The Heir - Kiera Cass

The Heir is the fourth book created in the 'Selection' series by Kiera Cass. I admit going into this book my expectations were not high in the slightest. The book before, 'The One' left so much in the air that it got under my skin. Make no mistake the writing is great I just had a hard time following anything when she just sloppily left so much unfinished. However, I thoroughly loved this fourth book. ~~ The story begins twenty years into the future after America and Maxan from the first three books marry and have children. The main character is Princess Eadlyn who has grown up in the palace all her life. She has three brothers, one being her twin who she is only seven minutes older. Eadlyn has always enjoyed how in love her parents were , but had no inclinations to follow in their footsteps. In her mind, she was good enough on her own to monarch their country. That was until her parents pushed for her to have a selection of her own so that she might find an individual to rule at her side as her prince consort. She agreed (not easily) to have one with the condition being that if she does not find one within three months she could call it quits and they agreed. She began to plan ways to get them to leave on their own until she really started to feel things for each of them. Including Kile, the son of her mother's best friend (Marlee) who had lived with her since she was born and had never thought of dating until he was accidentally entered into the selection. In this book Eadlyn goes through high and low points as a piece of the wall guarding her heart begins to break and rebuild with every move. She wants love she realizes but she's so afraid to give up on that power, to let people see her real and raw emotions. She has the public, the boys, her family and her friends all pressuring her to be a certain type of princess and she has absolutely no idea what she wants. Until the day her mother has a heart attack,that day changed her for the rest of her life. She now swears to open her heart and to find a man to rule at her side. ~~ I liked this book much more than the last three because realistic and consistent. I loved Eadlyn much more than I could ever like America. She's strong, independent, and straightforward, but deep down she is still a girl with real emotions. I love that they show the transition, she makes as she gets to know each of the men and that I can picture this eighteen year old princess actually going through this. Some things that bothered me, but I really enjoyed reading this and will be reading the final book that is coming out next year.

~~ Likes: * I loved the main character's attitude and the way she battles with the fear of showing her heart. Something most people can relate to. * I liked that her twin brother Erin didn't bow down to her needs and give up the love of her life just because she was being spoiled and needy of his attention. I understand that it was hard for her, but in order for her to grow she needed to lose that safety net under her. * I like that there is some actual life for the boys in the selection, bad or good they definitely each had a unique characteristic about them and it made for an interesting tale. -- Dislikes: * I did not like that there was not a lot of shine on the people the royal family ruled. In the start of the book, the princess had fruit thrown at her, but then there was not much else stated about it. Nothing showing if they were arrested and she never makes public announcements to discuss what her people supposedly think of her. * I did not like that they made the men in this book so violent, not all men are perfect, but it made it seem like they were painting men in general in a bad light. Money hungry, hot headed bullies and a fetish crazed man were all apart of this book and I hate that their problems were so extreme. Much more than they were when it was all females. * I didn't like the little interactions with the Josie character, I actually thought she was brilliantly written and would have loved to read more about her. Especially after the start of the book made it seem like she would be all up in Edalyn's business. ~~ In conclusion, this was a good book and I have big expectations for the next book and dear goddess please do not let there be any unfinished business in the last one. I think I will rip my hair out if she closes the final book with so many questions left unanswered. I will give this book four and a half stars and worthy of a rainy day. ~Daisy~