The Crown by Kiera Cass // IT'S OVER. I CAN'T.

The Crown (The Selection #5), by Kiera Cass
Publication: May 3, 2016, by HarperTeen
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Dystopian, Romance
Pages: 279
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Rating: ½

When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection, she didn’t think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.
Eadlyn still isn’t sure she’ll find the fairytale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible—and more important—than she ever imagined.

My Thoughts:

*SOME SPOILERS OF THE WHOLE SERIES EXCLUDING THIS NOVEL ARE BELOW. BE WARNED* 

Two years ago, I was a book-obsessed teenager (as I still currently am), but I had a different interpretation of Kiera Cass' The Selection trilogy. The thing is... I thought it was over. The One came around, we discovered who Prince Maxon picked out of the girls, and I was just so satisfied. I was so happy, had tear stains on my face, and I couldn't stop cheering because THE ENDING WAS THE BEST. After that, we readers were surprised with The Heir, a new addition to the series taking place from the perspective of Prince Maxon's daughter, Eadlyn. I loved the last book so much, and I seriously saw it as one of my most favourite books of 2015. After that, we were left in such a cliff-hanger that I just needed The Crown right away. What can I say now? This was our final goodbye with America, Maxon, Eadlyn, Aspen, and the rest of the crew that we have grown to love over the years. This was such a great finale, but the one thing that bothered me was THE PREDICTABILITY.

I SWEAR TO YOU: I SAW THE ENDING COMING. From the first book, the connection was real and I had this feeling that it would be him. I deep-down certainly knew that Eadlyn would pick him. That's what frustrated me a little—I loved the man that Eadlyn picked in the end, but because she had to pick him in this book, I felt that things were so rushed and there was no time to have any kind of rising-up-climax-thing. I saw it coming. I think many people were predicting the same ending as I was, or else Kiera Cass wouldn't have paid attention to that character. I'm frowning.

I loved this book, I seriously did, but the minor detail that freaked me out the most was the predictability and the lack of focus to relationships. This is a five-book series solemnly based on love and relationships, mimicking The Bachelor/Bachelorette so much that it's unexplainable. A five-book series does deserve some interesting parts that readers did not expect. If we expected it, then what is the serious point of reading the series? I apologize for my rant.

"I hope I've done right by you. As an official, as a friend. You're the closest I'll ever have to a daughter, so that matters to me" (127).

THAT WAS MY FIRST LOVE ASPEN, GUYS. In case you didn't know, when I read The Selection, my initial true love was Aspen, not Maxon. Things changed a little afterwards because Cass spent time moderating Maxon's character and making him swoon-y. I just love the characters in this series. We get snippets from ones we haven't lost, ever, like Aspen, his future wife (who I shall not name), Maxon, Eadlyn's brother, Marlee, Lucy... everyone. I just love the people of Illéa. And what was extremely important for me was how Cass spent time making a setting for Eadlyn. Times have truly changed in Illéa since the time of Maxon's Selection, and there was a huge focus on Eadlyn becoming queen in this novel. We see her taking care of political roles, as well as finding out things about herself, which I really admired.

Whoever said that Princess Eadlyn is arrogant and selfish is completely wrong. I love Eadlyn's character, and how she carries her head high (because she deserves it) alongside the fact that she has a similar attitude to America's. Of course, she has her father's kindness. *heart flutters*

The relationships that Eadlyn has with others, besides her love interests are remarkable. She is such a caring person and that made me respect her more. She was close with her siblings, with her maid/helper, with Aspen, with Marlee, with her mother... she made time for everyone and it was intriguing to read about how she grows up in this novel. There is a huge character development in her case and that was pure loveliness. 

"Maybe it's not the first kisses that are supposed to be special. Maybe it's the last ones" (159).

As always, Kiera Cass gears her stories towards the romantic side. Although this finale wasn't solemnly focused on relationships—as I mentioned beforehand—it surely was focused on making things work. Kiera Cass quickly got rid of the men in the story that we knew Eadlyn wouldn't ever have a chance to be with for the reason of the lack of connections, and I enjoyed that. I read some earlier reviews stating the opposite, and feeling like it was just a way to end the story quicker. I feel that that could be true, but it didn't upset me. 

What makes me sad the most is that this is over. We will not get un update on Eadlyn and her new life just as we did with America, we will never meet Eadlyn's children and see how America and Maxon would be good grandparents. This was way too short. But it's fine either way, I guess. THE ENDING MADE ME SO ECSTATIC, EVEN IF I SAW IT COMING. My heart couldn't stop racing and I just wanted it to happen. That's a definite good sign.







The Crown deserves all of the positive ratings, all of the awards because I am just so completely satisfied with the finale to all of Eadlyn's whereabouts, and I am in love with this series. It ended off so well with America's story, and continued that way with Princess Eadlyn, and her steps towards becoming queen and ruler of Illéa. Most of us who have read Cass' stories know that there is no such thing as second-book syndrome. That is the definite case here. Now, I think we're all going to wait around like in a campfire and wait until Cass releases some word on Eadlyn's future. Ah, how lovely would that be!

What do you think (or what have you heard) about The Selection series now? Ah, I remember calling it a trilogy. Are you Team Maxon or Team Aspen? 

Waiting on Wednesday #29: The Crown

The Crown (The Selection #5), by Kiera Cass
Publication: May 3, 2016, by HarperTeen
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Dystopian, Romance
Pages: 288

Kiera Cass’s bestselling Selection series has enchanted readers from the very first page. Now the end of the journey is here, in a wonderfully romantic series finale that will sweep you off your feet.
Twenty years have passed since the events of The One, and America and Maxon’s daughter is the first princess to hold a Selection of her own. Princess Eadlyn didn’t think she would find a real partner among the Selection’s thirty-five suitors, let alone true love. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you...and now Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more difficult—and more important—than she ever expected.
The Selection series has sold more than 3 million copies and captured the hearts of fans around the world. This swoonworthy final installment is the happily ever after they’ve all been waiting for.

I cannot believe my eyes. It's about three months away, AND I STILL have not put this gorgeous thing as my WoW? Ever? I feel like I now am an absolute disgrace to the entire Selection series. It is the fifth and final book, and I NOW take the time to exclaim my happiness. 

To Kiera and her amazing self: I have been anticipating this. After being a fan of this series ever since I could remember reading YA, it has come, and I still do not want the finale to end up exploding me.

But going back to history and looking at past events, The One was supposed to be the one finale... and look where that got us.

I cannot wait for this. I need it. So tell me, what is your most anticipated book this week?

The Heir by Kiera Cass Review: KIERA DOES IT AGAIN

The Heir (The Selection #4), by Kiera Cass
Publication: May 5, 2015, by HarperTeen
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Dystopian, Romance
Pages: 352
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Rating: 

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.

My Thoughts:

WHAAAAAAAT WAS THIS GORGEOUSNESS? HOW THE HELL DID KIERA CASS DO THIS? OEWJOGJNEPWNGUBEQONGEONGIUGEWBGHJEWBHGEASDFGHIKL! I'm fangirling so hard because there's no other excuse or way I can take my life with now since I'm so obsessed with this. After waiting a whole year for something else by Kiera Cass, I feel like we've all waited enough and it's about time that we get handed some wonderful. AND THIS WAS IT. It was better than the best, and that's actually rare to find in my liking. Soo... let's get out of this general statement and go WAY farther into the stellar world of The Heir, the book that made 2015.

I have to tell you that I was particularly afraid to read this book because I just wasn't ready for it. The One honestly killed me last year after the BIGGEST DECISION EVER MADE IN YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE, and I never would've thought that I would get something else from The Selection in the future, and when I heard about the news for this and for another book afterwards, I was shocked. I have to admit that I wasn't really happy and feeling positive about it because I wasn't sure if I was ready for another bunch of characters and a brand-new storyline. BUT I OBVIOUSLY WANTED TO READ IT, DUH.

"I'm Eadlyn Schreave, and no one in the world is as powerful as me." (Paperback, page 269)

THAT'S A THOUSANDLY MILLIONLY TIMES TRUE. I feel like I cannot emphasize that even more, but we'll obviously get to Eadlyn's character later, but it brings us to my personal homemade synopsis. Basically, this all takes place twenty years after the events of the final novel in America's point-of-view. Here we have Eadlyn, who is the eighteen-year-old daughter of America and Maxon, who is heir to the throne just by seven minutes, where it really was meant to be for her brother, Ahren. It's her turn for The Selection, and she is the first female to lead it, but she sees that she's not ready to fall in love... or is she?

That's how Eadlyn actually ended up by the end of the book... but it obviously took some time and she was arguing about it. Also, I wanted to mention the fact that she was nowhere close to being annoying. I have to say that I actually really don't understand why people are saying that she was a horrible protagonist. She had tons of aspects and qualities in her personality from both Maxon and America! (I swear, I was about to type "Aspen," haha). We'll get to that later, but I'm now warning you that there are themes of: desperation, love, family and sibling-hood. Not that there's anything that I need to warn you about... it's all pure and wonderful things to keep in mind and think about constantly.

Again, I want to let you understand how amazing this book brought life and awesomeness in The Selection's world to be. The setting and the world is very much like The Bachelorette mixed with Amy Ewing's The Jewel, and after reading I feel like I'm one of the proud candidates trying and prying to win Eadlyn's heart... not that I'm a guy or anything. But really, it's so real and easy to feel like you belong in the eyes of Kiera and you just seem to begin to long and want the best for the characters. AND THEN OF COURSE YOU'LL FALL IN LOVE WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. This time around there's not just Aspen or Maxon, THERE'S 35 GUYS. WHAT THE HELL ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO IN THIS EMERGENCY LOVE-LIFE SITUATION OF READING?!

"Ahren looked at Camille like she hung the sun in the sky every morning. It was beautiful, the way he watched her, enchanted by every breath that came out of her mouth. But I felt strangely detached from it all because no one had ever done that for me, and I'd never done that for anyone else." (Paperback, page 307)

I believe that from all of the books I've ever read, love was never expressed in a way like this series does to and for me. And it's not like it's the impossible, fairy-tale love that even Eadlyn herself sees her parents' love as. The author portrays a view that it's something that you have to fight and look for, and it doesn't just come easily to those who would enjoy and love it. Every person is supposed to have a chance to experience love, and even those who don't see it will experience it somehow, like Eadlyn does. I guess at this point of her journey, she doesn't spot it yet, but from the view of readers, I can say that she honestly has those feelings in her heart, and it's not only with one guy. From all of the men who are left, there's something special about each and every one of them, and those who she loves will definitely be the truest winner in the end.

I guess that I don't even have to explain myself and my feelings on the plot and actual storyline because by now, I bet that you've already guessed it. Reading this book made me fall in love, and I now feel like this book was specifically written for this year of 2015. IT'S THE YEAR OF MENDING AND BEGINNING RELATIONSHIPS THAT MOST LIKELY WEREN'T MEANT TO BE HEALED AT THE START BECAUSE THERE WAS NO KIND OF BELIEF PRESENT BY ANYONE. Eadlyn fucking Schreave was kick-ass, just like her lovely mother is, and she showed that to all of us, every reader trying to seek the wittiness and fortune of destiny.

What I just don't get is how people hate Eadlyn. I guess that it'll be and always end up being one of the mysteries in literature that never will be solved because I'm against the norm. I loved Eadlyn—as well as her attitude, quirkiness and not being your proper, posh queen-to-be that we all expected her to transform into. I loved that Kiera changed our expectations of her into something else. Eadlyn wasn't your most perfect heiress who'll rule the world someday by helping the poor, but she led her story and there was so much guilt on her shoulders that there were thousands of moments where she deserved a hug or ten. Having all of the stress of having to rule the world someday mixing in with choosing between 35 men is so much to handle, and I guess that some don't realize that. HER HUMOUR AND AMUSEMENT WAS WHAT ENTERTAINED ME. 

She was a perfect darling, and had so much love for her siblings and her gorgeous parents. *cries again for the millionth time* MOVING ON BEFORE I GET AHEAD OF MYSELF.

The boys were HONESTLY MIND-CRAVING. To this moment, I can't get them out of my head since they're all so hot. KILE, ERIKK (PLOT TWIST) AND HENRI ARE MY FAVOURITES, BUT I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN SINCE THEY'RE ALL AWESOME. And this was extra wonderful because it gave us another view of the actual Selection process from the chooser this time around. Yeah, America was a candidate, but now Eadlyn is the mind-whacker who actually has sense. Remember those moments where we hated Maxon for doing what he did? Yeah, now we know why he did it all. AND THIS CHICK HAS TO DEAL WITH PERVY GUYS WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO KEEP THEIR HANDS TO THEMSELVES! It's a worser case, I must say. But I do have a feeling that Kiera's going to mess with our heads next year and kill us, possibly. Eadlyn better make a great choice.

The ending then came and I died. I'M SORRY, I DIED FOR THE MILLIONTH TIME BECAUSE I COULDN'T HOLD IT ANYMORE. What was this?! So Eadlyn got another fifty-thousand extra pounds on her shoulders again and it was all because of a major plot twist that I cannot even bare to admit or else I'll cry again. *BROTHERS STINK, EVERYONE* You may have thought that love was adorable and it doesn't matter the age, but then that twist will change your mind to think otherwise, just saying. Now I'll sit in my room crying until 2016 for the next book.

It's the truth—I'll be crying and unable to handle myself any longer. Now I'm second-guessing my decision to get this novel and read it right away, the day I purchased it because it just was published and I have to wait another year. After the closing ending in The One, I thought we were all done here and now I just panicked and ruined my own life again. Ugh. But other than my sappy, sad life, this was absolute perfection and probably the best book that I've read this year, just saying. I just want to continue to kiss my paperback copy and use it as a stuffed animal to sleep at night, rereading it a thousand times until I'll hear more news. Meh. I'm a depressed slob, BUT THANK YOU KIERA CASS, I LOVE YA.

Amazing book-hangover causing books you've read lately?

K is for Kiera Cass, author of The Selection

  “I hope you find someone you can't live without. I really do. And I hope you never have to know what it's like to have to try and live without them.”

   This is it. This book, is written by one of the most extraordinary authors of all time, Kiera Cass, and I'm dedicating this post to her. Kiera, girl, this one's for you, even though I know, that you'll never see this. 

    Hellooo? Where am I? Am I still in that dystopian world with a prince looking for his bride? Oh why, of course not! Sorry, I'm just drowsing in my fictional book world, like many of us do sometimes, just because our problems are sometimes too hard to deal with all at once!

    I'm dedicating this post to Kiera for mainly one reason, The Selection. The Selection just made me speechless when I read, and finished it. It was like The Hunger Games, meets The Bachelor, like many of us describe it, and it's true! The characters, details and plot makes you smile inside and out, knowing that there's no other book like this out there.

   I've heard a few complaints that this may be related to Wither, by Lauren DeStefano... But, don't listen to the haters! There's many love triangles out there, and this one just happens to be one of them, but totally unique in its own way!

   Okay, now that you've heard me babble on and on about my fangirling problem, here's the summary. Okay, so America Singer, yes that's her name, is put into a lottery to be Selected. Prince Maxon is looking for his bride, and America happens to have a chance to become one, but it's her worst nightmare. Being Selected means leaving her family, and her boyfriend, Aspen behind, for a palace home, and thirty-four other girls waiting to be chosen for a dream life. When America meets Maxon, her life is torn apart. She starts to question her life that she left behind, and imagine the future that she could have. All it takes is one choice, to change her life forever...

    Sounds terrific, doesn't it? Well, for those of you who have already read it, and enjoyed it as much as I did, guess what? On April 23, 2013, yes this year, the sequel, The Elite is coming out, in paperback and in hardcover! YAY! I'm seriously counting down the days, complaining to my friends, it isn't out yet? Aww... 

   But, don't worry! It's out soon, and Kiera definitely plans for the series to become a trilogy, which is even better, and some rumors that I've heard tells me that there might even be a show! I'm so stoked that all of my favourite books are become television shows and movies! Just look at The Host! 


    To infinity and beyond...

-Michelle