Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte is a gripping young adult fantasy novel that combines a murder mystery with political intrigue and a dash of romance. Published in 2019, the story takes place in the fictional land of Quadara. The novel centers around Keralie Corrington, a skilled thief who inadvertently finds herself embroiled in a conspiracy that results in the murder of all four queens. Let’s delve into the summary of Four Dead Queens book.
Four Dead Queens Book by Astrid Scholte
Before delving into the book summary of Four Dead Queens, let’s look into its basic setting for easy understanding.
Quadara is a kingdom divided into four distinct regions. Each region has its own culture, values, and a queen who rules from the capital. The queens govern their quadrants, but their decisions are meant to ensure balance and peace for all.
1. Archia: It is a quadrant rooted in tradition and nature. Archians value sustainability and simplicity. Their queen is responsible for ensuring the environmental well-being of Quadara.
2. Eonia: This quadrant is technologically advanced, with a focus on logic, efficiency, and progress. Its citizens often seem cold and emotionless, prizing reason over feelings.
3. Toria: It is the commercial and trade hub of Quadara. Toria values exploration, travel, and freedom. Its people are adventurous and innovative, with a keen eye for opportunity.
4. Ludia: It is the quadrant of entertainment and pleasure. Ludia is filled with artists, performers, and hedonists. Its people live for pleasure and creativity, often indulging in luxury and excess.
The four queens rule together from the palace in the capital, Ostia. Their collective decisions maintain balance and order across the quadrants.
Four Dead Queens Book Summary
The story begins with Keralie, a skilled thief in Toria, working for Mackiel, a ruthless underworld leader. Her specialty is stealing information chips, which hold critical secrets. On one of her missions, Keralie steals a set of chips from Varin, a messenger from Eonia. Unbeknownst to her, these chips contain footage of a plot to assassinate Quadara’s four queens.
When Keralie watches the chips, she witnesses each queen being murdered. Shocked by the revelation, she realizes the gravity of the situation and decides to investigate further, hoping to prevent the impending deaths. However, the timeline reveals that the queens have already been killed. Keralie is now in possession of highly dangerous information, and Mackiel realizes its value and wants to exploit it for his gain.
Keralie is initially motivated by survival. But her moral compass soon compels her to try and solve the mystery behind the queens’ deaths. She seeks out Varin, the Eonist messenger. He is just as shocked as she is by the contents of the chips. The two form an uneasy alliance and set off on a quest to uncover the truth.
As they delve deeper into the mystery, the narrative shifts between Keralie’s perspective and flashbacks of the queens’ final moments. Each queen’s death is shrouded in intrigue, as they all had their secrets and political machinations.
For instance, Queen Iris of Archia harbors doubts about the Eonists and their obsession with technological advancement. She fears that their cold logic may one day threaten the natural balance of Quadara. Meanwhile, Queen Marguerite of Ludia conceals an affair that could disrupt the balance of power if revealed.
As Keralie and Varin get closer to the truth, they discover that Mackiel is involved in the conspiracy. However, his motivations are not purely for power or money. The novel slowly unravels Mackiel’s complex background, revealing a deep-seated desire to disrupt the existing order of Quadara. He believes the quadrant system is inherently flawed and that the queens’ deaths will force the kingdom to rebuild itself, possibly in a fairer and more equitable way.
The deeper Keralie and Varin go, the more they realize that the queens’ deaths were not simply political assassinations but part of a grander, more sinister scheme. The murder plot was orchestrated by someone with a deep understanding of the weaknesses and desires of each queen, and someone who could exploit them from within.
At the end, it is revealed that Keralie is the murderer, who is controlled by those chips. When Mackiel was about to be enthroned, it is revealed that Queen Marguerite is still alive. The truth was held sealed to find the real reason and assassin behind these murders. Finally, Queen Marguerite becomes the boss Queen of Quadara.
Four Dead Queens Book Main Characters
After reading the summary of the book Four Dead Queens, let’s read the main characters of the novel.
1. Keralie Corrington: She is the protagonist of the novel. Keralie is a 17-year-old thief from Toria. She is quick-witted, resourceful, and highly skilled in deception. Keralie’s life revolves around stealing and selling information. But when she accidentally comes across valuable data about the queens’ deaths, she becomes entangled in a plot far bigger than anything she has ever known.
2. Varin: He is a young Eonist messenger who becomes Keralie’s reluctant ally. Though Varin is initially cold and calculating, his character develops significantly throughout the novel. Varin’s logic-driven mindset clashes with Keralie’s impulsive nature, but their partnership is crucial in uncovering the truth.
3. Queen Iris of Archia: She is a queen who values tradition and the preservation of natural resources. She is the embodiment of compassion and wisdom, deeply committed to her quadrant’s wellbeing.
4. Queen Corra of Eonia: She is the youngest and most recent queen. Corra was chosen due to her advanced intellect and unwavering logic. She is pragmatic and struggles with the emotional disconnect expected of Eonists.
5. Queen Marguerite of Ludia: Known for her beauty and charisma, Marguerite rules over the entertainment-driven quadrant of Ludia. She is creative and passionate but harbors deep secrets that are critical to the plot.
6. Queen Stessa of Toria: She is the queen of the trade and exploration quadrant, Stessa is fun-loving and adventurous. She is more frivolous compared to the other queens, but her rule plays a pivotal role in maintaining the peace.
Four Dead Queens Book Themes
The above summary of the book Four Dead Queens explains several key themes, making it a rich and multi-layered novel.
1. Power and Corruption: The novel explores the fragility of power and how easily it can be corrupted. While the four queens were meant to represent balance and unity, each of them had their own weaknesses that ultimately led to their downfall.
2. Secrets and Betrayal: Secrets are at the heart of the novel, with each queen harboring her own. Keralie herself keeps a number of personal secrets. The betrayals, both personal and political, drive the plot forward. These highlight the dangers of deceit in both personal relationships and governance.
3. Choices and Consequences: Keralie’s journey throughout the novel is one of personal growth. She is forced to confront the consequences of her actions as a thief and learn that choices have far-reaching consequences, not just for herself but for the entire kingdom.
4. Loyalty and Trust: Throughout the novel, characters are forced to question their loyalties—whether to their quadrant, their loved ones, or themselves. Keralie’s initial mistrust of Varin slowly evolves into a partnership, showing that trust is something that must be earned.
5. Sacrifice: The theme of sacrifice runs through the novel, as each queen makes personal sacrifices for the good of their quadrant. Meanwhile, Keralie must decide how much she is willing to sacrifice to uncover the truth.
Conclusion
From the above summary, it is evident that Four Dead Queens book is a fast-paced and intricately plotted novel that combines elements of murder mystery, fantasy, and political intrigue. Scholte’s world-building is impressive, with the distinct cultures of the quadrants adding depth to the story. The characters, particularly Keralie and the queens, are complex and flawed, making them compelling to follow.
While the novel concludes with the resolution of the mystery, it also leaves readers with thought-provoking questions about the nature of power, the complexity of loyalty, and the cost of truth. Four Dead Queens is a unique and captivating read that stands out in the crowded YA fantasy genre.
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About the Author
Astrid Scholte is an Australian author known for her imaginative young adult fantasy novels, including Four Dead Queens, blending mystery, political intrigue, and dynamic world-building with captivating characters.