Reviews with content warning for Confinement - Ace of Spades

This book kept me up until 3am because I could put it down! It was dark, suspenseful, and ultimately touched on really important topics like racism, classism, queerphobia, among other things.
I loved Devon’s side of the story - I felt like his relationships with partners, friends and family all had a really lovely depth to them (esp. his relationship with Andre - I wanted more!). I wish we could have gotten a little more depth from Chiamaka’s story, but ultimately I enjoyed how we see her character shift as the story goes on.
One thing that stuck out to me was the way the author touched on how the consequences of actions/rumors affect people differently according to the neighborhoods and economic backgrounds they come from. I feel like this book provided a unique take on that that I hadn’t encountered the same way in other stories.
And the main story itself! A tiny bit predictable, but still kept me so anxious all the way until the end. Even though it’s over the top in a thriller-style way, the foundation of this story is grounded in reality & important to acknowledge. It felt similar in some ways to When No One is Watching!
-.25 stars cause I didn’t love the writing style? Felt a bit too clunky/drawn out at some parts. Also, had a few moments where I had to suspend disbelief, but also it wasn’t bad cause it was too worked up about what was going on to really notice.

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yvonne_cl's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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sarah984's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a wild ride of a high school thriller about two students who are targeted by a mysterious figure who seems to know everything about them. The first half was a little too slow for me, but the second half knocked my socks off. The twists were great, the character voices were fun, and I liked the ending.

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mezzarella's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

It's been a long time since I've read a book I felt like I couldn't but down, but Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé delivers. This story is centered around two Black seniors attending the very elite Niveus High. Both Devon and Chiamaka are such strong, talented, and capable students, but they have secrets which threaten to tear their future and dreams apart. When a strange figure called Aces begins to reveal some of Devon and Chiamaka's questionable actions to the student body, the two must work together to save themselves.

This book is unapologetic in its representation. With Black excellence at the center of this story, it was a refreshing take on the "ritzy school drama" trope. Chiamaka is the ultimate goal-setter, striving for the best options. She's the student who can do it all: get good grades, hold student body positions, and organize a team to help her get there. She's cut-throat, at times overly so. She only considers herself to have one true friend, with most of the friends in her circle merely pawns to help her look the part for college applications. Chiamaka is certain that Yale University is in her future, despite the anxiety that claws at her when she's alone. Devon is in some ways, Chiamaka's foil. Prior to his senior year, he was more of an invisible student. Devon may not have a lot of friends or popularity, but he is a gifted musician with dreams of attending Julliard. Devon brings a level of reality to the narrative. He isn't wealthy like Chiamaka is. Devon's mother works several jobs to allow him to attend a school which will help Devon reach his dreams. Despite Devon's challenges, he also is a straight A student with high hopes.

Another part of the book I loved was how similar Niveus High is to the high-achiever high school experience. While Niveus High feels more sinister than your typical high school (this is a thriller after all), I found myself relating to the academic and performative stress displayed throughout the book. High schools, especially those with rich student bodies, serve as a constant reminder that education has become a competition rather than a place of learning. Chiamaka and Devon both attend Niveus and feel the need to be better than their peers. The fear that they will fall behind and live a mundane life is one which many teenagers fear over, especially those who are committed to using their grades to maintain or uplift their current socio-economic standing. This pressure compounds the more minoritized identities a person belongs to. As both Chiamaka and Devon are Black and LGBT students, the pressure stays incredibly high for both of them to conform to societal expectations while also standing out. This task, of balancing excellence and remaining socially digestible to white communities, is something Devon and Chiamaka realize is impossible.

Any gripes that I have about this book is incredibly small. I found myself wondering why all of Chiamaka's relationships with other girls were met with drama and competition, while there was at least some part of the story where Chiamaka had made meaningful connections with boys. I also thought aspects of Terrill and Devon's relationship to be overly predictable, especially with how Terrill was incorporated into the plot of the novel. I had originally considered giving this book 4 stars for these reasons, but realized that these elements are more tied to the genre the book embodies than inherent flaws present in the book itself.

Make sure to preorder this book or buy this from your local library ASAP. You won't want to miss out on one of the best YA of the year. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy of this book.

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