The Betrothed Is An Aluminum Crown Wrapped in Gold Foil



Much like other Kiera Cass fans, I anxiously awaited for this book to come out, ready to go back into a lavish and royal world that Kiera creates so well in The Selection series. I put my hold on my e-copy as soon as the library had it in stock and waited. It started out as six months and then to my surprise, it went to 8 weeks, 4 weeks,  down to 2. I grew more and more excited as I saw the number drop. 
When I got the email notifying me that it was my turn, I dropped the other book I was reading right then and excitedly clicked the borrow button. 

NON SPOILER:
Even though this is a fairly new book, a lot of people have already dug their claws into it (as evidenced by all the Twitter reactions I witnessed) so I'll do two reviews as per usual. 

WHAT I LIKED:
It felt so amazing diving back into a world of royalty, aristocrats, and so on with gorgeous dresses, scenery, and venues. It instantly drew me in and I was able to create a whole new world for myself. Kiera is good at that. She's good at describing things to readers so that they may take part themselves in the story. You can see the mountains, lake, or other scenery she is describing and you can feel the chiffon or organza of a gown draped around you. 

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
It's no surprise that this book has a romance, it's on the back cover. With that said, I couldn't get into this romance like I did with America and Maxon from The Selection series. It felt way too rushed and they only knew each other for about a week or so. It just wasn't that believable to me. I wish she had let it go on longer or burn a little slower. It was all just too fast. 


Rating: 2 stars



SPOILERS, MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD. READ AT OWN RISK
Alright, well I warned you. I'm not going to do a like and not like for this part because honestly, it's mostly dislikes. 
First, let's talk about the King himself. I forget his name even though he was such a prominent character in the book. As we go into the story more, we see he has a darker side to him. But when Hollis eventually leaves him and court life behind, it's as if he has no reaction at all. I was expecting him to turn his fury upon her or her family. After all, he is a king who has just been publicly humiliated by having his choice for Queen abandon him, choosing some other guy she just recently met. 

As for Hollis' friend (I forget her name too), are we really supposed to show sympathy for her? Yes, she was wronged during court life and had a lot of rumors flown around about her, not to mention outright scorn, but she seems like such an unlikable character. I liked her in the beginning I suppose because I felt bad for her but then she would get upset at Hollis for ruining her chances for a greater life. She even admits she planned on spinning Hollis away and to the ground that night so she could get the King's attention when her friend went to Hollis "helping her." Instead, Hollis ended up in the King's arms and her friend has resented her ever since. 
Aren't friends, true friends, supposed to be happy for each other?  
Even though she is a bad friend, Hollis pushes her towards the King anyways, having her play the consoling woman while Hollis takes her leave of him and court life altogether. 

Okay, I've held on long enough. Let's talk about that ending. 
Wowza. So firstly, Hollis leaves the King and the court because she decides she doesn't really want that life and goes for Silas instead. And then shortly after, she marries him! Talk about rushed. And not only that, but people show up at her wedding, burn down the house and all the people in it including Silas!! What's even the point of the romance, then? So now Hollis is recently widowed along with his mother and she's the sole owner of her parent's estate (because they died in the fire too). And then she goes off with Silas' mother and sister. Bam done. Ending. 
Through all this, the King writes to Hollis and invites her back to court saying he's forgiven her and will always have a place there. 
Yea, I seriously doubt that. 
If Kiera just wanted Hollis to have an epiphany of wanting adventure and not the court life altogether, she could have slowed down the romance, have Hollis engage in more "common folk" activities, etc. Overall, the ending is just unbelievable, and not in a good way. In a more "no, sorry I don't buy it" way.
Hopefully, Kiera has a better book next year to redeem herself.  

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