The Elite

THE ELITE continues the contest for Prince Maxon's heart with six girls left in the race. The remaining girls in the palace are Celeste, Natalie, Elise, Kriss, Marlee and America and there will be many challenges and public interviews to learn more about each girl, her feelings for Maxon and her strategy to outshine the other girls. Don't only imagine tiaras and smiles, these girls can bite. This sequel to THE SELECTION more or less follows a resembling scheme as Kiera's debut. Like the first book THE ELITE was a quick read. Towards the end the story even took a really surprising and welcome turn. One turn of events that I felt especially content with, because it added a new spin to the story and would open up many new perspectives for THE ONE. That Kiera Cass didn't strictly follow this new lead and made a backtrack in the end, left me a bit sour though. Of course now I'm hoping for THE ONE to be more offensive and present us with an even more curageous America than we've met in this book. There was a nagging feeling, a constant suspicion I couldn't explain, about Maxon and the entire royal family that something wasn't quite right about them and the entire competition. One thing is for sure, the royals are even more conniving than any real girls of a competition could ever be. Don't expect them to be as helpless as you first thought. The caste system is a thorn in every democratically-oriented reader's side. It's no wonder the resistance is growing steadily and it's acting more violently with each passing week. The rebels, North and South are agressive and the need to protect the girls and the royal family becomes more urgent. They start attacks that are extremely dangerous for everyone involved. Their movement and goals aren't transparent at all which poses as quite interesting since we've always supported the rebels' side in recent YA dystopians. I haven't read any other dystopian from the non rebels' perspective. America becomes stronger, too and – I wouldn't have thought possible- even more emotionally confused than in the first book. But why has America to be so volatile? Things about Maxon's past are revealed that even I as a Team Aspen girl, couldn't but thaw a bit. But this love triangle is slowly starting to get on my nerves. I am wondering if there can't be a trilogy with a love triangle, with the girl deciding whom she wants to be with in the second book so that we can actually enjoy a final couple interacting and growing together in the third book. That would be refreshing wouldn't it? America doesn't make that longed for final decision in THE ELITE, so we'll have to wait for THE ONE to find out what's in her heart and even more important how Kiera Cass intends to uproot the entire caste system and bring the resistance back in full force. I'll be awaiting THE ONE with high expectations. 3,5/5 ***/* THE ELITE – Less fairy tale and more rebellious and combative than any real princess comptetion could ever be. THE ELITE didn't send up as many sparks as THE SELECTION, because a more serious component is added to the story. The shiny facade of royal reign starts to crumble, friendships come apart and things- romantically on America's side and politically on the royal's side - get out of hand. It gets dangerous and also harder for America to stay on my good side if she continues her irresolute back and forth between Aspen and Maxon.show more

This is going to be a tough review for me, be warned. Last summer I read The Selection and I loved it. I thought the whole idea of a story like this was really original. I loved that it was like The Bachelor put into a dystopian book. I saw a lot of positive reviews about it so I figured it would be positive for me too. So I had to read The Elite also of course and I must say (obviously) I'm rather disappointed by it. Actually a whole lot disappointed. I really wanted to like this book, more so than some others because The Selection was so good for me. Maybe I had to high hopes but I wanted to enjoy this. The fact that I didn't was a big disappointment because I just wanted this book to be done and over. And that's just never good with any book. I was so frustrated with pretty much everything and every character in The Elite. First of all, America. What was up with her? She kept running back and forth between Maxon and Aspen. It was literally one page she was loving on Maxon and the next she was crawling back to Aspen. Girl, no, just no. The whole book was like this. All about that stupid love triangle. I can like love triangles if they are done well but in this book it has got to be one of the most terrible I've ever read about. And what was up with her decision making? I could hardly follow her train of thought. Doesn't she think at all? At least the one thing that I didn't totally hate was how America was able to read Gregory Illea's diary. What a ******* he was. That's the only thing I want to know more about. Is the diary what the rebels are after or is it something else? I used to love Maxon to bits and pieces but this book ruined him for me. I didn't like him one bit. I guess that The Selection is some sort of game and Maxon has to be sure that he makes the right decision but please, I can't stand the whole thing. Dating all these girls, messing around with him. Ugh! No wonder America got so jealous. And really, Maxon, Celeste? REALLY? The only thing that's not totally awful is that I can sort of understand him a bit, with everything his father (who is a totally pyscho by the way) puts him through he wants distractions but there are other ways. I did feel sorry for what America witnessed at some point... Aspen still is some sort of vague character for me. He wasn't that much in the book but also not totally absent. He did some pretty nice things for America but after what happened to Marlee I can't understand why both him and America would take such huge risks. They are asking to get caught! And no, it doesn't mean that when I'm no longer team Maxon that I'm suddenly team Aspen. I can't pick any teams in this book because they both suck. I'm team America, get the hell out of there and work on yourself, please. The remaining girls in The Selection are definitely on my black list. Especially Kriss. I can't stand her. I get that America messed up and that suddenly Kriss and Maxon got close but it was all so awful to read about. And Celeste, I need her to leave already. There were some rebel attacks again. Wonder what that's about. It's awful but I'd rather read about them attacking the palace and have some action at least than America going back and forth with her two guys. Seriously. But even with the few attacks, we don't know anything. So yeah, frustration everywhere for every character. I was also quite disappointed with the author's writing. And I'm not saying this to bash her or anything. I don't even like giving a book this low a rating because I barely do that. But I couldn't get over it. I didn't like the writing at all. It felt rushed and I can't remember I hated it this much with The Selection. What happened I wondered. I missed action. A lot of them. You'd think because there are rebels, they should've been more of that than there was. Sadly enough it wasn't so. And I really disliked the ending. Literally nothing happened throughout this book. Nothing. I am so disappointed! At least the cover is beautiful and it was a fast read. Overall, The Elite by Kiera Cass was a huge disappointment. Everything from the frustrating characters to the lame plot to the weak writing, it all felt rushed. I wished I had liked it a lot more, but sadly enough I didn't. But I decided I will read the third book once it comes out because I want to know the ending. I hope it won't disappoint me again.show more

Well... I regret reading this book now. Because now I probably have to wait way to long for the sequel! That's just mean! I want it! I want it now! *Ahem* I guess you could say that I liked this book. No actually I didn't like it. I loved it! It was everything I hoped it to be and more! So So So SOOOOO AWESOME! The story starts almost right after the first book and the characters I fell in love with (some more than I should) or grew to hate so much (*cough*Celeste*cough*) are still here and I'm sooo happy! In this book we learn more about the history of the land through Diaries from Gregory Illea and we see a bit of a darker side of it. We get to know the King and Queen more in this book, which was awesome. I love Queen Amberly, she's so nice! But I hate the King. I really do. Almost as much as I hate Celeste, that *peeeeep*. Bleh. America is still awesome, even though maybe a little more emotional in this one. I get that I was too. I was so torn and I am just reading the book. If I were America, I would be crying all the time. But she is still true to herself and never forgets were she comes from and she isn't afraid to fight for what she thinks is right. And I'm glad she has support from some people in the palace. Now why is she so torn? Guys of course... Maxon... Sigh. My emotions were scrambled up good in this book, and that's mainly because of him. First I still love him, than I don't like him so much, than I do, than I hate him, and in the end I loved him again. Yeesh... I mean... I get that he needs to find a wife, but if he really loves America, like he says, why kissing those other girls? Okay yeah, sometimes America is to blaim for that one to because she pushes him away constantly (something I don't understand by the way... I would never push him away), but come on Maxon... Kissing Celeste? Seriously? If I could I would kick you right in your royal parts. But I can't stay mad at him for long, so... And then there's Aspen. Yeah he's a douchebag but at least he is a one-woman kind of guy and he fights for America. Something I admire. And it's romantic... So you see why America is so torn? I certainly am... But I still think I'm team Maxon. Oh and I love her dad! He made me cry quite a bit in this book with those letters he wrote to America. Wish I had a dad like that. And Marlee... I'm soooo not going to talk about her. I'll cry again. So yeah, this was awesome. I loved it. I want the sequel.show more

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to HarperCollins publishers and Netgalley.) This is book 2 in the 'The Selection' series, and picks up where book 1 left off. The 35 girls of 'The Selection' have been reduced to just 6, and it's time for America to not only work to keep her place in the game, but to also make a decision as to who she really wants to be with - Prince Maxon, or her childhood sweetheart Aspen The competition is also heating up, with some unexpected events, and more rebel action. What do the rebels want? Who will be sent home next? And who will America choose? Beautiful and captivating, this book had me from the very first page! I loved 'The Selection', and I was so excited to finally have a copy of 'The Elite' to read, and I really was not disappointed. America continued to be not only the underdog of the competition, but also the one who truly seemed to have captivated the prince's heart. Her heart seemed to be in the right place in that she was always doing what seemed right to her, even if the things she did endeared her more to the lower castes than the king. The romance in this book was quite sweet, but I really wanted America to just make a decision and stick with it! It seemed obvious how America and Maxon felt about each other, so the fact that he was off flirting with the other 5 girls in the selection, and she was still making out with Aspen was a bit annoying! I really wanted Maxon to just propose, and send the other girls home instead of them constantly seeming to play games with each others feelings. America also wore something which linked her to Aspen which for me was a really stupid thing to do, and the way she kept asking for more time was irritating too! I have to say that if America and Maxon don't end up together by the end of this series I will be really annoyed! I liked the storyline in this book, and although America was a little immature and indecisive at times I couldn't help but love this story. I don't know what it is about these books but I really love the way they are written, and I actually think that 'The Elite' was better than 'The Selection'! Overall; I really loved this book, and although America had her faults, I hated to put this down! Can't wait for book 3!!! I want it now!!! 9 out of 10.show more

I flew through this one and enjoyed getting to see another side of all of the characters. This one did a much better job at elaborating on the other girls, and I really enjoyed that. I know it was impossible in the first because getting to know America, Maxon and Aspen, and of course, there were just TOO many other girl. Oh, America. She still needs time. I don't know why I am surprised by this because it is only the second book in the series, and of course she hasn't made a decision. I just feel for her heart as well as Maxon and Aspen, because someone is going to get hurt. I enjoyed getting to know Marlee more, and interested at her reasoning for why she doesn't think she and Maxon are a good match. I, of course, have some speculations, but wanted more events to unfold. Besides, I just like her and America's friendship. It is refreshing to read about with all of the politics and love triangle afoot. Not saying that I don't like the romance, and getting deeper into that, I just like that aspect as well. But oh, at the event that the synopsis hints at with the devastating loss--oh my goodness. I couldn't believe it and wished that there was something I could do to change it. It made me want to cry and scream. And while I can understand America questioning herself and what she thought was her choice, I just wanted to strangle her because she wasn't looking at the whole picture. I was so mad at her at times, because while I understood needing to get her feelings straightened out, and I am usually all for the forbidden love, I just didn't want for anyone to get hurt. And she was playing with huge fire still having feelings with Aspen, and the risks that they took in Selection alone were enough to be charged with treason according to the rules. I couldn't look away from the book though, and my heart was torn just like hers with each twist and thing that happens, but I know that I am rooting for Maxon overall, and I think that America could do great things with him for the nation. I am so ready for the next book in the series, and it is almost sad that I got the arc because now I have to wait longer... But I was immersed in this story and counting down until I can read more. Bottom Line: Emotional second book where America's choices only get harder.show more