Reviews

Eliten by Kiera Cass

d3monology's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

0.75

So the shitty world building of the first book is PASSABLE by and large (I don’t like it but for its target audience, it’s not egregiously derivative). But this book… wow. It’s on full display. This is a patriarchal society in which America has gone back to essentially caste-based feudalism ?? For reasons that are explained but the lore quickly breaks down… It all starts to make no sense ands seems like the author just created ship names for Hetalia characters (Swendway? NEW ASIA??) 

So this could all be IGNORED if the world building didn’t make the leads SO INSUFFERABLE!! This is a patriarchal society, and both of the male love interests feel the need to remind us of this fact, thereby making our main character into a pawn. She lacks in agency at every turn, and when she does exert her volition, the men in her life (besides her DAD) undermine her! Maxon, in particular, never really apologizes for his frequent power trips, simply believing that he’s a better person now because he knows what poverty is. 

And THEN our MC feels the need to CONSTANTLY REMIND US that she’s essentially this world’s lower middle class and ya know what. STFU girl !! You clearly don’t get class solidarity or else you wouldn’t be in this stupid competition! 

jantsuliini's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

PREPARE TO BE SOBBING

cassmacdonald03's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

noor_ahmed's review against another edition

2.0

An ok book. Such a disappointment compared to the first book. I like Maxon, but America was very annoying at times. I felt like her feelings with Aspen was annoying, how she likes to control then all. Ugh.
Utter disappointment

sampauwels's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

smallbluemars's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

nicolejones911's review against another edition

5.0

Also as addictive as the first book, now on to book three :)

musicgirl_gwyn's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

alexmshofman's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 ⭐️:
This book was so infuriating it actually made me sick. But like still good lowkey…. I’ve said it once and I’ll keep saying it ASPEN=GALE HAWTHRONE

feefs_'s review against another edition

funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5