This book was absolutely incredible. It was so eye opening and memorable. The writing and story telling is so engaging, and that in combination with the fast-moving, shocking plot made me unable to put it down. I loved the queer representation in this book, and I also loved how the mystery wasn’t the whole plot, but rather the focus was on prominent issues in society that still occur today. An amazing debut novel, I will definitely be picking up her next book!

I made a playlist of the songs I listened to whilst reading this book, you can find it here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3CUD5q2cjktf8R0Z2Zk7Ho?si=kPcg395ZSpO20HQ2mW9VFA

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Usborne for an ARC of this book.

Ace of spades follows the only two black students, Chiamaka and Devon, at Niveus Private Academy. They are in their final year and looking forward to their future prospects. Unfortunates Aces, an anonymous person at school, has different ideas and starts spreading secrets and lies about the two students.

This book was both thrilling to read and very difficult to read. This book looks at institutional racism and boy do you want the main characters to get one over on the culprit of their torment. It is hard to go into too much detail without spoilers.

I enjoyed the dual perspective of this and how different the two characters were. I also liked that they had made decisions in the past that they were not proud of but that didn't stop them trying to get what they wanted from life.

In this teen thriller inspired by the Gossip Girls series, Chiamaka and Devon are the only Black students at a posh private school; the narrative is told in alternating chapters from their points of view. They hardly know each other and certainly aren’t friends – Chiamaka is beautiful and popular with a ‘whatever it takes’ mentality, and Devon is a quiet gay musical student who takes care of his mother as best he can. But then text messages from ‘Aces’ begin with gossip about secret details from Chiamaka’s and Devon’s lives. Who is sending these messages, and what is their agenda?

While I enjoyed the book, and loved the empathetic portrayal of LGBTQ characters, I thought it became bogged down in a systemic conspiracy theory type of narrative meaning that it lacked the nuance that makes a plot more interesting. I would have also liked to understand more about Chiamaka and Devon’s lives and backgrounds – there were a number of loose ends and missing pieces of background information that would have helped me to ‘live with’ the characters. Other characters felt parachuted in and their stories left unresolved, though this may be because a sequel is planned. Possibly one barrier for me is that I have never seen Gossip Girls so I didn’t have that hook into the narrative. I do think the book will be very popular among the teen readers I work with.

Abike-Iyimide is clearly a passionate, talented young writer. This is her debut novel, and she will be one to watch in the future.

Ace of Spades was incredibly thought provoking, galling and at times hard to read. I say this, not due to the writing or anything negative regarding the book, it was hard to read what was being done to these characters and the malice with which the perpetrators of such hazing and pain were able to express.

Faridah's ability to ally two very different characters together was incredible to read. It was great to watch their paths move into one another's and how they interacted together. I am a sucker for character development and this book had beautifully crafted journeys for both Devon and Chiamaka.

This book holds a powerful message and clever sociological insight. This whole story was gripping, thrilling and gives more than just a solution to a mystery. It delves right into heart of humans, being queer, Black and how disturbing and destructive the callous, disfigured minds of white supremacy can be.

Marketed as Get out meets Gossip Girl, this books holds so much more than you could expect.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read this story before release.

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is an intense YA thriller set in Niveus Private Academy, a school for the elite where two students are being publicly harassed and humiliated by a series of texts revealing their most intimate secrets, signed only as Aces. Chiamaka is Head Girl , a model student, Harvard bound but willing to do anything to get what , or who , she wants. Devon is a talented musician from the wrong side of the tracks who is hoping to earn a scholarship to Julliard but sometimes feels out of place among the wealth and privilege at Niveus, and is still struggling to accept his sexuality . The only thing the two have in common is that they are Black, in fact the only Black students at the school, but surely this can't be the only reason that Aces is targeting them? As they work together to try to discover the truth behind Aces' secret identity , they uncover a conspiracy so shocking that it could change the course of their lives.
This is a dramatic YA book that is not afraid to shine a spotlight on some difficult topics, as well as obvious racism the author looks at things like privilege, barriers to education, inequalities in the criminal justice system, sexuality and queer identity, and incorporates them seamlessly into the story. The story itself is clever and complex and will definitely keep the reader guessing as the mystery unfolds. The characters are well drawn and interesting, though I found Chiamaka less sympathetic than Devon, I appreciated that she was not afraid to go after what she wanted. I loved the dramatic conclusion and the element of hope that the author gives us at the end of the book.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the Publisher, all opinions are my own.

Devon is a scholarship student at Niveus High, an exclusive private school, that has given him the opportunity to escape his poor neighbourhood to dream of Julliard and a bright future as a musician. But when he is targeted by an anonymous texter calling themself ‘Aces’, his bright future is jeopardised.

Wealthy Chiamaka has been working her way up through the social ranks of Niveus to achieve her goal of acceptance into an Ivy League college to become a doctor, but when she is also targeted by Aces, everything she has built begins to crumble.

And it can hardly be a coincidence that Aces has focused on the only two black students at Niveus.

This book is pitched as 'Gossip Girl' meets 'Get Out', and it definitely lives up to the claim. I did wonder why a British author would write a book set in an American high school, but it does work—it gives the book that stylised teen-drama gloss, that contrasts so shockingly with the horror concealed beneath the surface.

‘Ace of Spades’ is a pacey, gripping thriller set in dark academia, with a powerful message about institutionalised racism, homophobia and bullying. Highly recommended.

I thought this was some form of fantasy, it is not- its a YA thriller- thats on me for not reading the blurb!
I felt that the plot was a little reminiscent of others- Karen M McManus and Chelsea Palmer particularly.
I liked the characters, they were interesting and I liked the layers to them all. The atmosphere was decent, fairly exciting throughout.
The writing was good, although I found the plot a little lacking. There were twists that I didn't see coming, but I felt it went on a bit long.
I enjoyed the book overall, I read it in a day and found a lot of interesting points in there.

This is an amazingly powerful disturbing story, especially strong when you read that it was born out of this young debut author’s own experience of racism. Personally I found a few points struck me as being a little stereotypical, this may be because it is the author’s first book, but despite this I think it’s an important, discussion provoking story.

An absolutely jaw-dropping and riveting novel that perfectly tackles all the ugliness of systematic racism, Ace of Spades is a terrifying and addictive story about two talented Black kids trying to survive in a world that is hell-bent on bringing them down.

The premise of this book had given me goosebumps, especially because in a world where we still keep Black people in human zoos, it's not very far fetched to think there are actually institutions that let in talented Black students just to bully them, dehumanize them and break them down when they are most vulnerable.

But really, what I loved about the plot in this book, that although it is quite clear that our main characters are being targeted for their skin color, the author still manages to shock you with twists and turns. The mystery and the suspense are what really keep you turning the pages. The story was fast-paced, action-packed and reminded me of a horror movie gone wrong, and I did not want to miss a single minute of it.

And of course, the main characters of the book steal the spotlight. I loved Devon and Chiamaka were total polar opposites, because they helped the readers see two very different experiences of minorities in a very relatable way. Chiamaka's biracial identity and her privileged background never really protect her from the ingrained racism her peers hold towards her, and Devon's struggles to bring his family out of poverty brings up some very important questions about how systematic racism has contributed to income inequality among minorities, as well as the problems of classism and elitism.

The best part though? The author tackles all of these issues deeply yet in a very subtle way. She interweaves these important themes cleverly into the plot, and so the novel stays true to its mystery-suspense genre while exploring these difficult topics.

Without a doubt, this book is going to be one of the best books of 2021. But even more importantly, Ace of Spades is one of the most important books for teenagers, especially Black teenagers, and I believe that this is a story that will help many, many kids in the years to come.

I have faced difficulties in trying to read this book, as the file is not working for me. I'm so sorry about this! I'm super curious about the book, though, and will certainly give it a read when I'm able to get my hands on it. Best of luck with it!

I admit, I went into reading "Ace of Spades" with really high expectations. I've heard so many great things from early reviewers and the hype around this book totally got to me. My expectations were mostly met, too.

"Ace of Spades" is a contemporary ya thriller that doesn't necessarily bring anything new to the table when it comes to its thriller elements. It's an exciting mystery and a true pageturner, but what makes this book something special for me is basically a mix of two things: the characters and the depth of the themes Àbíké-Íyímídé unfolds her story around. Devon and Chiamaka are amazingly written complex characters that made me fall in love with them early on. As the only black students at Niveus Academy, an institution I basically wanted to see burn on page 1 too, they struggle with institutionalized racism and prejudices on a daily basis. I'm a pasty white woman so I could never presume to fully understand the impact these experiences have on bipoc. But it made me angry, it made my heart ache painfully, it made me want to fight. Àbíké-Íyímídé portrays the struggles these two characters face in a relatable, brutally honest way. She doesn't mince words and opens up the entire complexity of structural racism, including the more subtle ways it seeps into our society. She also includes the subject of educational gatekeeping which I haven't seen addressed in such a focused way in ya fiction so far. And there's the fact that this novel is very, very queer too, portraying the difficulties Devon faces because he's not only black, but also gay and comes from a community that considers these two mutually exclusive. When it comes to tackling important subjects of race, racism and lgbt+, this book truly shines.

I do think it lacks a little when it comes to the story itself. The mystery of who is in on the abuse Chiamaka and Devon face loses its excitement after the first big reveal because once Devon gets certain information, it becomes kind of obvious. The ending felt rushed too - I was so angry, I was so pumped for people getting what they're due, I wanted to see it all burn down. Then the ending happened and it was kind of... over really quickly. I was satisfied with the conclusion but also felt like there was more potential if only it had a little more time to unfold itself. A certain group was completely underutilised in the end.

Still, this is an important read and really did remind me of "Get Out" in the best of ways. While the thriller elements themselves didn't blow me away, the nuances and complexities of everything surrounding them and enabling the villains (and yes, they are terrifying villains that are sadly entirely realistic) make this book shine.
A Must Read debut this year.

This story is nerve-wracking. Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé truly knows how to put together a mystery, building up the tension to a point where it was terrifying.

However, it wasn’t just a mystery story following a Gossip Girl-esque mysterious identity harrasing people with their rumours, even though it captured that perfectly. It had so many layers, layers I probably would recommend a reread to get in their entirety. I don’t know what I can talk about without spoiling but it is clear that the sabotage comes from roots horribly engrained in society. It started way before Aces sent their first message.

This is dark academia. The discussion of what these institutions are built upon. Their secrets. Their promises. Their lies.

That’s why it’s such a poignant story that once it picks up, it will have you glued until the last word. Nevertheless, it also succeeded in other aspects. For example, having greatly well-rounde main characters. Chiamaka and Devon don’t really get along at first, even when they’re working together, but you can see how they start to grow into respecting and looking out for one another as time goes on, despite being so different. Besides, even parts at the beginning, where for example Chiamaka was in full Blair Waldorf mode, all dialogue felt organic in the way that “Ah, yes, this is a private rich kids school they are all weird and calculating like that, I hope the best for this main character”.

I apologize for tiptoeing around some aspects because I really don’t want to spoil anything, but as a reader I could tell how each and every single factor that came into play was put in place for depth. Amazing in a breathtaking way.

Chiamaka has one aim, to be at the top. She has succeeded in becoming head girl at Niveus Private Academy, doing whatever it took to get there.
Devon, a younger student at Niveus, is just happy to be able to work on his music but coming from the "wrong side" of town, he too has things he'd rather keep secret.
On the face of it, Chiamaka and Devon have nothing in common - except that they are the only coloured students in an otherwise white school. When an anonymous texter starts revealing secrets about both students, their lives start to unravel.

Abike-Iyimide successfully creates increasing tension as the anonymous texter reveals more and more damming secrets. Chiamaka and Devon are forced to work together to find a way out but they are clearly very different people which makes for a fraught relationship with each of them feeling very isolated. It also becomes very claustrophobic as every avenue seems to lead further towards inevitable victory by the texter.

This book was quite a painful read at times with the swirl of emotions and frustrations experienced by these two characters so I can't say I enjoyed it, but it is an eye opener to the experiences of being a minority in a hostile environment and worth reading for this aspect alone. I'm sure that older teens will enjoy the mystery angle of the plot, especially as it revolves around social media, so much a part of their lives.

Gossip Girl meets Get Out.

Two students at a school for the wealthy, privileged, and entitled are singled out for attention by a mysterious figure calling themselves Aces. The beautiful, popular, "Mean Girl" and Queen of the school Chiamaka, and the isolated scholarship student Devon seem to have nothing in common except the colour of their skins. Surely that can't be the reason why their lives are being torn apart, and their secrets unveiled, could it?
For those who like their high school cliques and conspiracy theories on the woke side

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an eARC of Ace of Spades.

I really enjoyed this book! Get Out was an amazing film by Jordan Peele and Gossip Girl was a great TV series so bringing these two together into a private academy setting was a fantastic concept.

I loved Devon and Chiamaka. Well I loved Devon from the start and grew to love Chiamaka because in the beginning she was not my kind of girl. But that is just another thing I really liked about the book, the character development of the main characters was really well done. I felt the side characters did well to help along the Devon and Chiamaka’s journey and who doesn’t love an epilogue to a thrilling story?

I wish there was some closure to some of the characters that were prominent in the story (namely Dre and Belle) as I wanted to know whether there was some resolution reached between them and the main characters. I do feel marketing it as a Get Out x Gossip Girl story does give a lot of the story away to someone who picks up the book but I do think it was well executed regardless of that.

A well done story that was filled with a diverse cast of characters!

***Please check for trigger warnings***

Ace of Spades was one of my anticipated reads this year and I was so lucky to get a copy from Netgalley early on. I finished it in a day and kept thinking about it for days after. Needless to say, it's become one of my favorite books this year.

A Dark Academia thriller set in an elite school, it follows the story of Devon and Chiamaka as they team up to fight against their very racist institution. Devon and Chia aren't really similar, they're actually poles apart. While Devon is silent and soft, Chia is loud and not afraid to fight for what she deserves. When an anonymous bully sets out in targeting them and their secrets, they have to join forces together in order to survive.

When I tell you that I was hooked right from the first page, believe me. Although it has a much slow and steady start, the pace picks up soon and we're hurtling along with our two MCs, trying to decode the mystery. And when I also tell you that the mystery wasn't really what I was expecting, yeah, believe me.

On the surface, AoS might look like another DA thriller set in a school, you know. But it's so much deeper. The story goes deep in to tackle institutionalise racism and be heard of their voices. An attempt to show us readers the monstrosity of human beings, but also hope of better something.

I loved Devon's character from the start and Chiamaka took some time to grow on me. But together, they were so good. I loved their friendship dynamic and how it grew in stages, how the trust was built. The way the plot was laid out was very clever and we were given tips throughout but here and there, enough to have you flicking the page to the next.

I also totally loved the way the author kept me in a loop, guessing and pinning my finger on various different people although I know who could be the mastermind. The end left me so nervous and at the edge of my seat. This book took me on a wild ride of realisation and horror and the writing simply won my heart.

Think Gossip Girl, Elite and Get Out, and you'll get Ace of Spades!! Add your to you tbrs 😌

Dark Academia as a subgenre is filled with stories about rich white people, rich-white-people-ing their way through life in academic settings. As much as I enjoy reading them, I constantly find myself wishing someone would break down the predominantly white mold of the usual dark academia storylines and give us something outside that framework and point of view.

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé does exactly that with her debut Ace Of Spades. The story revolves around Chiyamaki and Devon, the only two Black students in an all white elite high school. An anonymous texter is revealing compromising details of students' lives, and they seem to be focusing only on Chi and Devon. So they team up to figure out who Aces is and why they're targeting them.

i COULD NOT put down this book the entire time I was reading it. I had to literally force myself to pause reading it EVERY TIME so I could get some actual work done. The book pulls you into the story with intrigue and fear, and you can't help but turn page after page to find out what happens next and to make sure Chi and Devon are going to be okay. My heart raced at certain parts, and I was too scared to turn the page sometimes BUT I STILL COULD'NT STOP MYSELF FROM READING IT!

I LOVED the deep dive into Institutional Racism and the concept of social eugenics - which is a harsh reality for all marginalized people out there, especially people of color. I wish someone would write a similar story set in India that delves into the Institutional Casteism of the Indian society, i think that would make a bloody good memorable read.

Ace Of Spades is everything Dark Academia is supposed to be - Questioning prestigious establishments, whiteness, and privilege through the (queer) BIPOC lens. Cannot recommend it enough. 5/5 stars.

This author and this book have been so hyped for such a long time, I was dare I say sceptical before reading. But those worries were smashed out of the water by the end of the first page. A tour de force and one of my best reads of 2021 so far!!

Ace of spades by Faridah Abike-lyimide is a YA thriller about two students, Devon and Chiamaka and their struggles against an anonymous bully - Aces!
This book gave me all the Gossip girls, Pretty little liars, one of us is lying and Get out vibes all rolled into one!! I personally didn't find it to be much of the thriller read I was expecting but that aside it was full of suspense, it was immediately addictive and made for a quick read - that or I just zoomed through it.

Ace of spades tackles heavy topics surrounding racism, homophobia, mental health and more and in a really powerful, thought provoking way.
The ending did seem a tad unrealistic and I was expecting more but overall I really enjoyed this one and read it start to finish in a matter of hours. Highly recommended. A great debut novel!!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this one in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! Thank you Netgalley and Usborne books for this ARC.
I absolutely loved reading this and as a huge fan of gossip girl and Pretty little liars, I can say this was sooo nicely written ! The suspense was there right from the first few pages and the way the story unfolds with new secrets and twists was so amazing. I was able to picture every single scene and that tells you how great a writer Faridah is. A brilliant debut novel!

Ace of spades tells the story of two teenagers Chiamaka Adebayo and Devon Richards who are the only black kids in their elite private school in their final year. A “gossip girl like character”, Ace reveals secrets of student but soon enough Chiamaka and Devon find out they might be the main targets of Ace. The book follows their lives as they essentially fight against bullying and racism. (Trying so hard to make sure I don’t give out spoilers).

In this book, deep themes are explored in very subtle and amazing ways. Themes like relationships, sexuality, racism and friendships.

I absolutely love that the main characters were black. It’s so similar yet so different from gossip girl and pretty little liars and I can’t wait for the world to experience this book!