The One by Kiera Cass

Title: The One
Author: Kiera Cass
Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis: The Selection changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever. And now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen.

America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the competition approaches its end 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.

From the very first page of The Selection, this #1 New York Times bestselling series has captured readers' hearts and swept them away on a captivating journey... Now, in The One, Kiera Cass delivers a satisfying and unforgettable conclusion that will keep readers sighing over this electrifying fairy-tale long after the final page is turned.

Cover:

*Smiles*

Okay...

This review might have a few  a lot of spoilers :D

I've always like the Selection series, and while The Elite was a little rough, I feel like The One really made up for any of it all. (But maybe I'm just saying that because my ship lasted the storm--you'll either get that reference or you won't)

Maxon and America love each other, that much is obvious, but neither one wants to be the first to admit it. America won't say it until Maxon sends the girls home, and Maxon won't send the girls home until she says it. Basically, we have some communication issues.

Aspen is kind of non-existent in the book, he only appears for a few scenes (just in time to seriously screw up a happily ever after, not to mention) which I am grateful for. I just don't like him...

So, anyway, we also get a lot of girl time. Kriss, Celeste, and Elise all have their different reasons for wanting to marry Maxon, some a little more genuine than others. Kriss is, for one, genuinely in love with Maxon. (And she's also got another vendetta, but I won't spoil that). Celeste, we find out, isn't actually as bad as she seems. We get a better insight on her character, and while NOBODY like Celeste in the first two novels, at least we understand her a bit more by the end of the third. Elise, as was a bit obvious beforehand, is pretty much only there because of her family in New Asia. She has some high standards for herself, and while she respects Maxon, she is not in love with him.

We also get a few touching scenes with the queen, which was nice. The king, however, was in a few scenes as well, and remained as much of a jerk as in The Elite. Yay -.-

The plotline remained steady and flowing, and while there were a few little bumps in it the rest of the book really made up for any inconsistencies. We get to see a little bit more of the Northern Rebels, although the Southern Rebels were only mentioned. The only real complaint I have is that I wish there were more interactions with the Southern Rebels, it seemed as though they were such a big deal before, I thought they might be more prominent.

All in all, there were big plot twists, happy endings, the whole shebang, how could I possibly complain? The One was truly a stunning conclusion to a fabulous series, and I'll miss it greatly.

xxAvalon