Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is a British novelist, short-story writer and columnist. Her debut novel, the young adult thriller Ace of Spades (2021), received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens in 2022, and reached the top ten on The New York Times Best Seller list.
Additionally, Àbíké-Íyímídé has contributed writings to several publications, including The Bookseller, gal-dem, NME and Reader's Digest.
Early life and education Àbíké-Íyímídé was born and raised in Croydon in South London. She lived in Aberdeen, Scotland while studying English, Chinese and anthropology at the University of Aberdeen. She currently lives in London.
Career Àbíké-Íyímídé's debut novel, Ace of Spades, is a young adult thriller with themes of "homophobia in the black community, institutional racism and the diversity of thought among black people". In 2018 she gained an agent and a UK book deal for Ace of Spades with Usborne Publishing. In 2019, she founded Avengers of Colour, a mentorship initiative for un-agented writers of colour aimed at supporting participants in pursuing publication opportunities. In 2020 she gained a US book deal with Macmillan Publishers for Ace of Spades along with a second novel, for a seven-figure sum.
Personal life Àbíké-Íyímídé is a British-Nigerian and identifies herself as Muslim, she is openly queer.
Publications Ace of Spades. New York: Feiwel & Friends, 2021. . London: Usborne, 2021. . The Doomsday Date. London: Usborne, 2024. Where Sleeping Girls Lie. New York: Feiwel & Friends, 2024. . & Jaigirdar A. Four Eids and a Funeral. New York: Feiwel & Friends, 2024 . The Heirs. London: Usborne, 2026. .
Anthologies
These Dreaming Spires: A Dark Academia Anthology (September 2, 2025) Spider-Man: Stories from the Spider-Verse (October 1, 2024) Doctor Who: Fifteen Doctors 15 Stories (19 September 2024) The White Guy Dies First (July 16, 2024) Joyful Joyful (2022) Doctor Who: Origin Stories (2022) Black Joy (2021)
Award and Recognition Finalist, William C. Morris Award (2022) for Ace of Spades.https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2021/12/yalsa-announces-2022-william-c-morris-finalists
References
External links