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Review: The One by Kiera Cass (The Selection #3)

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The One by Kiera Cass // VBC ReviewThe One (The Selection #3)
Kiera Cass
Published: May 6, 2014 (HarperTeen)
Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon
Review source: Purchased

Reviewed by: Krista

Rating (out of 5): 3.5 stars

Note: While this review will be spoiler free, it does reference events from past books in the series

The Selection series by Kiera Cass was one of my picks for our Beach Reads last year. In my mind it’s a perfect book for the beach—light but with just enough meat to bite into. Finally with The One we find out how the Selection plays out and if the kingdom will survive the results.

At the end of The Elite, the remaining girls vying for Maxon’s affection have been whittled down to four: Elise, Kriss, Celeste and America. Whereas America had once been the frontrunner in the Selection, she had recently received the ire of the King and was now on thin ice with Maxon. At the same time she still had conflicted feelings about her childhood love Aspen. Would she choose the guard or the prince? Thankfully, The One answers this question.

One of the things I really loved about the series wasn’t the Bachelor-like hoops America had to jump through but the events which were unfolding in the background. I wanted to know what were the differences between the southern rebels and the northern rebels. Why were the southern rebels more violent? Why was a northern rebel bowing to America, as if she was already the Queen? And though the King and the Aristocracy denied it the country seemed like it was on the cusp of a devastating revolution. I was engrossed with the maneuvering and machinations that America did almost unwittingly.

But The One, more than the others in the series, is about the relationship between America and Maxon. Before this book it was easy to forget how young our hero and heroine were but it is never more evident than it is in this book by what they say, or rather don’t say. They progress through the book in a silent battle with neither wanting to admit their feelings without some guarantee of reprisal. Each seems to stubbornly hold on to their ‘other options’. At times this became incredibly frustrating, as I just wanted to knock their heads together. If everyone involved had sat down, talked to each other openly and honestly things would have been resolved so much sooner. That being said I never once doubted America or the Prince’s true feelings.

My main misgiving with The One (and the series) was the villain or antagonist. Through the first two books the King was built up to be this powerful despot. But The One reveals the King as more of a petulant child. He is oblivious or dismissive of anything he doesn’t like. If there had been any depth to his anger and rage, it would have made the King more substantial. Even the subsequent conflict between the King and the Prince is resolved in a simplified glossed over manner.

This has never been a series known for its in-depth world building, instead you are left to fill in a lot of details on your own. Though the society is placed in the future, it seems an odd combination of futuristic and old fashioned. But really it’s mostly up to the readers own imagination. But the books are very fast paced and rarely does the reader stop to question the lack of details.

Overall I enjoyed The One. I was disappointed, but I would still recommend it and the series as great reads. That being said this is not one of those books that could be read without previous installments. As a conclusion to the series I was definitely satisfied with how things eventually played out. With the Selection trilogy coming to a close it will be interesting to see what Kiera Cass comes up with next.

Sexual content: Kissing

3 Responses to “Review: The One by Kiera Cass (The Selection #3)”

  1. Robin says:

    I enjoyed The One as a satisfying end to the series. I especially enjoyed the friendship and romance in the story. A nice summer read.

  2. I actually wanted to wait to read this series when all the books were out and now that it is I will be grabbing them. Glad to hear that the series wraps up nicely.

  3. Vivian says:

    This book was good summer read. I needed the end or my heart wouldve broken.

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