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thecaptainsquarters 's review for:
Shadow of the Fox
by Julie Kagawa
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this young adult fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .
Many blue moons ago, I read book one of the author's Talon Saga. I thought it was just okay and as it appeared a love triangle was on the horizon, I never read any further into that series. But I liked the author's writing style enough that I wanted to give her work another chance. So when this came along I gave it a shot and I am so very glad I did.
I loved this Japanese ownvoices story. This tale is told from the perspective of three characters whose stories eventually intertwine.:
Yumeko - a half kitsune who loves to play pranks on the monks who raised her, she is open-hearted and kind and just a bit naive; only now she has been tasked with saving the world.
Kage - an assassin who welds a demon-infused sword that is trying to take over his mind and spirit; because of his training, he is aloof and solitary and must obey his masters in the Shadow Clan no matter what the cost.
Suki - the daughter of a flute-maker, she is sent to the imperial palace to make a new life for herself; with a love of music and an ache for the family left behind, she is determined to bring honor to her family but her new master has other plans.
The chapters go back and forth between these point-of-views. I thought this was particularly well done even when I didn't necessarily want to switch.
I also loved the Japanese spirits and folklore elements - the kami, oni, samuri, and other beings are fantastically woven into the story. I especially loved the ronin. One of the best parts is how these creatures and people traditionally are assigned certain roles and the author has the characters embody those fundamentals. Then she proceeds to play with the tropes due to the circumstances the characters find themselves in. Lost honor can be regained. Kindness can have a ripple effect. Nobles can care about peasants.
Fun stuff. I don't want to get too much into the plot because this one is so wonderful to experience firsthand. Don’t just take me word on it (though yer Captain’s word should be enough!). Check out these other reviews by me crew. Then go get a copy. That’s an order. Arrr!
Aimal @ bookshelves&paperbacks’ review – “GAHHH THIS WAS ONE HELL OF A RIDE!”
my link textMelanie @ meltotheany’s review – “Shadow of the Fox is a bright, shining light in 2018 fantasy! Friends, I loved this from the very first chapter, and was more captivated than I have been reading any other book this year. Like, go into any bookstore, read the first chapters of this book, and I dare you not to want to immediately buy it. Goosebumps. Tears. Perfection. Those are the three words that come to mind, and I just continued to fall even more in love with this story as it progressed.”
So lastly . . .
Thank you Harlequin Teen!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Many blue moons ago, I read book one of the author's Talon Saga. I thought it was just okay and as it appeared a love triangle was on the horizon, I never read any further into that series. But I liked the author's writing style enough that I wanted to give her work another chance. So when this came along I gave it a shot and I am so very glad I did.
I loved this Japanese ownvoices story. This tale is told from the perspective of three characters whose stories eventually intertwine.:
Yumeko - a half kitsune who loves to play pranks on the monks who raised her, she is open-hearted and kind and just a bit naive; only now she has been tasked with saving the world.
Kage - an assassin who welds a demon-infused sword that is trying to take over his mind and spirit; because of his training, he is aloof and solitary and must obey his masters in the Shadow Clan no matter what the cost.
Suki - the daughter of a flute-maker, she is sent to the imperial palace to make a new life for herself; with a love of music and an ache for the family left behind, she is determined to bring honor to her family but her new master has other plans.
The chapters go back and forth between these point-of-views. I thought this was particularly well done even when I didn't necessarily want to switch.
I also loved the Japanese spirits and folklore elements - the kami, oni, samuri, and other beings are fantastically woven into the story. I especially loved the ronin. One of the best parts is how these creatures and people traditionally are assigned certain roles and the author has the characters embody those fundamentals. Then she proceeds to play with the tropes due to the circumstances the characters find themselves in. Lost honor can be regained. Kindness can have a ripple effect. Nobles can care about peasants.
Fun stuff. I don't want to get too much into the plot because this one is so wonderful to experience firsthand. Don’t just take me word on it (though yer Captain’s word should be enough!). Check out these other reviews by me crew. Then go get a copy. That’s an order. Arrr!
Aimal @ bookshelves&paperbacks’ review – “GAHHH THIS WAS ONE HELL OF A RIDE!”
my link textMelanie @ meltotheany’s review – “Shadow of the Fox is a bright, shining light in 2018 fantasy! Friends, I loved this from the very first chapter, and was more captivated than I have been reading any other book this year. Like, go into any bookstore, read the first chapters of this book, and I dare you not to want to immediately buy it. Goosebumps. Tears. Perfection. Those are the three words that come to mind, and I just continued to fall even more in love with this story as it progressed.”
So lastly . . .
Thank you Harlequin Teen!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/