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A review by koicow
The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic
3.5
This book isn't without it's flaws, but who isn't?
(I'm trying to put into words my thoughts, but my main takeaway is that this books lacks any descriptive depth to paint a pretty picture, instead has strength in focusing on on our main character Neil, and what he thinking and experiencing. To put it simply, I can't tell if this is badly written or if it's because Neil doesn't have time to care about a pretty picture, when there's more important things to think about.
I think the main appeal of this is that it focuses on a group of misfits, with dark past, coming together through this sport - which makes you have hope that things will work out for them all. It makes you root for Neil, it makes you want to uncover people's past, and it makes you invested in seeing how the games play out.
That being said, is it wrong for me to have wanted more? I imagine that in the later books there will be more of an emotional impact, as this was just the set up, but I think this could've been brilliant if they had built up more tension. No spoilers, but there's almost two parts to the ending? Which indicates to me what the author wants the importance of the story to be, whilst I just want the plot to thicken. I feel like there's a battle of focus, where neither is really fully shining. This could've easily been the first part of a book, so I will probably judge the series as a whole, but for now this first one didn't give me enough.
Also, that one scene wasn't it. I understand that these are all hurting people and the pain isn't anything, and it's insignificant to the things that they want or care about. But it really hilters any trust that is already built up, with no consequences what so ever.
Overall, I wish the writing was pulled a little more tighter, then I think this would've been great - I get the hype to some extent, I just don't feel satisfied with this one book.
I will edit my thoughts later to be more consise. Right now, it's onto the next book! I do really like whats going on, I just think it needs more of an edit, as I feel like I have to figure things out at points. For example, it took me a good few pages to realise Nicholas and Nicky were the same person, as no-one ever mentioned the nickname, and so I thought it could be another cousin. At the time I thought "wow there's lots of cousins" lmao. Plus, I sometimes found it hard to know who was talking, as there's no context for anything, so I have to reread at times. Anyways, more thoughts later)
(I'm trying to put into words my thoughts, but my main takeaway is that this books lacks any descriptive depth to paint a pretty picture, instead has strength in focusing on on our main character Neil, and what he thinking and experiencing. To put it simply, I can't tell if this is badly written or if it's because Neil doesn't have time to care about a pretty picture, when there's more important things to think about.
I think the main appeal of this is that it focuses on a group of misfits, with dark past, coming together through this sport - which makes you have hope that things will work out for them all. It makes you root for Neil, it makes you want to uncover people's past, and it makes you invested in seeing how the games play out.
That being said, is it wrong for me to have wanted more? I imagine that in the later books there will be more of an emotional impact, as this was just the set up, but I think this could've been brilliant if they had built up more tension. No spoilers, but there's almost two parts to the ending? Which indicates to me what the author wants the importance of the story to be, whilst I just want the plot to thicken. I feel like there's a battle of focus, where neither is really fully shining. This could've easily been the first part of a book, so I will probably judge the series as a whole, but for now this first one didn't give me enough.
Also, that one scene wasn't it. I understand that these are all hurting people and the pain isn't anything, and it's insignificant to the things that they want or care about. But it really hilters any trust that is already built up, with no consequences what so ever.
Overall, I wish the writing was pulled a little more tighter, then I think this would've been great - I get the hype to some extent, I just don't feel satisfied with this one book.
I will edit my thoughts later to be more consise. Right now, it's onto the next book! I do really like whats going on, I just think it needs more of an edit, as I feel like I have to figure things out at points. For example, it took me a good few pages to realise Nicholas and Nicky were the same person, as no-one ever mentioned the nickname, and so I thought it could be another cousin. At the time I thought "wow there's lots of cousins" lmao. Plus, I sometimes found it hard to know who was talking, as there's no context for anything, so I have to reread at times. Anyways, more thoughts later)