Thank you, Penguin Teen, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Corpse Queen is a book that makes you think. The book takes place in Philaphedia at the end of the 19th century and focuses on the evolution of Anatomy and medicine. While many medical advances happened during this time, the government and the Catholic Church ruled autopsies illegal and sinful. This led to an increase in grave robbing and resurrection.

The story focuses on 17-year orphan Molly Green who is sent to live with her aunt, the corpse queen. Molly’s aunt starts her down the path to become a Resurrectionist and eventually develops an interest in anatomy and medicine.

This book is dark, sad, and gross. The author does not shy away from the coldness of body snatching, making sure to include how the people are regarded as specimens rather than humans. Resurrectionist targeted the poor, the disabled, people of color, and the disenfranchised. The author acknowledges that through the book, but she shows the reader, not tells. This book makes you think. The reasoning and effects of resurrection are not spelled out for the reader, and I loved that.

This book is honestly perfect for Spooky time.

I rate it 4.5 stars.