This was a good sequel to Ace of Shades. I had trouble getting back into the world, and it felt a little disjointed, with not much refresher information to get me back to where the last book ended. Ace of Shades was a book that crept up on me, and it made me like it more! But this didn't add much to that feeling.

The characters werent as morally grey as I was expecting from gangsters, but I love them all so much I ended up not caring. I was thrilled to see Enne become a famous Lord in her own right with an awesome girl gang at her side. Out of all the girls she hires the knife wielding, stock market dealing, romance reading, assassin Grace was my favorite. I loved all the female friendships and solidarity. I also really enjoyed the slow burn romance between Enne and Levi. The first book showed them getting to know each other and by the start of this sequel they're aware that theres an attraction there, but they cant really act on it with all the danger they are in. Levis a little full of himself, but he usually means well. I really loved how the new Iron member, Tock, kept checking his ego and how she finds herself dating another one of my favorite female characters.

I was delighted to see chapters from Jacs point of view. His story was gripping and intense. He got the most dangerous mission out of all of them and gets tested in ways he wasnt sure he'd be able to survive. For the most part, I thought the addiction recovery representation was done with care, but it was a little weird that people could tell he was a recovering addict just by looking at him. I loved all the new female characters in this sequel and Sophia was no exception. She's full of secrets, but understands Jac better than anyone else. I liked the relationship that develops between them when they decide to team up to take down a crime family. I also thought Vianca was a fascinating and complexe antagonist. I wish we got some chapters from her perspective. I had no idea she couldnt remove the bond between her and her victims without one of them dying. I couldnt wait to find out who her third was.

I really enjoyed the gritty sin city setting with its 1920s mafia feel. I was happy to see Ennes guidebook make an appearance since it had such funny advice in the first book. I also like that we got some North Side legends in between chapters. The magic system was fascinating with the different types of abilities. Theres all kinds of talents people can be extraordinarily good at like dancing, counting, charm and even strength, but the talents that are really interesting are the ability to see auras, bonding people to your will through omertas, and blood gazing to figure out someones lineage. From what I understand a person gets each parent strongest talent passed down to them and the one that becomes their strongest between the two is totally up to chance. I do wonder though if each parent has the same weaker talent could that be passed down and maybe even become the childs strongest talent.

The stakes and the danger is amped up even higher than the first book since we have the war breaking out on the North Side. Theres also more focus on the shady politics and the upcoming election that might change the city forever. All the duplicity and schemes were very entertaining. Enne and Levi dreaming of the same hallway kept me guessing, but I did predict Viancas intentions for them from the beginning. I do wonder how one character in particular was able to break the oath by just walking away. As for the writing, I thought it was compelling and easy to get immersed in. I could read for hours without getting pulled out of the story or distracted. The pace was a little slow in some places, but I liked the characters and the setting so much that I was able to stay engaged. These fantasy books with queer main characters mean a lot to me. Im already excited for the third and final book.

I enjoyed the first book, so I was really hoping I would like the second one as well. This series is imaginative and new. We don't get a lot of books like this nowadays. It was well written and well thought-out. I can truly say I enjoyed this one.

This book was a little harder to get into than it's predecessor but either way it was spectacular.

It was such a great power book. Not only in general, but specifically for Enne. She comes into her own in this book and it is so liberating to see. I love how she decides to strike out on her own. Enne gets more than friends in this book, she gets a family that actually backs her.

Not that Loudres didn't back her. But... well y'all know what I mean.

Levi was an interesting character in this book. He became a more secondary character and acted almost like a foil for both Enne and Jac. Levi was someone they both ended up measuring their success by. He was the one they both knew had reached the level he did and how he ended up doing it.

The family dynamics was interesting and definitely worth a read. The manner in which Enne and Vianca's relationship changes was a sight to see.

Who ended up being the villain was a true surprise and Amanda Foody did an amazing job bringing him or her into the fold. The way the villain showed up throughout the story was super interesting.

Amanda Foody continued being an amazing writer who does diversity a favor. The main characters were all of different backgrounds and different races and different sexuality and honestly, it was so seamless that I didn't even notice it until the end.

Of course, there were certain things that I didn't particularly like. The relationship between Enne and Levi (I ship them) was a little off center to me. Not so much in terms of power but the fact that they were keeping secrets from each other and honestly were making each other miserable in the beginning of the book and they didn't talk about it. They just kind of swept it under the rug.

This book starts pretty much immediately after the first one ends, which was cool. Granted, it also made me wish that I had either read a recap of Ace of Shades or that I had made time for a reread…so I may still end up doing a reread in the coming months. Sometimes it’s hard to remember every detail when you read so many great books each year.

But man, I still had such a good time with this book. While it wasn’t jam-packed with action, it wasn’t like the characters had much downtime to simply relax. No, they find themselves in the middle of all the chaos, especially with the consequences and fallout from the events of the first book.

There is plenty of gang interaction, turf wars, a struggle for survival and to make a difference, plenty of secrets, lies, and betrayal, romance of many varieties, intrigue, danger, and plenty of new characters with intriguing new gifts.

With everything that has happened, as well as these really cool covers, I’m just left wondering exactly what will happen in book three–and also what color and design will it have? I’m curious and intrigued, and definitely excited for the next installment of the Shadow Game series.

There's nothing I love more than a heist-y book! And found family?? Always a win with me. Not to mention the intense Six of Crows vibes I was getting from this, and then the words to “There is … a house … in Sinnnnn City. They caaaaaall, the riiiiiii-sing suuun,” (i.e., the song “The Rising Sun,” except one of the covers uses “Sin City” instead of New Orleans) kept popping in my brain while I was reading it. Just now, I noticed Cinda Williams Chima’s blurb on the front cover “‘House of the Rising Sun’ meets Six of Crows,” and my mind is basically blown with same-ness. The perfect blurb!!

One of my favorite quotes from book #1:

“Her guidebook had been wrong about one thing: the most dangerous part of the City of Sin wasn’t the beckoning of the card tables or the threat of the gangs. It was the allure of Levi Glaisyer’s roguish smile.”

I am a fan of Levi.

I am also fascinated with the “talents” in this series! So everyone has a blood talent and a split talent, basically the dominant and recessive talents you inherit respectively from your parents. So someone’s blood (“dominant”) talent could be a lie-detecting talent inherited from one parent, and the split (“recessive,” although that’s not actually the right word for it. It’s not repressed, it’s just weaker) talent could be dancing, or something.

“I am not scary,” Enne grumbled. “I’m elegant. And charming.”
“You can be all three,” he conceded, and Enne decided that was satisfactory.

While reading this, I dreamt of pistols, broken dreams and roguish smiles :)) This one started off pretty slow, but eventually picked up. Although it wasn't as good as book one -- found families are a favorite of mine, but they were mostly separate in this one -- it was still a great bridge-book in what I assume is a trilogy.

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.

After the exciting end to the first book I knew I wanted to dive right into the sequel.

I have to say right from the start this one captures your attention. You just want to know what is going to happen next and see how the characters are going to get out of the events of the first book. I loved the character dynamic and interactions in the beginning of the book. I liked seeing more of the secondary characters and be a part of the big schemes they were all trying to pull off.

Aside from the characters I have to say the plot of this book feels as if it gets a tiny bit off course from time to time. There were so many questions left unanswered from the first book and I wanted to see some progress towards answers. It felt like the two adults in this story really were in the background yet controlling everything. The gangs were just sort of living a day to day life with no real repercussions. I did enjoy the schemes, violence, underhanded way the characters moved about the story but sometimes it felt as if they were not really moving forward but just sitting in place waiting for something bigger to happen.

Overall, I really do like the characters in this story. I really loved how this book pushed them into confronting their enemies and also the demons they carry around within themselves. I thought they all showed their weakness and fears well and I liked the way they tackled those issues. I just feel as though at times the reader can get a little lost in a political battle that we seem to not know very much about; making it harder to care why this is a huge portion of the plot. I have high hopes that the next book will lead the reader into a more fast paced storyline where the characters can really shine.

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