I love a good stand alone novel. I also love duologies and beyond, trust me, but every now and then to not be left on a punch-to-the-gut cliffhanger is a sweet relief. I was looking forward to "Four Dead Queens" based on all the hype, and while I liked it, I didn't love it. I was impressed by how Scholte pulled off her twist, but that was the most compelling aspect of this one for me. The shifting POV may be part of what I struggled with, there were so many that I didn't develop a strong connection to any one character in particular. I did enjoy the slow burn romance between two of the main characters-that was my favorite part of the novel. A decent debut for Scholte, will look forward to "The Vanishing Deep."