Book 2 of All for the Game; The Raven King follows The Foxhole Court
The Foxes are a fractured mess, but their latest disaster might be the miracle they’ve always needed to come together as a team. The one person standing in their way is Andrew, and the only one who can break through his personal barriers is Neil.
Except Andrew doesn’t give up anything for free and Neil is terrible at trusting … terrible at trusting anyone but himself. The two don’t have much time to come to terms with their situation before outside forces start tearing them apart. Riko is intent on destroying Neil’s fragile new life, and the Foxes have just become collateral damage.
Neil’s days are numbered, but he’s learning the hard way to go down fighting for what he believes in, and Neil believes in Andrew even if Andrew won’t believe in himself.
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This book actually killed me. I read this book about a year ago. Don’t own a copy and had to listen to the audiobook. Listened to the 13-hour book in 2 sit-downs. I admit to getting emotional over this book even 12 months later. Sometimes I’ll see something and I’ll just have a flashback to a moment in the book. I definitely recommend this book. The characters are absolutely wonderful! But, really this book might have actually torn my heart in 2 and then in 4 and then just cut it into a million tiny pieces that were later scattered across the globe. Hands down one of the best books out there. Neil Josten and Andrew Minyard are people to be cherished. They don’t deserve what happened to them, but I’m glad they were drawn to each other in the end. They don’t need each other but they sure as heck want each other (in more days than one lol). Love all my fellow All For The Game Fans out there. WARNING! Side effects of reading this book include: feeling the need to protect all of the characters; the need to talk about the book 24/7 to whoever will listen; and your heart being stored inside this book. Haha! Seriously though, read the gosh dang book.
I’m still as obsessed with this series, as I was when reading book one – Foxhole Court.
The plot’s complexity has quadrupled. Every character has an agenda, and many characters have pasts that are buried so deeply under lies that each discovery only cements my belief that this series is phenomenally awesome.
The author is a master storyteller, her way of spinning a fascinating as well as emotional tale is outstanding. Nothing in these books is predictable. Each new discovery is more outrages and in your face than the other. Throughout the first two books my jaw hit the floor countless times. The intricacies between the different plots are mind boggling. There are just some authors that are leap years ahead of others. And Nora Sakavic is one of them. This author and series deserves way more recognition than other hyped authors and series.
When you get down to it, the entire series is one long book. Raven King started exactly where Foxhole Court ended. The team finally understands that only united they have a chance to win the final match. And seeing them growing closer, socializing and spending their free time together outside of the court is heart-warming. Because I love them all, I want them to get along.
Neil, my favorite character’s journey has been heart wrenching, but I’m also so proud of him. He’s come such a long way, and his progress makes me cheer for him even more. His relationship with Andrew is as fascinating as it is mysterious. He has this unbelievable way with him, that none of the team can get even close to. Even though they constantly battle over truths, lies, and secrets, at the end they are just trying to understand the other person. It’s quite fascinating for me as well as for them, because they each are fascinated by one another.
Raven King ended with two major arcs, and I can’t wait to read how these two arcs play into Neil and Andrew’s relationship.
I’m not going to write much more, I just want to get back to reading The King’s Men. So all I can say is read this series, actually buy it. The first book is free on Amazon, the second and third only cost 99 cents each. That’s an incredible deal. Honestly it’s ridiculous. So one-click NOW!!!
This book sort of coldcocked me with emotions I wasn’t expecting to well up. It’s been a very long time since I’ve felt such intense rage at a character that it left me actually seething. But there is certainly one character in here that I feel that toward and let me tell you, it was pure and unadulterated rage. To feel so much speaks volumes to me on the talent of an author. You’ve done well, Nora.
This second book in the series was completely captivating. It did not annoy the crap out of me with its complete disregard for the realities of college athletics and the NCAA. (As I said in my review of book one, if you made up an entire sport then make up the framework it works in. Create something not called the NCAA and understand and therefore explain away the realities of college. Placing your made up game within the context of a real life system interferes with willing suspension of disbelief necessary for this story to work.) The writing and dialog is much better than in the first book. The editing is better here with far fewer inconsistencies than in book one.
This book focuses much more on the interpersonal dynamics of the team members and we get a lot more backstory and character development. It is intense and compelling. The story grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. The ending is so gut wrenching I defy anyone to not want to immediately dig into book three.
As an aside, the whole explanation of Exy would have been a good thing to have in book one.
OH MY GOODNESS THIS SERIES! I am totally invested in these characters and I am just falling apart over Neil and just OMG, on to The Kings Men….
5
I think this one was even better than book one. Finally you really got to know more about the characters rather than just the surface. It was heartbreaking and so intense at times that it was difficult to get through, but to me that is what makes a great book. I finally see why everyone is shipping Andrew and Neil, as I am as well at this point. I want so much for them all, but now especially for those two. I found some of the scenes very hard. While there was not one page rape, it was talked about, and that is devastating, but it was real and it made sense for the characters. I was happy to finally get some real answers on things. Another thing I love is how Neil’s fuse is so short when it comes to Riko and while the ending really put things into perspective, it was really great to see Neil still being his true self. I also like the self-discovery that was going on with Neil. He is a great character. And Andrew is such an interesting character as well. Aaron finally got in on the character development as well, and Nicky is just a delight. Alexander Cendese did a great job on this narration. I immediately started in on book 3 and cannot wait to see how crazy it gets.
I am so invested in this series. I need to know what happens and then goodness the next book is already out because I would die if I had to wait. I don’t know what’s so addictive about this series. Maybe cheering on an underdog? Getting answers and finding out the truth? Hoping bad guys get what they deserve? Hoping everyone comes out alive? Finding out what Andrew is like now?
Holy fuckkkk!!! The way it gets more and more unpredictable!!! Each character has a complex backstory and the plot is keeping me on edge!
On Andrew!!! And Neil too! I wasn’t ready for the pain and hurt even though I should’ve been. Neil has gone through so much and the character development is stunning. The way he’s with Andrew, their conversations and fights are so very intriguing. I’m so invested in this series.
I love how the Foxes are finally a team but hate what happened to bring them together. Raven King picks up directly after the first book is entirely from Neil’s POV. I just going to directly read the next book because I cannot wait!
Also Riko can burn a thousand fiery deaths in hell! I’m so mad about the things he did that I cannot even form words to describe that sadistic bastard. I better get revenge next book!
TW: child abuse, rape, self harm, torture
Even better than the previous story!