The Black Queen
Ratings7
Average rating3.9
Nova Albright was going to be the first Black homecoming queen at Lovett High—but now she's dead. Murdered on coronation night. Fans of One of Us Is Lying and The Other Black Girl will love this unputdownable thriller.
Nova Albright, the first Black homecoming queen at Lovett High, is dead. Murdered the night of her coronation, her body found the next morning in the old slave cemetery she spent her weekends rehabilitating.
Tinsley McArthur was supposed to be queen. Not only is she beautiful, wealthy, and white, it’s her legacy—her grandmother, her mother, and even her sister wore the crown before her. Everyone in Lovett knows Tinsley would do anything to carry on the McArthur tradition.
No one is more certain of that than Duchess Simmons, Nova’s best friend. Duchess’s father is the first Black police captain in Lovett. For Duchess, Nova’s crown was more than just a win for Nova. It was a win for all the Black kids. Now her best friend is dead, and her father won’t face the fact that the main suspect is right in front of him. Duchess is convinced that Tinsley killed Nova—and that Tinsley is privileged enough to think she can get away with it. But Duchess’s father seems to be doing what he always does: fall behind the blue line. Which means that the white girl is going to walk.
Duchess is determined to prove Tinsley’s guilt. And to do that, she’ll have to get close to her.
But Tinsley has an agenda, too.
Everyone loved Nova. And sometimes, love is exactly what gets you killed.
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I didn't like Tinsley's POV at all. Wish it was not part of the story. There were however a lot of stereotypes that thus book played into, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
I just finished The Black Queen by Jumata Emill and here is my review
Nova was just about to be crowned the first ever Black homecoming queen at her high school. Then she turns up dead. Murdered on the night of her would be coronation..
Tinley is a legacy and should have gotten the crown and that she did her very best to convince Nova to step down.
Dutchess, Nova's best friend, is certain Tinsley did it but her father won't hear it. A black police chief and he is going to let the white girl walk. But not Dutchess, she is going to prove it but it won't be that easy with Tinsley having a much larger agenda...
I am a huge fan of YA and when @penguinrandomhouseca sent me a finished copy of the book, I was over the moon.
Loved the concept of the book and stories set in high school are always a great read. I really enjoyed the story coming from Dutchess' perspective and as much as I wanted to hate Tinsley, you find that she kinda grows on you as the story progresses.
I'm not a huge fan of the white privilege that runs through this book. This is about a rich kid. The book would not have had the same impact if the white girl had been poor too. Her privilege came from money not skin color and that is why I didn't love it as much as I should have. I wish people wouldn't confuse the two. It blurs lines.
I loved the ending and the whole book really was a solid read.
4 stars. Definitely knocked this one out of the park with the quality of the writing.
Thank you for my review copy! Out on the 31st Jan
