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Brief synopsis (no spoilers) : 20 years after the original Selection series, Queen America and Prince Maxon's oldest daughter is old enough to start looking for a companion. In a desperate need to find something to hold the country together they suggest that Eadlyn hold her own Selection. Eadlyn doesn't want to but agrees in order to help buy her parents some time.  Category: YA Why I chose this book : Next in the series My personal opinion (the review): This is possibly the most infuriating book I have ever read. First of all, Eadlyn is arrogant. I couldn't stand her attitude. She really feels herself above most everyone else, but gets offended when anyone points it out to her, or when they say or do anything that doesn't suit her. Second, the whole book felt rushed. Whereas the first three books of The Selection had multiple books to explain the process, this situation was given one book. And it was annoying how Eadlyn never let her guard down to get to know her ...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): Short novellas and after stories from the perspective of other main characters from The Selection Series. Includes: -The Prince (with the two bonus chapters), Maxon’s novella -The Guard, Aspen’s novella -The Queen, Amberly’s novella -The Favorite, Marlee’s novella -Three scenes from Celeste’s POV -Lucy’s scene (bonus scene from The One) -The bonus epilogue -Where are they now? Category: YA Why I chose this book: Selection of novellas filling in gaps in The Selection series.  My personal opinion (the review): Of the entire series this was by far and away my favorite. I loved getting to hear parts of the stories from other perspectives. There was also additional details not found in the original story. All my questions or things I wondered about where answered through these stories.  Warnings Language: None  Violence: None "Adult" situations: As with the other novels, a few scenes with more description than I would have liked. ...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers) : The  6 Elite are now down to 4 and the race for the crown is on. There are new developments with the rebels. The King starts manipulating America more and more. And Will America finally make the decision of where her heart lies? Category:  YA Why I chose this book : Third in the series My personal opinion (the review):   It's really down to the wire with only four girls left. Things start to pick up and get more interesting. However, as I have said all along America's waffling drives me insane. At the end of the last book she said she finally decided on Maxon, but she still spends most of this book trying to decide what she really wants. Warnings Language:  Half a dozen Violence:  Rebel attacks, blood used to write on the walls, interior palace destruction, gun shot and non-descriptive rudimentary medical care. "Adult" situations : Some descriptions of intimacy went further than I would have liked, but I have a lo...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers) :  35 girls have been weeded down to 6, the Elite group. The rebels are getting braver day by day.    Category:  YA Why I chose this book : Second in a series.  My personal opinion (the review): Things get more intense both in the Selection itself when the pool is narrowed from 35 to 6 and as the rebels get more bold. It's also easier to follow who all the characters are now that there a fewer and the real work of the Selection can actually begin. America's waffling between Aspen and Maxon still takes up a good portion of the book.  Warnings Language: Half a dozen Violence:  Rebel attacks, blood used to write on the walls, interior palace destruction, two characters are publicly beaten with a cane.    "Adult" situations : Some descriptions of intimacy went further than I would have liked, but I have a low tolerance. All instances ended before they went "too far," but I would be cautious about letting early...

Brief synopsis  (no spoilers) The 7 demigods continue their mission, passing through many trials on the way to the House of Hades, to close the Doors of Death and take that weapon away from Gaea. Leo gets separated and meets someone special to Percy. Percy and Annabeth get separated from the group and battle through the Underworld. Percy learns a lesson about what a true friend should be. The Roman camp continues to march against the Greek camp. Great Scott, so much to do! Category YA Fiction Why I chose this book Next in series My personal opinion  (the review) I love this series. I've learned more about mythology from these books than I ever learned in school. Percy and the others are good, and they actively work to spread good through the world. Kudos to the author. Warnings Language: None Violence: Heroes battle monsters "Adult" situations: None Death: Just monsters Movie rating equivalent PG Protagonist description Percy, Annabeth, Leo, Piper, Jason. ...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers) : 35 girls are chosen from throughout the kingdom to compete in what is called The Selection. Prince Maxton will choose his bride from among these women. While most girls would kill for the chance to to compete in The Selection, America Singer wants nothing to do with it. However, as "chance" would find it she ends up there anyway. As she gets to know Prince Maxton and experience life at the castle, America's view begins to change.  Category: YA Why I chose this book : A friend had given it negative reviews, but then I saw some positive reviews online, so I decided to find out for myself.  My personal opinion (the review): Overall I don't recommend this book. The "adult situations" were longer and more frequent than I would have liked. Also, America is just so whiny. However, I was interested enough in the whole process to read until the end of the series (and the extras). Warnings Language: Maybe 2 or 3 words Violence: T...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers) Harmony Black is an FBI agent that has magic, so she's recruited to be the "witch" component of a secret wing of the FBI that handles paranormal situations Category Fiction, Dark Fantasy Why I chose this book Kindle First My personal opinion (the review) 3 f-bombs in the first couple chapters. Fail. Seemed like a decent plot, but I couldn't get past the language. Warnings Language: too frequent to stomach Violence: don't know "Adult" situations: don't know Death: don't know Movie rating equivalent R Protagonist description Don't really know Point of view of story Third, focused on Harmony Book length Unsure Story flow Very good Grammar and spelling issues None Character connection (no spoilers) No thanks

Brief synopsis (no spoilers) The adventure continues! Percy Jackson and other demigods from both Greek and Roman camps combine and go on a quest to save Nico, son of Hades. And Annabeth has a task of her own- given to get directly by Athena, her mother. She has to follow the Mark of Athena to figure out what the task even includes. Category YA Fiction Why I chose this book Next in series My personal opinion (the review) I love this series. I've learned more about mythology from these books than I ever learned in school. Percy and the others are good, and they actively work to spread good through the world. Kudos to the author. Warnings Language: None Violence: Heroes battle monsters "Adult" situations: None Death: Sorta (no spoilers) Movie rating equivalent PG Protagonist description Percy, Annabeth, Leo, Piper, Jason. Too many to describe Point of view of story Third, jumping perspective Book length Medium Story flow Excellent- cut strai...

Editorial note: My wife is the reviewer for this one. Brief synopsis (no spoilers) A young girl, ready to go home after a year in the main city of the kingdom is called away to be tutor for some "cousins" of the king for a year. Category YA fiction (adventure, coming of age) (setting: fictional world but like the 1600s in lifestyle/technology; that's my estimate - I'm terrible at history, so that could be off a couple hundred years) Why I chose this book I read the first two books in the Princess Academy series by Shannon Hale My personal opinion (the review) I loved it. I wasn't sure since sometimes follow up books don't impress me, but like other well-loved series, this one finished the previous 2 with a well-paced story with all my favorite elements, including a happy and good ending. Warnings Language: none Violence: some mild, but nothing my 11 year old shouldn't read "Adult" situations: none Death: only an unnamed chara...