The Crown

American author Kiera Cass’s young adult novel The Crown is the final installment of a five-volume series titled The Selection Series. It follows The Selection, The Elite, The One, and The Heir. Set in a society with a tight caste system and centered on the titular Selection, a competition for the current king’s heir, Prince Maxon’s hand in marriage, the first three installments focused on America Singer, a common girl whose mother bribed her way into the competition despite America being in love with a boy from a lower caste. The final two volumes shift the focus to Princess Eadlyn, the first-born daughter of America and now-King Maxon, as she observes her own selection and grapples with her complex feelings about the Selection process. At the same time, unrest in society threatens to topple the monarchy that Eadlyn grew up in. Exploring themes of love versus duty, social status, and whether a monarchy can survive without changing with the times, The Crown was seen as a satisfying conclusion to the five-book series. The Selection was optioned for a television series on the CW network in 2012 and, though two pilots were shot, it was not picked up to series. In 2015, Warner Brothers bought the film rights; a feature film is currently in development.

The Crown picks up immediately after the events of The Heir, as Princess Eadlyn has taken over as Regent of Illea while King Maxon focuses on Queen America as she recovers from a heart attack. Eadlyn’s first order of business is to narrow the field in her own Selection, as she picks six Elites to move on to the next round. The feud with the Schreaves is increasing, as the radical group increases its protests over the slow changes in the caste system. Eadlyn’s advisor, Marid Illea, advises the princess to work harder to make peace. The next day, Queen America awakes from her coma, although she’s still very weak. Eadlyn is able to go out on a date with her suitor Kile, who listens to her as she tells him of the people’s anger towards her and her family. He’s very kind and tells her how much he cares for her, which she reciprocates. She also receives a visit from her grandmother, America’s mother who set her daughter on the path to becoming Queen.

Later, Eadlyn bumps into the castle translator Erik, with whom she’s become good friends. She confesses that she hasn’t fallen in love with anyone from the Selection yet. She meets Elite Gunnar, who asks for a kiss. She agrees, but neither feels anything, and Gunnar asks for permission to leave the Selection. Realizing she’ll never be in love with him, she agrees; the Selection is down to five. She later goes on a date with Finnish contestant Henri, taking Erik along to translate. She finds the odd three-person date awkward and asks them to teach her Finnish. She and Henri almost kiss, but Erik accidentally interrupts them. Marid suggests to Eadlyn that she host a broadcast between the castes, to show that the palace cares for everyone. The broadcast is contentious, with a lot of complaints from people struggling under the caste system, but Marid backs her up during the broadcast and overall, it works to improve her reputation.



Eadlyn and her father talk about her taking the throne so he can spend more time with his sick wife. He gives her his signet ring, and Eadlyn becomes the Queen. The public accepts her, and the pressure increases for her to make her Selection. Eadlyn confesses that she has feelings for Kile. Another contestant, Hale, reveals that he is attracted to fellow Elite Ean. He fears his homosexuality will condemn him, but Eadlyn shows compassion and releases him from the Selection. At the Coronation ceremony, Erik gives Eadlyn a ring his family wanted him to give to his eventual bride; he wants her to have it for good luck. Eadlyn realizes she’s in love with Erik, but neither says anything.

As tensions increase, Marid proposes that Eadlyn marry him to unite the two houses. When she refuses, he threatens to spread rumors about her that will undermine her rule. Distraught, Eadlyn runs out of the room and runs into Erik. They kiss, and Eadlyn decides to shorten the Selection period and choose between Kile and Henri. Although Eadlyn and Erik kiss again, they know it’s not meant to be between them. Eadlyn decides to choose Kile, but when he proposes to her, she decides she can’t make him sacrifice his dreams of being an architect for her. She releases him and tells him to pursue his dreams. This leaves her with Henri, but he’s picked up on her feelings for Erik. When she proposes to him, he refuses, saying he can’t marry someone who loves someone else. King Maxon tells Eadlyn she’s the Queen, and she has the right to ignore the rules. She proposes to Erik and declares that the age of absolute monarchy is over. Illea becomes a constitutional monarchy. In the epilogue, Eadlyn and Erik are happily married, with a daughter and a second child on the way.

Kiera Cass is an American author of young adult novels, best known for The Selection Series. In addition, she has written one stand-alone novel and seven novellas, many in the same universe as The Selection.