Readers who enjoy deep, character-driven stories with plenty of emotion, drama, and a splash of MM romance can find everything they love in the All for the Game series by Nora Sakavic. The four books offer more than compelling plotlines. They delve into the complex and unfiltered realities of diverse, authentic, and emotional characters. You won’t find any cotton-candy fluff between the covers of the books in this series.
What you will find is an unforgettable experience that will keep you turning pages.
- Meet the Author of the All for the Game Book Series
- What Is the All for the Game Series About?
- Read the All for the Game Books in Order
Meet the Author of the All for the Game Book Series
Nora Sakavic wrote the four books in the All for the Game series. She doesn’t have a huge online presence other than frequent mentions in fan discussions about the books and an older Tumblr page. Besides this popular four-book series, she has also released related shorts and a fantasy story called Elysium. Her books are available in multiple languages.
Known and appreciated for intense character studies, complex relationships, and ideas that explore trauma and survival, Nora brings an intense style of storytelling that keeps readers turning pages to see what happens next.
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What Is the All for the Game Series About?
The stories exist in the real world, but at a made-up school called Palmetto State University. The students enjoy a unique sport named Exy, which is a complex blend of lacrosse and hockey. Although described as some as an MM gay romance series, the growing relationships between the characters takes a firm backseat to the drama that unfolds in their lives.
This isn’t the type of drama commonly seen in light-hearted young adult stories. Instead, the varied characters have troubled pasts, unique challenges, traumas to deal with, and twisting psychological issues that affect the overall plot of each book. Readers get the gritty realism of young men struggling to succeed and triumph in both sports and the world itself.
Read the All for the Game Books in Order
While the books in this series do stand alone and do not contain cliffhangers between them, they are generally best read in order. This helps readers immerse themselves more fully in the changing world and relationship dynamics at Palmetto State University.
The Foxhole Court
Behind a rather bland cover that looks a bit like a pamphlet for a university sports team likes the first book in the compelling All for the Game series. It introduces readers to the world of Palmetto State University, the high-stakes game Exy played in the Foxhole Court sports arena, and a host of complex characters.
The main protagonist is a young man named Neil Josten. His talent on the field is only matched by his secrecy off it. Once readers understand his connections to an infamous criminal The Butcher, his quiet demeanor makes more sense. Recruited to the Exy team for his talent, he comes in contact with another enigmatic figure, Andrew Minyard, who played a role in the world Neil’s desperately trying to keep hidden. Through trauma, discovery of found family, and a slow-burn romance, the two bond and discover a path forward together.
The Raven King
As this is not a traditional MM romance series, readers should not expect a new couple in every book. Instead, the second in the series follows the plotlines established in the first book. Yes, Neil and Andrew have a close bond, which includes romance, but that is not the focus of the books.
In The Raven King, the Exy team that welcomed Neil and gave him a sense of belonging struggles to stay together and continue as a cohesive team. While the Foxes have always been a fractured group of misfits, their unity is further strained as tensions rise both on and off the court. As the secrets surrounding past lives and connections come to life, the stakes grow ever higher.
Neil’s carefully constructed lies begin to unravel, putting both himself and his team in danger, while trust becomes a fragile but necessary lifeline. Criminal forces, old rivals, and the young men’s own psychological challenges all seem to work together to bring things down.
The King’s Men
The relationship between Neil and Andrew steps into the forefront of the story in the third book in the All for the Game book series. They have formed an undeniable bond, but the criminal element and Riko are far too close to finally getting their hands on Neil and ending his life. The bonds of trust that faltered and struggled in the first couple of books grow stronger. The Foxes stand behind him, and that makes all the difference.
All the members of this found family have their own roles to play in the connection they’ve formed. Not only will it help them win Exy matches, but it just may keep all their members free and alive. The plot twists and turns as much as a high-action sports game but with much more serious consequences.
The Sunshine Court
As Neil and Andrew’s stories come to a close in book three, The King’s Men, this fourth story takes a different turn. Former Fox Jean Moreau gets transferred to California. At the surface, this looks like a simple school decision, but much darker truths lie underneath. Jean is a skilled defenseman, and he gets a lot of positive attention from Exy captain Jeremy Knox.
As with all of Nora’s unforgettable books, this one explores deep emotions, troubles, and secrets that the characters try to hide and deal with on their own. Things have a way of getting out, however, and that’s when the stakes grow ever more dangerous.
The Golden Raven
A fifth book in the series, The Golden Raven, is set to publish in 2025. Fans look forward to a new opportunity to explore the unique sport, Exy, and the characters they have come to know and love.
With Nora Sakavic books, they can also expect plenty of new ones with unique situations and solutions to their problems.
If you enjoyed the All for the Game series by Nora Sakavic, you might love other YA favorites like The Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi, The Crave Book Series by Tracy Wolff, The After book series by Anna Todd, One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus, best books for young adults and young adult fantasy books.
Exploring different YA series is a great way to find your next unforgettable read!
