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thewordslinger 's review for:
Four Dead Queens
by Astrid Scholte
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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:
No
What can I say, this was a pretty neat little murder mystery.
There's action from the start, and there's plenty of twists to keep you on your toes. This story has layers. And just when you think you know what's going on, another one is peeled back and everything changes. Because of that, it's nearly impossible to guess who the villain is until about 75% of the way through the book.
The mystery was good, but I feel like the revelation happened much to abruptly, and without much finesse. We encounter a new character that at once changes the game, but also makes it pretty obvious who the baddies are and what's going on. There's no chance left for wondering when things are pretty blatantly spelled out for us. For a YA book, perhaps this wasn't a bad thing--I don't think I'd have minded if I hadn't read so many adult thrillers in the past.
But that's not to say that things were cut and dry from there on out. The twists continue right up until the very end of the book. Even after the reader knows what's going on and who the culprits are, there's still more to be revealed to put the whole puzzle together. I can admire Scholte for her craftsmanship in that regard.
The characters are also pretty good. Keralie is definitely an antiheroine. Her morals are gray at best, she does commit crimes (and is happy about doing so for some of them), but ultimately proves herself to be a good person with her heart in the right place. She's clever and resourceful and sometimes hilariously sassy, buuuuut I have to admit I didn't much care for her in the beginning of the book--the way she acts sort of rubbed me the wrong way. Literally, our first impression of her involves her knocking a cane out of an old man's hand so she can commit robbery. It's not clever, and it comes off more mean than sly.
Her relationship with Varin, the movement from Enemies to friends to...maybe more? was interesting, but ultimately I don't think I really cared or bought their feelings for each other in the end. Friends yes, more than friends? Ehh. I don't think this book needed the romantic subplot.
The relationships between the queens (and their advisors) was also really nice to see. Though I can't help but be a bit miffed that we find out 2 of the queens are lovers, only AFTER one of them is dead. It might have been nice to see the two have their romance ON PAGE. Alas.
For a stand-alone, the world building was pretty well-done, I think. Though some of the naming was hilariously on the nose. A kingdom with 4 sectors called QUADara? Really?
The ending is wrapped up tidily. Perhaps tooooo tidily for me. It's your typical everybody lives happily ever after (except the bad guys, who get life in prison) sort of ending. Very YA. I'd have liked to see a little of the messy morally gray stuff carry on through the finale, but whatever. I can't say I'm left disappointed because everything gets hammered out in the end.
All in all, this was a pretty nice little read. If you're in to murder mysteries and fantasy, maybe this one will tweak your gourd. Just remember it's YA, and it reads like it.
3.5 stars
There's action from the start, and there's plenty of twists to keep you on your toes. This story has layers. And just when you think you know what's going on, another one is peeled back and everything changes. Because of that, it's nearly impossible to guess who the villain is until about 75% of the way through the book.
The mystery was good, but I feel like the revelation happened much to abruptly, and without much finesse. We encounter a new character that at once changes the game, but also makes it pretty obvious who the baddies are and what's going on. There's no chance left for wondering when things are pretty blatantly spelled out for us. For a YA book, perhaps this wasn't a bad thing--I don't think I'd have minded if I hadn't read so many adult thrillers in the past.
But that's not to say that things were cut and dry from there on out. The twists continue right up until the very end of the book. Even after the reader knows what's going on and who the culprits are, there's still more to be revealed to put the whole puzzle together. I can admire Scholte for her craftsmanship in that regard.
The characters are also pretty good. Keralie is definitely an antiheroine. Her morals are gray at best, she does commit crimes (and is happy about doing so for some of them), but ultimately proves herself to be a good person with her heart in the right place. She's clever and resourceful and sometimes hilariously sassy, buuuuut I have to admit I didn't much care for her in the beginning of the book--the way she acts sort of rubbed me the wrong way. Literally, our first impression of her involves her knocking a cane out of an old man's hand so she can commit robbery. It's not clever, and it comes off more mean than sly.
Her relationship with Varin, the movement from Enemies to friends to...maybe more? was interesting, but ultimately I don't think I really cared or bought their feelings for each other in the end. Friends yes, more than friends? Ehh. I don't think this book needed the romantic subplot.
The relationships between the queens (and their advisors) was also really nice to see. Though I can't help but be a bit miffed that we find out 2 of the queens are lovers, only AFTER one of them is dead. It might have been nice to see the two have their romance ON PAGE. Alas.
For a stand-alone, the world building was pretty well-done, I think. Though some of the naming was hilariously on the nose. A kingdom with 4 sectors called QUADara? Really?
The ending is wrapped up tidily. Perhaps tooooo tidily for me. It's your typical everybody lives happily ever after (except the bad guys, who get life in prison) sort of ending. Very YA. I'd have liked to see a little of the messy morally gray stuff carry on through the finale, but whatever. I can't say I'm left disappointed because everything gets hammered out in the end.
All in all, this was a pretty nice little read. If you're in to murder mysteries and fantasy, maybe this one will tweak your gourd. Just remember it's YA, and it reads like it.
3.5 stars