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Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Queenside is a work of fiction in the interpersonal drama, social issues, and suspense subgenres. It is a thrilling continuation of the award-winning YA novel Pushing Pawns and forms the second novel of The Chess Club series. Penned by author Dima Novak for the YA and general adult reading audience, we encounter a diverse high school chess team facing a series of formidable challenges, including brutal cops, ruthless gentrification, and intense competition. The story begins with Moses Middleton, still reeling from a painful breakup, discovering that the cherished chess tables in Travers Park are slated for demolition. His day takes a turn for the worse when a violent encounter with corrupt police officers lands him in detention. As if that wasn't enough, Moses also faces personal struggles within the chess club. Gifted player Esther has left, leaving him feeling rejected and the team disrupted by new members and romantic complications.
Author Dima Novak masterfully weaves multiple crises, intense competition, and sinister forces at work, keeping readers on the edge of their seats from cover to cover. This is a gripping and engaging novel that combines elements of suspense, mystery, and the complexities of teenage life with a close focus on personal narrative and diverse representation. Novak's vivid descriptions and well-crafted characters make for an immersive reading experience, and the pacing of the plot twists leaves good breathing space to explore character development but without ever growing slow or cumbersome in the narrative. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend Queenside to both chess enthusiasts and those who appreciate a thrilling and thought-provoking YA story.
