Synopsis (From GoodReads):

Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.

Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.

Review:

I am going to try something different in this review.  I will try the Like/Dislike format.  I am inspired to try this from the blog Bookishness And Tea.  I've never tried this method, so please let me know what you think of this style in the comments.

This is a perfect book to try a Like/Dislike review style since I think I had a Love/Hate experience reading this book!  

I was looking forward to reading this book.  The Heir is the fourth book in The Selection series by Kiera Cass.  It is set 20 years after The One left off, where the winner of the selection marries Prince Maxon.  Now their daughter will participate in a Selection (kind of like The Bachelorette).  She will get to choose among 35 young men to become her Prince Consort.  I went in hoping for a fun read.

The Fashion:  

                 
via GIPHY

While I personally am not going to wear a ballgown any time soon, I love books where the clothes are a part of the story.  I loved that  Princess Eadlyn designed her own clothes and it was a very personal, creative thing for her.


 The Selected:  


              
via GIPHY


The guys that Princess Eadlyn gets to interact with include a wide range of personalities.  There were guys who were upfront about how they wanted the cushy lifestyle of royalty, guys who had a temper, guys who were competitive.  I think the author worked hard to show a lot of great candidates (and some bad apples, too).  You know Eadlyn will have a tough time choosing.

Eadlyn's Conflict: 

                     
via GIPHY
I liked how the book addressed a big issue for me.  How could an independent young woman agree to the whole selection in the first place?  Eadlyn is only eighteen and I don't think many women her age are eager to get married.  I liked that she had many conflicting emotions about the whole thing.  She doesn't like being used by her parents as a distraction from social unrest in her country.  But some of those boys are intriguing...

                                              What I didn't like:

Princess Eadlyn:


                    
via GIPHY

It's hard to like a book when the main character is a spoiled brat.  I really didn't like that Eadlyn was thoughtless toward her maid.  I don't recall her ever saying "please" or "thank you" to her.  She also thought she was better than everyone else.  She loved to remind everyone that she is THE PRINCESS!!!  She wanted to been seen as strong, but she was so preoccupied her own self-importance that she pushed everyone else away.  It surprised me that she would be like this, given her parents' personalities.  I also felt like the author deliberately made her clueless as to others feelings so that in the next books, she will learn to be nicer.  But if I can't root for the main character now, I may not stick around to read the next book!

The lack of substance:


                    
via GIPHY
 
In The Selection there were many tests that the group had to perform such as how would they address problems in the nation.  Why didn't the selected have some tasks to perform?  All the guys did was go on staged dates with Eadlyn.  No wonder she couldn't get too excited about most of the guys.  She had no way to get to know them or understand what was important to them.  I know they emphasized that Eadlyn, alone, would be running the country.  But one of the reasons I enjoyed The Selection was because Prince Maxon valued a partner who would face the country's problems with him.   Eadlyn just dismisses the possibility that anyone else could have a meaningful contribution.  I find that unrealistic and condescending.


The Ending:


                      
via GIPHY

Okay, I do not believe in putting spoilers in reviews, so I will word this carefully.  The ending was ridiculous!  The "crisis" the author created was so unbelievable that I actually became incredulous and my daughter asked if I was okay! 

There were so many ways to end this.  Couldn't Eadlyn have kissed one boy and one that she cared about got jealous and threatened to leave?  What if the national crisis became worse?  What if a war broke out?  Anything would have been better than this ending.

Overall, I was very disappointed with this book. 

Rating: 



 
Source:  Borrowed from the Library
Format:  Hardcover book
Recommendation:  If you loved The Selection, it may be worth it to read this book.  Otherwise I would skip it.
Will I read more from this author?  I will read other books from Kiera Cass, but not from this series.  I think it is done.












 

 

Synopsis (From Goodreads):

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Review:

 Take The Bachelor, mix in a futuristic society where The United States is now a Monarchy with a rigid caste system, throw in fabulous dresses, and you've got a great, fun read!  I recently finished reading this series, devouring each book like a decadent dessert.

The series starts with the Selection, a bachelor-style competition to become engaged to the crown prince of Illéa, the predictably perfect Maxon.  But all is not what it seems.  Each girl competing has a different reason to want to be the next princess.  Some want fame, others want influence, many want to compete because, even if you lose, you get to move up the caste system and forward into a better life.

America is pressured to enter the Competition by her mother, and her boyfriend Aspen.  At the beginning of the series, it seems as though America is always trying to be a people-pleaser.  She floats around doing what others tell her to do because she can't decide what it is she wants in life.  This quickly changes as the series progresses.  America likes Maxon, but is determined to not be forced into a life-long commitment until she is sure she loves the Prince, and is over Aspen.   This proves difficult when Aspen shows up at the palace as a new guard.

Throughout the three books America, Maxon, and Aspen change and mature.  It is comforting to see this because, at first, I found America to be a doormat, and the male characters to be quite selfish.  America begins to fight to do what she thinks is right, even if it gets her in trouble.  Considering Aspen pushed America into the contest, it was selfish and dangerous for him to try and renew his relationship with her.  Especially since the penalty if they are caught it public caning.  When he and America start to mature, they can see what they had is truly over, even if there hadn't been a Selection.  Other characters (such as the Queen and the final competitors) expand and change as well.  It made for a fuller landscape of people in the story.  

The one issue I had with the premise is one that America had with Prince Maxon as well.  How can we trust Maxon when he expresses his feelings for America when he is also dating (and kissing) a dozen other girls?I suppose this is the problem with The Bachelor television shows.  How can anyone actually fall in love in these situations?  The story was so enchanting, however, that I was willing to suspend my suspicions and just go with it.  The Selection series is a lot of fun.  If you ever wanted to see behind the scenes of one of these dating shows, you will love these books!