unicorndesiles's review
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
aformeracceleratedreader's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Another great book by Hanna Alkaf! I didn't love it as much as "the girl and the ghost" by the same author but still a solid read. I never would've thought I would enjoy a book about Scrabble but here we are!ย
Loved the diversity of characters and how it does represent Malaysia/ Singapore/Indonesia region super well.ย
It shows grief, how vulnerable/dependant people can be, and how one person can really affect a lot of people's lives both in life and in death.ย
Loved the diversity of characters and how it does represent Malaysia/ Singapore/Indonesia region super well.ย
It shows grief, how vulnerable/dependant people can be, and how one person can really affect a lot of people's lives both in life and in death.ย
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Child death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship
kuri's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
Moderate: Grief, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Drug abuse
mandkips's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Cursing, Drug abuse, and Infidelity
abigail_reads06's review
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
joanna77_'s review
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
โ๐๐ ๐๐จ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐โ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ง๐. ๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐ค๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐โ๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฆ๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ฑ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฏ๐.โ
This had a lot of good potential - the set up was fantastic, I loved the inclusion of scrabble, and I even liked the main character, but other than that it was just a really lackluster book. Nothing really happened. I felt like we kept on getting the same information over and over again. I also felt like the ending was super cheap, we have this big build up and then boom itโs over. It was pretty underwhelming. I really liked the authorโs writing so Iโd try another book by her for sure, this one just needed something more. It wasnโt juicy enough, or intriguing enough to really hold my interest.ย
This had a lot of good potential - the set up was fantastic, I loved the inclusion of scrabble, and I even liked the main character, but other than that it was just a really lackluster book. Nothing really happened. I felt like we kept on getting the same information over and over again. I also felt like the ending was super cheap, we have this big build up and then boom itโs over. It was pretty underwhelming. I really liked the authorโs writing so Iโd try another book by her for sure, this one just needed something more. It wasnโt juicy enough, or intriguing enough to really hold my interest.ย
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death
snowwhitehatesapples's review
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
ย Review can also be found at Snow White Hates Apples.
What would you do when your best friend suddenly dies right in front of you? Would you let others replace her legacy as the reigning champion? Or, would you claim it for yourself, for the sake of her memory?
In Queen of Tiles , Najwa refuses to let others erase Trinaโs legacy, though her return to the competitive scrabble scene is more than just that. Sheโs looking to heal and move on with her lifeโฆuntil Trinaโs inactive Instagram starts posting again, leaving cryptic messages that suggest that she was instead, murdered and someone at the competition is the killer. So, what can Najwa do now that the closest people around her are suspects? Report to the authorities? Psssh, no. Sheโs gonna figure everything out to save both Trina and herself.
Keeping in mind that the characters are all underage and theyโre stuck in a hotel where the scrabble tournament is held, thereโs a limit to how much can be done. Even so, the way the mystery unravels is quite engagingโridiculous at times, plenty predictable (for me, as someone who reads quite a bit of crime, mysteries and thrillers) and a little too neatly wrapped up, but still engaging. The truth behind Trinaโs death is refreshing too, though it does feel rather anti-climatic since the entire story hinges on the mystery.
Other than that, I like that Queen of Tiles is more about the way different people mourn and handle their grief. Whether they liked Trina before she died, felt indifferent about her or cared deeply for her, theyโve all been touched by her death somehow and we get to see that through Najwaโs eyes. However, I do think that this aspect couldโve been stronger if the other characters were better fleshed out. They all have strong foundations for their identities but theyโre also ratherโฆtypical. Donโt get me wrong, I like Najwa and her obsession with words and their meanings. Sheโs relatable and definitely the best-developed character here. But, it also felt like I was reading stereotypes instead of complex characters and that weakened the emotional impact of the story on me.
All in all, this was a solid read. If youโre looking for a lighter Young Adult mystery with an uncommon setting (scrabble tournament + Southeast Asian rep), give Queen of Tiles a read.
What would you do when your best friend suddenly dies right in front of you? Would you let others replace her legacy as the reigning champion? Or, would you claim it for yourself, for the sake of her memory?
In Queen of Tiles , Najwa refuses to let others erase Trinaโs legacy, though her return to the competitive scrabble scene is more than just that. Sheโs looking to heal and move on with her lifeโฆuntil Trinaโs inactive Instagram starts posting again, leaving cryptic messages that suggest that she was instead, murdered and someone at the competition is the killer. So, what can Najwa do now that the closest people around her are suspects? Report to the authorities? Psssh, no. Sheโs gonna figure everything out to save both Trina and herself.
Keeping in mind that the characters are all underage and theyโre stuck in a hotel where the scrabble tournament is held, thereโs a limit to how much can be done. Even so, the way the mystery unravels is quite engagingโridiculous at times, plenty predictable (for me, as someone who reads quite a bit of crime, mysteries and thrillers) and a little too neatly wrapped up, but still engaging. The truth behind Trinaโs death is refreshing too, though it does feel rather anti-climatic since the entire story hinges on the mystery.
Other than that, I like that Queen of Tiles is more about the way different people mourn and handle their grief. Whether they liked Trina before she died, felt indifferent about her or cared deeply for her, theyโve all been touched by her death somehow and we get to see that through Najwaโs eyes. However, I do think that this aspect couldโve been stronger if the other characters were better fleshed out. They all have strong foundations for their identities but theyโre also ratherโฆtypical. Donโt get me wrong, I like Najwa and her obsession with words and their meanings. Sheโs relatable and definitely the best-developed character here. But, it also felt like I was reading stereotypes instead of complex characters and that weakened the emotional impact of the story on me.
All in all, this was a solid read. If youโre looking for a lighter Young Adult mystery with an uncommon setting (scrabble tournament + Southeast Asian rep), give Queen of Tiles a read.
Thank you so much Pansing for sending me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review! Queen of Tiles by Hanna Alkaf is available at all good bookstores.
ย
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death, Gaslighting, and Grief
Minor: Drug abuse and Infidelity
sarah984's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a breezy, super fast read but also a sensitive portrayal of grief and how that changes people. The Scrabble content was actually really fun and exciting - I have no idea how the author manages to pull off high tension while describing Scrabble plays - and most of the characters were interesting. Some of them made very over the top decisions but they are teenagers so I'll allow it. I did think the amnesia was a bit silly and things got a little convoluted toward the end but overall I really liked this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Child death
Minor: Drug use, Injury/injury detail, Medical content, Infidelity, and Cursing
heatherdanskin's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Death
tahsintries's review
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Grief
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders