High School Queens by Zachary Ryan
Series: The High School Queens Trilogy #1
Publication date: March 21st, 2019
Publisher: Kingston Publishing Company
Synopsis (according to Goodreads):
They all thought they did a masterful job of keeping their secrets close to their chest. These stupid fools thought they were the high court of this kingdom, but they had no clue who was really pulling the strings. You might wonder to yourself, who would be that heartless to make them backstab their friends, expose other's secrets, and lose their morals? You don't need to know who I am, but you better remember my name, The Marked Queen.
Danielle, Andrew, Delilah, Aman, and Jasmine all are now faced with a mysterious villain whose one goal is to ruin each of their lives. They much protect their secrets at all cost, or they'll be the next victim on Marked Day. They know what's at stake, and they'll stop at nothing to continue being: the rich spoiled girl, the normal teenager, the girl who isn't banging the principal, the straight vlogger, and the girlw ho isn't her dad's punching bag. What happens when The Marked Queen changes up the game just in time for prom? Will each of our favorite puppets survive? Or are they willing to backstab each other just to keep up their personas? The only thing lost at this prom wasn't going to be their virginity.
Sex, Lies, and High School Queens explores the major theme of self-acceptance. Can they learn to accept all their flaws or pray victim to The Marked Queen? Each chapter continues to fill your sweet tooth until the climatic moment at the prom where you get to have that final bite of the bitch cake you've been dying to consume.
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Excerpt
Danielle, Delilah, and Jasmine on one side while Calvin, Aman, and Eddie were on the other side. "Now, before we announce who will be King and Queen, there is a video montage first."
The video started off about Danielle with her fashion, Delilah with her writing, Jasmine with her studies, Calvin with baseball, Aman with vlogging, and Eddie with football. The video ended with all six of them in a group shot together.
Principal Grand smiled. "Well, that was something." People started applauding. "Now it's time to announce your Prom King and Queen." Principal Grand opened the envelope. "Prom King and Queen of Johnson Prep 2018 are..." Principal Grand didn't get to announce, because the projector started displaying another video.
Everyone turned to the screen and saw the new video. Everyone in the royal court except, Eddie's, heart dropped. It started out with Delilah's scandal being revealed in the form of a photo. The photo you might ask was a screenshot of Danielle spilled Delilah's dirty secret to The Marked Queen. Delilah turned to look at Danielle.
"Someone turn this off!" Principal Grand screamed, because he couldn't believe that this was happening. He was being exposed, and he didn't know from who.
The next was of Andrew. It was another screenshot of Jasmine's text to The Marked Queen. Jasmine turned to look at Andrew. She could tell that he was livid. What set him off the most, were the photos in the local newspaper of his mother's destroyed grave. Andrew was filled with rage, and he didn't know how to feel.
The next was for Flynn. It was a photo of Delilah's work next to Flynn's, exposing that he had taken material from her story to add to his. Delilah was pissed and hurt about Danielle's betrayal, but she had a moment of gratification.
The next one was of Aman and Calvin. Aman and Calvin turned to each other. It was a photo of them kissing and a screenshot of Calvin telling The Marked Queen about their relationship. "How could you?" Aman felt completely betrayed by Calvin. Calvin wanted to feel remorse, but he felt free that it was finally out.
Then we had Jasmine's dirty little secret. "I gave you Andrew!" she screamed, as she saw the photo of her father hitting her, and her puking in the bathroom. The caption was our favorite. "Maybe if she lost the weight faster, then her father wouldn't have hurt her."
The final one, was for the main Queen herself. It was a photo of Danielle's real house. "Looks like this bitch was just a knock off." It also had photos of her sewing her clothes from the window. "She believed she was Cinderella, but she would never fit into the glass slipper." People laughed at that caption. Danielle felt mortified.
The lights in the room turned off. A spotlight had turned on toward the entrance. They saw her walk into the room, and everyone gasped at who entered. She walked into prom like the perfect villain. She knew the royal court was beneath her. Why have a plastic tiara, when your name would already be infamous? She headed straight toward her favorite subjects. Her dress was as red as the spilled blood of her victims. She knew no one expected her to be The Marked Queen, and that was what made this reveal so juicy. She grabbed a glass of sparkling cider off the table. She toasted to the puppets she had grown so fond of over the past year. "Hello, bitches."
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Danielle followed her finger to see a guy at his locker. He looked scrawny with dark hair, hazel eyes, and stubble. She also saw who he was talking with. "Clearly, he doesn't have enough class, because he's mingling with Tucker and Bethany." She rolled her eyes. "He's not that cute anyway."
"Already pining over the new boy in the school? Don't you think you should give him a full day to realize that you suck their souls, like you suck dick to keep the wrinkles away," Jasmine said, walking up to them. Jasmine and Danielle have been the two most popular girls in their class and have never gotten along. "Besides, aren't you too busy being The Marked Queen's bitch?"
Danielle turned and smiled at Jasmine. Jasmine was a shorter, thicker, and mousy-voiced creature that Danielle had the displeasure of knowing. She thought Jasmine's pixie haircut made her look more like a lesbian, than an edgy girl. "At least I'm interesting enough to be marked. I don't think I've ever seen you have to post anything."
Jasmine crossed her arms. "Maybe because I have no secrets to hide."
Danielle and Delilah both laughed. "We've all got things to hide." Danielle leaned forward. "Yours are just not that juicy to expose," she whispered. Danielle turned to Delilah. "We've got class, and I've done my fair share of charity work for the day." Danielle made sure her charity work comment was pointed right at Jasmine.
They walked away from Jasmine. Jasmine felt a little insulted by Danielle's comments. It was true what Danielle said. She hasn't been marked, but she does have a lot of secrets. Everyone might have been feared to be marked, but they were lying when they didn't get an adrenaline rush from their name being spoken on everyone's lips.
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For every girl's big day, they say 'something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.' At Johnson Prep, a girl's big day was something sinister, something designer, something sexy, and something red. It was the day you were marked by The Marked Queen. A package was delivered to your house, and you were supposed to be a good servant as you were a messenger of the Queen now.
Jasmine opened her package that morning, and squealed for joy because she had been dreaming of this day. She had always wondered when she would be marked by the Queen, and when her day to stroll down the hallway in a red leather dress would come true. She pulled out the dress, and saw her black devil pin was under it.
Jasmine, you've been marked. We know how you've waited for your day to wear the prized red dress. I did make it a little loose for you, because no one wants to see your back rolls. You better wear the dress with pride, or you will go downhill. Have a fun day being my bitch. We know how much you love being in the spotlight. - The Marked Queen
She looked at the note that she was supposed to spread, and she couldn't have been happier. She was marked, and she got to take down her least favorite person in the world. It was a day she would never forget. Yes, most girls would think their wedding day was their biggest moment, but for Jasmine, it was when she was marked.
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Susan looked up. "Are you threatening me?"
Jasmine smiled. "I never threaten anyone." Jasmine pulled her in for a hug. "I'll talk to you soon." She winked and walked out of the bathroom. She needed to get to class, and she wasn't going to let the help get to her.
She opened her locker and saw a red envelope. She knew damn well who this was going to be from. She opened the envelope to see a letter from the bitch herself.
My little piggy Queen. You weren't fooling anyone with your new diet. I think it's actually having the opposite effect on you. I shouldn't have marked you, because the bitch is supposed to make the red dress sexy, not kill the boners of the American boy. Don't worry my fatty Jazzy, I'll make you gain the weight you were desperately trying to get rid of. Maybe then, someone might actually notice you. It won't work out for you, though, because I hear cats are in your future, but this Queen always needs a good sob story to laugh at. - The Marked Queen
Jasmine crumbled up the letter and tried to keep the tears back. She wouldn't let The Marked Queen get to her. Jasmine, you already let her get inside your head. How did you think you acquired this new hobby of yours? You thought the girls looking for dates were desperate, but what about the girl trying to be head bitch? We hoped you kept believing in your confidence, because it was going to be so delicious to see it all burn down.
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Aman smiled when he saw his video hit two million views. He scrolled down and saw a comment that he wasn't thrilled about.
Congrats on your new video trending at number seven. Quick question, how much did that cost you? Oh, Aman, we know your daddy is paying for these views and subscribers. It's rather pathetic since you're doing it for his love and admiration. We hear that the camera adds ten pounds of bullshit to your personality. We know you love to fake it like you have happiness in your life. - The Marked Queen
Aman locked his phone and threw it in the locker. This was supposed to be his moment, but the bitch was taking it away from him. He also knew a part of him hated that he was fighting with Calvin. The one person that he wanted to share this with, he couldn't. He wanted to believe that Calvin had the strength for both of them, but he wasn't sure their foundation was strong enough right now.
Aman, maybe you shouldn't be pushing away the man that loves you, but you learned that trait from your father. You wanted to be the biggest YouTube sensation, but you needed to accept the truth. Your videos are fake, and you're just another bullshit actor. The only problem was, what would happen to you once you were pulled off the stage? We thought tomatoes were more your style than roses. After all, your performance has been less than subpar at best.
About the Author:
Zachary Ryan grew up in a black-and-white box in Maryland, before moving to Chicago to start a new life. There, he found that he was accepted for his misfit status--and learned that it's perfectly normal to spend your twenties feeling lost and confused.
After a disastrous sexual encounter, Ryan stumbled on a group of true friends, or "soul cluster," that he connected with. Through his writing, he hopes to help other broken souls out there find comfort amid the chaos.
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