For me, this was by far the weakest installment in The Selection series! This was surprising as it was probably the one I was most excited for, but alas... 
 The fourth book in the series is set from America's (protagonist of the first three books) daughter, Eadlyn's, perspective and deals with her trials and tribulations as princess of Illea. The societal and governmental changes proposed by both Maxon and America in the previous volumes have started to be borne into actuality and it was interesting to see the similarities and differences in the space of a few years in this fictional world. I felt something like pride at the positive changes they had proposed, the bond they had attempted to form with the lower classes and the alterations they helped to bring to the elite's consciousness. 
 My whole problem with this book lay in the amount of inconsistencies I found based from what I thought I knew of the characters. Firstly, I found it absurd that America would allow her daughter to take part in The Selection process, as it was such a turbulent time for her, and to allow her to become a pawn to appease the masses. It felt forced and didn't gel with my idea of who she was a person. I found it hard to imagine her ever believing that a girl parading in pretty dresses as she attempted to fall in love could ever be a cure for societal distress. If anything, it might redirect their attention for awhile but would, ultimately, have little direct impact in their lives and so their problems would not disappear. The America I thought I knew would have known this, as she was once in such a position. Has she really become so disconnected? 
 I also found Eadlyn herself to reflect badly on the characters I had grown to love over the course of the previous three books. As heir to the throne, she is in Maxon's previous position and yet he never displayed such spoiled, petulant and self-absorbed character traits! I get that this is a story of self-discovery but she was so dislikable that it led to me distancing myself from her and I had little empathy for her predicaments. She had no idea of the state of her country and came across as cold and uncaring. Again, how could Maxon and America not have educated their child to others' struggles? 
 These inconsistencies of character niggled me through my entire reading of this and seriously hampered my enjoyment. The story was by far the fluffiest and the plot the weakest. I am interested in the conclusion of the series but, so far, I have little love to spare for Eadlyn.