Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

SPOILERS AHEAD I'm someone who LOVED The Selection series, and waited impatiently for each book. And while many of my friends/family didn't care for Eadlyn and "The Heir," I loved it! I was heavily rooting for one of the suitors (turns out to be the same one all of Illea was rooting for) loving their fairy tale potential. Because I love romances where the hero/heroine don't like one another (or as in this case, are openly hostile to one another!) and end up falling in love. And we were well on our way down that path in the first book, with Kile getting kisses and attention and much more from Eadlyn. Sadly, and I don't know why she did this or what Cass was hoping to accomplish, but it all got blown to hell. After standing close to translator Erik (for useless character Henri that shouldn't have been kept around as long as he was. So ridiculous to imagine that Eadlyn could marry a man she literally couldn't even speak to), in a moment Eadlyn knows SOULMATES ARE REAL and LOVE IS REAL and ERIK IS THE ONE. Just like that. Boom. Kile is totally out of the picture (because Eadlyn loves him, but she doesn't love love him) and it felt forced and fake and like it was thrown in as Cass's attempt at PLOT TWIST! It was poorly done and poorly executed and I find myself feeling extremely frustrated and let down. Maybe it was supposed to be an obstacle? With Erik not being part of the Selection? Which would be a dumb reason, because Kile had inherent obstacles and issues built in with his background, family and desires for his future that could have created all sorts of problems they would have had to conquer together. Another issue is that despite this being a romance at heart, there's not actually any romance. At all. Eadlyn is juggling all her suitors, not having any real or honest feelings for any of them (until that MOMENT with Erik, of course). It's very unlike The Selection where America has to deal with her feelings for her old boyfriend and her potential ones for Maxon. Only two suitors. Which gave us a chance for Maxon and America to fall in love, and for us to see it. Eadlyn has dozens of potential beaus. As I began this book, it took me a while to remember who was who and why she even liked them (except for Kile). Her attention was spread too thin, and I found her falling in love totally unbelievable and forced and as I've mentioned repeatedly, was very disappointing. If you liked "The Heir" and were rooting for Kile, I'd suggest not reading this book and pretending it all turned out the way you wanted it to. I wish I had.