Review: Ace of Spades

Title: Ace of Spades

Author: Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Publication date: June 1, 2021

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Summary

At Niveus Private Academy, Devon and Chiamaka are chosen to be prefects for their senior year. For Devon, it comes as a surprise, since he flies below the radar. Just focusing on his music. However, it’s all Chiamaka has dreamed of. After all, it will likely help her to get into Yale. And that’s all that matters, once high school is over.

When a mysterious figure named Aces starts spreading rumors about Devon and Chiamaka, it seems harmless at first. However, things start to become dangerous as Aces digs deeper and deeper into Devon and Chiamaka’s history. So dangerous that they start to fear for their lives. Now, they have to figure out who Aces is before it’s too late. 

Review: Ace of Spades

Thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for an advanced copy of this to review! I know Ace of Spades is getting a lot of buzz, and definitely for good reason. I was on the edge of my seat for the last half of this book, desperate to know what happens next!

If thrillers are what you like to read in the summer, this is definitely the one for you. This book gives me a little bit of One of Us I Lying vibes with the rumors swirling around the school. However, it gets a lot darker towards the end, especially since Àbíké-Íyímídé deals specifically with racism. This may be a fictional book, but it’s scary that it’s something you could likely see happening in the real world.

Àbíké-Íyímídé is skilled at pacing her book so that just when you think it’s over, it’s not. Something else happens. While there were elements of the mystery that I guessed, the way it unfolds makes up for it. Devon and Chiamaka both had unique voices, and even if they might not be the most likeable in the beginning, you’re rooting for them to uncover who’s been putting them in danger. 

There are also some great side characters here that act as foils for our two main narrators. I think my only complaint would really be that I don’t think the epilogue was necessary. It could have ended before that, and I still would have been happy as a reader.

All in all, if you’re looking for your next thriller, definitely pick this one up June 1st!

4.5/5 stars