Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

The Sunshine Court by Nora Sakavic

9 reviews

frantic_vampire's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Holy fuck. For all that it has a bright sunshiny name, this book was absolutely brutal and devastating. With each passing chapter and every horrific little revelation about the abuse that Jean suffered I wanted to scream and cry and rage on his behalf. I loved that Jean was able to find little bright spots of happiness in the smallest things like cooking with Cat, (begrudgingly) shopping with Laila, and having Jeremy as his partner. I also loved that they gave Jean the space he needed, respected privacy (for the most part), and accepted his boundaries (only pushing them when they absolutely had to).

There is so much to unpack with this book and I don’t think I caught everything that was happening in this read. So a reread is definitely needed before the next book comes out. But my god. This was probably one of the most emotionally devastating books I think I’ve ever read. It’s getting a solid five stars and I don’t know what I’m gonna do with myself until the next book comes out.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Rape, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Self harm, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Homophobia, Vomit, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Medical content, Stalking, Body horror, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Trafficking, Child death, Gun violence, and Death

nikoops's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The newest novel in the All for the Game series focus on former Raven, marked #3 for the Perfect Court, Jean Moreau and his transfer to USC. The book delves into Jean’s past, and his treatment under Riko, Coach Moriyama, and the Ravens. Chapters switch POVs between Jean, and captain of USC’s Exy team (the Trojans), Jeremy Knox. 

Sakavic’s writing and character development remain as strong as they were in previous installments, but with a bit more depth into the plot set up in earlier books—Jean’s perspective is a welcome puzzle piece to help fill in the universe Sakavic has created. 

Definitely looking foreword to where Jean’s story goes. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Stalking, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Self harm, Sexual violence, Bullying, Mental illness, Death, Murder, Torture, Confinement, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

The abuse Jean faced at Evermore is discussed, it is explicitly stated that sexual violence/rape happened to him along with water boarding, cutting, burning, and various other forms of abuse/torture. Jean has a run-in with one of his abusers, and is hurt in the interaction both physically/mentally.

kelldel's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Confinement, Suicide, Bullying, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Kidnapping

Minor: Child death, Trafficking, and Transphobia

kaydee_reads's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I don’t really know how to rate a book in the AFTG series. Is the plot completely chaotic and absolutely unrealistic? Yes. Is it grounded in very real, aching grief and hurt and comfort and gritted-teeth survival instincts, and so well written that you forget how far fetched it all is? Also yes. 

Did I devour it in a day? Also yes. 

The main characters are so flawed and so human and so, so loveable. The found family vibes are impeccable. The weird blend of made up collegiate sports and a mafia thriller shouldn’t work but somehow does. 10/10. 5 stars. I love them. I’m horrified by at least 50% of the plot. I need Jean to have all the hugs. I don’t even know how to review this book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Violence, Torture, Grief, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Suicide, Stalking, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Cursing, and Confinement

jess_garner's review

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

this book has hurt me so much but i love jeremy and jean 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Death, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Suicide, Confinement, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Torture, Trafficking, Violence, and Slavery

Moderate: Eating disorder

flowerparrish's review

emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I have wanted this book desperately since 2016 and it lived up to every hope of what it could be. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Grief, Confinement, Violence, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Bullying, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Slavery

Moderate: Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Murder, Trafficking, Torture, Suicide, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Stalking

Minor: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Drug use, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

unicorn3's review

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Wow... I just finished the book and it's the aftg series feeling once again with Nora's easy to read writing style, I really enjoyed it!
It was great to get more insight in another great team (The Trojans) and more into this cult like (The Ravens) after seeing our favorite Foxes in the main series.
The first 100 pages play around the same time of "The Kings Men" (third and last book in the aftg series... If these books aren't counted to the series as well) and after that take their own story in a full go, nothing much happens, we go more with Jean's inner turmoil, but for me that's enough to make an interesting book. I cannot wait for the second part of the series, interested in how the end of this one will play out. How will Jean's first year as a non-Raven go?

Nora did, once again, real good work in creating amazing characters you just want to get to know more! The story itself, the writing and all aren't that good, but somehow she still manages to write an amazing story, I don't know how, but I love her for this!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Self harm, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual violence, Child abuse, Mental illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Trafficking

Minor: Stalking, Child death, Eating disorder, and Medical content

natnat_7's review

dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Suicide, Physical abuse, Torture, Sexual violence, Self harm, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Body horror

Moderate: Gaslighting, Confinement, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child death, Death, Gore, Grief, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Medical content, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Violence

yeajulia's review

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Nora Sakavic has had a chokehold on me since 2016! I absolutely ate this up!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Torture, Violence, Stalking, Sexual assault, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, Child abuse, Suicide, Sexual violence, Self harm, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Bullying, and Blood