The King's Men: Volume 3 (All for the Game)

So. I finished it.This was by far the best of the series. We finally get lose ends tied, conclusions to major plot lines, and so much more depth and character development.I was so excited to get more information on Neil's backstory, and the shock of what happened was crazy. I can remember putting the book down and just staring at the wall when Neil got that call.I also really, truly loved seeing Kevin finally break free from the Ravens, or I suppose begin his journey of breaking free.Obviously I can't not comment on the relationship between Andrew and Neil. Honestly I relate heavily to Neil's queerness and Andrew's difficulty with relationships, so seeing them grow together made my heart happy. I also love, love, love how it was much more subtle than I was expecting. We still see the passion and the love but it didn't feel over the top or forced. I think I'd have liked maybe a bit more of deeper exploration of their relationship but I also fully realise that's not really what this series is about. Besides, that's what fanfic is for.I have some maybe unpopular opinions about how things ended, and I think the last handful of chapters weren't fleshed out enough. But I don't think it really detracts from the whole.I don't really know if I'll ever be able to articulate how this series made me feel, it's been a real journey and I can't really believe it's over.I'm so amazed I'd never even heard of this series before this year, and yet very quickly it grabbed me and is never letting go.Go, Foxes!Edit: Now I've had a minute and got over my intial reaction I honestly have to say I feel the same way about this as I do whenever I finish a series that hit me pretty hard, and that's unfortunately sort of disappointed? And reading some of the extras actually didn't help, they sort of ruined things a bit for me by building up these futures into canon that I don't really like. I'm left just thinking about all the things I wish had been different. I don't think I'll read Book 4, but I'll see what the fics have to offer.

I binged this series in two days. The Foxhole Court is free, and The Raven King and The King's Men are only 99p. Go get them.The All For The Game series is self-published. I emphasise this because it still needs a good edit. Some parts are seriously hyperbolic and the pacing drags in places, mainly where Sakavic tries to refresh the reader's memory with facts and history from the previous books. Her betas did a great job, but it needs one last vigorous edit before it's right.Despite that, I still give it five stars. Here's a few paragraphs why:“I want—I know I shouldn't stay, but I can't—I don't want to lose this. I don't want to lose any of you."I adore stories with good characterisation and these characters have come so far since the first book, especially the lead protagonist Neil Josten. Although the series is told through his eyes, by the end of The King's Men I not only feel like Neil has changed but the rest of his team. It's difficult enough trying to get the reader to empathise with your protagonist but when they make you root for TEN different people? That's good."He’d come to the Foxhole Court every inch a lie, but his friends made him into someone real."The complex team dynamic really drives the story as we get to know each person, slowly bringing the team closer together. Members have their own individual traits and backgrounds and progressions so when the final page closes it feels like saying goodbye to a set of friends who had become a family. Relationships and sexuality are also really well written."Fight because you don't know how to die quietly. Win because you don't know how to lose. This king's ruled long enough—it's time to tear his castle down"Dialogue is spot on. My personal favourites are anything from Coach Wymack because of his uplifting speeches and sarcastic comments. But it's the subtext, secret sharing, and slow trust between Kevin, Andrew and Neil which is the best."Neil twisted his fingers through the metal links and wished he could break the fence down. 'Let me in.'"It took me a little while to adjust to Exy but I loved everything about it. Neil's competitiveness is something I've experienced first hand and the game and team's drive made me ache with how much I miss being part of a sport. It made me want to run miles, to get back into sports, to feel like I belonged to a part of something. It made my heart pound like I had just played a game and, more than anything, it made me wish Exy was a real thing. Guys and girls on the same team? Sign me the hell up."Show me your scars."Trigger warnings for abuse and rape and violence. The violence is a little over the top in places to the point that it isn't believable, but other scenes and backstories are heartbreaking. It's a trademark that the Foxes come from dysfunctional or difficult backgrounds, and how they come to terms with it is what brings them to life.tl;dr: I can't recommend the All For The Game series enough. Read it with an open mind and heed the warnings. It's not as heartbreaking and miserable as  A Little Life , or as happy as  Kings Rising : Book Three of the Captive Prince Trilogy , but it left me with the rare heavy daze inside my chest that so few books do. I wanted the story to go on after the final page, to follow each and every character into their future, but it ended in a way that gave me closure. I only hope other people will give the series a chance so they can feel the same way.(Or even better: that it gets picked up by a publisher and given the edit and distribution it deserves <3)

Eu terminei o primeiro e o segundo livro em dois dias cada um, esse não foi diferente. Eu não sei como agradecer a Nora o suficiente por escrever uma história tão cativante como essa, sem dúvida eu nunca me vi tão prendida em uma família como me vi nessa.

Me gustó demasiado el final y este último libro, a mi parecer culmina muy bien la historia y los personajes se desarrollan muy bien, tenia mucho tiempo sin leer una trilogía tan interesante y adictiva y aunque no es para todo público por los temas sensibles qué contiene, si le dan la oportunidad de leerlos van a conocer unos libros como ningún otro.

❝ Fight because you don't know how to die quietly. Win because you don't know how to lose. This king's ruled long enough—it's time to tear his castle down. ❞this book was a wild ride. the end was everything but the journey to get there through all the violence and the hurt was something precious. andrew minyard is an amazing character, so broken yet so protective, so strong and complicated. who knew these white and orange covers contained so much beautiful souls, well not me. all for the game made my favorite series of all time cut and I don't see it ever leaving it.

i have unironically read this book a dozen times, have been floored countless times, my emotions twisted beyond recognition, and yet i still “live” it as if it’s the first time. i love the foxes beyond words, and i am so grateful to nora for writing this😭🧡

Tutto OK grazie!!!!!