ismildlypoetic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
While I don't know if Ace of Spades fits those qualifications, its resemblance to media (that very much did have some core memories) and the importance of its message, plus the way it had me turning pages, I very much feel that this book deserves the 5 stars anyway.
For fans of Pretty Little Liars, this book gives that horrendous cyberbullying experience we're familiar with, plus the added twist of
Spoiler
systematic racism.Spoiler
There were multiple times I wrote in my reading app that I was terrified to turn the page, knowing that whatever was coming wouldn't be good for our two title characters.
Now time for my infodump:
Spoiler
As for the characters, Devon, I loved. I loved him from the first page. I think he has a genuine care for people, even those who've wronged him. He shoots high, but he does what is right to get to them, and I truly admire that.As for Chiamaka, my love-hate relationship with her was strong. There are very few people in this world she cared for besides herself, and she didn't give a shit who fell as long as she didn't fall with them. However, I am very happy she got a happy ending. And I hope she kept on her journey of self-growth in those sixteen years after Niveus burned.
Spoiler
I highly recommend this book, especially for those who see themselves, like me, relating to some of the other characters at Niveus. We could all use a lesson in seeing others from a different point of view.
Graphic: Racism, Homophobia, Bullying, Car accident, Murder, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Alcohol, Stalking, Death of parent, Outing, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Blood, Racial slurs, Gun violence, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Vomit, and Sexual assault
mir_frog73's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Spoiler
hot take but I’m happy the Jamie died and I hope chi killed headmaster ward 🤷🏼♂️ what can I say they are the worst </spoiler >Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Racism, Classism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Outing, Racial slurs, Sexism, Toxic friendship, and Violence
Minor: Suicide attempt
lulibooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Blood, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Drug use
micaelamariem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Car accident, Cursing, Homophobia, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Mental illness, Outing, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content
Minor: Murder
treereadingabook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Stalking, Outing, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, and Classism
Moderate: Racial slurs and Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicide attempt
mrmarshall591's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Definitely a psychological thriller, with similar vibes to ‘Get Out’ (although both are completely different stories focusing on different aspects of horrors related to racism).
4 stars because there was a lot I wish was expanded upon, like a follow-up on characters such a Belle, Scotty, Andre and Jack.
Also, I absolutely love how on the author’s websites there is art depicting the major characters. I have a hard time visualizing things based on descriptions and that really helped! I only found it writing this review since I went searching for one of the character’s names.
I really enjoyed the author’s note, which mentions how the book was written over the course of her college career which is very symbolic to the course of the story.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Outing, Death of parent, Classism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Hate crime, Racism, and Stalking
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Blood, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Trafficking
Minor: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, and Vomit
sup3r_xn0va_maya's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Ace of Spades is the story of Chiamaka and Devon, the only two Black students at an almost all white prestigious high school in America. Someone named Aces stars revealing the two student's secrets and more to the whole school. Aces is out to get Devon and Chiamaka, but who are they? and why?
My only complaint was that the "WHO DID IT?" was spoiled for me thanks to the marketing team and book listing on Amazon! I went to buy this book from Amazon (as it was on sale) and the synopsis on their website spoiled the big reveal for me.
Spoiler
I sometimes hate when the synopsis says, "this novel is X show and Y book/movie put together!", because there's either hardly a comparison or it's spot on and then the story is no longer a surprise. In this case, the examples were the film "Get Out" and the show "Gossip Girl". The comparisons were spot on and because of that, there were few surprises left to figure out on my own.Overall, I really liked this novel, I'm giving this 4.5 stars out of 5, I'm knocking off .5 stars because I guessed some of the ending on my own. I'm also knocking a star off because Chiamaka was a jerk and unpleasant, and half the book was from her point of view so I couldn't avoid her annoying personality.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I listened to this for free on libbyapp.com
Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Classism, Grief, Homophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Bullying, and Suicidal thoughts
almirareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book is almost 400 pages and I’d have read it all in one day if I were able to beat sleep. My jaw was DROPPING every other page. Ace of Spades makes it a big point to talk about Black people assimilating to whiteness and why that cannot work out.
You find yourself not trusting anybody in this book- now THAT’S a good mystery. Also points added for being a Black queer novel! Everybody say THANK YOU FARIDAH!!
Graphic: Outing, Blood, Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, and Car accident
Moderate: Death of parent and Drug use
Minor: Sexual assault
deepcurvesahead's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Car accident, Gaslighting, and Racism
Moderate: Infidelity, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Blood, and Outing
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Drug use, Alcohol, Classism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Rape, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Murder, and Suicide attempt
deckleeditproof's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, and Racism
Moderate: Homophobia, Stalking, Outing, and Classism
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Suicide