This review was originally written and posted in May of 2013.

Alright, ladies and gents, let’s dive right into this thing!  You can tell that this is going to be just a riveting book, since it opens up with America and Maxon on a date, followed two sentences later by an infodump.

Ever since the Selection had been narrowed down to six girls, he’d been more anxious than he was when the thirty-five of us arrived in the first place.  I guessed he thought he’d have more time to make his choices.

Except he has plenty of time.  The rules in the first book explicitly said that he could keep you there indefinitely.  He could, in theory, keep you all as a harem as long as he doesn’t marry one of you.  He could keep you until he dies and go to his grave a bachelor.  He’s got all the time in the world, and I demand to know where this mysterious deadline came from.

America then goes on to whine about how the prince is in love with her, but Maxon isn’t really “hers” because she has to “share” him with the other Selection girls.  Which is really strange, since if there’s any ownership going on, it’s the other way around.  He owns the girls.  Remember, they have to stay there until he dismisses them, there’s no time limit, and they get beheaded if they flirt with anyone else.  Sounds like ownership to me.

Even without that little bit of disgusting, it’s odd that she phrases stuff like this.  It was common in the last book, too, where there’s a heavy emphasis on a person “belonging” to another.  It wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t so heavily overplayed, and of course, if it weren’t so confusingly worded every time it comes up.  Apparently Maxon “belongs” to anyone he spends time with.

And then there was the fact that if I accepted Maxon, it meant I had to accept a crown, a thought I tended to ignore if only because I wasn’t sure what it would mean for me.

It would mean a fuck-ton of work, constantly being in the public eye, and the responsibility of being the public face of a nation in front of other dignitaries.  And that’s just to start with; we still don’t know how the monarchy works in this world. 

In short, if BEING THE FUCKING QUEEN is an afterthought for you, then you shouldn’t do it.  No matter how much you love or don’t love the dude, becoming royalty would be an overwhelmingly huge part of your life and if you can’t handle it then get the fuck out of dodge.

Alright I’m annoyed at the love triangle if just because of this one option.  If she loves both boys, then picking who to go with shouldn’t be based on her feelings.  It should be based on secondary things which would still have a huge role in her life.  Like “oh shit, I’d have to run a fucking country.” Those are still huge considerations, and if you’re going to be happy with either boy, then you need to pick the life that would make you happy.

It’s not all about the hormones, guys.  There’s other stuff in life that’s important.

Maxon didn’t know that Aspen was in the palace, but he did know that there was someone at home that I was trying to get over

Lies.  Maxon met Aspen and learned his name.  He knows very well that Aspen is there, he just doesn’t know Aspen is your ex.

Alright, and now that we’re caught up on the love triangle (the book’s primary concern), back to the date.  Maxon and America start talking about the stars, because they’re outside on a blanket stargazing.  America asks him to list all his faults, because he’s “too perfect” and he comes up with stuff like being bad at war strategizing.

Considering they are currently at war, that seems like a big deal and nothing something that should be giggled away.

Other than that bit of head-scratching, it’s not too bad.  Like last book, the sweet-romantic moments are handled sweetly.  If this had been just a YA contemporary, I might have even liked it.

A guard shows up to remind them that, oh yeah, rebels are still a thing and they probably shouldn’t be hanging around outside in the dark with no security.  Why were they allowed to do that in the first place?  And considering there were two (weaksauce) attacks last book, it should be on both their minds.  And yet Aspen is perfectly willing to risk America’s life for the sake of some stargazing, and America apparently thinks the same way.

Couldn’t they have least found a private balcony or a roof?  At least they’d be closer to cover in the case of an attack.

We’d been attacked twice by the rebels since the start of the Selection – once by the simply disruptive Northerners and once by the deadly Southerners

Yup, this bit makes a reappearance.

Look, being attacked is not “simply disruptive,” as if the people did nothing more than have a loud party next door.  They attacked.  That comes along with an inherent risk, and only the fact that the guards apparently don’t carry or use guns keeps the body count down.  Plus, they got into the castle grounds, which points to some major holes in your perimeter, which apparently no one is bothering to address.  In short, any attack at all is a sign of badness happening, not annoyance.

Second, there’s still no proof that there’s two different groups, because the only difference Maxon has been able to determine is that sometimes people die and sometimes people just get knocked out.  But getting knocked on the head until unconscious carries with it a high risk of DEATH.  If one group is running in and bashing guards on the head, then they’re probably also killing a few of them.

They go inside as Maxon whines about their date being cut short and how he wishes things were “normal.”

Yeah, as if the biggest problem that this war has caused is the fact that he can’t camp out in the backyard any more.

Priorities, Maxon.  You lack them.

America gives some really wishy-washy statements about how she just needs more time in which to be sure about her feelings.  Then she goes up to her room and finds Aspen standing outside her door.

“Oh!” Aspen said, surprised to see me, too.  “I think it makes me the worst guard ever that I assumed you were in your room this whole time.”

Yes.  Yes it does.  You are a shameful stain on all security guards ever.  That’s not even a cute mistake, that’s a “do you have brain damage” and a “drop and push until my arms get tired” kind of mistake.

The Elite were supposed to sleep with at least one of their maids on watch in the night.  I really didn’t like that, so Maxon insisted on stationing a guard by my room in case there was an emergency.

In the palace, all the maids are trained ninja assassins.  That’s why having one in the room makes the girls safer.

Also, why does America have issue with keeping a maid, but not with a guard?  The maids are allowed to sleep in her room, the guards have to stand outside it.  Stand.  In the hall.  All night.  If her concern is causing the least amount of disruption, then she should either protest to the guard or invite one of her maids in for a slumber party.

“How am I supposed to stand a chance, Mer?  How can I compete when you only ever talk to one of us?”

Also a concern: OH, YEAH, SHE GETS FUCKING EXECUTED IF SHE GETS CAUGHT FLIRTING WITH YOU.  Stop being so butthurt that she won’t talk to you when doing so means potential death.

Priorities, Aspen.  You lack them.

America does not point out the painfully obvious and instead repeats that she needs more time.  Then she goes to bed. 

Guys, I can tell.  We’re in for a real treat with this one.