The Long Game (Game Changers, #6) by Rachel Reid Review

This review contains spoilers - read with discretion. You can read my reviews of Game Changer, Heated Rivalry, Tough Guy, Common Goal, and Role Model on my blog now! Heated Rivalry is now streaming on Crave in Canada and HBO Max in select countries.

Already into chapter two and I was a full on sobbing mess. I need to protect Ilya like my life depends on it, and just as much with Shane. Before diving into this book, I had seen rumblings online that readers were tough on Shane with the way he acted in this book and the way he responded to Ilya's thoughts and actions. Honestly, I was able to see both Shane and Ilya's sides throughout this entire book - on one hand, you have Shane, who is desperate to maintain his elite status in the league while trying to balance his secret relationship, while on the other hand, you have Ilya, who is full of feelings of being left behind and longing to be out in the open with the love of his life all while fighting an internal battle.

Both Shane and Ilya have their own issues that they needed to address in this book, and I think it was incredibly important that we got to see more of Ilya's perspective in this installment. While we got glimpses in Heated Rivalry, this follow-up truly was able to expand on him as more of an individual rather than him being the other half of a secret romance. Every single time he went to see his therapist, I was sobbing - you could literally feel the heartbreak and fear ooze off the page as Ilya tried to articulate how he was feeling and how he wanted to feel like his concerns were being reciprocated. He was just so sad all of the time, and when he would mention he was scared of becoming sad like his mother was sad, I could not stop the tears.

I know Rachel Reid has said on a number of occasions that she did not intend to write Shane's performance diet as an eating disorder, but my god I was literally sick to my stomach every time it was mentioned that he was limiting himself so much in the name of hockey. Rose, Hayden, Ilya, basically everyone would tell him that he did not need to put himself through such intense regimens to be a professional athlete, and I think he would not listen to them because it was one of the few things in his life that he could control. I drove me bonkers that this was not addressed more - I wish Shane had an arc like Ilya had with his therapist - when we see that he ate a Snickers bar after being outted, Ilya basically realized Shane was not doing well in that moment because he was not sticking to his diet.

I think we all should beat the commissioner with bats - that nasty, homophobic old man is a dinosaur and a parasite to the entire. I already could not stand him after the way he treated Troy in Role Model, but this really sealed the deal with me on how much I hate that man. To think that he is running around basically telling every queer hockey player that they have to stay in the closet or basically get fired is insane, and considering he does not believe sexual assault victims, this is just one of many horrible mindsets he has. J.J. was really testing me after Ilya and Shane were unintentionally outed in that video - Shane has known J.J. the entire time they have been playing professionally, and he has the audacity to ask Shane if he fell on purpose to let Ilya score?? I almost through my phone across the room after reading that nightmare of a scene.

Ilya gaining a support system outside of Shane, Shane's parents, and Hayden was so nice to see - he was basically only able to confide in three people outside of Shane, and I can only imagine how isolating that must have been. Once he was able to form friendships and bonds with other team members, especially Troy and Luca, you could see that Ilya was starting to come around to becoming more free - adopting a dog certainly helped as well.

Now that I am all caught up, I cannot wait to see what Rachel has in store for the final Game Changers book, Unrivaled, releasing later this year. I am simply glad that Shane and Ilya will not be going through The Horrors like they did in this book - as much fun as conflict makes for the plot, those two have bene through more than enough and deserve to be able to live in peace and beat Montreal's butt next season.

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Role Model (Game Changers, #5) by Rachel Reid Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my reviews of Game Changer, Heated Rivalry, Tough Guy, and Common Goal on my blog, now! Heated Rivalry is now streaming on Crave in Canada and HBO Max in select countries.

I really enjoyed seeing Troy's internal thoughts and how he was able to slowly start coming out of his shell after being traded to the Centaurs. You could clearly tell that he felt out of place after being uprooted from a team that he played with for years, and considering his supposed best friend ended up being a complete scumbag, his weariness to socialize with other people was understandable. Especially taking into account that Troy is closeted and recently out of a long term relationship, he does not know how anyone else would react to this information, even after Scott Hunter's major moment in Game Changer.

Major bonus points for Ilya being so present in this book - he is literally my favorite character in this series, so it was so nice to see him with Troy as they played on the Centaurs together. I was in desperate need of an Ilya fix after season one of Heated Rivalry concluded, and this was the perfect read to get more of him as I make my way towards The Long Game and patiently await season two. You could tell when he was talking to Shane, even when Shane was never even mentioned - Troy was constantly observing Ilya throughout the book, and he was certainly noticing a pattern with Ilya and his bursts of disappearing the second they had an off day.

There is a moment in this book where I literally started sobbing - most of these books are not "high stakes" in the sense that something tragically bad could happen to any of the characters, but I was genuinely fearing for multiple characters' lives at one point. You can literally feel the fear come off the page, and I have to stay this aspect of the book made the reality of what the characters were living through very prominent for the rest of the story. I genuinely think this is one of the main turning points for Troy in his own self reflection in deciding how he wants to see himself as a person and how he wants to live his life without hiding in the shadows any longer.

Harris was a great partner for Troy - while their interactions were a little rocky at first only due to Harris being weary of Troy for his past actions, it definitely blossomed into a great relationship. Their personalities, while not 100% the same, were compatible and I felt as though they were both able to learn a lot from one another, and understand that while their lives are very different from each other, they still had a common goal - pun intended - in mind. Considering Harris comes from a family who is very supportive of his sexuality and Troy comes from a rocky home life with a homophobic father and homophobic team members, it was interesting to see how they both went about their outlooks on life.

I hope Dallas Kent gets everything that is coming to him - I could not stand his little appearances throughout the other books and I am glad that Troy was able to put him in his place and believe those women. I think the addition of this storyline really emphasizes the NHL's past and current compliance with assault culture and is a great commentary on how these players are often believed over their victims in order for the league to keep making money. Which is an interesting factor given now the NHL is trying to monetize off of the success of Heated Rivalry when one could argue that the NHL and the commissioner are the biggest villains of the series. I only hope that the culture starts changing and allegations are taken more seriously.

I cannot wait to revisit Shane and Ilya in The Long Game, but I have to say this entire series has been such a joy to read so far. While there are moments that I have my own opinions on, Reid is able to create a universe where these players are able to have their happy endings and get the love they deserve.

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Tough Guy (Game Changers, #3) by Rachel Reid Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my reviews of Game Changer and Heated Rivalry on my blog, now! Heated Rivalry is now streaming on Crave in Canada and HBO Max in select countries.

Ryan and Fabian's relationship was certainly... interesting. On one hand, you have hockey star Ryan who has been playing in the league for years and on the other hand, you have musician Fabian who hates hockey. I think their personalities definitely complimented one another, but they also brought out things in each other that were not being explored when they were not together. I really enjoyed how Reid explored Ryan's anxiety throughout the book and did not shy away from the struggles he faced and how it impacted his daily life and his hockey career. Ryan's chapters were definitely the most compelling to me as a reader - it felt as though his character had more care taken in developing his internal development. While Fabian did have development as well, I just could not find myself leaning towards his story. He was not as likable as Ryan in my eyes, and I found him constantly stating how much he hated hockey while literally dating a hockey player becoming increasingly annoying.

Ryan's journey with his anxiety was the most captivating plot of this book. Since Reid makes it clear from the beginning that Ryan is out, there were no undertones of him being in the closet or hiding his relationship from the public for the sake of his career. This meant that we were able to explore new avenues with his character and see how even though Ryan is a "tough guy," he still had a lot going on in his life that was outside the world of hockey. Fabian was sympathetic towards Ryan's anxiety, but it still seemed that Fabian wanted Ryan to quit playing hockey every single chapter, which I felt fed into his anxiety even more.

Fabian has reasoning for not liking hockey players, but I found it odd that he basically let it fester his whole life and then when he finally is dating a hockey player. he spends the majority of his time thinking about how he wants Ryan to quit or watching Ryan's games and wondering why he would play. There were a few times in the book where Fabian was watching a game on television and thinking "why would Ryan be this violent during the game?" which I found absurd because it is literally hockey... they fight every two seconds during a game. I found myself becoming more agitated with Fabian as the book went on because of this, and truly tried to like him more, but just could not find it within my to want to take his side.

I really enjoyed the little Shane and Ilya crumbs in the book - while they were only mentioned a few times and made a guest appearance briefly, it was nice to see how they were being perceived by other hockey players. Ilya's one-liners are still a hit in my eyes and he truly is a hilarious character, even when he is not trying to be.

I think I was expecting a lot more out of this book than what was given, and was hoping Fabian and Ryan's relationship would be as enticing as Scott and Kip's or Shane and Ilya's relationships. Instead, I honestly found myself wanting Ryan to stop dating Fabian multiple times during the book - I did not think in the beginning and middle of their relationship that Fabian was the right man for Ryan. I am glad they both were able to be more vulnerable with each other and have their own growth, but would have loved if Fabian's character was not always on a mission to have Ryan literally quit his career because of his hatred towards hockey players. 

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The Sunshine Court (All for the Game, #4) by Nora Sakavic Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my reviews of The Raven King and The King's Men on my blog, now! Please read trigger warnings - reader discretion is advised.

I would actually lay down my life for Jean Moreau and I am not even joking. This boy deserves nothing but sunshine - literally and figuratively - and I want him to live in peace and never have to look over his shoulder ever again in his life. His responses remind me so much of Andrew and Neil's when confronting the trauma they have endured. Reading bits and pieces about him throughout the first three books and considering the horrors he went through in The King's Men, I knew that I would be in for a tough read when Nora announced his and Jeremy Knox's trilogy installment for the series. Jean's internal monologue is gut-wrenching and at times literally nauseating to read about the way he speaks about himself and how he blames himself for the years of abuse.

I would personally like to thank Nora for giving us multiple perspectives - seeing Jean and Jeremy's internal thoughts truly made their introduction and development so much deeper as we were able to actively follow along on Jeremy's end as he digested everything Jean revealed to him, as well as follow Jean as he slowly works his way through understanding that what the Ravens - mostly Riko and Grayson - put him through, was horrendous. Their development is very much sunshine and grump, and that is putting "grump" on Jean very loosely as he is more so sheltered and does not understand what was done to him is not normal. He is basically forced to leave an environment that he only remembers, and while it was incredibly toxic, it is the only thing he knows.

Jeremy's entire character is like if you put a ray of sunshine in a jar and walked it around town. I am in love with this kind little soul and would also lay down my life for him as much as I would for Jean. The way he does not overly push Jean into revealing what he has been through but also does not hold back on explaining to him that what he experienced is not normal is fantastic character establishment. I loved the way we could see Jeremy work with what he was given and make sure that he was able to create some sort of balance between having Jean still continue with his "normal" but also try to move on and create a life of his own.

Reading everything that Jean had to go through at the Nest... my stomach was in knots. It was so sick and twisted - every single time something was uncovered or Jean accidentally let something slip, my heart dropped and I just wanted to give him a hug. I desperately need him, Neil, and Andrew to heal emotionally together, but I know their personalities would never allow that to happen. At least Neil and Andrew are able to lean on each other, and hopefully Jean will be able to lean on Jeremy once he opens up more.

You can pry this series out of my cold, dead hands. I will read whatever Nora publishes with enthusiasm and hope that she will never leave this series alone. I obviously will be continuing on with the next installment and can only hope that my dear Jean and Jeremy see some peace - even if it is only for a minute.

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Heated Rivalry (Game Changers, #2) by Rachel Reid Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of Game Changer on my blog, now! Heated Rivalry premieres on November 28, 2025 - only on Crave.

Oh I ate this up so bad... some of my new favorite boys. Obviously I wanted to read this before the show premieres later this month, and now I wish I could wipe my memory and read it all over again. I have been seeing some "arguments" online with some people stating this book was porn without plot, but the plot in this book is so extremely vital to Shane and Ilya's individual struggles and their relationship. That being said, the smut was well written and tasteful as their relationship develops. We see two newly drafted teenagers enter the world of professional hockey while trying to figure themselves out and navigate this rivalry that has been thrust upon them, all while engaging in one of the most complex secret relationships I have seen.

When I heard I had to brace myself when reading the prologue, I could not imagine what Reid had in store for us - when I tell you my jaw dropped. There was no holding back with this book, and it is certainly a leg up on Game Changer. I will say that the timeline of this story was a touch hard to keep track of, but once you get the hang of the way the book flows, it becomes much easier to follow. Typically I am not a major fan of text message usage in books, but I found myself loving Shane and Ilya's conversations - you could really get a sense of their own personalities and humor even when they were not together.

Ilya's storyline felt like he was going through the horrors every two seconds, meanwhile Shane was trying to tell himself he was not gay even though he was literally sleeping with Ilya every chance they could get. Shane's story felt more lighthearted in my opinion - you could tell that he was going to be surrounded by supportive family members, while Ilya's story had me clutching my seat waiting for the next blow. Both experienced some major battles but they were basically there for each other the entire time, even when they would hold back on telling the other something that made them more vulnerable.

I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and from what I hear, this is certainly not the last we will see of them. Their relationship was more intriguing than Scott and Kip's, and while I would not consider this a true "rivals to lovers" trope, I can say that I can see how their "rivalry" made the relationship development more interesting. There was a more significant amount of depth to both characters in this book compared to the first and I was glad to see that Reid was able to create some more complex characters. I already placed a Libby hold for the next book in this interconnected series and I am excited to see where it leads readers with the new couple.

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Game Changer (Game Changers, #1) by Rachel Reid Review

This is a spoiler-free review! Heated Rivalry premieres on November 28, 2025 - only on Crave.

I will be completely honest and say that I started this series solely because Heated Rivalry begins streaming soon and I have heard nothing but great things about that book - I wanted to read it before watching the show, and I am very pro-read the interconnected stand-alones in order. I have not read a hockey romance in some time and was excited to get back into them, especially considering the weather is getting colder. Scott Hunter's pre-game ritual of a smoothie has led him to Kip Grady, the kind juice bar barista that captured his eye and led him down a road of a secret romance. Scott's frequent visits become an excitement for Kip, and their friendship blossoms into an attraction that neither can avoid.

However, Scott seems to be the one making all of the rules and has Kip over on his own terms, leading to Kip feeling somewhat isolated from his "old" life and like a secret in the dark. As he spends more time thinking about what he wants and what his future holds career-wise, Scott is focused on playoffs and winning the Stanley Cup. Their different goals seems to cause a rift on the relationship but more so with Kip's perspective, and as playoffs come even closer, Kip is set to make up his mind on what he needs. Sure, Scott is not out to the world, but with Kip being out, he feels as though he is a second thought to Scott when it comes to hockey and what to focus on. I can definitely see both sides - Scott wanting to wait until playoffs are over in order to not overshadow the games, and Kip wanting to be able to go out with his boyfriends without Scott having to hide from the public eye.

Kip and Scott's friends definitely provided them support in different ways - Kip was able to at least confide in a friend regarding his relationship, whereas Scott had to keep everything to himself. You can certainly see how badly Scott wanted to share about his personal life, but also understand why he was keeping that part of him to himself and Kip. It hurt to see Kip go through so much and seemingly alone - you could tell that it was eating him up inside that he would be spending all of his time waiting for Scott to come back from games or practices, and yet barely get to see him when he did get home - not to mention the fact that Kip was not going to any hockey team functions with Scott as his partner - he had to watch from home.

This was definitely a good start to the series, and you can clearly tell where the next installment is headed considering the number of times a certain Russian player was mentioned throughout the book. There are things that I would have changed, but overall the book read well and there was a decent balance of inner turmoil, lightheartedness, and smut. I already have Heated Rivalry on loan from Libby, and cannot wait to see what Shane and Ilya's story has in store.

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For the Fans by Nyla K Review

This is a spoiler-free review! From the publisher: This book contains sensitive subject matter that could make some readers uncomfortable. Please heed foreword warnings and proceed with caution.

I kept seeing this book all over TikTok and knew I had to make my way toward it eventually, and coming off the high that was God of Fury, I placed my hold on Libby immediately. The closest book I have read that dabbled in the world of sex work / online subscription was Eyes on Me by Sara Cate, and I absolutely devoured that step-sibling taboo romance just as much as I did this one. For the Fans is just as juicy and honestly rivals the insanity and explicitness of some of the taboo romances I have read in the past.

This is some of the most insane smut I have ever read in my life, and I have read my fair share of taboo romances. I feel like I should have been paying premium prices to be able to even read this book, so I can only imagine how much money Avi and Kyran were actually making on their account. I ate this thing up like nobody's business. Every single scene had my jaw on the floor and just when I did not think it could get wilder, it did. Watching Avi and Kyran become more comfortable with each other was like watching a very well-developed relationship take place, and bonus points for it basically being enemies to lovers with that stepbrother taboo touch. I literally could not believe what they were getting up to and honestly I am impressed.

Thank god this really escalated when Kyran and Avi went to college - I do not think I would have continued on if they were not aged up and stayed seventeen. Their personalities are polar opposite of each other and you could literally feel the tension oozing off of the page when they would be in the same room together or when they would have to spend some "quality family time together" with their parents. I love an enemies to lovers moment, and considering Kyran was immediately the brooding man with an instant hatred towards his new stepbrother, I knew it was going to be good. Avi's mother marries Kyran's father, and readers can immediately sense a shift in the way Kryan's father is presented - he is strict, cold, and heavily Catholic to a fault, whereas Avi's mother has more of a "go with the flow" mentality that makes their pairing a bit odd. It was clear to me that there was a story behind the emphasis on his heavy religious views and the way that Kyran reacted to particular scenarios.

Avi and Kyran's enemies moments had me cackling at times - it was so clear that Avi's "hatred" towards Kyran was a response to Kyrans displeasure at having Avi and his mother essentially waltz into his life without warning. Watching Kyran's responses to Avi and the way he lived his life gave readers a view into how Kyran's upbringing was so different than Avi's, and considering the horrors Kyran experienced in the past, it is no wonder he was weary of people coming into his life that may leave without a moment's notice.

I loved how Avi and Kyran's respective friend groups were relatively accepting of Kyran and Avi's respective presences throughout the book - you could tell that Avi's friends cared about him, and if that meant Kyran was suddenly around, they would only tease him as a friend. Kyran's friends more so welcomed Avi's presence as BC's mascot - considering Kyran was on the down low, there was no way he would reveal what Avi meant to him to his friends without truly thinking it through. Readers really get to see both of their perspectives of their unconventional relationship when it came to making videos and the development for both of them when it came to addressing their feelings.

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Binding 13 (Boys of Tommen, #1) by Chloe Walsh Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

Y'all this book moves at the pace of a snail - I understand that it is a slow burn, but that should not mean that the plot also moves as if it is stuck in time. I kept having to push myself to sit and read this book, and considering I have had it on my TBR two and a half years ago, I would have hoped it was going to live up to expectations. I did not realize that Shannon was 15 years old in this book - it feels very odd to read about a main character who is so young, and I felt as though I could not immerse myself into the story because I was so focused on how young she was - not to mention the constant mentioning of how teeny tiny she was for her age. Yes, I understand that it is important in the story, but it was constant and mentioned no less twenty times in the first one hundred pages - it became repetitive very quickly.

Thank goodness I borrowed this from the library because I simply cannot imagine using my hard earned cash to pay to read over 600 pages of this nonsense. Shannon is literally getting tossed around like a rag doll with her horrible home life and the only person that even remotely tries to do anything is Johnny - even her brother, Joey, is very much aware of what is going on, and yet seems to think that telling her to finally fight back is enough advice to get her through the next few years until she turns eighteen. I have conflicted feelings about Joey - I can understand where he is coming from, but he seems to do the bare minimum when it comes to protecting Shannon. Obviously I know it is not his job to make sure Shannon is safe, but I would have loved a little more initiative. 

Johnny is basically obsessed with Shannon but of course rugby comes first to him, yet he cannot stay away from her. At least he is not obsessed in the sense that he is running around kidnapping her - oh wait, he basically does that in the most loose of terms. You can tell that his infatuation with Shannon has overtaken his mind, but considering his mindset is rugby over everything, you can only imagine how well he handles having a "distraction" around during his most critical time to make the U20s.

Shannon's friends were pretty solid, and considering all of the bullying and harassment she went through at her old schools, I was glad she actually had people in her corner. I thought it was absolutely insane that just because Shannon would be standing near Johnny, there were people who considered her a threat and began to terrorize her. Bella in particular was the saddest excuse for a girl I have ever read and her insecurity was basically flying off the page. Considering Shannon was bullied for being small - and having big eyes? - I did think it was strange that high-school-aged people were still using those characteristics as their bullying points. It felt overused after the tenth mention, but I can see how the author wanted to drive the point home on how severe the bullying was for her at her previous school.

The worst offenders in this book are Shannon's mother and father - I was literally wishing they would disappear every other page. They are hands down some of the worst book parents I have ever encountered and I was perplexed on how they were able to carry on with their lives. It was physically nauseating to see how they treated their own daughter, and I wanted to put the book down by the last few chapters. This is not the worst I have seen, but definitely graphic enough to make me jump back as I turned the pages.

I wish I enjoyed this book as much I thought I was going to - I can certainly see the appeal, but I was expecting a lot more from this first installment, and with over 600 pages, I wanted to see more character development from Shannon. Johnny had his moments and his development after the first half of the book, but it was minimal in my eyes, and it frankly took a scenario that I will not spoil for him to get his act together and have his realization moment.

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The King's Men (All for the Game, #3) by Nora Sakavic Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of The Raven King on my blog, now! Please read trigger warnings - reader discretion is advised.

I love this group of idiots like they are my own children. There is nothing bad I could say about a single one of them, and that includes the murder they allegedly committed. This series is so absolutely absurd and I love every second of it. It truly has taken me this long to continue on with this series because I frankly do not want it to end, so I continue to prolong the inevitable ending by waiting an excessive amount of time between books. Sakavic's content intensity can feel overwhelming at times, and considering I feel as though I am the one being hunted and tortured alongside these characters, I need to have them spaced out.

I was literally sick to my stomach yet again when Neil's plot took a turn for the worst. As if my boy has not suffered enough, we see him literally go through the most insane horrors known to man after already having to suffer at the hands of Riko in The Raven King. That being said, I have never seen a character so resilient when it comes to self-sacrificing in order to protect those he sees as family. He takes everything like a champ and even when you would think something would be the driving force that would finally kill him, he perseveres. His attitude problem is truly charming and I love the way that no matter how many times Wymack asks him to rein it in, Neil will up the ante by any means necessary. He is the world's number one rage-baiter at heart and will never not be stepping on someone's neck.

"Did you know I've never been skiing? I'd like to try it some time." Kevin Day I will always love you. These characters are consistently put through the ringer on and off the page, and they deserve to be able to defend themselves - either with fighting words or on the court. I will say, some of these characters definitely like to test out how far they can take it when it comes to pushing buttons and seeing if they can get someone to crack. Aaron and Nicky certainly take the cake when it comes to provoking Neil, and I am surprised that their remarks have not landed either of them in the hospital with the way they speak. Neil and Andrew are the most volatile yet unbothered individuals I have ever come across, yet they are most readily on standby to put fighting words to the test.

Jean, my poor little boy - I wish I could say that his suffering will end but I fear this is just the end of the slow beginning of him healing and likely going through another Saw-trap level horror before being able to live a life as normal as he could dream. Same thing with Kevin - he has revealed to the world information he has known for years and will now be subject to every journalist's inquiries, stories, and invasions until the novelty wears off. Nicky stands on thin ice with me for a number of reasons, but I consider him lucky that Andrew did not make it his personal mission to send that boy to the hospital for everything he has done and said to Neil over the past three books.

Andrew's commitment to being the diva of the team and yet the most tortured of all is inspiring - he could be getting beaten to a pulp and still have time to read everyone to filth just for his own enjoyment. He truly will wait months or years to carry out revenge plans just to ensure they occur exactly when they will benefit him at the most opportune times. His duality of being incredibly closed off but willing to reveal information to only Neil speaks to his character and how guarded he will be, on and off the court. I could read one hundred books about Neil and Andrew's relationship and never get tired of reading about them. I am simply begging Sakavic to give them some peace in the future because these boys deserves to be left alone for the rest of their lives after everything they have been through.

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The Raven King (All for the Game, #2) by Nora Sakavic Review

 

This review contains spoilers for The Raven King. Please read trigger warnings - reader discretion is advised.

It has been over five years since I read The Foxhole Court, and I was worried that I would not remember anything plot-wise that happened in the first installment when I cracked open this book. Thankfully, memory served me well and everything came back to me within the first couple chapters. I truly forgot how much I loved Andrew - he is one of the funniest characters I have ever read, and is so completely unhinged, which makes him the perfect addition to this story. Every single day I pray for Riko's downfall - he is literally one of the worst people to exist in this series, and it is a testament to the Foxes for the way they put up with him, with the exception of Neil, who will use any chance he gets to instigate Riko. And we love him for it - and here is the prime example:

"You know, I get it. Being raised as a superstar must be really, really difficult for you. Always a commodity, never a human being, not a single person in your family thinking you’re worth a damn off the court— yeah, sounds rough. Kevin and I talk about your intricate and endless daddy issues all the time. I know it’s not entirely your fault that you are mentally unbalanced and infected with these delusions of grandeur, and I know you’re physically incapable of holding a decent conversation with anyone like every other normal human being can, but I don’t think any of us should have to put up with this much of your bullsh*t. Pity only gets you so many concessions, and you used yours up about six insults ago. So please, please, just shut the f*ck up and leave us alone." 

GET HIM AGAIN FOR ME NEIL. The fact that Waymack literally has to tell Neil not to cause a scene with Riko and Neil just does it anyway... he's just a kid! And Riko deserves much worse than just being knocked down a peg or two. I genuinely need to give Neil a hug so bad... he has been through so much and does not feel like he has a place with the Foxes, even when they spell it out for him that they are his family now. Is Waymack aware that he now is the proud father of an entire team of Exy players? He basically is Neil's father, and the fact that we learn that he is actually Kevin's father had me speechless.

The way that Nicky talks about Erik makes me believe in love. You can tell that Nicky is such a pure soul and despite the horrors he had to deal with back home, he is still so kind and open with everyone. I love the relationship he has with Neil - they are basically best friends, and with Neil keeping his entire life essentially a secret from everyone, it seems that Nicky is the one he is able to open up to (besides Andrew). On that note, Andrew only ever seems to trust Neil, and considering he does not trust anyone, that says a lot. Even when it is just bits and pieces that Neil has to put together himself, it really shows how different Andrew is with Neil compared to everyone else. This is a slow-burn in the making, I can feel it.

The Thanksgiving scene at Nicky's house truly had me sick to my stomach, dear god take all of Andrew's pain, triple it, and give it to Riko. I physically recoiled when that chapter occurred, and it was soul-crushing to see Andrew go through that with Drake, and with the added racquet to Drake's head by Aaron, my jaw dropped. It always circles back to Riko, and I literally cannot comprehend how this barely legal college student is capable of things so disgusting. Drake deserved so much worse than he got. And of course, our favorite mysterious Neil has to chime in with "Will they give it back or am I going to have to get a new one?," in which he is literally talking about his racquet that was used as a murder weapon.

I know Andrew would absolutely hate the idea, but my word someone needs to hug that boy. He has been through unimaginable horrors, and life does not seem to want to give him a break. And so WHAT if he killed his mom, he did it to protect Aaron, and the fact that it is brought up so often makes me feel even worse for Andrew. Waymack reminds me so much of Coach from Teen Wolf, except he actually has somewhat of an idea of what is going on with his unruly players. He would protect the Foxes with his life, and at this rate, same here.

Obsessed with the fact that the first gala went so bad with Riko and Neil, that they still had the Christmas gala. And in true Neil fashion, he pulls this one out "You think I'm afraid of your knife? I'm the Butcher's son," and how little did we know how much that would come back to haunt him towards the end of the book. Every single time that Neil bodies Riko in an argument, an angel gains its wings - it is truly a sight to see.

Why on Earth did Neil go to the Raven's Nest?? The boy has a death wish I swear, and I understand that he does it protect others, but much like Andrew he does not seem to have any regard for his own wellbeing or survival. I was literally about to throw up with Riko came into his room after his practice, and had to take a lap around the room before continuing on. Thank you Nora for not going into too much detail, because if I had to read about Neil being tortured, I would have passed out. 

I will absolutely not be taking any criticism on this series - it is so out of the park and insane, and I love every minute of it. Neil and Andrew's character development as individuals and as friends is so gradual and complicated. This series is notorious for its laundry list of trigger warnings, and back in the day on tumblr, it took over our lives. The side characters have stories of their own that add so much value to Neil and Andrew's stories, and the found family trope is so strong in this series.

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