If you like ‘Six of Crows’, then you’ll love The Shadow Game series

Don’t miss out on The Shadow Game series by Amanda Foody. The Shadow Game series gives off the same vibe as ‘Six of Crows’: dark, yet addictive.

Years after both <em>Six of Crows</em> and <em>Crooked Kingdom</em>, I’d been searching for another book or series that gave me that same vibe I felt as I read Leigh Bardugo’s heist duology that was full of found family, street gangs, high stakes, and adrenaline rushes.

The Shadow Game series does exactly that while being completely different at the same time. <em>Ace of Shades</em>, which came out last April, was one of my favorite reads of the year, with its sequel, <em>King of Fools</em>, being on of my most anticipated books of 2019.

(This article has very minor spoilers for both The Shadow Game books)

I compare SoC and The Shadow Game for multiple reasons though their plot lines are in no way similar, one of which is how diverse they both are. Last year I wrote about the diversity in <em>Six of Crows</em> and Amanda Foody managed to bring some, if not quite all, of the same levels of diversity into The Shadow Game.

Not only are her characters racially diverse, but there are multiple characters on the LGBT+ spectrum which catches my attention more these days then books that don’t include different sexualities. Giving this level of diversity in not only YA Fantasy, but in Fantasy in general is becoming more commonplace and I fully support this shift.

While <em>Ace of Shades</em> has a largely male cast of characters(though it definitely passes the Bechdel Test), <em>King of Fools</em> takes that cast and expands it, and that expansion is almost solely female characters. Not only does Enne take a step away from Levi and his crew and venture off on her own in New Reynes, but she makes a gang of her own, who are all women.

Besides her gang of girls, who ironically call the abandoned building of Madame Fausting’s Finishing School their headquarters, both Levi and Jac bring new women into their ranks. The two of them bring out sides of both Levi and Jac that we didn’t see in <em>Ace of Shades</em>, so their inclusion in <em>King of Fools</em> not only gives us more BAMF women characters, but so brings Levi and Jac out of their own shadows and step outside the paths that they were going down, while these women remain autonomous, with wants and needs of their own.

Another similarity to Soc, The Shadow Game showcases the importance of found family and how family is what you make of it. Just because someone is family by blood doesn’t mean that they should take up all of your time and energy. It’s a major theme throughout <em>King of Fools</em>, in more ways than one, and I can’t wait to dive more into it in the third installment, which Amanda is currently working on.

Not only is found family important, but there are different levels of it within The Shadow Game, and some of it is how it can go wrong. It shows the corruption of it when it’s forced, the breakdown of it when trust is broken, or how it can slowly separate due to different aspirations and greed. On the opposite side of the deterioration of found family, there is also the making of it within the destruction of something else, how life moves on and new connections can be made, along with opening up and letting others in despite being burned in the past.

All of these are aspects of found family that are realistic and happen outside of Fantasy, which is what adds another layer to my complicated feelings towards The Shadow Game. Realistic relationships, quarls, and setbacks adds depth to character development and Amanda Foody’s characters grew incredibly within <em>King of Fools</em>.

I talked a lot about aesthetic and how similar SoC and The Shadow Game were when it came to the vibe they gave off so I want to go into that further. Both Ketterdam and New Reynes are dock towns, littered with street gangs and crime. With the same backdrop, of course they’d feel similar. While both have gambling dens, talk of red light districts, and how the city can corrupt anyone, they both also can be set apart just as easily.

Ketterdam is loosely Dutch based, whereas New Reynes is comparable to New Jersey. The Shadow Game’s usage of street gangs and crime lords is akin to mob bosses in pinstripe suits, 1920’s cars, and prohibition parlors. New Reynes is in the midst of rebuilding after a revolution, and is littered with ruined districts, curfews, fear, and laced with political intrigue in <em>King of Fools</em> when the gang is asked (re: made) to rig an election. In my mind I imagine it to look like <em>Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them </em>, which meshes with the whole 1920’s mob aesthetic.

So while they are similar in certain ways, it’s the major plot differences that makes The Shadow Game stand out against Soc. As a huge fan of both I’m always on the lookout for kindred series, for lack of a better word. They both give off the same aura, and would read each over and over.

King of Fools was one of my most anticipated sequels this year and I was not disappointed. Am I mad a this book and at Amanda Foody? Oh, hell yes. But I loved every second of it.

I believe that, in trilogies, second books should feel completely different from book one, and then book three should be an expansion of book two. We'll see what book three has in store for us, but for now I can say that this book had a totally different feeling from Ace of Shades, and it was great.

Different were the themes, the stakes, the pacing, the POVs. We saw old and new characters in a different light, and the city of New Reynes took its own rightful place as almost a character of its own, with its rich history and legends, even more so than in the first installment.

This book is so rich and full of events, each leading to new and more complicated plot points, that it's impossible to put it down. Even if you somehow weren't hooked to the plot, the characters are so interesting and you love them so much that you can't not keep reading.

Structurally speaking, KoF has two main differences: three POVs (Enne, Levi, Jac) and a both faster and slower pace. Faster because a lot more happens than in Ace, but spread out over several months instead of the ten days of Ace. I think that was necessary, although if we were to analyze it, some time skips were a little too convenient maybe, but I don't care too much about that. It all flowed well and came together nicely (OR SHOULD I SAY NOT NICELY) for the grand finale.

If you've read Ace, you know how much Enne grew in those pages, and here we see the lovely results of that. Mainly we get to see Enne form her own girl gang and it's everything you've ever needed in your life. I really appreciated the variety of girls there, even though obviously there needed to be a focus on only a few of them. Also, there was a lovely side f/f relationship and I'm ready to see more of it in the sequel.

While Enne changed a lot in a short time, Levi's character development in Ace had more to do with our perception of him the longer we stayed in his head. In KoF, I think it's fair to say that Levi does quite a bit of character development in the way that usually male characters (and men in general) do: his development is always the result of something that happens, usually something he regrets doing after seeing the consequences it had. I found this both realistic and frustrating at times, but in a way that was always consistent with who he was since the beginning of Ace.

Levi's development was also integrated by an outside perspective, mainly Jac's POV, into his flaws, but that's not all Jac was there for, which was something I was afraid of at the beginning. I'm glad we saw Jac have his own story line and his own agenda, and I loved his POV so much. Jac's POV also had one of the most terrifying scenes I've ever read, that literally had me forget to breathe while I was reading and I won't easily forget. I just want to say: Jac Mardlin, I am so fucking proud of you.

I think the writing also did improve, and there were a couple of scenes like the one I just talked about that proved it, as well as certain........decisions that Amanda Foody took. I am now equally excited and terrified for the sequel, because King of Fools was already a lot in terms of emotional wreckage.

In case it wasn't clear, I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK AND I NEED BOOK 3 ASAP.

TWs: mention of drug abuse and addiction, character deaths, violence, blood, explosions, murder, torture, executions.

I have awaited King of Fools on pins and needles, and I was so grateful to receive an ARC of this book!!! Ace of Shades was one of my absolute favorite reads last year. It was fun and adventurous and different and I tore through it.

Unfortunately, I had to make myself pick up King of Fools and keep reading. It wasn’t that it was badly written. I would never blaspheme Ms. Foody in such a way! It was just that this volume was so much heavier. The playfulness was gone. As a reader, I spent a lot of time going “oh, no! That’s not going to go well!” And cringing for the characters I loved. It’s not that I expected sunshine and roses, just a little more savvy and triumph for my friends in this book.

I was also a bit put off by Enne’s whole, “I won’t apologize for who I am!” Thing as far as it applied to her being a killer and gang leader. I felt like the girl had a few things to apologize for. I will read the next, but I missed the fun of the first.

The Story-
I was so happy to be in this world! I love how the story has become so much more than just a hunt for someone. It has become a story of becoming someone and survival, and what each person is willing to do, sacrifice or gamble for their goals. As the story continues we get a glimpse on the power dynamic as it unfolds. I really enjoy seeing the power shift as each character makes their move in this game that has no real rules. You are sort of left at the edge of your seat trying to figure out if someone is gong to stab you in the back or if someone is going to pull through.

There is a little bit more romance in this book, and at times I was rooting for the characters, and other times I was shouting at them that they can do so much better and just. get. over. it! But what can you do? The heart wants what it wants.

I think it should be stated as a trigger warning for drug addiction and physical abuse/trauma, as it does play a role throughout the story. Along with obviously gambling.

The World building-
As the story continues, Amanda brings us into the darker world and folklore surrounding the city of New Reynes. I loved how each chapter opened up with a bit of story that helps develop the city and how the story is driven. There was one bit at the end that I was confused about the magic that was happening, and I think maybe I probably missed something? Like who is this person..and what is this power? Maybe it's explained in the next book.

I loved how we got to see a little bit more of the South side of the city as well as the North. A little bit more on how the gangs operate and the political goings on and how they intertwine.

The Characters-
So many new great characters in this book! Along with the return of some of our faves from the first book there is quite a bit of shuffling between the POV's. I really enjoyed getting to know Jack and getting more of his story unfolding, and knowing his dark history. He is such a precious character and I just love him to pieces. As much as I loved the idea of a girl gang, I honestly thought I would see a little bit more from them. The most we heard of the girl gang was when they were sitting around their house, not actually getting anything done. It was merely an idea that was planted, and stuck through the story, yet didn't have a lot going on for the story. I really hope they get a little more action going in the next book.

“A pistol painted pink was just as lethal”

In this second installment after Ace of Shades, Enne has fully embraced the darkness of New Reynes and seeks to not only survive but to thrive in a city that has tried at every corner to beat her. Even though Enne and Levi escaped the inescapable shadow game, they seem to have bigger issues at their doorstep as wanted criminals by the city and lords of their own empires in the seedy underbelly.

I really enjoyed the pacing of the first book and the set up to the city of New Reynes and though the second didn’t follow quite the same pace as the first, the characters development and the exploration of this fascinating city continued to hold my interest.

The characters were frustrating in this book. Firstly, we gained the perspective of Jac in this installment where the first was only told through the perspectives of Enne and Levi. This was jarring as a reader as it is difficult to get into the head of a character and care about his story as much as the others when we were not given as much information about him in the first book. After the initial first few of his chapters his story became quite interesting and seemed to lead much of the book as Enne and Levi fell flat. Much of the pull of these characters was the chemistry between them, both as a romantic pairing but just for witty dialogue as well, and because they spend so much of the book apart, we as readers lose this chemistry that hooked us in the first place. Now, despite my disappointment at losing the connection between these two characters, I was really excited about the introduction of a few new characters that were very fun to read. The relationship of Enne’s Spirits, particularly through herself, Lola, and Grace was refreshing for the story and in building Enne’s character up and the introduction of Sophia was a mystery that made me want to continue reading. Overall, the characters felt adrift in this second book, where it seemed much was happening in their stories but behind a curtain that we couldn’t see.

The plot seemed to be going in several different directions and as I mentioned with the characters, driven mostly by the introduction of Jac’s perspective. It felt very much like a second book in that much of what was happening wasn’t actually happening in the book but set things off to come to a conclusion in the third. I would have liked to follow Enne more as she seemed to be going through the most character development and yet the reader was only privy to glimpses. This could have been done to set up something mysterious for the third book but it left her story feeling flat in this second one.

Overall, the story retained the same feeling as the first and offered a unique setting and interesting duality between right and wrong but very much felt like a second book ready to set up the events of a final showdown. I will be interested to see how the third book ties them all together.

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The story is about Enne Salta, who is on a quest to find her missing mother. She pairs up with Levi Glaisyer, who is the city's most famous con man.

I really liked the dynamics of Enne and Levi. Their interactions were really witty and funny. The characters were all really intriguing. The story is told using multiple points of views, which allow the reader to get an insight into the different characters' perspectives.

The plot is also really fascinating. Nobody can be trusted and that makes for an engaging story. You're always trying to figure out which characters to trust.

This story is action packed and fast paced. I would recommend it to readers who enjoyed Ace of Shades.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The second book in The Shadow Game series by Amanda Foody. This book picks up where the first book, Ace of Shadows, ended.

Favorite characters are back (Enne, Levi, Jac) and new characters are introduced. The characters in this series are so intriguing. This novel is told using multiple points of view, which gives insight into several characters. I especially love the strong female characters.

The fun thing about this series is the politics in New Reynes. With so many people trying to be in power, nobody can be trusted. That's made very clear in this book.

This YA fantasy series is action-packed and fun to read. I can't wait for the next book... especially after that ending.

I received a free eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Amanda Foody's first book Daughter of the Burning City and enjoyed Ace of Shade and really didn't care for this one. It felt incredibly too long. 200 pages could have been easily removed and it would not have taken anything away from the storyline and would have kept the pacing more consistent. We do learn more about each of the characters and the storyline progresses a little further.

I would recommend this book to those that loved Ace of Shades as it continues on in the world and would give you are the things that you loved and then more. It just wasn't what I was anticipating.

*I received an advanced copy in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own.*
I finally finished this book and loved it!! I was devastated that I never had time to read, so I got behind on this book, but I'm so happy I was able to finish it!
It was such a great book, just like Ace of Shades. It's definitely different and I love that there are so many strong female characters!
It was definitely more confusing than book one. Time passes much faster in this book, which made it difficult to read at first, but I got the hang of it as I kept going. I liked that the change in POV was actually noted instead of me trying to guess, which is something I like when there are several POVs in a book.
That ending also had me wishing that book three was already out. Not just the ending in general, but that epilogue. It's going to be interesting to see what happens with Sophie. So many twists (and a death I am not going to get over for a long time) have left me wanting more!!

4.5/5 Stars

Amanda Foody is back with the second book in The Shadow Game series and she's ready to wreck you. King of Fools is a heavy hitting maze of politics, gangs, and lots of betrayal that will leave the reader bereft and yet clamoring for more. No one is safe and that means every single crafty character that the author has created is in some serious peril. *Cue heavy sobbing and wailing in the street.*

Enne takes on the mantle of Seance and starts her own street gang seeking wealth and vengeance. She's learning to handle herself in the North Side while also holding onto the soft things she enjoys. Levi's determination and ambition is on full display as he puts the people he cares about in the crossfire but he's self aware enough to rue every poor choice and worry himself to sickness. And Jac, the best boy now with his own POV, is still a great friend while taking his own stand.

This book delves deeper into the streets of New Reynes exploring more of the underbelly of the city and the prominent players in society. From brutal casino owners to the rampant drug trade as well as upcoming elections and the lengths people will go to for power, the author truly weaves a wicked web of traps and tricks that ultimately keeps the reader guessing and turning pages at a rapid pace.

Overall Amanda Foody's King of Fools was the best kind of gut punch there is even though I'm still emotionally compromised. The characters' growth is tremendous especially where Levi, Enne, and Jac are concerned and I fell even more in love with all of them. With a riveting plot and a whole bunch of politics, this book takes the series to the next level and I totally recommend taking part in The Shadow Game.

TL;DR – While this book contains much intrigue and action, most of the “why” was unclear.

I had a really hard time getting into this book in the beginning. I just felt like the story took a while to get going and I couldn’t remember why I liked any of the characters from the first book. They all seemed annoying and there were plot points that were confusing to me. Vianca wants Levi and Enne to set up profitable gangs…why? I mean, I know she takes money from them, but was that the only reason? And then I’m not sure about Harrison’s deal either. Why does he need to know who the next don is? It’s all just kind of confusing.

As far as characters go, again, in the beginning I found everyone annoying. Over time, Enne grew on me–I think the same thing happened for me in the first book too. I really liked who she ended up being, but I don’t think her developmental arc made a ton of sense. I wasn’t super convinced. I don’t like Levi very much at all and I can’t quite put my finger on why. I don’t really buy him and Enne together, so that might be part of it. Neither character gives a convincing reason why they want to be together. Their relationship has no base, no foundation. What do they even like about each other aside from looks? I’m just not a fan of their relationship. There are a ton of secondary characters too who are all fine. I thought character diversity was done pretty well and authentically.

Overall, this book was just LONG and kind of confusing to me. Plot points and character reactions didn’t always seem logical. There were also all these excerpts from the legends of the North Side scattered throughout and I couldn’t see how they related to the story at all. The ending was intriguing and confusing and while it does make me want to read the third book, I’ll probably feel the same way about it as I do this one.

Overall Rating: 3.5
Language: Moderate
Violence: Heavy
Smoking/Drinking: Heavy
Sexual Content: Moderate

Note: I received a copy of this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

After finishing Ace of Shades I knew that I was going to be anxiously awaiting the release of King of Fools so I could continue on this crazy journey through the streets of the city and all its gangs and people who lurk around every turn. I honestly couldn't get enough of the first book and I'm happy to say that King of Fools was even better!!! It kept us involved in the same gang of characters that we came to love in the first book but in King of Fools they were all put to the test after beating the Shadow Game. You'd think that beating an unbeatable game would give you a little time for reprieve but no, the very next day all are back on the most wanted lists and must go into hiding or be hung for their "treason".

I love the atmosphere of these books. Its parts dark and dingy, but also colorful and adventurous. There are really no dull moments or lulls in the plot pulling you from one scene to the next just wondering what could possibly happen next. Will Enne get caught? Will Levi and Enne every come to terms with their feelings for each other? Will they ever be able to break their vows and become free again? From one problem to the next you are on the edge of your seat biting your nails just hoping that things turn out as best as they are able.

I like that even though the first book ended on a somewhat happy ending, of course King of Fools can't begin with rainbows and butterflies. Living the life of a gang lord (or lady) is never slow or boring. There is always a con to be planned, someone out to stab you in the back, fellow members getting in trouble and needing saving. It really leads to an action packed book that I could hardly put down to eat and sleep.

I'm really excited to find out what happens in the third book and I can't wait to get back into this crazy world. And who knows WHAT will happen after this crazed adventure of a book!

The follow up to Ace of Shades does not disappoint. This book has been described as a “girl gang” book, and while that is an appropriate description, I feel like there is so much more. The characters we were introduced to in Ace of Shades become more fully developed, and the new additions to our favourite gangs in New Reyes add a lot to the story. The book was twisty and turny, and Oh My God that ending. If the book was not so good, I would be so mad about that twist. Way to get my heart racing and then shatter it into a million pieces. I cannot wait to read the third book. No seriously, I can’t wait. When does it get published?

I’m really sad to be giving this book a 1/5 stars, but that’s just the truth. This book was all over the place, nothing made sense to me, and every single character managed to get on my nerves. This book actually started off fairly promising, especially since I did enjoy the first book. My only wish for the first book was that there was a little more depth to the setting and the characters. I figured that those things would be added in the sequel. I was wrong. I feel like I don’t even know who the characters even are anymore. From the first book to this book, I don’t feel like any character really acted like themselves. Obviously characters change, but I feel like the author just wanted to change the storyline and could only do so by changing the characters. But then she did that without even developing those characters to be that way. I did like that this book started off right where the first one left off, but that’s about the only thing that I actually liked. This book just dragged on and on, and nothing felt to be of any significant importance. Every time I felt like this book was getting interesting, it would take a turn and I would just be disappointed. I loved these characters in the first book, but I just can’t get behind this book. The plot was all over the place, and I don’t even understand what happened at the end. Maybe other people will like this more, but it just wasn’t for me.

Picking up directly after the final events of Ace of Shades, this book, the second in the Shadow Game Trilogy, is so full of action and political intrigue it left my head spinning!

We see the return of our favorite characters from the first book, Enne, Levi, Lola and Jac, and get to meet some great new characters as well.

Welcome, Tock, my sweet little bomber.

New deals, alliances and deceptions are made, with the final scenes shaking New Reynes to its foundation.

I was really impressed with the maturation of Foody's writing for this one. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed the first book but ultimately ended up having some issues with the magic system and world building. All of those slight criticisms are completely absent with this book.

The plotting in this is seamless, the world lush and bold; the magic system didn't feel as prevalent in this one and I never felt confused by what was there. I look at this as a fairly evident improvement over the first novel and I hope other people feel the same way.

In addition to the growth I feel I have witnessed for the author, the growth in these characters was tremendous as well. Enne and Levi both have strong character arcs, Enne most of all. The strategies and ambitions they both show, man, so good.

If you are a Slytherin like me, this series is not to be missed. Also, if you were just okay with the first book, I really hope you continue on. I do not see how this second book could disappoint!

Now, the question of how the heck am I going to survive until the third book is released!?

Thank you so much to the publisher, Harlequin TEEN/Inkyard Press, for providing me with an early copy of this to read and review. You know I will be knocking on your door as soon as I know there are review copies of Book 3!

King of Fools by Amanda Foody is such an amazing follow up to Ace of Shades. I love how clever Foody is with this book. This book focuses a lot on Enne. We really get to know her in this book. We see how fearless she is. I love her unapologetic attitude. She definitely knows how to work with what she has. I really enjoyed how Enne decides to put together her own girl gang. This girl gang is pretty amazing. They really supported each other.

This book expands the world from Ace of Shades so much more. I feel like all the characters grew even more. We really got to see different sides of them. One of my favorite things in a book is seeing characters evolve and become better characters, and let me tell you...Foody does a great job with this. You will not be disappointed in this book. I liked it way more than the first one.

Then we have Jac. Jac, I love you dearly and I want to make the world so much better for you. Jac deals with a drug abuse problem. He is finally getting better only to be thrown into a world of Chaos that could make him worse again. My love goes out to you Jac.

This was definitely a great sequel and I am really looking forward to book three. Thank you Amanda Foody for writing such an amazing book.

I loved this book! The world building only built upon what has already been developed. Plus with the badass females and overall. This was such a great addition to this world!

This was the greatest sequel to ever be written. I am so so so in love with it. This and ace of shades will definitely be re reads for sure.

King of Fools was one of my most anticpated sequel and book for 2019. After the amazing cliffhanger in Ace of Shades I needed King of Fools in my hands immediately. I feel the same way about King of Fools; I need the third book immediately especially after THAT ending.

I didn't realize it was possible to love these characters more than I already do, yet here I am loving them with every fiber of my being. I loved the new characters as well.

King of Fools had me on the edge of my seat, I just couldn't put it down.

I really enjoyed this sequel to ACE OF SHADES! I love Levi and Enne (and Jac, don't even get me started) and the world that Amanda Foody builds in the City of Sin. The amount of creativity she displays in her worldbuilding... insane!

This storyline was also really great, although sometimes I was a little bit confused – especially closer to the end, once Bryce has revealed his omerta with Vianca. He is not who I expected to have the omerta, even though I realized later that it was implied several times, and I really like how that turned out. But a lot of the actual details of it were confusing.

I also like how Levi and Enne's romantic arc is twisting and turning.

All around, an enjoyable sequel!