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kelldel's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Stalking, Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Confinement, Suicide, Bullying, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Child death, Trafficking, and Transphobia
emck0610's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
As far as the Trojans we get to know better—Laila, Cat, and Jeremy are definitely the people I’d want in my corner any day of the week. The characters stole a bit of the show in the original trilogy and I’m really glad to see more of them as they try to help Jean settle in.
If you liked the original All for the Game trilogy then I think you’ll get more of what you’d expect out of this novel. Nora Sakavich is not in a rush to tell the entire story in one novel and I’m definitely intrigued to keep going.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Toxic friendship, Torture, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Physical abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Blood, Emotional abuse, Death, Torture, Toxic relationship, Bullying, and Sexual assault
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Child death, and Murder
sadpendragon's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Self harm, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicide, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Toxic friendship, Grief, Sexual harassment, Blood, Biphobia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Murder, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, and Emotional abuse
julixettexo's review
4.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Torture, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Grief, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, and Child abuse
Minor: Bullying and Homophobia
milfmarner's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Sexual harassment, Blood, Bullying, Torture, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
otbval's review
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Child death, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Abandonment, Blood, and Death of parent
77marlenek87's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Blood, Vomit, Abandonment, and Gun violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
so_many_books's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I honestly didn't know I needed this book. I made my peace with Jean's ending at the end of The King's Men. Oh, boy, was I wrong?!
This book totally destroyed me emotionally and put me through a wringer. But I inhaled it. Jean and Jeremy's story is exactly what was missing from the original trilogy.
I can assure you it is just as tragic and dark and emotionally loaded as anything Nora writes, but it also has the one thing that Nora does best: HOPE.
The hope is palpable in the writing and in all the emotions that are depicted in this book. It's almost overwhelming, yet it's the most precious thing ever.
Hope to live.
Hope to feel.
Hope to have something good.
Jean went through unspeakably horrible times. Things were done to him that would break anyone. The fact that he's still standing, even though the tons of baggage he brings, is a miracle and shows that deep down, hidden even from himself, is a man who hasn't given up yet. It shows in his progression of letting in the world, piece by piece, person by person, after being kept away from it for so long.
I bowled my eyes out multiple times, reading his most vulnerable thoughts about the slivers of hope and beauty he discovers. I am a wreck, yet I am somehow happy.
Of course, none of Jean's progress would be possible without Jeremy. Our golden boy, our sunshine captain. Oh, how he is good. His want to take care of Jean in any way he lets him is so palpable and honest. His kindness is EVERYTHING. I want to see his smile thaw the icy loneliness around Jean.
Adding in the Trojans and their overall good nature is the perfect contrast to Jean's previous reality. And, of course, Cat and Laia are the best chaotic lesbians out their. I low-key adore them. The way they immediately took Jean into their circle, the subtle ways they made him feel at home. It radiates their goodness.
I cannot string together thoughts. This book is just simply good. I want more of it. I want the second book now. I want to know Jeremy's story. I want to have more of the ridiculously queer Trojans. I want more Cat and Laia. I want Jean to smile. At Jeremy preferably. I want him to feel safe. I want to see Jeremy show Jean what it's like when someone loves him. I. Want. More.
Graphic: Violence and Sexual assault
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Physical abuse, Death, Cursing, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder
iam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It is a good story, but I have to admit it was not what I expected, or wanted, from it.
In comparison to the original trilogy, it is very slow, introspective and focussed on the past. A long time is spent on Jean's (re-)living and remembering and reacting, and maybe even starting to process his trauma and the horrific abuse he suffered at the Moriyamas' hands. It reaches only a couple month's past the end of The King's Men, and doesn't reach past Jean finding that first spark of hope and realizing he really is free of Riko.
It's that what left me feeling really unsatisfied.
Not a lot of questions left over from the original trilogy are answered. Instead, a whole new slew of questions arrise, and very few of those are answered too.
Part of that is Jeremy. He is also a POV character, but less so than Jean. We get glimpses into the personal life, his struggles and hopes, and the issues he has going on too... but his main focus in on Jean. I honestly don't think his POV adds much other than more questions about what's going on with him, just to not get much info other than vague hints, and no closure. Why even open that can of worms when there isn't even an attempt to close it? We could have found out about him from Jean's POV as well.
I guess the issue is that just Jean's POV would have been really bleak, and he wouldn't have paid so much attention to the Trojans, so maybe Jeremy's POV is a blessing in disguise. Still, that was another reason why the book felt really unsatisfying to read.
Overall, this felt much more like a beginning than an ending. I get that it's supposed to be about closure, about closing one chapter of one's life and beginning a new one. But only getting teased with so many threads of it and how it could continued.... I hate that. I want definite happy endings. I won't want all these old and new questions to be left unanswered. If there really is a sequel (can't find any definite source on that) I sure hope they will be answered.
Beyond that, reading this was also heavy. So much focus is on Jean's trauma, and he's got a lot of it. The original trilogy is already heavy on the trigger warnings, but there, due to the characters' personalities, the faster pace, and the constant presence of Exy, there isn't as much in-depth lingering and focus on the horrible abuse. For Jean, it's different. He is much more introspective, and is constantly remembering the horrific things that happened to him. And it's so much worse than what's alluded to in the original trilogy. This made it a very bleak, heavy, sad and uncomfortable read.
The overall direction of the broader picture story about the Ravens, Foxes, Trojans, and Exy as a sport is very unsettling too - Jean is not too concerned with it, so there are not many details, but seeing it from his perspective rather than Neil's makes me antsy.
The Trojans are of course a beam of light in all that darkness, but as I said, the book ends right when Jean finds that first spark of real hope. We don't get to see him heal, we don't get to see him thrive, we don't get to see him fall in love or be loved, we don't get to see him claim his own life for himself. All that good stuff that I want to read about when I read about such an abused character is just omitted. Sure, it's in the future, but... yeah, it's just not satisfying!!
It is still good. Still emotional and heart-breaking but also giving hope. I also want to specifically recommend the author's writing style - it excells at being in a character's head incresibly organically. No exposition is given where a character wouldn't give it. It can be a bit frustrating at times when it's clear the character knows something the reader doesn't, but it also feels rewarding. And it's overally just super fun to read!
Absolutely hoping there will be a sequel answering all the open questions and threads. As a first book to a new story it works amazingly. As a standalone, it's not for me.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Vomit, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Confinement
Moderate: Eating disorder and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Murder and Pedophilia
kaydee_reads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Did I devour it in a day? Also yes.
The main characters are so flawed and so human and so, so loveable. The found family vibes are impeccable. The weird blend of made up collegiate sports and a mafia thriller shouldn’t work but somehow does. 10/10. 5 stars. I love them. I’m horrified by at least 50% of the plot. I need Jean to have all the hugs. I don’t even know how to review this book.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Violence, Torture, Grief, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Suicide, Stalking, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Cursing, and Confinement