Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Also known as Faridah Abike-Iyimide, Faridah Abike-Iyimede, Faridah B. K. Y. M. D.

Dark academia thrillers and young adult mysteries exploring institutional racism, privilege, and hidden corruption have found a prominent contemporary voice in high-concept fiction. British author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé gained widespread acclaim with her debut young adult novel Ace of Spades, an instant New York Times bestseller that combines social commentary with psychological tension.

Her expanded body of work includes the boarding school mystery Where Sleeping Girls Lie and the collaborative novel Four Eids and a Funeral, reflecting her versatility across mystery, romance, and speculative storytelling.

Career & Background

Born on October 13, 1999, and raised in Croydon, South London, Àbíké-Íyímídé pursued higher education in Scotland at the University of Aberdeen, studying English, Chinese, and anthropology before receiving her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. She continued her academic studies by earning a Master of Arts in Shakespeare Studies from King's College London. In addition to writing novels, she has contributed articles and essays to publications including The Bookseller, gal-dem, NME, and Reader's Digest.

Her debut novel, Ace of Spades, published in 2021, received the 2022 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens and established her presence in young adult literature. Beyond her standalone novels, Àbíké-Íyímídé has contributed stories to major media franchises, including Marvel's Spider-Verse and BBC's Doctor Who. An avid tea drinker and collector of strange mugs who enjoys analyzing Disney Channel original movies, she is represented by literary agent Zoë Plant at The Bent Agency.

Writing Style & Themes

Àbíké-Íyímídé specializes in dark academia, mystery, and contemporary young adult fiction that pair fast-paced suspense with sharp social commentary. Her narratives frequently examine systemic inequality, institutional secrecy, and the pressures faced by marginalized students navigating elite academic environments, utilizing dark atmosphere and multi-layered character relationships to drive her plots.

Major Works

Ace of Spades — Published in 2021, this debut young adult dark academia thriller centers on two Black students at an elite private academy targeted by an anonymous bully. The novel reached the top ten on The New York Times Best Seller list and won the 2022 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens.
Where Sleeping Girls Lie — A young adult boarding school mystery with paranormal elements, following a newcomer at a prestigious school who uncovers hidden secrets and institutional cover-ups after her roommate vanishes.
Four Eids and a Funeral — A young adult contemporary romance co-authored by Àbíké-Íyímídé that explores romance, grief, and community against the backdrop of Islamic holiday celebrations.

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Also known as Faridah Abike-Iyimide, Faridah Abike-Iyimede, Faridah B. K. Y. M. D.

Career & Background

Writing Style & Themes

Major Works

Ace of Spades — Published in 2021, this debut young adult dark academia thriller centers on two Black students at an elite private academy targeted by an anonymous bully. The novel reached the top ten on The New York Times Best Seller list and won the 2022 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens.
Where Sleeping Girls Lie — A young adult boarding school mystery with paranormal elements, following a newcomer at a prestigious school who uncovers hidden secrets and institutional cover-ups after her roommate vanishes.
Four Eids and a Funeral — A young adult contemporary romance co-authored by Àbíké-Íyímídé that explores romance, grief, and community against the backdrop of Islamic holiday celebrations.

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Also known as Faridah Abike-Iyimide, Faridah Abike-Iyimede, Faridah B. K. Y. M. D.

Career & Background

Writing Style & Themes

Major Works

Ace of Spades — Published in 2021, this debut young adult dark academia thriller centers on two Black students at an elite private academy targeted by an anonymous bully. The novel reached the top ten on The New York Times Best Seller list and won the 2022 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens.
Where Sleeping Girls Lie — A young adult boarding school mystery with paranormal elements, following a newcomer at a prestigious school who uncovers hidden secrets and institutional cover-ups after her roommate vanishes.
Four Eids and a Funeral — A young adult contemporary romance co-authored by Àbíké-Íyímídé that explores romance, grief, and community against the backdrop of Islamic holiday celebrations.

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Also known as Faridah Abike-Iyimide, Faridah Abike-Iyimede, Faridah B. K. Y. M. D.

Career & Background

Writing Style & Themes

Major Works

Ace of Spades — Published in 2021, this debut young adult dark academia thriller centers on two Black students at an elite private academy targeted by an anonymous bully. The novel reached the top ten on The New York Times Best Seller list and won the 2022 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens.
Where Sleeping Girls Lie — A young adult boarding school mystery with paranormal elements, following a newcomer at a prestigious school who uncovers hidden secrets and institutional cover-ups after her roommate vanishes.
Four Eids and a Funeral — A young adult contemporary romance co-authored by Àbíké-Íyímídé that explores romance, grief, and community against the backdrop of Islamic holiday celebrations.

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Career & Background

Writing Style & Themes

Major Works

Ace of Spades

Where Sleeping Girls Lie

Four Eids and a Funeral

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Career & Background

Writing Style & Themes

Major Works

Ace of Spades

Where Sleeping Girls Lie

Four Eids and a Funeral

For authors

Elsewhere

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Career & Background

Writing Style & Themes

Major Works

Ace of Spades

Where Sleeping Girls Lie

Four Eids and a Funeral

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Career & Background

Writing Style & Themes

Major Works

Ace of Spades

Where Sleeping Girls Lie

Four Eids and a Funeral