Well. Ace of Shades. I've officially decided to visit New Reynes, the City of Sin!

I was a bit skeptical about this book. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for fantasy worlds with an almost 1920's feel and unusual magic is a definite bonus, but there's a lot that could go wrong too. But then I met Enne Salta.

Naive and sheltered, it was almost cringe-worthy watching her attempt to navigate the infamous den of sinners, a city ruled by three gangs and two families akin to the world's mafia. Yet she did it and grew into who she really was, which wasn't the proper lady she claimed at the beginning. I'll admit that I didn't think she was going to make it as a character. Not in the survival sense, but character development. It seemed a recipe for instant superheroine who finally took off her glasses. Thankfully she did grow as a character, much in the way I expected but better than no growth at all. I liked her. . . by the end. She took some warming up to, though.

Now I hate to say it but the rest of the cast was, well, lackluster. And I hate saying it because there was potential. We have gangs of talented individuals with various talents such as blood gazing and orb-making, yet that magic wasn't explained well enough for me to grasp it and they didn't use it enough to make them interesting.

Levi Glaisyer is the other PoV character in Ace of Shades and he felt like a watered down Kaz Brekker. I've seen the comparisons between Six of Crows and this book, and I'll just say they're on two different levels. Levi wasn't a bad character but I was constantly reminded how young he was which contradicted his gang lord persona. BUT I will say that Levi is identified as bisexual in the story and is also a person of color for those looking for the rep, and it was nice seeing that rep included (especially in a protagonist!).

Okay, so what did I like? Well. Enne was great at the end but I've already covered her. The world-building wasn't executed all that well (lots of gaps, lots of confusion for me as the reader), but I'm really intrigued by the different talents. Each person has two, one as more of a primary and another secondary. I didn't quite understand how those worked but I'm interested enough that I'll definitely check out the sequel to see if they're explained further.

I also liked the general setting of New Reynes. A "City of Sin" isn't exactly original but I liked that it wasn't the typical fantasy world, reminded me more of Iron Cast by Destiny Soria.

And the writing, while nothing memorable, engaged me. I read Ace of Shades almost entirely in one sitting and could easily pick up another of Foody's books right now (like Daughter of the Burning City. . . which I will read at some point!).

So ultimately this was a good book. A few things weren't working for me but they weren't enough to deter me from an enjoyable reading experience which is what matters in the end!

I would give this book a solid "meh."

It's not bad or unpleasant in any notable way. The writing is fine, the action is there, and Enne particularly held my interest as a character. It just never really stopped being a chore to get through. <i>Ace of Shades</i> lost me somewhere in the first 20%, and I put it down without any real desire to ever go back and finish it. I DID go back, though. It's a matter of honor. I finished it, and the later half of the book does pick up speed.

I was interested in Enne's unknown identity, and in her character development from the terrified girl at the beginning to who she became by the end. Everything else, though, wasn't worth it for me. I feel like I SHOULD be invested in Levi, because in general teenage street gang lords are a very interesting topic to me. But we never really got to see him in his capacity as a street lord, and as a character he was a disappointing. Some of the worldbuilding was intriguing, such as the fact that bloodlines determine people's talents; most of it, though, was chaotic and unexplained, leaving me with questions that I didn't really care enough to wonder about.

There is not much here to specifically indict, nothing that was done terribly, but there is also not much here to get excited about. It's fine -- just, forgettable. The way the book ended was abrupt, leaving nine out of ten plot mysteries unanswered and providing little closure, obviously paving the way for a further series. Unfortunately, I think I'll pass on the sequels.

I enjoyed the book. The writing wasn't spectacular but I did like the characters and the unpredictability. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

4.5/5 Stars

Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody is almost here folks and I'm happy to report that it's pretty freaking great! Early this year I was lucky enough to be chosen as a member of Foody's street team for this book and I'm so glad I got the chance to read an ARC. Now I can say for certain this one's not to be missed. So, prepare yourself for mystery, magic, and much more.

From lush casinos to teeming streets of tourists, the City of Sin is ready to lure the reader into its winding alleys and back room deals.  The author certainly knows how to paint a picture with all the detail that went into these locales. Even the history of this place held so much importance. Plus the magic concept was incredibly cool with people having two talents (Blood and Split) which are passed down through families.

Enne Salta begins as an uptight society girl thrust into a terrible situation and a city she's never been to. Being in New Reynes brings her into her own; testing her limits, challenging her preconceived notions. Levi Glaisyer, on the other hand, is a black, bisexual crime lord with mighty skill when it comes to cards. He's got a lot on his plate; being pulled in multiple directions and just trying to stay alive. These two compliment each other well and I loved their dynamic.

Amanda Foody's writing makes for an enjoyable quick read and I felt the same about her first book. The plot was fast paced leaving enough time for the reader to soak in the world and characters. Plus the search and mystery were gripping, reeling me in. Honestly I was so enthralled with all the pieces to this tale and the author does a wonderful job of tying it all together.

Overall Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody was an awesome start to a new series. With rich worldbuilding, endearing characters, and a fast paced plot, this book delivered a thrilling story that sinks it's teeth into the reader. I absolutely recommend picking this one up! And as The Shadow Game has just begun I cannot wait to see what's in store with the next book.

The writing was kind of dull, but the characters had good arcs and evolutions over the course of the book. This is the second time I've been underwhelmed by the author's work, which I wished could be more. It's like they need a bit of spice.

So as you guys know I am part of the street team for Ace of Shades. When I saw there was a Blog Tour for the book I jumped at the opportunity. I have been dying to read this book from the moment I read it. Well did I end up enjoying it as much as I'd like? Let's find out.

This book ended up being super enjoyable. So enjoyable I found myself getting so upset at the times when I'd have to put it down. There were even times when I was reading another book but I couldn't put this one down.

The story is about Enne, who travels to New Reynes to find her missing mother. Once she gets there the truth begins to unravel. Enne begins to discover secrets about her life. Enne learns she needs to be careful about what she does and who she trusts because there's a game that's about to begin.

Right away I was blown away by the descriptions of New Reynes. Even though it's the city of sin and you need always have your wits about you I really wanted to go there. There is something so enchanting about it. Amanda does a create job with descriptions and imagery. I could picture everything that was going on. I also felt like there were never any dull moments in the book. I felt each scene kept me engaged and I never felt like I was bored. This is a very action packed book.

Another thing I really enjoyed were the two different perspectives. You get the perspective of Enne and Levi. They both are very different characters. Enne is a proper young lady who just stepped foot into New Reynes. Her mother told her if she needed to go to New Reynes she should ask for the help of Levi. Levi is the leader of the Irons. The Irons are one of the three gangs of New Reynes. It was interesting seeing their perspectives. I liked how one minute you were getting a look into Enne's day and the next you were getting a look into Levi's day. For some of the situations they weren't too far from which I really enjoyed. There are also a lot of side characters that you meet that are very unique. They all are different from each other. I loved getting to know each of them as the story progressed.

Another thing that was very interesting was that each person had two different talents. These are talents that inherited from their parents at birth. The strong one was the blood talent and the weaker one of the split talent. Enne's blood talent was dancing and her split talent was arithmetic. Every time a new character was introduced I always hoped we found out about their blood talents. It was fun seeing what talents you could have inherited during birth.

There was only one thing I didn't end up liking about this book was how they didn't curse. The characters would always say the word muck instead of fuck and that really irked me. I understand not wanting to curse but it ended up happening a good amount of times I just replaced it myself. I just felt since the book takes place in The City of Sin cursing is expected. This ended up being a minor thing I disliked about the book.

Overall I thought this was a super fun and enjoyable read. I loved the story, the world, and the characters. The ending had me dying for more. I don't know what I'm going to do while I wait for the second book to come out. I do know I already want to reread this book. I hopefully will be able to on audio when that comes out.

Ok so when I first read the summary for this book I was completely and utterly hooked!! I thought OMG I want this book and I want it now!! Casinos, street lords, all in the devious city of sin... yes please!! Which is why I was so excited when I got approved a copy of this book. Ace of Shades is one hell of a ride! I knew right after I finished the first chapter that I was going to love it (and low and behold my instincts were right..)

First off the story in itself was an amazing concept (I absolutely and utterly adore street lords in books and Levi is no exception)! I loved the way the story flowed easily as I read it but wasn’t boring and had some very good twists that I frankly did not see coming in the least but what really won me over was this book AMAZING characters!!

I loved Enne and I think I just grew to love her even more as the book went on? In the beginning she was a bit of a shy dainty thing (which is to be expected considering she lived a sheltered life and all) and Levi just saw her as this pretty girl who was in over her head but she was actually pretty badass towards the end! Like you go girl ain’t nobody gonna tell you how to live your life. In fact the book got a tad dark towards the end... I’m just going to leave it at that because *ahem* spoilers! This book is dark and gritty and not afraid to push the limits or to get violent which is what I thought made this story not only good but great. They weren’t afraid to go deep and to explore the characters greatest weaknesses and even exploit them in the worst ways imaginable. I couldn’t stop reading this (no seriously this came before homework. Its so bad how skewed my priories are... yet SO worth it because this book people!)

Look, if you’re gonna give me a fantasy world that’s based on Las Vegas and involves crime families, gangs, missing mothers and magic then I am definitely going to read it. And luckily this one managed to pull off all of those elements and keep me flipping the pages.

The thing that really made this book for me were the chracters, all of them were so well rounded and presented so well that I loved them (or hated them) and just couldn’t get enough of the growth that some of them went through. First let’s talk about the main character Enne. !!!!! I loved her so much! She showed up to New Reynes and was shocked by everything that the city had to offer but she quickly adapted and did what she needed to do to try and save her mother. Reading her journey was honestly the high point of this book for me, it’s such a natural and believable growth that I loved watching her adapt. And Levi! What an angel, an angel that’s just trying to do what’s best for his family. I loved reading his chapters, he’s going through so much but still manages to have a smile on his face. I just love him. A lot.

Another thing that I liked was the romance in this book, it was just enough to be believeable and to keep you interested but also definitely wasn’t too much. The friendships and family bonds in this book were so well done as well, I loved that it was a major point that just because you don’t share the same genetics as someone that it doesn’t mean you’re not family.

The worldbuilding was also great, I could really picture different settings and loved getting to explore the city. Also the differences between regions in the book was really neat, especially the differences between Enne’s hometown and New Reynes.

The story itself was also so well done, the stakes are high, the twists keep coming and it’s a bit darker, which makes sense for the story. And then the ending! It’s so good and I can’t wait for the sequel.

Overall I did really enjoy this book, it was fast paced and easy to read. It also gave us some amazing character growth and a well thought out story with some darker themes. I’d definitely recommend this one, especially if you’re a fan of fantasy and are looking for something that’s just a little bit different.

Full blog tour review to come on March 30th on my blog. The link will be updated when the post is live. But this was a 2.5 stars for me. I just don't find this to be very memorable. The magic system and the card games were really confusing; there was time to focus on what the magic system of the "talents" do. I also felt like Enne never actually collected her thoughts at all; it was go go go all the time. I also felt like this was 700 pages instead of the 400ish pages. Plus the final confrontation thing was dealt with way too fast so I didn't feel any of the "high stakes" and intensity the author wants you to feel. Not really for me...

Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was fun, had some great new ideas and concepts, and left me wanting to know what comes next! The made up curse words were a bit distracting though...give me the real words or none at all.

Enne and Levi...that slow burn is killing me!!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

This kind of reminded me of Six of Crows in the sense of it was a heist book. I wasn't too huge a fan of Six of Crows, so I didn't enjoy this book as much because of the similar feel. It was a little weird that "mucking" was chosen for the cursing. I'm not a fan when books make up or create alternative cuss words, it just seems awkward. Some things got a little confusing, but maybe they will be addressed in the second book. Overall, not a bad book, but not my favorite either.

Unfortunately, Ace of Shades, was not a story I could get into. I thought the card tattoo idea was interesting but that's about it. I thought the banter between characters was kind of stuttered and did not flow well, and I just had a hard time reading. I did not finish reading the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital ARC of “Ace of Shades” by Amanda Foody. This story is fantastic! The world building is so much fun! I loved the writing. I was gripped immediately which I admit is not always the case anymore. The more I read, the higher my expectations. This book has a bit of an “Alice in Wonderland” meets Vegas vibe and I was very into it. The characters are full of life and imagination. I was not planning on buying this book when it first came out but I plan to be at the bookstore the day it comes out to get a beautiful hardcover edition.

“People don’t play this Game to win, my dear. You play the game not to lose.”

I feel like Amanda Foody crafts these creative and compelling fantasy worlds that pull you into their dark and mysterious ways. And boy does she succeed at it. Ace of Shades follows Enne, a proper lady who must venture into New Reyes, the City of Sin, to find her missing mother. Once she’s there, Enne is pulled into a deadly game that might hold the answers to the secrets of her past.

Things I Liked
As I’ve said before, I always love quotes at the beginning of the chapters. I thought the guidebook quotes really helped establish New Reyes and set a fantastic vibe for the story.

I like how the story was structured. We see everything broken into the days that have passed and Enne’s experiences in New Reyes. This made it really fast-paced and the story never felt weighed down.

I really liked the talents and powers that are showcased in the story. We get to see some really unique and creepy magic - like the blood gazers - and I love how powers were inherited. You get a talent from each parent, one dominant and the other weaker. It was unique and I liked it a lot.

I LOVED the epilogue, it honestly brought the whole book up and I’m excited for book 2 because if it. The book ended on such a high note for me that I look back on it happily because I’m excited.

Quotes
‘We’ll get mugged walking around with a map. That tourist nonsense is an affront to everything I stand for.’ “What do you stand for” Bravado?” ‘Obviously.’

“The worst hurt in the world was the kind you grew to accept.”

“Avarice, pride, and lust - these are all modest desires. What the city of sin craves is destruction.”

Things I Didn’t Like
I feel like the worldbuilding was very focused and precise, but didn’t create a cohesive world. And there was definitely some gaps that made things confusing. We learn a lot about talents (my favorite part) and the gangs, but I feel like I don’t have a lot of info about New Reyes and it’s history and everything about the Mizers and the revolution.

I did not like Enne at all. She was so whiny and couldn’t stop crying. It actually got frustrating. I understand that she’d in this new place and is desperately trying to find her mom, but I wanted her to adapt and use the city more. Play the part when you have to, and you can fall apart later. But she didn’t and that made her seem naive and not that smart. . None of the other characters wowed me - they were mostly forgettable, or I feel like I didn’t know they enough (I honestly kept forgetting some people’s names)- but I was annoyed by Enne.

This was way more plot focused than character focused, so as a character driven reader it wasn’t my favorite. But I am excited for book 2 and I do appreciate the worlds that Amanda crafts so well.

I received a copy of the book from HarlequinTeen via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Teen for a chance to read an advanced copy of this book.

I really loved this book! Foody does an incredible job of world-building the city of New Reynes. The grimy, crime-ridden, gang controlled North Side where the story takes place is incredibly vivid. From the people walking the streets to the opulent casinos to the smells, tastes, and sounds of the city, everything is detailed, well-described, and provides an engaging backdrop for the story. The characters are equally as detailed. The Lords of the gangs are seedy, traitorous, and down right bad; the Dons and Donnas of the casino families are corrupt and vile; and our main characters, Enne and Levi, are just fantastic. In the world of Ace of Shades, every person has a talent inherited from their parents. Even though the variety of talents is incredibly diverse, they are all unique and fully believable within the story.

The story follows the journey of Enne, who is studying to be a lady at a finishing school in the much more civilized city of Bellamy across the sea, and Levi, the Iron Lord, card dealer, and leader of a street gang. Enne’s mother disappears while working in the city and she travels to New Reynes to find her. Her mother had told her to seek out Levi if she ever disappeared, so that is exactly what she does, landing her in the middle of an incredibly dangerous, high stakes world. As they search for Enne’s missing mother, the story switches perspectives between Enne and Levi. I really enjoyed being able to see the story through both their eyes, providing more depth to their motives, feelings, and actions. The relationship between Enne and Levi is also well played, with moments of anger and mistrust, mixed with moments full of hope, redemption, and, of course, a little slow-burning romance.

One of my favorite things about this book was the depth of the characters. Enne, for example, changes so much over the course of the book. She goes from a damsel in distress to a brave, confident, and self-assured young woman. I love a great tough-girl character, who can keep up with the boys (even outdo them sometimes) and take care of herself! I also loved the glimpses into Levi’s past and how he became who he was. He also changes dramatically over the course of the story, realizing what is really important and forming an incredibly strong bond with Enne. Another thing I loved was the Shadow Game, a dark and ominous card game that no one escapes. Receiving an invitation to the game is an execution sentence; no one makes it out alive.

This book was just fantastic! It was action packed, full of twists and turns, and kept me on the edge of my seat. The ending left me hopeful and yearning for another book, which is sure to follow. If you liked Caraval and Six of Crows, you will love this book. I highly recommend this fantastic young adult fantasy novel!

First time I've read this author and I'm thinking this might not have been the right book for me to try, it was slow going and there was times I wanted to put it down. But I kept reading ,while it to me a while to get into the story and it was still slow going the story concept was a good one, with that said I would like to think Netgalley for for me the chance at trying out a new to me author in change for my honest opinion.

I finished reading Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody yesterday before work and I give this book 5/5 stars! Both of her books (AoS and Daughter of the Burning City) have such interesting concepts and they're so different from anything else I've read. She has such unique ideas and they make her writing stick out compared to other fantasy books that are currently out.
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Enne travels to New Reynes aka the City of Sin to find her mother, and instead ends up finding herself. She goes from being someone nobody notices to someone everyone notices, which ends up being a bit of a problem. Her character development is pretty significant throughout the book. She also meets Levi who is the bad boy, a Lord of a street gang, but he's also so much more.
♦️
The story is told in both of their view points. They do a lot of traveling throughout the City of Sin and it was really fun reading about different areas and I can't wait to explore it further in the next book!
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And in case you're wondering I loved this book so much I'm already working on a custom candle or two for it!

Thieves, rogues, and shady characters? Sign me up. I enjoyed my time reading about the shady, morally ambiguous world of New Reynes. I enjoyed being able to learn about it much at the same time as Enne Salta, the main character, on her first visit to the City of Sin to locate her missing mother. It's a little bit of Six of Crows and Caraval all mish mashed together!

This was a really good book. I enjoyed reading it and being introduced to the city of New Reynes, a self-proclaimed city of sin; picture a magical, more dangerous version of Las Vegas. This story follows the point of view of two main characters, Enne Salta and Levi Glaisyer. Enne arrives in the city searching for her adoptive mother, Lourdes, with just Levi's name as a clue. They quickly meet and the fun begins.
Enne upon her arrival is innocent, having been raised far from the city in a sheltered existence, she quickly feels in over her head. Despite her initial hesitation and the culture shock of being in the city, she finds New Reynes brings her to life; she views herself as really being 'seen' for the first time. I love Enne's story arc from sweet little girl to certifiable badass.
Levi, quite Enne's opposite is a street kid, a con-man, a card dealer and a Lord of one of the local street gangs; not unsurprisingly he has a heart of gold however and certainly a sweet spot for Enne. They work together to try to solve the mystery or who Lourdes actually is and where she has gone. There is an enjoyable cast of side characters in this that really helps the story along.
I did have two minor problems with the book, one was the made up curse words, I found to be a little silly and unnecessary. They were slightly distracting actually because it was so silly. The second problem was the magic system - I don't feel it is every really explained; there are a lot of concepts that are given names but no explanation or definition. There was a lot of ambiguity with it. I read a lot of fantasy and do not expect to be spoon fed concepts but it shouldn't be a mystery either as to how a world is functioning. I was at the very end of the book, in one of the final scenes, still not understanding what was happening with the magic. This issue is actually laced throughout the book which can make sections of it confusing. Perhaps in the second book some of these issues will be cleared up? I am excited to move forward with the series and would definitely read the next book once it becomes available. I thought the ending was perfect and will definitely leave readers wanting more!
Overall, I feel this is a pretty solid start to a series that a lot of people will enjoy due to the action and sweet romance. Thank you so much to Harlequin Teen and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this book early and provide my opinions. I am excited to see what other readers think about this one once it is released.
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