Review: The Heir by Kiera Cass

The Heir (The Selection #4)
By Kiera Cass

Hardcover, 346 pages

Published May 5th 2015 by HarperTeen
Average Rating: 3.91

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.

---

Update: 05/05/16

So I wanted to post this review before I posted the one of The Crown. This is from my old blog, and I’m rereading it and all I’m thinking is that the Michelle who wrote this review had no idea the type of disappointment (and anger) she was going to face after reading The Crown. I also think I rated this novel waaaaay too high, and this review is definitely sugarcoated; this novel deserves three and a half stars at least. No way close to four stars. But, these were my feelings when I first finished it, I won’t be rereading it again to rewrite it so I’m going to trust in the fact that I enjoyed myself, so this review is what you’ll get.

Now, back to the review I wrote a year ago…

---

The Heir was read in two sections. I had to put it down for a while cause I felt like I couldn’t read YA Contemporary Romance at the time. I was really into my action and fantasy phase. I picked it back up late this summer and finished with a pleasure that I wouldn’t have gotten if I forced myself to read it when I was caught up in my action.

The Heir really surprised me. When I first picked it up, I really thought that it wouldn’t live up to the previous Selection novels. I’ve never been so glad to be wrong. I loved everything about The Heir. I loved seeing Maxon and America again but in a whole new way; through the eyes of their oldest daughter, Eadlyn.

The Heir picks up 18 years after The One. The caste system is gone, and Maxon and America have 4 children. Eadlyn and Ahren, who are twins, aged 18, Kaden, who is 14 years old and Osten, who is 10.

The world of The Heir, twenty years after Maxon’s Selection is much better, but with the removal of the caste, there are riots and chaos. It’s a new change that some people don’t want to accept. Eadlyn’s Selection is a decoy to distract the people from the chaos, and to favour the royal family again. It’s also gives King Maxon and Queen America time to plan a way to solve the problems.

Staring into the mirror, I talked to my reflection. “You are Eadlyn Schreave. You are the next person in line to run this country, and you will be the first girl to do it on your own. No one,” I said, “is as powerful as you.”

Eadlyn (EED-Lin) is a headstrong, independent, smart, and stubborn women. At 18, and the only female in her family, other than her mother, there is additional pressure with her appearances and her reputation as she will be the future queen of Illéa. Eadlyn is very determined and takes her duty as future leader very seriously. She often puts herself on a high pedestal, which makes her a bit annoying but you can feel how pressured she is to be “the perfect future queen”. Eadlyn also loves her dresses, and her tiaras; she values beauty and perfection. There was lots of character growth in The Heir. In the beginning, Eadlyn did care about her looks, but later she toned down the makeup and her clothes. She also learned to empathize and be more caring towards people other than her family, specifically towards the Selected men. Not to mention that she is also stuck up. Like extremely stuck up.

Now, there are too many Selected to remember their names in this novel. So, I’m going to talk about my number one contender for this Selection. Kile Woodwork, son of Marlee and Carter. That couple that suffered a whole load of shit in the previous Selection? Yea, they have a son. My eyes lit up while reading that. Kile is the perfect match for our Eadlyn. He’s nerdy and adorable and attractive. Not to mention that they’ve known each other since they were kids and it’s a hate/love relationship. I LOVE the haters-turned-lovers stories AND the childhood friends-turned-lovers stories. Double whammy!! Call me cliché but in my opinion, Cass wrote this story-line brilliantly!!! I really hope Kile ends up being Eadlyn’s One.

Plot moved at a slow pace but it picked up near the middle. The Heir mostly introduces the Selected and the world of Eadlyn and the new Illéa under Maxon and America’s reign. There was lots of action and decisions that hints at a explosive ending (of the whole series).

Romance was on point and there was enough to keep the story going without overdoing it. The Selection is an opportunity to bring lots of romance, and Cass didn’t put too much or too little. It was nice balance of romance, character development, and humour. The Heir was a joy to read and I’m looking forward to reading the next chapter to Eadlyn’s Selection.

“Either way, I couldn’t slow now. I knew that for my sake-for my family’s sake-I had to finish my Selection. And, when I did, I’d have a ring on my finger.”

I thought Cass brought everything she could to the events of Maxon’s Selection but she brought in familiar things but also included lots of new additions to Eadlyn’s Selection process. Many twists and new “games” that help determine who the men are. Also, there’s the fact that all the previous Selections were for males and not females.

The Heir is a the perfect novel filled with romance, laughter and action. Kiera Cass throws us back into the Selection world in a way that is bound to attract her fans once again and new readers.

Keep calm and read on,

goodreads / twitter / tumblr / pinterest / instagram / bloglovin’