The Heir by Keira Cass Book Review

I really enjoyed this book. I can't help myself but laugh every page or so. It's really a fun read. It's more engaging than the first trilogy in the series. I consider it a standalone that there's no need to read the first trilogy although it will help to paint a vivid picture of Illéa's world when you've already read the first three books.

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Dystopia
Authors: Keira Cass
Series: The Selection #4
Date Published: May 5, 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
Edition: 1st edition
ISBN-13: 9780062349873
Size: 352

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Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won Prince Maxon’s heart. Now the time has come for Princess Eadlyn to hold a Selection of her own. Eadlyn doesn’t expect her Selection to be anything like her parents’ fairy-tale love story. But as the competition begins, she may discover that finding her own happily ever after isn’t as impossible as she always thought.

Review:

Princess Eadlyn Schreave might be a spoiled brat but I love her sassiness, making me look forward for her next antics (more like rudeness) for all the fun they provide. She definitely had her mom's temper though not her heart to begin with. As this is a book, of course her true character will bloom as the story progresses.

I thought this was like one of those novels making-up for a lost love interest. Let's take a look back at the beginning of the series. Aspen Leger was America's first boyfriend. Now that America and Aspen had both married another, it would be appealing if their kids will end up with each other. Sadly, Aspen never get to pass down his beautiful genes because his wife Lucy can't rear a child; she suffered through lots of miscarriages.

What we have instead is the Woodworks' son. Marlee is America's closest friend during their time's Selection and her family lives in the palace as part of The Royal Family's household staff. Kile Woodwork is her first-born, just a few years ahead of Eadlyn. I would love an Aspen-incarnate but a male version of Marlee ain't bad either. Eadlyn and Kile practically grew up together and their child-like banters are exciting.

I liked Kile instantly, his love-and-hate (not so much in love) relationship (not romantic) with Eadlyn is just so adorable and I love how the author introduced him in the book. I certainly love his brass when dealing with Eadlyn just because he knew her too well. He never sent an application for the Selection, neither did his parents. I guess his 15-year-old sister Josie did it for him.

But because this is a book about another Selection, there will be a competition for the future Queen's hand in marriage with a slew of 35 good-looking candidates. I won't be talking about all these guys but let me introduce the ones I had set my eyes on apart from Kile.

It may be unlikely but I found myself quite drawn to Ean for his confidence, intelligence and straightforwardness (but more on his overly confident demeanor). But instantly, I could tell he couldn't be the one. He grew up having his own self for company. He's obviously choosy but isolation could mean something different about one's personality. Not that I think he's a bad person but I think he has an agenda.

Erik was just a translator for a Selection candidate, Henri (who could only speak Finnish), but he's way too involved in the story. Halfway through and I'm seeing the shadow of John from the classic novel Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. In Little Women, John was a poor man tutoring Jo's best friend. Jo's eldest sister, Meg, and John fell for each other which was quite a surprise in the story. With that, I wouldn't be surprised if somehow Eadlyn will end up with a man who's not even part of the Selection process.

Erik is the closest english translation to his finnish name, Eikko. He's an immigrant and chose not to participate in the Selection. Because he's just a shadow to Henri and not a candidate, it's easier for him to be real in the chances that he gets to interact with Eadlyn. He's intelligent and compassionate that it isn't hard to imagine him slowly crawling into the heart of Eadlyn in the future books.

While I'm already emotionally invested with Kile, I can accept that Erik might be the one for Eadlyn knowing the author's writing style. With this, I don't care about Eadlyn's love story anymore, I'm just up for the story. I haven't quite gotten over the fact that America married Maxon and Aspen ended up with Lucy. Aspen could have had any other girl (I prefer someone I never knew) and I couldn't accept that. I'm more hurt by the fact that he wasn't able to sire an heir to his good looks just because Lucy has reproductive problems. So just like the first trilogy, I expect to have another heartbreak. But this time, I want a woman who truly deserves Kile.

Kile, Ean and Erik are just three among the number of guys in the story. There are still lots of them to watch out for. There's not so much nationalistic aspect to look forward to in the story so I have to say that it's all about romance, of Eadlyn's journey in finding her true love (that I no longer care about). I can't wait for the sequel.