A review by claudcloud
The King's Men by Nora Sakavic

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

How do I even begin to accurately write about and summarize what reading this series did to me? I genuinely think I'll never be able to do it justice, or have the right words to convey what I'm feeling right now. But here goes.

I've been taken on the wildest, most batshit insane ride of my entire life. I've watched these kids get tortured, murdered, abused, and traumatized in almost every single way imaginable. I fell for a sport that doesn't even make any sense, but is so, so real to me now. I had to deal with a plot fraying at the edges and innumerable plot twists that just made me continuously scream inside. I rooted for the mafia kid that had to burn and bury his own mother.

But I also adore the Foxes like they're my own now. I was stunned by the way they show up and care for each other, the way they adapt to the others' needs, how fiercely protective they are of every single member of their family (because they are a family, no matter what a certain Twinyard would have to say to the contrary), and I watched this nobody from Baltimore bumfuck Arizona find them and be more loved than he could have ever imagined or hoped for. I watched him find his rock and finally stop running. I watched him open up for the first time in his life and start to process his trauma - which is exactly what the others needed, even if they didn't know it. I watched as the light went out of Nathaniel's eyes, and I also watched as Neil fought with everything he had to bring it back, because he finally, finally had something (someone) to fight for.

It's fucking terrible. And it changed my life for the better. PSU Foxes forever 🦊