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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
Not technically a DNF since I skimmed the last 100 pages, but it was rough. The most interesting characters were the queens with whom you didn't get to spend much time. The actual resolution to the mystery was completely frustrating, as was the pacing. It's a shame because the premise was intriguing, but Agatha Christie it was not.
This had a few twists I really wasn't expecting. And a few that were well foreshadowed.
I really enjoyed it.
The romance wasn't hamfisted so I didn't hate it. The ending was neatly wrapped, but not final in a way that won't allow her to come back if she wants to.
I appreciated this and I'd read it again in the future for sure.
I really enjoyed it.
The romance wasn't hamfisted so I didn't hate it. The ending was neatly wrapped, but not final in a way that won't allow her to come back if she wants to.
I appreciated this and I'd read it again in the future for sure.
This was great and original! I heard a whodunnit set in a fantasy-world and I was hooked AND it didn't disappoint.
The world was nice, the characters were nice. I could never have expected the outcome, so the mystery was real for me. I loved it!
The world was nice, the characters were nice. I could never have expected the outcome, so the mystery was real for me. I loved it!
In the beginning there was a lot to get used to and it was a lot thrown at you from all directions. I really enjoyed it once I got into it but it was slow at first. I really liked Keralie and felt he personal struggles. She is a very inspiring character. I didn’t see the twists coming in the book. After the first half the twists kept coming and I wanted to keep reading the next chapter and then the next.
*2.5
I was really excited and interested in reading Four Dead Queens. Unfortunately, it was a let down for me. I found that I quickly started to lose interesting prior to even reaching halfway. I didn’t find it interesting. I was simply left wanting way more excitement and it didn’t really have that for me. It didn’t feel like a mystery book either, unfortunately. I loved the idea the author had I just feel like it could have been written better to be more intriguing to readers.
I was really excited and interested in reading Four Dead Queens. Unfortunately, it was a let down for me. I found that I quickly started to lose interesting prior to even reaching halfway. I didn’t find it interesting. I was simply left wanting way more excitement and it didn’t really have that for me. It didn’t feel like a mystery book either, unfortunately. I loved the idea the author had I just feel like it could have been written better to be more intriguing to readers.
A fantastic story with so much to mislead you. I really tore through this and I loved it.
Parts of this were brilliant, but too much wasn't original. The quadrants were too reminiscent of Divergent's factions. Strong, unique female characters helped.
The premise is fantastic, and I really did enjoy reading it. But some serious plot holes hurt the experience for me.
SPOILERS BELOW:
(You have been warned)
Plot Hole #1
1. Mackiel tells Keralie that the bootleg comm chips technology relies on a series of triggers: She has to see the Queen and she has to have her hand on the murder weapon. The only problem is... for Stessa's murder, there is no murder weapon. Keralie shoves her in the baths. And wouldn't Keralie have been dripping wet since she jumped in the bath and was standing on Stessa's shoulders pinning her down? Wouldn't she have noticed that her hair was dripping wet, even if the dermasuit wasn't? Wouldn't Varin have noticed?
Plot Hole #2
2. If Keralie didn't know her bracelet had poison in it, the comm chip wouldn't just tell her there was poison in it. How did her subconscious mind know?
Plot Hole #3
3. Same point as #2: It sounded complicated arranging those charms to make that special knife. Again, how did Keralie's unconscious mind know how to put those pieces together? Wouldn't she have seen those memories in the comm chip? And she saw Iris in the throne room. If she had the bracelet on (which she did) why didn't she try to kill Iris in the throne room?
Plot Hole #4
4. Comm chips work by recording memories or having people fake memories by imagining something over and over. The Queen's murders are given in great detail, including their surroundings... If Mackiel had never been to the palace, there would be no way he could have made those comm chips. How could he so vividly and perfectly imagine the baths, the garden, Corra's bedroom, etc. if he had never been to any of those places himself? It makes no sense. It is implied that Mackiel made the chips, and there's no spy working with him from the palace itself, so it doesn't seem plausible that he'd be able to come up with detailed memories of the murder scenes.
My only other problem is the Queenly Laws being written before certain chapters... I didn't feel like the law had anything to do with the chapter at hand sometimes, so it felt arbitrary.
I did feel this novel was ultimately enjoyable, and I thought some parts were very exciting. It did make me smile. I liked the concept of the dermasuits and I LOVED the backstory of how HIDRA came to be. I feel this author could write an entire novel just about HIDRA's story. I would have loved an additional chapter set 10 years in the future so we can see how the world changed. All in all, the above plot holes aside, I'd still recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy and mystery.
SPOILERS BELOW:
(You have been warned)
Plot Hole #1
Spoiler
1. Mackiel tells Keralie that the bootleg comm chips technology relies on a series of triggers: She has to see the Queen and she has to have her hand on the murder weapon. The only problem is... for Stessa's murder, there is no murder weapon. Keralie shoves her in the baths. And wouldn't Keralie have been dripping wet since she jumped in the bath and was standing on Stessa's shoulders pinning her down? Wouldn't she have noticed that her hair was dripping wet, even if the dermasuit wasn't? Wouldn't Varin have noticed?
Plot Hole #2
Spoiler
2. If Keralie didn't know her bracelet had poison in it, the comm chip wouldn't just tell her there was poison in it. How did her subconscious mind know?
Plot Hole #3
Spoiler
3. Same point as #2: It sounded complicated arranging those charms to make that special knife. Again, how did Keralie's unconscious mind know how to put those pieces together? Wouldn't she have seen those memories in the comm chip? And she saw Iris in the throne room. If she had the bracelet on (which she did) why didn't she try to kill Iris in the throne room?
Plot Hole #4
Spoiler
4. Comm chips work by recording memories or having people fake memories by imagining something over and over. The Queen's murders are given in great detail, including their surroundings... If Mackiel had never been to the palace, there would be no way he could have made those comm chips. How could he so vividly and perfectly imagine the baths, the garden, Corra's bedroom, etc. if he had never been to any of those places himself? It makes no sense. It is implied that Mackiel made the chips, and there's no spy working with him from the palace itself, so it doesn't seem plausible that he'd be able to come up with detailed memories of the murder scenes.
My only other problem is the Queenly Laws being written before certain chapters... I didn't feel like the law had anything to do with the chapter at hand sometimes, so it felt arbitrary.
I did feel this novel was ultimately enjoyable, and I thought some parts were very exciting. It did make me smile. I liked the concept of the dermasuits and I LOVED the backstory of how HIDRA came to be. I feel this author could write an entire novel just about HIDRA's story. I would have loved an additional chapter set 10 years in the future so we can see how the world changed. All in all, the above plot holes aside, I'd still recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy and mystery.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
(3.5)
This is a quick read with a fast and intriguing plot line, but I wanted more!!! I wish this would have been a series, so that I would have time to connect to the characters. There are lots of strong emotions that motivate the choices these characters made. I would have liked to connect to these characters to feel their motivations.
This is a quick read with a fast and intriguing plot line, but I wanted more!!! I wish this would have been a series, so that I would have time to connect to the characters. There are lots of strong emotions that motivate the choices these characters made. I would have liked to connect to these characters to feel their motivations.