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li_reading's review against another edition
0.25
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape and Self harm
jenny_librarian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It’s much darker than I anticipated. Not gruesome, just dark. There’s a lot of abuse – on and off page – but it didn’t feel as bad as other, less dark books I tried to read.
I don’t think I’d like to see Exy as a sport (I hate the NHL because I find it too violent), but on the context of the book it’s quite interesting.
I’m looking forward to book 2, and trying to figure out how that ship everyone talks about will get to happen (if it’s even canon, cause right now it makes no sense to me that those two could have a romantic relationship).
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Suicide, Torture, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
janeesjournal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Ich hätte tatsächlich nicht gedacht, dass es so ernst und düster werden würde, aber es war auch unfassbar spannend. Die Geschichte kam einem gar nicht zu weit hergezogen vor, auch wenn es erstmal so klingt, wenn man versuchen würde zu erklären worum es geht. Es passt aber wirklich sehr gut und wirkt vor allem sehr real und echt.
Von Minute 1 an ist die Geschichte spannend und ich konnte das Buch kaum aus der Hand legen. Es gibt so viele Sachen, die man im Hinterkopf hat, auf deren Eskalation man wartet und vor denen man sich fürchtet. Der Protagonist Neil zieht einen komplett in seine Geschichte und ich war total invested in alles, was in seinem Leben vorgeht.
Die Charaktere sind sehr verschieden, sehr divers und haben alle wirklich schwere Leben hinter sich und mit einer Menge Problemen zu kämpfen.
Auch wenn ich mir bei keinem (außer Matt und Dan) wirklich 100% sicher bin, was ich von ihm halten soll, finde ich alle super interessant und die ganzen Dynamiken sind sehr gut ausgearbeitet und lassen einen oft vor Angst was als Nächstes passiert die Luft anhalten.
So gut wie alle Charaktere handeln sehr moralisch fragwürdig, haben eine Hass-Liebe zueinander, die auch der Leser entwickelt und verhalten sich teils unter aller Sau. Auch tragen sie alle sehr schwere Lasten und die Schatten ihrer Vergangenheiten mit sich.
Das Buch ist auf jeden Fall sehr character-driven, aber auch der Plot, der sich langsam entwickelt, ist spannend und komplex und hält viele Vermutungen und Eskalationen für die Zukunft parat.
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, and Murder
illgiveyouahint's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really love Neil as a character. I like that despite being so careful and running on survival for so long, there's this thread of oh he wants people to care for him and wants to have somewhere to call home and wants to have friends and just wants to stop running and have a life. And it's not too pronounced since his issues are too big (especially at the start of it) to allow too much of it, but it's there.
I really enjoy Wymack and Neil's relationship. I mean Wymack is fun with all the Foxes 'cause he's just the tired older fatherly figure to them, but he's just so goddamn tired of Neil's whole thing. Like you can tell that at any given moment he just wants to scream at the kid "Let me love you and care for you and give you home and safety, you goddamn idiot!"
Also the slowburn of Andrew and Neil is also fun of course. Like you don't realise it on the first read but it's so clear on the second read how much Neil is focused on Andrew. And not just because Andrew causes him most trouble in the first part of the book, but he's already so attuned to Andrew.
The Neil and Kevin relationship is an interesting one. Kevin being so determined to make Neil into a champion but having only the Raven's way of leadership to go on, Neil on one hand wanting it so bad but on the other hand knowing it can never be.
Oh, and I'm also taking note of the Kevin & Andrew relationship that is fascinating in a different way. Kevin knows where to push Neil but he knows he can't move Andrew unless he gives him good enough incentive.
Point is there's a lot of good dynamics to look at.
With all of that being said, there's some issues I am gonna continue being uncomfortable with. The villains of the books being Japanese is just :// Nicky's 'I'm gonna flirt with any boy within vicinity" also bothers me a lot 'cause it's such a stereotype. I'm not sure about how the portrayal of Andrew's psychological problems and the effect of his medication is making me feel.
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide, Vomit, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Murder, and Outing
natnat_7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Homophobia, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Rape, Vomit, and Car accident
ronoexiste's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Car accident
stargazing's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
justreaditem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I think Coach is my favourite character. Although I feel like he's constantly pinching his nose in exasperation at all these delinquent boys, he cares so much about them all despite his words, he's there for each and every one of them.
There's much LGBTQ+ representation in this book but it's not in your face. You also have mental health, crime, family and team work.
Each character was honest and different in every way, including the girls on the team. They weren't weak or meek. And the BANTER! Oh my days, I found myself laughing out loud constantly.
Don't get me wrong, a lot of it was unrealistic. I mean, somehow they're part of a gang or something? But all in all, it's a good read. I can't wait to finish the series off.
Graphic: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship
fthepatriarchy's review against another edition
5.0
okay first off i have 0 interest in sport. absolutely none. i’m only reading this for the characters. i like neil but his absolute lack of humour annoys me. make a joke. just one. please.
it’s actually a good book though, it has a lot of triggers + i put as many as i can think of but probably google the rest.
the writing style’s really matter-of-fact? like there’s little to no description but honestly i really like it.
the coach calling everyone the r slur is not appreciated though ☹️ everyone in this book is so aggressive. i actually weirdly like andrew? maybe just because i’ve struggled w similar problems but if he’d tone down the scary aggression then i’d like him.
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol
reading_addicts_anonymous's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Drug use and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Violence, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Death, Drug abuse, and Homophobia