Nova is all set to be the first black Homecoming queen at Lovett High School. Her competition, Tinsley, is devastated that she won't fulfill her family legacy of Homecoming queen. When someone posts Tinsley's racist rant wishing Nova dead, and Nova ends up dead that same night, everyone knows Tinsley murdered her. Or did she? Nova's best friend Duchess embarks on an investigation to find out who really killed her best friend. But secrets abound and nothing is what it seems.

This mystery is perfect for fans of Karen McManus and Ace of Spades. Good twists and turns and well developed characters make for an engaging mystery. There is a lot of overt racism in this book, especially in the beginning, that might make some readers uncomfortable. I think it's all relevant in the end and the growth of the characters is important.

This is a really well done debut thriller novel, with all the twists and turns of a seasoned pro and the character depth of someone who really knows what they are doing. THE BLACK QUEEN is both a very well done whodunnit as well as a searing commentary on race and racism in America and how it plays out in our systems and our communities. I liked that Emill was willing and able to create two nuanced and interesting main characters, who both have to grapple with the realities of racism in direct and indirect ways. Whether it is Duchess, who is mourning her best friend's murder while knowing that race and privilege are two of the factors behind it, or Tinsley, who is privileged and, yes, racist and has to start dismantling her perceptions of herself and others in order to clear her name, Emill full on tackles complex matters with nuance and realism. And the mystery itself has some good reveals and some good set ups, and while I guessed the solution to one of the major components pretty early on, there were other reveals that did genuinely surprise me.

THE BLACK QUEEN is a well done and thoughtful mystery thriller, and I think that it will easily appeal to people outside of the YA demographic.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC of The Black Queen written by Jumata Emill. WOW, is all I can say! This book was very powerful and I throughly enjoyed it!
I’m not really a political girl in real life, so I was a little apprehensive about reading a book based upon the climate and life events we are currently living through. I commend the author for not shoving the politics down my throat as I was reading. I felt the way this book was written brought up many controversial topics (from different sides of the spectrum), and let me decide how I felt about the situations without swaying me one way or another.
… And talk about plot twists! I felt like they just kept coming through the whole book. I definitely thought I had the murder suspect pegged, and then BAM- there went my theory! I couldn’t put this book down and finished it within two sittings. One of my favorite things about this book was the resolve and understanding between the two main characters are the end of the story. I look forward to reading more of Emill’s books and hope that the promise Duchess and Tinsley showing up again in more of his books is kept! If you like murder mysteries with major plot twists that will keep you guessing until the end of the story- I highly recommend this book! Thank you again to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity!

The Black Queen is a really interesting mix of social commentary and exciting mystery thriller. It's a combination that works well. The book puts forth commentary on a lot of important issues, like race relations, modern segregation, inequities in the criminal justice system. But it doesn't do it in a way that feels forced or heavy handed; rather, these conversations feel true to the characters and service the plot well. It offers a lot of interesting and important nuance that I liked. Best of all, it all takes place in a drama-filled, secret-filled small town murder mystery! If I'm being honest, I figured out the biggest plot twists pretty early on. It wasn't the world's most unique twist for any avid readers of mystery thrillers, but I liked seeing the way different people ended up being involved, and how everything ended up revealing itself. Definitely an enjoyable read for me.

Something I wasn't expecting going in but really liked was the dual POV. This story is told in alternating point of views from Duchess, Nova's best friend, and Tinsley, the potential murder suspect. They are on very different sides of the situation, but they both have something to prove when it comes to finding out what really happened to Nova. It's cool to see things from both perspectives, especially as I haven't read a lot of books from the perspective of a potential murderer. As a whole I think the story had a strong cast of intriguing characters with plenty of secrets to go around. It definitely fleshed out the story and was a good picture of a small town with big issues.

Overall, I think this one is definitely worth a read. Maybe not the most surprising twist for me, but not a bad one, and the story as a whole works well. Everything makes sense and it pulls you so well into the drama of it all. And a quick read to get through too!

What a debut!! I am obsessed and so excited that my year is starting on such a good note because this book. This book. Y'all need to read it because not only does it have very important conversations and subtext about racial profiling and inequalities minorities face in everyday life it also is a damn good thriller!
The writing was gorgeous and very easy to gobble up and digest. I loved how imperfect and real all of these characters were and I admit I am glad one of these characters got a redemption arc even though I felt like punching her in the first half of the book.
I need more from these characters and I am looking forward to more from Jumata!
Thank you for the advanced copy!

I don't know about you but I love a dark mystery. One where all the skeletons are dragged out of the closet for the world to see. Add in a little dash of sass and drama and I'm all set. The Black Queen sounded like all of those things and I knew that I had to read it.

I appreciate the story and I understand why it was written the way it was but it just wasn’t for me. With a mystery, I want to scratch my head in a puzzled way and not in a way where I know where the story will lead. I want to be shocked and flabbergasted to the where I fall out of my chair. That just didn't happen here. The author took the cop-out and I was extremely disappointed. I can really see how other readers will love this mystery because it's fresh to them and current but this really made me feel bored and a tad bit old.

The mystery itself was very predictable and I caught on very early on who killed the Queen and why they did it. None of the twists were shocking, like at all. It was obvious from the start where the author would take us and I wasn’t wrong. You would have thought the author would have a few tricks up his sleeve because he's a journalist and has covered crime before. He took the most overused scenarios and put them in his book. Shame.

The Black Queen was not the type of read that I wanted it to be and it wasn't for me. Too many stereotypes, and not enough mystery. I felt as if I was hit with a scepter and put to sleep.
9 likes

I enjoyed the many twists and turns that the author created. There was a bit of me that suspected the killer but several times throughout the story, I was convinced that it was other characters. Well done

As the second 'Carrie' "remake" I've read in the past year (The first by Tiffany Jackson) it's pretty good.

I'm glad to see black authors pertain to movies and writing in a wake that protrays us, while still keeping a similar plot.
Really good, I enjoyed it a lot.

Really enjoyed this thriller set at a school struggling to calm racial tensions after the influx of a group of Black students displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

In an attempt to tamp down the drama, the school decrees that the homecoming queen will alternate between kids in the honors track (students who are largely white) and the regular track (mostly the new students).

When the school's first Black homecoming queen ends up dead, her best friend is determined to get to the bottom of what happened. Even if that means pairing up with the white girl who felt that the crown should have been hers.

The Black Queen takes a nuanced look at race and the social justice movement and the mystery was good too. A new author to watch!

How do I give a review about a book like #TheBlackQueen by #JumataEmill

Let me start by saying holy cow this was amazing. Nova Albright is in the lead to become her schools first Black Queen for homecoming thanks to an intitiative put into place to make things at the school more inclusive. Something to which Nova and her friends scoff at. There is nothing inclusive about a school that decides to make special AP classes which most of the black kids can't get into. There is still very much a seperation of black and white. Tinsley McArthur is queen bee at the school and comes from a line of woman who have all won the crown but this year thanks to the innitiave her crown is set to go to Nova whom she despises.
Nova loves the chance to rub it into Tinsley's face that she will be the one with the crown and goes as far as to ask Tinsley's father who owns a construction company to sponser her for the event. Nova's best friend Duchess is always there to have Nova's back, more than happy to get into a scrap or two even though her Pops works on the police force, he happens to be the first black sargent thhe department has.

When Nova inevitably gets the crown Tinsley has decided to just drop out not subjecting herself to running against someone she considers beneath her. Tinsleys group decides to take her to the beach for a drunken party to distract her from Nova being crowned that night. In a drunken fit Tinsley is filmed saying horrible things about Nova incliuding how she would kill her and where she would dump the body.

The next day the video has gone viral and Nova Albright is dead. Killed and dumped in the exact way that Tinsley described.

Duchess's heart is broken at the thought of losing her best friend and knowing that the odds of a rich white girl being convicted of a crime even with the video is unlikely to happen which fuels her rage even more. She is determind to find out who killed Nova and to find out what secrets Nova has been keeping. Nova had something to tell her the night of the Crowning Ceremony that she had to promise not to breathe a word of to anyone.

Tinsley knows that she did not kill Nova, but she is determined to clear her name and find out who did. While sluething she finds out more about Nova than she imagined and took a good hard look at herself and realize she isn't the kind of person she wants to be.

In order to achieve their goals Tinsley and Duchess find themselves working together to uncover the truth and in the process an unlikely friendship is formed. But do Tinsley and Duchess really know what they are walking into? Are they prepared for the secrets they will uncover and how it will change their lives forever?

Thank you #Netgalley and #RandomHouseChildrensBooks for the oppertunity to read the eArc of #TheBlackQueen

The Black Queen is an excellent murder mystery perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying. This book manages to be important for how it discusses race, systemic racism, and white privilege while also being a thrilling, unpredictable murder mystery making it a standout in the YA mystery genre. Fans of Tiffany D. Jackson will be thrilled to read Jumata Emill's debut novel. When Lovett High's first black homecoming queen is found dead the morning after her coronation. Tinsley, the white girl who felt it was her legacy to be queen, is the main suspect. Nova's best friend Duchess is determined to prove Tinsley's guilt. The characters are complex and very well-developed. Readers will be on the edge of their seats as they try to find out what happened Homecoming night. Highly recommended! Be sure to check out The Black Queen today.

Nova Albright is Lovett High’s first Black homecoming queen, but she is murdered on the night of her coronation. Nova leaves behind her best friend, Duchess Simmons, who is determined to find Nova’s killer and get her justice, and her biggest enemy, Tinsley McArthur, Nova’s competition for homecoming queen and the number one suspect in her murder. The Black Queen, told in alternating perspectives, is a murder mystery interwoven with an exploration of Black Lives Matter and systemic racism.

Duchess is so excited about Nova becoming the school’s first Black homecoming queen; she’s about to become the poster child for equality at Lovett High. But she can’t help but feel that this isn’t enough, especially when in a town just down the road a black man is being kept in jail for the murder of a white family without any solid evidence against him. And when Nova, a black women, ends up dead and the white, primary suspect is left walking free, things really spiral out of control. Duchess is devastated at losing her best friend, but at least this time she can get justice for Nova, something she was unable to do when she lost her mother to cancer. Duchess wants Tinsley McArthur behind bars! But it turns out that Nova was keeping a lot of secrets, any of which could have gotten her killed, and Tinsley might be the only person who can help her find the actual murderer.

The title of homecoming queen runs in Tinsley’s family, so she feels that winning is her right, and Nova Albright is stealing that away from her. Tinsley will do just about anything to get Nova to drop out of the race, but she will not back down. Tinsley’s frustrations culminate on the night of Nova’s coronation, when she drunkenly wishes for Nova’s death, but she never expected that Nova would actually be found dead, and in the exact location Tinsley mentioned during her drunken tirade, which has unfortunately gone viral. The coincidence is too much for people to believe, and Tinsley is presumed guilty by the court of public opinion, even the police seem determined to pin the crime on her. Her only hope is to figure out who really killed Nova Albright, but that means working with Duchess, the person that hates her most.

This was a fast paced novel, that kept me hooked all the way through. This was likely due to Tinsley and Duchess continually finding new leads and new suspects in Nova’s murder. While I mostly enjoyed this aspect of it, I did find it slightly frustrating that every time they found a new clue they’d immediately jump to “this person MUST be the killer,” and of course they never were. It was really great, however, to watch the relationship between Tinsley and Duchess develop throughout their investigation. It felt especially realistic the way they struggled to build trust with one another, and they had several incidents that stepped their shaky friendship backwards. But the bond the two end up building, and the way they make each other better people, was a big highlight of the story.

One of the biggest themes that shined throughout this novel, was the fight against systemic racism. Some of the character felt a bit preachy at times when this topic was brought to the fore front, but my favorite thing about it was Tinsley’s awareness and struggle to be better. At the beginning of the novel, Tinsley is a perfectly unlikable character; obnoxious, self-centered, and intentionally unaware of the problems in her southern town. As the story goes on though, Tinsley begins to make a conscious effort to listen and learn, and has a clear desire to become a better person, shown to be especially true when she turns on someone very close to her to get justice for Nova.

Jumata Emill has created a thoroughly enjoyable murder mystery with The Black Queen. Coming on the heals of several similar books, Pretty Dead Queens by Alexa Donne and The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson, this one holds its own. Sure to delight fans of this genre and those looking for a a story that addresses systemic racism.

Thank you Netgally and Random House for this e-ARC. I will state that the opinions in this review are my own! Now let’s get to the review.

THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!!! Sometimes I try to stay away from heavy subjects such as racism, murder ( especially when it involves children or teenagers) and black pain can be overdone, especially when you’re black and dealing with said pain daily. However, this book called to me and delivered exactly what it came to do, exposing the fact that racism is generational, taught and is very much is alive and well.

Nova was going to be the first black homecoming queen at Lovett High School, running against Tinsley, who is in a long line of homecoming queens. Tinsley is not likeable in any way, I’m warning you now, she is ignorant, practices convert racism as a sport and is comes from money and a family that uses power to get what it wants.

Nova is murdered and her best friend goes and further investigates the suspicious murder of her best friend who was murdered when she was about to get the crown…long story short the murderer is really a surprise and the twist and turns that this book takes you on are a ride well worth it. I gave this book five stars because it really deserved it!!!! It hits on so much, it’s dark and the author shows the effects of money and social pressure in a small town that has racism and secrets

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. This was an excellent debut by Emill and I can’t wait to read what he comes out with next. I loved the way he wrote these female main characters and he had a lot to say about systemic racism and the way it impacts just about everything in the South. I will say that I saw most of the twists coming, but that did not take away from my enjoyment of this book at all. Also, the cover is absolutely stunning. I’ll be purchasing the physical version for sure!

I went into this book with high hopes. This book did not disappoint. The plot was chef kiss. The characters development was beyond what I expected in a debut novel . This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole damn time

I would like to thank Random House Children's for providing me with an ARC.

I thought this book was very well written. I loved the characterizations and character development throughout the book. The characters are very easy to relate to. The characters felt like they grew and changed throughout the story. This book also has a mean girl as one of the main characters that I felt was well written. Duchess and Tinsley were both written very well, and I loved seeing them grow. The Black Queen offers up a lot of social commentary. It discusses some heavy topics; some I think could have been discussed better such as the underage relationship. Despite some of my issues here and there, I still really loved this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers.

This was a great murder mystery for young adults. The plot is strong and the story definitely has its twists and turns. I did struggle to feel connected to the characters, because sometimes it felt like their voices were a bit over-the-top.

4.5/5 stars
Nova Albright was just elected and crowned homecoming queen - the first black girl to do so in a small Southern town - when she is murdered. The immediate suspect is Tinsley, the super popular white girl who was supposed to win the crown before Nova showed up. Duchess, Nova’s best friend, is convinced that Tinsley did it until Tinsley shows up asking Duchess to help her investigate. Together, they hunt for clues to who might have wanted Nova dead.

Although I predicted one of the twists, I really enjoyed this book! It was a good mystery, but also had great character development and growth. I truly didn’t want to put it down because I wanted to know who did it!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to Jumata Emill, Random House, Book Forward & NetGalley for an advance copy of this book!

I am not going to beat around the bush, holy moly this book is FANTASTIC!! I'll be honest, I was a bit nervous to read this as I had recently read Tiffany D. Jackson' The Weight of Blood and thought it was going to be similar (just based off the title and cover) but it was not!

The first black Homecoming queen was crowned and less than 12 hours later, Nova Albright is dead. All signs point to TInsley McArthur who was very vocal about her hate for Nova. Did Tinsley commit the crime? If she didn't, then who did?

"Innocent people don't hide. They walk around with their heads held high."

This book is told from two POVs (which is a favorite of mine) - one from Nova's best friend Duchess and the other from high brow beauty queen Tinsley. As a reader, I do not tend to read synopsis prior to starting a book as I like to go in completely blind as sometimes I think they give away TOO much so not knowing why the main characters perspective was not included was a mystery to me until it wasn't. Duchess and Tinsely were such complex characters and were such opposites that it was great seeing how their dynamic played out. I love that they had reservations about each other and neither could fully trust one another which made them a perfect pair for teaming up to find Nova's killer.

I have never met a bigger villain than Tinsley's mother. She was such a scary person and I think what made her scarier is that this could be your neighbor, your teacher, a family member. She is your definition of white privilege who think their shit don't stink and her actions would ripple down to her children's actions. It made me so angry to read her character which i am sure is what Emill was trying to evoke from the reader. This led to bigger conversations on race, discrimination, white privilege and systemic racism. It was an important piece of this book right from the beginning and was woven in throughout the whole book and played such a role.

The beginning started off slow setting up the scene but once Homecoming night happened it flew by. I was definitely kept on the edge of my seat and there were so many twist and turns. When I thought it was going to go one way, it definitely took a turn the other way. I had paired this with the audio about halfway through courtesy of Penguin Random House Audio and the audio was fantastic. And added element that I think should be included in more audiobooks is that knocking sound when someone hears it or the sound of a phone ringing in the background when its happening in the book. It made it extra enjoyable.

Congrats on a wonderful debut Jumata Emill!

I highly recommend this and will definitely be sharing this with my friends.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the Publisher for allowing me to review this book. This novel start with Nova Albright becoming the first Black prom queen at Lovett High. This is a huge deal for the black community to have it's first ever black prom queen. Sadly Nova Albright is murder the night of her coronation. Dutchess who is Nova best friend, is shock by this and will not rest until she find who killed her homegurl. Then we have Tinsley, who is this privilege, popular, rich, white girl who is the number one suspect. I like that we get both of Dutchess and Tinsley perspective, which help the story. I also like how this book hit on important topics. The author did well with this. Overall, I was not expecting that plot twist.