malloryrt4 's review for:

Aces Wild: A Heist by Amanda DeWitt

3.0

medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I was okay with having read this book. I can't say I necessarily liked it, but it wasn't awful. My biggest issue is that I didn't really like or connect with Jack and I wasn't quite sure what we were rooting for. Yes, Carlevaro sucked and I wanted to see him take down. But Jack was doing all of this to get his mom out of prison and, while I am an abolitionist, she has objectively done wrongs and isn't even portrayed as a good mom to Jack. So I was unclear on what we were even trying to salvage. My other biggest critique was one I saw elsewhere as well... if you're going to put "A Heist" in your title, you've gotta deliver and I don't feel like this did. Ocean's 11 is a heist. Six of Crows is a heist. This was.... let's just say "not that" in the interest of not spoiling anything.

What I did like... the Ace and queer rep is cool. I loved that about the characters and, while I didn't connect with Jack, his friends were awesome and my favourite part of the book. I also like the sort of reflective perspective and Jack's inner monologue, it made me chuckle a good few times. I wasn't super into it overall but I'm not upset I took the time to read it and I'd try another book by the author if I came across it.