A rushed romance

WE may have moved on from the days when women were expected to find fulfilment only in their duties as wife and mother, but there’s still that desire, somewhere deep ( or maybe not so deep for some) in some female hearts, to be noticed by that handsome prince ( celebrity, billionaire or other rich, successful male of your choice) and chosen as his one true love.

How else can you account for the success of reality shows like The Bachelor ( 21 seasons and counting) and The Bacholerette ( 12 seasons and counting)? Or indeed, The Selection series by Kiera Cass, clearly inspired by those shows, but set in a dystopian future?

This Young Adult ( YA) series has evolved from a trilogy featuring America Singer as one of several girls chosen via lottery from around Illea, the future monarchical version of America, to vie for the hand of Prince Maxon, into a five- book series, plus one collection of novellas about supporting characters in the series.

The last two books form a duology that features Princess Eadlyn Shreave, eldest child of America and Maxon, now the rulers of Illea.

The heir to the throne is forced to undergo her own Selection in a kind of combination public relations stunt and distraction for the masses, who are having problems adapting to the now- casteless society.

The first book in the duology, The Heir, ends in a major cliffhanger ( Warning: Upcoming spoiler alert!), with Eadlyn’s younger twin brother and her best friend, Ahren, eloping with his beloved, French heir to the throne, Princess Camille, and Queen America having a sudden heart attack,

In this sequel, Eadlyn has to deal with the fallout of her mother’s condition, as well as take over her father’s duties, as he is too worried about his wife to leave her bedside.

As a side note, I’m all for true love, but doesn’t being a king mean having to think about more than just yourself? Maxon loses points in my book by being wrapped up in America to the exclusion of everything else.

Eadlyn also has to complete her Selection to win back public opinion, which isn’t in her favour.

I can’t say I blame the Illean public either, as Eadlyn is entirely too self- centred and