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vivasher's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Alcohol, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Suicide, and Drug abuse
alibrarymouse's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
There’s no reason for this book to make sense, but I don’t love it any less for that. Nora Sakavic does an excellent job of drawing readers into the craziest story she could tell while making it engaging and encouraging readers to root for the characters. I adore Neil and want the best for him even though this book tells you almost nothing about him.
Plot gets a bit wild at times and it’s all super quickly paced. However, the perspective really makes it work and gets readers into Neil’s mindset. Sure we don’t exactly learn a lot about others, but Neil’s an exceptionally well-done unreliable narrator, so of course we wouldn’t. Overall, this is a book that’s easy to binge, but definitely check content warnings for it and others in the series because they’re intense.
Plot gets a bit wild at times and it’s all super quickly paced. However, the perspective really makes it work and gets readers into Neil’s mindset. Sure we don’t exactly learn a lot about others, but Neil’s an exceptionally well-done unreliable narrator, so of course we wouldn’t. Overall, this is a book that’s easy to binge, but definitely check content warnings for it and others in the series because they’re intense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Murder, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Death, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
somills's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“Remember this feeling. This is the moment you stop being the rabbit.”
Is it problematic? Yes. Does it make sense? No. Is it poorly-edited? Yes. AND YET. Here I am, six months and two rereads later, with a bedroom full of foxes and Andrew Minyard fan art, simping over another murderous blonde twink, practically doomsday prepping for the release of The Sunshine Court. What has my life become?
Is it problematic? Yes. Does it make sense? No. Is it poorly-edited? Yes. AND YET. Here I am, six months and two rereads later, with a bedroom full of foxes and Andrew Minyard fan art, simping over another murderous blonde twink, practically doomsday prepping for the release of The Sunshine Court. What has my life become?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Murder, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Self harm
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia and Ableism
Please heed the content warnings. This is not an easy series, and they should be taken very seriously. If you’re impacted by any of them, please consider. *Content warnings are for the series as a whole*joseph_al's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Blood, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Addiction, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Death, Drug abuse, and Drug use
iam's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This series is absolutely unhinged, bordering on offensive, but something about it just works. The mix of intriguing characters, simple writing with lyrical parts, a plot with twists that are so over the top intense, and a constant feeling of mystery and suspense, just WORKS, even though it has no right to. The over-the-top-ness makes a bit more sense when remembering this was supposed to be a manga in its origins, but I for one am glad it made it into book form.
Sports plots aren't usually something that draws me, but the team dynamics, and the sports obsession as a background and driving motivation for the characters worked out very well.
For anyone interested in this, please check out content warnings first. The first book is already intense but starts comparatively tame. Going to include content warnings for all books in the series for this one.
Sports plots aren't usually something that draws me, but the team dynamics, and the sports obsession as a background and driving motivation for the characters worked out very well.
For anyone interested in this, please check out content warnings first. The first book is already intense but starts comparatively tame. Going to include content warnings for all books in the series for this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Cursing, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Alcohol, Blood, Addiction, Confinement, Child abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Rape, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Sexual assault, Violence, Toxic friendship, Gun violence, and Vomit
Minor: Alcoholism, Hate crime, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, and Car accident
mittymyers's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Ableism, and Homophobia
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Murder
artificalmouse's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.75
This is one of my favorite books of all time. The quotes and scenes crack me up months after reading and I find myself thinking of these characters in my day to day life. The fan base is amazing and there's much fan made content that fits in seemlessly with the official content.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Rape, Homophobia, and Torture
Minor: Self harm, Pedophilia, and Drug abuse
This book is about the mafia and all of the foxes comes from rocky and abusive childhoods, nothing is written for shock value and it's handled well but it is intense and should be known before reading this book._persephone's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
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
blubonby's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
This is a terrible book. It has major ableism issues and is littered with homophobia and a sprinkle of racism. The mental health talk and rep are genuinely awful, theres an entire plot point about one of the characters being on court mandated medication, the whole medication thing genuinely makes no sense to me, and he is completely demonised the entirety of this book; and from what I can remember the rest of the series as well. There's a line question whether his violent reaction to something someone's says is his "psychosis or medication?", for the record he literally does not experience psychosis at all. There's another line where the MC tells the psychiatrist that she's "obsessive-compulsive" because her office if clean and very organised, and responds "guilty as charged" she's literally a psychiatrist, as a character she should not be perputrating these stereotypes of OCD. Another where the MC is wondering what could be "wrong" with one of his team members from "split personalities to clinical insanity." just gross.
One of the characters, a Mexican man who is the only openly guy character and as far as I can remember the only POC, is shown to sexually harass other characters, at one point he kisses a character, who has been drugged, without their consent, and there's a sort of joke between other characters about how he's "scheming to rape" the MC, and it's just brushed off.
Literally the only reason I gave it 1.5 instead of 1 is because for some reason, that I truley can't pinpoint, I've come back to this series 3 times, even though it gets worse every time I read it.
One of the characters, a Mexican man who is the only openly guy character and as far as I can remember the only POC, is shown to sexually harass other characters, at one point he kisses a character, who has been drugged, without their consent, and there's a sort of joke between other characters about how he's "scheming to rape" the MC, and it's just brushed off.
Literally the only reason I gave it 1.5 instead of 1 is because for some reason, that I truley can't pinpoint, I've come back to this series 3 times, even though it gets worse every time I read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Drug use, Ableism, Violence, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Homophobia, Murder, and Death of parent
deebauched's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
quite possibly my 6th re-read of this series, which for all means has become part of my short list of eternal favorites that i will most probably never let go of in my heart. every 2-3 years or so i circle through my re-reads of these series and i find in my hear that - yes, i am still unshakably in love with them just as much as i was as a teenager. and i hope i'll never lose that spark for these books, i truly do.
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 neilslays riko on kathy fernandez's talk show to defend kevin from him will forever remain one of the most satisfying, ridiculously entertaining and simply giggle-worthy reads. for-ever! it never dulls even after all these years and re-reads.
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Addiction, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Self harm, Suicide, and Murder