Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

337 reviews

filipa_maia's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I fell in love with the cover of this book way before I knew what it was about. When I read the synopsis I thought "this is going to be a "5-star book" easily", but that didn't happened quite as I expected.

I really liked this book, it addresses very important issues that our society tries to pretend that don't happen anymore: not only bullying and racism, but also homophobia and classicism - And I think that the author does it very well.

I think my problem with this book it that every single character (except Devon) is so unlikeable... I understand that that's the point but, apart from Devon, I couldn't really connect with any of them. Chiamaka's "friends" are described in the most despicable way; Jamie is red flags all over, since the beginning of the story; even Terrell is a bit weird...; but for me Chiamaka is the worst - she is the worst main character ever: dates guys and makes "friends" for social status, mistreats people that she considers "inferior", thinks the entire world revolves around her... ugh...

Even though I think that some of the situations described are a bit "too much", what made me give a 4-star review is the plot itself - what a brilliant storyline!

I don't want to reveal to much but - if you are looking forward to read this book - you are not going to be dissapointed! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Murder, Lesbophobia, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, Death of parent, and Alcohol

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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? Yes

5.0

Holy heck. This book is SO GOOD. It is so TENSE. It is ADDICTIVE. I can't wait for Ms. Abike-Iyimide's next book. I am bowled over. I'm ready to pre-order her next book regardless of what it's about. And to write this while handling college?? How????????? AMAZING.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Racism, Blood, Car accident, Alcohol, and Classism

Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Infidelity, Police brutality, and Injury/Injury detail

This book should come with a blanket to wrap yourself in while you ponder it late at night, eyes wide and horrified.

sunsetcity's review against another edition

challenging dark informative mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

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, Emotional abuse, Racism, Gaslighting, and Classism

Moderate: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Blood

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

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

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

ellasara's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Outing

Moderate: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit

ladebayo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Get Out meets Gossip Girl. Very heavy to read but was lowkey suspenseful. I caught onto the big mystery early on. Love seeing black LGBTQ+ kids represented and African representation.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual harassment

parkyparkpark's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Racial slurs

dmbulaiteye's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? No

3.0

Whew, I liked the plot of this book but it’s a heavy one. At times the social justice theme was overdone and it felt forced into the narrative. I really liked Devon’s POV, he was written really well. I enjoyed the ending and after part 2, it’s a page turner. A quick read, not my favorite but enjoyable nonetheless.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

ami4's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Racism

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Sexual content