Ace of Shades

February 12, 2018
This uneven trilogy opener from Foody (Daughter of the Burning City) follows 17-year-old Erienne “Enne” Salta on a quest to find her adopted mother, journalist Lourdes Alfero. When Lourdes set sail for New Reynes, the “City of Sin,” she promised Enne that she’d be home in two months. Four months later, Enne leaves finishing school to find her, arriving in New Reynes to discover that the city is even more debauched than its nickname suggests. Gangs rule the streets, crime families own the cops, and Lourdes’s emergency contact, Levi Glaisyer, is a 17-year-old con man whom Enne must pay to help her. The duo’s investigation takes them to the darkest corners of the city, uncovering dangerous secrets and ensnaring them in a mystical game that requires players to gamble their lives. At its best, Foody’s novel is a magical tale of introspection, romance, and self-determination. Complicated worldbuilding confuses the plot, however, and an extended setup delays the establishment of stakes, eroding tension and hindering readers’ ability to invest in the characters’ fates. Ages 14–up. Agent: Brianne Johnson, Writers House.

February 15, 2018
A sheltered girl seeking her missing mother teams up with an ambitious young crime lord in a dangerous gambling city.Seventeen-year-old Enne Abacus Salta, a proper white girl from conservative Bellamy, arrives in New Reynes clutching a guidebook to the notorious City of Sin. She is in search of her missing adoptive mother, Lourdes Alfero, a white woman known for her genderfluid style of dress. Enne quickly learns that saying her name is a bad idea--Lourdes has been moonlighting for years as a renegade journalist loyal to the Mizer kings who were overthrown and executed during a rebellion 25 years prior. Desperate, she seeks help from the Iron Lord, the bisexual Levi Glaisyer, dark brown-skinned with bronze-and-black curls. He is struggling to pay for a scheme gone bad lest he be sent to participate in the deadly Shadow Game. Complex worldbuilding and large cast introductions initially cause things to drag, but the guidebook serves as an efficient expository device. A positive take on sexuality and sex work is expressed in a nongraphic manner. While the largest plot twist is all too predictable, the relationship between Enne and Levi simmers, and dangers pile up to an exciting climax.Readers will eagerly wish for a sequel that will allow them to revisit New Reynes. (Fantasy. 14-adult)

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March 1, 2018

Gr 9 Up-"If I'm not home in two months, I'm dead." Enne's adoptive mother Lourdes had told her. Four months later, Enne has left her finishing school to sail for New Reynes: the "City of Sin" and her mother's last-known destination. New Reynes is the domain of street lords, gamblers, and con artists. With effort, Enne locates a young street lord named Levi whom Lourdes once helped. Levi doubts that Enne, raised as a proper young lady, will be able to handle life in New Reynes long enough to discover her mother's fate. Enne secures Levi's help with a promise of money, however, and Enne is more resilient than she first appears. Yet she becomes entangled in the corrupt dealings of her new employer, a Mafia donna, and Enne must fulfill her new obligations while desperately searching for Lourdes. The political situation is also complicated in this alternate world, where each person by default has two "talents," one from each parent. The world in this promising series debut is dark but enticing. Readers who have little interest in casinos may initially be hesitant to pick this one up, but will be quickly drawn in by the intrigue if they do. The plot twists pleasingly, and character development is well crafted. Enne's growth is apparent and complements Levi's emerging realization that he cannot do everything alone. VERDICT Recommend to teens interested in but not quite ready for Game of Thrones. A solid purchase for medium and large libraries.-Sara White, Seminole County Public Library, Casselberry, FL

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