Ace of Shades

This was totally my kind of book with schemes and gangs plus magical powers. While the writing wasn't the best the story line and premise made up for it.

This book took me a long time to read because I just couldn't connect to the characters (namely Enne) and I felt like it was such a slog to continue. Luckily, once things start to kick off and we find a little more about Lourdes and Enne's past and get some action sequences, it was a bit easier to get through. I still didn't feel anything for any of the characters and don't think I'll continue with the series. If they focused more on the gangs and Levi's world, it would have been more compelling. Every time a gang is mentioned or something happens with them, it felt like just a tease - the writer introduces too many characters and doesn't have the skill to develop them in the allotted text. Enne, the main character, was just so boring and basic with no real redeeming qualities that I would rush through her chapters just to get back to Levi's POV with a little more meat to it. And while I understand this is a YA book, the romance will-they-won't-they teasing was frustrating and added nothing to the story. If you're not going to have them actually follow through on any sort of intimacy, leave it out of the book entirely.

ahhh, I really enjoyed this! It was so much better than I anticipated at first and then ... boom I was sucked in the story and I fell in love.