Book Review: The Heir by Kiera Cass

Title: The Heir
Author: Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection
Published: 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages:
From: Barnes and Noble
Rating: 6/10

I didn’t think it was possible, but The Heir made me want to be a princess even less than The Selection.

American author Kiera Cass continued her Selection series with The Heir, which focuses on the eldest child of America Singer and Maxon Schreave, Eadlyn. In order to quell unrest in the country, Eadlyn’s royal parents convince her to host her own Bachelorette-style Selection, and she gets a variety of suitors. Some look at her breasts, others are easy to get along with, and one even doesn’t speak fluent English. He’s probably my favorite. He’s adorable.

Cass has managed to maintain her style and flow very well, while also creating many new characters in Eadlyn, Ahren, Kile and the rest. They each are their own person, even if they still sound like pretty much the same person. Except, now I can see how Henri is different. He’s the adorable, non-English-speaking boy. I like him because Cass has managed very well to give him his own personality without confusing him with any of the other characters.

I also really enjoy the difference in the amount of politics in this novel compared to The Selection. I’m comparing those two specifically because they are both the beginning of one character’s journey, the Selector, and it can be as if they are separate series. I love reading about the politics, especially in this novel because it is coming from a young girl’s perspective, not a third-person point of view that things are happening outside the castle, but that Eadlyn has a first-hand role in how things play out because she will one day be queen.

The main issue I have right now, and I think it was done for a reason, is Eadlyn’s personality. She is, essentially, a bitch. She drives me nuts because she is very short-sighted and narcissistic, and I found it slightly weird how her parents, King Maxon and Queen America, who were both very much aware of what the kingdom went through and were kind people deep down, churned out a daughter like that. However, in novels like this, part of the story is to see the main character develop, so it was nice to see her slowly change her mind and realize she isn’t “all that” just because she wears a crown. Plus, she’s pretty cut and dry with her sarcastic comments. Those are the best.

Basically, overall it’s a very entertaining novel. It was not my favorite (that spot is currently held by The One), but I do hope to see how the characters change and the story keeps moving. My wish is to see more themes than just romance, and I believe Cass will act on that.

Kiera Cass has written the Selection series, as well as a select few other novels. Her books can be purchased in all formats online and in stores, at such places as Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.