I was given an unfinished copy of this book through BookishFirst in exchange for an honest review.
Because this story was unfinished and needs further editing grammatically, I will keep my review focused on the story, characters, and the themes in this book.
When I first saw Four Dead Queens, it immediately interested me as I love any fantasies, especially ones focused on political intrigue and a monarchy. What surprised me was how unique the story is. I expected a straight, typical medieval type world. I was definitely surprised, and extremely pleased, to see how wrong I was. This world is unique, with four contrasting ways of life and rules. The Archians practiced a simple farming-focused way of life that lacked any technology and advanced mechanical tools. The Ludians were free-wheeling people who loved freely and frequently partied, wore the most extravagant outfits, and created all creative works like poetry or art. The Eonists were technologically advanced, known for editing genes before birth, showing no emotion, and setting death days for their populace. The Torian’s were traders, curious about the world and keen to explore it. They frequently worked in shipyards and on the boats, keeping trade going between the four nations. These four nations were ruled over by four queens, each living together under strict rules meant to promote the quadrants over the individual.
This world was a complicated setting that never felt confusing or muddled, as each quadrant was distinct enough that you could differentiate. Also, several sections of the book are from the perspective of the queens, letting you see a clear picture of what the quadrant was to both the people and the queens.
You also saw their personal lives, and the secrets they held. Every queen had a secret, and many knew each other’s. These secrets they carried with them until their deaths, and you really empathized with them. There is also several mentions of LGBTQ couples, none of which were frowned upon but positively portrayed. These queen sections were my favorite, I enjoyed the truth behind their masks and the reasons why they ruled the way they did.
The main characters, Keralie and Varin, were multi-faceted, and having Varin be Eonist was a brilliant move as their relationship gained depth. I also appreciated that their love was not instant, and Keralie even states it is too early to call it love. It was never forced, and never superficial.
The antagonists were interesting, to say the least. This book had so many twists when it came to who the murderer was and who else was in on the plots. They surprised me- I never saw many of them coming. I couldn’t wait to finish this story and find out who was behind these murders. I was interested throughout the book, as everything was well paced and didn’t feel boring or slow at any point.
I highly recommend this book- the story is an excellent adventure that will keep you hooked from beginning to end. If you’re looking for something different than the other YA fantasy out there, this book is it. You will be thrilled every twist and turn on this fast ride. It is also self-contained, so you won’t be left waiting a year or two for the sequel. This book will really shake up the YA fantasy world and I can see Astrid Scholte becoming a name to remember.
Because this story was unfinished and needs further editing grammatically, I will keep my review focused on the story, characters, and the themes in this book.
When I first saw Four Dead Queens, it immediately interested me as I love any fantasies, especially ones focused on political intrigue and a monarchy. What surprised me was how unique the story is. I expected a straight, typical medieval type world. I was definitely surprised, and extremely pleased, to see how wrong I was. This world is unique, with four contrasting ways of life and rules. The Archians practiced a simple farming-focused way of life that lacked any technology and advanced mechanical tools. The Ludians were free-wheeling people who loved freely and frequently partied, wore the most extravagant outfits, and created all creative works like poetry or art. The Eonists were technologically advanced, known for editing genes before birth, showing no emotion, and setting death days for their populace. The Torian’s were traders, curious about the world and keen to explore it. They frequently worked in shipyards and on the boats, keeping trade going between the four nations. These four nations were ruled over by four queens, each living together under strict rules meant to promote the quadrants over the individual.
This world was a complicated setting that never felt confusing or muddled, as each quadrant was distinct enough that you could differentiate. Also, several sections of the book are from the perspective of the queens, letting you see a clear picture of what the quadrant was to both the people and the queens.
You also saw their personal lives, and the secrets they held. Every queen had a secret, and many knew each other’s. These secrets they carried with them until their deaths, and you really empathized with them. There is also several mentions of LGBTQ couples, none of which were frowned upon but positively portrayed. These queen sections were my favorite, I enjoyed the truth behind their masks and the reasons why they ruled the way they did.
The main characters, Keralie and Varin, were multi-faceted, and having Varin be Eonist was a brilliant move as their relationship gained depth. I also appreciated that their love was not instant, and Keralie even states it is too early to call it love. It was never forced, and never superficial.
The antagonists were interesting, to say the least. This book had so many twists when it came to who the murderer was and who else was in on the plots. They surprised me- I never saw many of them coming. I couldn’t wait to finish this story and find out who was behind these murders. I was interested throughout the book, as everything was well paced and didn’t feel boring or slow at any point.
I highly recommend this book- the story is an excellent adventure that will keep you hooked from beginning to end. If you’re looking for something different than the other YA fantasy out there, this book is it. You will be thrilled every twist and turn on this fast ride. It is also self-contained, so you won’t be left waiting a year or two for the sequel. This book will really shake up the YA fantasy world and I can see Astrid Scholte becoming a name to remember.