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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
i liked it a lot !!! it was a little predictable at some times and that's why i didn't give it 5 stars but it still got me hooked
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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:
Yes
At first, this wasn't my type of book. But, the more I kept reading it the more I liked it. The topics it brought up needed to be talked about more. Some of the things they were talking about, I've thought myself a few times. Like systematic racism, and skin color treated like a weapon. The plot was eh. There was a lot of stuff there that shouldn't have been. Like being on TV isn't realistic. Founded by slave "funders" like c'mon now. It brought up some good topics, but it wasn't realistic. It's like they were fighting money and privellge with money and privellge. The only reason they got justice was because he posted a tweet. When the supporters (idk what to call them) broke in it felt so random. Like no mention of a plan, no mention of anything. They just knew when to break in and kill everyone. No one is questioning why Terrell is going through Devons messages. I understand If he was his boyfriend and he wanted to know who he's talking to, but man thats your friend. This whole Aces operation was downright creepy.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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:
Yes
Spoiler Free Review:
Okay, listen up: Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is one of those books that makes you cancel plans just so you can keep turning pages. This isn’t your average YA thriller—it’s razor-sharp, addictive, and layered with meaning.
Here’s the setup (no spoilers, promise): two students at the elite Niveus Private Academy—Chiamaka, the queen bee with everything to lose, and Devon, the quiet musician just trying to make it out—suddenly become targets of an anonymous texter called Aces. Secrets start spilling, reputations crumble, and what first looks like petty high school drama escalates into something way darker, more dangerous, and impossible to look away from.
The beauty of this book is how it blends juicy twists and gasp-worthy suspense with powerful commentary on privilege, systemic racism, and what it means to fight back when the deck feels stacked against you. Every chapter pulls you deeper into the web, and just when you think you’ve figured it out—surprise, you haven’t.
Ace of Spades is chilling, clever, and absolutely unforgettable. If you’re into thrillers that keep you guessing while also making you think, this is one you’ll want at the very top of your TBR.
♠️💔♠️ Bold, twisty, and unflinching—Ace of Spades is the YA thriller everyone should be talking about.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Exceptional read!
Okay, listen up: Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is one of those books that makes you cancel plans just so you can keep turning pages. This isn’t your average YA thriller—it’s razor-sharp, addictive, and layered with meaning.
Here’s the setup (no spoilers, promise): two students at the elite Niveus Private Academy—Chiamaka, the queen bee with everything to lose, and Devon, the quiet musician just trying to make it out—suddenly become targets of an anonymous texter called Aces. Secrets start spilling, reputations crumble, and what first looks like petty high school drama escalates into something way darker, more dangerous, and impossible to look away from.
The beauty of this book is how it blends juicy twists and gasp-worthy suspense with powerful commentary on privilege, systemic racism, and what it means to fight back when the deck feels stacked against you. Every chapter pulls you deeper into the web, and just when you think you’ve figured it out—surprise, you haven’t.
Ace of Spades is chilling, clever, and absolutely unforgettable. If you’re into thrillers that keep you guessing while also making you think, this is one you’ll want at the very top of your TBR.
♠️💔♠️ Bold, twisty, and unflinching—Ace of Spades is the YA thriller everyone should be talking about.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Exceptional read!
adventurous
mysterious
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:
No
Pretty Little Liars mixed with I Know What You Did Last Summer. And Black and Queer, HIGHLY recommend for an exciting and mysterious story.
Absolutely fucking obsessed with this book! This knocked any other book I read in July out of being my favorite and took that spot sooo fast!!!
I flew through this book. I just adored every single minute I spent in this story and with these characters and just *chefs kiss* straight up perfection!!
I loved the school setting and just how it kept spiraling and I kept being like ooh it could be this person and it KEPT SHOCKING ME WITH WHO AND EVERYTHING GOING ON!
Just dark academia and just such stunning vibes from this book. So much dealt with racism and just ugh I adored it.
I want everyone to read this book immediately and just devour it because really truly *chefs kiss*
So glad I picked this up on a whim off my shelves to read because obsessed!!!
I flew through this book. I just adored every single minute I spent in this story and with these characters and just *chefs kiss* straight up perfection!!
I loved the school setting and just how it kept spiraling and I kept being like ooh it could be this person and it KEPT SHOCKING ME WITH WHO AND EVERYTHING GOING ON!
Just dark academia and just such stunning vibes from this book. So much dealt with racism and just ugh I adored it.
I want everyone to read this book immediately and just devour it because really truly *chefs kiss*
So glad I picked this up on a whim off my shelves to read because obsessed!!!
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
I quite enjoyed this book! It’s a YA book about 2 Black students at an otherwise all white private school. The school starts getting texts from a random source called “Aces” that seems to be targeting those two students specifically and revealing secrets about them. It’s marketed as a combination between Get Out and Gossip Girl and I would definitely say that it fits the bill. I found out after finishing it that the author started writing it during her freshman year of college and it was published by her senior year which is incredibly impressive. Also explains why the book felt a bit like it was written by someone earlier on in their career but not in a way that drastically impacted my experience reading it. I quite liked the complexity of the characters (there’s gayness too!) and there were some very cool twists and turns along the way. I’m really excited to see what else this author ends up doing in her career, I’m sure she’ll be very successful!
4.2/5
4.2/5
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Outing, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Gun violence, Hate crime, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
this book was actually insane. i read up to the first big reveal and stopped so i came in the second time already knowing that, but i still had no idea how it would end up. i also think that this is a book where you absolutely have to read the author's note/acknowledgements at the end. the fact that micro aggressions and mistreatment of Black students (especially in predominantly white institutions such as that in Ace of Spades) is so common is despicable and i'm glad that it is talked about in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Sexual harassment