Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé's debut Ace of Spades is one of the best YA thrillers I've read in a while, and I am so excited to recommend this one at my library! Pitched as Get Out meets Gossip Girl, It follows Devon and Chiamaka, the only two Black students at the prestigious Niveus Academy. Their senior year is starting off great--they've both been named senior prefects and are in the running for valedictorian.⁣
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But Devon and Chiamaka both have secrets that could turn their lives upside down. And when someone calling themselves Aces starts sending anonymous texts to the school, slowly spilling those secrets, Devon & Chiamaka know that everything they've worked for is at risk. As the stakes get higher and Aces' threats get more sinister, will Devon & Chiamaka be able to stop Aces before it's too late? ⁣
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This fast-paced, chilling thriller full of social commentary is utterly un-put-downable! I loved that Ace of Spades starred two totally different queer Black teens who team up to fight back against an unknown enemy. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators truly brought the eerie story to life! Ace of Spades is an engaging & entertaining mystery/thriller that also grapples with identity, racism, and white supremacy. ⁣
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YA thrillers are always a hit with teens at my library, and I already know I'll be recommending this one a lot!

I was pleasantly surprised by Ace of Spades! I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into, but I absolutely loved it. I think that overall young adult novels can get a bad rap, but I really enjoyed this story. It was somewhat tough to read and there was a lot of racism and uncomfortable circumstances, but I LOVED the end where Devon and Chiamika end up on top. Steamy, deceitful and unputdownable, this book was FANTASTIC.

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Ace of Spades was described to me as Pretty Little Liars meets Gossip Girl meets Get Out, which I think is true, but it’s so much more than that too. With a dual POV, Chiamaka and Devon are the only Black students at Niveus Private Academy, and they are suddenly being targeted by an anonymous source: Aces. Devon and Chiamaka both have secrets, and they must look past their differences if they want to make it out of this game alive.

Going into this knowing next to nothing was perfect. I was instantly intrigued by the classic dark academia school exposer plot. Chiamaka is one of my new favorite characters! She is everything I want in a strong woman character. Devon was also an amazing character. I loved reading about his struggles with his identity and background. They both felt so authentic and unlike anyone I’ve ever read at the same time. This made it all the harder to read about the nightmare they go through during this book. Broken trust and mind games only touch the surface of the what they face. The portrayal of racist institutions and white supremacy gave way to social commentary that emphasizes its presence still in society. The simplicity of the writing style made the story convincing and raw. As a lover of all things YA Thriller, this one exceeded my high expectations and left me haunted yet hopeful with its conclusion. My one grievance is that I wished the ending was more drawn out with the final climax. I thought some of the plots lines could have been further resolved, such as with Belle and Dre, but regardless this was a fantastic debut and I highly recommend it!!

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

This is the dark academia novel of my dreams. It contends with racism in the genre while pulling all the essential gritty vibes that make the genre loveable in the first place. The characters, atmosphere, plot twists, and more were all perfectly curated and blended together to make an incredible read! Can’t wait for the next book!!

AMAZING. I couldn't put this one down. Such a unique and horrifying plot. Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was given this review book by the publisher in return for an honest review via Netgalley.

I honestly loved this book. It has the mystery story line to pull you in, wondering why two Black teens were being targeted in an otherwise white elite school. I caught on pretty quickly that it was race motivated but I was not prepared for the complete gaslighting the two main characters Chi and Devon were subjected to. She had you questioning so many people all along as you hope it's not at bad as you think. To make matters worse many schools do this and it's done once every ten years to crush the POC that have the brains, talent and skill to succeed. Giving them hopes of getting out of their lives only to destroy them.

Not only is there obvious racial differences mentioned in the book the author even highlights the difference of POC in a white color family and those that are not.

This book does a wonderful job of drawing you in but also highlighting the race inequality in our country. I can only speak to what is said in the book as I am not a POC and this is not my story to tell but it's heartbreaking and uplifting all at once.

I want to wish in the end Chi got her vengeance but I hope her oath kept her strong. This is a solid book and I hope you'll give it a shot.

Ace of Spades is a thrilling and diverse book. The only two Black students at an elite school are being targeted by an anonymous "Ace". The book addresses a lot of social issues that are very present today, including racism and homophobia. The fast-paced plot kept me engaged the entire time, with twists around every corner. Àbíké-Íyímídé created a wonderful story, with real-life issues and a powerful message.

I can tell Ace of Spades will come smashing onto top charts and making huge influence in reader lives. Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé did not hold back when writing about real struggles that black and LGBT+ people face, and I appreciate and admire that. This book felt like a love letter and encouragement to her communities!

The writing style was not the greatest, but not the worst. I could tell it was a debut, but I could see everything as I needed to and some descriptions/comparisons were done very well.

The plot was one of the best parts of this book. It was unpredictable and while it had a bit of a slow start, I could stop reading until I was finished! It was so layered and interesting, one of the most creative I have ever read. My mind is still blown.

The worldbuilding was there. It's a contemporary, but it featured rich neighborhoods, poor neighborhoods, and most importantly, Niveus Private Acadamey.

The characters were great, and then as more and more secrets are revealed and accusations made, my brain just got mushier and mushier and the hate burned brighter. Devon was definitely my favorite, I could relate to him in a couple of ways and he was a generally nice person!

Ace of Spades felt almost like a fantasy, with characters I love, and enemy I hate, and I mystery set in a place I was completely engrossed in!

I recommend Ace of Spades for readers looking for an empowering read to teach them or relate to on struggles of our modern day world and anyone who love thrillers that will leave you guessing until the last second.

I don't read a lot of contemporary YA, but every now and then a synopsis will pull me in. This book sounded like it was going to be a wild ride - I heard it compared to Get Out, which I thought was fantastic. I would say that is an accurate comparison. Maybe Gossip Girl meets Get Out.

Chiamaka and Devon are the only black kids at the prestigious Niveus Academy. They are top students, seniors, planning on applying to college and looking forward to bright futures. But at Niveus, nothing is quite as it seems. Someone is out to get Chiamaka and Devon and their futures are at stake.

I found the first half of this book to be a little slow. Around the 60% mark the story really picked up and I flew through the ending. I felt like the characters of Chiamaka and Devon were really fleshed out, I felt like they behaved very realistically for the situations they were in. Devon's character in particular broke my heart.

The plot twist didn't blow my mind, but it definitely made me think. The author had a lot to say about systemic racism, homophobia, and white supremacy. I think this novel would be great as a teen book club selection because there is so much to discuss here.

Wow! This. Book. Was. Intense. It pulled me right out of my book slump. This book definitely had Gossiping Girl meets Get Out vibes. I could not put it down. The torment Chia and Devon experienced were mind blowing, but I honestly believe racially motivated incidents probably do happen like this on some level. It’s truly disturbing. I did feel like the ending was a bit of a let down, but overall a worthy read.

THIS WAS AMAZING!!! The writing was perfect—every chapter left you wanting more and every time it delivered Devon and Chiamaka were brilliant characters I was rooting for all the way through. It truly was a a mix of gossip girl/pretty little liars/get out and I was shocked at every twist and turn. Without spoiling anything—the epilogue was everything I wanted and more. Definitely read this—characters who are black, queer, and taking down racists—a book with a big message. Thank you net gallery for providing an ARC!

This was pitched as a mix between Get Out and Gossip Girl and for once, a blurb actually captured the true essence of the book! Shocking!

The best part about this book in my opinion was the characters, particularly Devon who felt very well-built out as a character. I found that of the two main characters, he was the one I connected with right away and who I was rooting for throughout. Chiamaka was more of an unlikeable character at times but looking back on the entirety of the book, I think that was very deliberate of the author and sort of clever but it honestly was one of the things that tempted me at times to set this one aside because it did also drag at the beginning.

But as soon as part 2 hit, this book took off! The rest of it had me sucked in to the last page. I will say that, without spoiling anything, I wish they had given more info about the background and reach of Aces but other than that, this was a compelling and surprisingly emotionally driven thriller that I definitely recommend!

This book was fully captivating. This twist on a mystery gave me more socially relevant Pretty Little Liars vibes. For lovers of twisted mysteries, this book is sure to give you your fill. With LGBTQIA+ representation laced throughout the entirety of the book, it allowed for even more diverse groups to be included in the book. I do think some ends were wrapped up too quickly and never really explained, so that is why it is a four star read, but I highly recommend picking up this book!

*I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I'll admit, I haven't seen any of the media that this book has been comped with, but nevertheless I couldn't put it down! I am amazed that this is the author's first novel. Chiamaka and Devon are both so human, and their struggles are equally heartbreaking in a variety of ways. I can see this branching out into a movie or television series in the future, but for now I feel like teens across the world will devour this book!

“No matter what I do, no matter how much I iron down the hair that springs from my scalp, or work as hard as I can, I’m always going to be other to them.”

ACE OF SPADES is absolutely stunning. It’s a gripping, blistering YA thriller that exposes the horrors of institutional racism in academia and broader society. The novel follows Chiamaka and Devon, the only two Black students at the prestigious and wealthy Niveus Private Academy. Both have fought their way to get into this school and, at the beginning of their senior year, are preparing for the final push to graduate and move on to college. Bold, ambitious, sophisticated Chiamaka has survived by making her way to the top, while loyal, smart, musical Devon has managed by keeping to himself. When a mysterious bully known as Aces starts targeting them both, Chiamaka and Devon’s secrets are thrust into the spotlight, pushing them together as they struggle to unveil the anonymous bully, learn just how few people they can trust, and fight back to protect themselves and their futures.

There is so much I could say about this twisty, page-turning novel, but I don’t want to give too much away. It’s billed as Gossip Girl meets Get Out, and despite having seen neither of those, that description feels very accurate. The pacing is spot-on, an absolute wild ride. As more and more layers get revealed, you get a sense of just how deep the racism goes and the mental exhaustion, gaslighting, and trauma that Chiamaka and Devon are dealing with (and have been all along). Àbíké-Íyímídé also takes on classism and homophobia. Chiamaka and Devon are brilliant, compelling characters. I was rooting for them the whole time and I loved their interactions - two distinct, richly drawn personalities, hilariously different with a tender budding alliance. This book is very queer, with multiple main and side queer characters (including multiple POC queer characters and relationships - though I don’t think there’s any trans or nonbinary characters). Also the ending! And that epilogue! The author’s note! The whole book comes together as a scorching reveal of the depths of institutional racism and the beauty and power of coming together to fight back.

If you read one YA book this year, make it this one. I will certainly be reading whatever Àbíké-Íyímídé writes next. Thank you Macmillan for the eARC! Ending with this from the author’s note:

“I hope that in reading this story, you see that despite the darkness we are plagued with, which often feels inescapable, that not only are happy endings possible for Black people, but that we deserve them.”

Content warnings: outing without consent, anxiety/panic attacks, loss of memory, physical violence, hate crime, bullying, incarceration, state execution, suicidal ideation & suicide attempt

Chiamaka Adebayo and Devon Richards are two high-achieving students at Niveus Academy. When the two are targeted by an anonymous bully, known as Aces, they team up to determine who is behind the attacks and end them, once and for all.

I love a good thriller, so when I saw the comp titles were Gossip Girl meets Get Out, I was even more excited to read the book. I was hooked from the first page and became invested in learning more about Chiamaka and Devon, their lives at Niveus, as well as their own personal backgrounds. The two main characters go through so much in the span of the book — from having their personal secrets leaked and outed to being forced to reevaluate their personal relationships to uncovering dark (and horrifying) secrets of their prestigious school's past. The book was well paced — every action and plot twist went well with the flow of the story (and there were MANY plot twists I did not anticipate). When I finished the book, I sat there for a few minutes to process everything that had happened. I would highly recommend this book to everyone.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

TW: invasion of privacy, forced outing, blood, gore, gaslighting, homophobia, racism

Pros
Classic Blackmail: Anyone fond of the conniving, revolving "bad guys" of ABC's Pretty Little Liars or The CW's Gossip Girl will feel at home sinking into this book. This book is classic in a good way, centered around a high school villain--or villains--exposing scandalous secrets as a power play--or as a way to create utmost chaos. It is good, old-fashioned thriller fun with a few new twists along the way.

Real Repercussions: What starts as gossip-worthy tidbits from a gossip-mongering scoundrel, however, quickly evolves into something much sinister. The victims of this text-message bullying have, it turns out, legitimate skeletons in their closets--skeletons that could come back to haunt them. Real repercussions, not just high-school-level drama, hang in the balance, and this adds a new element of chilling fear to the tale.

So Many Suspects: Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé does a great job of making everyone and anyone involved in the plot a suspect. Usually, there are one or two primary suspects, the most suspicious of all, with other suspicious figures thrown in to temporarily distract. In a bad thriller, that makes the conclusion woefully obvious, but here, Àbíké-Íyímídé makes everyone the obvious suspect--and therefore no one. The plot really keeps a reader on their toes.


Cons
Scheming Girls: I love some good scheming. I do. It is often a pro in my reviews, but right off the bat in this book, there was some very mean-girls-type high school drama going on. And that's not the type of scheming I like. I find it sad to see this stereotype played into so often--that the popular girls are so often at each other's throats to "stay on top" or whatever else one might call it. It just perpetuates the stereotype that women have to put each other down to be successful--and that doesn't have to be true!

Pacing Issues: I've found that a lot of thrillers this year have had pacing issues, at least in my estimation, and this book actually does a really good job of balancing the pace, all things considered. Pacing is like Goldilocks: it can be too slow, too fast, or (ideally) just right, and this book often falls into that "just right" category. It does vacillate some, though, with sections being a touch to slow or a bit too rushed for comfort. It's well-done; don't get me wrong. The plotting just wasn't perfectly executed at the end of the day.

Disclaimer: This is a legitimate disclaimer as opposed to another con. But it falls under the "con" category, because if one isn't prepared, I could see this being a major disappointment--or a major misreading of the text. While there is significant LGBTQ+ representation in this book, asexuality isn't it. With the LGBTQ+ community on the mind, one might think that the title refers to asexuality--specifically, to "aces." And, with that in mind, one might get angry that "Aces" here is, in fact, the antagonist. The title is purely a reference to cards--to the fact that the ace of spades is often the best of the trump cards. It is a cards reference, not a reference to (or a way of belittling) asexual individuals. It's about cards.

Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
8/10

Fans of the cunning rumors of Cecily von Zeigesar's Gossip Girl books will appreciate this plot with some added color. Those who loved the narrative voice of Ben Philippe's Charming as a Verb should sink into the dual narratives of this new thriller.

WOW what a wild ride!

This was a killer debut. It's pitched as Gossip Girl meets Get Out, and it totally delivered on both those fronts. I loved the dual POV of both Chiamaka (the rich, mean popular girl who wants to be the best at everything and wants everyone to know it) and Devon (the quiet, poor kid who just wants to get through high school and make it out of his neighborhood). They couldn't be more different, and in fact have nothing to do with each other until they are forced to interact after a mysterious figure calling themselves "Aces" starts to target them.

This book is a harsh critique of institutionalized racism while simultaneously being a compelling (and at times terrifying) thriller. As the author says in her note at the end of the book, it's also a very personal story, inspired by her own experiences at university. While she was not outright attacked for being Black, the insidiousness of institutionalized racism lurked everywhere--in all her interactions with other students, in classrooms and even just walking around in places where she was the only Black person around. She took those experiences and turned them into an organized group of, let's be honest, terrorists who were set on destroying the lives of Black students who dared to want better for themselves. And one of the scariest things about this book is that it doesn't seem all that far-fetched...

I have not read many YA thrillers, but this one definitely knocked it out of the park for me, and I can't wait to see what else Àbíké-Íyímídé writes!

This story took me on a rollercoaster ride. At first, I got the vibe of "Gossip Girl" with the mystery texts and emails but I was quickly wrong as each encounter became more threatening. I was right there along with Devon and Chiamaka as they worked together to find and puzzle out who is Ace. As the story continued to unravel and we found out more information, I could not read fast enough! I rooted for both Devon and Chiamaka during the whole story and was completely captivated by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé's world building, character development and story writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillian Publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I went into this story expecting a fun, light mystery but that’s not exactly what this is and I was pleasantly surprised.
Ace of Spades touches on so many dark topics, while still being a compulsively-readable thriller.
We have a Gossip Girl like character, Aces, who targets the only two black students at Niveus Private Academy, Devon and Chiamaka. We follow along as they try to uncover the mystery of who is behind the harassment. There were a lot of secrets, lies, very unlikable characters, and deep conversations. There is talk of drugs, abandonment, homophobia, racism, bullying, gaslighting, incarceration, death of a parent, white supremacy, assault, etc..
I thought it all came together so well, it was a rollercoaster of emotions. I was surprised to learn this was the author’s debut and am excited for what she will come out with in the future.

*thank you NetGalley for the ARC and all opinions are my own*