I think that the pitch as Gossip Girl meets Get Out perfectly fits this narrative. At times when you read Ace of Spades, you can imagine the characters as part of Gossip Girl (a.k.a. they sound like twenty-seven year olds playing high school students) and toward the latter parts of the book, this really turns Get Out-esque. Since I was here for the petty drama that makes me rewatch Gossip Girl on the regular, I had a great time with the secrets and treachery going on and was hooked enough to revel in the second half that turns way more dark and twisty. Ace of Spades definitely has this shift in tone and it executes that very well so that as the reader, you’re shocked but also compelled to read on to find out everything (yes, I’m being vague so I don’t spoil things).
Following two Black teens—Devon and Chiamaka—at their private academy who usually steer clear of each other, things take a turn once an anonymous entity called Aces starts blasting their deepest secrets for everyone at school. As their lives crumble under the newly divulged information—grades slipping, friends turning their back on them, dreams crumbling—Devon and Chiamaka have a choice to make. They can either surrender or fight back against whomever wants to take them down.
While it took me quite a while to get invested in the characters’ fates, quite like with Gossip Girl, you often feel like an observer and less as if these characters could randomly show up in your neighbourhood—the parts that were my favourite were the discussions of racial politics and how Chiamaka and Devon try to navigate this school where they are in the minority. I loved the juxtaposition of Chiamaka who is ostensibly at the top of the food chain and Devon who is definitely not. Through their shifting POVs, we really get to see how much more they have to fight to stay relevant and how systemic racism affects their lives even before Aces turns up and puts all their deepest and darkest secrets on blast for everyone to see. It was as harrowing as it was compelling to see how their white classmates reacted to Devon and Chiamaka being systematically torn down and I loved how it all unravelled. The mystery aspect definitely kept me guessing and it was hard putting this book down because I needed to know what the purpose of it all was.
It’s really hard to talk about this book without spoilers, but let’s just say that once I was in, I couldn’t put this story down. I loved how the author explored Devon’s character, especially the dynamic of being Black and gay, and Chiamaka, who has to fight so much harder because she is Black and a girl, and it reminded me a lot of how often we forget the intersectionality of our identity. There’s this one quote “I have to stop myself from apologising because what would I even be sorry for? Existing too loud?” that really struck me. I think that for anyone who picks up this book, there will be something to learn from this story—whether you pick it up for a fun, thrilling time or because you want to explore racism and white supremacy on a deeper level, chances are you won’t be able to stop thinking about Ace of Spades even after finishing it.
Delivering twisty, queer and dark academia vibes that dreams are made of, Ace of Spades is a heart-racing and compelling debut that will keep you up all night to uncover all of its secrets.
Ace of Spades is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of June 1st 2021.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
Gossip Girl meets Get Out in Ace of Spades, a YA contemporary thriller by debut author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé about two students, Devon & Chiamaka, and their struggles against an anonymous bully.
All you need to know is . . . I’m here to divide and conquer. Like all great tyrants do. ―Aces
When two Niveus Private Academy students, Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, are selected to be part of the elite school’s senior class prefects, it looks like their year is off to an amazing start. After all, not only does it look great on college applications, but it officially puts each of them in the running for valedictorian, too.
Shortly after the announcement is made, though, someone who goes by Aces begins using anonymous text messages to reveal secrets about the two of them that turn their lives upside down and threaten every aspect of their carefully planned futures.
As Aces shows no sign of stopping, what seemed like a sick prank quickly turns into a dangerous game, with all the cards stacked against them. Can Devon and Chiamaka stop Aces before things become incredibly deadly?
With heart-pounding suspense and relevant social commentary comes a high-octane thriller from debut author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé.
