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, her only lead is a 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…
And she’ll need to play.
Ace of Shades is the first book for my book club this month. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to read this. I didn’t own it and I wasn’t going to buy it. My library was taking a bit of a while getting it and it was on hold from others by the time they did have it out. Luckily, they were able to set up the audiobook too. And so, I listened.
The first thing I should say is that some of the people in the club found the book to be a bit boring in the beginning. I would have to agree, it is slow paced. I probably would have stopped reading the book if I didn’t have the audiobook.
However, the narrator was good and it brought to life the world Foody created. It’s an interesting world; gritty and full of magic. I’ve read some disapproving opinions about the created swears (in this case, “mucking”) and the information about the world right in the beginning. Honestly, neither bothered me.
It was really just the pacing of the book that I found difficult. The book is separated by days with alternating chapters of Levi and Enne’s point of views. So, with that in mind, it isn’t until about Day Four that the book starts picking up speed. Even then, it doesn’t really get moving until Day Seven.
That said, I did enjoy the audiobook. And, so did my brother. In fact, he got upset with me for listening to another audiobook when he thought I was listening to the sequel. I guess I will be buying the audiobook for him.
Final rating: 3/5
Casia's Corner 
I liked Ace of Shades and didn’t have a problem with the made up curse words. It made me less scared about my younger cousin picking it up
That is actually a good point about the made up curse words. I haven’t thought of that.