The Selection Trilogy by Kiera Cass

Summary:

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 always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

(Quoted from goodreads.com)

Thoughts:

It's a really short novel which took me less than two hours to complete for each book. Very interesting, but I wished the 'wow' factor is more WOW. Very similar to Hunger Games plot. People are separated by castes and competing in a more civilized way - be a bride for the prince. Reward is an upgrade of caste and more money. More romance in here, though it wasn't that in depth.

There are eight castes, which I didn't grasp at all because they didn't elaborate all. I know being a 'one' is next to royalty, 'two' ???, 'three' is teacher, 'four' is farming , 'five' is arts, 'six' is cleaners, 'seven' ??? and 'eight' is criminals. It's a relatively new introduction of 'casting' to me because I didn't study much about them in school. So America (seriously what's with the names of the people) was from 'five' and her lover was from 'six'. They broke up before the lottery because the guy didn't want to down her caste as he couldn't afford to support her. Females have to follow the caste number of the males in marriage. The lottery was weird too, it's more of the internal affairs choose rather than go by luck. As described in the book, all the girls are really beautiful. Really, how can it be?

Oh one thing which amuses me, the law states sexual activity only after marriage. Pregnancy before marriage is a crime. People get married early because of that law. And they have a big family because more children means more jobs to support the family in future. 

The prince never had a girlfriend before and him dating was watched by nationwide. It wasn't easy for him. His ultimate goal is to find a good wife who chooses him instead of the crown. The prince fell for America but she wasn't ready. She was heartbroken over Aspen. The prince said this competition would end when she could move on. But Aspen was drafted (i.e. army) and posted to the palace and he was the guard of America. So America had to choose. Who she loved and who she loves now. Read it yourself to know the ending!

Book 1 - The Selection; Book 2 - The Elite; Book 3 - Yet to be released.

In my opinion, I would say this series for teens below sixteen to read since it's super easy to comprehend, not much complications. Light hearted and I'd recommend reading it on-the-go! Makes the journey pass by faster, and doesn't gives you a headache trying to picture the details.

x,
bookverie ♡

Matched Trilogy by Ally Condie

Summary:

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.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and this is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

(Quoted from goodreads.com)

Thoughts:

Overall it's a good read but the way it was written could have been better, in my own opinion, because I dislike reading point-of-views. Too confusing. If you do, you'd like the book much better than I did for sure.

I like the plot. It's kind of reminds me of Divergent, but not exactly. The Society made choices for all of the people, however they did not know that the rebels were already within them since many years ago. People were chosen by the Rising, via immunizing babies from the red pill which would take their memory, and the Plague which would kill. But not Cassia. She was a tool of both the Society and Rising, because she could forget. But she's a fighter.

The story revolves around how Cassia's choice sent Ky to die, how Ky fought to stay alive, how Cassia risked everything to find Ky back, why Ky was reclassified as an Aberration not Anomaly, how they were separated then met again in the wrath of death, how both Xander and Cassia found the cure to the mutated Plague, and their final choice - stay with Rising or go to the Otherworld where no one ever comes back.

So so so many non-stop twists! But I love the ending. Even though many died, but Ky survived the mutation! Happily ever after for Cassia-Ky and Xander-Lei!

x,
bookverie ♡

Vampire Kisses by Ellen Shreiber

(Ps: I couldn't get over my last read, Divergent Trilogy - Allergiant by Veronica Roth. So I decided to read this young children series, suitable for 12 years old and below.)

Summary:

The mansion on top of Benson Hill has been empty and boarded up for years. But a new family has moved in. A family that never ventures during the day. Who are these creepy people -- especially the handsome, dark elusive Alexander Sterling? Or rather, what are they? Could the town gossip actually be true? Are they vampires?

Raven who secretly covets a vampire kiss, both at the risk of her own mortality and Alexander's loving trust, is dying to uncover the truth.

#1 Vampire Kisses; #2 Kissing Coffins; #3 Vampireville; #4 Dance with a Vampire; #5 The Coffin Club; #6 Royal Blood; #7 Love Bites; #8 Cryptic Cravings; #9 Immortal Hearts.

(Quoted from goodreads.com)

My thoughts:

Not a read for my age. Too young. It has nine books in total, crazy that I actually sat through it. Not worth the time spent but I just had to spend this time to move on from Divergent. Good thing was it's really light and easy for my heart to digest, so yay mission accomplished.

The plot is mehhhhhhhh boring because from book 1 to 9, it's all about Raven wanting to be turned into a vampire, how she almost succeeded yet failed. I sort of despise the ending. It could have had a crazy twist, like Raven found that she really love her nemesis Trevor, and she chose him over Alexander who was the vampire.

x,
bookverie ♡

Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth

If you love Hunger Games book/movie, then place your attention on the upcoming movie release, Divergent, available in cinemas in Singapore on 21 March 14. Trailers, click here.

Summary:

This story takes place in the city of Chicago in near future. The city is divided into 5 factions - Abnegation meant for selfless, Amity meant for peaceful, Candor meant for honest, Dauntless meant for bravery, and Erudite meant for knowledgeable. On a given day each year, all sixteen year old must take an aptitude test that will tell them which faction they're best suited, then they must decide whether to remain with their family or transfer to a new section.

Sixteen year old Beatrice Prior was born into Abnegation family, but selflessness has never come naturally to her like it does to her brother, Caleb. She doesn't feel belong to the faction. When the time comes for Beatrice to take her aptitude test, her results were inconclusive. Instead of fitting neatly into any one faction, she shows equal aptitude for all three - Abnegation, Erudite and Dauntless. She is a 'Divergent'. And being a divergent, her life is in critical danger and no one must know who she is.

On Choosing Day, she decides to choose Dauntless, and she renames herself as Tris. All the new Dauntless must pass the initiation - broken into three stages, if not they will be dismissed and become factionless. In the midst of staying alive, she falls in love with her instructor, Four, and she slowly learns his real name and the story behind his nickname.

Will Beatrice Prior, an ex-Abnegation survive while holding her secret a secret, or will she be hunted down by her enemies and die?

Three books: Divergent, Insurgent, Allergiant.

(Quoted from goodreads.com)

Thoughts:

Absolutely intense! Full of twists, making you never able to predict what's going to happen. Love it!

It wasn't easy to remember so many factions and what they stand for initially, but as the book goes on, it just comes to you like *snap* oh this that wow all these makes sense! From the start till end of the first book, I was already absorbed. So so exciting! From how Tris make her choice and how she tried to be a Dauntless. My heart wrenched when Tris's parents died to save her.

The second book was hell load to digest but it was still a good one. I find myself taking breaks from the book because the war between the factions is too confusing. I was emotional when Tris can't move on from all the deaths of her loved one, and almost died in the hands of her own brother Caleb! Sad, angry blah. I was annoyed with Tobias for being so ... mean to Tris. Thank goodness he still trusts Tris and helped her accomplish what her parents wanted.

Last book was a real twist. Kid you not. They're all a part of U.S.'s city experiments, in Chicago, not the entire Earth which I presumed they were. Tobias is a real pain in the ass for being like a whiny girl, unlike Tris who the man who thinks and acts appropriately. BUT. Tris died. Tris died. Tris died. She's the hero and she died. Ya, I'm rambling over this forever because I cannot believe the twist was she died. She sacrificed herself for her evil Caleb, fought the death serum, and killed by a fucking bullet? & Tobias have to learn to survive on his own? NO!!!

Sad ending makes me really sad. I'm going to have a hard time moving on from this awesome series. If only Tris and Tobias can live happily ever after over all the fighting. Nonetheless, *THUMBS UP*!

x,
bookverie ♡