The Crown

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The following article contains spoilers.
Please read at your own risk.

The Crown is a sequel to The Heir. It was released on May 3, 2016. The sequel is the final full-sized novel in The Selection Series, and the end of Eadlyn Schreave's Selection.

Synopsis

Kiera Cass’s #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series has captured the hearts of readers from its very first page. Now the end of the journey is here. Prepare to be swept off your feet by The Crown—the eagerly awaited, wonderfully romantic fifth and final book in the Selection series.

In The Heir, a new era dawned in the world of The Selection. Twenty years have passed since America Singer and Prince Maxon fell in love, and their daughter is the first princess to hold a Selection of her own.

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.

Summary

Warning: Spoilers Ahead!

The book begins the next day after the end of The Heir, when Queen America had a heart attack, underwent a surgery and was hospitalized in the hospital wing of the palace. Given the precarious situation, Eadlyn announces publicly on the Report that she will eliminate the Selected Suitors down to the six Elites: Gunner Croft, Kile Woodwork, Ean Cabel, Hale Garner, Fox Wesley and Henri Jaakoppi, together with his translator, Erik. She also announces that her father, King Maxon, wishes to remain by his wife’s side during her recovery, so he has named Eadlyn regent of Illéa with all the decisions and responsibilities of the position, until he can reclaim his title.

Marid Illéa, son of August and Georgia Illéa, visits the palace to offer his wishes to Eadlyn for her mother’s recovery. August Illéa had worked with Maxon to dissolve the castes, but after he complained that change wasn’t happening fast enough, they had a big fight. Eventually, the Illéa family left the palace and they have been cold towards the Schreaves ever since. However, Marid now wants his parents and Eadlyn’s parents to reconcile. He is very beloved by the public. He offers his services to Eadlyn for whatever she may need.

The next day, Queen America awakens from her coma and Eadlyn, Kaden and Osten visit her. In the evening, Eadlyn goes out on a date with Kile. She reveals to him Ahren’s letter where he had told her that people of Illéa dislike her. Kile comforts her and offers to kiss her, if she wants, to forget her problems for a while, saying that he will do anything she wants. She refuses, because she can’t kiss him like it’s nothing: he has become very important to her. She confesses that she likes him. He admits that he also likes her and he has already designed a summerhouse for her.

Grandmother Singer visits the palace to see America. In the evening, Eadlyn accidentally meets Erik in the kitchen. They talk about Henri, Eadlyn’s parents and the Selection. Eadlyn admits that she didn’t want the Selection in the beginning and she is not in love with anyone yet. Erik offers his help to her for anything she may need.

Gunner Croft meets Eadlyn and asks her if he can kiss her, to see if they are compatible. The kiss is fine, but nothing more than that, so he asks her permission and he leaves the Selection.

Eadlyn has a date with Henri, with Erik by his side. The conversation is slightly uncomfortable and impersonal for Eadlyn and Henri, as they need translation constantly. Eadlyn ends up talking more to Erik than to Henri. So, Eadlyn asks Erik and Henri to give some Finnish lessons to her and to all Elite Suitors.

During the first Finnish lesson, Henri helps Eadlyn with her pronunciation by holding her face close to his. They almost kiss, before being interrupted by Erik.

Marid Illéa proposes to Eadlyn to broadcast a town hall session where people from all social and economic backgrounds and former castes will personally talk with Eadlyn. This will show to the country that the palace listens to the citizens.

During the broadcasted town hall session, things go quickly out of control, as the guests complain about the social stigma of the former lower castes. They demand more freedom and end up fighting with each other. Marid intervenes and defends the princess and eventually the meeting ends quite successfully.

Eadlyn proposes to her father to let her officially ascend to the throne, so that he can be free of responsibilities, spend more time with his wife and both of them rest from their duties. Maxon is reluctant to let her reign during this difficult time, but then he accepts her proposal gratefully and gives her his signet ring. He announces it publicly on the Report and everyone on set warmly congratulate Eadlyn, which sends the message to the public that she is really capable and beloved.

During another Finnish lesson, Eadlyn and Kile admit again that they have feelings for each other. Hale reveals to Eadlyn that he has realized he likes Ean, after Ean kissed him some days ago in the Men’s parlor. He is afraid that this revelation might cost them their lives, since it’s forbidden for the Suitors to have a relationship with anyone other than the princess. Moreover, there is stigma against same-sex couples in Illéa, because of the previous castes. Eadlyn is surprised by this revelation, but she suggests that Hale and Ean will be eliminated separately after her coronation day, one week later. They can form a discreet relationship after the Selection, so that the public won’t accuse them for treason. Hale is very grateful and relieved.

Kile comes to Eadlyn’s room and he shares with her his plans to make a throne room for her, where she could receive and listen to her people. They remember their first ever kiss, when Kile was six and Eadlyn was four and he suddenly kissed her during their playing. He kissed her instead of tagging her and she threatened to have him hanged. Kile laughs and said that a four year old shouldn`t even know what hanging is and Eadlyn say that someone who is raised to should.

Some days before the coronation, when Eadlyn tries on her ceremonial dress and cape, a tailor asks her help in Erik’s room to convince him to wear a suit in the ceremony. Erik doesn’t want to get dressed so officially like the other Elite. Eadlyn convinces him to wear the suit, simply with a different colored tie. Erik shows her a ring that his family had for many generations. He is supposed to give it to the girl he marries, but he gives it to Eadlyn for good luck. On impulse, Eadlyn leans in to kiss him, but the tailor enters the room again and interrupts them. Eadlyn realizes at that moment that she has feelings for Erik. She remembers when Camille asked her if there was a boy she was interested in.

In the coronation day, Ahren arrives in the palace with his wife, the French princess Camille de Sauveterre. The ceremony runs smoothly. Eadlyn officially says her vows and she is crowned Queen of Illéa. In the party later, Ahren apologizes to Eadlyn for leaving her so abruptly, but she is grateful because this incident helped her become less self-centered. Marid then proposes to Eadlyn that she should marry him and unite the Illéa and Schreave lines to make herself powerful and adored by the public. Otherwise, he will spread ill rumors about Eadlyn and there will be riots, since people love him and listen to him. Eadlyn realizes that he actually wants the throne and she runs out of the party room in panic. Erik finds her at that moment. They hide inside the Women’s Room where they admit that they have feelings for each other and they kiss. They know however that they can’t be together.

Ean leaves the palace the next morning, just like he had arranged with Eadlyn. To stop Marid’s plans, Eadlyn decides to finish the Selection in two weeks and get married soon. She will eliminate Fox and Hale and then choose publicly between Kile and Henri. In the same night, Eadlyn has a secret date with Erik in a safe room. They both talk about their parents. They reveal their full names: Eikko Petteri Koskinen and Eadlyn Helena Margarete Schreave. They agree that after the Selection is over, they will never meet each other again, but for that night they can kiss and be together.

The next day, Eadlyn has a date with Fox. He declares his love for her, but she thinks that his feelings are forced and she feels guilty that she will eliminate him soon. Eadlyn watches on the news that Marid Illéa is buying engagement rings on camera, which could make the public want him as their prince consort. Under such circumstances, Eadlyn decides to pick her husband immediately and announce her engagement the next day. Josie Woodwork comforts her at that moment, apologizing for her previous behavior and for wanting to become a princess. She admits that she is the one who put Kile’s name in the Selection, because she wanted to become a princess, should Kile win the competition.

Hale and Fox leave the palace at that same day. Eadlyn goes to Kile’s room to propose to him. Kile instead proposes to her, ready to marry her immediately and stop Marid. Eadlyn then declares that she can’t marry him, because she can’t let him sacrifice his future plans and make him stay in the palace for her sake. Kile insists that he wouldn’t mind give everything up for her, but she likes him too much to let him do this. To make him leave, she banishes him from the palace for one year and sends him to Bonita for a housing project for the homeless, so he can pursue his architecture dreams.

Before proposing to Henri, Eadlyn finds Erik. Both of them are heartbroken that they can’t be together. They declare their love to each other and she gives him her signet ring. Having no other choice, Eadlyn proposes to Henri. He is very excited and accepts immediately.

The next day, however, some minutes before the engagement announcement, Henri realizes that Erik and Eadlyn love each other and, even though he loves Eadlyn deeply, he decides not to marry her, so that she and Erik can be happy.

Eadlyn secretly asks her father’s opinion about this, since the rules of Selection don’t allow the princess to marry a non-contestant. Maxon then reveals his back scars to her, telling her about the abuse he had suffered from his father as a child. The first time Maxon was caned was when he found out that his father, king Clarkson, had an affair with a woman, which resulted to an illegitimate daughter. The rules of the country state that all illegitimate royal children should be killed so that they won’t claim the throne. But when Maxon became king, he ignored the rules: he found his little half-sister and raised her in the palace near him, forever keeping from the public her secret identity. Eadlyn then understands that Lady Brice is Maxon’s half-sister. In the same way that Maxon ignored the law, and America and Ahren have also broken some Illéa’s rules, Maxon encourages Eadlyn to follow her heart and marry the man she loves, no matter the rules.

Eadlyn then rushes back on the set of the Report and announces publicly that she loves Eikko Koskinen. She proposes to him and he happily accepts. Eadlyn also announces that Illéa will become a constitutional monarchy, with a prime minister, so that everyone can vote and decide for their future.

In the epilogue, Eadlyn shares her thoughts about love and happily ever after, which often comes when you least expect it.

In the bonus epilogue, six years later, Josie gets married to Kaden, fulfilling her dream to become a princess. Eadlyn and Eikko have a daughter named Kerttu and Eadlyn is expecting another child.

Characters

Mentioned

Quotes

"You have to do whatever it takes to be with the person you love." — Ahren to Eadlyn
"The world woke up when I looked at him." — Eadlyn about Erik
"I'd wondered how it was possible to magically find a soul mate in a random group of boys. But now I couldn't question it." — Eadlyn about Erik
"You are always just Eadlyn. And you are always the queen. You are everything to everyone. And infinitely more to me." — Erik to Eadlyn
"Maybe it's not the first kisses that are supposed to be special. Maybe it's the last ones." — Kile to Eadlyn
"You have to embrace the idea of imperfection, even in the thing that is most perfect for you." — Erik to Eadlyn
"And he laughed before he toppled backwards, the rush of our movement knocking over his glass of wine and sending the candle flames dancing." — Eadlyn during her secret date with Erik
"There is no shame in loving who you love. And there is great honor in doing what is right"— Erik to Eadlyn
''You’re always just Eadlyn, and you’re always just the queen. You’re everything to everyone and infinitly more to me.''

Trivia

The first two chapters have been released as a sneak peek on iBooks. You can read them here.
A countdown to The Crown was hosted by Epic Reads which began on April 19th, Eadlyn's birthday, with new content and reveals every day.
The title of the book was revealed on October 8, 2015 by Epic Reads.
The cover was revealed on November 5, 2015.
Kiera Cass said for the cover of The Crown: "I think the purple of The Crown goes well with the gray of The Heir, making the two stories look like they go together. I also really like Eadlyn’s pose. I think she looks super strong, which suits her. She’s one tough girl.”
The Barnes & Noble special edition has a bonus epilogue and a poster included. You can read the bonus epilogue here.
The Target special edition has fan art that Kiera Cass herself has hand picked to be featured on the end of the book.
The Brazilian edition includes trading cards. Kiera Cass herself has helped with the details.
The National Bookstore edition from the Philippines includes a tiny crown.
In this post Kiera Cass explains the differences among the three American editions.

The Crown

Contents

Synopsis

Summary

Characters

Mentioned

Quotes

Trivia

Gallery

Videos

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