Review
I have always known that this book was going to be brutal. Especially since most of the people that recommended this to me told me to tread the series with caution. Well, of course, I tried reading this with that in mind. So, I sort of avoided it until the time felt right. And, this time, it felt right given that I was going through this with my good friend Lloyd.
Having said that, I honestly still was a little out of my true reading head space when I started reading this book. Despite that, I truly enjoyed my experience with this book. It was interesting in how it tackled all the characters and gave us bits and pieces of who they are and what their backgrounds are.
“It was nice but dangerous. Someone with a past like his, whose very survival depended on secrecy and lies, couldn’t afford to let his guard down. But as Nicky laughed and leaned closer to talk about one of Neil’s goals, Neil thought maybe he’d be okay just for a night.”
A part of me would like to say that this book is plot driven; however, I am quite confident that it is not. The story revolves around these beautifully broken characters and each of their stories intertwine to make one big story. It just so happens that they all engage in this made up sport that they all love (or, at least, release personal tensions into).
The true appeal of the story lies within the authors great work in giving these characters life. Their flawed and ruined personalities are a result of stories untold. Nora Sakavic performed well in laying down these stories in parts. Giving us digestible information that doesn’t overload you and, at the same time, they each intertwine together like perfect fitting hands.
“They never pried, but it took him weeks to realize they didn’t have to. They didn’t ask for secrets; they settled for the breadcrumb truths of day to day life. They knew he hated vegetables but loved fruit, that his favorite color was gray, and that he didn’t like movies or loud music. They were things Neil understood only in terms of survival, but his teammates hoarded these insights like gold.”
It truly was an experience. Not at all shocking or as gruesome as others that I’ve read before. Still, it was a delightful read and I am looking forward to wrap the series up with the final instalment and see what will happen to these broken characters. Questions still run inside my head and despite answers being ready on a platter, I still have some secrets I’m excited to shove my nose into.
