September 23, 2022
The Heir by Kiera Cass
The basics
Title: The Heir
Author: Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection #4
- The Selection (April 2012) - The Elite (April 2013) - The One (May 2014) - The Heir (May 2015) - The Crown (2016)
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Goodreads Summary:
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.
Read a full summary of The Heir by Kiera Cass below. If you can’t remember what happened in The Heir and you need a refresher, then you’re in the right place.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE HEIR?
- A couple of decades after the end of The One, Princess Eadlyn is now heir to the throne of Illéa. She has a younger twin brother who would have been heir except her parents, America and Maxon, changed the law.
- Now that the caste system has been dissolved, some citizens don’t really know what to do with themselves. There have been multiple riots across the country. People generally don’t seem very happy, so America and Maxon suggest that Eadlyn holds her own Selection.
- Eadlyn doesn’t want to go through all that because she doesn’t want to get married at 18. She’s just not ready. Eventually her parents get to her and Eadlyn agrees that it’s what’s best for the country. She tells them she might not choose anyone in the end, though.
- Over thirty men are initially selected as candidates. Kile Woodwork is one of them. He’s the son of Carter and Marlee from the first trilogy. He doesn’t want to take part but someone put his name forward and he can’t drop out now. He doesn’t get on well with Eadlyn so he’s not happy.
- There’s an initial interview phase and Eadlyn meets some interesting guys.
- There’s a massive parade for Eadlyn to show off herself and her men. Members of the public aren’t impressed, though, and some throw food at her. Eadlyn is a bit upset and Ahren suggests that people may not like her because she looks snobby and miserable.
- Eadlyn gets rid of eleven initial candidates to try to entertain the public. The public thinks this is a snobby thing to do, though.
- Eadlyn arranges for Kile to kiss her in front of a photographer so that the photo will get out and cause a stir.
- Eadlyn goes on a date with a Suitor called Hale. He asks her questions about herself but she doesn’t tell him anything and escapes the date.
- After another date with a guy called Baden, she asks Kile to kiss her again.
- Eadlyn then goes on a date with Jack, who is pervy and overly touchy. She removes him from the Selection.
- Ean says he understands that eadlyn isn’t actually interested in the Selection. He says that if she can’t find anyone for her, she can choose him and they can have a comfortable life without being into each other.
- There’s a group cooking party and Henri makes a really great dessert. I would have chosen him tbh. Burke gets angry and punches Fox, and Eadlyn gets knocked over during the fight. She’s taken to her room by Erik, Henri’s interpretor.
- Burke is disqualified for being a brute.
- Eadlyn and Kile kiss again but they definitely don’t like each other mhmm. This time they’re able to speak a little and come to some sort of understanding. Eadlyn may or may not have a crush.
- Henri and Eadlyn cook together and they kiss.
- Baden tells Eadlyn he wishes to exit the Selection because she doesn’t seem interested. He calls her selfish, so Eadlyn cries in her room about it.
- Erik comforts Eadlyn and they talk about how Henri admires her. Erik does admit that Henri’s language barrier will always be an obstacle which… isn’t how languages work.
- Kile shows Eadlyn some designs he has drawn up for industrial workers.
- Eadlyn invites Camille, Ahren’s girlfriend and princess of France, over. Eadlyn is jealous because Camille is much more well liked than she is.
- Eadlyn opens up to Erik and admits she’s jealous of Camille and that she doesn’t think she’ll be good enough.
- Eadlyn and Erik bond a little and he admits that he didn’t put himself forward for the Selection because he’s a nobody.
- Eadlyn and Henri dance and Erik watches.
- For some reason, Eadlyn tells Ahren he should break up with Camille. This doesn’t go the way Eadlyn had hoped because Camille and Ahren then elope and get married in secret.
- Ahren sends a letter begging for forgiveness, but he knows that Eadlyn is just being jealous and he had to choose his soulmate over her. He points out some of Eadlyn’s flaws (basically her whole character tbh) and gives her some advice to open up… and be feminine because that’s important.
- Eadlyn goes to tell her parents about the letter and finds some photos of them together. She realises that her parents are totally in love, as are Ahren and Camille.
- America has a heart attack because of Ahren’s elopement. Eadlyn heads to the hospital where her father is very upset. America is still alive and will hopefully recover. Eadlyn vows to go forward with the Selection and find herself some love.
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