The King's Men (All for the Game)

Andrew & Neil

Das Ende der All For the Game Reihe nimmt hier nochmal richtig Fahrt auf und ist definitiv nichts für schwache Gemüter. Zwischenzeitlich wird es so schlimm dass ich fast die Augen zugekniffen hätte, was das lesen dann eben nur leider unmöglich macht… 😅 Aber die sich immer mehr aufbauende Nähe zwischen Neil, Andrew und den Foxes, macht alles wieder gut. Es ist eine herzzerreißende Geschichte, in der es nur in zweiter Linie um ein Liebespaar geht, in erster Linie geht es darum, wie Spieler aus Einem fiktiven Spiel, in einer Mannschaft aus gebeutelten Spielern und Verlierern im Leben, zusammenwächst und gemeinsam (schwere) Probleme löst. Es ist definitiv keine leichte Kost, nichts für zwischendurch, und verlangt eigentlich höchste Konzentration, denn sonst entgeht einem soviel, und das wäre verdammt schade….

Okay, some serious trigger warnings for the entire book series: drugs, abuse, sexual abuse, torture, blood, self-harm, violence ... I think that's it but there could be other stuff in there. So. Now that we got that out of our way. I started this book series because my best friend wanted me to and well ... she said it was gay and very twisted and brutal and since she knows me well, she knew that I was already in. Throughout the first book I was like: Hang on. This reads like a fanfiction. Not a bad one but it's soooo all over the place ... And then the book ended and I bought the second book. And I finished that in a few hours, bought the third book and was not really cabable of doing anything else than finish this book and now I have no idea how to ever read another book series. These books could have been terrible. Like, really, really, really terrible and toxic. But the thing is: There are so many books out there which try to convey the message that you just have to meet the right person to become better. That the most toxic and terrible behaviour is lovely and romantic. That the bad boy is just deeeply hurt and it's fine if he treats his love interest badly. This book series does not say that. The characters are far from fixed at the end of the book series and all of them CHOSE to get better. They were shown options which they could have refused but they all took them. No one says their toxic and brutal behaviour is great but they are not judged by it either. It's hard to explain and I think you either love this book series or you don't. But from all the things I love about this book series, one definitely has to be the topic of consent. Throughout every. single. relationship. Mostly, of course, in the way Neil and Andrew treat each other. There is never a hint of annoyance from Neil - he always waits for a yes, as does Andrew. He even refuses to kiss Neil until Neil is able to give an earnest "Yes". So, please, for the love of God, never ever tell me again that consent is boring and takes too much time.

I can’t describe how much I loved this. I loved everything about him and that he was a main character I actually enjoyed viewing the world through. And I love Andrew and how he grew through the books. I love the Foxes and the found Family trope. Every character could have been the main character. Their past made them strong and fell in love with every single one of them. I’m going to miss them.

Wild 3.0

Ich sitze legit hier und zittere, dass Ende hab ich im Leben nicht erwartet.

Is it objectively the best book and realistic and everything? Probably not. Am I so invested in the story, the characters and the main relationship that I missed everything enough to listen to the entire series again only a couple of weeks after reading it for the first time? You bet on it.

Losing my mind

These books are teriffic and I love them so fucking much. Miss Nora writes about a awful lot of themes i didnt know i would find myself reading those. Sport, gangs, mental health/ trauma and drugs(psychiatric or recreational). But here we are. The result is a rediculousy cringey and uncomfortable experience that I, personally, cannot get enough of. I read all three of the series „all for the game“ in like two or three days. I took a day off of work for this one in particular. So that i could drown myself in the misery. And I am on my 3rd read trough... I have to continuously reiterate to people that I am NOT recommending these books, despite how much I ramble about them. I cannot get these books out of my head and they changed who i am as a person. Those outrageous idiots live rent free in my mind since then. Like the demons they are. Neil is my puppy. Andrew my shadow. Kevin an alcoholic wonna be and Rico is a dickhead of an asshole who deserves all the shitstorm possible. I hope u trip over a rock and break your god damn foot. Everything is AFTG. Anywas. 5/5 for all of the books. I regret ever encounter them.

I think…those books broke me. In some way. But I freaking loved them, all three of them. I wish I could listen to them for the first time again! Will definitely listen to them again at some point!

Diese Reihe ist einfach klasse. Ich kann sie immer wieder lesen und sie wird nie langweilig

Schöner Abschluss☺️

Die Reihe war wirklich überraschend gut😍. In Band 3 entwickeln sich die Figuren alle weiter und versuchen Probleme aufzuarbeiten, was ihnen auch mehr oder weniger gelingt. Über die Geschichte wächst das Team immer mehr zusammen und auch die angedeutete Liebe zwischen Andrew und Neil konnte mich wirklich begeistern🥰. Trotzdem hatte das Buch in der Mitte einige Längen. Gegen Ende gab es wieder einige Überraschungen, die einen eiskalt erwischen und das Buch wirklich spannend machen. Trotzdem hätte ich mir das Finale besser ausgeführt gewünscht, da das Buch doch etwas abprupt endet😅. Insgesamt ein guter letzter Band, der leicht unzufriedenstellend endet, da die ungleichen Charaktere einem wirklich ans Herz gewachsen sind. Ich wünsche mir einen vierten Band😭🫶.

I want this series tattooed into my brain..