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somills's review
- 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
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?
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*rayyyyyyyy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Drug use, Hate crime, Torture, Violence, Homophobia, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Ableism, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Pedophilia, Self harm, Rape, and Child abuse
artificalmouse'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
4.75
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.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
dmcki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Murder, Mental illness, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Drug use, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Death of parent, Child abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Rape, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Cursing, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Self harm, Vomit, Abandonment, Animal death, Car accident, Hate crime, Homophobia, Grief, Incest, Medical content, and Religious bigotry
anindistinctaccountant's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Drug use
Moderate: Self harm and Violence
Minor: Child abuse
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.gcarney15's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Homophobia, Eating disorder, Drug use, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Self harm, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Rape, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Blood, Grief, and Cursing
natkbailey'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
Graphic: Kidnapping, Rape, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Alcohol, Murder, Drug abuse, Violence, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Self harm, and Blood
infinite_helix's review against another edition
- 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 something about seeing your ugly parts you’ve hidden being reflected so honestly in a book and being told you can still win and be a team and be a champion and leave the things you don’t want and move on and you don’t have to be soft, you can be ugly and callused and you’ll find your people who understand and know and are doing the same and they will love you and you will love them and that’s what it’s about.
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Self harm, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Stalking, Death, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cursing, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Ableism, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, Bullying, Outing, Mental illness, Trafficking, Child abuse, and Murder
Literally so many horrible things propelling all of the characters and their relationships but the overarching plot is that they are all (except for Andrew) desperate to play this sport that consumes their lives and gives them purpose. To the point they’re willing to face off against gangs and their horrible pasts barreling towards them for the chance to make this team legendary. They are all deeply traumatized and have terrible coping mechanisms and take it out on each other frequently. But they are also a team, and they will not let one of their number be taken away.