The Elite (#2) - Kiera Cass [Review]

Book: The Elite (#2)

Author: Kiera Cass

Published: 23rd April 2013

Publisher: Harpercollins Childrens Books

Pages: 326

Rating: 3/5 stars

There is no doubt that this book is a page turner, it forces you to read on to see what happens. That is one thing I thoroughly enjoyed. However, compared to the first book, my lasting opinion on this is more mixed.

As I say, the pace is good, and the writing engaging. Cass knows how to make you want to keep reading. Again, I read this book in a couple of hours, in one sitting, and that is a testament to her writing abilities.

However, whilst I enjoyed the dreamy story-line and engaging characters of the first book, I found myself having a few issues with the characters and plot of this one. I loved America in the first book, and although I still like her character, her inability to make decisions really began to grate on me. I love her sense of justice and her ability to stand up for the things that matter, I just wish she would do it with more conviction and not be deterred by the obstacles in her way - people, or events.

The Prince also jarred me a fair bit in this book. He claims to love America yet he's 100% playing the field with the other girls. I understand he's trying to hedge his bets, but these are women, not poker chips.

There was some intriguing character development in this book, which is commendable; I particularly enjoyed Marlee's storyline, and I hope she will feature more prominently in the next book. Furthermore, the King's character took an interesting turn, which I enjoyed. In terms of Celeste, I really hope her character gets more development in future novels, and that there's more going on internally there than just her classic-bitch demeanor. 

Continuing on with things I enjoyed slightly less in this novel - I was really not a fan of the general tendency of this book to focus more on the catty and superficial aspects of the girls. It really now feels like a competition, and with so few candidates left, it's very close. I am at a loss for how the characters focus on petty details when the palace and its inhabitants are literally attacked every other day by rebels. By this point, I wanted this element to be expanded on a little more, and although we are fed tidbits, we are relatively in the dark. I am definitely praying the rebel-forces and ~book mystery~ will be illuminated more in the following books. I'm sure that it is being saved for a big reveal, but still. It is at times frustrating to read segments about the girls vying for the Prince's affections, cemented between more deep and complex passages about war, inequality, and justice. 

Overall, this is definitely an engaging read, and I have high hopes that the issues that stopped me from connecting as much with this book will be resolved in future installments.