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Jan 27, 2015callmeprincess rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
It was very hard for me to rate this book, I loved the entire series and the first two books were beyond amazing, so naturally I had sky-high expectations... It was close, so close to being a perfect conclusion for a perfect trilogy, but at some parts I felt it was rushed, and the ending was way too predictable. Regardless, I enjoyed reading the book and was very happy to see my "ship" sail (spoiler-ish). It completes the series rather nicely, and fans will not be disappointed. “The Selection changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever. And now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen. " America had never imagined a day when she'd be living in the palace or wanting to win Prince Maxon’s heart. As the Selection narrows down to the Elite, and then four girls were left competing for the One, America realizes just how much she wants to be with Maxon. But when competition approaches its end and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious she’ll have to fight for the future she wants. Author Kiera Cass has done a fantastic job of keeping up the suspense mixed with swoon-worthy romance almost to the very end as her heroine struggles to choose between her new love in the palace and her first love, who's followed her to the royal court. Between her basic instincts for justice and new demands on her integrity, she will have to make so many decisions in so little time. America had transitioned from the feisty girl with a chip on her shoulder who entered the contest for her parents' wishes to a young woman who values the prince and the country he loves. There is strong romantic dynamic as America battles her long-term loyalty to Aspen Leger, the boy with whom she spent forbidden hours in a tree house, and her attraction and respect for the future King of Illea, Prince Maxon. Political conflict and danger are built into the plotline as rebel forces try to take down the monarchy, get rid of the caste system and restore what was once the United States, and America is inevitably dragged into all of this. The king played a dark role in Maxon's childhood, and is up to him to stand up to his father, or lose the girl he loves forever. The friendship between the Selection girls deepen as America learns to love and depend on the girls in the final four who started out as her rivals in the competition, but not all the girls are what they seem, and some came with satisfying twists. The characters are fleshed out and the dialogue felt real. America is an admirable person somewhat unaware of her own magnetism and charm. She clearly has the prince intrigued from the beginning but doesn't really understand that. She moves along, making a difference with her choices while sweeping the reader into her story and rooting for her to be the queen. It ultimately was "Team Maxon" vs. "Team Aspen" tale, and I couldn't be happier be know the result to THAT competition. It was one of my favorite love-triangle and I think overall fans on both side would be content with the ending. So as another of my dearest series come to an end, I couldn't help but to remember the good times I had with these books, the joy I felt...Wait, WHAT?! There's another one coming out this year?!! That's right this conclusion wasn't the end, the fourth book of the Selection series "The Heir" is coming soon.