Obviously, this rule is only relevant to Iris. For instance, for Queen Iris of Archia (the quadrant of agriculture and nature), rule one states to protect the fertile lands of Archia and uphold the society’s humble, hardworking way of life. In fact, the queens have 13 “queenly laws” they must abide by, though some are more applicable than others. Together, all four queens live in the capital city’s palace, and it is there where they remain until the day they die. Comprised of four quadrants-Eonia, Toria, Archia, and Ludia-each state has its own set of governing officials along with one queen. Scholte’s novel takes place in a country called Quadara. So what’s the story about? Here’s the blurb from the front cover: It looks like a YA fantasy when you see it, and that’s a good thing for genre-readers like yours truly. Visually, it reminds me of Holly Black’s Cruel Prince trilogy mixed with Kathryn Purdie and Lauren DeStefano. Like many other fantasy novels, FDQ has a dark background with a light-catching pile of crowns at the center. Who can resist the words: Four Dead Queens? They say not to judge a book by its cover, but I’d be a liar if I said that didn’t factor into my purchasing decision. (Those by Joanne Pence and Diane Mott Davidson come to mind.)įDQ was the final read in my very first Book Outlet haul from back in February, and it didn’t disappoint. It has undertones of a good murder mystery, which I personally find appealing, as I grew up reading culinary murder mysteries. But first they have to stay alive and untangle the secrets behind the nation’s four dead queens.Īn enthralling fast-paced mystery where competing agendas collide with deadly consequences, Four Dead Queens heralds the arrival of an exciting new YA talent.If you’re looking for a standalone YA fantasy novel that’s fun, action-packed, and comes with a dash of romance, get your hands on a copy of Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte. When their reluctant partnership blooms into a tenuous romance, they must overcome their own dark secrets in hopes of a future together that seemed impossible just days before. With no other choices and on the run from Keralie’s former employer, the two decide to join forces, endeavoring to discover who has killed the queens and save their own lives in the process.

When Varin attempts to retrieve the package, he and Keralie both find themselves entangled in a conspiracy that leaves all four of Quadara’s queens dead. He runs afoul of Keralie when she steals a package from him, putting his life in danger.

Varin, on the other hand, is an honest, upstanding citizen of Quadara’s most enlightened region, Eonia. Seventeen-year-old Keralie Corrington may seem harmless, but she’s, in fact, one of Quadara’s most skilled thieves and a liar.

4 dead queens book