Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

As de picas by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

59 reviews

marioncromb's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

The things this book reminded me most are the films Master (2022) and Get Out (2017), so if you liked those, check this out and vice versa.

I thought this book was great, super tense and gripping as the stakes ramp up and up for the two leads and as more of the mysterious rumour-spreader Aces is uncovered. It could be frustrating when as a reader you're a few steps ahead of the characters (why they don't realise Ward is clearly A Baddie from the start...!) but thats very much a staple trope of the horror/thriller genre to be shouting 'don't do that! don't trust them!'

It maybe missed a trick having queer leads but not asexual/ace ones!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Racism, Bullying, Outing, Racial slurs, Violence, Homophobia, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Stalking, Death of parent, Car accident, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicide attempt, Gun violence, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Addiction, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Adult/minor relationship

queencariad's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I’m just in awe when thinking this is Faridah’s DEBUT NOVEL. Like, excuse me? HOW?! 

Words fail me to describe how amazing Ace of Spades was. The writing is absolutely gripping, the narrative compelling from the very first pages. Once you enter the second half of the book, it’s impossible to put down.

Having watched and been completely mindblown by Get Out, I knew to pay a lot of attention to the tiny details right from the beginning. I think that’s why plot wise, I had guessed almost every twist— and yet still felt the urge to fucking SCREAM when they were revealed, in a “fuck I really wished I was WRONG” way.

The book is its entirey had great representation of society as a whole. From white rich privilege to lower classes, the difference of treatment between POC and white people from a same background, bisexual and homosexual rep… It felt perfectly realistic and representative. Faridah also managed to set this story in both a neutral AND universally recognizable setting.

If you’re wondering if Ace of Spades is as good as everyone says it is: the answer is yes. Fucking yes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Classism

Moderate: Blood, Homophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, Drug use, and Addiction

hyliansee's review against another edition

challenging dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Hate crime, Blood, Outing, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Car accident, Classism, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Grief, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death, Sexism, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Vomit, Fatphobia, Mental illness, and Misogyny

yeojinqueen's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Racism, Gaslighting, and Outing

Moderate: Death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Car accident, Classism, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Addiction

Minor: Drug abuse and Drug use

anonymous_blobfish's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I don’t even know where to start with this review because HOLY SHIT this was a phenomenal book…

I guess firstly, check the trigger warnings. This book is a lot for so many different reasons and may not be something you’re in the right place to read.

I always feel conflicted when it comes to reviewing something like Ace of Spades because I am not the voice that should be listened to in this space. But for what it’s worth I thought this was incredible. The detail, world building and characters were so realistic it felt almost more autobiographical than fiction. It was also really hard to read when I felt so powerless and privileged all at once.

I think the main thing I want to comment on is this: racism is a spectrum that all white people exist on. But how the hell are people questioning the authenticity of the institutionalised racism?? Get a fucking grip, open your eyes and educate yourself on how fucked up we - white people - have made this world. Also do your own research and stop relying on Black voices to educate you.

Rambling points aside, I would die for Chi and Von and I encourage everyone to read their stories and fall in love with their characters just as much as I have. 

******Spoiler-ish below:

P.S. in case you need it there is a light at the end of the tunnel that is this story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Murder, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Classism, Colonisation, Racial slurs, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Addiction, Biphobia, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, and Police brutality

laila1007's review against another edition

challenging reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I picked this book up thinking it was fantasy, and it is the first time I don't regret making an impulsive book purchase.
The plot is just...wow. Just when you think the characters can't get any deeper in hot water, things take an even steeper turn for the worse. I found the beginning slightly difficult to get through, but things picked up pretty quickly and I'm glad I didn't DNF it.
The characters are, for the most part, alright. I found both the main characters a bit whiny in the beginning, but it improves throughout the book, and character development as subtle but solid. Chiamaka seems to take high school way too seriously, but seeing where the plot goes, she wasn't completely wrong to. The other characters are almost all intolerable, as they should be.
The pacing was brilliant, apart from the first few chapters, and I finished the book in just two days. The plot had me gripped, and honestly, my heart broke a little with every page. It was in pieces by the end.
 

The only thing that bugged me was a few loose ends. I wanted to see Devon confront his mother about his dad being dead. I wanted to hear what Belle had to say to Chiamaka. What she did was unforgivable but I still wanted some closure on that relationship, because it was great before we find out how Belle is involved with Aces. I really wanted to see Chiamaka face off with Belle's sister, after the latter had haunted her for so long.

 
The ending had me shivering, and all in all, this was definitely worth the tears it cost me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Violence, Bullying, Death of parent, Death, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, and Suicide attempt

jo_lzr's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Car accident, Classism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic friendship, and Violence

Moderate: Addiction and Death of parent

twoshotsofvodka's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Drug use, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Racism, and Violence

Minor: Alcoholism, Addiction, and Alcohol

lmshearer's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

This book was frustrating to read for several reasons. 

First, while I can appreciate the author's desire to keep the location as vague as possible, I think it hindered the character development and story overall. The language was muddled American and Britishisms that diminished the characters' voice and authenticity. 

Second, the plot was a composite of every contemporary teen trope, from Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars to I Know What You Did Last Summer, Carrie, and more. The book promised a Black-centered homage to these works, but did not deliver. Had the author selected two or three of these themes to craft the story around would have made for a clearer read and overall message. [Prospective readers should be aware of the CW noted below this review.]

Finally, the book is about 100 pages too long. It came close to being a DNF for me. I wish it had gone through one or two more revisions before publication. 

I did appreciate the diversity of characters and the LGBTQIA+ representation in this book and hope to see stronger work from this author in the future, but overall this one did not live up to its hype.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Bullying, Cursing, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Grief, and Death

Minor: Addiction, Classism, and Death of parent

maria_luciani's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, and Bullying

Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Outing

Minor: Biphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, and Xenophobia