Book Review (Updated) of The One (The Selection #3) by Kiera Cass
The One is the third book in the series The Selection.
As America finds herself in the slimming pool of competitors, threats from outside the palace walls become more vicious and deadly.
Inside the palace, it's not always safe, but America finds herself closer to Prince Maxon and her competitors.
She finally understands what's happening, what the two factions of rebels want, and what needs to happen to make the attacks on the palace stop. The people love her and the king hates her. Will she be crowned?
This book was the best book of the three about America and Maxon. The final two are about King Maxon's daughter.
The first book, The Selection, set up the premise and the fact that the rebels attack sometimes but there are two groups. It establishes the characters and what the Selection is like.
The second book, The Elite, intensifies the danger element and explains far more about the dystopian reality of the world America lives in. The citizens begin to love her for her empathy and strong sense of right and wrong. But we see the king's true colors and what kind of ruler, husband, and father he is.
This book dives into not only the final girls in the Selection but also the rebels, potentially illegal activities America gets into for the benefit of the country, and how much Maxon respects and loves her for it.
The climax and resolution of the novel was great, a surprise that falls into good ways of writing—give the protagonist what they dream of but in a way the reader won't expect. A resolution of not only this book but the trilogy of books that tell America's story.
The more I got to know America Singer, the more I admired her. She took stupid risks of all kinds, some of them for the good of her country, some of them selfish. And she had an amazing sense of empathy, but she knew when to distrust someone. She made friends in the group of competitors, and she made enemies.
As the series progressed, I disliked Aspen more and more. I disliked him immediately when he pressured America to enter the Selection. Then when he became a palace guard, he risked both their lives to try to win back the girl he loved and broke up with. However, toward the end of this book, I began to like him.
Prince Maxon had a temper that flared occasionally, but usually only when he felt insulted or someone was overstepping their place. Otherwise, he was intelligent and worked hard with America to do the right things for their country, even in defiance of the king's laws. However, he fully participated in dating more than just America, which made her furious. I just kept thinking that this was what he was supposed to do, and to expect him not to do it was ridiculous.
I enjoyed that all main or major characters had flaws, some of them more serious than others. Many got redemption, but others did not. Some were punished along the way, and some were able to avoid that fate.
I'm glad I decided to read these books again!
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