Book Review: The Heir

The following is a book review by The Ameri Brit Mom. This post expresses the genuine opinion and experiences of The Ameri Brit Mom and is in no way endorsed by authors, publishers, and outside influences.

Title: The Heir (The Selection Book #4)

Author: Kiera Cass

Publisher: HarperTeen

Copyright Date: 2015

At the end of the third book in The Selection series America Singer has been chosen as Prince Maxon’s wife out the pool of thirty-five women. Originally, these books were only written to be a trilogy with the wedding of Prince Schreave as the conclusion. However, author Kiera Cass found it hard to cap off the series with so much left to tell. Afterall, the wedding was only the beginning of the story for America and Maxon.

The Heir is set twenty years after Prince Maxon puts an end to the selection process by proposing to his true love, America. Maxon is now the King and his firstborn and only daughter, Eadlyn, is next in line for the throne. Throughout Maxon’s reign he has done so much to free the people of Illea. The caste system has been abolished and relations with other nations have improved. But it is in the wake of new rebellion in his kingdom that King Maxon strives desperately to maintain the loyalty of his people. After much diliberation with his beloved Queen, Maxon decides to ask Eadlyn to host a selection of her own. It is the hope of the King and Queen that watching the Princess fall in love will unite the kingdom the way their own selection did so many years ago.

Eadlyn is a headstrong and independent girl. She agrees to the selection only as an act to appease her father. Before agreeing to hosting thirty-five eligible men Eadlyn makes it clear that she is not interested in finding a husband at the end of the eliminations. She is perfectly happy to be single forever surrounded only by her three brothers who think the world of her.

As the selection process begins Eadlyn puts up a wall between herself and the candidates. Afraid of getting too personal or revealing too much Eadlyn keeps each of them at arm’s length. Illea watches as the callous Queen-to-Be treats the suitors like disposable goods, and the public soon turns against her.

Eadlyn’s story is one of learning to love and open up. The more time Eadlyn spends with these men the more she learns about herself. And it isn’t until tragedy strikes her family that Eadlyn learns just how important it is to find a soul mate.

So far, this was the hardest book for me to read in the series. It took twice as long for me to read this one than any of the others because it took a while to get used to another voice. The first three books are told through America’s perspective and I felt like I began to anticipate her thoughts and actions because I knew her so well. For this fourth book, the point-of-view was Eadlyn’s and it took some time to really get to know her.  This was because she was so guarded, and once I settled in I was able to figure her out as well. This book ended on quite the cliff hanger. Luckily, my husband bought me the next book for my birthday. The Crown is the fifth and final book in The Selection series, and I’ll be reviewing it soon enough!

The Ameri Brit Mom