30 books that you can totally judge by their covers

Ace of Shades – Amanda Foody

Amanda Foody’s Ace of Shades is sure to be a fun read for anyone who enjoys stories about mischief and debauchery. The book follows Enne, a young woman who would never think about entering New Reynes, better known as the “City of Sin.”

Unfortunately for Enne, she’s forced to travel to New Reynes when her mother goes missing. And when she gets there, she becomes wrapped up in the schemes of Levi Glaisyer, a con artist who dupes his marks for to make money. Naturally, when Enne offers to compensate him in return for helping her find her mother, he’s happy to oblige.

But finding Enne’s mother isn’t necessarily easy, and the process of doing so puts Enne and Levi in some shady — and even downright dangerous — situations. The book’s cover speaks to that, depicting both the silhouette of New Reynes and a house of cards, likely representative of the casinos and trickery featured throughout the story. The red backdrop is also made up of card suits, adding an impressive amount of detail to the outside of Ace of Shades.