The death of the four queens

La muerte de las cuatro reinas is the Spanish edition of Astrid Scholte’s bestselling standalone fantasy thriller Four Dead Queens. Set in the divided kingdom of Quadara, the story combines court intrigue, murder mystery and fast-paced adventure in a single, self-contained novel ideal for young adult readers from about 13 years and up.

Quadara is ruled by four queens, each governing a very different quadrant: technology, art, agriculture and strict tradition. Their uneasy balance is shattered when the queens are murdered one by one. At the centre of the plot is Keralie, a streetwise thief who steals a package from Varin, an honest messenger from the more orderly part of the kingdom. What first seems like a simple robbery quickly turns into a race against time when the stolen cargo reveals a conspiracy reaching the heart of the palace.

The novel alternates between the perspectives of the queens in the palace and the duo of Keralie and Varin as they try to understand who wants the queens dead and why. Readers get court politics, secrets, betrayals and puzzle-like clues, but without committing to a long series – the story is closed in one volume (approx. 536 pages in this Spanish edition).

This edition, published by Grupo Ediciones Kiwi under the Young Kiwi imprint, is aimed at fans of young adult fantasy such as Red Queen or Throne of Glass who enjoy twisty plots and strong, morally grey protagonists. The tone mixes suspense and dark intrigue with romance and emotional stakes, making it attractive both to habitual fantasy readers and to teenagers looking for a “page-turner” standalone.