Find your Future Husband in “The Selection”
In a future world where the countries we now know of have stopped existing, the new Kingdom of Illéa has quite an unusual way to chose who their future King will marry: a televised show where young women from their country will face each other to conquer the Prince’s heart.
(Careful, it will definetly contain spoilers)
About “The Selection”
The selection is a Trilogy written by Kiera Cass. I have been obsessed as a teenager with the story and even now that I am definitely grown up I still find entertaining re-reading the trilogy that I have loved in my youth. It is such a non sensical story — in a good way — because as someone who doesn’t actually watch reality show, I enjoy imagining this specific show far too much.
The story follows America — and no, I’m not speaking about the country — a member of Five, one of the Eight Castes in which Illéa has divided its people. She enters The Selection, without thinking to actually win and become the Queen. Mostly pushed by her mother, unaware of her relationship with another citizen of Illéa, America ends up being selected together with other thirty-four girls and take part in the competition to win Prince Maxon’s heart.
Of course, how could she be just a competitor with no intention to marry the Prince without actually falling in love with the young man? I mean c’mon, you know the drill, they obviously had to fall in love with each other. And they obviously had to do so in the midst of a half civil war — mostly rebels, but still definitely an unhappy country — and in front of multiple cameras, multiple secrets from both sides and a father-in-law who absolutely wasn’t planning for them to be together.
Is it messy? Absolutely.
Do we like it? Absolutely yes.
What to expect?
- Despite being set in the future, don’t expect any flying car, futuristic settings, working robots and what not. It’s ultimately a YA romance trilogy and the plot is ultimately the relationship between Maxon and America, with a bit of triangle not so triangle in the mix.
- The biggest enemy of the story should be the rebel. You know, they are the ones trying to sabotage the kingdom and destroy the caste — understandable — but in reality they are mostly shadows popping up here and there every once in a while to remind every one that no one likes Illéa.
- The biggest enemy is the King. In all fairness what would you expect from someone that puts in son and multiple young girl through a tv show just to get married? I dare to say poor Queen who has to deal with whatever her husband does and she blindly follows him. I mean how could he like America as a prospective daughter-in-law when she is so not following his order like a puppet? Of course he is worst than the rebels.
- Expect to be observant of an entire reality show. Three books, that’s how long the reality show is and that’s how long Maxon and America spend before deciding that actually we want to stay with the other. Like really? Book One wasn’t clear already?
In all fairness, as much as I love this book and as much as the trilogy works before new elements are added each time, if it was we could have just gone forcing Maxon and America to go head to head and just move. You were obviously not ending up with others.
Will you Like it?
I think you will. Though I would say you will as long as you don’t expect anything too adventurous. Again despite being set in the future, don’t expect any Hunger Games or Divergent, it’s a completely different book. Though it might vibe the reality style as in HG, with a talented host and punishment for everything wrong done to embarrass the royal family.
It is an easy read, great for just enjoy a day under the sun without too many thoughts. You are also following teenagers so be aware of that, if you prefer to follows story with older characters. There aren’t too many surprises or at least nothing that will make you rethink all of your decisions for the next few days. It is a funny reading, nice characters, cool concept and something that again you will want to read again when you have some free time.
There’s also a sequel, a duology to be exact, bringing you even more into the Selection’s world if you will like the trilogy and its setting. So give it a thought.
Happy reading,
Marianna