Miniviews # 11: The One and Sweet Evil

The One by Kiera Cass
Publication Date: May 6th, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 336
Series: The Selection
Source: Purchased
Rating: 1.5/5

Nope. Nope. Nope. I do not get the appeal of this series. What is the point of it? Seriously. Everything about it is so childish. I was going to write a full review but than realized it would be pretty much be reiterating everything I said in my The Elite review. America is still as petty and indecisive as ever. Maxon is still cowardly and unappealing. And what the hell was the point of Aspen? I experienced so much eye rolling well reading that I'm surprised my eyes didn't get stuck.
Cass finally decides to try and delve into the world outside of the castle and explain why the rebels are constantly attacking. I don't know why I was expecting to actually get some solid world building(maybe you could call me hopeful) but that obviously didn't happen. There's so many holes. And some "nice" outsiders just conveniently show up and offer Maxon and America the help they need. Without really wanting anything in return. Sure. That's exactly what so much about this last installment was, convenient. Every situation that America found herself in just seemed to have a convenient solution. A random character(s) would show up and offer her answers and help for no apparent reason.
And than there were some deaths. Those deaths were obviously for shock value. They didn't resonate with me. They were forced, unnecessary and hey guess what else? Convenient.
I understand the appeal of a Cinderella story. I'm a girl after all. I love me a Disney princess movie. But this trilogy just doesn't do it for me. The story, characters, and dialogue are just to fake and juvenile that I can't picture myself in America's shoes falling for Prince Maxon. What I can picture myself doing is shoving them all inside the castle and setting it on fire. Ridding the world of lack luster personalities. To harsh? 

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Publication Date: May 1st, 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 447

Series: The Sweet Trilogy

Source: Purchased

Rating: 2/5

Oh man, I was so excited for this book. There's so much hype and love out there for it and the whole trilogy. Unfortunately it was a total let down. Okay that's not totally true. I really think the story idea that Higgins came up with is quite cool and original. It was the execution and characters that really fell flat. My biggest qualm was the dialogue. It's so simplistic and juvenile. No personality to it at all. Which leaves me bored and I ended up skimming the second half of the book. There was also so much cheese and the story fell into many of the YA tropes I strongly dislike(insta-love, jackass bad boy who's mean to the MC but only because he's trying to keep her away, etc...). Also Anna and Kaidan were nothing new. Anna is a goody-goody nice girl. That really annoying nice girl full of naivety and all the right things to say and do. Barf. You'd think that the local bad boy Kaidan appearing in her life would make an impact. But Kaidan is a let down in the bad boy department. Sure he has the basis for it but there's so much try. And unfortunately Kaidan had no appeal for me. I didn't dislike him I just found him pretty blah and than he went and fell into the typical bad boy that falls for the good girl and good girl makes him have feelings and see that things can be different crap. And I actually don't hate that trope when it's done right(or the way I like it I guess).
After all that being said and my harping I'll actually probably continue on with the series at some point. I'm not going to make it a priority. But like I mentioned I do think that idea for the story is quite interesting and hopefully the second book will have some improvement on the characters and writing. I'm hopeful enough. And there's been a few instances where I've strongly disliked the first book in a series but continued on anyways and than ended thoroughly or even loving the rest of the books.

Happy reading!

Brittany