Words I Write Crazy: Week 24 Reviews: The Queen, The Prince, The Selection, The Elite, The Guard, The Favorite, The One, The Epilogue, The Maid, Happily Ever After

Saturday, June 18, 2022

Week 24 Reviews: The Queen, The Prince, The Selection, The Elite, The Guard, The Favorite, The One, The Epilogue, The Maid, Happily Ever After

From Goodreads:

Before America Singer's story began, another girl came to the palace to compete for the hand of a different prince….

Don't miss this digital original novella set in the captivating world of Kiera Cass's #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series. This prequel story takes place before the events of The Selection and is told from the point of view of Prince Maxon's mother, Amberly. Discover a whole new Selection with this inside look at how Maxon's parents met—and how an ordinary girl named Amberly became a beloved queen.

From Goodreads:

Before thirty-five girls were chosen to compete in the Selection...

Before Aspen broke America's heart...

There was another girl in Prince Maxon's life...

From Goodreads:
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

From Goodreads:
The hotly-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestseller The Selection.

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn't sure where her heart lies. When she's with Maxon, she's swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she's made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she's struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

From Goodreads:
Before America Singer met Prince Maxon . . .
Before she entered the Selection . . .
She was in love with a boy named Aspen Leger.

Don't miss this digital original novella set in the captivating world of Kiera Cass's #1 New York Times bestselling Selection trilogy. This brand new 64-page story begins just after the group of Selected girls is narrowed down to the Elite and is told from Aspen's point of view. The Guard also features a teaser to The One, the thrilling conclusion to The Selection trilogy.

From Goodreads:

While America Singer's heart was torn between Aspen and Prince Maxon, her friend Marlee knew exactly what she wanted—and paid the price.

Revisit the captivating world of Kiera Cass's #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series in this digital original novella. Told from Marlee's point of view, this all-new 64-page story returns to the fateful Halloween when Marlee and Carter were discovered, and reveals how that night—and Prince Maxon—changed their lives forever.

From Goodreads:
The time has come for one winner to be crowned.

When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown--or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose--and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

From Goodreads:
An epilogue to The One, which takes place two years later on Maxon's birthday.

From Goodreads:

This is a bonus scene from The One, last book of the The Selection Trilogy.

Lucy's point of view and a special scene with the new guard.

From Goodreads:

Meet Prince Maxon before he fell in love with America, and a girl named Amberly before she became queen. See the Selection through the eyes of a guard who watched his first love drift away and a girl who fell for a boy who wasn’t the prince. This gorgeous collection features four novellas from the captivating world of Kiera Cass’s #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series—two of which appear here in print for the first time—as well as exclusive, never-before-seen bonus content.

This series companion is a must-have for any Selection fan, and includes:

The Prince

The Guard

The Queen (in print for the first time) The Favorite (in print for the first time) Exclusive new scenes from The Selection, The Elite, and The One

Introductions to each novella from Kiera Cass A map of Illéa and other illustrations and more!

My First Review of The Prince, The Selection, The Elite, The Guard, The One, The Epilogue
My Second Review of The Prince, The Selection, The Elite,

My Third Review of The Selection
My Review:
I really enjoy this series. It's a lot of fun, but also, I can just see how young these characters are, and sometimes their actions were over the top, emotional, and harder for me to understand as an adult. But I'm really glad that I reread it!

This is the first time that I've read all of the short stories that are part of this timeline in the series. I had a really great time seeing all of these perspectives, though The Queen was a bit hard, seeing the start of a very controlling relationship. But then there's the Favorite, which has the whipping, but it also has the love.

I have a great time with America's story, but sometimes the back and forth between Mason and Aspen was a little over the top. I'm really glad for how things worked out, but the drama that happened to get there, yeah, it's an example of me growing out of some of YA.

There is a good deal of political action going on with the Selection, and behind the scenes with the war and the rebels. And the things that America learned about the founding of Illéa, well, that was pretty infuriating. I don't see why Canada would've been brought in as states in Illéa, I don't see the benefit. But that's because it's my country and I'm biased.

I enjoyed this series, and I can't wait to finally read the last 2 books!

Author: Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection #0.4, 0.5, 1, 2, 2.5, 2.6, 3, 3.1, 3.5

First Read: March 10th, 2013, June 16th 2012, April 28th, 2013
Second Read: August 16th, 2014, March 10th, 10th, 2013, August 16th, 16th, 16th, 16th, 17th, 2014

Third Read: August 16th, 2014

Read: June 12th, 12th, 12th, 13th, 13th, 13th, 13th, 13th, 13th, 13th, 2022
Source: Own, Online
Reason Why: Rereading, and they're 2022 Dystopia Books and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Books! And The One is a End of Series 2022 Book!

Publisher: Harper Teen Impulse, Harper Teen
Published: December 2nd 2014, March 5th 2013, April 24th 2012, April 23rd 2013, February 4th 2014, October 6th 2015, May 6th 2014, August 14th 2014, October 15th 2015, October 13th 2015

The Queen: