REVIEW: The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson

Title: The Summer Prince

Author: Alaya Dawn Johnson

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Publication Date: March 1, 2013
Source: ARC from ARCycling (thank you!)
Rating: 4/5
Get it: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

A heart-stopping story of love, death, technology, and art set amid the tropics of a futuristic Brazil.

The lush city of Palmares Três shimmers with tech and tradition, with screaming gossip casters and practiced politicians. In the midst of this vibrant metropolis, June Costa creates art that’s sure to make her legendary. But her dreams of fame become something more when she meets Enki, the bold new Summer King. The whole city falls in love with him (including June’s best friend, Gil). But June sees more to Enki than amber eyes and a lethal samba. She sees a fellow artist.

Together, June and Enki will stage explosive, dramatic projects that Palmares Três will never forget. They will add fuel to a growing rebellion against the government’s strict limits on new tech. And June will fall deeply, unfortunately in love with Enki. Because like all Summer Kings before him, Enki is destined to die.

Pulsing with the beat of futuristic Brazil, burning with the passions of its characters, and overflowing with ideas, this fiery novel will leave you eager for more from Alaya Dawn Johnson.

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions

The Summer Prince was awe-inspiring, beautifully written, and imaginable from the world, to the characters, and to the overall storyline. 

Palamares Tres was a city full of life. Who knew a city shaped into a pyramid could be so fascinatingly wondrous as this one! This world that Alaya Dawn Johnson created was not lacking in lights, color, art, and culture. It was vast, seemingly vivid, and utterly captivating. In this futuristic world, there was an immense amount of advanced technology and vocabulary that I didn’t understand, but desperately tried to.  As perfect as Palamares Tres may seem, it is not without social classification, political corruption, and endless judgement. Here, women are in charge and hold high power and stature over men. Every five years a new Summer King is elected for a year, only to die a horrible death to choose a new queen. In the midst of this world there is a rivalry between wakas (people under 30) and grandes (people over 30), a rebellion between technophiles (those for more technology) and isolationists (those against more technology), and the rise of those who live in the lower class called the Verde.

Main character June Costa, was an ambitious, outgoing, and driven artist. She was passionate, a little rebellious and defiant towards the things she believed and didn’t believe in. She wanted everyone in the city to see and know her work. June wanted to be famous and be the best artist in Palamares Tres. While her ambitious nature is her strong suit, it is also her downfall. In her quest to be the best, June becomes blindsided, selfish, and extremely self-centered. However, June does more good within this novel by helping Enki by being strong willed and ready to prove herself. She becomes the person Enki knows her to be and she ends up letting go what she truly wants for something much more important. 


My favorite part of this book was not the world, not the writing, or even June. It was the Summer Prince, Enki. While June may have been the narrator of this book, Enki was the star. He was also an artist who expressed himself through his voice, actions, and his body. His presence, his performances, and the way he spoke to the crowd hypnotizes all. Enki was charismatic, beautiful, and enigmatic and he knew it. He used this to manipulate to get what he wanted and made sure his voice was heard. The best thing about Enki was his mysterious allure. He was the type of person you could spend all your time with, but never truly grasp or hold on to because Enki was too beautiful to touch, too lithe to catch, and too layered to know. The people of Palarmes Tres loved him, June’s best friend Gil, loved him, even June herself loved him. Bold, daring, rebellious and catches mere attention with a wink, Enki was a rarity I wished I could have known in reality. I loved him, I loved him, I simply loved him.

While complex and intricate of a story, The Summer Prince does have its faults. The pacing is rather slow, so slow, that things don’t truly pick up well into half of the novel. While unique and original at best, the slow pacing is coupled with a plot line that is confusing and very hard to understand, if not follow. I found myself stopping to look up words and even rereading a few pages back. This would have put me off if I wasn’t so compelled to finish and get more Enki and June. The romance in this book is unconventional and maybe even unusual. I seriously loved that sexual orientation was not an issue and with no second thought to the people. It was refreshing and made me hope that someday our world would be like this. The fate of this book was predictable in of itself, but I still found it very heartbreaking and crushing. I was moved by the bittersweetness of how everything played out. 


Overall, The Summer Prince managed to capture my heart despite all of its difficulty. I was enraptured by the story, maybe even a little obsessed.

REVIEW: The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett

Title: The Nightmare Affair (The Arkwell Academy #1)
Author: Mindee Arnett
Publisher: Tor Teen
Publication Date: March 5, 2013
Format: ARC; 367 pages
Rating: 5/5
Get it: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Sixteen-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare.

Literally.

Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy, is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder.

Then Eli’s dream comes true.

Now Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target.

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions

The Nightmare Affair was a novel where Nightmares, demons, wizards, fairies and more are real. They’re walking, talking, living, and blending among us. The Nightmare Affair was full of imagination and creativity. Mindee Arnett created a book that was easily entertaining and one that was riveting, gripping and so much fun to read.

Destiny, better known as Dusty, was one spectacular character! Not even one page into the book, I was completely in love with her. Dusty had so much personality, so much spunk that it wasn’t hard to like her immediately. Honestly, I wanted to be Dusty’s friend, for real, forever. I liked that Dusty was a flawed character who had insecurities about herself, who was slightly awkward and clumsy, but still be super cool and down to earth too. In The Nightmare Affair, she started off as a someone to be scared of or someone to ignore, but as she learned more about herself and as her determination grew, the more her confidence did too. Dusty definitely had this paranormal, snarky, snappy Nancy Drew detective attitude going on that I’m sure many will enjoy. With a big mouth and a sharp tongue, Dusty was one fun character you don’t want to miss getting the chance to know!

Romance wise, this book definitely has some high points. There’s no insta-love here! Dusty grows to like two boys. Both are sweet and care very much for her. What I like about the relationship that Dusty had with Paul and Eli, was that they grew and develop to potentially be something more later on. There was room for feelings to deepen further. There was room to strengthen or break bonds. Mindee Arnett created something believable and real. Dusty’s feelings for Paul and Eli felt true and no where near forced. It just felt natural. My favorite had to be Eli because I loved how their partnership turned into a friendship where they were there for each other despite the daunting circumstances they were in at the moment. Dusty had a different kind of relationship with Paul compared to Eli, but Arnett still managed to make it so I loved both to the point of sever attachment problems. 

What truly made this book memorable and down right fantastic, was the world. What I thought was just going to be another paranormal world paralleled to the human world, I got something so much better, more realistic, more believable, and way more captivating. I loved every single aspect about this world from all the different magickinds, to the school grounds of Arkwell Academy, to the Magi Senate, to the role of the Keepers, the purpose of the Will, and even how Animation occurs. There was so much going on within this world, it was complex and involved but I never got overwhelmed or confused. In fact, the more I learned more about Dusty’s world, the more I wished I lived in it with her and the more I wished it were real. I especially loved getting to know about Nightmares and how their feeding and dreamwalking worked. It was very interesting. I really enjoyed learning about the magickind hierarchy between naturekind, witchkind, darkind and of course, the halfkind. Even in this world there was constant discrimination, popularity feuds, and the need for control and more power. This book was so much more than just a simple murder story. There was a tangled web of betrayal, deceit and lies that made you doubt which characters you could really trust. In a world with magic, rules, and order, you’ll find hidden secrets that threaten the peace that makes this world far from perfect than what it seemed. 



Overall, The Nightmare Affair was filled with mystery, suspense and even some adventure. It was not only witty and clever, but very entertaining. Just this first book alone has made me a fan of Arnett’s for life!

REVIEW: Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook

Title: Nobody But Us
Author: Kristin Halbrook
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: January 29, 2013
Format: ARC; 272 pages
Rating: 4/5 stars
Get It: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Bonnie and Clyde meets IF I STAY in this addictively heart-wrenching story of two desperate teenagers on the run from their pasts.

They’re young. They’re in love. They’re on the run.

Zoe wants to save Will as much as Will wants to save Zoe. When Will turns eighteen, they decide to run away together. But they never expected their escape to be so fraught with danger....

When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can’t run fast enough.

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions

I have read a few mixed reviews when it came to Nobody but Us by Kristin Halbrook so I was feeling some hesitation when I started it. However, after a few pages it was already difficult to put the book down. I got desperation, heartbreak, and one touching novel that surprised me in the best possible ways. One thing is for sure, I loved Nobody but Us and I’m more than glad I read this amazing book.

What I truly loved most about this book is Halbrook’s writing. It was more than beautiful, real, and believable. She really brought the story and the character’s personalities to life. She makes you feel like you’re in the book with Will and Zoe, feeling their panic and their exhilaration of being on the road away from their troubles. I really enjoyed the spilt point of views between both characters because I felt like I was getting to know each side of their story and how they felt along the way. Because we don’t get to know Zoe and Will while they fall in love, the spilt POVs helped understand their relationship. I liked that some of their past was relived through their flashbacks because it helped make me believe the strength of their feelings for one another. The pacing, while not particularly fast, wasn’t slow either. It was the type of book where the plot builds and builds until the point of no return where everything just explodes into your face. Each chapter was always something different and something new and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. 

To be honest, I have a love/hate relationship with Zoe. She was young, naive, innocent and sometimes just plain clueless. However, Zoe was smart in some aspects and made some of her own decisions even when she was scared. Some of the things she did though, drove me crazy! Half the time I wanted to shake her because she was just frustrating or being completely and utterly stupid. I did like that Zoe believed in Will and saw the good in him. Although he was all that she had at the moment, she didn’t want to depend on him for everything. I also liked that she didn’t allow him to talk down to her when he did. While Zoe definitely had plenty of weaknesses, she definitely shined in the end of the book and showed her true strength. 

Will was my favorite of the two, no matter how broken he was and no matter how bad his temper was, I loved him. Ruggedly handsome, tough as nails, and loyal as hell, Will was just the best. I understood his protective nature for Zoe and I loved how much he wanted to prove his worth to her and himself. He was determined to take Zoe away, to take care of her and give her a better life. I really loved how he supported what Zoe wanted. Though twistedly wrong and totally rash, Will’s intentions were in the right place. He was a bad boy who got into a lot of fights, but he definitely had a soft and vulnerable side that he could not hide in front of Zoe. He really wanted to be a good man and a good person towards Zoe. He wanted to do and be everything for Zoe and in the end, Will rose up to do the right thing, sacrificed what he really wanted, and became the true hero I knew he would be from the start. 

While the tagline gave me everything I needed to know where the book was going to go, I really enjoyed seeing how everything played out. The anticipation of what will happen next was always there. I felt like any minute what Zoe and Will left behind was going to come rushing at them to bite them in the butt. Both Will and Zoe were broken and both had their own demons. I could tell they loved and cared for each other, but the way they handled things during their journey was just a reminder of how in over their heads they were. It was obvious how young they were and how they didn’t really know what they were doing. Their relationship, although filled with love, was also filled with border-line destruction. Nothing good can come out of their situation, but I was so eager to finish the book and see how Will and Zoe’s story all played out. 


With a bittersweet ending that made me tear up and made my heart ache, Halbrook still left me with hope despite how everything turned out.

REVIEW: Crewel by Gennifer Albin

Title: Crewel
Author: Gennifer Albin
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Publication Date: October 16, 2012
Format: egalley* 368 pages
Rating: 4/5
Get it: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Enter a tangled world of secrets and intrigue where a girl is in charge of other’s destinies, but not her own.

Sixteen-year-old Adelice Lewys has always been special. When her parents discover her gift—the ability to weave the very fabric of reality—they train her to hide it. For good reason, they don’t want her to become a Spinster — one of the elite, beautiful, and deadly women who determine what people eat, where they live, how many children they have, and even when they die.

Thrust into the opulent Western Coventry, Adelice will be tried, tested and tempted as she navigates the deadly politics at play behind its walls.  Now caught in a web of lies and forbidden romance, she must unravel the sinister truth behind her own unspeakable power.  Her world is hanging by a thread, and Adelice, alone, can decide to save it — or destroy it.

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions

Crewel was not lacking in creativity. In fact, it was brimming with originality. Gennifer Albin put together a book with ingenious world building and stunningly illustrious writing. What I expected out of Crewel was beyond anything I ever imagined and more. 


In Arras, everything is controlled by the Guild; who you marry, when and how many kids you can have, what you eat, what your future job will be is all decided for you. Men are superior to woman, families with children are segregated between female and male, and young girls with special abilities are taken to be Spinsters who control the fabric of life in Arras. The world that Gennifer Albin created and built from the bottom up was really brought to life in Crewel. It felt surreal, nearly dream-like, but it also felt substantial and essential in the way Albin described the inner workings of it all. It was described in great detail, explained to the extent of allowing yourself to be placed within just like Adelice. I didn’t just read about Arras, I felt like I was living and breathing in it. Albin gets down to the very core of this world with the Spinsters, the Guild, and all the officials that control Arras. Not only do we know how this world works, but we also learn why and how it came to be. There is so many elements to this world that make it work, grow and thrive. It’s not only fascinating, it’s intricate and complex. While Albin gives us a lot to start with, she still allows room for interest and yearning to know more. 

Main character and spunky, sharp-tongued Adelice Lewys was the star of this novel. She may have been frightened by the her new surroundings, but I felt and saw the fire within her and her will to fight for what she believed was right. She was definitely a little innocent and naive about a lot, but Adelice was intelligent and she cared. Although she listened, followed, and went along with her training and learning, she still knew her place, knew what she wanted and she never lost herself to the privileges that was given to her as an Eligible. Adelice cared deeply about her family and the friends she made within the Western Coventry. I seriously admired Adelice’s feisty personality and how she was sassy and just a handful to many people’s eyes. Even though her big mouth and quiet defiance got her in trouble time to time, Adelice never gave up. She was a rebel at heart who was courageous and clever all the way. The best thing about Adelice is the fact she didn’t let the power she knew had go over her head. Her compassion and kindness gave way to a character who was true and good from the bottom of her heart. 

I love the connection Adelice had with both Erik and Jost. Albin made it so I was able to fall for both characters so easily. It didn’t really matter who Adelice would pick, because I felt either one would be a suitable for her. They both had great chemistry together. Eric was the comic relief during all the intense and serious parts of Crewel. At first he seemed like an arrogant pretty boy, but underneath was someone who was so funny and charming. Jost, on the other hand, was rough around the edges in the beginning. But Jost was a cool and witty guy. He watched out for Adelice and gave her advice even when she thought she didn’t need it. He saw how different she was compared to all the other Eligibles. Erik and Jost were different in some ways, but also the same in others. I believe that both cared for Adelice in their own way. In the end, I loved both of them and I bet other readers will definitely have a hard time choosing between the two. 


Crewel had some predictable moments, in which I somehow knew how things were going to go, but there were still plenty of times where I was surprised by the twists that Albin placed within the story. I really enjoyed Albin’s clean and delightful writing. It was detailed and very thought-provoking. I thought the pacing of the whole book was great overall. Some parts were a little slow at times, but I wasn’t bored. In fact, I enjoyed finding out more seeing how the story would unravel. I loved how thorough the world building was and how developed the characters were.

All in all, Crewel was one crafty and intriguing dystopian novel that I found wanting to explore further on. 

*Thanks to Macmillan for sending a copy for review

Stacking the Shelves #21

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews where you can share books obtained via the bookstore, the library, online, through trade, borrowed from friends, gifted and/or received for review that you're adding to your shelf.

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Books Mentioned:
Received -
Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgewick
The Summer Prince by Alaya Sawn Johnson
The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett (borrowed)
Black City by Elizabeth Richards
Beta by Rachel Cohn
Crewel by Gennifer Albin
Live Through This by Mindi Scott
Through to You by Emily Hainsworth
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone
Venom by Fiona Paul

Ebooks mentioned:
For review/blog tour-
Down to You by M. Leighton (blog tour)
Waterfall by Lacy Danes (blog tour)
Mind Games by Kiersten White
The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter
Wicked Kiss by Michelle Rowen
Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson

Won-
The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski
Wings of Tavea by Devri Walls
Temptation's Heat by Michelle Zink
Temptation's Kiss by Michelle Zink
Unwrap Me by Carolina Jordan and Samantha Spencer
Captivated by You by Diane Alberts

Bought-
The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen
The Mighty Storm by Samantha Towle
Avoiding Commitment by K.A. Linde
Unravel Me by Kendall Ryan
The Secret of Ella and Micha byJessica Sorensen
Devoured by Emily Snow

Kindle Freebies-
Scorched Skies by Samantha Young
Rogue by Leigh T. Moore
Enemies & Playmates by Darcia Helle
Lawful Escort by Tina Folsom

Bloggers Mentioned:
ARCycling
Emily @ Emily's Reading Room
Aeicha @ Word Spelunking
Susan @ Wasterpaper Prose
AToMR Tours
Bewitching Book Tours

Special thanks to:
Macmillan
Edelweiss - Harper Teen
Netgalley -  Harlequin Teen & Random House
Jessica Redmerski
Devri Walls
Michelle Zink & Swoon Romance

What did you get?

REVIEW: Touch of Death by Kelly Hashway

Title: Touch of Death (Touch of Death #1)
Author: Kelly Hashway - Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Expected Publication Date: January 15, 2013
Format: ARC* 235 pages
Rating: 5/5
Get it: Amazon || B&N || The Book Depository

Jodi Marshall isn’t sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she’s in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she’s being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.

After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he’s not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she’s part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendents of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.

Jodi’s deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn’t difficult enough, Jodi discovers she’s the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can’t figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.

My Review

Life and death are always intertwined..

Touch of Death starts off with an ordinary girl who seemed to be accident prone, nearly killing everything and everyone she comes into contact with. This really blows for a girl like Jodi Marshall, even more so when she can’t even kiss the boy she likes. But Jodi is destined for greater things and not being able to a kiss a boy is the least of her problems. In this book, we are introduced to a whole new world full of necromancers and a twist in Greek mythology’s Medusa. Kelly Hashway creates one book that is pure excellence and will leave you with mind blown goodness. 

Jodi was a fantastic character. I loved her immediately because I felt like I could relate to her easily. She was really cool, but was a powerful girl even before everything went down. Jodi was a little clumsy and awkward, but a believable and real character. She had a strong voice in the beginning, but even more so by the end of the book. Jodi was the type of person who was brave and thought ahead. She was definitely funny too. What I admired most about Jodi was how she takes everything with a mature and graceful manner, no matter how weird or unbelievable things felt to her. Jodi had a heart of gold and was an overall good person. She had morals and beliefs and with all the power at her fingertips, she doesn’t abuse it. She uses it for good and is never tempted. I loved how Jodi took into consideration of the feelings of the living and the dead. She truly cared for everything and everyone. Jodi doesn’t brush things off, but takes responsibility for her actions. She embraced her true identity and power and made sacrifices that left me in awe. 

Even though Alex spooked Jodi out in the beginning, I knew he was going to be character I was going to fall hard for and boy was I right! Alex was a great guy. He saved Jodi from herself and taught and trained her all the things she needed to know. He helped her and he comforted her when she was feeling down. I loved how Alex continued to encourage and believe in Jodi, especially when she felt like she didn’t have confidence in herself. Alex was a charming, friendly guy and was just a total endearing sweetheart. He is not hard to love. His close relationship with Jodi was a joy to read. I loved seeing them together because they just had a deep connection and wonderful chemistry. Their romance will definitely make hearts flutter. 

Kelly Hashway wrote an amazing novel. Her writing captured me and reeled me in. Her writing style was lively and appealed to all the senses. I loved her take on the mythology with Medusa, Ophiuchus and the Ophi. Medusa is usually seen as a bad character, but in Touch of Death, we see a whole new side of Medusa that I absolutely loved. Hashway made necromancers completely fascinating and alluring, but she also made them tough, powerful and extraordinary. I loved every aspect of the storyline that Hashway created and how she explained the powers, history and origin of the Ophi very well. The pacing was just right with the information trickling and dispersing through the story to keep one enticed. Hashway did a great job of keeping things hidden until they were revealed later in a way that you never saw coming. She brought the mystery and suspense at just the right moments and she made sure to keep things entertained so you felt like thing were always happening. The best parts are the plot twists and the dangerous, ominous feel of the whole book. The very last scenes become such a rush, it leaves you with no words. 

Overall, Touch of Death was a novel that put me at the edge of my seat, made me swoon and had me itching and begging for more. Kelly Hashway is one spectacular writer and storyteller and I cannot wait to get my hands on more of her books!

*Thanks to Spencer Hill Press for providing a copy for review

REVIEW: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Title: The Selection (The Selection #1)
Author: Kiera Cass
Publisher: HarperTeen
Published: April 24, 2012
Format: ARC* 327 pages

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:
The Selection by Kiera Cass was definitely an enchanting read for me from the very start. I was swept away by the connection I felt with the characters, the whole Selection process and the romance that was slowly building up. Admittedly, The Selection reminded me of a cross between The Hunger Games and The Bachelor mixed with royalty, beauty and elegance. 



America Singer’s distaste for the Selection is apparent from the beginning and she wants no part in being one of the lucky thirty-five girls who will compete to win Prince Maxon’s heart and the crown to be the next princess. Being the simple Five that she is, America doesn’t want anything to do with gowns, jewelry and fame. She’s content with being a Five, singing and playing music to help her family. She’s even more happy to stay with Aspen, her first love and boyfriend, despite the fact that he is a Six and their relationship is completely forbidden and frowned upon. However, with her mother’s insistence and at Aspen’s request, America goes ahead and signs up for the Selection. America’s so sure that she won’t be picked, but she is completely surprised when her name is called as one of the Selected. Although America dreads the whole thing, she wants to continue for her family. The money she gets for being a Selected is something her family needs at the moment. More so, America is certain she won’t be staying long. But she never learns and soon enough, America starts to see that Prince Maxon is not who she thought he was and the more she spends time with him, the more she learns that this lifestyle is something she could easily fall into and be a part of.

I absolutely became smitten and adored The Selection the moment I finished the first chapter. The whole idea of The Selection had me so intrigued. I loved what Kiera Cass created within the book. The way she tied in old ways with new and modern ones was simply marveling. I’ve always been fascinated with royal families and I’ve always had this sort of longing to know what it was like to be in one. I specifically liked the way that Kiera Cass placed the people in the book. The rest of the people were set apart from the royal family, divided into a caste system of numbers. A One being considered the highest, such as the royal family, while Eight being the lowest, being a maid or servant. What I enjoyed about this was being able to learn what each caste did and how they lived their lives. It was important to see the difference between each caste and the rules in which they must abide by and I thought Kiera Cass developed this quite well. I do have to comment on the development of the world building. I was hoping there would be more insight on how the country came to be. However, I believe that because of the lack of this, more can be described in the next book since this one was more focused on the Selection itself. 



As a main character, America Singer really stood out for me. Before being Selected, I already saw the strength in America and her overall rebellion and knack for not following the rules. She thinks for herself and she’s stubborn as hell and has a temper to match. She’s really talented, being able to speak in three different languages and the fact that she can sing and play various instruments really made me love her more. After being Selected, I was amazed at how America stayed true to herself. Even with the beautiful clothes and excellent food, she doesn’t change who she is inside. America even tries to befriend the other girls despite being their competition and the some of the mean things they have to say. America doesn’t even see how beautiful and strong she is. Getting to know America and watching her go through the Selection process with the other girls made me see how perfect she would be as a princess. Her opinions and thoughts about the country when she talks with Maxon was just more evidence of her overall potential. The relationship that America had with Maxon was unusual, but so nice. I liked how they slowly became friends and then little by little they started to like each other more than that. America and Maxon just fit so well together. Their relationship is easy, satisfying and never forced. They learn to trust each other allowing America to open up to Maxon, telling him about the world outside the palace and in turn, Maxon tells her about his duties, hardships being prince and his thoughts on the state of the country. 


It’s not hard to like the other characters in the book, especially Maxon. At first, I saw him only the way America did: handsome, yet stiff and formal. As she got to know him, I did too. He may be a prince, but he’s just a normal person. He sweet and thoughtful and a complete gentleman. He’s so lovable, innocent and guarded all at the same time. Deep down, I could see that he had his own doubts about being the future king. He has fears, hopes, dreams and things he’s afraid he’ll never have no matter how much he desires them. He’s afraid he won’t be loved or that he’ll never live up to his duties and that no one will take him seriously. Maxon questions himself and his abilities. It seems like he’s this powerful and sure person, but he’s not as confident and as poised as he seems to be. He’s just a regular guy at heart. Because of this and way Maxon carries himself, I fell for him so hard. I love him so so much, I’m definitely rooting for him and America. With Aspen, I must say that I did like him as well, but I just couldn’t bring myself to love him the way I did with Maxon. Aspen is charming, a romantic and passionate person. He was also admirable and selfless, but his pride got the best of him. He’s only apparent in the beginning of book and again in the end and I think his absence ultimately hurt him in my eyes and heart. Other memorable characters was America’s cute little sister, America’s maids: Anne, Lucy and Mary, but also a few of the other Selected such as Marlee and Kriss were a few of my favorites.

Although I already knew America was going to be picked as a Selected, the anticipation I felt when she was announced burst out of me. The competition between the girls was pretty exciting and somewhat intense in some parts. Many times, I was felt America’s fear, anger, jealousness, nervousness and giddiness throughout the whole book. 



The Selection was downright amazing and brilliantly written. It’s no wonder I completely immersed myself within this book, flipping through each page without hesitancy. I really wanted to live in this world and experience what America went through. I didn’t expect to love The Selection as much as I did and I’m more than happy to have read such a lovely book. It was everything I hoped it would be and then some. There is no denying that I’ll be looking forward to more of America and her journey as a Selected in the next book to come.



My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars


*Thanks to NYMBC (Maggie) for sending me an ARC to read. I super appreciate it. <3 :)

My Review of The Selection on NYMBC

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