selection- Kiera Cass

Published April 24th 2012 by HarperTeen

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 a palace and compete for the heart of 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

Now you might be thinking....one star? Seriously? One measly star for the book that was actually compared to the Hunger Games?

Unfortunately, yes.

Thoughts after reading the synopsis and looking at that absolutely gorgeous cover :

1. 35 girls fighting over a Prince- fluff, drama, pinches of humour and angst guaranteed.

2. Dystopian setting with a caste system with the protagonist having a forbidden love interest AND getting embroiled in the Selection to be the ONE? Awesomeness assured.

3. Prince Maxon, America Singer and Aspen? Wtf? Starting to see a trend with weird names here...

4. Rebel attacks on the palace? Fast paced mystery/action sequences, perhaps?

Thoughts after finishing the book:

Severe disappointment.

The book set a whole new standard for ridiculous. No real plot, juvenile writing style, zero character development and one god-awful ending.

It starts with the protagonist America Singer (any guesses as to what her profession might be?) whose family is ranked FIVE according to the caste system in the dystopian world of Ilea, arguing with her mother over entering the competition to marry Prince Maxon. Her oh-so-very-fickle heart lies with Aspen, who by virtue of being ranked SIX struggles to make both ends meet.

Both America and Aspen were distinctly unlikeable characters. I couldn't say who I disliked more. America- with her bitching about poverty when her family is actually enjoying a wholesome meal of chicken, pasta, apple slices and lemon tea, or Aspen- who flips out and breaks up with her because of his massive male pride!

Total a-hole behaviour on part of the moron! I mean, America saves up to give him a treat and he treats her like dirt because HE is supposed to provide for HER! Real smooth move there...

Heartbroken and enraged, America decides to participate in the competition. Both as a payback to Mr. Mercurial and to support her poverty stricken family. The Selection was one highly anticipated part of the book for me. The whole thing just had to be hilarious....or so I thought. It turned out that the competition was as bland as all other things in the book. There wasn't a SINGLE exciting occurrence, unless you count a fellow competitor trying to rip off America's dress.

Prince Maxon was by far the most irritating character ever. No wonder Ilea was in turmoil under his not -so-expert guidance. During his first meeting with America, she is suffering a claustrophobic attack and launches a verbal attack at him by calling him shallow and pathetic. Way to make a first impression! Was this a very feeble attempt at feistiness? If so, it failed to get across the message and just made America look like a demented moron. Maxon being the epitome of all things good forgives her insolent little ass and strikes up an awkward friendship with her. As the book progresses the reader is treated to several unnecessary scenes involving rebels to create some semblance of a plot. Another failed attempt at redeeming a already fizzled-out story. Other competitors are occasionally brought in to avoid making the story too centred around America and Maxon's lukewarm romance.

The twist in the tale comes when Aspen comes to court employed as a palace guard and America begins some rigorous two timing, snogging Aspen during his secret nightly visits and then running back to the Prince during the day. The entire love triangle seemed extremely forced. By the time 3/4 of the book was over, I could barely stop from pulling my hair out due to sheer frustration. 

But as they say curiosity is a sin and apparently I suffer from occasional bouts of asininity, I decided to finish the damn book. How much worse could it get anyway?

But of course, since there were soooo many important things going on the book that it had to have a sequel. The ending was abrupt, unnecessary and downright contemptible. The comparison with Hunger Games is absolutely burlesque and apart from the half hearted world building the book can hardly be classified as dystopian fiction.

Overall a complete waste of time, ink, paper and whatnot....

Rating- 1/5 stars!