The One (The Selection, #3)

by Kiera Cass

[Katie King]

**1.5 Stars**

If you've ever continued to try something despite several unsuccessful attempts, you'll know how I felt coming into The One. Yet despite several issues apparent in the first two books, I decided I had to read this. I could reasonably guess how the series would end (or not), but I couldn't let go. If books were people, The Selection series would be that one former friend that you still stalk on Facebook, several years later.

Let's rewind to the first two books...

The characters were one-dimensional

* Queen Amberly was so *perf*
* King Clarkson was an asshole
* America was obsessed with Aspen
* Celeste was a psycho slut-bitch
* Maxon was condescending

The relationships were one-dimensional

* Why do American/Aspen like each other?
* Why does Maxon like America?
* "Out of sight, out of mind."

The writing was awful

* Irrelevant political filler
* Maxon hates America cause he doesn't have time for her shit 24/7
* America is super desperate/dense/dramatic

The One

The One HAD to be better right? RIGHT??

NOPE. The same exact issues are still present in this book, with some ridiculous plot twists to top it all off. The entire series, Maxon is going to choose America until the last 20 pages when he finds out Aspen is the guy she used to love. Then Maxon gets downright abusive and kicks America out and is going to choose Kriss until basically every second-tier character gets killed. I mean everybody like King Clarkson (convenient), Queen Amberly (sad), and Celeste (random). After that, Maxon realizes his TWU WUV for America, immediately forgives her with no discussion of Aspen, and chooses to marry her. Gotcha, Kriss!

Then there's the whole subplot with the rebels. This has been bothering me throughout the series, but it was seriously hard to ignore in The One! First of all, there is a vague distinction made between the rebels, which is basically the "good" ones saying, "No, no, we're the GOOD rebels, we like, volunteer on Saturdays." There are full-on chapters dedicated to this rebel bullshit - America and Maxon making rebel friends and hanging out with them - so it's like Cass took criticism of that subplot and decided to actually TRY HARDER. NO. Honestly what is the point of it? To give conflict to the story? Because after everybody is killed, we never hear anything else about that. Nothing was resolved! Did they arrest anyone? Did they find their hideout? Did they figure out why they were attacking? NOPE, JUST LET IT GO! JUST FORGET IT EVER HAPPENED: The motto of The Selection series.

The worst part is, let's be honest, if I can score a copy of The Heir from a friend, I'll read it. See you guys then! ;)