The Elite
The Selection has narrowed to six girls — the Elite — and the competition for Prince Maxon and the crown of Illéa is now a matter of weeks. America Singer has secured her place among them, but she is more torn than ever: drawn to Maxon and the future he offers, yet still tied to Aspen, the boy from home who is now serving as a palace guard.
As the remaining girls grow more desperate and the palace's cameras and protocols tighten around her, America witnesses a brutal public punishment that shakes her faith in the monarchy she might one day join. Outside the walls, rebel forces press harder, and America begins to grasp how much history and injustice the crown is built on — forcing her to weigh not just who she loves, but what kind of country she would help rule.
The second book in Kiera Cass's bestselling series, The Elite deepens the love triangle and the political stakes while keeping the glossy, page-turning romance that made The Selection a phenomenon.
One of the six remaining Elite competing for Prince Maxon.
The heir narrowing his choice among the Elite.
Palace guard and America's former boyfriend.
Reading the preceding novel is necessary to understand the central competition and the established relationships between the characters. The story continues directly from the events of the first book, making it essential to start there to follow the narrative arc.
Several companion novellas exist that provide additional perspective on the events of the series. These are optional but are best read after the main novels they correspond to for the most context.