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unicorndesiles's review
- 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
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
aformeracceleratedreader's review
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Loved the diversity of characters and how it does represent Malaysia/ Singapore/Indonesia region super well.
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.
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Toxic friendship
kuri's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Infidelity
mandkips's review
- 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
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Cursing, Drug abuse, and Infidelity
abigail_reads06's review
- 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
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
joanna77_'s review
- 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
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.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death
snowwhitehatesapples's review
- 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
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.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Drug abuse and Infidelity
sarah984's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
heatherdanskin's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Death and Panic attacks/disorders
tahsintries's review
4.0
Moderate: Grief and Toxic friendship
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders