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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Absolutely DEVOURED this book! Ended up speed reading while I was supposed to be working because every chapter was a cliff hanger and I had to know if the main characters were ok lol.
AIt left me thinking a lot. Great and unfortunately accurate representation of being mixed race with racist family, institutional racism, the complexities of wanting to please your family, the things we'll do to survive and the dangers of not being honest and with those close to us.
The only let down was the almost Disney channel -esque descriptions at the beginning of the book but I've more than aged out of this genre 🤣
AIt left me thinking a lot. Great and unfortunately accurate representation of being mixed race with racist family, institutional racism, the complexities of wanting to please your family, the things we'll do to survive and the dangers of not being honest and with those close to us.
The only let down was the almost Disney channel -esque descriptions at the beginning of the book but I've more than aged out of this genre 🤣
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Racism, Gaslighting, Classism
4.33/5 stars
CW: classism, homophobia, racism, suicide
Ace of Spades is the Gossip Girl revival we should’ve had (yes, I said it) heightened to true thriller status. Chiamaka Adebeyo and Devon Richards attend the elite, private Niveus Academy, where Chiamaka is the queen bee (think: Blair Waldorf vibes) with her heart set on Yale and Devon is the talented musician looking to get into Julliard and repay his mother’s sacrifices. They just have to survive senior year as an anonymous texter, Aces, is looking to expose all of their deepest secrets.
I really appreciated the (racial and sexual) diversity displayed prominently in the novel and the main characters backstories (particularly Devon’s). In her author’s note, Faridah talks about her desire to write a book where she felt seen within her favorite shows (Gossip Girls, Pretty Little Liars) and man did she deliver. This novel was definitely a bit slow on the uptake, but once it picked up, I couldn’t stop reading! I don’t want to say too much more to avoid spoilers, except to say that this novel is in a league all its own when it comes to prep school dramas and it’s one you don’t want to miss.
CW: classism, homophobia, racism, suicide
Ace of Spades is the Gossip Girl revival we should’ve had (yes, I said it) heightened to true thriller status. Chiamaka Adebeyo and Devon Richards attend the elite, private Niveus Academy, where Chiamaka is the queen bee (think: Blair Waldorf vibes) with her heart set on Yale and Devon is the talented musician looking to get into Julliard and repay his mother’s sacrifices. They just have to survive senior year as an anonymous texter, Aces, is looking to expose all of their deepest secrets.
I really appreciated the (racial and sexual) diversity displayed prominently in the novel and the main characters backstories (particularly Devon’s). In her author’s note, Faridah talks about her desire to write a book where she felt seen within her favorite shows (Gossip Girls, Pretty Little Liars) and man did she deliver. This novel was definitely a bit slow on the uptake, but once it picked up, I couldn’t stop reading! I don’t want to say too much more to avoid spoilers, except to say that this novel is in a league all its own when it comes to prep school dramas and it’s one you don’t want to miss.
yes, (some nos) but mostly yes!!
This book started out really slow for me, and I wasn't very interested in it at first. It seemed very childish and boring st first, but as the novel progressed it became so interesting. I was really invested in this story and what was happening to these kids. The conversation of also stopped me in my tracks.
However, I do have some issues with this book.
1. Chiamaka's character is so hard to relate to and sympathize with. In comparison to Devon, I do not think that her problems were that bad. I think that she was missing something as a character, whether that be a circumstance or a trait
2. I do kinda think that the book is a bit childish. I enjoyed it nonetheless, but a good chunk of this book was super cliche. For example, the relationship with Chiamaka and her friends at her locker. Kinda cringey to read. Also the was kinda dumb.
3. I am honestly, still wrapping my head around this idea as I am writing this. I don't know how I truly feel about it, but I think it needs to be discussed. I think that Devon definitely plays a stereotype that is exhausting to hear. Dad in jail, drug dealing friend, single mom, lots of brothers...
I still want to give this book a four star review, however, because it did seriously make me think. This book really captivated me, and It brought a really good conversation about eugenics and how although we are moving up as a society, we have a lot of work to do. I am definitely looking forward to this authors future work, I love the writing style.
This book started out really slow for me, and I wasn't very interested in it at first. It seemed very childish and boring st first, but as the novel progressed it became so interesting. I was really invested in this story and what was happening to these kids. The conversation of
Spoiler
social eugenicsHowever, I do have some issues with this book.
1. Chiamaka's character is so hard to relate to and sympathize with. In comparison to Devon, I do not think that her problems were that bad. I think that she was missing something as a character, whether that be a circumstance or a trait
2. I do kinda think that the book is a bit childish. I enjoyed it nonetheless, but a good chunk of this book was super cliche. For example, the relationship with Chiamaka and her friends at her locker. Kinda cringey to read. Also the
Spoiler
school burning down at the end3. I am honestly, still wrapping my head around this idea as I am writing this. I don't know how I truly feel about it, but I think it needs to be discussed. I think that Devon definitely plays a stereotype that is exhausting to hear. Dad in jail, drug dealing friend, single mom, lots of brothers...
I still want to give this book a four star review, however, because it did seriously make me think. This book really captivated me, and It brought a really good conversation about eugenics and how although we are moving up as a society, we have a lot of work to do. I am definitely looking forward to this authors future work, I love the writing style.
It probably says more about me than it does about this book, but I found the parts set *away* from the school so much more compelling than the parts inside it. Devon's story and character, in particular, really gripped me and could easily be made into a movie (it gave me Moonlight vibes, which is by no means a bad thing!) In addition, the dialogue was excellent and realistic, and the relationships between characters convincing.
However, I found some parts very ham-fisted, even for a YA book, such as the and I felt that the characters who just weren't the main protoganists were written stereotypically. Jamie in particular felt like a 2D cardboard cut-out of a narcissistic psychopath ~~rich white kid with basically no nuance.
I will say that I couldn't put this book down - the pacing was good; some of the twists were genuinely shocking; and I loved the LGBTQ+ rep as well. But maybe my decades-plus remove from a high school experience put me at a bit of a loss when it came to appreciating the school aspects of this story.
However, I found some parts very ham-fisted, even for a YA book, such as the
Spoiler
parts with Mr Ward towards the conclusion, particularly in the epilogue...I almost rolled my eyes at the level of unlikelinessI will say that I couldn't put this book down - the pacing was good; some of the twists were genuinely shocking; and I loved the LGBTQ+ rep as well. But maybe my decades-plus remove from a high school experience put me at a bit of a loss when it came to appreciating the school aspects of this story.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
This books was indeed amazing in giving me a story that is important and relevant to the past and current timeline. Systemic Racism is still present and we aren’t sure if it will ever stop. But hope can come in many ways and just like Chiamaka and Devon one must never give up.
The characters were interesting. I love Chiamaka and Devon a lot.
I liked Chiamaka’s badass personality and she is the type of character I admire!
Highly recommend giving this a read!
5 stars⭐️
The characters were interesting. I love Chiamaka and Devon a lot.
I liked Chiamaka’s badass personality and she is the type of character I admire!
Highly recommend giving this a read!
5 stars⭐️