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vivasher's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Alcohol, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Suicide, and Drug abuse
natashaarvanitidis's review against another edition
4.0
Did I have a good time? Yes
*use of the r-word was gross and unnecessary
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Violence, Child abuse, Ableism, Suicide, and Alcohol
riccii's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
This does mean that I'm looking forward to the next book(s)!
I do have to say, that the writing definitely already picks up towards the end of the book, from
Graphic: Violence, Acephobia/Arophobia, Addiction, Drug use, Alcohol, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Child abuse, Death, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
_persephone's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Mental illness, Alcohol, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Drug use
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Suicide
deebauched's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
the all for the game series overall is one that i'll never be able to summarize or pitch to any of my friends easily. for one, there are a a lot of trigger warnings surrounding the books. for two, when i think about summing it up i have to realize that it's like a patchwork of different parts that should not exist in the same book. it's rather hard to explain to anyone how a runayway mc, gangs and mafia and a completely fictional hybrid sport league would work together on page, and at that point i haven't even mentioned the ragtag team of the foxes full of dysfunctional characters who somehow will weave their way into your brain to eat at your attention. it's just a crazy mix of themes for a setting and even after all these years i don't think i've ever read anything that resembled this series. by all means it should not work, and by all means it has its flaws - but this series is still. so. goddamn. gripping.
the foxhole court is the first book in the series, for me admittedly it's the weakest installation of the trilogy but only in comparison, not on its own. i'm personally among those people who instantly clicked with neil josten's character and pov narration. someone who also instantly clicked with the fictional sport that is exy and the pro league surrounding it. someone who was instantly hooked on the foxes' dysfunction and found each player intriguing. so it is a no brainer that to me the foxhole court, which is considered to be an introductory "putting the groundwork down for the rest to come" book in the trilogy, still worked wonderfully. i've been always hooked on it from first page and even after all these years that doesn't seem to be changing.
i always found neil interesting as a narrator, i just like how he thinks so even the mundane parts of the story don't feel like a bore to get through. his thoughts around survival and all the smarts he had to pick up on the run are interesting. then couple it with his "attitude problem" and the way where he just can't keep his mouth shut in some situations and you get a ridiculously engaging character to follow. once i saw a post where someone said neil's talks in comebacks one usually comes up in the shower only and YES. so much yes. this kid is so mouthy, i love him!
then you meet the foxes with all their problem children, most notorious among them being andrew's lot, and suddenly the story takes another interesting turn. to be honest in this first book they are insanely off-putting and most of the problematic content and divisive stuff that could put people off happen in here. you get explanations for it but i imagine some can't move past this first book to see what happens next and how the relationships progress from here, mostly because andrew's lot is by far the most antagonistic in this one. (a few lines and scenes mostly surrounding nicky's character still ring jarring and nope-y to this day.) you don't understand them, you don't see how this could work in the context of a team and around adults, etc. but all that being said it doesn't make it any less gripping to read. once you're hooked, you are on a ride for real.
being someone who read this book more than 5 times now and this is the first time i ever attempted to write a review for it, it's quite possible i could talk about it till my fingers fall asleep. but i'd rather not and spend my time on moving onto my binge with the 2nd book instead. i think what's most important to me is that i know this book is flawed, some lines aged, some parts need a certain level of suspension of disbelief, etc. but i still can't deny just how much fun and joy i get out of reading it. it still works somehow and that's admirable to me. that someone came up with a concept like this and made it work even if it's not perfect, but still to a point where even a decade after it has a strong following. i just love it as it is, and probably will forever. 4 stars.
ps.: the scene where neil
Graphic: Drug use, Addiction, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Self harm, Suicide, and Murder
aenor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Drug use, Mental illness, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Violence
eeriewater's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Child abuse
Minor: Suicide
sophie22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Suicide, Drug use, Death, Addiction, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship
folkofthebook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
"We're talking about a sport, not a death match."
"Same difference,”
the book is a fever dream but i'm invested af and i low key love them.
college sports romance but add in mafia crime families, mental illness, and drugs.
came for the violent fictional sport, stayed for the evil twin.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Death of parent, Violence, Death, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Murder
Minor: Suicide, Homophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
adrienanthony's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Violence, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Blood, Rape, Alcohol, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Ableism, Addiction, Death, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Torture
My list applies for the entire series. Absolutely not for the faint of heart, take care of yourself. If literally any of this bothers you, do NOT read this or any other book in the series, I am so serious.