Hello everyone! This week's Mark This Book Monday are gonna be up a little later than usual, but my weekend off and away did shake my schedule a bit!
The Elite by Kiera Cass
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I got an ARC for review of this book via NetGalley and finished it right before release day. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I wasn't sure what rating to give it so I decided to wait a bit and let it settle in, but then I thought I had already reviewed it and completely forgot to do so till now!
The Elite starts right were The Selection left us, with America as part of the Elite six girls left for Maxon to choose his bride from. She still needs to figure out if she can give up Aspen completely and if she's ready to take on all the responsabilities the being the future queen would entail.
This book is one of the rare instances when a clear love triangle has a certain purpose and doesn't irritate the heck out of me. America has Aspen in her life now and even though they have very limited interactions, he is determined not to give up on her, and Maxon is also trying to become a better prince because of America and the fresh perspective on many things she is giving him.
We learn more about the Royal family, and we get a very good look at the past of Illea and how it came to be how it is. America gets quite a shock since things are not as she was taught (are they ever?) and she finds herself making some rash choices that might have not been very bright ones in hindsight but that are quite right for who she is. America has her heart in the right place, and is quite against injustice so some of the events show her a side of Maxon and the Royal family that she can't agree with, bringing up some more doubts to her choice. At the same time, what happened with Marley (not gonna give more details, no spoilers) also showed us a different side of Maxon, and add a bit more contrast between his public persona that agrees with his father, and his real self that wants to be different and be different from his father.
There are quite a few unexpected revelations, the threat of the rebels is present and a bit mdore ire, though I keep on wondering what their real purpose is, and how it is so easy for them to infiltrate the palace and escape capture. I'm hoping we'll get a bit more information about their real purpose and how they came to be in the final book!
At the end of the book America is equally confused and unable to decide, Maxon is trying harder to be his own person and we get a good look at who the King really is and what America will have to deal with if she were to become Queen.
I'm quite interested to see how this love triangle will be resolved, cause I am not sure who I'd choose myself either!
The Elite was quite a fun read with some emotional moments I connected with, so I give it 3 and a half stars!
View all my reviews
The Elite by Kiera CassMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I got an ARC for review of this book via NetGalley and finished it right before release day. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I wasn't sure what rating to give it so I decided to wait a bit and let it settle in, but then I thought I had already reviewed it and completely forgot to do so till now!
The Elite starts right were The Selection left us, with America as part of the Elite six girls left for Maxon to choose his bride from. She still needs to figure out if she can give up Aspen completely and if she's ready to take on all the responsabilities the being the future queen would entail.
This book is one of the rare instances when a clear love triangle has a certain purpose and doesn't irritate the heck out of me. America has Aspen in her life now and even though they have very limited interactions, he is determined not to give up on her, and Maxon is also trying to become a better prince because of America and the fresh perspective on many things she is giving him.
We learn more about the Royal family, and we get a very good look at the past of Illea and how it came to be how it is. America gets quite a shock since things are not as she was taught (are they ever?) and she finds herself making some rash choices that might have not been very bright ones in hindsight but that are quite right for who she is. America has her heart in the right place, and is quite against injustice so some of the events show her a side of Maxon and the Royal family that she can't agree with, bringing up some more doubts to her choice. At the same time, what happened with Marley (not gonna give more details, no spoilers) also showed us a different side of Maxon, and add a bit more contrast between his public persona that agrees with his father, and his real self that wants to be different and be different from his father.
There are quite a few unexpected revelations, the threat of the rebels is present and a bit mdore ire, though I keep on wondering what their real purpose is, and how it is so easy for them to infiltrate the palace and escape capture. I'm hoping we'll get a bit more information about their real purpose and how they came to be in the final book!
At the end of the book America is equally confused and unable to decide, Maxon is trying harder to be his own person and we get a good look at who the King really is and what America will have to deal with if she were to become Queen.
I'm quite interested to see how this love triangle will be resolved, cause I am not sure who I'd choose myself either!
The Elite was quite a fun read with some emotional moments I connected with, so I give it 3 and a half stars!
View all my reviews
I'd choose Maxon. Mainly for one reason - Aspen thought it was smart to start seeing her after what happened with Marlee?? *facepalm*
ReplyDeleteYeah, really not a wise choice! But I understand how hard it can be for America to let go of Aspen!
DeleteI read the first book, but haven't gotten to The Elite, yet. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteKate @ Ex Libris
Thank you, Kate! I'd love to read your review when you get to it!
DeleteWow a purposeful triangle! So rare but I have seen some instances of triangles that I'm like "yeah this totally works" I think it all has to do with the characters and the realism. Some just add a triangle without really having an angle other than causing drama and... yeah those just suck. Anyways, I've had The Selection on my TBR for a while. I'm a bit iffy on it I feel like I won't like it for some reason but I'm so curious! >.<
ReplyDeleteIt's not a life changing book, but the love triangle here is done to explore the choices of the main character and also to show a bit of what this dystopian world is about. Also makes sense in a way, she was abandoned by her bf and she's beginning to feel something for the new guy, and then the bf comes back, so it's realistic to have doubts on who to choose!
DeleteI read The Selection in one day (that's not usual to me!) and ended up giving it 5 stars because the story really got me. But when I think about it I realized it wasn't 5 stars-worthy. Anyway, I'm curious to read The Elite, though I maybe will when The One is closer!
ReplyDeleteGreat review, as usual!
Happy reading!
Thank you, Lis! I agree, reading the Elite closer to The One is a good idea!
DeleteI liked both The Selection and The Elite and enjoyed them a lot, but I feel that I can't give them the same rating than other books that have a different depth to them!
Thanks, Aman! If I were you, I'll wait till One is close to coming out and do a binge reading on the series! It'd be so much more fun that way!
ReplyDeleteGreat review. <3 Glad you mostly enjoyed it :) But omg, how I HATE love triangles. Sad face. I'm not sure yet if I will read these books, though I do own them.. just waiting for book three, so that I can see how it all ends :D Thank you for sharing. <3
ReplyDeleteI'd suggest a binge reading once The One comes out!
DeleteAnd yeah, I'm not a fan of love triangles, but this one tends to make sense!