I'm struggling with what to call this book. A murder mystery it is. A fantasy book it is not. A dystopian it doesn't feel like but I guess that's the closest it is. There's nothing fantastical about the world Scholte has created. The Eonists don't have magic, they have highly advanced technology. But since it's set in an unfamiliar place, it feels less dystopian. It's very foreign. Also, the cover is killerrrrr!! The unique crowns piled haphazardly is very intriguing even if the title already tells you what happens.
I enjoyed this book a lot. There was murder, there was intrigue, there were a lot of unique aspects like having four queens and four quadrants make up a kingdom. Each quadrant has something they make or do that is different from the other quadrants. Ludia for art and music, Eonia for technology, Archia for agriculture, and Toria for...I don't remember. lol. There's a lot going on. The history is a little muddled and confusing. There once was a king with four wives. He was bad. The wives killed the king (I think?) and decided to rule together but separately over each quadrant and to make Queenly Laws, which don't always make sense. The queens aren't allowed out the palace for fear of being influenced? People can come in and petition them but once the queen becomes the queen, she is forever kept isolated within the palace with the other queens. What?
I really liked Keralie, our thief extraordinaire. I was quite suspicious of her for most of the book. I mean, if you're the best thief and liar in Quadara, no one is going to trust your truths. The timeframe got a little confusing in the book and jumping around to 6 POVs. Also, *pet peeve*, where is the Oxford comma?!
I enjoyed this book and look forward to more from Astrid Scholte. And am kind of disappointed that this is a standalone.
I enjoyed this book a lot. There was murder, there was intrigue, there were a lot of unique aspects like having four queens and four quadrants make up a kingdom. Each quadrant has something they make or do that is different from the other quadrants. Ludia for art and music, Eonia for technology, Archia for agriculture, and Toria for...I don't remember. lol. There's a lot going on. The history is a little muddled and confusing. There once was a king with four wives. He was bad. The wives killed the king (I think?) and decided to rule together but separately over each quadrant and to make Queenly Laws, which don't always make sense. The queens aren't allowed out the palace for fear of being influenced? People can come in and petition them but once the queen becomes the queen, she is forever kept isolated within the palace with the other queens. What?
I really liked Keralie, our thief extraordinaire. I was quite suspicious of her for most of the book. I mean, if you're the best thief and liar in Quadara, no one is going to trust your truths. The timeframe got a little confusing in the book and jumping around to 6 POVs. Also, *pet peeve*, where is the Oxford comma?!
I enjoyed this book and look forward to more from Astrid Scholte. And am kind of disappointed that this is a standalone.