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laesterlurch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Self harm, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Car accident, Gaslighting, Addiction, Alcohol, and Kidnapping
fanboyriot's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- 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
Read For:
Gay Sports
Hurt/Comfort
Chaotic Gays
Found Family
College Setting
This book is addictive and all things chaotic from the characters to the plot. While it is filled with problems and poor choices it’s such a comfort series that I couldn’t imagine not re-reading it time and time again.
While there isn’t much that happens in this book (compared to the other two in the series) this book gets the setting out in place, you get to know the characters and no I have no idea why Nicky is so damn creepy in this book but trust me he gets better in the other two books.
It’s fun re-reading this series because you can see the slow burn settle in while if you’re reading this for the first time you’ll be just as confused and oblivious as Neil. It’s truly amazing.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (5/5)
Release Date: 15, January 2013
POV: Third Person
Spice: n/a
Rep: Gay (SC), BIPOC (SCs), Mental illness (everyone)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Child abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Cursing, Death, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Addiction and Abandonment
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia, Murder, Religious bigotry, Hate crime, Misogyny, Rape, Vomit, Gun violence, and Pedophilia
flofli's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse and Drug abuse
Minor: Animal cruelty and Homophobia
saturn26's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Torture
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
Minor: Pedophilia and Death of parent
maclogue's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I realize this book series is written like a fan fiction and I don’t care. Almost every character is a bastard, but somehow I still love them. If you read this book please check trigger warnings!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Car accident, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Hate crime, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
frantic_vampire's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
2024 reread: This was the first time rereading this book and all I have to say is: damn. This is still such a good book! Neil is an unhinged, mouthy idiot and I still love him. I loved just how bitchy and scared and paranoid he is. I just…this book is so unhinged in the best ways and I still love all the characters. They’re all sweet, if a bit fucked up (okay, a lot fucked up) and I’m obsessed with them. This is still a solid five stars!
Original review: Holy shit! Why did nobody warn me that I would fall in love with this series? I knew I was a goner as soon as I finished the first chapter. I don’t think I’ve fallen for a book series that quickly since I read Wolfsong. There was something so compelling about the story, about Neil as a narrator, about the characters, and about the writing that drew me in and didn’t let go until it absolutely had to.
Neil is the biggest sweetheart! He’s got a serious attitude, he’s a little oblivious, he’s mouthy and argumentative and stupidly brave. I just wanted to give him a hug. I loved how the team just kind of adopted him as their little brother (and as their child) and have decided to give him all the love that he needs. And the monsters! Andrew, Aaron, Nicky, and Kevin. Why do I love these fucked up boys so much 🤦♀️? I just want to give them all the hugs and love. I also really loved the girls and Matt. They are all messed up in some way, but they’re family.
This is how to do a found family story! I just love the way they work together and they protect each other. I can already tell that this will be a series that I come back to again and again. It’s such a wonderful bit of storytelling that’s completely self-indulgent and decadent. This is getting a solid five stars. I would highly recommend this one!
Original review: Holy shit! Why did nobody warn me that I would fall in love with this series? I knew I was a goner as soon as I finished the first chapter. I don’t think I’ve fallen for a book series that quickly since I read Wolfsong. There was something so compelling about the story, about Neil as a narrator, about the characters, and about the writing that drew me in and didn’t let go until it absolutely had to.
Neil is the biggest sweetheart! He’s got a serious attitude, he’s a little oblivious, he’s mouthy and argumentative and stupidly brave. I just wanted to give him a hug. I loved how the team just kind of adopted him as their little brother (and as their child) and have decided to give him all the love that he needs. And the monsters! Andrew, Aaron, Nicky, and Kevin. Why do I love these fucked up boys so much 🤦♀️? I just want to give them all the hugs and love. I also really loved the girls and Matt. They are all messed up in some way, but they’re family.
This is how to do a found family story! I just love the way they work together and they protect each other. I can already tell that this will be a series that I come back to again and again. It’s such a wonderful bit of storytelling that’s completely self-indulgent and decadent. This is getting a solid five stars. I would highly recommend this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Homophobia, Violence, Alcoholism, Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Ableism, Alcohol, Bullying, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, and Toxic friendship
samchase112's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Rating: 5 stars
It’s not the world that’s cruel. It’s the people in it.
Did I seriously just finish this book in 5 hours? I was so totally engrossed in the storyline that I couldn't even be bothered to change into pjs. The pages kept flipping, and all I could think was "one...more...chapter..." I love, love, love these characters so much, with all their messed-up priorities and crazy addictions and even insane violent tendencies. I don't know how it happened, but somehow I grew to love them despite all their flaws.
As he slipped the lock into place again he realized his hand was trembling. He held up his shaky fingers where he could see them better and wondered at the equally weak flutter in his chest. Hope was a dangerous, disquieting thing, but he thought perhaps he liked it.
Especially Neil, Andrew, and Kevin. Neil is my baby, he must be protected at all costs and sohelpmegods I will force him to find a home with these boys if it kills me. His obvious desperation that grew into a quiet confidence, and even a little hope, was everything. Kevin grew from stay-away-from-me-I'm-untouchable to I-have-such-a-tragic-past-and-I-need-love so quick I didn't realize what hit me. And Andrew. How can you not adore Andrew and everything he does for the people he cares about?! The supporting characters were equally as interesting, though I hated Nicky a bit by the end there. Ah well, all a part of the game ;) I don't want to make too many Raven Cycle parallels here, but Ronan is Andrew no questions asked; Adam is Neil (blooming romance included); and Kevin is undoubtedly Gansey. I could write a freaking essay about the similarities between each respective character, but needless to say I can see why people would recommend this series for fans of [b:The Raven Boys|17675462|The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, #1)|Maggie Stiefvater|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1477103737s/17675462.jpg|18970934] - and I say the same.
Exy was a bastard sport, an evolved sort of lacrosse on a soccer-sized court with the violence of ice hockey, and Neil loved every part of it.
Exy is such a fantastic game to read about, and I loved the passion these characters have for it. I'm a huge sports fan, so the sports scenes were engrossing to me. Nevertheless, I could see how it could become really confusing for someone who didn't understand the basics of lacrosse; the explanations and play-by-plays were clear enough to me, but I could see how they could become confusing to others. As for me, I frequently found myself gritting my teeth in frustration during the game against Breckenridge, and cheering on little ol' Neil and a perfectly cocky Andrew. Seriously, I was so into these games that when the plot twist happened at the end all I could think (please don't judge) was "great, this will help the team mesh better and go on to win it all!"
It sounded like a dream; it tasted like damnation.
The plot was totally unbelievable..........but who freaking cares?! Call me crazy, but I had so much fun with gangs and murder and drugs and sneaking out and punching everyone left and right. Every single oh-so-sincere "I hate you" or not-so-sincere sarcastic remark was said in such a way that I basically cracked up. I don't know, it was just something about this book that I absolutely loved, and which spoke to me on an entertainment level that ended up getting me way too invested in these characters and this outrageous plot. Whoops :)
Keys meant Neil had explicit permission to be here and do what he liked. They meant he belonged.
Despite my obvious new obsession with this book, it certainly had its flaws. The plot didn't seem to have much structure, and I wouldn't be surprised to find out the author wrote a whole giant book and then was asked to cut it up into three parts. That means I am really looking forward to the next book, but it also just shows the lack of structure here. The author also had a bit of an odd writing style, mostly in terms of grammar. It's hard to explain, but sometimes the characters' names were mentioned a ton in a couple sentences, while it wouldn't have been confusing to just use "he" once in a while. There were copy editing mistakes as well, which aren't much of a problem but can become a nuisance to some people. Some of the plot points were also pretty hard to follow, such as the specifics of Kevin's, Andrew/Aaron's, and Neil's pasts, respectively. I'm hoping this issue, at least, is fixed up a bit in the next books.
Welcome to the Foxhole Court.
As you can see, I am not way too invested in these insane, violent characters and the brutal game they love. I need the next books in my hands, asap!
Note: this was probably not a coherent review, because I honestly just wanted to get my thoughts down and forget about having it make sense in any way - sorry!
Bonus quote for my Andrew x Neil loving heart: It's fine, Coach," Andrew said, catching up to them. He touched Neil's back on his way by, fingers light enough to give Neil goose bumps, but didn't slow on his way to Kevin's side.
Reread August 2019
Am I too obsessed with these characters? Definitely not. Never.
This is a perfect series to reread, because once you’ve seen how everything plays out a reread will show how many little details and signs are hidden in the first book. I LOVE IT. I LOVE THESE CHARACTERS!
Reread October 2019
I am such FREAKING TRASH FOR THIS SERIES.
The dark humor gets to me every time. Seriously, I crack up. I also want to cry half the time, and the other half I’m smiling at these insane characters. These are my children, okay? Andrew and Neil deserve the ENTIRE WORLD. And, okay, Kevin too.
So, um, yeah. I’m trash and I’m okay with it.
Reread September 2020
Hope was a dangerous, disquieting thing, but he thought perhaps he liked it.
It's been over a year, and I'm STILL so freaking OBSESSED with these characters and their stories that it's actually becoming a problem. I'm always gasping and laughing out loud throughout the book, even the fourth (!!!) time through. I just keep saying the same things over and over in these reviews, but what else is there to say? I can't seem to find any other words; all I can say is that you need to read this book, because I'm addicted. Oh well.
*note: I typed that quote up there from memory. if that doesn't tell you something...
Reread November 2022
Damn, I just can’t get enough of this story. It gets funnier and darker and more engrossing the more I read it. I just tried to explain why I loved it to my mom, and woo boy my ramblings made absolutely no sense. Guess I’m a bit messed in the head, but at this point I’m too far gone to care.
Reread June 2023
Reading this book literally evokes shrieks and laughter and physical reactions from me, I can’t help it. I’m so attached to these characters it’s not even funny. I’m almost resentful of the library books I have to read now because I want to start The Raven King so freaking badly. Oh well, guess I’ll just have to give this one another looksie when I get there…
It’s not the world that’s cruel. It’s the people in it.
Did I seriously just finish this book in 5 hours? I was so totally engrossed in the storyline that I couldn't even be bothered to change into pjs. The pages kept flipping, and all I could think was "one...more...chapter..." I love, love, love these characters so much, with all their messed-up priorities and crazy addictions and even insane violent tendencies. I don't know how it happened, but somehow I grew to love them despite all their flaws.
As he slipped the lock into place again he realized his hand was trembling. He held up his shaky fingers where he could see them better and wondered at the equally weak flutter in his chest. Hope was a dangerous, disquieting thing, but he thought perhaps he liked it.
Especially Neil, Andrew, and Kevin. Neil is my baby, he must be protected at all costs and sohelpmegods I will force him to find a home with these boys if it kills me. His obvious desperation that grew into a quiet confidence, and even a little hope, was everything. Kevin grew from stay-away-from-me-I'm-untouchable to I-have-such-a-tragic-past-and-I-need-love so quick I didn't realize what hit me. And Andrew. How can you not adore Andrew and everything he does for the people he cares about?! The supporting characters were equally as interesting, though I hated Nicky a bit by the end there. Ah well, all a part of the game ;) I don't want to make too many Raven Cycle parallels here, but Ronan is Andrew no questions asked; Adam is Neil (blooming romance included); and Kevin is undoubtedly Gansey. I could write a freaking essay about the similarities between each respective character, but needless to say I can see why people would recommend this series for fans of [b:The Raven Boys|17675462|The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, #1)|Maggie Stiefvater|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1477103737s/17675462.jpg|18970934] - and I say the same.
Exy was a bastard sport, an evolved sort of lacrosse on a soccer-sized court with the violence of ice hockey, and Neil loved every part of it.
Exy is such a fantastic game to read about, and I loved the passion these characters have for it. I'm a huge sports fan, so the sports scenes were engrossing to me. Nevertheless, I could see how it could become really confusing for someone who didn't understand the basics of lacrosse; the explanations and play-by-plays were clear enough to me, but I could see how they could become confusing to others. As for me, I frequently found myself gritting my teeth in frustration during the game against Breckenridge, and cheering on little ol' Neil and a perfectly cocky Andrew. Seriously, I was so into these games that when the plot twist happened at the end all I could think (please don't judge) was "great, this will help the team mesh better and go on to win it all!"
It sounded like a dream; it tasted like damnation.
The plot was totally unbelievable..........but who freaking cares?! Call me crazy, but I had so much fun with gangs and murder and drugs and sneaking out and punching everyone left and right. Every single oh-so-sincere "I hate you" or not-so-sincere sarcastic remark was said in such a way that I basically cracked up. I don't know, it was just something about this book that I absolutely loved, and which spoke to me on an entertainment level that ended up getting me way too invested in these characters and this outrageous plot. Whoops :)
Keys meant Neil had explicit permission to be here and do what he liked. They meant he belonged.
Despite my obvious new obsession with this book, it certainly had its flaws. The plot didn't seem to have much structure, and I wouldn't be surprised to find out the author wrote a whole giant book and then was asked to cut it up into three parts. That means I am really looking forward to the next book, but it also just shows the lack of structure here. The author also had a bit of an odd writing style, mostly in terms of grammar. It's hard to explain, but sometimes the characters' names were mentioned a ton in a couple sentences, while it wouldn't have been confusing to just use "he" once in a while. There were copy editing mistakes as well, which aren't much of a problem but can become a nuisance to some people. Some of the plot points were also pretty hard to follow, such as the specifics of Kevin's, Andrew/Aaron's, and Neil's pasts, respectively. I'm hoping this issue, at least, is fixed up a bit in the next books.
Welcome to the Foxhole Court.
As you can see, I am not way too invested in these insane, violent characters and the brutal game they love. I need the next books in my hands, asap!
Note: this was probably not a coherent review, because I honestly just wanted to get my thoughts down and forget about having it make sense in any way - sorry!
Bonus quote for my Andrew x Neil loving heart: It's fine, Coach," Andrew said, catching up to them. He touched Neil's back on his way by, fingers light enough to give Neil goose bumps, but didn't slow on his way to Kevin's side.
Reread August 2019
Am I too obsessed with these characters? Definitely not. Never.
This is a perfect series to reread, because once you’ve seen how everything plays out a reread will show how many little details and signs are hidden in the first book. I LOVE IT. I LOVE THESE CHARACTERS!
Reread October 2019
I am such FREAKING TRASH FOR THIS SERIES.
The dark humor gets to me every time. Seriously, I crack up. I also want to cry half the time, and the other half I’m smiling at these insane characters. These are my children, okay? Andrew and Neil deserve the ENTIRE WORLD. And, okay, Kevin too.
So, um, yeah. I’m trash and I’m okay with it.
Reread September 2020
Hope was a dangerous, disquieting thing, but he thought perhaps he liked it.
It's been over a year, and I'm STILL so freaking OBSESSED with these characters and their stories that it's actually becoming a problem. I'm always gasping and laughing out loud throughout the book, even the fourth (!!!) time through. I just keep saying the same things over and over in these reviews, but what else is there to say? I can't seem to find any other words; all I can say is that you need to read this book, because I'm addicted. Oh well.
*note: I typed that quote up there from memory. if that doesn't tell you something...
Reread November 2022
Damn, I just can’t get enough of this story. It gets funnier and darker and more engrossing the more I read it. I just tried to explain why I loved it to my mom, and woo boy my ramblings made absolutely no sense. Guess I’m a bit messed in the head, but at this point I’m too far gone to care.
Reread June 2023
Reading this book literally evokes shrieks and laughter and physical reactions from me, I can’t help it. I’m so attached to these characters it’s not even funny. I’m almost resentful of the library books I have to read now because I want to start The Raven King so freaking badly. Oh well, guess I’ll just have to give this one another looksie when I get there…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Violence, Rape, Suicide, Drug abuse, and Grief
Minor: Car accident
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