Review: La elegida

La elegida by Kiera Cass
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Finally I get what I want from the story, to know more of the politics of Illea and the situation of Maxion within this world. So we finally know a bit of the rebels from the north and we get to hear more about the rebels from South and what each of them want. I like when America realizes that she was rised with this sense of freedom, justice and more than anything, love. That meant that she could be a good leader. The character is well constructed, thought I think that in this as in many of the YA stories, the female character takes too long to shine and embrace their present and themselves as change agents. I sometimes feel frustrated that every change a female lead in stories has to make, is related to having a male partner. But I guess that we are subdue to that stereotype and it is hard to get far from it. However this is a good story because it is build within a world of princesses and pretty dresses.
The ending was a bit forced and extremely fastpaced. The death of Celeste is regretable and I wish she had more protagonism in that moment. We never get to know how the king and queen died, and conveniently Anne died also. There is no further notice on how the rebels from north will take part in the new government and plans of King Maxon and Queen America, nor we know about Italy's support. I think they are major flaws in the story because we do like to read about leader princesses, but there is more than just getting the Prince in any story. I like that America is indomitable, but also that she learns to think better her actions. I like that Maxion is subdue to the King's will but willing to challenge his father for the justice and support found in America.
In the end there is a lot of guessing. I read some reviews and wikias before actually reading the book, there were pieces I already expected that did not impact me as I hoped when I read the story, like the compromise with Kriss and how she took the news of being the second place after America when Maxion was about to propose. I wanted something more dramatic also when America's father died and she faced her family.
In general I always said that it was nice that Cass focused on America's view on what was going on, because that gave place to a well constructed and cohesive story, but the end was a bit rushed.

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