Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte is captivating, dynamic, and contains numerous twists and turns. This fantasy fiction book consists of murder mystery and hints of romance and sci-fi. Perplexing characters with complex motives and a fascinating fantasy world elevated this book to another level. The novel is centered around Keralie Corrington, a seventeen-year-old girl who steals, lies, and deceives for a living. Mackiel, her childhood friend and employer tasks her with stealing a case. This case ends up spiraling her into a mystery filled conspiracy with the man she stole the case from, Varin. With Mackiel on their tail and the four queens dead, will they cooperate? Or will Keralie’s past continue to haunt her?
I especially enjoyed how the story was told through the perspective of multiple characters. The only complaint I have would be that the romance section felt a little sudden and undeveloped. Although I expected the romance, it still felt rushed especially since Keralie’s character seemed emotionally unavailable. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy fantasy and mystery. The cover captures the essence of the story well. Specifically, I like how each of the crowns represents each sector and how you can tell which is which. In conclusion, I would rate this book a 4/5.