The Elite

The first three novels of the Selection series use the Cinderella archetype, describing a good-hearted heroine ascending the social ladder from lower circumstances to royalty by winning the love of a prince. This archetype taps into the universal themes of transformation, resilience, and the triumph of kindness over adversity, elements that are often found in fairy tale retellings. The Selection was published in 2012 by HarperTeen, and The Elite appeared in 2013, followed by The One in 2014. The series became a commercial success, riding the wave of the young adult dystopian trend and offering a blend of romance, political intrigue, and social commentary.

The initial trilogy is told from the point of view of America Singer, a 17-year-old girl born in a Caste Five family of artists in the province of Carolina. America enters the competition known as the Selection, where the prince will choose his bride. America’s feelings for Prince Maxon complicate her affection for her first love and childhood friend, Aspen, a palace guard. As competition among the Elite and outside rebellion intensifies, America resolves her feelings and survives an attack on the palace to become Maxon’s wife and queen.

The next two full-length novels in the series, The Heir (2015) and The Crown (2016), are written from the point of view of Princess Eadlyn, the first-born child and heir to King Maxon and Queen America. Princess Eadlyn faces her own Selection as 35 suitors assemble to vie for her hand. This shift in narrative perspective presents the experience of the Selection from a different point of view, showcasing the pressures of leadership and the evolving dynamics of the monarchy. Kiera Cass also wrote four novellas that provide additional glimpses into events from the series. The Prince introduces Prince Maxon before the Selection begins. The Queen describes the Selection in which Amberly, Maxon’s mother, wins Clarkson, who will become King of Illéa. The Guard relates how Aspen becomes a guard at the palace, and The Favorite tells the love story between Marlee and Officer Woodwork. These four novellas are combined into a companion volume to the Selection series, Happily Ever After (2016).

Cass’s other works include A Thousand Heartbeats (2022), The Betrayed (2021), The Betrothed (2020), and The Siren (2009), all of which examine the Selection’s themes of arranged marriages, love across class differences, secrecy, betrayal, and danger. These novels continue Cass’s exploration of romantic tension and societal expectations, often set against lush, imaginative worlds that challenge the protagonists to fight for autonomy and self-actualization.

Dystopian novels were growing in popularity among young adult audiences before the phenomenon of The Hunger Games (2008), which featured an engaging young heroine forced into a high-stakes competition under a cruel regime ruling a dystopian version of the United States. The popularity of dystopian fiction lies in its ability to critique contemporary societal issues such as authoritarianism, inequality, and the loss of personal freedom. The Selection was initially described by Cass as a cross between The Hunger Games and the dating show The Bachelor. This unique blend of dystopian elements and a romantic reality competition format helped set the series apart in the crowded young adult market, appealing to fans of both survival narratives and love stories. The plot device of the love triangle, in which a young woman is forced to choose her future by deciding between two love interests, also appears in the enormously successful Twilight (2005) series, which also includes supernatural and mythical elements. The premise of a young girl battling oppressive castes in a dystopian fantasy setting continued to gain popularity following the publication of The Selection, as evidenced in best-selling series like Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen (2015).

The Bachelor is a reality dating television show that first aired in the US in 2002. The show assembles screened contestants to compete to win a proposal of marriage from a single man. The show relies on competition among the women and an atmosphere of suspense as the man makes his choice, often forming multiple serious connections. The competitive structure and the emotional ups and downs experienced by the contestants mirror the dramatic tension found in the Selection series, where the stakes are heightened by the dystopian setting and political implications of the choice. While The Bachelor and similar competition-style dating shows do not have a high success rate of forming lasting unions, the popularity of the show endures in ratings, spinoffs—including The Bachelorette—and fictional imitations found in genres including contemporary romance, fantasy, and young adult novels. The enduring appeal of these narratives suggests a fascination with the idea of finding love against all odds, a theme that resonates deeply in the Selection series.