This was a novel th at focused on racism! It brought up many important issues in today’s society! I also love the characters. They were strong and very relatable! The mystery itself was very compelling! It was filled with suspense. The novel is very well-written and filled with vivid descriptions! Overall, this was a fast-paced page-Turner that focused on important contemporary topics!

I'm a little torn on how I feel about this book. I enjoyed the story, but had a hard time finding it believable. Or maybe I just want it to not be something that could actually happen. Obviously racism exists, but for schools to be able to pull off something like this seems far fetched.

3.5 stars
This was a really solid debut!

The novel follows two students, Chiamaka and Devon, at the prestigious private school Niveus Academy. The novel begins when they suddenly become the targets of an anonymous texter named Aces who gradually exposes their secrets to the school (a la Pretty Little Liars). For the most part, this book read very similarly to a contemporary novel until the details of people's histories and motivations are slowly revealed, and it becomes quite a thriller.

While the hype really emphasizes the thriller aspect of the story, I think the strength truly lies in the development of our two protagonists. I really liked them; they come from vastly different socioeconomic backgrounds and yet share in their experiences as the only Black kids at their school. The way their friendship developed was very interesting to watch as they navigated this dynamic.

I will say it is best to read this book not expecting a hyperrealistic narrative; much of the book is based in allegory and I think its strength lies in that. Not say it is not realistic at all—it is achingly so at times (especially with what Devon has to go through). There is substantial commentary on the insidious of systemic racism and the ways it is propagated within institutions. While many of the actual events in the plot required suspension of disbelief, the story was rooted in this commentary.

I was on pins and needles through this whole audiobook- what a stellar debut! One of the only things that irked me was the end but overall, this was incredible and I highly recommend.

I could not put this book down! Sex, lies, and fighting back against racism - this book is a wild ride, with an incredibly powerful message. A heart-racing and twisty thriller that grapples so much more than a simple mystery; ACE OF SPADES explores being both queer and Black, and the sinister, destructive nature of white supremacy and racism.

This book was a ride of horror, thriller, and mystery! I loved the LGBTQ representation, particularly how it was represented in a variety of ways. This book also had me OMGing throughout reading it. A lot of "I didn't expect [person] to [do that]!" This book will keep you guessing who is at the heart of the secret notes and the actions of the antagonist. I didn't 100% connect with the writing, but I will absolutely be picking up this author's next book. I do highly suggest this one, and I knwo that a lot of readers who pick it up love it. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

What a rollercoaster! I could not put Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé’s Ace of Spades down once I started––I felt a strong need to unravel the mystery, every answer only bringing up more questions. While the mystery aspect of he story took a bit to hook me, I was irreversibly hooked once it did. And prior to that, there were other things in the book to hold my attention.

I felt for the main characters from the very beginning, even when things were going relatively well for them. By the time things started going awry, I was already invested in their wellbeing and very emotional about the things they were put through. Having been a hardworking high school and university myself, I clicked with Chiamaka and Devon in that regard and felt utter rage when events in the book kept trying to get in the way of their focus on school work.

I know that Ace of Spades was published as a work of fiction, but systemic and institutionalized racism are real, and I could very easily see what happened in the book happening in reality (in fact, they probably are actually happening as we speak). With this in the back of my mind, the emotions I felt while reading Ace of Spades were all the more pronounced.

Overall, Àbíké-Íyímídé wove together a plot that kept my brain busy throughout––I was trying to figure out who the villain was while trusting nothing and no one, questioning every word, every action. Ace of Spades also effectively made me feel unsettled, and that something was not quite right, really pulling me into the story (as if the emotional rollercoaster hadn’t been enough to do so). All in all, this was an excellent thriller and mystery, while also very eye-opening. I highly recommend.

**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for a chance to read to & review an ARC of this book!**

Please find my extended feedback below...along with some spoilers (beware).
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Things I Liked:
-This novel covered such important topics & did so in a way that does not detract from the importance of these discussions, but in a way that it almost seems implausible that these things could be occurring...but it's not implausible...it happens frequently. As a Caucasian female reader, I found myself thinking "these are fantasy elements"...but as the author continued to tell this story...I realized that those elements (like the main characters [who are people of color] being targeted by an anonymous person) only appeared "fantasy" to me. These are real experiences that POC face. The fact that this was so well woven into the story, it sent a really important message.

Things That Didn't Sit Quite Right With Me:
-I honestly can't think of anything that I did not like (other than the racism & discrimination itself). This novel was well written & told important truths that are not highlighted often enough.

Overall, I gave this book 5 stars. In my opinion, it is an important & NEEDED read that cover such important topics (racism, discrimination, systemic oppression, LGBTQIA+ representation, people of color MAIN characters).

While I love thrillers, there are few that have made me actually feel chilled to the bone. And sure, maybe I’m not reading the right thrillers, but Ace of Spades is disturbing not (only) in the characters’ growing suspicion that something is wrong, or the discovery of more and more darker things—but in the gradual understanding that racism is deeply entrenched in our systems.

I sped through this book almost entirely in one day. Àbíké-Íyímídé's pacing and writing are incredibly gripping, and though dread only grows in the pit of your stomach as you turn each page, you can't put it down. It is deeply unsettling to discover alongside Devon and Chiamaka how truly sinister structural racism is, but also heartbreaking. Though I loved the thrill of the mystery unfolding, I also appreciated how Àbíké-Íyímídé didn't leave Devon and Chiamaka isolated or too traumatized to continue their lives. That being said, the ending of this story is powerful, as well as the accurate implication that racism is a cycle and history, unfortunately, repeats itself.

I feel like I start a lot of reviews this way recently...but it's true. I didn't like this one at first. I found the dialogue and situation not believable.

But, as the plot thickened, I got into it. I was surprised by the actual outcome of who Aces was--no spoilers here!!! I could have done without the very end.

Ace of Spades is a captivating yet chilling story that is an exact cross between Pretty Little Liars and Get Out. Our two narrators, Chiamaka and Devon, are both students at Niveus, a private high school. Chiamaka is the daughter of a wealthy mixed race couple and Devon is a scholarship student from a rough part of town. What they do have in common is that they are both seniors, both one of the few black kids, and they are both being targeted by an anonymous someone going by the moniker, Aces.

It is best to go into this not knowing too much because the twists and turns and different layers of this story are where it really shines. I loved that there is the thriller aspect of who is harassing Devon and Chiamaka but the author also took the time to develop each character individually. Both of them are dealing with some difficult issues and really struggling with Aces purposefully ruining their lives. There is also a great suspense aspect of not knowing who to trust and what secrets are going to come out next.

As much as I loved Chiamaka and Devon, I did have a problem with how trusting they were. Random people or events would happen and they just willingly accepted it and didn’t question much which was so frustrating. It was understandable at the beginning of the story but as things started to get revealed, I was so annoyed with them for not questioning things. Which is a big reason why I took a star off of an otherwise well paced and plotted out thriller. I also disliked the epilogue and didn’t think it brought anything of value to the story and preferred where it had originally left off.

I am a big fan of YA thrillers and this debut novel is one that will stick with me the longest. It has all the creepy and insidious vibes that make you want to keep reading. If you have previously read Lakewood by Megan Giddings or When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole and enjoyed them than I highly recommend you pick this one up.

Wow! This book was amazing and I couldn't put it down! I went in thinking I would read a few chapters and the next thing I knew I was halfway through. I love dark academia however haven't read a great book in the genre in quite some time. Ace of Spades definitely exceeded my expectations. The slow build was wonderfully done and created tension and suspense. The two main characters, Chiamaka and Devon, were multi-dimensional and the twists and turns kept me guessing. Overall I definitely recommend this book. Read it when you have time to finish the whole thing because once you start you won't want to stop!

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this ebook!

I received ACE OF SPADES last year and I’ve been on the fence about it for a while now. I’ve bounced between 3 stars and 4 stars for months, but after much thought, I think this book is a 3 star read for me. I loved the characters and the premise. I mean who doesn’t love Gossip Girl and Get Out with Black and queer rep? I loved the message of the story, but I didn’t fall in love with the execution. Though I couldn’t have guessed the plot twist in a million years, I didn’t clutch my invisible pearls. It left me scratching my head.

3 stars out of 5 stars

Run, do not walk to get a copy of this book. Absolutely incredible. I lost track of time and the real world.



I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I’m a little late to posting this but I loved Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Ikimide

YA Thriller/Mystery

This book covered so many topics:
Dark Academia vibes while addressing systemic racism, oppression, classism, privilege, and white supremacy + queer Black MCs and queer relationships that also explored the inherent violence and fear of being black and queer in predominantly white spaces. This book had Get Out mixed with Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars plot lines and it was impossible to put down once I got sucked in.

I don’t want to spoil anything in it bc going in blind was honestly the best way to experience this book but let me just say that I highly recommend this one!

Thank you to the publisher for not only sending an ARC copy, but also getting the author to be reviewed for a College Magazine article! I recommend this book to every young reader that comes into Barnes & Noble looking for dark academia reads - and they all enjoy it. I cannot wait to see what else Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé will publish! I'm not a big mystery/thriller reader, but I feel as if this book was a great entrance into the genre. Not to mention the powerful message(s) about education, race and sexuality. Overall, a book that every reader regardless of age needs to pick up!

I am not interested in thrillers and this one fell under that category. Now, I do think that if you love thrillers, then this book would be perfect and you would love it. It is by far not a bad book I just was a bit uncomfortable since thrillers arent for me.

Highly recommend this fast-paced mystery with diverse characters! It's on our list for a high school battle of the books read.

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé packed a punch with Ace of Spades and I am here for it. Being likened to Gossip Girl meets Get Out, this novel was one crazy ride that I did not see coming. The author tackles some heavy topics through the lens of high school students Chiamaka and Devon, who are being targeted by “Aces.”

Sadly, this book shines a light on today’s society by examining racism, LGBTQ+ issues, bullying, prejudice, white supremacy and perception. This fast-paced thriller hits a little too close to home and makes me sad for our youth today. I enjoyed the quick pace of the book, but felt like the end wrapped a little too fast and left me wanting more.

I enjoyed this well-written book and feel like it is an important read for all ages. I’d recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a handle on what youth are facing in our world today. Kuddos to the author for so eloquently shining a light on such a timely topic.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillian Children’s Publishing Group and Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé for an advance copy of this novel.

This YA thriller is a one-of-a-kind read. Going in, I had my hopes set at a medium topical YA read, but this book was so much more. We are following Devon and Chiamaka who are black teens who become the targets of an anonymous texter, called Aces, which leads them to work together to take the anonymous texter down.
This story is hard to talk about seeing as it’s a thriller I don’t want to spoiler anything. Also, I don’t read many thrillers because I can always guess the twist or ending but this one is a wild ride. I like that we get to see their life as is and see how, once Aces appears, things unfold and play out. I have heard some people complaining about the school having British things but is set in America however, that didn’t bother me as I was able to see and feel that this was a real location because of the authors' skill of writing. The writing is amazing from settings to build up tension without feeling over the top or unbelievable. There is drama, tension, and dilemma that are plot points that have real consequences.
The character development is some of the best that I have seen in YA in a while. I enjoyed both of these characters. I like reading about them together and owning their own.
This books’ pacing is on the slower side, but it fits this story and feels right. Some of the main topics of this book are race, predominately white school space, and many more important topics. This thought-provoking read reminds me of two shows I loved as a teen, Gossip Girl, and Pretty Little Liars.
If you are looking for a powerful book that will keep you guessing, characters that feel real, then get your hand on this book.