Review - The Selection

by Kiera Cass
publisher: HarperTeen
date of publication: April 24, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 327
source: DAC ARC Tours
read it in: 2 days

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 the palace and compete for the heart of the 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.

The Selection is a book that I approached with much trepidation.  There has been some controversy surrounding it, but the description sounded interesting.  I decided to just go for it, that way I could develop my own opinion on it.  Now that I've read it, I am glad that I did.  I did enjoy the book, though there were some things about the story that I didn't find to be appealing. 

The characters that make up The Selection left me with much to think about.  I vacillated between liking America and wishing she would buck up just a bit more.  I couldn't get a good grasp as to who exactly America is and what she wants out of her life.  I also questioned her attraction to Aspen, who I found to be so ridiculously chauvinistic in his need to be capable of providing for America.  Maxon is somewhat better, though I had trouble taking him seriously at times.  When all was said and done, the characters left me feeling confused and often frustrated.

The plot was much more interesting to me as a reader.  The state of the world was fascinating to read about and the Selection process was both strange and interesting.  I would have liked to know more about the circumstances surrounding the founding of Illea and the adoption of the caste system, but the information that was provided was enough to grab my curiosity and attention.  I was, for the most part, entertained and would definitely consider continuing with the series.  I think that there is definitely room for the story to develop more.

The Selection required more rumination than usual, as I just didn't know how I felt about its characters.  I can say, however, that it could turn into a really interesting series, so I will be looking out for the next installment.  I hope to see more world development and more decisive characters in the next go-round.  The Selection lays the foundation for what could be a fun series and I will definitely look out for the next book.  Hopefully it will help the storyline grow and develop into an even more compelling plot.

    

Buy The Selection at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Debut Author Challenge ARC Tours. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review - Unraveling

by Elizabeth Norris
publisher: Balzer + Bray
date of publication: April 24, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 445
source: DAC ARC Tours
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl's fight to save hers,elf, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.

What I Thought

There once was a time when science fiction novels just did not manage to capture my attention.  Luckily for me, that has been changing.  Otherwise, I probably would have missed this little gem of a novel, and that would just be sad.  Unraveling packs such a surprising amount of scientific jargon, intrigue, and romance into one book that I was completely caught up.  The story I was about to sink into was a total treat, one which held several good points for me.

Janelle is a pretty no-nonsense character, all things considered.  I can only imagine that what happens to her completely knocks her for a loop.  As Janelle is a very analytical and observant person, however, she is readily able to accept her own memories of the incident and, rather than fall apart about what happened, Janelle sets out to find answers.  Ben was a bit of a surprise for me.  At first, I was expecting a typical bad boy type.  However, the truth behind Ben was more than that and I found myself liking him as Janelle's love interest in this story.  After all, it's hard to ignore a guy who knows his literature!  These two characters work very well together, so I am left without a single complaint, on that front. 

The pacing of Unraveling started out a bit laboriously, leaving me concerned that I was going to find finishing the book to be a struggle.  This wasn't the case, however, as things began to progress fairly quickly after that.  The premise is very interesting and has something for almost everyone: science; crime investigation; mystery; romance; and action.  Ms. Norris weaves these various threads together into a very compelling story.  You would be hard-pressed to not find something about Unraveling that you like.

I certainly hope that Unraveling is the beginning of a series, as I enjoyed both the characters and the premise immensely.  The ending left my eyes damp and my curiosity piqued, so I have all the more reason to hope for at least one more installment.  If you're looking for a fun blend of science fiction and romance, Unraveling would be an excellent choice.  Elizabeth Norris has written a fun, harrowing story that will both challenge your mind and leave you with butterflies in your stomach.  If at first you find yourself concerned with the pacing, keep at it.  You won't want to miss out on this book.

Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Debut Author Challenge ARC Tours. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.