The One (The Selection, #3) by Kiera Cass

Title: The One (The Selection)
Classification: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopia
Series: The Selection (Book 3)
Format: Hardcover; 336 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (May 6, 2014)
ISBN-10: 0062059998
ISBN-13: 978-0062059994
Notes: I bought this one.


It is the tradition in the kingdom of Illea for the prince, who will succeed his father as king, to marry a woman from his homeland. It is the duty of the princesses, on the other hand, to be married off and form alliances with other countries. When a prince comes of age, a Selection is held where all eligible unmarried females in the kingdom may submit their name for consideration for marrying the Prince. A year ago Prince Maxon Calix Schreave came of age and the Selection process began.

Many of those who submit their names do so in the hopes of bettering their family's status, gaining the prestige associated with being one of the selected, and the fame and notoriety that comes with the whole process. America Singer did not submit her name for any of those reasons. She entered the Selection in the hope of making her parents happy and getting them off her back. Never in a million years would she have ever thought she'd be among the chosen, let alone make it to the final four.

As American has come to know the young prince, he's gained her admiration and respect and now she's in it to win it. The only problem is she's afraid she'll lose her heart. Being in the selection is not easy. Watching someone you care about go off on a date with someone else is painful. Seeing them kiss another is heartbreaking. The fear that what they've told you in private is just the same line they've fed every other girl in the Selection is maddening. The knowledge that you, or one of the girls you're competing against, may have a hand in the running of the country is overwhelming. The stakes are high. The future may depend upon who will be the One.

Alliances will be made 

Favors called in

And a kingdom will be united

This was a fun trilogy, and I'm sad it's over. If you haven't read the previous books, you'll be sorry you didn't. Could the author create a spin-off? Perhaps, but it's doubtful. Throughout the series America has made discoveries about herself, the kingdom, and now she is about to discover one of her family's dirty little secrets. Little being an understatement. This is something big.

As things finally come to a close with the Selection, the political climate within the kingdom heightens. The Rebels are getting more daring and have vowed to slowly kill their way down the caste system of the girls still left in the Selection. Throughout the Selection, America has been making a name for herself. She's not trying to defy the King, she's just doing what she feels is right which unfortunately usually goes against her potential father-in-law's wishes. To all watching it's obvious that if America is chosen, the kingdom will be run very differently with Prince Maxon and America at the helm. The tension between father and son is undeniable as Maxon's affection towards America stay strong and he refuses to send her home. There is no doubt that the King deeply regrets the very process he set into motion months ago, and I, for one, wish we knew exactly how each of the Selection's candidate's were picked.

I gave this one 4 out 5 roses. This was a great finale to a fun trilogy, but be warned, not everyone survives. There were some nice twists and turns I didn't see coming. I loved how America didn't try to compromise her values to gain the Prince's favor. Maxon, on the other hand, did not gain my love or loyalty. There was a lot more political action and explanations in this one than the previous books which I wish could have been more evenly divided between this book and the last. We had quite a bit of info dumping going on in the form of revelations. Overall, however, I felt Ms. Cass wrapped the trilogy up nicely, which was a relief after witnessing several disappointing endings to trilogies and series recently. I can't wait to read whatever Kiera Cass writes next. I have to say I would never want to be part of a Selection process.

Order of the series: