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Before Amberly came to the palace, she was a four in love with a one. Before Maxon met the girl of his dreams, he was the boy of someone else's.
Kahlen is a Siren, bound to serve the Ocean by luring humans to watery graves with her voice, which is deadly to any human who hears it. Akinli is human - a kind, handsome boy who's everything Kahlen ever dreamed of. Falling in love puts them both in danger...but Kahlen can't bear to stay away. Will she risk everything to follow her heart?
Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
These Royals will ruin you...Ella Harper is a survivor - a pragmatic optimist. She's spent her whole life moving from town to town with her flighty mother, struggling to make ends meet and believing that someday she'll climb out of the gutter. After her mother's death, Ella is truly alone. Until Callum Royal appears, plucking Ella out of poverty and tossing her into his posh mansion among his five sons who all hate her. Each Royal boy is more magnetic than the last, but none as captivating as Reed Royal, the boy who is determined to send her back to the slums.
Tally lives in a world where your 16th birthday brings aesthetic perfection: an operation that erases all your flaws, transforming you from an "Ugly" into a "Pretty". She is on the eve of this important event and cannot wait for her life to change. As well as guaranteeing supermodel looks, life as a Pretty seems to revolve around having a good time. But then she meets Shay, who is also 15 - but with a very different outlook on life.
Big and sweeping, spanning the refined palaces of Osfrid to the gold dust and untamed forests of Adoria, The Glittering Court tells the story of Adelaide, an Osfridian countess who poses as her servant to escape an arranged marriage and start a new life in Adoria, the New World. But to do that, she must join the Glittering Court.
Before Amberly came to the palace, she was a four in love with a one. Before Maxon met the girl of his dreams, he was the boy of someone else's.
Kahlen is a Siren, bound to serve the Ocean by luring humans to watery graves with her voice, which is deadly to any human who hears it. Akinli is human - a kind, handsome boy who's everything Kahlen ever dreamed of. Falling in love puts them both in danger...but Kahlen can't bear to stay away. Will she risk everything to follow her heart?
Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
These Royals will ruin you...Ella Harper is a survivor - a pragmatic optimist. She's spent her whole life moving from town to town with her flighty mother, struggling to make ends meet and believing that someday she'll climb out of the gutter. After her mother's death, Ella is truly alone. Until Callum Royal appears, plucking Ella out of poverty and tossing her into his posh mansion among his five sons who all hate her. Each Royal boy is more magnetic than the last, but none as captivating as Reed Royal, the boy who is determined to send her back to the slums.
Tally lives in a world where your 16th birthday brings aesthetic perfection: an operation that erases all your flaws, transforming you from an "Ugly" into a "Pretty". She is on the eve of this important event and cannot wait for her life to change. As well as guaranteeing supermodel looks, life as a Pretty seems to revolve around having a good time. But then she meets Shay, who is also 15 - but with a very different outlook on life.
Big and sweeping, spanning the refined palaces of Osfrid to the gold dust and untamed forests of Adoria, The Glittering Court tells the story of Adelaide, an Osfridian countess who poses as her servant to escape an arranged marriage and start a new life in Adoria, the New World. But to do that, she must join the Glittering Court.
Before borders were drawn, before treaties were signed, before wars were waged anew, before the great kingdoms of the Remnant were even born and the world of old was only a hazy slate of memory told in story and legend, a girl and her family fought to survive. And that girl's name was Morrighan.
Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To win a place at the Court, she must defy him - and face the consequences.
"You can't touch me," I whisper. I'm lying, is what I don't tell him. He can touch me, is what I'll never tell him. But things happen when people touch me. Strange things. Bad things. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon. But Juliette has plans of her own.
In Minatsol, being a dweller means that you are literally no better than dirt. In fact, dirt might actually be more useful than Willa. Her life will be one of servitude to the sols, the magic-blessed beings who could one day be chosen to become gods. At least her outer village is far removed from the cities of the sols, and she won't ever be forced to present herself to them... Until one small mistake changes everything, and Willa is awarded a position to serve at Blesswood, the top sol academy in the world - a position that she definitely did not earn.
A royal prince. An ordinary girl. An extraordinary royal wedding. Once Upon a Prince, the first novel in the Royal Wedding series by bestselling author Rachel Hauck, treats you to a modern-day fairy tale. Susanna Truitt never dreamed of a great romance or being treated like a princess - just to marry the man she has loved for twelve years. But life isn't going according to plan. When her high-school sweetheart breaks up with her instead of proposing, Susanna scrambles to rebuild her life.
How to kick off a great summer in the Hamptons: Snag a gorgeous rental on the beach. Check. Get a job at a trendy summer haunt. Check. How to screw up a great summer in the Hamptons: Fall for the one guy with a dark leather jacket, scruff on his face, and intense eyes that doesn’t fit in with the rest of the tony-looking crowd. A guy you can’t have when you’ll be leaving at the end of the season. Check. Check. Check.
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
A toxic river divides 19-year-old Violet Bates' world by gender. Women rule the East. Men rule the West. Welcome to the lands of Matrus and Patrus. Ever since the disappearance of her beloved younger brother, Violet's life has been consumed by an anger she struggles to control. Already a prisoner to her own nation, now she has been sentenced to death for her crimes. But one decision could save her life. To enter the kingdom of Patrus, where men rule and women submit.
What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect.
Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful - and cruel - father. Now Scarlett's father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the faraway once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over. But this year Scarlett's long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval's mastermind organizer, Legend.
When 19-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin - one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.
When Feyre kills a wolf, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a magical land Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal. As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient shadow is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it....
For 35 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, and 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.
I clicked on an ad—that said Hunger Games + Cinderella + The Bachelor = The Selection and totally impulse bought this audio book. I admit it, I was taken by the ad and the cover. Beautiful.
I don’t want to give away too much, but I found the main character to be charming and endearing in a “no, no… please don’t do that… oh you really did it now” kind of way. I really liked her family… in particular her youngest brother. I also felt like her relationship with her Mom really rang true for me. There were moments that made me cringe thinking about the trouble America got herself into through her impetuous responses. I am completely rooting for her—and have already picked which guy I think would be better for her. But based on how she reacted through out the book, and what my gut thought she should do—she will probably choose the other one. (So yes, triangle)
Beyond all of the romance stuff (which is front and center of the book)—is what I imagine for the author a slow build. I loved how the knowledge of this society is laid into the story.
But:
1)I thought—especially in the very beginning that the narrator sounded almost mechanical---wooden. Maybe this was on purpose?? By the end, I didn’t notice it anymore… in fact I did love the way she did the Prince’s voice---for that she deserves credit. If you are listening--let me to encourage you to push on.
2)The ending… I have rewound and listened to the last 20 minutes… oh man, seriously painful---and I would say abrupt ending. All I can do is hope it’s not a long time for the next one. But then maybe that’s a good thing…
Over all I really enjoyed it... but if you are more a fan of Hunger Games than Cinderella or the Bachelor then I’m not sure this is the book for you. Romance is definitely the name of this game.
108 of 116 people found this review helpful
Honesty? Too predictable, boring and flat, characters without depth or true conflict. I realize the target audience are teens, but still... The author could write as if they had brains which they do and don't use at all. Just another girl needing to be rescued. When will we see strong and realistic female characters?
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I'm writing this after listening to all three. Can't quite put my finger on why I purchased and "read" them all so quickly. This is not great lit, but at least the first one kept me happily occupied.
Yes, the story is predictable, but it was fun. "The Selection" leaves the reader in the middle of the story, so if you enjoyed it, listen to book 2. I wouldn't recommend the third as the story was stretched too to round out the ol' trilogy format. I found myself speeding up the narration to finish (not always a good sign).
Good fun in a world where "Hunger Games" meets "The Bachelor".
34 of 39 people found this review helpful
Would you be willing to try another one of Amy Rubinate’s performances?
Normally I don't like giving bad reviews, but it felt like Siri was narrating this book. I didn't feel that the narrator put any emotion into the characters. I wanted to continue listening to the other books in the series, but I'll probably read them instead.
32 of 37 people found this review helpful
I've recently begun to love audiobooks...but this narrator is HORRIBLE! She reads so flat that it's hard to even hear the words...
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
What would have made The Selection better?
The main character is annoying, the plot is incredibly predictable and offers nothing new. YA dystopian fiction is my favorite guilty pleasure of the moment so I've listened to/read a TON of them, and this is one of the worst. The plot draws heavily from other books- many of the minor characters are carbon copies of characters in other books (Hunger Games to name one). The author tries to portray the main character as above shallow things such as beauty, but Ms. Cass spends so much time doing this that it ends up emphasizing their importance.
Have you listened to any of Amy Rubinate’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
No, but I thought she did a good job.
If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Selection?
Remove the 'dear'- I know the author is trying to make the prince seem formal but its just awkward.
Any additional comments?
I've read a lot of books written around less interesting ideas, but enjoyed them much more than this one because of the quality of writing/character development, etc. It could have been a cool idea, but it was very poorly executed.
36 of 43 people found this review helpful
I can't believe I liked this book and I can't believe I'm anxious for the next one!!! I think Shannon from Cincinnati did a good job reviewing this book (my thoughts exactly). I read so many bad reviews on Amazon, etc that I was certain I would hate it. I'm so glad I took a chance and got this book. It's not a literary classic but it was a FUN read. Can't wait for the next book to come out.
28 of 34 people found this review helpful
Any additional comments?
I loved this book, but the other review is correct, if you hate cliff hangers wait. The book ends so abruptly, I was kind of mad. Can't wait to read more from this author.
12 of 15 people found this review helpful
What did you love best about The Selection?
I really liked the main character and her transformation throughout the book.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Selection?
My favorite moment was when she told her friend to buck up and act like a queen during the first rebel attack.
Have you listened to any of Amy Rubinate’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
No
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Not really, it was more interesting to listen to but did not draw on anything deep, frustration a few times but that was more of towards the characters
Any additional comments?
I agree with fellow reviewers in that the book ended poorly, honestly it cut off so quick that I waiting a few seconds after Amy said, "End of Book 1" assuming the book would have 2 parts and it was just the end of part one actually. It seemed an odd time to end the first book because while the book was interesting it didn't end on a high climax but seemed to be building up to something then fell short by ending the book.
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I would most definitely recommend this book to another person. It is fun, exciting, and kept me on the edge my seat. I cannot wait for the next book in this series to be released.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Selection?
I don't want to give anything away, but there was a moment, right as the main character was finally falling for the Prince, when an inconvenient character appears and causes a complete twist in the plot line. This appearence happens suddenly, and the effects complicate the main characters life inextricably.
Which character ??? as performed by Amy Rubinate ??? was your favorite?
I have to say, i quite enjoyed the prince. Innitially, while the character is stiff in personallity, the narrator made the Prince's speech haulting. He sounded much like you would think he well-bred, privileged, and slightly stuck up individual to sound. Later, as the character became less formal, so did his speech and the way the narrator pronounced it.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
"the prince's best hope, is a girl who can't make up her mind."
20 of 26 people found this review helpful
This one grabbed me from chapter one. I loved how the story unfolds and how relationships develop. It's a feel good, though very predictable. The cliff hanger ending is frustrating but now that the sequel 'The Elite' is out and read I'm happier.... but once again left hanging for the finale. So far, I preferred book one of the two, but don't bother if you don't intend to buy both it'll just leave you frustrated.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Not a particularly high paced story but you do start to wonder what will happen next. I typical love triangle storyline but with a slight twist on 'The Selection'.
My advice would be to wait until 'The Elite' comes out because this book has been left on a bit of a cliffhanger and you won't want to wait too long for book 2.
Happy listening.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This was a very engaging book, set in a future time where people are born into certain 'classes'. The female lead character gets a chance to move to the highest class and secure her family's future by putting in for selection to marry the prince. An eventual love triangle ensues. Great listening.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I loved this so much, the storyline is excellent but the characters make this story! It was amazing, you follow a journey of America where you truly see her grow and develop into a lovely young woman. This book had me shouting, clapping, laughing all at the same time and I can't wait to begin the sequel. I thoroughly enjoyed this and would recommend to everyone.