Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Imide takes place at Niveus Academy, an elite private school where everything and everyone is perfect. But when two Black students, Devon and Chiamaka, are targeted by an anonymous texter called Aces, their dark secrets are brought to light. The concept of this book is one I have seen before, but the author executed it in a very unique way, so I was always in suspense and waiting to see what would come next. The pacing of this book was well done, and each reveal was more captivating than the last. Although I predicted a few plot points throughout the book, the main twist caught me by surprise, which made me enjoy the book even more. I also really appreciated how the book served as an allegory for systemic racism; the author masterfully highlighted deep rooted issues within our society. Additionally, both main characters were very well developed, allowing me to connect to their thoughts and emotions as I read their story. Overall, this book talked about important issues such as racism and homophobia while also weaving a story that was impossible to put down. I would highly recommend this book to fans of thrillers and dramas, and I would give it a 9.8/10!

CONTENT WARNINGS: racist violence, homophobia