modernthymes'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Bullying, Homophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Stalking and Sexual harassment
Minor: Police brutality, Gun violence, and Fire/Fire injury
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
mkelly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Homophobia, Stalking, Outing, Hate crime, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Car accident, Drug use, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
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
erinamerritt'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Hate crime, and Violence
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Gun violence
brinasatt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Classism, Hate crime, Outing, Homophobia, Racism, and Bullying
Moderate: Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Car accident, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, and Stalking
Minor: Blood, Death of parent, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury
temymm'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Stalking, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Murder, Bullying, Drug use, Outing, Physical abuse, and Car accident
Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Blood, Gun violence, and Police brutality
The big things to note are that this book deals with racism and stalking. As in, that is the premise of the book. It deals with institutional racism. Do. Not. Read. If that is not something you can read. There is also a lot of dark shit that happens quickly, from mentions of police brutality to suicide attempts to realising that a parent is dead. There is a recurring theme of vehicular murder, though unintentional, and an MC is in a relationship with a drug dealer. This book is dark at times, but Àbíké-Íyímídé handles it WONDERFULLYmoniipeters'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
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Blood, Car accident, Chronic illness, Classism, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Racial slurs, Racism, Alcohol, Slavery, Violence, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, and Self harm
kathleenes'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Self harm, Bullying, Classism, Homophobia, Death, Hate crime, Racism, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Outing, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, and Car accident
clockworkstars's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
4.5☆|5
Embarquons ensemble vers la Niveus private academy, école élitiste et quasiment entièrement blanche à l'exception de deux étudiants noirs, faisant ici leur rentrée en dernière année. On suit Devon et Chiamaka et tout cela se passe bien jusqu'à que quelqu'un, un mystérieux "aces" ne se mettent à révéler leurs secrets les plus enfouis. À les révéler à l'entièreté de l'établissement via des messages anonymes...
Sachez que si vous n'avez pas encore lu ce livre, vous devez aller le lire maintenant. Et je ne plaisante même pas. Vous avez besoin de lire ce livre. Préparez vous à vous sentir mal, plein de rage, à pleurer mais ce seront des réactions justes et légitimes. Mais lisez ce livre.
Je n'ai pas pu le poser. C'est un livre que l'on ne peut pas déposer et que l'on ne veut pas lâcher non plus. On ne veut pas arrêter de le lire, en sortir ne serait ce que quelques instants. C'est un véritable page turner et cela en est un très bon. Ce livre est absolument exceptionnel. Et cela pour tant de raisons. Tout d'abord grâce à la plume qui vous attrape pour ne pas vous lâcher, qui vous plonge entièrement dans l'histoire. Je l'ai adorée, elle donne une puissance incroyable au livre. Et la puissance est renforcée par l'histoire créée par l'autrice.
Un plot qui va vous mettre en colère, qui va vous retourner. Des retournements de situation qui vous donne envie de crier, une histoire de fiction qui vous glace le sang car vous savez au fond de vous que ce n'est pas si poussé que cela, que cela peut arriver, que cela arrive sans doute quelque part. Car cela semble tellement réel.
Ce livre parle par conséquent de bien des choses, il met en évidence et dénonce le racisme et l'homophobie, l'élitisme et la "suprématie blanche". C'est un thriller exceptionnel car il traite de thèmes extrêmement réels.
Et il le fait accompagné de personnages qui semblent tout aussi réels et vivants. On suit Devon, adolescent noir et gay issu de quartier populaire, l'un des seuls de son école à venir de ces quartiers de la ville. Et on suit Chiamaka, jeune fille biraciale (italienne et nigérienne), saphique, plus riche et bien plus populaire. Et ils sont tellement différents, lire leurs pdv en alternance en était exceptionnelle. Je suis absolument fan de Chiamaka, donnez plus de personnages féminins bien écrit qui sont badass au possible (je vais peut être juste arrêter de lire des personnages féminins écrits par des hommes).
Et le fait qu'ils ne viennent pas du même milieu se voit au niveau du traitement de leur personnage et cela se voit dans le comment ils réagissent différemment à ce qui leur tombe dessus. Les personnages sont extrêmement bien gérés par l'autrice qui a réussi à écrire ici un roman incroyable.
C'est queer, c'est noir, cela a un coté dark academia, une plume et un plot relevant du génie, cela traite de racisme systématique, qu'est ce que vous attendez de plus ? Lisez le, maintenant.
Rep : MC noire biraciale (italienne et nigérienne) et sapphique ; MC noir et gay ; SC noir et achiléen
TW : racisme ; n-word ; homophobie ; outing ; harcèlement ; sang ; consommation d'alcool ; accident de voiture ; stalking ; abus émotionnel ; crise de panique ; idée suicidaire ; mention de tentative de suicide passée ; mort d'un parent ; violence par armes à feu ; meurtre ; sexisme ; usage de drogue ; incendie ; relation toxique
Graphic: Racism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexism, Stalking, and Outing
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Infidelity