*SPOILERS ALERT* What did you think about all of the deaths in this book?

[Jennifer]

For me I felt as if it was too much to handle (view spoiler)[like when the king and queen to Celeste to some of the other characters that were mentioned in the book I thought the saddest one was Americas fathers death, because he ment so much to America and it just was shocked as well to find out he was a Southern Rebel! (hide spoiler)]

[Autumn]

WARNING DO NOT READ THIS COMMENT IF U HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK YET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was so sad.
I almost threw my nook down when Celeste was shot in the head. And America's father death... well it wasn't as sad, but then I read his letter to America, and I thought about how much I love my dad and how America loves him (A lOT!!!!!). When the King and Queen died, I really didn't care as much, but I felt a little bit of sadness when the queen died.

[Gabriella]

A list of the people who (I remember) died and my reaction to it:
The little rebel boy – I feel the same as America had: although I didn't know him for long, I did feel sorry.

America's father – I saw this coming, but it still made me really sad. I was just disappointed America got over his death so quickly. And I never expected heart problems to be the cause of his death; if anything, I expected a Southern rebel killing him.

Celeste – Oh, how I hated Celeste in The Selection and The Elite. But in this book, I was so surprised how quickly she grew on me after explaining her reasons for being a b*tch to everyone, and I ended up loving her. So I was very heartbroken she died the way she did. Shot in the back of the head? Poor girl. Didn't see it coming.

Queen Amberly – WHAT? It was so unexpected; I just thought the king would be the only one to die, but the queen? Nope! But the way she went (protecting her husband) felt fitting for her.

King Clarkson – Ha! He had it coming, that king. Sure I feel bad Maxon no longer has a father, but the king deserved it for being such an ass to everyone.

Anne – Now this is one I definitely did not see coming. It really saddens me that she was in love with Aspen, but Aspen was in love with Lucy, not her, and she died in the rebel attack without ever expressing her feelings to Aspen. America's group of maids feels empty without her.

But there's something about this book that I feel is missing. I don't know what it is, but I think it's probably closure. A lot of these characters who died weren't really properly mourned by anyone by the end (although maybe America's father was for a little bit). But regardless, I love this series so much, and the third book was everything I expected and more!

[* Sara Johns*]

Way too much death. I didn't really understand the point. Although this is a dystopian book, the series has focused more on romance than the grit going on around them. I considered the other two much lighter reads than this one.

[Ilana]

while some of it was warranted, i think that there were a few that weren't necessary.

America's father - i agree that it was expected - it's the only way for us to 'safely' learn of his affiliation with the rebels

Celeste - you could see that set up coming if you think about it. we hated her so much and then at the end you really liked her - but where was her story going to go once the selection was done right?

The Queen - SOOO upset about that. i think that the teeing up that she's always wanted another child/daughter was all we needed to be excited for her in the end, and then she never got to see that.

Anne - well - i'm really surprised that one happened as well - i think that there wasn't really a reason for it - she had a good position in the palace and would have had a great life after the selection was over.

i agree also with the above that i wish that there was more closure in the sense that i've continued to call out that i wish that the epilogue was further in the future. i liked seeing the closure that America / Aspen/Maxon got, but i wish that we got to see what happens - especially with Georgia/August. maybe we'll get a novella.

[Kaitlin]

I felt like all of the deaths were necessary. Anne liked Aspen, but he loved Lucy, so what was going to happen there? Her dad's death made her realize to trust the rebels and also gave her a spark to do it. The king's death is self-explanatory, he needed to go. Queen Amberly's death was true to her character, always being selfless. Celeste's death I felt was necessary just to kill off someone close to America and kind of to have her experience death and the attack first hand with someone she loves. To kind of prepare her almost. All of the deaths were really sad but I thought they were all good and added to the book.

[Liz]

Death of America's father - fit the plot and was fine, the emotions of the family and America after that were so NOT believable.
Death of Celeste - THERE WERE LITERALLY TWO OR THREE LINES IN THE ENTIRE BOOK ABOUT THIS. THere was a one-liner about how suddenly guards wrapped red around their heads and someone put a bullet through Celeste's head - as far as I could tell this was designed only to sound cool and suspenseful and shocking, STUPIDEST REASON TO KILL A CHARACTER EVER.
Everyone else's deaths - were fine with me, seemed to fit and I could accept that they were supposed to happen (ie right choice made by author) but they were all an easy way out of a plot thing - like Anna/Aspen/Lucy thing, and Maxon standing up to the king - honestly, even though The One was entertaining and engaging and I liked it, I have never ever seen such unskilled writing in a published book, certainly not the third of a well-known series.

[Shanti]

All the deaths made this book way more serious.
Micah- he died in such a sad way.
The King- well, I've got to say that he deserved it.
Anne- I liked her! Why is she dead? She was nice and efficient and friendly and honest. Amberly! At least there'll be a prequel about her. She was nice. She had so much potential
Celeste-just when I was starting to like her. her death was unfair. She was going to be Ame's friend
America's dad- Why? he was the only one who accepted her choices, He was super nice and kind and wonderful. He shouldn't have died. That was just stupid
This book was pretty good. It was a silly story that sort of escalated and got published and was pretty nice for all that.

[Eml]

I thought it was unnecessary. If America's dad died it should have been because he's a rebel or because of a southern rebel. As for the rebel attack I thought it was a dramatic cop out. It was used to fix the problem of Maxon's craptastic father and allow America to once again not have to deal with consequences of not keeping her promises(Anne). I agree with what someone said earlier about Celeste just dying because Cass thought it was cool. But the whole thing was unrealistic. How would the fifty other guards in the room not realize there were people there who they knew weren't guards? Especially since they didn't have regulation hair cuts and shaven faces. She doesn't even explain the southern rebels. They have no purpose or calling. They're just this destructive force without explanation. She didn't even say what happens to the ones who invaded.