the characters were loveable and flawed, which made them feel very realistic, and every interaction between them (from action-packed fights to diplomatic politics to friendly banter) was lovely and entertaining. the story itself was a perfect balance of tension and action, with mysteries and conflicts and subplots that untangled themselves as the book went on. i have so many questions, and i’m really looking forward to the other books in the series!!

NEW FAVORITE BOOK
GO READ IT 
AHH

King of Fools, though it was a bit of a longer and slower-paced book, was absolutely incredible. Amanda Foody’s dedication to fleshing out this world and these characters is evident in every word as she pieces together several subplots and overarching conflicts into an exciting and thrilling story. King of Fools focuses both on politics and action-packed fights as street lords and gangs and politicians grapple for power in the North and South sides of “the city of sin”. And while all of this was amazing and super interesting to read about, my favorite part of the entire book was seeing Enne (one of the main characters) grow more stronger and confident, and build her own gang from absolutely nothing. Seeing a female character who was powerful, but also had real emotions and dressed in fancy dresses and was an expert in social etiquette, was so refreshing. I loved the constant banter between her and the other girls, and I am incredibly envious of the little group they created. In conclusion, this book was a fantastic sequel to Ace of Shades, and I adored every page of it. Highly recommend it if you’re in the mood for a slightly more complex and action-packed fantasy, or if you enjoyed the first book. <33

 I read this book expecting more dark/heavy poetry, similar to the other Amanda Lovelace books I’ve read, but it felt a lot lighter, even as it discussed some heavy topics. In some ways, it even felt like a self-help book, which was not what I was expecting, but, surprisingly, enjoyed. unlock your storybook heart was reassuring and beautifully written, and I highly recommend it.