This novel had me on so many edges, I nearly fell off the cliff.

Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Iyimide

This novel had me on so many edges, I nearly fell off the cliff.

Faridah Abike-Iyimide delivers a gripping debut in Ace of Spades, an intense YA thriller that tackles racism, bullying, classism, and the trauma of being outed all while building unexpected friendships in the darkest places. It’s a wild ride that is both emotionally triggering and impossible to put down.

If you’re a fan of the movie Get Out, you’ll likely be just as captivated by this story. Abike-Iyimide doesn’t hold back with the twists, and when they hit, they hit.

Set in the elite halls of Niveus Private Academy, where perfection, power, and privilege reign supreme, only two Black students walk the halls: Chiamaka Adebayo and Devon Richards. Their senior year begins full of promise but quickly spirals into chaos when an anonymous texter named Aces starts exposing their deepest secrets. What follows is a chilling unraveling of their lives, reputations, and sense of safety. And the reason behind it all? Even more disturbing than they ever imagined.

Despite the emotionally heavy content, this book had me hooked from the very first page. The suspense never lets up, and the anxiety I felt for the characters especially Chiamaka and Devon was real.

Chiamaka, half Nigerian and half Italian, believes that her family’s wealth and designer wardrobe will help her blend in with her privileged white peers. But she soon learns that no amount of money or social status can shield her from the racism embedded in her school. At times, her naivety and lack of social awareness frustrated me but I had to remind myself she’s still a teenager, navigating a world she thought she understood. She makes questionable choices, even slipping into bully behavior herself but her journey is eye-opening, and her ending was a twist I didn’t expect (yet somehow did).

Devon, though, truly pulled at my heartstrings. Coming from a tough neighborhood, constantly on guard, hiding his sexuality in fear for his life his struggle was raw. He was smart, talented, and deserving of every opportunity, but was still isolated, looked down upon for being poor, and targeted mercilessly. His story felt deeply personal and heartbreaking.

I loved this novel. It was smart, sharp, and unflinching. I even listened to the audiobook and finished it in a single day it was that good. The tension, the reveals, the pacing…everything kept me on edge.

Ace of Spades is a powerful book with even more powerful characters. It blends fiction with very real truths, and it’s one of those reads that stays with you. I’m excited to see what Faridah Abike-Iyimide does next, because she’s a force.

Rating: 4.5/5 – Highly recommend!