Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic

92 reviews

rayne_1906's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• 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? Yes

3.25

3 hours 18 minutes - This book really wasn't what I was expecting. The characters are somehow lovable despite barely any of them being good people or doing good things. I'm looking forward to reading the next books even though this one didn't quite live up to my expectations. I feel like not much actually happened, although towards the end I did feel myself get enveloped in the story and the characters. Near the beginning of the novel, I think too many characters were introduced too quickly so it was quite hard to keep up, and I have no idea whether I am meant to understand Neil's past at the moment (I don't) or the more serious aspects of gang rivalry yet (I also don't), but hopefully this will become clearer in the next books.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Drug use, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Sexual assault

diana314's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• 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

3.75

What is UP with this book?!? 😱🤯
I…. I should have read the trigger warnings beforehand, so I wouldn’t be surprised, that’s on me 😬😬
But… like… Neil is… he just needs to be protected, and the foxes are built different. That’s a compliment (I think).
The development that the relationship between Neil and the foxes,

specially with Andrew and Kevin

is insane, wild and I’m here for it. I guess you could call it slow burn, but not romantically, like, a found family slow burn, but VEEEERY slow lol
The ending is weird… like, the last chapter didn’t felt like a last chapter, the only thing it felt like an ending was the final quote (which, cute), but I strongly recommend having the second book at hand to start immediately after finishing this one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Violence, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Death, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child death, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Rape, and Suicide

janeesjournal's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Also vorab: das Buch würde serious Trigger-Warnungen benötigen.

Ich hätte tatsächlich nicht gedacht, dass es so ernst und düster werden würde, aber es war auch unfassbar spannend. Die Geschichte kam einem gar nicht zu weit hergezogen vor, auch wenn es erstmal so klingt, wenn man versuchen würde zu erklären worum es geht. Es passt aber wirklich sehr gut und wirkt vor allem sehr real und echt.

Von Minute 1 an ist die Geschichte spannend und ich konnte das Buch kaum aus der Hand legen. Es gibt so viele Sachen, die man im Hinterkopf hat, auf deren Eskalation man wartet und vor denen man sich fürchtet. Der Protagonist Neil zieht einen komplett in seine Geschichte und ich war total invested in alles, was in seinem Leben vorgeht. 

Die Charaktere sind sehr verschieden, sehr divers und haben alle wirklich schwere Leben hinter sich und mit einer Menge Problemen zu kämpfen. 
Auch wenn ich mir bei keinem (außer Matt und Dan) wirklich 100% sicher bin, was ich von ihm halten soll, finde ich alle super interessant und die ganzen Dynamiken sind sehr gut ausgearbeitet und lassen einen oft vor Angst was als Nächstes passiert die Luft anhalten.

So gut wie alle Charaktere handeln sehr moralisch fragwürdig, haben eine Hass-Liebe zueinander, die auch der Leser entwickelt und verhalten sich teils unter aller Sau. Auch tragen sie alle sehr schwere Lasten und die Schatten ihrer Vergangenheiten mit sich.

Das Buch ist auf jeden Fall sehr character-driven, aber auch der Plot, der sich langsam entwickelt, ist spannend und komplex und hält viele Vermutungen und Eskalationen für die Zukunft parat.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Bullying, Violence, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Physical abuse, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Murder, and Suicide

afinalepilogue's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

This was so shit...I bloody loved it

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Sexual harassment

jenarae's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Violence, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

Minor: Vomit, Gun violence, and Homophobia

natnat_7's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Racism, Blood, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Suicide, Addiction, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gore, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Bullying, Stalking, Ableism, Grief, Violence, Homophobia, Acephobia/Arophobia, Medical content, Self harm, Sexism, Misogyny, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Rape, Car accident, and Vomit

bookphenomena_micky's review against another edition

3.5

Headlines:
Buckle up for the ride
More questions than answers
Brutal and raw

I don't even know how to process my feelings on this one. It was a completely wild ride and although I'd heard 'things' about this book, nothing prepared me for the raw and brutal story. It was violent, abusive and certainly a strange way to envisage any sporting team. There are simply so many triggers in this book, so go look for those before reading if you need to.

Despite my reservations about what I found between these pages, there was much to draw me in. Neil as an MC was such a compelling character, all his past, present and potential future had you literally willing things to work out for him. What Neil found with the foxes was not pleasant with bullying to a degree that was unfathomable, hazing like could not be believed, to the point that I hate-read one chapter; it was tough reading.

Yet, saying all that, I am invested in this odd and messed up crew. The backstories were particularly confusing relating to Neil/Kevin/Riko and their familial connections and businesses. I didn't really find myself enlightened by the end but that's also a part of why I'm invested. I pretty much hate Andrew, I don't understand his illness, I don't understand how his psyche works and I don't understand his connection with Kevin. I find myself drawn to Kevin and really want to know more about him.

Important note: I have deducted half a star from this read because the author used the 'r' word twice in a totally unnecessary, off the cuff way. There really is not any necessary use of this word which should be expunged from the vocabulary of all folks. It is utterly disrespectful to any person with learning difficulties or disabilities. 

Stray into this series if you are brave enough. I'm not a brave reader but I find myself here anyway.

Thank you lovely Tara for holding my hand.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Violence, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Mental illness

memorable's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, and Vomit

galpalkirk's review against another edition

dark funny tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Finding out that this was originally supposed to be a manga explained everything and now I’m revising all my reviews to give it 5 stars because it is so fun. Truly the Riverdale of books. Bending the rules of reality because the author has never lived in reality.

Important: Do NOT take this as me recommending the series. Unless you’re my friend and you’re funny.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcohol, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Drug use, Hate crime, Self harm, Vomit, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Death, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse

bee_a_boo's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Addiction

Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Homophobia

Minor: Toxic friendship and Bullying