Four Dead Queens is filled with duplicity, scheming, and indignation. You would expect the title of the book to give the plot away and be a big spoiler; however, the story stays engaging as you see how things unfold. This story is mostly told as the chapters switch between five points of view, including the four queens as well as main character, Karalie. It is especially interesting to read the details of the same events through the eyes of different people. 

Each queen rules over a quadrant in a large kingdom. The individual quadrants are very distinct with their landscape and way of thinking to the way they choose (or not) to use technology. These things significantly affect the personalities of those who reside in each quadrant. Somehow, despite their diversities, the queens have managed to work together to ensure that the quadrants are prosperous and live in harmony. Until that is threatened. The author, Astrid Scholte, throws in several surprises at the end of the story that you will never anticipate. The people and quadrants in Four Dead Queens bring to mind the different districts of The Hunger Games and varied factions of Divergent so those who enjoyed either or both series should give this book a read.

Review of an Advance Reading Copy

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by G. P. Putnam’s Sons

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  5 Religious profanities; 4 derogatory names; 14 scatological words; 1 anatomical term; 1 offensive hand gesture.

Violence/Gore:  Many (35) brief incidents including character is worried about getting killed; death planned for several characters; characters threatened with guns; implied murder; character wanting another dead; references to war; second-hand reports of characters’ parents dying; reference to people dying from a plague; second-hand report of character hitting head and knocked unconscious; memories of and references to murders; references to humans being tested on, sometimes resulting terribly; character kicked and hand stepped on; character shot with weapon similar to taser; character’s hands burned; character’s leg cut; character kicked in the face; characters fighting and attacking others; a few incidents of murder.

Sex/Nudity:  Many (34) brief incidents mostly involving older teenagers including holding hands; arm around; flirting; arm in arm; hugging; kissing; character sleeping naked and advisor seeing her (non-sexual); innuendo; a few incidents of homosexual hand holding, cuddling, kissing and being married; characters admiring another’s clothed body; character wanting to have sex with another; character jokingly asking another if he’s going to strip for her; passionate kissing; reported and implied teen sexual activity; character pressing her body up against another; female character watching male character undress.

Mature Subject Matter:

Stealing; references to characters who suffer from aquaphobia and claustrophobia; human experimentation; homosexuality; teen sexual activity.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

None