Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

182 reviews

riosrm1015's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

I was expecting more than this. The plot twist was very much a cop out it felt like. Also way too long

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Blood, and Homophobia

Moderate: Violence

ismildlypoetic's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? No

5.0

5 stars are typically reserved for books that changed my life or I hyperfixated on them

While I don't know if Ace of Spades fits those qualifications, its resemblance to media (that very much did have some core memories) and the importance of its message, plus the way it had me turning pages, I very much feel that this book deserves the 5 stars anyway.

For fans of Pretty Little Liars, this book gives that horrendous cyberbullying experience we're familiar with, plus the added twist of

systematic racism.

There were multiple times I wrote in my reading app that I was terrified to turn the page, knowing that whatever was coming wouldn't be good for our two title characters.

Now time for my infodump:

As for the characters, Devon, I loved. I loved him from the first page. I think he has a genuine care for people, even those who've wronged him. He shoots high, but he does what is right to get to them, and I truly admire that.
As for Chiamaka, my love-hate relationship with her was strong. There are very few people in this world she cared for besides herself, and she didn't give a shit who fell as long as she didn't fall with them. However, I am very happy she got a happy ending. And I hope she kept on her journey of self-growth in those sixteen years after Niveus burned.

I highly recommend this book, especially for those who see themselves, like me, relating to some of the other characters at Niveus. We could all use a lesson in seeing others from a different point of view.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Homophobia, Bullying, Car accident, Murder, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Alcohol, Stalking, Death of parent, Outing, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Blood, Racial slurs, Gun violence, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Vomit, and Sexual assault

lulibooks's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Blood, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Drug use

bookobsessedmommy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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? No

3.5

I have mixed feelings about this book, but I'll start with a more technical review which is how I chose to rate it. Check the content warnings! Chiamaka and Devon are compelling characters and the whole vibe of the book keeps you on edge. Its like Get Out, but make it high school. I think it's well written overall, but too long. There are whole scenes, like the situation with Devon's dad for example, that could have been cut with little to no change to the actual plot. The beginning drags and so do various parts of the book, which again I attribute to it being too long. The resolution is a bit abrupt, but the epilogue is a welcome addition. (I am a sucker for a wrap up)  As for my personal feelings, I never would have picked this up if I knew how much trauma there was. I read primarily for enjoyment and escape, so this thriller/horror depiction of life in brown skin is a little too real and too scary for me. I was really into the strange mystery of it all for a while, but there are times when it feels like every painful stereotype has been thrown in here to tick things off like a depressing bingo card. Homophobia, racism (blatant and systemic), police brutality, mass incarceration, slut shaming, gang violence. I could go on, but you get the idea. I nearly DNFd multiple times, but I wanted to know what happened. The ending was both surprising and underwhelming, but I'm here for what it represents. Even with my mixed feelings, I would still give this author another shot after checking content warnings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Outing, Bullying, Homophobia, Blood, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Racism, Toxic friendship, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Grief

Minor: Sexual assault and Suicide attempt

the_true_monroe's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Outing, Death of parent, Classism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Hate crime, Racism, and Stalking

Moderate: Confinement, Violence, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Blood, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Trafficking

Minor: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, and Vomit

erinamerritt's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Hate crime, and Violence

Moderate: Police brutality

Minor: Gun violence

almirareads's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Blood, Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, and Car accident

Moderate: Death of parent and Drug use

Minor: Sexual assault

deepcurvesahead's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Gaslighting, and Racism

Moderate: Infidelity, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Blood, and Outing

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Drug use, Alcohol, Classism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Rape, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Murder, and Suicide attempt

sabrinas's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Hate crime, Outing, Homophobia, Racism, and Bullying

Moderate: Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Car accident, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, and Stalking

Minor: Blood, Death of parent, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury

temymm's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

HOLY SHIT!!! SO GOOD!!! 10/10 read. The mystery is as well built as One Of Us is Lying but with the racial elements of The Weight of Blood (but much better than both!!!!) I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, something which never happens to me. Amazing book, will be reading again!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Stalking, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Murder, Bullying, Drug use, Outing, Physical abuse, and Car accident

Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Blood, Gun violence, and Police brutality

The big things to note are that this book deals with racism and stalking. As in, that is the premise of the book. It deals with institutional racism. Do. Not. Read. If that is not something you can read. There is also a lot of dark shit that happens quickly, from mentions of police brutality to suicide attempts to realising that a parent is dead. There is a recurring theme of vehicular murder, though unintentional, and an MC is in a relationship with a drug dealer. This book is dark at times, but Àbíké-Íyímídé handles it WONDERFULLY