35 girls entered the palace, six are left, and now there are specific “events” that are supposed to weed out the contenders.

America thinks she’s in love with Maxon but after the inclusion of Aspen back in her sphere, and the challenges of being a potential princess start to mount, she finds herself doubtful fo where she belongs.

And that’s not just getting into the rebellious Southerners trying to kill them all.

The love triangle is in full force here as America dithers between Maxon and Aspen whenever one thing goes wrong. Admittedly, since I know how this ends I found her scenes with Aspen forced and kinda creepy with how Aspen won’t move on. He was such a jerk when he broke up with her, yet he continues to risk both their lives with their little liasons is just so so dumb. There was literally a whole chapter where Marlee’s secret love for a guard caused them to get caned and scarred for life, but a few hours later, Aspen and America are making out like old times.

But I can also understand America’s reasoning for running back to Aspen. He’s familiar and constant, and there’s no other girls trying to vy for his attention and marrying him won’t lead to rebels trying to kill her. So I sorta warmed up to why she wanted to be with him.

Yet her chemistry with Maxon is just intense. Even when they’re apart, it’s clear how much America pines for him. It’s lingering in a way that wasn’t present when she broke with Aspen. Maxon is always on her mind even as she’s questioning his morality.

That’s right, Maxon’s royalty is founded on a shaky history as America learns when she reads General Illea’s diary. A history we already learned in book one, but is really hitting home to her how unfair the caste system is on everyone just because one man wanted to have power. That’s another reason why she’s sticking out the Selection. She’s starting to believe that maybe if she makes it, she can help make a difference. I loved this arc for her most of all as she begins to really work hard on learning to be a diplomat, studying history and etiquette and make a plan that could help shake up the system.

Yet another reason why Aspen and her just don’t work anymore. They’re on higher caste now, but Aspen still wants to settle a score with upper castes. America wants to use her new privilege to change things.

Not that she’s good about it. There’s still a lot for her to learn, and admittedly, her compassion is the only thing she got going for her compared to other contestants who have connections and empathy for Maxon’s position when she’s unable to trust or admit she loves him.

This is one element that I felt could have been stronger. Kriss comes out as a potentially real rival for America as she is able to provide empathy and understanding that America isn’t giving Maxon. While he’s all about giving her time and trust to make her decision and get over Aspen, she isn’t able to do the same for him, taking his actions at face value without considering his role as prince. Kriss is not only loving and a good listener, but as the daughter of professors, she’s educated, driven and knows how to plan which is why her and America’s team up to greet the Italian delegation is such a success.

While America is highlighted as “not like other girls” as she cares about the injustice of the caste system and is able to stand up to Maxon and open his eyes, the others are characterized as really sweet, obedient and kind or bitchy and slutty. Kriss is the former, but I wish Cass leaned into her intellectualism a bit. Have Maxon consider her not only as a confidante and emotional support, but as someone who can help him strategize and lead the country which he needs as his father won’t listen to his input.

Have her rival America not onnly as Maxon’s eotional support but as someone who genuinely believes in the system as it is and has resources to back it up. I just feel like it would have added to the political intrigue of the book and the overall training the elites to be potential cosorts.

The rebel problem continues to pop up adding danger to the piece but feels pushed aside as well. It almost makes me wish for a Maxon novel so to get a better idea of his side of the selection as it is clear he is under enormous pressure (and I mean enormous) pressure and I feel his side would be slightly more interesting (especially considering the ending reveal) compared to the selfish love triangle America gets into.

Still America has her good moments such as her concern and willingness to fight for Marlee when she’s getting punished, her empathy for her maids and the adorable psuedo-friendship they created and her openness to Maxon’s criticisms of her and trying to fix them.

I found the sequel to be much more interesting than the first from Maxon’s complexity to the additional tests to Aspen and America’s conversation of how they still love Illea the country even as the system seems broken because they have hope it can be better. Just as I like to view America on more positive days.

I’m excited to see the final two and how all these plot threads will be resolved.

4 stars.