My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Gaaahhhh I have been DYING to get my hands on this book. After the epic ending of Ace of Shades I needed book two, and I have been waiting a YEAR to get it. Thankfully, this book was well worth the wait. I really enjoyed Ace of Shades, but King of Fools was a whole new level of awesome.

I think that the most unique thing about Amanda Foody's books is her writing style. Even in scenes that are mostly political and not action packed, her writing holds you completely captive. I don't know how else to describe it, honestly. From the moment I picked up this book, I wanted to nothing other than read it. 

I LOVED that we got three POV's in King of Fools. Jac was a character that I really loved in book one so it was amazing to get so much more of him in the sequel. Things from book one that I didn't think would come back around tied in wonderfully, and the romance kept me on edge for the entirety of the book. 

If you want a series that is fast paced, full of mystery, gangs, action, romance and intrigue then you're absolutely going to want to pick this series up. Book three needs to be in my hands NOW - I'm already dying for another book from Foody.

Amanda Foody does it again!!! King of Fools was even better than Ace of Shades. The problems I had with Ace of Shades with pacing and the almost exact plot to Six of Crows were greatly fixed in King of Fools. I'm excited to fully review this book for my blog for the month of May.

ACE OF SHADES was one of my top reads in 2018. Amanda Foody created such a diverse and unique world (you can read my review here). It was unlike anything I had read before. The cliffhanger wasn't terrible. It definitely left questions unanswered and ended in a way that let me satisfied, but excited for more of the story. KING OF FOOLS picks up pretty much right after the ending of ACE OF SHADES. I have to say that I loved being back in New Reynes. I had somehow forgotten how much I loved these characters and how fun the setting and plot was.

There was a lot more politics involved in this part of the trilogy than I expected. In KING OF FOOLS we get the added POV of Jac and I felt like it gave so much depth to the storyline. I hear rumors that the final book has even more POV's! On top of getting a look inside another characters head, we get to spend more time getting to know some of my favorite characters (*ahem* Lola) and to meet some new ones too.

I felt like the first book was really a story about self discovery and facing your fears. The sequel (to me) felt more like carving out your own destiny and not letting others influence who you want to be. I savored the journey and by the end Foody left my heart shattered and I don't know how I will pick up all the pieces and move on with my life. Again, the cliffhanger isn't anything terrible, but I will definitely be thinking about what she could possibly have planned for the final piece of the story.

First off, Happy book birthday to King of Fools. I have been patiently waiting for this book to release so you all can finally read it because this book!

Last year I ended up falling in love with Ace of Shades. I honestly wasn't excepting to love it as much as I did. So when I finally got to the end, I was heart broken I needed to wait another year after that wild ending.

I have to say King of Fools did not disappoint. The story sucks you in right away and begins to address the questions that you had at the end of Ace of Shades. I was happy that was the case because I wanted answers. I really love to see the journey continue for our two main characters Levi and Enne. Plus in this book we also end up getting the p.o.v. of Jac as well. So I really enjoyed that. Each character is on a different path and I loved seeing the steps they take to get there. I have to say I didn't agree with them all the time but I feel that makes the story more enjoyable. Obviously not everything will go the way you want it to and that's always nice to see.

I also really liked that we have a bunch of new characters added to the story. I know we were getting new characters but I wasn't expecting so many. I do have to say at first I was a little confused about who was who and where they belonged. I ended up mixing up two of the characters. Each character has their own unique personally that really adds to the story. Plus some of those new characters are the leaders of the other gangs so it was fun getting to know them as well. Even though there were a bunch of new character's we still see plenty of character development from the old characters.

Another thing I really liked is that this book did not suffer from second book syndrome. A lot of times when authors do series the second book ends up just gets you ready for the big finale but this book did not waste anytime. This book was action packed. I was surprised by a lot that ended up happening in this book. I really was not ready for a lot of it. I honestly feel I need to do a reread when I get my copy today to give myself a refresh of everything that happened.

Overall this book ended up being such a great sequel to Ace of Shades. It was so well done. Amanda Foody is such a talented writer. She's just so descriptive and knows how to write so many badass characters. Plus there is some male to male romance in this and also female to female romance which I liked. I honestly wanted really liked one of the couples and was sad when things didn't end up working out. Also since this an Amanda Foody book prepare to get the feels. She has no problem crushing all your feelings. It will hurt. I can't wait for the third book to come out. I can't wait to see what's going to happen. I feel it's going to end up being an intense ending.

*I just want to thank Netgalley for giving me an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

This book is action-packed with gang rivalries, girl gangs, and an amazing narrative. I loved the character development, especially when it came to Evie. She was such a prissy girl in the first book and I loved how she progressed and became this badass girl gang leader. It wasn’t all about the romance between her and Levi. She put her girls first. Sometimes with trilogies the second book feels like a filler that stretches the story. This book was not that at all. It added information that I really wanted to know about the world and the different gangs. I definitely recommend this book!

You turn the pages of King of Fools like a pair of dice in your hands.



After Ace of Shades, you know the high risk stakes of a bad play, but the thrill of a good hand keeps you absorbed in this game of kings and fools. Amanda Foody is an author who knows how to play her pages like a game of cards where the building anticipation and flashes of the future make you lean forward as to not miss a second of the game Enne and Levi puppeteer.



Even so, the dealer always holds a secret and Foody keeps her greatest trump card under her sleeve until the final hand.



When you pick up King of Fools, be prepared for a serious reading session! Enne and Levi are evolving fantastically as characters and the ongoing game of politics and deception within New Reynes will have readers smiling like a Cheshire Cat. Now the question remains who will be crowned as the next legend of The City of Sin-or will all the Families fade into the pages of history?



Favorite Quotes



"Luck was a mechanism to be devised, and luck and destiny were merely two sides of the same coin."



If asked, Levi would deny believing in destiny. Five years on the streets of the City of Sin had taught him that destiny and luck were for the desperate and the thickheaded.


"Despite his many recent and frightening brushes with death, the thought of failure scared him more. He would rather die a legend than end his life in anonymity."



"My only ulterior motive is curiosity."



"It didn't matter that she'd escape today-from now on, she'd always have to run."

* I was given this Advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for my Honest review*

4/5 stars

I'll admit the first part of the book is a little slow, that being said the second half...OMG!!! It seems to be a common writing style as the first book was built the same way. I have to say that I'm really enjoying this series. The plot and characters really grab my attention, I'm not a major fan of the writing but I still found myself flying through the book because I desperately needed to know what was going to happen. I can honestly say I cannot wait until I get my hands on the next book!

I absolutely loved Ace of Shades and King of Fools was an exciting story that kept me on the edge of my seat. King of Fools picks up right after the events of Ace of Shades where Enne has assumed the role of Seance to help save Levi’s life and now must play a dangerous game to keep themselves safe. Enne was a great character because you could see her grow and make tough decisions that she wouldn’t have been able to make before. King of Fools was an amazing book that I just couldn’t put down and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

dnf at 20% this did not feel as strong as the first book for me; however, i really want to read it via audiobook because i think that will help me a lot and i am really interested in giving it a second shot

I LOVED Foody’s writing style. It was perfect! King of Fools made me feel so many things at once. Sometimes I wanted to throw my kindle at the wall because I was so angry and other times I just wanted to cry. But I also smiled a lot during the book. She wrote her characters perfectly and the descriptions were on point! I honestly can’t complain about anything!

That ending! I’m not even sure if I already processed everything. I finished it yesterday at 11 p.m. and now it’s the middle of the afternoon here in Luxembourg. I guess that I didn’t process everything but I was so not ready for this ending. And that plot twist at the end was amazing. I for one wasn’t prepared for this turn of events and I’m so curious to know what is going to happen in book 3.

Enne. She evolved so much. And I can’t even imagine being in her shoes. I would have probably cried for hours instead of becoming a street lord. If someone grew up it’s definitely Erienne Salta! She was so badass in this book.

And I think I have nothing more to add as I’m still mucking speechless. Thank you Amanda Foody for this series!

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed reading this. An interesting story with fun characters. Well written.

I absolutely loved Ace of Shades so I was thrilled to be able to read its sequel. It does not disappoint! It’s a fast paced story that keeps the reader engaged. I binge read it in just a few days!

King of Fools takes off directly after the events in Ace of Shades.
We follow Enne, Levi and Jac grasping with the fallout of their actions and basically just trying to survive. It was fun to follow such diverse and flawed characters. They didn’t always make the best decision and they got a bit frustrating at times but I overall enjoyed seeing how they evolved throughout the story.
In regards to the plot, there were some points in the story that really felt like they dragged and nothing really happened but once we reach the end it all comes together. It was such a rollercoaster of emotion, there were plot twists and reveals I definitely didn’t see coming. I immediately have the urge to reread the book and see how I missed certain things.
One aspect I think could’ve used more development was the magic system. It was interesting to read about the different talents and the shadow game but they still weren’t super fleshed out in my opinion.
On the other hand, my favorite detail of the book and one I really hope Amanda Foody expands on were the North Side legends. They were short and creepy, and I hope we get more insight as to where they originate from.
All in all, I can’t wait to see where the next book will go.

Trigger warnings for: addiction and drug use, self inflicted pain, blood and violence

I received an ARC through netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I decided to split up the positive and negative aspects of the book.
What I Liked
Good character development: You see Enne grow a lot as she transforms into a notorious gang leader, building her gang of women from the ground up.
New Reynes is much more fleshed out. It’s an interesting society, probably akin to early to mid 1900s London or New York. In the first book, the city seems really exciting with similar vibes to Ketterdam from Six of Crows (city with an underworld, crime, gang rivalry, casinos, policemen, violence, vice, etc) but more modern.
Impressive range of new characters introduced with equally cool names: Narinder Basra, Sophia Caro, Bryce and Ivory and Scavenger and Scythe
Amanda Foody does and amazing job with the writing and action scenes; The plot always keeps you in suspense
I loved how the story is told in small snippets and not a long dragging plot where every small consecutive event is covered. This maintained a fast-paced rhythm that was in sync with the plot.

What I Didn’t Like
Many questions remain unanswered from Ace of shades ending: Who are Mizers? Enne’s history and background? Who is Lourdes? And what about her money?
The story splits into 3 separate side stories which gets a bit confusing at times since the politics of New Reynes are also introduced. Especially since many of the characters actions and plot decisions become dependent on certain things happening and those things are also dependent on other events happening so there are so many layers and layers which is a little dizzying to comprehend at times.
(ie. Levi’s bet to further Enne’s scheme to fulfill Vianca while Levi is simultaneously helping Harrison not telling Anne this and Anne not telling Levi that and keeping it a secret from Vianca and what???)
In addition, there are too many characters and alliances. We have to remember the candidates’ names and which side they belong to and who’s helping them and which of those people are double crossing them/ have separate agendas and which gangs are behind these people and the people they interact with in other gangs who happen to support other candidates
Throughout the read, I wanted more Levi-Enne romance but they kinda grew apart for majority of the beginning, only to come back finally at the end.

The main issue was the plot. Like the first book, it takes a while to get going. However, because Foody is trying to flesh out more of Enne’s world while advancing the character development of everyone else, she juggles too many things at the same time. As a result, the book left me a little bit confused at the end. I’m hopeful that Foody will be able to wrap everything up in her final book.

Ace of Shades was a book that took me completely by surprise when I read it, and so I was really looking forward to the next installment in the series. I have to admit that it started out a bit slow, but once the story starts rolling King of Fools is a book that will likely have the reader flying through the pages.

It took me longer than I had anticipated to get back into the world of King of Fools and to remember everything that had happened previously. However, once the plot started to pick up, I found myself once again really enjoying the characters and the story! One of the best aspects of the book was the character growth present throughout. While there was not much action-wise until later on, the story was full of astounding character developments. In particular, I absolutely loved how Enne finally embraced her upbringing and used her unique personality to her advantage.

Amanda Foody has repeatedly referred to King of Fools as her #GirlGang book and after reading this I could totally see why! Enna fully assumes the Seance facade and creates her own gang. I loved watching the growth of the Spirits and Enne’s relationships with the other girls.

Although there was a lot less action present in King of Fools, there was plenty of intrigue and character development to keep the plot interesting and moving forward. From heartbreaking twists to a jaw-dropping cliffhanger, I’m really looking forward to the conclusion of this series!

The sequel of the Shadow Game was one hell of an amazing plot with kick-ass moments unforgettable quotes and ENNE! Strong, beautiful Enne who got her own girl-group of friends! But also the big difference between this book and Ace of Shades is that all characters grow and evolve and the surprises keep coming. I'll not spoil but you have to read this beauty!

Ace of Shades was one of my favorite reads of 2018, so I had way high expectations of King of Fools.And it was amazing. It wasn’t as good as the first book, but then again, it would be hard to beat Ace of Shades, so that’s not saying a lot. I loved this one, I really did. I might’ve wished for a little more action, but I loved everything else.

The characters were great. In this book, a new point of view is introduced: Jac, Levi’s second and best friend. I have to say, I really loved Jac from the beginning. And he really grew throughout the book, and I loved following his thoughts. And then we keep following Enne and Levi. Enne has really grown into herself since the first book, which I loved to see. And she kept growing throughout this book, so I honestly can’t wait to see where her character will go in the next book. And Levi… I loved him even more in this book. Honestly, I really loved all the characters, both the old ones and the new ones. 

The characters were also what made this book utterly heartbreaking. I just couldn’t help but care about them, but everything in this story was uncertain. There wasn’t a moment when I felt certain the main characters would survive to the end. And it added so much tension to the story that it was hard to breathe.

The romance was a slow-burn, and in my opinion, it really doesn’t get much better than that. It makes it so much sweeter and irresistible. And speaking of romance, there was so much LGBTQ+ in the book, and I love how it’s such a big and important part of the book. YA literature really need more books like this. 

The plot wasn’t exactly action-filled, and normally, that would bother me, but this book honestly didn’t need it all that much. To be honest, I’m not even sure more action would’ve worked for this story. Because of all the political intrigue and all the tension, it felt more fast-paced than it actually was, so more action would’ve likely made it feel too fast-paced. 

In the first book, the reader got to know New Reynes, the City of Sin. In the second book, we get to know the legends of the City of Sin. The entire book feels like it’s centered around the legends, and the Great Street War, and the history the reader is introduced to really added to the plot, and made it more interesting. This is a world I really want to know more about, and I can’t wait to read more about it. 

While I didn’t love King of Foolsas much as the first book, I still really enjoyed it. The magic is incredible, and I loved learning more about the world, and the characters really made it incredible, and utterly heartbreaking. If you haven’t started this series yet, I have only one more thing to say: Read it.

GoodReads Summary:
On the quest to find her missing mother, prim and proper Enne Salta became reluctant allies with Levi Glaisyer, the city’s most famous con man. Saving his life in the Shadow Game forced Enne to assume the identity of Seance, a mysterious underworld figure. Now, with the Chancellor of the Republic dead and bounties on both their heads, she and Levi must play a dangerous game of crime and politics…with the very fate of New Reynes at stake.
Thirsting for his freedom and the chance to build an empire, Levi enters an unlikely partnership with Vianca Augustine’s estranged son. Meanwhile, Enne remains trapped by the mafia donna’s binding oath, playing the roles of both darling lady and cunning street lord, unsure which side of herself reflects the truth.
As Enne and Levi walk a path of unimaginable wealth and opportunity, new relationships and deadly secrets could quickly lead them into ruin. And when unforeseen players enter the game, they must each make an impossible choice: To sacrifice everything they’ve earned in order to survive...
Or die as legends.
Review:
I have to start off by thanking NetGalley and Harlequin Teen for this ARC inn exchange for an honest review. I had been interested in reading Ace of Shades for some time and getting this ARC was the perfect opportunity. Read my review HERE. I’m also meeting Amanda Foody as one of her signing events when she tours for King of Fools. So, I’m very happy to have been able to read this book early.
I had so much fun reading King of Fools. I found that I enjoyed it more than the first book in the series. Already knowing the characters and a bit about the world helped. Though we did get to learn more about both, I think already knowing a bit helped me get into the story quicker and really enjoy the chaos and antics that ensued.
I think my favorite thing about this book was getting more into the world. This place that Amanda Foody has created is compelling and dark and captivating. I absolutely adored the legends we got to read that separated each part of the story. I also really liked how much more time we got to spend in the world. Ace of Shades happened over the time period of a week or so but King of Fools happens over a period of months and I think that was good because so much happened. We learned so much about the world and the politics, things that needed to take time. It was paced nicely, though some of the time jumps were a little awkward.
The characters were something else that I think were done well. They really developed in this book. They are all dealing with change and chaos and it really helps show each character’s true colors. Levi is complicated. Can’t have what he really wants, always seems to be disappointing his friends, taking risks at the expense of others. He says he learns from his mistakes but doesn’t hesitate to repeat them. I loved him anyway. He’s confident and clever. I’m very interested to see what’s going to happen with him in the final book. His best friend Jac was probably my favorite. He’s off on his own little side mission most of the book and I really related to him. He’s doing his part to help Levi while also doing his best to fight his own demons. Then there’s Enne. I didn’t love her in the first book but I do now. I feel bad for the way things ended for her, but I really grew to love her. She’s smart and (mostly) unapologetic. She took New Reynes by storm, her and her girl gang. The girl gang was absolutely my favorite. Lola was totally relatable in the sense that I talk a big game and wear a big bad face but really, I’m a cinnamon roll on the inside. And Grace, who has a counting ability but would rather be out killing someone. She’s brilliant and fierce and I totally adored her. There are so many more I could mention; we get quite the cast of character but I’ll stop here.
I do want to mention the villain or villains. I thought it was very interesting that there was one big bad villain, but the whole time we’re left wondering if she’s the one we really should be worries about or if there’s another big bad.
Finally, the freaking ending. I was devastated. I almost threw my phone across the room because of certain things that happened toward the end of the book. I am hoping for some sort of explanation that makes it all go away in the third book, but I’m not confident that I’ll get it. Amanda Foody really hit me where it hurt in King of Fools.
I really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait until the third book is out. Sadly, I have a long wait. But I know it will be worth it. I cannot wait to meet Amanda Foody in May and tell her just how much I loved this story.
Keep on reading lovelies, Amanda.

This was a wonderful read. I was hooked from the first chapter and I fell in love with Levi from the very start. I haven’t read Ace of Shades, but Foody does a good job at keeping newbies in the loop. While I don’t think I’ve lost anything by reading this first, I do feel I’ve got everything to gain in terms of my connection to the characters.
Whether intended or not, I got a very steampunk vibe from the world building which added a richness to what developed over the 600 pages. This story-verse would work well on film; whether is be in a live action or animated form.
It ends with enough of the plot resolved to be satisfied, but if the final chapter doesn’t pull a gasp from you; you’ve been reading it wrong.
I can’t wait to read the final instalment, but I guess I can distract myself with the first outing in the meantime.

*Insert frustrated scream here*

Ok, I have been sitting on trying to come up with a review for this book for weeks. WEEKS! Have I come up with anything that will do this book justice? Nope. Nothing can prepare you for the frustrating, action-packed, emotional rollercoaster that is King of Fools. NOTHING.

I’ll admit, Ace of Shades was not one of my top books. I found it enjoyable but I didn’t get the same overwhelming adoration for the book or the characters that the rest of the community has had. I could see the potential for more, but I did have my reservations. Fortunately, for me, I am not a quitter and needed to give Foody’s world another chance. I am SO happy I did because I would have kicked myself in the face if I had passed up reading this sequel. I’m not a bendy person so that would be quite the trick…but I would have deserved it.

For me, King of Fools had everything that Ace of Shades was missing. Sure, they both have great action, unbelievable plot twists and just enough (ok, maybe a little much) slow burn romance but where Ace of Shades seemed to be more focused on world building, King of Fools was all about the characters and this character development was something I didn’t even know I desperately needed.

In the first book, a large part of my hesitation was that I wasn’t really feeling the characters. Enne and Levi just didn’t mix for me and they each irritated me, in their own special way. Now, I feel like the reader really gets to know them. We get to see their true colors and I have a whole new appreciation for each of them. Levi still annoys me, for multiple reasons and none of which have anything to do with something that rhymes with “douche”. Oops, I guess nothing rhymes properly. Oh well.

I loved seeing Enne take on this whole new world. I never even knew how badly I needed a girl gang until this book and I am completely obsessed. Kicking ass and taking names! Mind you, she is still a little too vulnerable but I’m hoping that she completely comes into her own in the next book. I have high hopes for this girl and her badass gang. Don’t disappoint me!

My favorite part of the whole book, though, was my little muffin…Jac. *sigh* I was instantly drawn to Jac in the first book but I fell completely in love with him here. Out of all the characters he is the one that, I felt, had the most important story to tell and I couldn’t get to his POV fast enough.

Enough about the characters….I’ll get spoiler-y if I continue.

King of Fools is a fast paced, action packed sequel that had me white knuckling the pages all night. ALL 600 OF THEM!! I couldn’t put this book down…I didn’t want to put it down. When I finally did….shook. Completely and utterly shook. I don’t think I have ever used that word in my life but there’s no other way to describe it. I don’t even know what I’m supposed to feel about that.

Obviously, King of Fools is an amazing sequel but be warned….THIS BOOK WILL BREAK YOU!!! Into a million pieces. I was not ready and it was all I could do to not go back and immediately reread the whole damn book because, obviously I had misread something. I didn’t. I’m still not ok.

Amanda….you’re an evil, evil woman.

Every part of me needs the next book now. Like, right now. The wait is going to kill me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin TEEN for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give my honest opinion.