Book Specifications
Author: Amanda Foody
Format: Hardcover
Part of a Series: The Shadow Game
Release Date: April10, 2018
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
(Harper Collins Publishers)
Genre: Fantasy, LGBT, Young Adult
ISBN: 1335692290
Synopsis from Goodreads
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, Enne has only one lead: the 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.
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Anika created an Ace Of Shades playlist on Spotify so you can play it while reading the book or if you wanna imagine and feel the novel in terms of music.
Click HERE to be redirected to the playlist. Enjoy and don’t forget to follow and share!
REVIEW
Ace of Shades is one heck of an adventure story about a girl named Enne. A proper fine girl enrolled in school for etiquette training in order to become a Lady.
Her journey of a lifetime started when her mother vanished after going to a place called New Reynes, also known as CITY OF SIN. This place happens to be a much darker version of Las Vegas with much higher stakes. This town is not the type of place you should visit especially for Enne. But she feels the need to go searching for her. She doesn’t believe her mother is dead. She strongly believes that she will be able to feel it if her mother was gone already.
Enne has to learn to adapt quickly to make it out alive and find her mother. She needs to be tough as nails, quick and cunning. And she has to find allies among strangers. Because of her mother, she puts her faith in Levi, but working together has a price and Enne has no other choice but to pay. From the moment she arrived in the city her life becomes an enthralling adventure.
The Cover:
A book set in a darker version of Lea Vegas, with higher stakes, gambling, political intrigue and crime, a house of cards is an amazing depiction to put. And the fact that the shadow of the cards is the city itself. two thumbs up!
Characters:
Enne is a sweet sweet girl. She was an orphan at a young age but her adopted mother made sure to raise her in proper society and gave her a very good life. I had a little doubt on her first because she is too innocent that she might end up boring but she adopted and developed as you progress in the chapters.
Levi has been on the streets since he was young. Good thing, he is a gifted con man and his self-taught skills are useful to many in the higher echelons of power in the City of Sin. Making a name for oneself by being corrupt comes with deadly consequences and being friends with Levi could be a gravely dangerous situation.
Ending:
I must say I was a little caught up in the ending. Didn’t expect it to be like that which is a good thing for me because mostly I ended up knowing the ending even though I haven’t read it! This book was good. I’ll be honest I am not the biggest fan of casinos/card games/crime like I really do not like it because of personal reasons apparently but I still enjoyed the book.
MY RATINGS: 4 STARS.
Quotable Quotes:
- “She was a pistol wrapped up in silk. She was a blade disguised as a girl.”
- “Sometimes we’re not who we want to be because we’re supposed to be something else.”
- “People do not play this game to win, my dear. They play this game not to lose.”
- “She was the girl who’d come afraid to the city that could smell your fear. She’d faced the witch. She’d poisoned the wolf. She’d strolled into the land of death with her head held high and left it a lord. She was an impossible player in a fixed game, the only person not playing to win.”
Group Think
Have you read a book and see yourself and your life reflected on it? I would really love to hear your story. Share it with me via comments.
The Author
Amanda Foody has always considered imagination to be our best attempt at magic. After spending her childhood longing to attend Hogwarts, she now loves to write about immersive settings and characters grappling with insurmountable destinies. Currently, she works as a tax accountant in Philadelphia, PA, surrounded by her many siblings and many books.
She is the author of two published novels, DAUGHTER OF THE BURNING CITY and ACE OF SHADES. The next books of THE SHADOW GAME trilogy will release in 2019 and 2020.
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