The Foxhole Court

Review by: rfarnum on Dec. 26, 2018 :
No words. This series has helped me through some real tough shit. It's not for everyone but it's fantastic.Five stars for all of them.

Review by: Jarrett Cohen on Sep. 22, 2016 :
I am only writing this review in response to Feather Qwill. I usually let honest negative critiques go - they just don't like the book and they have their reasons. There are only two types of reviews that get to me: hard-core Christians who didn't "realize" the content of a book was against their faith, and people who criticize fiction for not being realistic enough.

Oxford Dictionary describes fiction as "literature in the form of prose, especially short stories and novels, that describes imaginary events and people."

If you didn't like the characters, fine. You're entitled to that.

If you tell me "The sports-world works in a way completely out of step with how it does in reality," I put my foot down. Corruption is rampant in sports. No one wants to address important questions such as CTE even though they affect players of all ages because it is not expedient to their goals. What's wrong with making an imaginary sport corrupt in other ways?

But EVEN overlooking this fact, the author chose to make her sports world this corrupt. And you know what, that's okay. It would be one thing for you to say you found drugs and violence somewhat excessive, but it is another thing entirely to deny her artistic liberty by saying things like "Antipsychotics do not work like this, folks." Well, they could.

I think the reviewer would be better off looking in "nonfiction" for more accurate depictions of life and leave books such as All for the Game to those that have the imaginary capacity to accept a world different from our own.

Review by: Feather Qwill on June 25, 2016 :
While this isn't unreadable, it is pretty poorly conceived. The sports-world works in a way completely out of step with how it does in reality (players carrying weapons on the field, doing drugs & no one trying to stop them--antidoping, anyone? drug tests consist of forcing the kids to disrobe so a doctor can check their arms for track marks, cause apparently arms are the only place IV drugs can be inserted. not blood tests.--coach completely disengaged from the team's training & not even attempting to have them work together, etc, etc, etc.) as does pretty much everything else. Antipsychotics do not work at all like this, folks.

And for some reason the sports-obsessed main character knows 100% more about the team members' personal lives and troubled pasts than he does about how the team actually functions. I don't think he's ever even watched one of their games--he comes across less sports fanatic, more fanboy. Except only one of the players is a star big enough to even have a fan following, so again???

But characterization was the real problem for me. A team supposedly created by a coach to give kids from troubled families/backgrounds a chance at creating new lives for themselves is allowed (sometimes encouraged) by the same coach to to the following:
-Pressure a kid from an abusive background to join them with verbal abuse & threats of violence.
-Continue to threaten & commit acts of violence on other teammates, drug them, verbally abuse them, etc. This behaviour is supposedly "discouraged," but there is a clearly well-known history of it, the perpetrators are never punished (or, you know, kicked off the team?)
-and more.

Plus, everyone but the MCs' stock response to being 'troubled' is to be a violent, amoral sociopath in this, and that's supposed to be 'deep.' Or maybe 'edgy.' Hard to tell, because it really isn't either.

I don't know, I can't help but thinking the only way this story would make any sense at all is if it was transplanted to a sci-fi prison planet with absentee prison guards.

Review by: mixy224 on May 1, 2016 :
Such an amazing roller coaster ride of emotions from start to finish, the characters are loveable and incredibly interesting. I'd highly recommend it, even if you arent a sports fan, or have never heard of exy (if you have any confusion the wikia is very helpful.)

Review by: Kheris on March 18, 2016 :
My girlfriend directed me towards this book, since we're always on the hunt for LGBT-related media. At first, I didn't know if I would be interested in a sports book that seemed so full of drama.

I finished the entire series in under 48 hours. That's how much this story and these characters came to mean to me. These books are very well paced, taking a realistic time to reveal all the twists and turns, and for getting to know the characters as well.

I am also impressed by the sincerity and sensitivity that comes through with the writing, considering the diverse experiences the characters have.

It's so wonderful to have an LGBT series this good!! Go Foxes!!!

Review by: Alex on March 10, 2016 :
I just finished the series, and in all honestly I have not been this attached to a book in a long time. The plot is amazing and the characters are very well developed.

I was skeptical at first, because sports are not really my thing, but this is exactly the type of book I love so much, with great character development and a twisting, suspenseful plot.

Review by: Ais on Sep. 30, 2015 :
WAIT A SECOND. How have I not reviewed this series here yet?? Ok, here's the thing. I freaking LOVE this series. Like straight up completely and totally love it 100% no question without a doubt yes. I loved it so much that I reread it right after finishing it, and then I reread it every time I recommend it to someone and they tell me they're going to read it, and other times randomly reread it just because.

I wrote much longer reviews about this book series and why I adore it at goodreads (read here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/704226247), and I don't want to give spoilers or be too repetitive. So I'll just say: if you are at all, in ANY WAY, even a little bit interested in this then you must read it right now. It is dark and engrossing and magnetic and amazing. I love the characters; I love how kind of effed up and twisted the series is but in all the best ways because it makes sense for everything and everyone. I freaking love Neil and everyone.

Also, I hate sports IRL. Like seriously. HATE sports. Loathe them. A second I spend watching sports on TV is 20 minutes too long and 10,000 hours I'll never get back in my life. But I loved the hell out of this series that focused a lot on sports because it's THAT GOOD but also because Exy is very interesting, and because the way Exy relates to the characters is awesome. It's basically another part of their character development, and for someone who haaaaaaaaates sports IRL, I got super into the scenes in the book where they were in games. Where I'd be thinking OMG WILL THEY WIN OH NO and things like that.

Review by: floraine on Jan. 4, 2015 :
I Loved it! I've just finished the serie and I don't know what to do with my life now that it's over...
I loved the progression and the way the author developed all the characters.

It's dark and intense and addictive and I recommend it!

Review by: Sonja Cameron on May 6, 2014 :
I love this book and its sequel. Can't wait for the third one to come out.

Review by: K.M. Frontain on Oct. 14, 2013 :
I enjoyed these two novels (The Foxhole Court and The Raven King). The story was engrossing, but very dark emotionally, which is to be expected when the plot concerns mafia, death threats and mental illness. After finishing, it took me a while to rise out of the miasma of the main character's life. So as I said, very dark, but riveting.

I admit to skimming some of the sports bits. That said: the sports bits that I read were very well done. I've just never been that interested in sports. But the author has meshed the sports very well with the plot and character emotions/thoughts, so I doubt many readers will skim like me. I'm a chronic skimmer or speed reader. Some things just put me into speed mode. Sports is one, but gotta say, I slowed down for this book. This is an excellent first novel in a series and well written over all.

Mafia matters are very intertwined with the sports in this series. It works. It was very easy to suspend disbelief except every once in a while I wondered if Japanese mafia members were really that f---ed up and totally without a sense of humour. There's always some twisted SOB or two in a story with mafia.

I'm looking forward to book three and how the main character continues rising out of his emotional shut down while learning to have faith in some of the human race again.

Review by: Misteline on May 23, 2013 :
I enjoyed every second of this book! It was engaging, well written, and the characters were well thought out. Well before the end I found myself caring about all of the characters, wanting to know each of their stories, and seeing each of them as a worthwhile believable addition.

I only wish I could be reading the rest of the trilogy Right Now.

Review by: Wren S on Jan. 23, 2013 :
What an amazing book! I highly recommend it. It has such interesting character that were both puzzling and unique, with a plot that wound in such lively loops of intrigue that it can grab you in a second. Unfortunately I'm in college so I didn't have the luxury of enjoying it in one smooth read, but if I could have I would have. And despite my hectic schedule I made sure to greedily read it all in a day. It's hard to stop once you start, and at the end you're still hungry for more.

I can't wait for the release of the next two book. A huge thanks to the author and her cohorts for making this available for a free read. I'm officially sucked in now.

Review by: Lila Carter on Jan. 22, 2013 :
Best free book I have seen on this website yet! Not a single typo! Over 50,000 words! That's probably enough to warrant a free book five stars as it is, BUT:

The protagonist, Neil, is not a good guy. Maybe, under different circumstances he would be. He certainly doesn't think he is (I secretly kind of do, though). It's a little unnerving to read about this friendless boy who compares himself to his serial killing father and who was taught that loving someone will get him killed. You feel bad for him until he proves in his quiet, clever way that he doesn't need your sympathy. Neil is at war with who he thinks he should be, who he thinks he is, and who he wants to be. He will surprise you.

Don't worry; while you're still wrapping your head around who "Neil" is, you'll be introduced to an equally lively and interesting cast, all on the fast-paced backdrop of a fictional game called Exy. On some levels the story is simple: play a game! make friends! But it's edged with sinister foreboding just under the surface. Because your new best friends may or may not include a very dangerous psychopath. And that game? Edgar Allen's Ravens are coming, and they play the dirtiest game imaginable. You may not come out alive.

Did we forget the serial killing father? Because he certainly hasn't forgotten us.




P.S. Exy is better than Quidditch.

Review by: Priscilla Rodriguez on Jan. 20, 2013 :
Just finished reading this book. Loved it. I started it & couldn't put it down until I finished it. It's really that good. Can't believe it was free. "Neil" (I'd love to know his real name) is a complex and likeable character for me. I really didn't know what would happen next regarding the story line. I had a soft spot for the psychopathic Andrew - I'm still trying to figure him out. I know Kevin has his own thing going on - but I'd like to see him really stand up strongly against Riko.

I liked the way the author wrote about the sport while the game was in action. I really got into it - loved the smack talk that was going on, as well as the description of the sport in play.

Can't wait for the next book,"The Raven King" to come out. I'm dying to find out if Andrew can back up what he says he can do for "Neil" and Kevin. Also waiting for "Neil's" dad to put in his appearance. And of course the game of the Foxes vs. the Ravens!