Ace of Spades

Written by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Narrated by Jeanette Illidge and Tapiwa Mugweni

This program includes an author's note read by the author.

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.

A Macmillan Audio production from Feiwel & Friends

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Jun 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781250808332

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is the instant New York Times, International bestselling, & Award-winning author of Ace of Spades. She is an avid tea drinker, a collector of strange mugs, and a graduate from a university in the Scottish Highlands where she received a BA in English Literature. She also has an MA in Shakespeare Studies from Kings College London. When she isn’t spinning dark tales, Faridah can be found examining the deeper meanings in Disney channel original movies.

Reviews for Ace of Spades

[insanelyweirdmind · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The book is predictable in some spots. I feel like the last chapter should have been more detailed. It would have been interesting to know Devon's and Chiamaka's families reactions to the events that occurred. And how they dealt with it.
I could see this book being adapted into a TV series, I would watch it.

[Karen Jobim · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing! A twisted tale about the unfortunate reality we live in. Racism, eugenics, homophobia is the true sickness affecting the world. It's a work of fiction but how close is it to real life? It's a thin red line. I think everyone should read this book and reflect on their own prejudices. Perfect!

[Christine · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ace of Spades is a dark YA academic story that "delves deep into the heart of institutionalized racism."

Perspective trades between main characters Devon and Chiamaka, the only two Black students at Niveus Private Academy. The book opens with the announcement that both are senior prefects, in the running for class valedictorian. But then "Aces" starts to go after them each by sending the student body anonymous text messages about them, threatening to derail not only their senior year but their college prospects as well.

Author Àbíké-Íyímídé deftly shows how racism bleeds into everything. Classism, homophobia, and slut shaming rear their ugly heads too. This is a YA mystery with such depth.

It's rare that an epilogue truly adds something to my reading experience, but I loved this one. Àbíké-Íyímídé is clearly talented; I can't wait to see what she writes next.

(The audiobook narrators were great! I had to slow down the book in a few places to catch their words -- on the rare occasion, they bled together in the recording -- but otherwise listened at ~2.5-2.75 speed. I felt they appropriately set the tone.)

[Fav · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This might be the best book I've read so far in 2021

[Ashley Reynolds · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

WOW... What to say about Ace of Spades?! This book, I think EVERY High Scholer should have to read this book! It should be required reading! I am a white woman and this book opened my eyes to things that I didn't even really know or should I say things I didn't WANT to know were still happening in 2021! This book blew me away, I LOVED Chi and Devon! I laughed with them, I cried with them, I got angry with them, and I was HAPPY with them! This book couldn't have ended better! I cannot wait to see what else Faridah Abike-lyimide writes next!!!!

SN: I also think this would be a GREAT min-series on Netflix!

[Anj · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

loved the mystery and suspense, hated the teenage drama lol

[Sabrina Drew · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Awesome book! And to hear the authors experience made it even better!

[christina henriques · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have never been so addicted to a book! This book has me from page 1! I couldn’t put this down! The audiobook was incredible and the writing was sensational. The impact this phenomenal story will have on you is indescribable. I will be making all of my friends read this book!

[asja Hassell · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I had to stop listening…I feel like the story was just too much while also being too little not to mention the author preaching about racism while claiming the female lead (a biracial) as black which by the way adheres to white supremacy via the one drop rule. The tragic mulato story line is played and the fact that she was so dumb wasn’t great either.

[Kelly Haskins · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was not sure how this was going to be when I began. I was not expecting the twists and the lies and conniving that the side characters did. Plus the long game they were playing! An interesting analysis of white supremacy and the harm it causes upholding it woven through like a gossip girl season.

[AJ · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Ace of spades didn’t really get good until about half way through, so try to stick with it. It reminded me too much of Gossip Girl so that took away from the authenticity and originality of the story. With that being said, Ace of Spades ended up being way more sinister and cruel then Gossip Girl.

[Evana Vince · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As an avid book reader and a political science student: this book is a masterpiece.
Easy to follow, I overdid my treadmill workouts because I was so focused on the story.
Addressing the issues of POC and queerness give a touching metaphor of intersectionality.
I recommend

[LaChandra W. · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Xoxo...I loved this book! Gossip girl with real life things I could relate too. The narrators did a great job! This is a must listen!

[Kelly · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was not ready for the emotions I would feel reading this book. Did Ms. Faridah take a wreck you writing shop taught by TDJ? I will read anything this author writes and can't wait for this to be optioned for a series.

[Kayla Pratt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was EVERYTHING!!!

I got so many feels from this book. I was terrified for Chi and Von. I was suspicious of EVERYONE!! I was hurt and I was shocked. And I was relieved when it turned out the right way - cause boy was I scared.

5 stars

[Charneice McKenzie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Relatable. The book is a bit long with passages that I don't think really needed to be in the book and somewhat dragged the plot along. Not sure why a British author needed to make the setting in the United States as if she didn't have plenty of racism in the UK to draw from. But the story is relatable and familiar to so many POC in non-diverse institutions.

[Sharon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

AMAZING!!!! Thrilling, shocking, exhilarating, was on the edge of my seat the whole time!

[alexandrya magee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

dark academia meets get out , give it a try!

[Finaya · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is phenomenal. The narrators did an amazing job. Do give this a read!!

[August · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

just oh my god. everything about this books is 10/10

[Jamie Weiß · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book.
Like, oh my f*cking goddess.
This book kept me on my toes the whole time, second guessing everything and everyone, telling a very twisted, but mostly very true story, while touching on topics like racism, classicism and homophobia with elegance, but not ignorance.
While Niveus and Aces may not be real, Black pain and racism are. To understand the importance of anti-racism nowadays, everyone should read this book and let it throttle you before you—hopefully—become a less harmful white person. (From a white person.)

[Prodigy 1248 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic book! Very well written. Loved that the main characters are queer and I love that we see a Black man who unapologetically is gay and doesn’t necessarily hide it. There are a bit of human interaction bumps and the climax did feel a bit flat, but it’s a great read and highly worth it.

[Paola Presume · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is amazing! It was a mix between Get Out and Gossip Girl or Pretty Little Liars. This book is beautifully written, the story is compelling and intriguing. As a black person who’s been in predominantly white or white adjacent spaces, it wasn’t that hard to relate to relate to the main characters. Loved it!!!

[Ashley Parker · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Simple amazing. I’ve been in situations where I was the only dot in a room full of white and there have been instances where I’ve noticed the deck was stacked against me intentionally. I ate through this book in a day. It reignited my passion for stories and books.

[Katrina Thaxton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A excellent book. I think all young people should read this book along with adults. It touched on a lot of topics and will give you some insights into the topics we are dealing with today.

[JenniferA.Goins · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really liked this book. I didn’t think that I would initially, but like anything in life never say you don’t like something until you are able to understand it and so I read. I’m so glad that I did. Having a child in the LGTBQ community has given me a different perspective on this book and I truly enjoyed reading this. Great work. I can’t wait to read more.

[Raquel Rodrigues · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It's a no from me....could have been great. Good premise but weak execution...

[Stephanie Stiltner Foret · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Not necessarily my thing with the heavy gossip girl/pretty little liars vibes.

I appreciate the author featuring young black people in the story especially a STRONG UNAPOLOGETIC black female lead. All books but YA specifically need more diversity of characters.