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.
The Crown starts right where The Heir ends with Eadlyn making a decision that dramatically cuts her number of suitors and thrusts her into a deadline for finding a partner to rule the nation with. In the process of this, she is pushed into the role of Queen and everything around her seems to be falling apart.
I actually listened to this audiobook a while back, but I can remember it enough to make a decision on it. Like The Heir, I liked it better than the other books that are set 20 years in the past. It felt more like a finale and the story itself wasn’t bad. You learn more about the male characters, are given a twist that makes you a bit happy for some of them, and overall it ended on a good note.
I will say that I found the romance a bit forced. I felt that there wasn’t enough time with Eadlyn and who she actually did end up with, but in the case of the nation, I felt it was a solid ending for the world. That said, this series as a whole (though I still have one last book to listen to) isn’t something to write home to. It definitely serves its purpose as a guilty pleasure. I definitely preferred Eadlyn’s story arc over the arc of her parents.
Final rating: 3/5
Casia's Corner 