4 Stars
Kiera Cass
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.
I really loved this book and I think it's because it touches me on such a personal level. I mean I don't run a country and I'm not a princess, but I sometimes act just like Eadlyn. She is taught to be a independent women meant to run a country, she has no time for the foolishness of love games. She has been taught to be strong and show no weakness, anything a boy can do she can do better. Which is why I feel like I can connect with her, so when things start to unravel in her country of Illea and she pushed into a Selection to distract her people from the problems she isn't happy. As much as having 35 gentlemen competing sounds like great fun, its work for her. Her walls are built high to keep out anybody who might get too close, but what if she doesn't' need to do this alone. What if she finds someone who will love her unconditionally, only time can tell. The story starts off a bit slow in the beginning, but quickly picks up. And yes she is moody and self-centered, but she is a princess and has no idea what it is like to be a normal common person, which is where I feel all her problems stem from. She seems harsh and distant to her people and to those around her, she doesn't mean to be this way its the only way she thinks she can be a respected queen. If only she was a little softer and you can see as she gets to know this boys she sees that maybe she doesn't have to be so strong all the time, and that people have feeling too. Not everything has to be her way. And then when you think she is making such great progress and she might have some character development, there is a great tragedy and the book ends. I can't wait til the next to book, I want this all resolved and I want Eadlyn to end up happy.
