The Crown by Kiera Cass

Page Count: 279

Published on: May 3, 2015

Published by: HarperTeen

Genre(s): YA, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Fantasy, Romance
Source: Print: Hardback

Age Rating: PG-13

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon 

My Rating: 5 stars

Twitter: @kieracass

Goodreads synopsis:

When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection, she didn’t think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.

Eadlyn still isn’t sure she’ll find the fairytale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible—and more important—than she ever imagined.

~~~

Hey guys!

      Words cannot describe my love for Kiera Cass's writing. If you've been following my blog long, then you will most likely know of my little obsession with The Selection series. I've been finally finished the series...and I'm very upset about it! This series has been such a joy to read! I love it so much! I cannot believe that it's over...I've grown so attached to these characters and this amazing world. I don't want it to end! 

      Kiera's characters aren't for everyone, but I find them to be so raw and real. The characters make bad choices and mess up just like everyone else. The whole concept of Illea is so addicting and and it pulls you in really quickly. Whenever I pick up these books, I never want to put them down. In this case, my mom's fiance bought me this book around 3, I picked it up around 6, and finished it at 12:28 exactly. I took a couple cry breaks in between, but I basically read this book in under 5 hours....It's been a couple weeks and I still cannot form cohesive thoughts to express my eternal love for this book and this series. Kiera Cass has created a masterpiece of a series. I really don't know what to do with myself anymore! 

      The end of this book was absolutely perfect, and I really hope Kiera writes even more. I really want a novella that revolves around the wedding and another about Eadlyn's children. I literally need it...On that note, I am really happy about who Eadlyn ended up with. I totally shipped it throughout the two books. They are totally perfect together, and their personalities compliment each other wonderfully. 

      Kiera Cass wrapped up the loose ends of the series very nicely. Not only did she add more to the plot, she didn't leave any plot holes at the end. The fate of the suitors was handled really nicely, and I just loved what she did with the guys. I can't expand on that without spoilers, but let me tell yah...it's perfect. The personalities of the suitors were nicely developed and I fell for more than one by the end of the book. 

Character Development: A+
Romance: swoon-worthy & beautifully poetic
Pace: A bit rushed towards the end, but I think that's because I read it so fast
Overall: BEAUTIFUL! A+!!! I NEED MORE *sobs*...I literally can't

My Reviews:

• The Selection, The Elite, The One
• The Heir
• Happily Ever After

I highly recommend this book, and I hope I convinced you to pick up these book. I love them so much....

Happy reading!
Olivia
~livthebooknerd~

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@LivTheBookNerd on Books

The Siren by Kiera Cass

Page Count: 327
Expected Published: January 26, 2016

Published by: HarperTeen

Genre(s): YA, Romance, Fantasy (Mythology), Supernatural, Mermaids
Source: Hardback

Age Rating: PG-13

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

Twitter: @kieracass

My Rating: 5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

A girl with a secret.
The boy of her dreams.
An Ocean between them.

Years ago, Kahlen was rescued from drowning by the Ocean. To repay her debt, she has served as a Siren ever since, using her voice to lure countless strangers to their deaths. Though a single word from Kahlen can kill, she can’t resist spending her days on land, watching ordinary people and longing for the day when she will be able to speak and laugh and live freely among them again. 

Kahlen is resigned to finishing her sentence in solitude...until she meets Akinli. Handsome, caring, and kind, Akinli is everything Kahlen ever dreamed of.

Falling in love with a human breaks the Ocean’s rules. But for the first time in a lifetime of following the rules, Kahlen is determined to follow her heart.

~~~

Hey guys!

       If you've been following my blog for a while, then you know that I am a major fan of Kiera Cass's Selection series. When I found out that her stand alone, The Siren, was being rereleased and reedited, I was absolutely ecstatic. I had been planning to read The Siren for a while, but her big news just made me even more excited for her book. Kiera wrote her first book when she was 17, and she published it herself. I think Kiera Cass is such an amazing writer, and The Siren does not disappoint!

      This book was such a beautifully done piece of art. It was hauntingly beautiful, yet addicting and page-turning. It was light, yet deep; and the characters were so wonderfully written. The Siren follows Kahlen, a young girl who was spared from perishing in a ship wreck by The Ocean. In exchange for her life, Kahlen works for the Ocean. Kahlen has to become a siren and lure ships to sinking and causing hundreds of people to die. As Kahlen lives her life as a siren, she has to come to terms with all of the innocent lives that she must claim to feed the Ocean's appetite. She dreams of the day that she gets released from her 100 year sentence. She longs to fall in love, and have a normal life. One day, she meets Akilini, a sweet and caring boy. Kahlen and Akilini's love cannot be, her voice only brings death, and if he ever hears her voice he would die. 

      This book is more than a love story. It is full of friendship, motherly love, and true love. The original and unique form of mythology that Kiera Cass is so fascinating and addicting. Her subtle world building, and Kahlen's siren sisters make this story a beautiful story about friendship and sisterhood. The Ocean's possessive and aggressive character is really interesting, and left me desiring her back story. Kahlen's siren sisters all had deep and relatable back stories that made them essential to the story. All of them were quirky and their interactions with the Ocean and the humans around them were really interesting, and it made me want to read more. 

      The only thing that left me curious were Kiera Cass's choices for the character's names. They're so unique and strange for the time period and the setting. Kahlen was also from the 20's to 50's period so the name seems to be pretty modern as well.

      I really wish that there was at least a novella that told about what happened after the end of The Siren. I cannot wait for May when The Crown comes out...it's what's driving me to get to finals ;)...

I hope you enjoyed this review! I plan on doing a video on it soon!

Happy Reading,
Olivia
~livthebooknerd~

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Happily Ever After by Kiera Cass

Page Count: 416

Published on: October 13, 2015

Published by: HarperTeen

Genre(s): YA, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Fantasy, Romance, Short Stories
Source: Print: Hardback

Age Rating: PG-13

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon 

My Rating: 5 stars

Twitter: @kieracass

Goodreads synopsis:

The contents of Happily Ever After are as follows:

-The Prince (with the two bonus chapters), Maxon’s novella
-The Guard, Aspen’s novella
-The Queen, Amberly’s novella
-The Favorite, Marlee’s novella
-Three scenes from Celeste’s POV
-Lucy’s scene (bonus scene from The One)
-The bonus epilogue
-Where are they now?
-A map
-Various illustrations

~~~

Hey guys!

       I received Happily Ever After from my friend, Joe, for my 18th birthday. I was absolutely ecstatic to get this book. 

My Reaction:

       It's been one of my most anticipated 2015 releases ever since Kiera announced that she was working on it. This book is so beautiful! When I opened it up and saw the map end papers I literally cried. It's so gorgeous. I'll paste a picture here:

It's so gorgeous!

The illustrations are so gorgeous too! America looks stunning and Aspen and Maxon are so dreamy! Marlee and Carter are so adorable and King Clarkson and Queen Amberly were kind of um I'm not sure how to put it. I'll explain it soon. :)

Let's get to the reviews of each novella!

The Queen (#0.4)

Page Count: 72

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Favorite Character: Amberly

Least Favorite Character: (unfortunately) Clarkson

Okay guys, you will hear that Amberly and Clarkson's relationship is really unhealthy and I totally agree. I literally cringed when I read of their encounters...Amberly was so convinced that she was so in love with Clarkson before she even met him. The thing is that he used her and he was kinda messed up and I think he was maybe bipolar?? Another thing is that I know that Amberly loves him. It's evident, especially if you've read the whole Selection series. She loves him through everything he does and she eventually takes some of the control. I truly do love Amberly and I really did love the writing and now I kind of understand the cause of Clarkson's nuttiness. I'm still kind of trying to comprehend this story, and my heart breaks for Amberly. 

~~~

The Prince (#5)

Page Count: 64

My Rating: 5 stars

Favorite Character: Maxon & America

Least Favorite Character: King Clarkson

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! THIS ONE WAS MY FAVORITE! I read The Prince and The Guard earlier this year, and when I read it again, I felt all of the feels that I had felt when I read them the first time. I just love Maxon and America's relationship. They are my ultimate ship. I just love them together. I can find nothing wrong with Maxon. He is perfect.

The Guard (#2.5)

Page Count: 64

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Favorite Character: America

Least Favorite Character: Aspen

Okay, I really don't like Aspen. I started to like him in the beginning of the Selection until he screwed it all up. I just find him to be really selfish, and his choices just compromised America's situation and made her so confused. I feel like he just needed to move on, and get over it. He can get some closure with America, but he can't literally pursue her when she's technically trying to marry the prince. It's kinda common sense...or at least it should be.

The Favorite (#2.6)

Page Count: 120

My Rating: 5 stars

Favorite Character: Marlee & Carter & Maxon & America

Least Favorite Character: King Clarkson

Guys guys GUYS! Marlee & Carter are so cute! IF MAXON AND AMERICA WEREN'T AN OPTION MARLEE AND CARTER WOULD BE MY OTP! They love each other so selflessly and adorably and it's just the way relationships should be. They would sacrifice anything to be together. Their selfless love is what every relationship should be like. I just love them like they are my own children...

        There were some other chapters and loved them just as much. There was an epilogue after The One and there was a chapter from Celeste's POV & Lucy's POV, and little pages on where the Elite are now. Celeste's POV was amazing. I feel like I know her so much better. I adore her. I also love Lucy. She's so sweet and I feel like I understand more too. I love the characters Kiera creates. I feel like they're my friends and I just love them. The epilogue...oh my gosh I couldn't handle it. I was squealing like a maniac. I am so happy with how it turned out! I just love these books. They are so perfect.

I highly reccommend you read these novellas. I think you should read them after you read The Selection, The Elite, and The One first, read the novellas, then read The Heir. That's how I did it and I don't regret it a bit. READ THESE GUYS THEY ARE SO AMAZING!

Check out my reviews of The Selection series!

CLICK HERE!

{The Selection, The Elite, The One}

{The Heir}

Enjoy! Happy reading!

Olivia

~livthebooknerd~

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The Heir by Kiera Cass

IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE SELECTION SERIES WAIT TO READ THIS REVIEW! BUT IF YOU'VE READ THEM CARRY ON!

The Heir by Kiera Cass

Page Count: 368

Published on: May 5th 2015

Published by: Harper Teen

Genre(s): Young-adult, Dystopian, Romance, Science Fiction 
Source: Print: Hardcover

Where To Find It: Goodreads// Amazon  

My Rating: 5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won Prince Maxon’s heart. Now the time has come for Princess Eadlyn to hold a Selection of her own. Eadlyn doesn’t expect her Selection to be anything like her parents’ fairy-tale love story. But as the competition begins, she may discover that finding her own happily ever after isn’t as impossible as she always thought. 

~~~

Hey guys!

       OH! MY! GOSH! THIS BOOK WAS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!!! I LITERALLY CANNOT EVEN HANDLE THE FEELS I'M FEELING ABOUT THIS BOOK! Kiera Cass is seriously amazing! I cannot handle how well she tied up the characters from the earlier books into the Heir! OH. MY. WORD. She is perfection! I'm so in love with this book! 

       This review is just going to be a bunch of loving mumbo jumbo because if I say too much I will reveal spoilers to the series, and we can't have that!

       So! Eadlyn has to have a Selection to distract the kingdom from certain things from happening (no spoilers *wink*). Now, Eady doesn't want the Selection. She wants to be her own person and run the kingdom herself. She doesn't want to have to open up to people. She cannot stand to open up to anybody lest she look weak in front of her people. She is very controlling and slightly fearful but that's what I loved about Eadlyn. She was totally powerful and stuck up and creative and such a relate-able character! I love how you find out little bits and pieces about the previous characters and learn about what's been happening with Illea within the last 20 years that (SPOILER) XXXXXX and Maxon have been together.

       My favorite boys had to be Kile, Henri, Erik, and sometimes Fox. I'm not to fond of Ean, although in some people's reviews I see that most love him. I found him really manipulative and just...not good for Eadlyn! 

       THE END! OH MY WORD THE CLIFFHANGER! THAT ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIED ME! I NEED THE NEXT BOOK! THESE BOOKS NEED TO GO ON FOREVER! 

YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK! IF YOU LOVE THE FIRST SELECTION TRILOGY AND THE NOVELLAS YOU WILL ADORE THIS! 

My Review for the Selection series: {click here}
My Review for Happily Ever After: {click here}

Until next time guys!
Olivia
~livthebooknerd~

{Series Review} The Selection Series: The Selection, The Elite, & The One by Kiera Cass

"35 Girls 1 Crown The Competition Of A Lifetime"

Titles: The Selection, The Elite, The One, The Prince, & The Guard 

Author: Kiera Cass

Hey guys!

So this past week I read so. many. books! During this past week I just needed to get away for a bit. So, I dived into the world of the Selection. I read the Selection when it first came out in 2012 and I absolutely loved it! At the time, I had a big pile of library books to read, and I eventually just forgot about waiting for the sequel. I recently watched youtuber's videos hauling the series and I said to myself: "I need to read those through!" So I picked them up from my local library and just flew through them! This series is definitely a guilty pleasure of mine! :D 

     So, the whole series follows America Singer as she competes in the Selection. The Selection is a competition where 35 girls are chosen to compete for the Prince of Illea's heart. Illea is the futuristic world after the last World War. The land formerly known as the United States, Illea, is run by a king and queen. The whole class system is really whacky, everyone is separated into castes (but the thing everyone lives wherever they want but the castes intermingle and you don't know someone's caste unless they have an obvious job that is represented by their caste). The castes are basically based off of your ancestor's status back when King Illea came to power...so basically everyone was a 4 or 5 or lower and very few were 2's and 3's and only royals were 1's....America didn't want to sign up for the Selection...she was content. But her family needed the money, so she signed up. And she was chosen....



The Selection 

-Published: April 24th 2012
-Published by: HarperTeen
-Pages: 336 
-Genre: Young-adult, Dystopian, Romance, Science Fiction 
My Rating: 5 stars

The Goodreads synopsis: 

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.

~~~~

35 Girls 1 Crown The Competition Of A Lifetime

How does that not catch your attention!

~~~~

What I Loved: The whole world! I loved how Kiera Cass didn't shove the world into your face and gradually gave you the bits of pieces of the world and it is so beautiful! 
What I Disliked: How easily America could be swayed by Aspen. I mean I understand that he was her first love, but she really needs to let him go. Aspen. I do not like Aspen at all.

~~~~

My Favorite Quotes: 

  “True love is usually the most inconvenient kind.” 

“I hope you find someone you can't live without.I really do. And I hope you never have to know what it's like to have to try and live without them.” 

“It's always the fear of looking stupid that stops you from being awesome."

~~~~~~~~~~

 The Elite 

-Pages: 336 

-Published: April 23rd 2013

-Published by: HarperTeen

-Genre: Young-adult, Dystopian, Romance, Science Fiction 

My Rating: 4.5 stars

The Goodreads synopsis: 

The Selection began with thirty-five girls.
Now with the group narrowed down to the six Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon's heart is fiercer than ever—and America is still struggling to decide where her heart truly lies. Is it with Maxon, who could make her life a fairy tale? Or with her first love, Aspen?

America is desperate for more time. But the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want—and America's chance to choose is about to slip away.

 ~~~~

    This follows where The Selection left off. The final 6, The Elite, remain...and America is still torn between Aspen and Maxon.

~~~~

What I Disliked: America being so freaking fickle! Seriously! Maxon is perfect for you! You love him! He loves you! Let go of Aspen!
What I Loved: Everything else! As much as I complain about America, I love her all at the same time! These books are so beautiful and so great!

 ~~~~

My Favorite Quotes:

“Love is beautiful fear” 

“You’ve changed me forever. And I’ll never forget you.”

“Sometimes I feel like we're a knot, too tangled to be taken apart.” 

“Darling, you’re perfect.” 

“I know, I know. It's hard to explain. All I can say is that I've been given a second chance. Maxon matters to me, and I'm going to fight for him."

~~~~~~~~~

The One

-Pages: 323 

-Published: May 6th 2014 

-Published by: HarperTeen 

-Genre: Young-adult, Dystopian, Romance, Science Fiction 

-My Rating: 5 stars

The Goodreads synopsis: 

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.

~~~~

    This book! Oh! My! Gosh! It is was such a perfect way to finish up the Selection trilogy! Actually no! I was nearly satisfied but not enough! I need more! This just made me even more excited for The Heir! Guys I waited 5+ days to write about this series aned I still cannot wrap my head around the ending! I NEED MORE! 

    Kiera Cass, you are a word wizard! This series deserves 100 stars! I am getting all the feels!

~~~~

What I Disliked: -Again, America's fickle attitude

                           -Aspen risking America's life when he was trying to get her to                            pick him

                           -Maxon's attitude near the end..I still love you Maxon but                                  seriously don't pull an America!

What I Loved:  Look back to my thoughts ^^ :D

~~~~

My Favorite Quote:

~~~~

    If you guys love the dystopian genre, the Bachelor, and dreamy princes and beautiful dresses, action, suspense, and rebel uprisings; you will love these books! I had such an amazing time reading these books! You will seriously fly through them! 

Until later guys!

Olivia

~livthebooknerd~ 

~~~~

~~~~

Where To Find:

The Selection:  Indigo // B&N // Book Depository

The Elite: Indigo // B&N // Book Depository

The One:  Indigo // B&N // Book Depository

~~~

Enjoy! Happy Reading!

Olivia 

~livthebooknerd~

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