The Shadow Game #1 | 411 Pages | 2018

Ace of Shades at a Glance

• Overall Rating: ★★★★
• Heroine: Big D Energy
• Love Interest: Tall, Dark & Smirky
• Steaminess: Off Page
• Brutality: My face is melting

Pairs Well With

Whatever is in a Gambler’s Ruin

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Review

Okay, this is a really fun story. I got a lot of Caraval meets Six of Crows vibes. Levi is the leader of the Irons gang in New Reynes. He meets Enne when she seeks his help to find her mom, who is presumed dead. Together, they search for clues in the seedier side of the city and perform in casinos and clubs. The search causes things to spiral into a world where nothing is as it seems, not even yourself. The two spend their time running from mob bosses, cheating at card tables, uncovering lies from loved ones and learning the details of the infamous Shadow Game.

I loved Enne’s character development. She is a straight from boarding school, debutante loose in a city of sin and criminals. From the start she proves that she will do anything to find her mother and return to her life in Bellamy, but as the search continues, she falls in love with New Reynes and it’s “attractions.” *cough* Levi *cough*. Enne didn’t annoy me like many characters in her trope do. She picked herself up and did whatever she needed to accomplish her goal. By the end of the book I was just amazed by the ass-kickings she could hand out. I can’t wait to see what she does in book 2.

Levi I struggled with. I love a tall, dark and handsome criminal, but Levi was barely holding things together. I felt more sympathy than adoration, which is probably a good thing. The entire time, I was rooting for him to get things together and become the person that he wants to be. Even if that is a criminal leader. In fact, that’s great. He has the potential to just take over everything, but he is actually such a sensitive soul deep down. I just want to give the kid a hug.

I loved the diversity in this book. We have a gender fluid character, bisexual character, and POC who are not added as a token character or villain. Nothing seemed forced and the representation made the characters more realistic. THIS is what I like to see in a YA.

Questions that I have: What the heck is this curse with the crazy hallway of doors??! How do you SHARE CONTACTS? EWWWW

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