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tovetott's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
I honestly don't know what rating to give this book??? I think I'm in shock still?? I feel like the ending was treated WAY too causally for my liking and idk if I accidentally zoned out and missed their reactions because ???? What the FUCK-
I had heard so much about this series and yet I was not prepared AT ALL lol. I got it described to me as "sports anime but with mafia involvement" and like, yes absolutely but it's not ENOUGH
The amount of drama in this made me highly question how they were gonna be able to be any kind of functional as a team or as a group in any way, and I honestly laughed at the amout of teenager-boy-testosterone-feuled fights through like, the first 50% of the book until I realised that is wasn't gonna get better.
And I'm not gonna go say I haven't spent an awful amount of time in the mafia!au fanfictions out there, because I have, but ✨️ b r o ✨️... what the ✨️ f * c k ✨️ was t h i s...
All of the characters are extremely flawed (character-trait-wise) and I didn't feel like I could root for any of them (maybe in the later books???) and Andrew had me very stressed every time he was present until the like, 80% mark or smth?? When he got potentially, possibly, maybe more trustable ??? I was desperately clinging to Dan and Nicky as "stable good people" until the party trip Andrew hosted, iykyk. (Insert "I WAS ROOTING FOR YOU!" -gif here lol)
The description of the game tho and the way the filled arena was described was really cool and really set the scene in a cool way. Loved it ! A breath of fresh air somehow inbetween the insane high stakes that I feel are at ridiculous levels considering it's literally just a sports game but ykno what? I see soccer fans at work on the regular and sometimes it really do be that serious... for some reason lol.
So um... thank you Camille for this highly traumatic experience and I now feel like I HAVE to see what the f*ck kind of insanity the next two books contain bcs wow
I had heard so much about this series and yet I was not prepared AT ALL lol. I got it described to me as "sports anime but with mafia involvement" and like, yes absolutely but it's not ENOUGH
The amount of drama in this made me highly question how they were gonna be able to be any kind of functional as a team or as a group in any way, and I honestly laughed at the amout of teenager-boy-testosterone-feuled fights through like, the first 50% of the book until I realised that is wasn't gonna get better.
And I'm not gonna go say I haven't spent an awful amount of time in the mafia!au fanfictions out there, because I have, but ✨️ b r o ✨️... what the ✨️ f * c k ✨️ was t h i s...
All of the characters are extremely flawed (character-trait-wise) and I didn't feel like I could root for any of them (maybe in the later books???) and Andrew had me very stressed every time he was present until the like, 80% mark or smth?? When he got potentially, possibly, maybe more trustable ??? I was desperately clinging to Dan and Nicky as "stable good people" until the party trip Andrew hosted, iykyk. (Insert "I WAS ROOTING FOR YOU!" -gif here lol)
The description of the game tho and the way the filled arena was described was really cool and really set the scene in a cool way. Loved it ! A breath of fresh air somehow inbetween the insane high stakes that I feel are at ridiculous levels considering it's literally just a sports game but ykno what? I see soccer fans at work on the regular and sometimes it really do be that serious... for some reason lol.
So um... thank you Camille for this highly traumatic experience and I now feel like I HAVE to see what the f*ck kind of insanity the next two books contain bcs wow
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Death and Sexual assault
Minor: Sexual harassment and Gun violence
liyaeshetu's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Drug use, and Homophobia
sanktjosten's review against another edition
3.0
honestly, this book takes a while to become gripping on your first read. i definitely grew a deeper appreciation for it after rereading once i completed the whole series. despite the fact this is my favourite series of all time, i can admit this book has...issues. its a great setup for the rest of the series but it has pacing issues with an incredibly slow start and only picks up around the 75-80 ish % mark. there are questionable writing choices, the plot feels a bit messy at times and it takes a while to grow to like the characters, but overall it is definitely worth pushing through to get to the gold mine on the other side.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Violence and Homophobia
booksavant's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I definitely should have read the trigger warnings. You really have to suspend your disbelief with this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Drug use, and Sexual assault
emintobooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Someone else's review said, "This was a mess I want more" and I'm on the opposite side. This was a mess, I don't want more.
I struggled with this one. I've wanted to read this series since it originally came out. Every few months, I'll put it on my to do list and just... not, because it's a bad habit I have. I recently saw a post online about it and got the e-book because it was on sale for free. Well. I'm glad I finally checked it off my to do list, but I won't be reading the others. This was a hot mess and not in a fun way.
I sent this message to my friend about it "This book is very 'this boy squad is edgy and dark. Their past is strewn with violence and drugs. Cigarettes are hot' " I stand by that, and on top of it, it was confusing. The whole time, I couldn't figure out what was going on. I felt like I was reading a prologue, and like I was expected to already know the characters. All of the main characters are different shades of the same color. They didn't feel distinct from each other. Honestly, they're all insufferable, and I found myself wondering if we were actually supposed to like them. The plot was very vague, and there are some major parts of the main character that are never explained, again, as if we should already know. When I reached the end of the book, there was a list of characters and what their roles are. Sure could have used that at the beginning.
Other issues: The characters are violent drug users, and that can totally have merit in a book. Here, it felt like there was no rhyme or reason for the violence or drug use.
[Spoiler] There also was a scene where one of the characters spikes the main character's drink. While he is drugged, another character forcefully kisses him without consent. When he tries to escape, the character does it again. Books can't always be roses and sunshine, but this was totally glossed over. We never even find out how the main character feels about this assault and drugging. [/Spoiler]
The story also involves a made up for the book sport, called Exy. Unlike other books I've read with made up sports, this really didn't explain the sport. By page 66, I know the game is called Exy, a racket is used, a court is played on, and offense and defense are terms used. There is a ball, but I don't know what size, shape, or color. I have no idea how the game is played. When the characters are practicing I have no clue what they are doing. Later, there is a game of Exy that goes on for pages, and I had *zero clue* what was happening. None. I didn't understand at all and couldn't wrap my brain around who was where and doing what and what is the goal of the game? Can you score? How do you win? What do the balls look like? ????
[Spoiler] There also is a scene where two of the characters are on a talk show and the dialogue was just... I had to suspend my disbelief for the thousandth time. [/Spoiler]
This book could have used a heavy dose of professional editing, though I suppose it's too late for that.
I struggled with this one. I've wanted to read this series since it originally came out. Every few months, I'll put it on my to do list and just... not, because it's a bad habit I have. I recently saw a post online about it and got the e-book because it was on sale for free. Well. I'm glad I finally checked it off my to do list, but I won't be reading the others. This was a hot mess and not in a fun way.
I sent this message to my friend about it "This book is very 'this boy squad is edgy and dark. Their past is strewn with violence and drugs. Cigarettes are hot' " I stand by that, and on top of it, it was confusing. The whole time, I couldn't figure out what was going on. I felt like I was reading a prologue, and like I was expected to already know the characters. All of the main characters are different shades of the same color. They didn't feel distinct from each other. Honestly, they're all insufferable, and I found myself wondering if we were actually supposed to like them. The plot was very vague, and there are some major parts of the main character that are never explained, again, as if we should already know. When I reached the end of the book, there was a list of characters and what their roles are. Sure could have used that at the beginning.
Other issues: The characters are violent drug users, and that can totally have merit in a book. Here, it felt like there was no rhyme or reason for the violence or drug use.
[Spoiler] There also was a scene where one of the characters spikes the main character's drink. While he is drugged, another character forcefully kisses him without consent. When he tries to escape, the character does it again. Books can't always be roses and sunshine, but this was totally glossed over. We never even find out how the main character feels about this assault and drugging. [/Spoiler]
The story also involves a made up for the book sport, called Exy. Unlike other books I've read with made up sports, this really didn't explain the sport. By page 66, I know the game is called Exy, a racket is used, a court is played on, and offense and defense are terms used. There is a ball, but I don't know what size, shape, or color. I have no idea how the game is played. When the characters are practicing I have no clue what they are doing. Later, there is a game of Exy that goes on for pages, and I had *zero clue* what was happening. None. I didn't understand at all and couldn't wrap my brain around who was where and doing what and what is the goal of the game? Can you score? How do you win? What do the balls look like? ????
[Spoiler] There also is a scene where two of the characters are on a talk show and the dialogue was just... I had to suspend my disbelief for the thousandth time. [/Spoiler]
This book could have used a heavy dose of professional editing, though I suppose it's too late for that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Ableism, and Drug use
Moderate: Domestic abuse
create_with_me_michael's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Violence
Moderate: Drug abuse
marimaia's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- 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
hope was a dangerous, disquieting thing, but he thought perhaps he liked.
Foi muito estranho ler a tradução pt-br pela primeira vez, e não posso dizer que foi uma experiência boa nesse ponto. Tem erros mas, principalmente, muitas traduções não fizeram sentido, algumas por serem frases extremamente toscas (quando no original são frases bem mais sensíveis e importantes), enquanto outras por serem palavras que ninguém nunca fala ou sequer sabe o significado.
De resto, continua sendo meu livro queridinho. Não tem palavras que expliquem como eu amo essa história e como ela é importante pra mim, e cada vez que leio fico mais grata de ter os foxes na minha vida.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Minor: Suicide, Self harm, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Blood, and Vomit
katieo156's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
You just had to be there (tumblr 2013). I can't rate it or defend the absolute nonsense within it, but I also have reread it 3 times. At its core, there is a small, traumatized man whose ranks a fictional, uber-violent version of lacrosse over his own life. Check trigger warnings because too many apply! This author has never read the DSM and it shows, so take it all with a grain of salt and turn your brain off.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Murder, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Violence, Toxic friendship, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Suicidal thoughts
readingrainey's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Body horror, Sexual assault, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, Violence, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
aschuylerlizard's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.0
this is like haikyuu but everyone is mad and traumatised and also wtf is that ending i'm still shocked
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Child abuse, and Cursing
Moderate: Vomit and Sexual assault
Minor: Murder and Homophobia