I received an eARC from Harlequin Teen in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so so much! This is a spoiler free review.
Ace of Shades
Written by Amanda Foody
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: April 10, 2018
Pages: 416
Source: ebook ARC provided by Harlequin Teen
Places to Get this Book: Amazon Barnes and Noble Book Depository
Recommended Age: 13 and up!
Summary:
Welcome to the City of Sin, where casino families reign, gangs infest the streets…
and secrets hide in every shadow.
Enne Salta was raised as a proper young lady, and no lady would willingly visit New Reynes, the so-called City of Sin. But when her mother goes missing, Enne must leave her finishing school—and her reputation—behind to follow her mother’s trail to the city where no one survives uncorrupted.
Frightened and alone, her only lead is a name: Levi Glaisyer. Unfortunately, Levi is not the gentleman she expected—he’s a street lord and a con man. Levi is also only one payment away from cleaning up a rapidly unraveling investment scam, so he doesn't have time to investigate a woman leading a dangerous double life. Enne's offer of compensation, however, could be the solution to all his problems.
Their search for clues leads them through glamorous casinos, illicit cabarets and into the clutches of a ruthless mafia donna. As Enne unearths an impossible secret about her past, Levi's enemies catch up to them, ensnaring him in a vicious execution game where the players always lose. To save him, Enne will need to surrender herself to the city…
And she’ll need to play.
Review:
A mix between Caraval by Stephanie Garber and Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, Ace of Shades takes place in a town split in two where the events take place on the North Side which is a den of crime. This book focuses a lot on crime and crime lords/mafia families. Ace of Shades was so much fun, I loved the characters, plot and intrigue which filled the pages. I am excited to see where this plot line leads.
Welcome to the City of Sin, where casino families reign, gangs infest the streets…
and secrets hide in every shadow.
Enne Salta was raised as a proper young lady, and no lady would willingly visit New Reynes, the so-called City of Sin. But when her mother goes missing, Enne must leave her finishing school—and her reputation—behind to follow her mother’s trail to the city where no one survives uncorrupted.
Frightened and alone, her only lead is a name: Levi Glaisyer. Unfortunately, Levi is not the gentleman she expected—he’s a street lord and a con man. Levi is also only one payment away from cleaning up a rapidly unraveling investment scam, so he doesn't have time to investigate a woman leading a dangerous double life. Enne's offer of compensation, however, could be the solution to all his problems.
Their search for clues leads them through glamorous casinos, illicit cabarets and into the clutches of a ruthless mafia donna. As Enne unearths an impossible secret about her past, Levi's enemies catch up to them, ensnaring him in a vicious execution game where the players always lose. To save him, Enne will need to surrender herself to the city…
And she’ll need to play.
Review:
A mix between Caraval by Stephanie Garber and Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, Ace of Shades takes place in a town split in two where the events take place on the North Side which is a den of crime. This book focuses a lot on crime and crime lords/mafia families. Ace of Shades was so much fun, I loved the characters, plot and intrigue which filled the pages. I am excited to see where this plot line leads.
COVER
I adore the cover. I love how it perfectly represents the book as it has a tower of playing cards representing the casinos and games played in the book.
I adore the cover. I love how it perfectly represents the book as it has a tower of playing cards representing the casinos and games played in the book.
WORLD-BUILDING
Ace of Shades takes place in New Reynes where it combines modern elements (cars, showers, and electricity) with traditional clothing and history. Our story takes place on the North Side where crime is very common and mafia/crime families reign supreme. The town is unstable as there has been a revolution recently where the monarchy was overturned, the royal family killed and a Republic took its place. After the fall of the monarchy, there were still many supporters that had to conceal their true identity and live in secrecy. The North Side is divided into three gangs called the Irons, the Scarhands and the Doves but there are also two casino/mafia families: the Augustines and the Torrens.
There is also a magic system where everyone is born with talents that can either be split or 'pure'. Your last name(s) are an indication of which one you have. For example, if your last name is Salta, one of your talents is dancing. Some families talents are stronger than others or could be magical.
Ace of Shades takes place in New Reynes where it combines modern elements (cars, showers, and electricity) with traditional clothing and history. Our story takes place on the North Side where crime is very common and mafia/crime families reign supreme. The town is unstable as there has been a revolution recently where the monarchy was overturned, the royal family killed and a Republic took its place. After the fall of the monarchy, there were still many supporters that had to conceal their true identity and live in secrecy. The North Side is divided into three gangs called the Irons, the Scarhands and the Doves but there are also two casino/mafia families: the Augustines and the Torrens.
There is also a magic system where everyone is born with talents that can either be split or 'pure'. Your last name(s) are an indication of which one you have. For example, if your last name is Salta, one of your talents is dancing. Some families talents are stronger than others or could be magical.
Then there are the characters.
CAMELLIA
ENNE SALTA
The main character, Enne Abacus Salta, is introduced to us when she comes to New Reynes in order to find her adoptive mother, Lourdes, who has been missing for several months. She only has a handful of volts (currency) and a name to look for: Levi Glaisyer. Lourdes informed her to find him as he will help her but instead of the kind man she pictures, she finds he's the Iron lord and a criminal. Enne's character was very likeable and goes through great character development. She arrives in New Reynes as a snobbish, naive, proper lady and completely changes to who she needs to be in order to survive.
LEVI
Our other main character, Levi, is the Iron Lord and has an alternating POV with Enne. He is compared often to Kaz Brekker by others in the book community and he is very similar. He cares for the kids in his gang and wants to pay them and treat them the best he can. He is a very ambitious character and knows he can do better than he is but he isn't sure how. He is also a diverse character seeing as he's black and bisexual (it's not cannonly stated but he clearly has an attraction to boys and girls).
ENNE SALTA
The main character, Enne Abacus Salta, is introduced to us when she comes to New Reynes in order to find her adoptive mother, Lourdes, who has been missing for several months. She only has a handful of volts (currency) and a name to look for: Levi Glaisyer. Lourdes informed her to find him as he will help her but instead of the kind man she pictures, she finds he's the Iron lord and a criminal. Enne's character was very likeable and goes through great character development. She arrives in New Reynes as a snobbish, naive, proper lady and completely changes to who she needs to be in order to survive.
LEVI
Our other main character, Levi, is the Iron Lord and has an alternating POV with Enne. He is compared often to Kaz Brekker by others in the book community and he is very similar. He cares for the kids in his gang and wants to pay them and treat them the best he can. He is a very ambitious character and knows he can do better than he is but he isn't sure how. He is also a diverse character seeing as he's black and bisexual (it's not cannonly stated but he clearly has an attraction to boys and girls).
FRIENDSHIP/FAMILY
Family is very important to Enne as she came all the way to New Reynes in order to find her mother. Her mother is very important to Enne as she feels that she is the only person she has left and the only person who understands her.
Family is very important to Enne as she came all the way to New Reynes in order to find her mother. Her mother is very important to Enne as she feels that she is the only person she has left and the only person who understands her.
PLOT
The whole plot of Ace of Shades revolves around Enne's search for her mother. Enne and Levi meet early in the book and don't want to stick together but realize they have to for different reasons. Levi insists that Enne gets a job and he helps her but unknowingly puts her in a lot of danger. Levi is also in a ton of trouble as he needs to get ten thousand volts within ten days. The whole book takes place during these ten days and creates a lot more suspense.
The whole plot of Ace of Shades revolves around Enne's search for her mother. Enne and Levi meet early in the book and don't want to stick together but realize they have to for different reasons. Levi insists that Enne gets a job and he helps her but unknowingly puts her in a lot of danger. Levi is also in a ton of trouble as he needs to get ten thousand volts within ten days. The whole book takes place during these ten days and creates a lot more suspense.
ROMANCE
There is romance in this book but it is not instalove and is very believable and well written. The chemistry is a slow burn and we get time to see the deep connection that the two develop for each other. Despite the whole book taking place over the course of ten days, it seems to be a lot longer than that.
WRITING
The writing was really pretty and easy to read and understand. I liked how Amanda Foody separated the book into days so we could keep track.
There is romance in this book but it is not instalove and is very believable and well written. The chemistry is a slow burn and we get time to see the deep connection that the two develop for each other. Despite the whole book taking place over the course of ten days, it seems to be a lot longer than that.
WRITING
The writing was really pretty and easy to read and understand. I liked how Amanda Foody separated the book into days so we could keep track.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Although there are books that have some of these aspects in them already, I felt like Ace of Shades had an originality to it. It has an intriguing plot line, the world-building is fantastic and the characters are developed and believable. The story did not completely wrap up and left there plenty to tell in the form of a sequel. If you like any of this, then pick Ace of Shades up.
Quotes from the Book:
NONE AT THIS TIME
Although there are books that have some of these aspects in them already, I felt like Ace of Shades had an originality to it. It has an intriguing plot line, the world-building is fantastic and the characters are developed and believable. The story did not completely wrap up and left there plenty to tell in the form of a sequel. If you like any of this, then pick Ace of Shades up.
Quotes from the Book:
NONE AT THIS TIME
My Rating: 5 out of 5 Crowns
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