by Kiera Cass
Part of The Selection, book 0.5
First published 2013
Prince Maxon stands at the center of Illéa's most anticipated event, but his heart already belongs to someone else. Before thirty-five girls arrive at the palace to compete for his hand, before America Singer captures his attention, another young woman holds his affections. This girl moves through the palace corridors with quiet confidence, sharing stolen moments with the prince who must soon choose a bride from strangers. Their relationship deepens as Maxon struggles between personal desire and royal duty. The looming Selection threatens to tear them apart, forcing both to confront what they mean to each other. As the competition draws near, Maxon must decide whether to fight for this hidden love or accept his fate as a prince bound by tradition and expectation.
Genres: fiction, romance, historical-fiction, young-adult
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, hidden-romance
Setting: Illéa
Period: 21st-century
64 pages · Kindle Edition · HarperTeen