Nora Sakavic: The Raven King (The Foxhole Court #2) | Lara
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 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.
“They were exhausted, sore, and more than a little disappointed by their loss, but the Foxes left the stadium feeling like champions.”
They are every fucking inch the champions. Excuse me, where can I sign the adoption papers for the entire Palmetto State University Team? I am a complete fucking mess over this book – like, the ultimate kind of mess I haven’t been since reading Six of Crows and I’m screaming internally and externally from the chilling ecstasy reading this book woke in me (I don’t get it how my family isn’t obsessed over the characters or at least doesn’t understand my constant screeching). And now I’m stuck between procrastinating the last book because I don’t want it to end and desperately wanting to see what happens next.
This book skyrocketed above all my expectations, taking my love for sports and love for damaged characters wronged by the world to a whole different level. I am breathless, I am at a loss for words, lost in the sea of emotion this book released in me for an infinite moment that I have been reading it. There is so much about this book that makes it amazing – writing most of all, for how can you have a good book without an amazing author who knows exactly what to give his readers. Sakavic illustrated life in sport – imperfect and fucked up life with a lot to work on, but the idea of that feeling of importance and belonging is still there and I cannot thank her enough for giving such a voice to a one-of-a-kind athlete.
“Look. Shit happened. Shit's going to keep happening. You don't need me to tell your life isn't fair. You're here because you know it isn't. Life doesn't care what we want out of it; it's up to us to fight for what we want with everything we've got. Seth wanted us to win. He wanted us to make it past the fourth match. I think we owe it to him to perform. Let's show the world what we've got. Let's make this our year.”
If there is a heaven for books, this one has a throne waiting for it there. The first one was a hell of a shocker, but The Raven King was ten times more so. The intensity of its plot was enough to fry every single one of my brain cells – from the intense and vivid games and mafia wars to immensely complex and intertwined character interactions – this book is everything I’ll be thinking about for the rest of my life. Foxes playing together, fighting for each other and trying to overcome their differences and help each other with the trauma is something I am not ready to let go of. They are such a messed-up bunch, but what’s there is the ferocity of their characters that is still there after everything, that drives them forward to fight for their team no matter what. I don’t want to sound dramatic, but fuck me, what did I do to deserve this book?
“He was their family. They were his. They were worth every cut and bruise and scream.”
It is so amazing how I literally can’t find one character that I don’t adore in this book – all of the Foxes completely occupied my heart and have no intention of leaving anytime soon. Neil Josten is the carrier of the plot and his problems keep growing. The situation with the Moriyamas is unraveling and he is in more danger than ever – only now he decided not to be afraid. The belonging that literally saved him and his love for Exy are the things that keep him fighting for his Foxes – the only thing he has left. I love every part about this sassy boy who took it upon himself to fix his team in order to take them where they all deserve to be – on the top.
“Your parents are dead, you are not fine, and nothing is going to be okay. This is not news to you. But from now until May you are still Neil Josten and I am still the man who said he would keep you alive.”
The entire story is told from Neil's perspective as the main character but I feel like this book was mostly oriented on a strong-willed amazing creature that is Andrew Minyard. Geez, if you thought the first one was dark and fucked up then you're up for a treat. I finally came to understand the damage he'd undertaken and the abuse he had endured. The darkness that comes from him can only find any consolation in the need to protect what's his like no one protected him and I really want him to be better and find some purpose in Exy.
I also have a new discovery and it's called my love for Kevin Day. I usually have a distaste for cowardly characters, but his will and determination, as well as despise for himself, give him a deep dimension of someone who needs to recover and get over his long-induced trauma. He pushes himself to be better when everything has been taken from him and I nominate him for the biggest cinnamon roll of the month.
But my love doesn’t stop there – no, no – there is also Nicky who is such an icon, fierce Dan and loyal Matt, sweet Renee, determined Allison, and even asshole Aaron, but they’re all part of something amazing.
“Neil thought about Renee's bruised knuckles, Dan's fierce spirit, and Allison holding her ground on the court a week after Seth's death. He thought about his mother standing unflinching in the face of his father's violent anger and her ruthlessly leaving bodies in their wake. He felt compelled to say, "Some of the strongest people I've known are women.”
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