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k_lenn 's review for:
Four Dead Queens
by Astrid Scholte
Four Dead Queens had a very interesting plot and a lot of potential, but there were certain bits that stopped me from enjoying it to the fullest.
But first, in this book's defense, I don't think it necessarily falls into the 'Bury Your Gays' trope. I think the trope has more to do with using a queer character's death for shock value, to benefit the development of other (straight) characters, or because the creator wanted the diversity points but didn't want to validate a gay relationship any longer than they had to. That's not what happened here.
The characters died because they had power somebody else wanted, that's it. And straight people also die in the same way. We know it from the start.
I want queer characters who feel real and fleshed-out, who are more than just immortal, untouchable tokens placed there for the sake of queer representation. I want them to be just as good and real as straight characters. Unfortunately that means that, like me and every other real life LGBT+ person, they can and will die. As long as their deaths aren't for the reasons mentioned earlier, I don't see why that should be demonized.
That aside, here are the main issues I had:
1. I didn't like the main character.
Keralie tries too hard to be a cool badass chick and she was super annoying. She clearly wants people to pity her for her mistakes and whines about how unredeemable she is.
"“I’m sorry I’m such a horrid person,” I said with a half smile."
If somebody apologizes to you like this, run! This is not an apology. It's a manipulation tactic used to get you to tell them it's okay, they're forgiven, and that they're not a horrid person. (They are.)
2. Convenience.
The way the story wraps up at the end is just.... unrealistic. The massive confrontation in front of everybody feels too cheesy.
This is a world where anybody can record their memories and show others. I get that he had to have an evil monologue because he's EVIL, but come on!
3. Eugenics.
One of the quadrants tests people for diseases and kills them before it "burdens" the quadrant. Kera points out how messed up that is and it's "resolved" at the end.. but the resolution isn't much better. Instead of getting killed, people with genetic disorders will be fixed. Nobody saw how this could be an issue? Not the author, publisher, editor, beta-readers— nobody?
--
I did enjoy the romance between the two mains and thought the plot twist (the murderer) was interesting. I didn't see it coming at all, although it was a tad deus ex machina-ish so I couldn't.
Despite the issues, I found it easy to read and I still enjoyed the story. 3 stars :-)
But first, in this book's defense, I don't think it necessarily falls into the 'Bury Your Gays' trope. I think the trope has more to do with using a queer character's death for shock value, to benefit the development of other (straight) characters, or because the creator wanted the diversity points but didn't want to validate a gay relationship any longer than they had to. That's not what happened here.
The characters died because they had power somebody else wanted, that's it. And straight people
Spoiler
(or.. a single (presumably) straight person)I want queer characters who feel real and fleshed-out, who are more than just immortal, untouchable tokens placed there for the sake of queer representation. I want them to be just as good and real as straight characters. Unfortunately that means that, like me and every other real life LGBT+ person, they can and will die. As long as their deaths aren't for the reasons mentioned earlier, I don't see why that should be demonized.
That aside, here are the main issues I had:
1. I didn't like the main character.
Keralie tries too hard to be a cool badass chick and she was super annoying. She clearly wants people to pity her for her mistakes and whines about how unredeemable she is.
"“I’m sorry I’m such a horrid person,” I said with a half smile."
If somebody apologizes to you like this, run! This is not an apology. It's a manipulation tactic used to get you to tell them it's okay, they're forgiven, and that they're not a horrid person. (They are.)
2. Convenience.
The way the story wraps up at the end is just.... unrealistic. The massive confrontation in front of everybody feels too cheesy.
This is a world where anybody can record their memories and show others.
Spoiler
Are we supposed to believe the evil mastermind behind the entire thing would spill the details of the assassination to the person he's framing?3. Eugenics.
One of the quadrants tests people for diseases and kills them before it "burdens" the quadrant. Kera points out how messed up that is and it's "resolved" at the end.. but the resolution isn't much better. Instead of getting killed, people with genetic disorders will be fixed. Nobody saw how this could be an issue? Not the author, publisher, editor, beta-readers— nobody?
--
I did enjoy the romance between the two mains and thought the plot twist (the murderer) was interesting. I didn't see it coming at all, although it was a tad deus ex machina-ish so I couldn't.
Despite the issues, I found it easy to read and I still enjoyed the story. 3 stars :-)