The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic Summary

The Foxhole Court follows Neil Josten, a teenager on the run who joins a college team playing exy, a violent fictional sport combining lacrosse, soccer, and hockey. Despite his dangerous past and the need to stay hidden, Neil can't walk away from the dysfunctional Palmetto State Foxes team. The story explores themes of trauma, found family, and survival through a sports-centered narrative with dark undertones.

Nora Sakavic is a self-published author best known for the All for the Game trilogy, which includes The Foxhole Court, The Raven King, and The King's Men. She has since expanded the series with The Sunshine Court (2024) and The Golden Raven (2025). Despite doing zero self-promotion, her sports-themed queer fiction has become an unlikely indie hit with a devoted fanbase.

The Foxhole Court is ideal for readers who enjoy dark, character-driven stories with LGBTQ+ representation and aren't deterred by heavy content. This book appeals to fans of found family dynamics, enemies-to-lovers relationships, and morally complex characters dealing with trauma. However, it's unsuitable for younger readers due to violence, abuse, drug use, and explicit language.

The Foxhole Court is worth reading if you prioritize compelling characters and addictive storytelling over polished prose. While the writing feels amateurish and reads like fanfiction, the complex characters, intense drama, and unpredictable plot make it wildly engaging. Readers consistently note the series improves with each installment, making the initial investment worthwhile.

Exy is the fictional sport at the center of The Foxhole Court, combining elements of lacrosse, soccer, and ice hockey. Played on a court the size of a soccer field, exy features the physical violence of hockey and the equipment of lacrosse. Nora Sakavic created this sport without extensive research, admitting to "one-third research and two-thirds fudging".

Neil Josten and Andrew Minyard develop an intense enemies-to-lovers dynamic throughout the series. Their relationship begins with genuine mutual hostility—they literally want to kill each other—but evolves into a slow-burn romance that drives much of the story's emotional core. The tension between these morally complex characters creates one of the most compelling M/M relationships in the series.

The Foxhole Court explores trauma, survival, and found family through its cast of broken characters. The story examines how individuals cope with violent pasts, identity concealment, and the difficulty of trusting others after betrayal. Additional themes include loyalty, redemption, and the idea that cruelty comes from people rather than the world itself.

Critics point to The Foxhole Court's amateurish writing style, which lacks emotional depth in dialogue and reads like unpolished fanfiction. The book contains problematic language including multiple slurs that disappoint readers. Additionally, the pacing feels slow despite being under 300 pages, and the plot contains several incongruences that don't make logical sense.

The Foxhole Court gained a passionate following through its LGBTQ+ representation and complex character dynamics, not traditional marketing. The series became a #1 bestseller on Smashwords with over 13,000 Goodreads ratings through word-of-mouth and social media buzz. Readers come for the M/M relationships rather than the sports, finding comfort in seeing themselves represented in the diverse cast.

The Foxhole Court serves as a solid foundation, but readers consistently report the series improves significantly with each book. While the first book is "pretty good," The Raven King receives "oooooomg" reactions and The King's Men is described as "unbelievably awesome". Many recommend pushing through the first book's flaws because the payoff in later installments makes it worthwhile.

The Foxhole Court contains graphic violence, physical abuse, drug use, and extensive profanity throughout. The story includes scenes of torture, secretly drugging characters, and explores traumatic pasts involving organized crime. Additionally, the book uses problematic slurs and depicts situations completely unsuitable for teen readers despite its young adult categorization.

The characters in The Foxhole Court are unpredictable, morally complex individuals whose wild behavior keeps readers engaged. Neil Josten's meticulous survival mindset and mysterious identity create immediate intrigue, while Andrew Minyard's psychopathic edge and dark past make him simultaneously hateable and fascinating. Their unbelievable stories and high-stakes drama override concerns about realism, creating addictive character dynamics.