The Black Queen - Review

*I received a copy from TBR Beyond Book Tour via Delacorte Press. All reviews are my own.*

A couple of years ago, I was on a book tour for The Black Queen by Jumata Emill, but I never got around to reading it. This should tell you, boys and girls, that if you are not prepared to read a book in a timely fashion, you probably shouldn’t sign up for things like that. Pot calling the kettle black over here. But hey, in my defense, I didn’t realize how much of a mood reader I was at the time. Now that I’ve been on this reading journey for some years, I’m a bit more conscious of how I pick my next books. The mood this go round was dark academia with magical beasts, and though it didn’t quite fit the bill, this book found its way into the pile of recs, and I wasn’t mad at it.

"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."

Even though I have a physical copy, I decided to check this book out via audio. The readers were blessed to have dual narrators, Angel Pean and Erin Spencer, who clocked in at 10 hours and 54 minutes. Though I like Angel Pean in previous work, I wasn’t a fan of her narration for this title, but Erin Spencer did make me want to check out what other work she has in her arsenal. She brought life to the story. I’m happy I chose to do audio, because not only did I get through the story faster, but it was also partially immersive. For those who have never experienced an immersive book, you’re in for a surprise!

I made the mistake of reading a couple of reviews before I finished my own, and now I feel like I need to discuss it. So, let’s talk about the story. The Black Queen is a story centered around the murder of Nova Albright, the first Black Homecoming Queen at Lovett High School, in a small Mississippi town. Her nomination alone was a huge milestone for black students at the school, who were integrated after the effects of Hurricane Katrina. The person of interest is Tinsley McArthur, a popular white girl with a lot of privilege, who was caught on camera, drunk, saying she would kill Nova after losing the Homecoming crown, a title her family had always held. When Nova is found dead in a slave cemetery the next morning, everyone blames Tinsley, but she’s never arrested. From there, you can imagine the racial divide that was presented in the story. Dutchess, Nova’s best friend, is determined to pin Tinsley for the death of her friend, while Tinsley is on a mission to prove her innocence. Both girls somehow form an alliance to uncover the truth about what happened to Nova Albright and her last moments.

This book is about more than just racism. Yes, it begins as a story of white privilege avoiding consequences for murder while Black people are unjustly blamed for similar crimes. As the story progresses,  it makes us think about how we see and react to injustice in a system that wasn’t built for people with darker skin tones. Do we automatically blame someone without knowing all the facts? Do we punish people for their predecessors' actions? Are some simply unaware of their environment, or are they racist due to generational influences? The Black Queen touches topics such as classism, systematic racism, and inherited prejudice that we all face in the real world today.

Beyond the serious themes, this is still a murder mystery. Who killed Nova Albright? One thing I learned about reading this genre is that the twist will always have you craning your neck, and this book was no different. I saw it coming, but I wasn’t ready for the impact.

I liked that the story is told from both Tinsley’s and Dutchess’s perspectives, which helps us understand what each character is thinking as events unfold.  Tinsley fits the classic mean girl image, using her influence when things don’t go her way, while Dutchess is proud of her identity. Tinsley’s family is connected to powerful people in town and mostly cares about their own interests. Dutchess is a queer Black girl whose father is the police captain. She’s dealing with her friend’s death, trying to find answers, and facing criticism from her own community because her dad is a police officer—the same force that often targets people like them. Both girls face constant challenges, and these experiences shape where they stand.

Overall, I rated this book 3.5 stars. It was good, and I wish more people had stuck it out. Given current events, I understand that a book about white privilege vs. anything black may not be enjoyable reading. Still, the book asks important questions we should all consider.  I think many of us miss the bigger picture, which continues to hurt our communities. Someday we'll get it right.

The Black Queen is available now!

#TheLittLibrarian #review #Thriller #Mystery #YoungAdult