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A review by shakita45
The Sunshine Court by Nora Sakavic
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
4.5
When I picked this book up, I absolutely didn't expect it to become my favorite entry into the All For The Game series. I loved Neil's story so much, and Jean was a side character at best, and primarily an antagonist. I was extremely ambivalent about following him instead of a more familiar character, but my stance on that changed FAST.
This story really highlights how far Nora's writing has come over the years, which allows Jean to be both a person who has had wrong done to him while also perpetuating wrongness to other characters. It never feels like we're trying to excuse Jean's exactions, but rather that we're looking into all the things that went into making him, HIM.
Jeremy Knox is also a stand-out as one of my favorite AFTG characters, if not my absolute favorite at this point. He's such a ray of sunshine, who we know battles his own demons, but he's such a rock in the storm that Jean is weathering, and we see how seriously he takes his position as captain, and how that extends to the care and consideration he gives all the other Trojans.
Jean is special to him, I think, but Jeremy's actions towards Jean AREN'T special; I firmly believe he would go this far for anyone who needed him to, and I think that makes him such a remarkable character. Neil and Andrew were both wounded animals, biting at each other and taking comfort in the only ways they know how, but Jean and Jeremy have such a KIND dynamic at the end of the day. I think more than anything, Jean wants to be kind, because no matter what he's suffered, he still pays such incredible attention to the people around him and tries to do right by them.
I'm going to be on absolute pins and needles while I wait for the next book, and I am positively frothing at the mouth to learn more about Jeremy's backstory.
This story really highlights how far Nora's writing has come over the years, which allows Jean to be both a person who has had wrong done to him while also perpetuating wrongness to other characters. It never feels like we're trying to excuse Jean's exactions, but rather that we're looking into all the things that went into making him, HIM.
Jeremy Knox is also a stand-out as one of my favorite AFTG characters, if not my absolute favorite at this point. He's such a ray of sunshine, who we know battles his own demons, but he's such a rock in the storm that Jean is weathering, and we see how seriously he takes his position as captain, and how that extends to the care and consideration he gives all the other Trojans.
Jean is special to him, I think, but Jeremy's actions towards Jean AREN'T special; I firmly believe he would go this far for anyone who needed him to, and I think that makes him such a remarkable character. Neil and Andrew were both wounded animals, biting at each other and taking comfort in the only ways they know how, but Jean and Jeremy have such a KIND dynamic at the end of the day. I think more than anything, Jean wants to be kind, because no matter what he's suffered, he still pays such incredible attention to the people around him and tries to do right by them.
I'm going to be on absolute pins and needles while I wait for the next book, and I am positively frothing at the mouth to learn more about Jeremy's backstory.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Rape, Suicide attempt, Bullying, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, and Sexual assault
As this is an AFTG book, there is an endless list of triggers, and I've tried to highlight as many as I can, but please exercise caution.