The Heir by Kiera Cass

Title: The Heir (The Selection #4)

Author: Kiera Cass

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian

Published: January 2015

My Rating: 3.5/5

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.

I read The Selection trilogy over a year ago and I actually enjoyed it, I wrote a little review about the first two books if you want to read it:

The Selection + The Elite by Kiera Cass

For some reason I didn't know this book was gonna happen, I thought the story was a trilogy and that that'd be it (I think that was Kiera's original plan?), but one day I was just minding my own business and found this on Goodreads... and I was actually very excited.

The Selection is a series about a girl named America Singer, who enters a competition to win the prince's heart and become the next queen (kind of like The Bachelor, I think?). I know the story sounds very silly, but there's so much more than that! The country of Illéa (formerly known as The United States) has a caste system, meaning that every person is assigned a number from 1 to 8 (the lower the number, the higher the caste) and, according to that, they can get different jobs, have a better income, play a bigger role in society and other things, their caste pretty much defines their lives... But there are rebels trying to change that, which is what makes it so interesting!

So we know that in The One, America and Maxon end up together, and they're supposed to live happily ever after. Some time later they have twins, a boy and a girl, the latter being born first, so thanks to some modifications of the law, the girl, Eadlyn, is to become queen after her father stops being king, instead of her brother taking over, which I loved.

Finally, America's little girl is already old enough to have her own selection, like her father and other ancestors before her. But she's to be the first female having one.

First, let me start by saying that I don't know if I've ever read a book whose main character's name I never learned. Kiera really gives her characters some weird names, I don't think I'll remember most of them in a few weeks.

All right, so let's get to the story... Spoilers ahead.

I'm glad. I'm very glad that Kiera's being realistic and she's showing that the transition from the castes is not easy. I think it was to be expected that this could happen and I'm happy she did it, because those kinds of things usually take a lot of time and not everyone's gonna be happy with it.

So, I guess what I should talk about the most is our dear future queen... But I'm going to leave that for later, because there's just a lot to say about her.

I'm gonna start with Ahren. I just love Ahren. He's so very nice to his sister and, just being honest here, how is he not mad he's not going to be king because of her? In real life (well, according to what we see in movies and, of course, history) most younger brothers in line for the throne would be jealous of the oldest one and they might consider killing him, or even attempt it and succeed. This family seems to be very happy and close, I'm surprised.

Whenever I read a part including America or Maxon... Well, I don't really know what to say. It's weird, you know. Reading from America's POV when she was a teenager and now reading from her daughter's POV and see how much she and Maxon have changed. And there's also a lot of people from the trilogy, Lucy and General Leger are still in the palace (and they can't have babies omg that's so sad T.T) and Marlee too, with her children. And that's how we get to know Kile.

So what's Eadlyn's deal with Kile? Why does she hate him so much? Because he likes to read?? Girl, you're in a book right now, that's how I'm getting to know you, please sit down.

Ok, so... Time to talk about Eadlyn...

OH . MY . GOD... I don't even know where to start. I thought I was really going to love her, I really did. When she says she likes to be all independent and doesn't want her parents to make her go through a selection I'm like "Hell yes, girl!". But ugggh, she can be so very frustrating!! I do like that part in her that likes to be in charge and doesn't want anybody to boss her around and all, but Eadlyn, sweetie, you can't just justify every little thing in this world by saying you're the future freaking queen, you just can't.

People never really say to her that she can't do things, or that she's not smart or whatever. She's really spoiled and a lot of things that happen through the selection are just perfect! Just so that she can know how people see her and all she's doing wrong. You don't have be bitchy to be considered powerful and be respected, my queen.

(Unless you're Cersei)

How could she just eliminate eleven (ELEVEN!) guys at once before really getting to know them. She thought she was being oh so great and almighty and that people would respect her and know their place, but she just blew it. And she made a guy there cry!!

And what about Kile being part of the selection? I can't believe people like that and don't consider it cheating, I know I would've, especially if he wins. So if he loses... he goes back to his bedroom? Don't see much of a difference there.

And suddenly they became kissing buddies. I feel like she's rushing things for the public, she needs to calm down. Although she now likes kissing Kile, maybe they'll just end up together, it's kind of the obvious choice.

But hey, she kissed cute, little Henri too. I mean, that guy's just adorable. I sometimes think he might be suspicious, maybe he'll just appear one day, speaking English and letting a whole armed squad into the castle to take it. I don't know, I don't know, I'll just enjoy his cuteness while it's there, maybe he's not bad and that's who he really is.

If we talk about Henri then we're gonna have to talk about Erik too. He's also adorable, I knew he would play a bigger part in this. It's a real shame he's not in the selection.

I must admit that I actually thought I'd like this selection a little bit more than the first one, what with all the boys fighting over Eadlyn. But I don't know, maybe it's because we don't get to know the guys that much, since Eadlyn is not part of the selection like America was, but is playing Maxon's role.

But the end... Omg that ending you guys. I cried. I did.

I don't love America. I did like her quite a lot in the first book of the series, but in the next two she was being a little stupid, making really bad decisions, so I started liking her a bit less. Still, knowing that she had a heart attack and Maxon's all heartbroken and that she might not make it... Well, I just couldn't.

Why, Ahren?! Yeah, we know, we know you and Camille are just an adorable couple. But that stupid letter you left Eadlyn and breaking your mom's heart... Shame on you, dude. That was stupid. It's all your fault.

Now I need the next book to see what happens, I just need to.

So have you read The Selection series? What did you think of this book?

Thank you for reading! Bye-Bye! ♥