Reviews with content warning for Injury/Injury detail - Ace of Spades

This book is POWERFUL. I’ve truly never read anything like this before and I’m super thankful that my book club chose this as one of our reads. Not only was it deeply emotional but it was also very enlightening and inspiring. Ace of Spades was not only an interesting read with an interesting plot but it also discussed real world stereotypes and issues that I think more people should be aware of. This book and these characters allowed me to see our world from a completely different perspective. I was aware that racism is very much still a thing to this day but never to this extent. I’m thankful to the author for writing this book to allow readers, like myself, to learn more about topics that may have never been exposed to me before.

On top of the meaningful message, the story was also beautifully written with lots of diversity and fast paced chapters that always kept my attention. I’ve given it 4.5 only because it’s not an all time favorite but it is easily one of the best books I’ve ever read. So much happened throughout the book, it was never boring and I’m very happy with the ending.

Overall this book was so beautiful and emotional. I 100% recommend this not just to readers but to everyone. I think every person should read this book at least once in their life. I’m looking forward to reading more by Faridah Àbíké-íyímídé in the future.

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softgalaxy's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I could hardly put it down. It is spine-chilling. But it is reality for Black people in a world that holds whiteness above anything.

I had my theories but what came about in the end was much more horrifying. Àbíké-Íyímídé weaved such an intense storyline that just stays with you.

I felt so strongly for Devon and Chiamaka. The psychological torture that they were going through was unreal (something I’d never experience as a white person).

Just an amazing book from start to finish. It had me hooked. Can’t wait to read more from Faridah in the near future!!!

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the_true_monroe's review against another edition

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dark hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

When I started the audio book, I did not expect it to go the way it did. Although as I went through, I knew what was coming but not to the degree that it came. Wow.

Definitely a psychological thriller, with similar vibes to ‘Get Out’ (although both are completely different stories focusing on different aspects of horrors related to racism).

4 stars because there was a lot I wish was expanded upon, like a follow-up on characters such a Belle, Scotty, Andre and Jack.

Also, I absolutely love how on the author’s websites there is art depicting the major characters. I have a hard time visualizing things based on descriptions and that really helped! I only found it writing this review since I went searching for one of the character’s names.

I really enjoyed the author’s note, which mentions how the book was written over the course of her college career which is very symbolic to the course of the story.

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sup3r_xn0va_maya's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Wow. I really enjoyed this! It was fear and anxiety inducing, like a thriller should be!

Ace of Spades is the story of Chiamaka and Devon, the only two Black students at an almost all white prestigious high school in America. Someone named Aces stars revealing the two student's secrets and more to the whole school. Aces is out to get Devon and Chiamaka, but who are they? and why?

My only complaint was that the "WHO DID IT?" was spoiled for me thanks to the marketing team and book listing on Amazon! I went to buy this book from Amazon (as it was on sale) and the synopsis on their website spoiled the big reveal for me.

I sometimes hate when the synopsis says, "this novel is X show and Y book/movie put together!", because there's either hardly a comparison or it's spot on and then the story is no longer a surprise. In this case, the examples were the film "Get Out" and the show "Gossip Girl". The comparisons were spot on and because of that, there were few surprises left to figure out on my own.

Overall, I really liked this novel, I'm giving this 4.5 stars out of 5, I'm knocking off .5 stars because I guessed some of the ending on my own. I'm also knocking a star off because Chiamaka was a jerk and unpleasant, and half the book was from her point of view so I couldn't avoid her annoying personality.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I listened to this for free on libbyapp.com

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almirareads's review against another edition

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dark funny inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-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? No

5.0

I’m just gonna say…Ace of Spades is THAT BOOK! Following the mystery of who “Aces” is, there was NEVER a dull moment. Devon and Chiamaka are incredible narrators, filling in what the other left of, and who doesn’t love a platonic enemies to lovers trope?

This book is almost 400 pages and I’d have read it all in one day if I were able to beat sleep. My jaw was DROPPING every other page. Ace of Spades makes it a big point to talk about Black people assimilating to whiteness and why that cannot work out.

You find yourself not trusting anybody in this book- now THAT’S a good mystery. Also points added for being a Black queer novel! Everybody say THANK YOU FARIDAH!!

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marippe's review against another edition

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3.5

I can "fix" the kinks in my hair, but not the kinks in this whole system that hates us.

The concept of the book is very interesting, with the combination of vibes of Gossip Girl and Get Out, but I'm kinda conflicted about it.
The queer rep was very good, but characters lacked depth. The way Jaime was written was a miss for me.

Ok so the reveal of Aces being all the white people in the school was ehhhh. They're choosing 2 black students to terrorise every 10 years? It doesn't really make much sense. I get they want to give these black kids a dream of success just to rip it away from them but I doubt this kind of energy would be happening from the 60s.
I can't see a White supremacy school being able to put up with being that kind to black people just to destroy their lives a few years later, it's kinda too smart if you get me.

For a debut novel though I do think it was good. I don't think it needed to be as long as it is (particularly the beginning, it was slow and then suddenly everything started happening.)
I think we got to the ending too easily.

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sabrinas's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.25

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kdailyreads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
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

4.5

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