The Foxhole Court (All for the Game, #1)
by
by
Nora Sakavic (Goodreads Author)
Kristalia ♥loves tragedies♥(◕‿◕✿) 's review
really liked it
bookshelves: glbt, type-trilogy, age-mature-young-adult, cut-my-heart-out, favorite-series, dark-so-daaark, be-my-heroes-please, be-my-heroine-please, reviewed, humans-should-die-here-painfully, i-didnt-sleep-cause-i-read-this, it-s-so-hot-in-here, lgbt, made-me-smile-or-laugh, sob-fest,these-tags-apply-for-all-books, they-are-so-awesome-hot-and-stuff, they-are-so-cute-its-unbearable
Final Rating: 3.75/5
Final Rating - For the whole series: 4.75/5
Oh boy, you are either going to HATE it with passion for it's clearly not so well defined nor thought out things or LOVE ITfor the sake of characters that are amazing, and other two books. Because, oh boy lemme tell you. This is the second try I had with this book. Started it out a long time ago as a buddy read, but finished it now on my friend's request.
First time, I disliked the writing style and stopped reading. After few nudges from a friend, and her promise of great characters and suffering/angst, I gleefully joined the ride.
So this is the deal. Some things are really illogical, as you will notice while reading it, but considering the pros outweight the cons in my own weight in gold, I won't talk about it.
When I read books I read them for only one thing as a priority = characters. If the characters are not interesting, if they are not well developed, if they don't amount to anything, then no matter how good or original the story is, it's going to be horrible. But, if the characters are great, even bad story lines can be redeemed.
In this case, while the first book didn't really blew my mind out, the other two did. I started to care more and more for the characters, and I found their imaginary "Exy" sport fun.
There are many characters in this book, but three of them stick out like a candle, namely Niel "I'm fine" Josten (our actual protagonist and narrator - in third person), Kevin Day (someone who knows who Neil is, but is oblivious because Neil hides his identity well), and Andrew Minyard (who has a promise to keep and who protects Kevin, even from Neil himself).
The book itself starts with Neil settling in a faraway town, playing what he loves: Exy, a hybrid sport between Lacrosse and Hockey (imaginary game, of course). But then, a coach from another school comes seeking him out for recruitment. Neil's own coach sent his files to David Wymack, who - along with Andrew Minyard (who is here because he's not letting Kevin go anywhere alone) & Kevin Day (as he was familiar face because he abandoned the first ranked team Edgar Allan's Ravens due to an incident in which his arm was broken) and they came to see if Neil was indeed fitting the mold that Palmetto's Foxes fit in.
Wymack's first opinion onNeil's past issue is abusive parents. Because every movement, every flinch from Wymack proves just that. Neil's paranoia, Neil's parents never showing up, unable to reach them.... This all gives off warning signs.
Which is .... partly true. Neil Josten indeed has very abusive father, who is a part of crime family, and is hunting down his late mother (who died very recently from the beginning of the first book) and Niel (whose real name isn't Neal) to the edge of the world. Nowhere is safe for him, he is alone and if his father finds out where he is, with whom he is, and gets him - well... he's not going to be welcomed back, but tortured and then killed after who knows how long. All of this is really not a great reminder that he can do whatever he wants including going somewhere else, especially since Kevin Day is someone who actually knew him when he was younger. But Neil wears eye contacts, dyes his hair and looks different in general because he is much older than when Kevin first met him, so he is relying on that fact that he can actually choose to stay and play what he wants to play. The one thing I really loved about Neil is that he is so detached from some of the normal stuff that he would smile at something crashing and burning (or dying) if it means he gets out alive or that someone he cares about gets alive (and is not shaken at all). Considering what kind of enviroment he grew up in, it would be strange to react any different way (or not, considering he's been out of that for years). But i loved it.
So yes, in short, this whole story is about how fast can Neil run away if shit goes wrong. You see, Neil has to hide his identity and looks, but his certain characteristics.... like... not being able to stand by and instead roasts someone LIVE on TELEVISION while IN HIDING certainly doesn't speak much of his actual survival insticts, but given what happened at that point in order for Neil, who is - like i said before - extremely paranoid person, well... you see.
But anyway, I loved Neil, because he is such well thought out character. He is loyal, he is paranoid, but if he cares about someone, he will fight for them, no matter what the cost. Even though any sense of relationships and normal life had been beaten out of him, he's attracted to them like Icarus was attracted to Sun. He flies and flies, but he eventually knows that he will fall down from the heights into his own demise.
Kevin as well, as someone who is actually a third important person in the series - considering it was on his request that Neil's accepted into his own team - has also a stunning amount of character growth and his issues are sorted out (which is where Neil and Kevin are similar: they are both running away from their so called families, and both get panic attacks whenever they get too close to them, so yeah). To the point that he finally takes his own chances and does the right thing. An ex Exy champion, who was as stunning as they come, who was left handed before the incident, before he was forced to step down and try his best to use his non dominant hand...
And one thing connecting them all is Andrew. Andrew protects Kevin from others, because Kevin promised he would help Andrew find something to live for. And Andrew is the type that has been betrayed his whole life, so he takes a very serious look on promises and keeps all of them till the end and makes them come true. And Andrew, who is as fucked up, who dislikes being touched, who is suspicious of everyone who is different, who sees Neil for who he is (a pathological liar) but still appreciates the little truths is just... amazing.
One thing I did dislike is that Andrew's disorder was not mentioned in the book, but it's in fact (as confirmed by the author) manic depression. Just heads up. The first meeting with Neil included a racquet and hitting the main character with it to stop him from running, all while he grins like a psycho. He is called the whole time a tiny psycho so no wonder. You are either going to hate or love him (view spoiler). I love him. He's just so complicated and interesting in general.
Another beautiful and worthy mention is Renee, who also had a past full of knives and violence, a good Christian that can help even the most desperate, who is "a bad person trying to be one." I loved her growth through the series, her help, her dedication to the others.
Dan and Allison as well were great, these girls who are bold, who will fight for those they love, who will take no shit, who will rise up and challenge. Dan, who was laughed at for being a female captain, and Allison who loves Seth so much that she thinks of his health, helps him out, and no matter how many issues they had, they did it all together... Allison, who rejected her parent's fortune so she could play. They all needed help and they found a family in bunch of idiots (and later on including the monster group (aka Andrew's group)). Seth, who cares only about
Allison...
Then there is Aaron, a twin brother of Andrew, who btw, did not actually grew up together with Andrew and couldn't give a shit about anything. But then again, he and Andrew have made a promise, and Andrew will be damned if he did not keep his own end up of bargain - which he did and Aaron is now well aware of what kind of person his older twin is. But even so, he strives, he tries, he wishes so many things, and yet he is held back by a promise and of thought of not failing it. because he knows the consequences if he doesn't hold his end of the deal.
There is also Nicky, who has a boyfriend in Germany, whose family didn't approve of his sexuality, who ended up estranged from them, who tries his best to help his cousins (aka the twins) who just tries so hard to help. Who is interesting, who needed help, who got help, who found the help (who someone oversteps his bounds and does questionable things sometimes but then again...)
Matt who is fascinated with everything. Who will protect whatever and whoever he can, he's stable, reliable, interesting.
Wymack who made a team of people who were screwed up in life in order to help them see that they could become someone important. That they could be seen. That they would be needed. They might start from zero, from being nothings, but he knows that his children have a big potentional and that they just need a push and a glue that sticks them together... Wymack, who is everything a real parent is supposed to be.
Abby and Betsy a doctor and psychiatrist who help hold the team together, who listen to them, who take care of their injuries and their shattered feelings, who know how to help, how to heal their broken hearts.
And so on and on.... Overall, I have so many feels about whole team in general: the fact that they bet on everything, that they get along as much as they don't, the fact that they are there for each other, even when they don't and can't stand each other...
And when I tell you this book has LGBT, I kid you not. It really has. So if you wanna read it for this, go ahead! It's not a bait, and certainly delievers, so be prepared to guess who are the end game couples in this :D That is, if everyone survives till the end of book 3.
it's a story about survivors, and their journeys to better futures, better lives, overcoming their traumas and battling their demons.
I promise that book 2 and 3 are worth reading it. Also check this great FAQ from author when you are done for more info :D
Final Rating - For the whole series: 4.75/5
“Don't look back, don't slow down, and don't trust anyone. Be anyone but himself, and never be anyone for too long.”
Oh boy, you are either going to HATE it with passion for it's clearly not so well defined nor thought out things or LOVE ITfor the sake of characters that are amazing, and other two books. Because, oh boy lemme tell you. This is the second try I had with this book. Started it out a long time ago as a buddy read, but finished it now on my friend's request.
First time, I disliked the writing style and stopped reading. After few nudges from a friend, and her promise of great characters and suffering/angst, I gleefully joined the ride.
So this is the deal. Some things are really illogical, as you will notice while reading it, but considering the pros outweight the cons in my own weight in gold, I won't talk about it.
When I read books I read them for only one thing as a priority = characters. If the characters are not interesting, if they are not well developed, if they don't amount to anything, then no matter how good or original the story is, it's going to be horrible. But, if the characters are great, even bad story lines can be redeemed.
In this case, while the first book didn't really blew my mind out, the other two did. I started to care more and more for the characters, and I found their imaginary "Exy" sport fun.
►►► STORY & CHARACTERS:
There are many characters in this book, but three of them stick out like a candle, namely Niel "I'm fine" Josten (our actual protagonist and narrator - in third person), Kevin Day (someone who knows who Neil is, but is oblivious because Neil hides his identity well), and Andrew Minyard (who has a promise to keep and who protects Kevin, even from Neil himself).
The book itself starts with Neil settling in a faraway town, playing what he loves: Exy, a hybrid sport between Lacrosse and Hockey (imaginary game, of course). But then, a coach from another school comes seeking him out for recruitment. Neil's own coach sent his files to David Wymack, who - along with Andrew Minyard (who is here because he's not letting Kevin go anywhere alone) & Kevin Day (as he was familiar face because he abandoned the first ranked team Edgar Allan's Ravens due to an incident in which his arm was broken) and they came to see if Neil was indeed fitting the mold that Palmetto's Foxes fit in.
Wymack's first opinion onNeil's past issue is abusive parents. Because every movement, every flinch from Wymack proves just that. Neil's paranoia, Neil's parents never showing up, unable to reach them.... This all gives off warning signs.
Which is .... partly true. Neil Josten indeed has very abusive father, who is a part of crime family, and is hunting down his late mother (who died very recently from the beginning of the first book) and Niel (whose real name isn't Neal) to the edge of the world. Nowhere is safe for him, he is alone and if his father finds out where he is, with whom he is, and gets him - well... he's not going to be welcomed back, but tortured and then killed after who knows how long. All of this is really not a great reminder that he can do whatever he wants including going somewhere else, especially since Kevin Day is someone who actually knew him when he was younger. But Neil wears eye contacts, dyes his hair and looks different in general because he is much older than when Kevin first met him, so he is relying on that fact that he can actually choose to stay and play what he wants to play. The one thing I really loved about Neil is that he is so detached from some of the normal stuff that he would smile at something crashing and burning (or dying) if it means he gets out alive or that someone he cares about gets alive (and is not shaken at all). Considering what kind of enviroment he grew up in, it would be strange to react any different way (or not, considering he's been out of that for years). But i loved it.
So yes, in short, this whole story is about how fast can Neil run away if shit goes wrong. You see, Neil has to hide his identity and looks, but his certain characteristics.... like... not being able to stand by and instead roasts someone LIVE on TELEVISION while IN HIDING certainly doesn't speak much of his actual survival insticts, but given what happened at that point in order for Neil, who is - like i said before - extremely paranoid person, well... you see.
But anyway, I loved Neil, because he is such well thought out character. He is loyal, he is paranoid, but if he cares about someone, he will fight for them, no matter what the cost. Even though any sense of relationships and normal life had been beaten out of him, he's attracted to them like Icarus was attracted to Sun. He flies and flies, but he eventually knows that he will fall down from the heights into his own demise.
Kevin as well, as someone who is actually a third important person in the series - considering it was on his request that Neil's accepted into his own team - has also a stunning amount of character growth and his issues are sorted out (which is where Neil and Kevin are similar: they are both running away from their so called families, and both get panic attacks whenever they get too close to them, so yeah). To the point that he finally takes his own chances and does the right thing. An ex Exy champion, who was as stunning as they come, who was left handed before the incident, before he was forced to step down and try his best to use his non dominant hand...
And one thing connecting them all is Andrew. Andrew protects Kevin from others, because Kevin promised he would help Andrew find something to live for. And Andrew is the type that has been betrayed his whole life, so he takes a very serious look on promises and keeps all of them till the end and makes them come true. And Andrew, who is as fucked up, who dislikes being touched, who is suspicious of everyone who is different, who sees Neil for who he is (a pathological liar) but still appreciates the little truths is just... amazing.
One thing I did dislike is that Andrew's disorder was not mentioned in the book, but it's in fact (as confirmed by the author) manic depression. Just heads up. The first meeting with Neil included a racquet and hitting the main character with it to stop him from running, all while he grins like a psycho. He is called the whole time a tiny psycho so no wonder. You are either going to hate or love him (view spoiler). I love him. He's just so complicated and interesting in general.
Another beautiful and worthy mention is Renee, who also had a past full of knives and violence, a good Christian that can help even the most desperate, who is "a bad person trying to be one." I loved her growth through the series, her help, her dedication to the others.
Dan and Allison as well were great, these girls who are bold, who will fight for those they love, who will take no shit, who will rise up and challenge. Dan, who was laughed at for being a female captain, and Allison who loves Seth so much that she thinks of his health, helps him out, and no matter how many issues they had, they did it all together... Allison, who rejected her parent's fortune so she could play. They all needed help and they found a family in bunch of idiots (and later on including the monster group (aka Andrew's group)). Seth, who cares only about
Allison...
Then there is Aaron, a twin brother of Andrew, who btw, did not actually grew up together with Andrew and couldn't give a shit about anything. But then again, he and Andrew have made a promise, and Andrew will be damned if he did not keep his own end up of bargain - which he did and Aaron is now well aware of what kind of person his older twin is. But even so, he strives, he tries, he wishes so many things, and yet he is held back by a promise and of thought of not failing it. because he knows the consequences if he doesn't hold his end of the deal.
There is also Nicky, who has a boyfriend in Germany, whose family didn't approve of his sexuality, who ended up estranged from them, who tries his best to help his cousins (aka the twins) who just tries so hard to help. Who is interesting, who needed help, who got help, who found the help (who someone oversteps his bounds and does questionable things sometimes but then again...)
Matt who is fascinated with everything. Who will protect whatever and whoever he can, he's stable, reliable, interesting.
Wymack who made a team of people who were screwed up in life in order to help them see that they could become someone important. That they could be seen. That they would be needed. They might start from zero, from being nothings, but he knows that his children have a big potentional and that they just need a push and a glue that sticks them together... Wymack, who is everything a real parent is supposed to be.
Abby and Betsy a doctor and psychiatrist who help hold the team together, who listen to them, who take care of their injuries and their shattered feelings, who know how to help, how to heal their broken hearts.
And so on and on.... Overall, I have so many feels about whole team in general: the fact that they bet on everything, that they get along as much as they don't, the fact that they are there for each other, even when they don't and can't stand each other...
And when I tell you this book has LGBT, I kid you not. It really has. So if you wanna read it for this, go ahead! It's not a bait, and certainly delievers, so be prepared to guess who are the end game couples in this :D That is, if everyone survives till the end of book 3.
it's a story about survivors, and their journeys to better futures, better lives, overcoming their traumas and battling their demons.
I promise that book 2 and 3 are worth reading it. Also check this great FAQ from author when you are done for more info :D
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