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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
This is a murder mystery book set in a fantasy/sci-fi world. The classic elements from all three genres are present and this ends up both a positive and a negative. Positive because the world-building is ambitious in setting up an entirely original setting for the characters. Negative because trying to hit all the notes for all three genres sometimes makes the plot develop clunkily. It's still a deeply enjoyable ride as we follow along through multiple POVs and time jumps to unravel a plot that had a couple of really good plot twists sure to keep the reader turning pages.
I also have to give props to author Astrid Scholte for not giving in to the temptation to make this more than a stand-alone novel. The plot is solved beautifully despite the world definitely being worth exploring, adding extra filler just to make another book would have ruined the tension that makes it such a page-turner.
I also have to give props to author Astrid Scholte for not giving in to the temptation to make this more than a stand-alone novel. The plot is solved beautifully despite the world definitely being worth exploring, adding extra filler just to make another book would have ruined the tension that makes it such a page-turner.
I absolutely loved how the kingdom was separated into four quadrants. I thought this was so unusual and creative. And the four Queens living together in a palace? AMAZING. I really appreciated the book map, as well as the explanation at the beginning of the book on what each quadrant is known for. As well as these beautiful illustrations of the Queens (Owlcrate bonus). It really helped with the world building and visualizing everything 😍I really enjoyed the story, as well as the many colored characters, and the LGBTQ+ representation. However, I thought it unfurled a little bit too quickly and perfectly towards the end. And the story could've done without the last-minute romance (I think they could've remained great friends). But otherwise it was amazing, and I definitely recommend🙌
Divergent meets Red Queen with lots of intrigue, action, and forbidden romance all wrapped up in a murder mystery whodunit.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Its not your fault. It was never your fault.
Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte is a YA novel that combines some aspects of fantasy and some of sci-fy. With the inclusion of monarchs and mind-blowing technology that is key to the plot. Much like the title implies, Four Dead Queen follows the murder mystery of four queens that our main character, Keralie, tries to solve. But not without the added conflict of love interest and baffling technology.
Scholte's work is unique in it's usage of plot and technology creation. Not to mention an expert at creating plot that are both fast and engaging, to the point that I've stayed up till 3 am trying to figure out 'who did it' before the morning light comes.
The only thing that caused some strife, was the amount of suspended disbelief she asked out of her readers, because at times the plot takes some crazy turns and is a little hard to follow. Nonetheless, Four Dead Queens is one I shall recommend to the end of my days.
Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte is a YA novel that combines some aspects of fantasy and some of sci-fy. With the inclusion of monarchs and mind-blowing technology that is key to the plot. Much like the title implies, Four Dead Queen follows the murder mystery of four queens that our main character, Keralie, tries to solve. But not without the added conflict of love interest and baffling technology.
Scholte's work is unique in it's usage of plot and technology creation. Not to mention an expert at creating plot that are both fast and engaging, to the point that I've stayed up till 3 am trying to figure out 'who did it' before the morning light comes.
The only thing that caused some strife, was the amount of suspended disbelief she asked out of her readers, because at times the plot takes some crazy turns and is a little hard to follow. Nonetheless, Four Dead Queens is one I shall recommend to the end of my days.
This books was pretty difficult to get into, mostly because of the shifting POV and awkward verb tense. For the first half of the book I kept wanting to read Keralie's first person perspective in present to tense. The past tense was awkward to me. It worked well for the third person POV of all the queens though. By part three it got easier to read. The mystery resolved nicely at the end. The love interest was slightly contrived, I think. There were world elements that reminded me a lot of the Divergent series throughout the whole thing, but thankfully the MC wasn't some super special Mary Sue who was destined to save the world. Her being a regular person, a pawn in a deadly game who came out all right in the end was a nice change.
This was an ok story but there are things in this fantasy world that were awful and weren't really called out as such. That bugged me.
Honestly, I had a very hard start with the beginning of this one. But once I finally got invested, it was a wrap. I loved every single twist and turn.
A kingdom divided into quarters, which each focus on a certain aspect of personality (no emtions and logic, for example) and commerce (like agriculture or technology.) The way the queens rule is a bit strange and confining, as is the whole set up. And then someone begins killing the queens...
A thief and a messenger must work together to find the killer, and save the kingdom.
I had a bit too many moments of bemusement at the system, but I did enjoy the characters, especially as they rebelled against what was expected of them. There's some twists along the way, and a hopeful ending, so I was more pleased than not.
A thief and a messenger must work together to find the killer, and save the kingdom.
I had a bit too many moments of bemusement at the system, but I did enjoy the characters, especially as they rebelled against what was expected of them. There's some twists along the way, and a hopeful ending, so I was more pleased than not.