Four Dead Queens

Book review by Michael Berry, Common Sense Media
Four Dead Queens Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 13+

Strong teen girl powers fast-paced fantasy mystery.

Astrid Scholte Fantasy 2019
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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 3 reviews

Kids say

age 14+

Based on 11 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

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What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Four Dead Queens is a fantasy mystery by Astrid Scholte. A professional thief and a messenger boy team up to save the royalty of four different regions after they learn that an assassination plot is afoot. The level of violence is fairly low but includes a drowning, a poisoning, and a throat-cutting. The two main characters are attracted to each other but have a prickly relationship that precludes romance until the end of the book. Other couples are more direct in acknowledging their romantic relationships, without going into detail. No swearing or substance use.

Community Reviews

Bill G.
Bill G. Adult
September 21, 2021
age 14+

Proceed with caution!

I have read to chapter 25. I really like the story line and like the interaction between characters. However, it definitely has language, especially variations of sh**. Several of the characters have sexual relationships. As far as I can remember it all happens off page but is referenced frequently. The expert reviewer missed the mark on this one. Again, proceed with caution.
kylieck
kylieck Adult
May 27, 2021
age 14+

Reading it now - some initial thoughts

I will update my review when we're done with it. I knew this was meant for kids, but didn't look into the ratings before I started reading it to my 10-year-old. Glad she's not reading it on her own. In the third chapter, I was surprised to see implied sexual references... both "The best at sucking his -" (doesn't say the word) and implying a character is distracted because another character "didn't put out last night." I breezed past these when reading it aloud, but wanted to get an initial review in case you don't want your kid reading this type of content. A queen has already had her throat slit. Which my daughter was intrigued by & I'm not as worried about. Just, again, be aware if you're concerned about this type of thing. I will update later with a better review, since I'm only on chapter 4.

This title has:

Too much sex
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

As FOUR DEAD QUEENS opens, 16-year-old Keralie Corrington steals a valuable package from Varin, a messenger from neighboring Eonia. Keralie winds up ingesting the package's contents, a set of edible communication chips that give her visions of four murders. The victims are the four queens of Quadara. Keralie and Varin must use all their skills and brainpower to figure out how and why the queens are meeting such an early demise.

Is It Any Good?

Some fantasy authors get bogged down in the details of world-building, but the creator of this unusual whodunnit sets the scene gracefully while keeping the narrative moving at a steady clip. Debut novelist Astrid Scholte mixes fantasy and mystery elements in Four Dead Queens, and the result is a clever, suspenseful adventure, with plenty of surprises. Keralie and Varin prove to be an appealing couple, and Scholte provides a satisfying resolution while leaving the door open for future installments. Teen readers should find this novel extremely likable and promising.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Four Dead Queens combines elements of fantasy and mystery. Why do writers mix together aspects of different genres?

  • Keralie takes pride in being a professional thief. How do criminals rationalize their bad behavior?

  • Do female politicians act differently than their male counterparts? What types of issues do women leaders focus on that men don't?

Book Details

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