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nikkimillar's review against another edition
5.0
This was a total whim read and ended up being a one sitting deal. I couldn't put it down.
I'm a sucker for most high school drama books.
ALSO there was a Taylor Swift reference which I always appreciate.
I'm eager to read more of this authors works.
I'm a sucker for most high school drama books.
ALSO there was a Taylor Swift reference which I always appreciate.
I'm eager to read more of this authors works.
de_cadence's review against another edition
5.0
I had the great good fortune to be an early reader of this debut novel and am impatiently waiting for the formal launch to share this book, everywhere. The Dead Queens Club is a modern retelling of the well-trodden Henry VIII territory, but trust me, you have NOT read this take before. The most hardcore history fans will squirm with delight at all the easter eggs scattered throughout for your nerdy pleasure, and the totally Tudor ignorant will still find an incredibly solid YA offering to sink their teeth into. To have a fresh take after five centuries, and to give the queens their due? SOLD. Smart fiction, clever history, great voices and something to say. Long live the queens.
nickimonkey's review against another edition
2.0
I think I found my least favorite genre. Fiction about real people. But this has to be the worst one yet. You take something major that is critical to British history and you make them all American? The least you could do is set it where it actually happened. It almost felt wrong to read this. And Anna of Cleveland?? What the fuck was that?
notsogreen's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
If you are a fan of Six the Musical and like messy high school drama, yes. If you are not, maybe don’t. 4 stars even.
itsmariannnna's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
The actual plot of this book was a total mess. Half of the time I had no idea what was going on, and I’m frankly a little tired of YA authors trying to make the Henry VIII narrative fit into a modern day high school setting. It just... doesn’t work. It’s not really a translatable situation. Especially when taken so literally in its transition, like in this novel. I’m supposed to believe that two out of six girlfriends of one 18 year old boy literally end up dead and his best friend isn’t even a LITTLE suspicious or concerned? The beginning dragged on, probably to make sure all six “queen” were included, but the end was super rushed and barely made sense. The pacing was super off.
I think the author was trying so hard to include all these little details and side characters that were based on real events and people that the story just got so messy. It really was so unrealistic and confusing and just... Hard to follow. And it was really obvious how hard she was trying to include every little thing. Which, hey, good for her for trying to be so detailed, but if she had just toned it down by maybe 75% — just included the big, main events of history as the skeleton of the novel — it probably would’ve been a way better read.
That being said, I really did like the author’s tone. Cleves was witty, pretty likeable, and hilarious. I loved how she was a self-appointed feminist and called people out on their sexism. Her calling out Henry for basically saying that “she’s not like other girls” made my day, and made me like her so much more. I think I would really enjoy anything else written by Capin, because the girl can definitely write well, but this one just didn’t do it for me. It was too unrealistic and unbelievable to be enjoyable... But I’m looking forward to what Capin writes next!
The actual plot of this book was a total mess. Half of the time I had no idea what was going on, and I’m frankly a little tired of YA authors trying to make the Henry VIII narrative fit into a modern day high school setting. It just... doesn’t work. It’s not really a translatable situation. Especially when taken so literally in its transition, like in this novel. I’m supposed to believe that two out of six girlfriends of one 18 year old boy literally end up dead and his best friend isn’t even a LITTLE suspicious or concerned? The beginning dragged on, probably to make sure all six “queen” were included, but the end was super rushed and barely made sense. The pacing was super off.
I think the author was trying so hard to include all these little details and side characters that were based on real events and people that the story just got so messy. It really was so unrealistic and confusing and just... Hard to follow. And it was really obvious how hard she was trying to include every little thing. Which, hey, good for her for trying to be so detailed, but if she had just toned it down by maybe 75% — just included the big, main events of history as the skeleton of the novel — it probably would’ve been a way better read.
That being said, I really did like the author’s tone. Cleves was witty, pretty likeable, and hilarious. I loved how she was a self-appointed feminist and called people out on their sexism. Her calling out Henry for basically saying that “she’s not like other girls” made my day, and made me like her so much more. I think I would really enjoy anything else written by Capin, because the girl can definitely write well, but this one just didn’t do it for me. It was too unrealistic and unbelievable to be enjoyable... But I’m looking forward to what Capin writes next!
oysterkatcher's review against another edition
4.0
Clever and smart! Give it a shot, you won't regret it.
chillycow's review against another edition
2.0
First off, I don’t like the main character - Annie Marck/Cleveland. She’s forcefully quirky and “edgy”, and her narrative gums up the story from moving forward. The only enjoyable part of this book was that it followed Henry VIII’s dead queens and many affairs - it showcased the double standards between a man cheating woman vs a woman cheating on a man. But it didn’t elaborate much on that aspect.
As it’s set in a high school, untimely deaths of students are a serious matter and it directly affects Parker Rockford, who’s grief is palpable even though the main character, Cleveland can’t shut up her inner monologue for a second. I would’ve liked this book more if it weren’t for the main character and the lack of development on the central themes of infidelity, teen relationships, and budding feminism (?)
As it’s set in a high school, untimely deaths of students are a serious matter and it directly affects Parker Rockford, who’s grief is palpable even though the main character, Cleveland can’t shut up her inner monologue for a second. I would’ve liked this book more if it weren’t for the main character and the lack of development on the central themes of infidelity, teen relationships, and budding feminism (?)
magicalreads's review against another edition
4.0
4.25 stars
read on my blog
The Dead Queens Club really snuck up and me; I truly did not expect to like it as much as I did. This book has just the right amount of drama and outrageousness. Hannah Capin wrote the drama of Henry VIII and his six wives so seamlessly into a modern high school setting, you won't even be able to recognize all the references.
What I loved the most about this book was the writing. Cleves's snarkiness is the best and entirely my sense of humor. Also, Capin writes the characters so incredibly well. You'll find yourself falling in love (just a little) with Henry, and being manipulated by him, just like Cleves. I was genuinely so caught up in the drama that I was almost convinced by his lies; it was great feeling this way. I mean, not being manipulated by an angry liar, but really feeling what the main character is going through is such a good marker of excellent writing.
And you'd think that in a book with so much drama between girls, there would be a lot of slut-shaming and double standards. There's not. Cleves calls out pretty much double standard, things said by Henry and the other girls. She talks often about not liking Anna, but when people act like she was just an overreacting bitch, she rebuts with remarks of not reducing girls to a two-dimensional standard. When people only bring up Katie to talk about her sex life, she shuts them down. This book is definitely a great example of girls supporting girls.
I'd like to think that I know a decent amount about this whole debacle because we covered it pretty heavily in school (what with the whole, let's break off from Catholicism! thing). However, there are still so many gaps in my knowledge. Only after I went on Wikipedia after finishing the book did I realize some of the references because some of them are so subtle.
I do think what this book lacked was representation. Cleves and her sister are both adopted (from China and Malawi, respectively), so there's that, but it's brought up twice so it's easy to forget. This book is based on England and set in the Midwest, but we're already reimagining so much of it, so I do think it could have done better in the representation factor.
Overall, this book was such a fun read; it was dramatic without being overbearing and scornful without crossing into slut-shaming. I definitely recommend it if you're a fan of Trouble is a Friend of Mine or Sarah Rees Brennan's books. The drama was such a trip, the plot so enticing, and the characters great to follow. If you're looking for a hilarious, fun ride of a novel, I totally suggest you pick The Dead Queens Club up, but be warned, you won't be able to put it down.
original review:
oooooh I really liked this!!
read on my blog
"What even is his type? Genius lacrosse queen. Ambitious business bitch. Boring hospital chick. Indie best friend. Sweetheart party girl. And now the party-crashing newspaper boss."
"Can't even profile him."
The Dead Queens Club really snuck up and me; I truly did not expect to like it as much as I did. This book has just the right amount of drama and outrageousness. Hannah Capin wrote the drama of Henry VIII and his six wives so seamlessly into a modern high school setting, you won't even be able to recognize all the references.
What I loved the most about this book was the writing. Cleves's snarkiness is the best and entirely my sense of humor. Also, Capin writes the characters so incredibly well. You'll find yourself falling in love (just a little) with Henry, and being manipulated by him, just like Cleves. I was genuinely so caught up in the drama that I was almost convinced by his lies; it was great feeling this way. I mean, not being manipulated by an angry liar, but really feeling what the main character is going through is such a good marker of excellent writing.
And you'd think that in a book with so much drama between girls, there would be a lot of slut-shaming and double standards. There's not. Cleves calls out pretty much double standard, things said by Henry and the other girls. She talks often about not liking Anna, but when people act like she was just an overreacting bitch, she rebuts with remarks of not reducing girls to a two-dimensional standard. When people only bring up Katie to talk about her sex life, she shuts them down. This book is definitely a great example of girls supporting girls.
"Everybody thinks I'm this backstabbing bitch," says Parker. "But it's bullshit, just like everything everybody said about Anna. She was so smart and ambitious, and all anybody remembers is that she stole somebody's boyfriend."
"What people said about Katie wasn't fair, either," I tell them. "She's dead and all they want to talk about is who she slept with instead of how she was the sweetest person ever, and the least selfish, and the most fun."
I'd like to think that I know a decent amount about this whole debacle because we covered it pretty heavily in school (what with the whole, let's break off from Catholicism! thing). However, there are still so many gaps in my knowledge. Only after I went on Wikipedia after finishing the book did I realize some of the references because some of them are so subtle.
I do think what this book lacked was representation. Cleves and her sister are both adopted (from China and Malawi, respectively), so there's that, but it's brought up twice so it's easy to forget. This book is based on England and set in the Midwest, but we're already reimagining so much of it, so I do think it could have done better in the representation factor.
Because we're the best secret club ever. We're the queens club. And we've got this.
Overall, this book was such a fun read; it was dramatic without being overbearing and scornful without crossing into slut-shaming. I definitely recommend it if you're a fan of Trouble is a Friend of Mine or Sarah Rees Brennan's books. The drama was such a trip, the plot so enticing, and the characters great to follow. If you're looking for a hilarious, fun ride of a novel, I totally suggest you pick The Dead Queens Club up, but be warned, you won't be able to put it down.
original review:
oooooh I really liked this!!