"Oaths, omertas, Chainers - there's a reason so many in the North Side favor such weapons. New Reynes killed the queen the very day she hoped to negotiate peace. The City of Sin was built on duplicity."Friends, this was one of my most highly anticipated sequels of 2019 and Foody did not disappoint! There is a lot going on in this sequel and there is never a dull moment, but the narrative is easy to follow and infectious. Guard your hearts because if you were emotionally destroyed during Ace of Shades... uh... yea. I yelled HOW COULD YOU when I finished this one. This book is action-packed with character development galore and intensely feminist.
I was scared that this book would suffer from Middle Book Syndrome: there'd be a lot of waiting, a lot of preparing and very little action until the end, and the characters wouldn't really develop. I was so happy that these fears were unfounded because in all of these regards, KING OF FOOLS really shines. This is a more character development focused installment that sets a lot up for book 3. We learn more about the history and politics of New Reynes, building up to an intense ending - I can't wait for the third book!
With the Chancellor of the Republic dead, New Reynes is thrust into campaign season and there are two parties vying for power. New Reynes is in a bit of chaos not unlike all those years prior during the revolution, and history has a dangerous way of repeating itself. A street war is brewing beneath the surface, and it is a dangerous time to be vying for power on the North Side.
"Vianca wanted righteousness. Levi wanted glory. And she, Enne realized, wanted revenge."Every character in this book is searching for something, vying for power of their very own. Vianca Augustine particularly is disturbingly interesting, and if you pre-order this book you will learn a bit more of her backstory in the free short story that is the pre-order incentive.
King of Fools is told in three points of view: Enne, Levi, and Jac. And as a person that often struggles with multiple POV narratives, it completely worked for me here. Each of them have their own goal and main focus/partnership, and it was really interesting to see the inside perspective from each and see how everything connects at the end. The story is intricately and impressively plotted.
"Despite his many recent and frightening brushes with death, the thought of failure scared him more. He would rather die a legend than end his life in anonymity."Levi's ambitions were definitely prevalent in Ace of Shades; however, they come to the fore in King of Fools as he will do anything to become a legend himself. He is determined to claim his destiny and freedom, and it is painful to watch his dogged pursuit for me as he is willing to sacrifice those he loves to get what he wants. Levi's dogged pursuit of becoming a legend and securing his freedom pits his aspirations with those he holds most dear. My heart hurts just thinking about it. I do think that the whole "forbidden love" aspect for Levi and Enne was a little heavy handed with the "will-they-won't-they" being dragged out, especially because they are my OTP. I really loved learning more of Lola and Jac's backstories, especially more about Levi and Jac's friendship. This little found family of Levi, Jac, and Enne is tested in King of Fools as each of them enter into unlikely partnerships.
"If Enne was about to become a street lord, then she could make her own rules. The City of Sin would learn that a pistol painted pink was just as lethal."Amanda's long referred to this installment as "the girl gang book," and that definitely describes this book. After the events of Ace of Shades, she has taken on the Seance persona to create her own gang (the Spirits), and the relationships that she builds with Lola and new additions to the cast are precious. I am so happy that we get to see more of Lola in this book, she provides levity and witty asides throughout.
"'Fine,' Lola huffed. 'But you better not be in trouble, because I really don't have time today to say you."The fact that she is a "rule-abiding, knife collecting fraud" cracks me up: she has no qualms with so much of what happens but won't jaywalk honestly would be me. Every character was fleshed out in this book as we learn more about their pasts, inner conflicts, and desires.
One of the things that I love about this series, and this book in particular, is the girl power. Our female characters are tough and strong, but do not fall into the typical YA stereotype of being hard. They like nice things, dresses, and romance books; and Enne's gang wears white gloves. They are ladies that also happen to be a part of the seedy underbelly of the North Side. They are strong and not in need of being saved by men, and their struggles are more than their relationship with men. And they want to achieve their own glory.
"Enne didn't want a savior. She wanted a partner."The leaders of the other street gangs and their seconds make random appearances, and I will admit that I had a difficult time keeping the many side characters straight. I do love how Enne and Levi are forced to grapple with the events of the first book, and how everything came back around by the end of this book. The last 35-40% of the book had me in an anxiety spiral and the ending broke me.
Overall, I really enjoyed King of Fools! It didn't feel like a fluffy connector book in the trilogy, but rather took a lot of time to expand out knowledge of the intricate world and develop the characters we know and love even further. Be warned that the book builds up the action steadily and the end of the book is both heartbreaking and a cliffhanger. Fans of found families and girl power definitely need to pick up this series!
REPRESENTATION: bisexual rep, characters of color, diverse characters, f/f romance, m/m romance, PTSD rep
CONTENT WARNINGS: drug abuse and recovery, murder, violence
Many thanks to Inkyard Press for sending me an eARC via NetGalley for my honest review! Quotes are taken from an unfinished ARC and may not match final publication.
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My pre-reading & review thoughts in case you want to see my fangirling.
HOW DARE YOU, AMANDA! The downside of reading King of Fools early is now I have even longer to wait for the next book in the series.
full RTC closer to publication date.
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12/4/18: I keep wanting to re-read Ace of Shades because it is one of my favorite reads for 2018 but I don't think my heart can handle the ending again without this book to follow after. Can I please time travel to April?
10/24/18: Bustle's got an exclusive excerpt - read the first chapter for free and continue screaming into the void with me as we wait impatiently for this book.
6/24/18: HOLY HELL I NEED THIS BOOK NOW.