The One discussion

Am I the only one who felt a little disappointed with the direction this series went? Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed it in the predictable-YA-romance-novel way. But halfway through The Elite I became excited thinking the series was going to take an interesting turn.

When the king kicked her out in the second book, I really thought she was gone. I figured her father would introduce her to the leaders of the rebellion (it was obvious he was one)and that she, with the backing of Italy, would lead a revolution. In the end she would convince the rebels to elect Maxom as the new president. The Selection would have been stopped and the series could've ended with them starting a real dating relationship.

When he told her he talked his father into letting her stay, I knew that it was going to be the cookie cutter ending I had predicted it would have. I still enjoyed the book, I was just disappointed because I felt it had SOOOO much potential.

Did anyone else feel the same way?

I was a little disappointed with the ending as well. I really enjoyed the series and that everything worked out in the end as I had hoped, but it seemed a little rushed, like there could have been more done with it.

I was hoping there would be more involvement with the rebels and the Italians as well rather than just the small part at the end. I was hoping that America would have to do some hard work to redeem herself in Maxon's eyes and really show him that she did care for him by working with him to create the kind of society he wanted that was better than the one the king ruled over.

Instead, we see Maxon totally against America and ready to choose Kriss, and then after the attack suddenly everything is forgiven and he loves her and they never really have a deep conversation on the issue...it was just kind of abrupt for my liking, very quick as if things needed to be wrapped up quickly. I agree that there was a lot of untapped potential left to bring an end to the series.

I agree

I could not agree more. I was really hoping that the Rebels plot line would come more into play. It was a little bit of a let down that it was so downplayed and not more prevelent.

I still feel like I don't know anything about the rebels and it's three books into the series. I absolutely love following the relationship between Maxon/America, so I'm not disappointed in the way it is going. I think (or I'm hoping) that the rebel issue will become relevant in The Heir and it'll be more of a thrilling book than a new budding romance.

I agree with everyone. Plus did anyone else know the ending from the start. I mean this is just like the bachelor *GASP*, what if prince Harry was on the bachelor. Anyway I felt like I knew how this was gonna end from the first page of the selection. I mean you don't just read a series like this expecting to have her marry the prince then not happening. I felt like this whole series was predictable. Though I can't wait for her ongoing book the heir.

I agree, Leah, I did get a bachelor kind of vibe from the beginning, which is why I had hoped there would be more intrigue and other things going on since we knew America was going to get to the end. For a while I was actually hoping there would be a switch up from the typical expectations and she would end up with Aspen, just to make things different and illustrate some theme or other. I'm still happy she ended up with Maxon, and Aspen ended up happy too, but the ending was predictable in a sense, and I would have liked to see Maxon and America work harder toward it.

i agree with all of you. the ending does no make sense at all. why would maxon throw himself before america and why does he propose to her the day after his mom's death.

i think that there's a lot that was crammed into this final installment, and that depending on which parts you were most invested in, you could say that it wasn't the best.

i am still on the fence why we were made to love some of the characters - and see their better sides just to see them get killed off - but then again, that's the way that things usually work out when you know that you have no reason to have an arc for someone.

i'm still really interested to see what happens in The Heir since i really enjoyed where the Queen took us - in learning more of that back story. i hope that we get to see a bit of a future evolution and see even a few of our favorite characters come back and be in their lives.

I like that everything ended so nicely, but I never understood the significance of Kriss being a rebel? It's like America goes "hey you're wearing a star, you're a rebel" and then you don't hear anything else about it.

I think the Heir book could also hold a lot of potential. But was I the only one hoping that she would start a new series for the Rebels?

Like soooo many loose ends, wonder what the Rebels could possibly want 16 years later :/

Salome wrote: "Am I the only one who felt a little disappointed with the direction this series went? Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed it in the predictable-YA-romance-novel way. But halfway through The Elite..."

This would have made such a better book. She tried with the action and the 'rebellion' but honestly, it just didn't work.

I love your idea but I don't think America had the ability for it. She had the stones, and the right attitude, but she didn't think about the effect her actions would have. Someone who leads a rebellion needs to have more than heart.