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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Review 2020: Still stand with everything I said below. I still had trouble with the last few plot points and the last scene went way too fast for my liking (and understanding), so I was a bit confused but one character death mattered and I'm NOT. OKAY.
Review 2019: Writers who put angsty flight plot lines at the end of their books are evil.
I fell in love with Ace of Shades when I first read it, but this book showed me what an amazing series it actually is. I didn't like it more than Ace of Shades, but boy was it a great sequel.
Now to wait until..........2020
Review 2019: Writers who put angsty flight plot lines at the end of their books are evil.
I fell in love with Ace of Shades when I first read it, but this book showed me what an amazing series it actually is. I didn't like it more than Ace of Shades, but boy was it a great sequel.
Now to wait until..........2020
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
tense
It is going to be a long wait after the heartbreak. But I will wait for my return to the city of sin.
Okay, okay, okay. I've had nearly a week to sit and cobble together my thoughts on King of Fools, and I'm fairly certain I'm not there yet. The last quarter of the books was an absolute emotional rollercoaster!
Ace of Shades was one of my favourite reads last year—and my re-read last month still has it at five stars—so I was thrilled to read the sequel early. Book two did not disappoint. Admittedly, the first half or so took some getting into. It's a bit slower than the first and while it is a bit darker, the story takes on an entirely different ... feel, I guess you could say. I'll explain what I mean later. We get to explore a bit more of the equally vibrant and dark parts of New Reynes. I still adore the vibe it evokes, of 1920's Atlantic City with gangsters, casinos and a whole lot of nefarious doings happening in the shadows. And broad daylight as well, I might add.
As with AoS, the story is told through Enne Salta and Levi Glaiyser's point of view. I still adore being inside Enne's head the most, but this time we also got a point of view from Jac Mardlin! I didn't know this was happening, so I got really excited when I got to his first chapter. I kind of hoped that meant we would get Lola Sanguick, but she sticks with Enne as they build their girl gang of counters. Mr. Mardlin, however, gets to tell his own story. For those who don't remember, Jac is the Irons second and Levi's best friend. He's a big bear of a guy, but he's had issues in the past with drugs. I really enjoyed his arc as it was at times heartbreaking, but fully satisfying. Foody did a great job I think.
As I mentioned, the first half of the book moved slower than the first book, and that is because this delved a lot more into the politics of New Reynes and the place the gangs and the North Side has in grand scheme of things. The first book ended with a murder that is being blamed on the North Side as a whole. Known members of the gangs are wanted dead or alive, and this fuels a lot of how the story progresses. How to put the North Side on top with the upcoming election setting the tone. As before, Enne and Levi are still dancing around each other romantically, and not helping the situation is the fact they are both working for opposing sides. AKA, Mama Augustine and her son.There isn't the same undertone of panic as there was in the first, with Levi scrambling for money and Enne trying to stay afloat with the debauchery coming at her. The stakes didn't feel as high, until they were through the roof.
The last quarter of the book is unreal. I couldn't for the life of me put it down. It is intense, to say the least. And emotional. I had a hand covering my mouth for most of it and yelled "How could you?!" The POVs switched each time something was coming to light, making me freak out a little bit more. It took so many damn twists that everything I thought was concrete was thrown out the window. And it got dark. I mean, not to spoil anything, but a new villain comes into play towards the end, and I do not want to get on his bad side. SO. MANY. QUESTIONS!
The epilogue really sets the stage for the third book, and it has me biting my nails already. Things are going to be different and I can't wait!
Ace of Shades was one of my favourite reads last year—and my re-read last month still has it at five stars—so I was thrilled to read the sequel early. Book two did not disappoint. Admittedly, the first half or so took some getting into. It's a bit slower than the first and while it is a bit darker, the story takes on an entirely different ... feel, I guess you could say. I'll explain what I mean later. We get to explore a bit more of the equally vibrant and dark parts of New Reynes. I still adore the vibe it evokes, of 1920's Atlantic City with gangsters, casinos and a whole lot of nefarious doings happening in the shadows. And broad daylight as well, I might add.
As with AoS, the story is told through Enne Salta and Levi Glaiyser's point of view. I still adore being inside Enne's head the most, but this time we also got a point of view from Jac Mardlin! I didn't know this was happening, so I got really excited when I got to his first chapter. I kind of hoped that meant we would get Lola Sanguick, but she sticks with Enne as they build their girl gang of counters. Mr. Mardlin, however, gets to tell his own story. For those who don't remember, Jac is the Irons second and Levi's best friend. He's a big bear of a guy, but he's had issues in the past with drugs. I really enjoyed his arc as it was at times heartbreaking, but fully satisfying. Foody did a great job I think.
As I mentioned, the first half of the book moved slower than the first book, and that is because this delved a lot more into the politics of New Reynes and the place the gangs and the North Side has in grand scheme of things. The first book ended with a murder that is being blamed on the North Side as a whole. Known members of the gangs are wanted dead or alive, and this fuels a lot of how the story progresses. How to put the North Side on top with the upcoming election setting the tone. As before, Enne and Levi are still dancing around each other romantically, and not helping the situation is the fact they are both working for opposing sides. AKA, Mama Augustine and her son.There isn't the same undertone of panic as there was in the first, with Levi scrambling for money and Enne trying to stay afloat with the debauchery coming at her. The stakes didn't feel as high, until they were through the roof.
The last quarter of the book is unreal. I couldn't for the life of me put it down. It is intense, to say the least. And emotional. I had a hand covering my mouth for most of it and yelled "How could you?!" The POVs switched each time something was coming to light, making me freak out a little bit more. It took so many damn twists that everything I thought was concrete was thrown out the window. And it got dark. I mean, not to spoil anything, but a new villain comes into play towards the end, and I do not want to get on his bad side. SO. MANY. QUESTIONS!
The epilogue really sets the stage for the third book, and it has me biting my nails already. Things are going to be different and I can't wait!
I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. King of Fools was everything I wanted from this book and more. We get to see Enne come to terms with both sides of herself. We get awesome political wrangling and gang life. We get a winner girl gang I would die for - I especially loved Grace! We get Levi realising he’s a bit of a muppet sometimes and can’t always win but still trying. And Jac, oh Jac. He is a thing of glory and his arc is amazing. And Sophia! Who is also awesome. Basically I love all the characters.
Part of my issue with Ace of Shades (I say issue, I still adored it!) was that Levi didn’t seem like he could be a Lord. Here he learn so much more about him that makes it more reasonable, and I loved that so much. And we get so much with his relationship with Jac, even when it’s in a state. Jac is life. I love that we see him realise what he wants from life and take on more with Sophia, and also come out stronger from his addiction. I think the frank discussion about temptation and trust was really good.
Enne is glorious. She is still learning how to be a sinner and I love that she realised how to do it her own way and to own both sides of herself. And recruiting her girls is love. And Roy. *laughs* Her relationship with Levi is probably my least favourite thing, but it’s still well done - I am seriously intrigued as to what will happen next with them given the end of the book. I’m hoping things may not quite be as they seem... 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
Same with Sophia, he actions right at the end are so intriguing and I’m dying to know what they mean for what will come next.
All in all a great read, and why isn’t book 3 out yet??? 😭 4.5 stars.
Wow. King of Fools was everything I wanted from this book and more. We get to see Enne come to terms with both sides of herself. We get awesome political wrangling and gang life. We get a winner girl gang I would die for - I especially loved Grace! We get Levi realising he’s a bit of a muppet sometimes and can’t always win but still trying. And Jac, oh Jac. He is a thing of glory and his arc is amazing. And Sophia! Who is also awesome. Basically I love all the characters.
Part of my issue with Ace of Shades (I say issue, I still adored it!) was that Levi didn’t seem like he could be a Lord. Here he learn so much more about him that makes it more reasonable, and I loved that so much. And we get so much with his relationship with Jac, even when it’s in a state. Jac is life. I love that we see him realise what he wants from life and take on more with Sophia, and also come out stronger from his addiction. I think the frank discussion about temptation and trust was really good.
Enne is glorious. She is still learning how to be a sinner and I love that she realised how to do it her own way and to own both sides of herself. And recruiting her girls is love. And Roy. *laughs* Her relationship with Levi is probably my least favourite thing, but it’s still well done - I am seriously intrigued as to what will happen next with them given the end of the book. I’m hoping things may not quite be as they seem... 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
Same with Sophia, he actions right at the end are so intriguing and I’m dying to know what they mean for what will come next.
All in all a great read, and why isn’t book 3 out yet??? 😭 4.5 stars.
amanda foody you are SICK AND TWISTED when enne shot jac I screamed out LOUD i am not going to be able to sleep tonight so thanks for that
The Shadow Game series has quickly become my favorite, and is easily the most slept on YA series out there today.
King of Fools really rips any sense of YA from The Shadow Games series rather quickly- in my opinion, Amanda Foody's incredible series is unquestionably adult. When you dive into the second book of this trilogy, the goofy romps and charming romance has all been burned away for a dark tale of street lords, politics, murder, betrayal, abuse, and lies. The conflict of The Shadow Games is purely adult.
Re joining Enne and Levi, they are far from the charming young kids they started out as. Both of them have killed for survival, and both are desperately trying to remove the chains that bind them from their ambitions that Vianca has wrapped around them. Rather than fighting for their lives, we find both characters learning how far they are willing to go- and how willing they are to hurt each other to satisfy their own egos. There is a significantly less chunk of the book dedicated to a budding romance between these two, as this book really allows Enne and Levi to explore who they are as individuals.
Jac also gets a POV in this book, and while it initially comes off as a little unnecessary, it's an excellent deeper introduction to his character, and his story actually ends up setting up some of the most major threads for Queen of Volts. Jac, like Levi and Enne, spends a great deal of this book observing his own ambition and transitioning out of a supporting role while battling his personal demons.
The side characters, especially Grace and Lola, absolutely SHINE. Foody has used King of Fools to introduce us to an incredible cast of female gangsters that are drawn to Enne's vision of violence and womanhood. We also get to learn a lot more about Vianca, as this books spends some time humanizing her into a truly grey character with her own inner turmoil.
Again, I really didn't pick up this series expecting such a beautiful and genuinely adult fantasy to unfold before me. If you felt like maybe Ace of Shades didn't quite scratch the "morally grey heist" itch the way you wanted it to, King of Fools truly refines this series and fully fleshes out the universe and it's characters. Absolutely a perfect read from beginning to end.
King of Fools really rips any sense of YA from The Shadow Games series rather quickly- in my opinion, Amanda Foody's incredible series is unquestionably adult. When you dive into the second book of this trilogy, the goofy romps and charming romance has all been burned away for a dark tale of street lords, politics, murder, betrayal, abuse, and lies. The conflict of The Shadow Games is purely adult.
Re joining Enne and Levi, they are far from the charming young kids they started out as. Both of them have killed for survival, and both are desperately trying to remove the chains that bind them from their ambitions that Vianca has wrapped around them. Rather than fighting for their lives, we find both characters learning how far they are willing to go- and how willing they are to hurt each other to satisfy their own egos. There is a significantly less chunk of the book dedicated to a budding romance between these two, as this book really allows Enne and Levi to explore who they are as individuals.
Jac also gets a POV in this book, and while it initially comes off as a little unnecessary, it's an excellent deeper introduction to his character, and his story actually ends up setting up some of the most major threads for Queen of Volts. Jac, like Levi and Enne, spends a great deal of this book observing his own ambition and transitioning out of a supporting role while battling his personal demons.
The side characters, especially Grace and Lola, absolutely SHINE. Foody has used King of Fools to introduce us to an incredible cast of female gangsters that are drawn to Enne's vision of violence and womanhood. We also get to learn a lot more about Vianca, as this books spends some time humanizing her into a truly grey character with her own inner turmoil.
Again, I really didn't pick up this series expecting such a beautiful and genuinely adult fantasy to unfold before me. If you felt like maybe Ace of Shades didn't quite scratch the "morally grey heist" itch the way you wanted it to, King of Fools truly refines this series and fully fleshes out the universe and it's characters. Absolutely a perfect read from beginning to end.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No