Fence, Vol. 7: Challengers

Fence #7

by C.S. Pacat, Johanna the Mad (illustrator)

The beloved sports romance returns from acclaimed writer C.S. Pacat and iconic artist Johanna the Mad, pushing the saga to new competitive heights!

Kings Row are heading into the State Championships as underdog champions, and now have to contend with the best of the best in fencing–including potentially facing Exton themselves. Before they can get there though, they'll have to get through some of the other top teams, including some old rivals...

Collects Fence Challengers: Long Shot #1 and Fence Challengers: Sweet Sixteen #1.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Contemporary, Sports, LGBT, Comics, Romance

112 pages, Paperback

First published July 29, 2025

About the author

C.S. Pacat is the USA-Today best-selling author of Dark Rise, the Captive Prince trilogy, and the GLAAD-nominated graphic novels Fence.

Born in Australia and educated at the University of Melbourne, C.S. Pacat has lived in a number of cities, including Tokyo and Perugia, and currently resides and writes in Melbourne.

Reviews

[Snjez · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

We are finally at the State Championships and it was exciting to see how things are starting to play out. Both when it comes to fencing, and certain characters being at the same place at the same time. I love the personal growth we’ve been seeing so far and the dynamic between the characters. Nicholas and Seiji are the cutest. I’m looking forward to their next appointment. 😊

I do wish there was more on the ‘romance’ part, but I get that the championship is stressful and there was no room for that. I also hoped we’d get to see one particular match, but of course this ends on a cliffhanger. Can’t wait for the next one.

[Jackie ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yesss now I just have to wait a million years for the next one 😭

Pre-read
This came out two days ago?? To no fanfare?? And why can I not find this online anywhere? The only way to get it is to buy a paperback copy from the publisher? But I need it NOW!

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume of "Fence" was so exciting!!

I think the interactions between the boys are what makes this story shine, but I also love to see them in a competition setting! They feel like an actual team now and it's amazing to see their progress, as individuals and as a group, they have all come a long way... it's so nice to see them support each other!!

Marcus' story was unexpected and heartbreaking, but it also seems to be an important moment, in order to help Kings Row become an even more cohesive team!

My only complaint is that this volume is small and it finishes in a huge cliffhanger... Hoping to read more soon, I need to know what happens!!

P.S. Can't believe Nicholas and Robert Coste are in the same building omg

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner for this series. It's just not long enough!

[Annamarie Carlson (she, her)]

I love this series, but it feels like it takes so long for a new volume and then so little happens.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fencing boys are back and perfect as always.

[Brigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually a review for Fence Breakthrough: Game Changer - for some reason the newest issue is not on Goodreads.

It was sweet, and I love that Nicholas learned how much the team trusts him. <3 I can never get enough of this series!

[GuineaPigFalconer · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, I wish these books were longer! Naturally, this installment ends on a cliffhanger…

[Jane (whatjanereads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

FUCK OFF JESSE!!!

Can’t wait for the next romantic sunset “appointment” 🙂‍↔️

[João]

demora tanto para sair novas edições que eu tenho que reler todos os volumes para lembrar a história

[Janessa Paun · Rating 5 out of 5]

The minute that I got this next volume in the series, I immediately sat down and read it. I fear that reading it though has put me into a reading slump because I can think of nothing besides it, I need the next book like I need air. The Marcus storyline was painful, beautiful, and just what this volume needed as the Kings Row team starts to become even more of a team. The Halverton camp changed these characters and that is obvious in this installment. I love these characters and I can't wait to see what happens next for them.

[Eryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you kidding me?! We have to wait ANOTHER year?! There wasn’t even as much flirting in this one!! UGH

[coriolis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a fan of this series is like my own personal circle of hell because I'm so obsessed with every volume, but then I read it in less than an hour and have to wait 100 years for the next one.

[Jenna-booklooksbyjenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

i can’t get over this COVERRRRR just for more CRUMBS between these boys

[Sarah Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is going to put me in an early grave

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insanely underrated!!

[holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

my beloveds

[Fny · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are so damn short. You barely have time to start it before it’s over already.

[Minna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I NEED MORE 😭

[Fareeda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I HATE the waits in between volumes😭😭😭 I think the turning point is gonna be very interesting tho👀

[Tony SeaSkies · Rating 3 out of 5]

it being only 2 chapters is a bit short, wish we got a third one. also the numbering and titles for the two issues in this are so weird

[tiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

more please 🫴

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The State Championship is underway, and now it's time to whittle 32 teams down to 2. But there are mindgames afoot just as much as there are fencing matches, and that's going to make things even more difficult than usual.

Short and sweet since this is a collection of two one-shots, but still a fun read. I like how easy it is to slide back into the world of Fence even when entries are few and far between these days, and the balance between character dynamics and fencing specifics is well done by this point.

[Erica ♋️✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn’t my favorite I really needed more senji and Nickolas cute scenes I know this is supposed to be slow burn but I really wish we got more scenes with them

[Rin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love sports anime and this is that

[Debby Tiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noooooo what is that cliffhanger?! Now I have to wait ages for the next volume 😭

I was really invested in this volume and enjoying it so much. I was so excited for it that I saved it for a reward for finishing summer finals!

Favorite character: Nicholas. I think he’s really grown a lot as a character, and I am both excited and nervous about his future. Especially regarding his secret, and his hoped for second “appointment” with Seiji.

I loved the girls fencing teams, especially Adrienne, the female version of Aiden. Their parallels were cute. I always love a good tie-in reference.

Favorite part of the book:

SEJI: It wasn’t a date.
BOBBY: What did you guys do?
SEIJI: He took me to visit his hometown, then we got sundaes and walked along the beach together at sunset.
BOBBY: But…It wasn’t a date?
SEJI: No.
AIDEN: Incredible.
BOBBY: How can anyone be oblivious?
*Dante comes in, blushing*
DANTE: I brought you a packed lunch.
BOBBY: Thanks!

The irony was just so hilarious, and I am so on board both of those ships.

As a recommendation for books you should try if you like the Fence series, oddly enough I would recommend the Scholomance series by Naomi Novik. I can’t justify it; it’s just a vibes thing.

[Kathyj · Rating 4 out of 5]

i thought this was going to be like Challengers (2024) but fencing version and more gay... anyway i was wrong but this was still good

[Sparrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was rude how short that was.

[AK · Rating 5 out of 5]

We're at the endgame!! And what do you mean I still have to wait until next month for the next one???

We are finally at the state championship, even though I feel like there is still so much for our boys to learn about fencing and teamwork, but this was such an exciting instalment. The stakes are high and you can start to see how all the lessons and training across the last few volumes are paying off as characters adjust to the pressure. Mad that it just ended like that, but I guess I'll be first in line for the next book out in January.

[Leila ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nunca una historia me va a generar tanta serotonina como ésta. El amor que siento por cada uno de los personajes y por su camino hacia la final para poder cumplir sus sueños... tenés que cerrar el estadio.

5 de 5 estrellas.