Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte

Four Dead Queens

by Astrid Scholte

Keralie Corrington is a talented pickpocket in the kingdom of Quadara. She steals under the guidance of her mentor Mackiel, who runs a black market selling their bounty to buyers desperate for what they can’t get in their own quadrant. For Quadara is a nation divided into four regions, each strictly separated from the other. Toria, the intellectual quadrant values education and ambition. Ludia, the pleasure quadrant values celebration and passion. Archia, the agricultural quadrant, values simplicity and nature. Eonia, the futurist quadrant values technology, stoicism and harmonious community. Four queens, one from each quadrant, rule as one.
When on Mackiel’s orders Keralie steals a particularly valuable item from a messenger, what seems like a routine theft goes horribly wrong. Keralie discovers she’s intercepted instructions to murder the queens. Hoping that discovering the intended recipient will reveal the culprit—valuable information that she can barter with—Keralie teams up with Varin Bollt, the messenger she stole from, to complete his delivery and uncover the would-be murderer. But with Keralie and Varin each keeping secrets—and the lives of the queens hanging in the balance—everything is at stake, and no one can be trusted.

Reviewed by bookishzelda on

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I've been in a reading slump lately and I've been having a hard time finding books that can suck me in the first 60 pages. Four Dead Queens definitely did the job. Now I can't wait to read the whole thing. I'm almost kicking myself for reading the sample because I can't wait!!!

I love the world building in the story already. I found the fact that the kingdom is divided into four, each quandrant ruled by a Queen of that country. The politics are not overwhelming but intriguing.

I already love the mystery/thriller aspect of the plot. It gives me the proper suspense I need to want to keep reading! I also really like how it manages to attach you to a character enough already to care if they live or die. I would normally feel that way so early on in the story.

I can't wait to see where the story goes.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 7 April, 2019: Finished reading
  • 7 April, 2019: Reviewed
  • Started reading
  • Finished reading
  • 7 April, 2019: Reviewed