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A review by aoifeonpaper
Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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
I LOVED this world! How had I never heard of these books before I stumbled across them on Audible?!
It was dark and Dickensian, and struck me as something between Six of Crows and The Infernal Devices - if a little more mature than either series.
It's told in dual POV through the eyes of Enne, a newcomer to the City of Sin, and Levi, a clever and respected gang leader. Debutante heroine Enne has one of my favourite character arcs I've ever read in a YA fantasy. Levi was such a refreshing change of pace from the usual broken and mysterious bad boys - he's a three dimensional person with genuine warmth, strength, and fears. And, if he broods, it's with good reason.
The magic system was a bit different without becoming hard to follow, and the aesthetic of the debauched but seductive City of Sin was so vivid it was almost a character in itself.
I'm normally someone who needs a bit of romance to stay engaged in a story, but I didn't even realise until after I'd finished the book that this was a SERIOUS slow burn, with just the barest hint of romance.
Absolutely a 5 star read for me! I can't wait to pick up book 2.
It was dark and Dickensian, and struck me as something between Six of Crows and The Infernal Devices - if a little more mature than either series.
It's told in dual POV through the eyes of Enne, a newcomer to the City of Sin, and Levi, a clever and respected gang leader. Debutante heroine Enne has one of my favourite character arcs I've ever read in a YA fantasy. Levi was such a refreshing change of pace from the usual broken and mysterious bad boys - he's a three dimensional person with genuine warmth, strength, and fears. And, if he broods, it's with good reason.
The magic system was a bit different without becoming hard to follow, and the aesthetic of the debauched but seductive City of Sin was so vivid it was almost a character in itself.
I'm normally someone who needs a bit of romance to stay engaged in a story, but I didn't even realise until after I'd finished the book that this was a SERIOUS slow burn, with just the barest hint of romance.
Absolutely a 5 star read for me! I can't wait to pick up book 2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Sexual content
Reference is made to an adult male character grooming young girls - the character is obviously an antagonist and his behaviour is reviled by the protagonist