Wow, I enjoyed this. I wasn't expecting it to be as a good as it was. This book was a page-turner. We get three POV's: Suki, a ghost, Yumeko, a half-kitsune who was raised by monks in an isolated temple, and Tatsumi, a samurai of the Shadow Clan, wielder of a mystical sword, and infamous Demon Slayer.

The story follows Yumeko and Tatsumi the most with occasional chapters from Suki's POV. Yumeko is tasked by the monks who raised her to protect an ancient scroll and bring it to a hidden temple. Tatsumi is tasked by his clan to find the scroll and bring it back with him to the Shadow Clan Territory. He is unaware that Yumeko is in possession of the scroll. Yumeko uses half-truths to convince Tatsumi to help her find the monk.

Throughout the story, we meet several more characters that each of distinct personalities. None of the characters are thrown in for no reason. Every single character serves a greater purpose. The plot is intriguing, and the Japanese folklore is complex and fun to learn slowly. The glossary in the back of the books is extremely helpful if you are not familiar with Japanese folklore.

I look forward to the sequel.

Once in every millennium the person who holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers has the power to call upon the great Kami Dragon and make one wish. For the safety of the world the Scroll has been torn into pieces and each section is held by a different group of protectors. Yumeko is a young, half-kitsune, girl who has been raised by monks in the Silent Winds temple who secretly guard one of the pieces. When the temple comes under attack by demons she is tasked with the important job of taking the scroll piece to safety.

Tatsumi trained from birth as a samurai learning to control a powerful cursed sword so he could become the Kage Demonslayer. He has been tasked with tracking down the pieces of the scroll and told he must to whatever it takes to bring them home to the head of his family. When Tatsumi and Yumeko meet she tricks him into believing she can lead him to the first part of the scroll but what will happen if he realises that she has been carrying the piece with her all along?

I really enjoyed Shadow of the Fox, its the first instalment in Julie Kagawa's new series and I love how different each of the worlds she creates are. This is a magical world based on Japanese mythology full of all kinds of yokai & kami supernatural creatures, some I recognised and others that were completely new to me. Yumeko and Tatsumi are hunted by demons and monsters at every turn as they travel in search of the hidden temple and you never know quite what will be thrown at the reluctant allies next.

Yumeko has had a very sheltered upbringing so she is quite naive and sweet and often far more trusting than she should be but she also has an incredibly mischievous streak and some fun illusion abilities that are going to make her a force to be reckoned with as she grows into her powers. Tatsumi on the other hand is much harder, he's been raised to be a warrior and taught not to trust anyone or let anyone get too close so he's much more aloof and wary than Yumeko. He wields a cursed sword that is possessed by the demon Hakaimono and it takes a lot of willpower to use the sword without letting the demon get inside his own head. As they fight alongside each other during the search for the hidden temple they have to learn to trust each other and what I really enjoyed was that it wasn't always Tatsumi who saved the day, there were times when Yumeko's skills were just as important in keeping them both alive.

This is a slow build story with absolutely fantastic world building that takes readers on a journey across a beautifully described fantasy land. I was captivated with this book from the beginning and didn't want to put it down for a minute. I loved both Yumeko and Tatsumi but we also meet some fantastic side characters and I really enjoyed the occasional chapters we got from Sumi's point of view. I have a feeling this series is going to become a firm favourite so I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of Soul of the Sword next year!

This book was one of my first introductions to Japanese folklore and I was fascinated the entire time. I love Kagawa's books and this one was no exception! I learned about new and terrifying creatures of nightmares, clever foxes and brave (albeit dangerous) warriors. This book, took me to the mystical world of Japan's past. Although I stumbled some over the new terminology, I found myself hooked and hanging on every word. I enjoyed the relationships and the message that kindness and helpfulness can turn the tides more in one's favor than isolation, vengeance and single mindedness. Overall, this book took me to a world I had yet to experience and left me desperate to find out what happens next in this world of demons and dragons.


*** Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin TEEN (US & Canada) for gifting me with a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review ***

(Content warning for graphic violence/gore and rape threats.)

There is so much to enjoy about Shadow of the Fox that I’m not quite sure where to begin. One of my favorite fantasy tropes/plot setups is the hero(ine) embarking on a grand quest and picking up a ragtag group of companions along the way, so the moment that I realized that’s what this book would be, I was delighted. Quest stories have a number of strengths, such as exploring wildly different settings or allowing in-depth looks at the menacing side of the world building, which author Julie Kagawa definitely took advantage of.

The world of Iwagoto is overflowing with demons and kami and yokai and witches and ghosts, controlled by an imperial family and powerful clans, and filled with cursed villages and mysterious swordsmen who challenge travelers to duels. Due to Yumeko’s sheltered upbringing at the temple, the reader gets to experience this wider, dangerous world with her for the first time. And it is a very dangerous world—Kagawa did a great job of making the many fight scenes in this book unique and interesting, and I especially appreciated that Yumeko contributed to them despite her lack of training. She may be naïve about social norms, but she is clever and compassionate and determined to help whenever things get dangerous. (And help she does! Often crucially.)

It makes her a sharp contrast to Tatsumi, the other narrator of the book, who has been raised to view himself as a weapon, a tool, and who has to tightly control his emotions lest the demon he’s carrying overtake him or his handlers think he’s too great a liability and put him down. Tatsumi’s emotional arc is, understandably, glacially slow, but it is still fun to watch unfold, especially as he starts to realize what’s happening to him.

While Yumeko, Tatsumi, and their other companions are interesting, I was left a little disappointed in the villains. The villains are excellent at being menacing and horrifying, but they were otherwise uniformly flat to me. They served as great obstacles and gruesome set pieces, but their antics started to get repetitive toward the end, and I wished they had been more interesting. Then again, considering this is a trilogy, the first book villains were obviously not designed to make it to the end and probably were meant to show off how awful demons and blood magic are. To that end, they succeeded.

Recommendation: Get it soon. If you want a fun take on Japanese folklore and mythology, Shadow of the Fox will be a great addition to your bookself. The quest elements in this first book are well done, and the two narrators are a contrasting but complementary pair. This first book left me excited to read the rest of the trilogy, so that’s definitely a success.

*I received this book via Netgalley. My opinions are my own*

I visualized this book as a movie the whole time! The group of characters were so great and they kicked some serious butt!The main character was funny and genuinely well written! The Japanese mythology is something that is not explored often but Julie Kagawa does an amazing job! I am going to recommend this book to anyone and everyone who will listen!

Title: Shadow of the Fox
Author: Julie Kagawa
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Rating: 4 out of 5

Yumeko has been raised by monks in the Silent Winds temple. The isolation helps hide her half-kitsune nature—along with the training of the monks who want to suppress her mischievous personality. The temple exists to protect part of an ancient scroll fated to summon the great Kami Dragon. The last time the dragon was summoned, a thousand years of darkness followed. When the temple is destroyed, and the monks slain, Yumeko is left with the scroll fragment—and instructions to find a hidden temple.

But Yumeko isn’t the only one interested in the scroll. Kage Tatsumi, a samurai of the mysterious shadow clan, has been charged to find the scroll—and let no one stand in his way. Yumeko has no idea how to survive outside the temple and promises to take Kage to the scroll if he helps her find the temple. Kage has no idea she’s holding a piece of the scroll, and her deception could tear them apart—if his dark secret doesn’t destroy them both first.

I am fascinated by Japanese culture and mythology, and I really loved the Iron Fey series, so I was excited to read this. However, I found it pretty slow going until the last third of the book. The setting is fantastic and fascinating, but the plot seemed a bit predictable. Yumeko was very naïve—to be expected from her upbringing—and I actually liked that about her, although I think she needed some more common sense at times to counteract her lack of experience. A solid read.

Julie Kagawa is a New York Times-bestselling author. Shadow of the Fox is her newest novel.

(Galley provided by Harlequin Teen in exchange for an honest review.)

I love Julie Kagawa and once again she makes sure to leave me in awe. Her world building is exquisite and the book keeps throwing a new twist at the reader every time you think it is done. I really love Asian culture and was pleased to finally read a book that incorporated kitsune. I was overjoyed and fell in love with this book from the beginning.

I was so excited for this book! Everyone I know has been chatting it up, so I was SURE I'd love it. Not the case. I didn't hate it, but it definitely isn't top 10 material for me. I found the plot to be extremely slow and a bit tiresome. Tatsumi was extremely boring, even though he was the demonslayer. There just didn't seem to be much to him in regards to character development or personality... I did love Yumeko. She was wildly hilarious and just someone you'd love to be friends with. Yumeko and the ragtag crew she collects along her journey are totally what redeemed this for me.

Julie Kagawa, OMG! I can't wait for the next book and continue Yumeko's story. This book was definitely one where I was staying up to all hours of the night not caring I won't be able to be mentally present the next day at work.

**Review posted at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ **

This was an insta-buy for me for 2 reasons: 1. I love Julie's books, I have never been let down by her stories, and I will read anything she wants to write at this point. And 2. Just look at it! The cover is gorgeous, and I needed it, regardless of the words inside- and yes, I am a cover snob. That being said, check out the cover for book 2 in the series, Soul of the Sword, I think it is even more gorgeous and I must have it!!

I found this book to be so much fun, but I am always a sucker for an adventure quest, the more random and off course the better! We have a lone naive, friendly girl who sets out on a dangerous quest to reach her end goal, but along the way she encounters misadventures and gathers a rag-tag group of "friends" (maybe friends???) that join her along the way. This kind of reminded me of the movie version of Wizard of Oz, and I mean in the best of ways because it is one of my favorites! I read some other reviews where they complained about the random excursion that the characters faced, but I think those were my favorite parts, so unexpected and at times ridiculous.

I am completely obsessed with kitsune, they have always sparked my interest but I have never actually encountered a story that actually had them. I love the idea of the spirit tricksters as well as the debate about whether they are good or not. I have always found Japanese culture to be very interesting, but I will be the first to admit I know almost nothing about it. I found it very interesting to take this journey along with Yumeko and discover things about the history, customs, religion, hierarchy and demons. I enjoyed that Julie sprinkled facts and terms along the way, leading me to understand the world with her well placed breadcrumbs. The words were so unfamiliar at the start of the story, but by the end I felt like I was so well informed (which I am not, but at least I could easily follow this book!) and I can't wait to learn more.

Shadow of the Fox was such a unique read, unlike anything YA I have personally experienced. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants an epic fantastical journey, filled with magic, demons, and battles set in a historical Japan landscape. And for those who need romance in their stories, do not despair, there was a hint of it with hopefully more to come! Do not expect to be content with the ending though, book 2 is needed ASAP!

Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa brings Japanese mythology and folklore to life, taking readers on an exciting journey through feudal Japan, Kagawa weaves together three characters from different backgrounds all while introducing readers to a wide variety of demons the characters come across. The novel follows these characters as a new age approaches and the Kami Dragon is summoned, granting a wish to the one who holds the pieces of the Dragon Scroll.

Shadow of the Fox is primarily told in the two perspectives of Yumeko and Tatsumi, with the occasional addition of a third. Yumeko is a half-kitsune, half-human raised at the Silent Winds temple to hide her true kitsune nature, though she is forced to flee after everyone is slaughtered by a demon who wants to retrieve a part of the scroll. Readers interested in seeing kitsune magic coming to life on the page may find themselves disappointed as Yumeko shows little of her magic and hides her true nature from her companions.

One of those companions includes Tatsumi, a samurai from the Shadow Clan ordered to bring the Dragon Scroll regardless of the cost. Raised as a weapon, Tatsumi is taught from a young age to hide all of his emotions and thoughts from those around him as doing so would pose a danger. Not able to accomplish his mission right away, he finds himself in an unlikely alliance with Yumeko and begins to question his upbringing.

The first novel in a stunning new series, Shadow of the Fox is a magical adventure with an ominous feel throughout and will have readers wanting the sequel to the story.

*ARC received from NetGalley in return for an honest review*

This is yet another book I had pinned such high hopes on that it just couldn't meet. I have to admit, I have never really read anything by Julie Kagawa before. Yet, I had heard that she was a wonderful author and her book was interesting enough for me to request it. Sadly, I wish that I hadn't really tried. While the setting and characters were interesting the style of writing finally made me set the book aside.

First person is a hard narrative to find a balance for. While it is important to say I often there is a point where too many can become a problem. Kagawa failed to find that balance in this text. Many of the pages were dotted with I making the writing feel stilted and unable to find a smooth flow. While I do wish to find out how it ends, for now, the book will sit on my DNF list.

It is near the time for a prophecy to occur. There is an ancient scroll which contains a prayer for the dragon who will honor only one wish. The last time this happened was a thousand years ago. That wish caused destruction to the land. Raised by monks of the Silent Winds temple, Yumeko who is half kitsune, half human is trained by the monks. Her skill with illusion is amazing. When her adopted family is killed, she is forced to flee with the treasure of Silent Winds temple - a part of the scroll that contains part of the prayer for the dragon. Yumeko meets Kage, a samurai of the Shadow Clan is ordered to get the scroll. With an alliance between them, she has told Kage that she will help him find the scroll. With enemies at her heels, Yumeko’s secrets may be life and death or more. Will Yumeko find the ancient scroll’s other pieces of it?

In this compelling and original fantasy, I found it intriguing and unique. I never wanted the novel to end. It is a terrific read!

Julie Kagawa has done it again. In Shadow of the Fox, she has weaved a tale of adventure set in a brilliant and wondrous world. I can't even truly put into words how fantastic this book was. Oh my gosh, the cover! Did you see the cover?!?! I would hang it on my wall; it's so gorgeous.


Told from three character POVs, going back & forth, the story is basically one of good vs evil with a bit of romance thrown in, but not too much. It does help the plotline though. Kagawa created an enthralling and splendid fantasy realm. It is abundant with such vivid, descripting writing, you can just see the world unfold in your imagination. I found myself absolutely engrossed in this book. It is full of Japanese folklore and legends.

Okay, so there is a magic dragon that shows up every thousand years and if a person can recite a specific prayer properly from a scroll, and is pure of heart, that person is granted one wish. Thing is- the scroll is in three different pieces. One of our main characters secretly has a piece, and the other is seeking it, with orders to retrieve it no matter the cost or consequence.

Yumeko has been sheltered her whole life, having grown up in a monastery and raised by monks. She is half human, kitsune (fox-spirit,) giving her special powers. She is innocent to the outside world, but she is also very shrewd, and also quite the trickster. She flees from the only home she's ever known with a portion of the scroll from her home after her adoptive family is murdered and her home is destroyed by demons. She need to deliver this piece of the scroll to another temple because she believes the rest of the scroll to be there. She will need protection on her journey though.


Enter Tatsumi, a Samurai warrior with a sword holding a horrible demon inside it. He has to keep control of his emotions in order to make sure the demon stays inside the sword. The two make an agreement that Yameko, pretending to be a human peasant girl, will take him to find the ancient scroll if he will protect her along the way. Thus, the pair find themselves on an epic adventure, both with something to hide. During their quest, they attract an assorted band of supporting characters who tag along and add their own bit to the story. They also encounter many mystical, fantastic, and supernatural beings that serve to add to the plot by attempting to thwart them on their quest.

Along the way, we find that Yumeko has a kind heart and that touches the stoic Tatsumi. So begins our typical romance trope of a budding romance between the once foes, now allies, no I LIKE you, like thing. It does serve a purpose in moving the plot forward but the book isn't centered on it.
The growth of the main characters was delightful to read and I felt myself rooting for them. The side characters also play a part that enhances the story. I enjoyed reading about the Japanese folklore as well. Yumeko is one of my new favorite heroines. This novel is action packed.

The ending was a bit anticlimactic, though it sets up for the sequel nicely. Over all, I thought it was absolutely amazing and creative. I can hardly wait for the Soul of the Sword to be released! 5/5 stars.

This book was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Beautifully written and executed, Shadow of the Fox was mesmerizing.

With it's delicate weave of both fantasy and lore, it kept me turning the pages eager for more. Rich in legends, danger, demons, and magic, this truly stood out not only in it's genre but sub-genre as well.

A story that is every bit as captivating as it is imaginative. With beautiful imagery that made you feel like you were right there in the adventure with demons and witches around every corner. Never knowing quite what was real and who you could trust.

Told in alternate point of views, Shadow of the Fox was unlike anything I have read before. It will leave you with your heart racing and your lungs gasping for breath.

First of all, I love the Japanese culture in the story, I love reading stories from cultures other than my own, The characters were also wonderful and the story was intriguing even though it started slow. The characters fast some challenges that made the story compelling. I can't wait to read what happens in the next book!

When I started reading Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa, I wasn’t sure how much I was going to enjoy it, but it ultimately became one of my favorite reads of the year.

To make a long story short, Shadow of the Fox is inspired by Japanese mythology and tells the story of Yumeko, half-human girl and half-kitsune-fox, who becomes entrusted with an ancient scroll that, in the wrong hands, could spell the fate of the world. Having to travel across the country to find its other half, Yumeko finds herself accompanied by a growing group: a infamous demonslayer from the Shadow clan, a dishonored samurai, and a noble distantly related to the emperor. She has to do all of this while keeping her real identity and purpose a secret, especially from the demonslayer – who, unbeknownst to her, has his own goals and is not the honorable warrior she thinks he is.

Honestly, the story didn’t get off to a great start. There were quite a few episodes of repetition early on, as well as a mirror scene. It didn’t help that the e-version of the ARC I was given had some formatting issues that made it difficult to follow at first. However, once I really started reading, I really found myself loving the characters (and mirrors ended up being important to the story). Yumeko and Tatsumi were such enjoyable and unique characters – and Yumeko is one of the few female characters that I’ve truly loved in YA fiction. I loved the little ragtag band that slowly formed around them - Okame’s sarcasm and Daisuke’s honor. Each character acts as a foil for the others and it was really fun to read their interactions with each other.

After the first few chapters, I also found myself caught up in Julie Kagawa’s plot and writing style. The plot flowed really well and there was excellent pacing – I was usually reading on my breaks at work and I would be annoyed that my break was over because something exciting was happening in the story. I believe this was also the first book I’ve read inspired by Japanese mythology, and it was really cool seeing all the monsters, ghosts, and magical creatures from Japanese legends take form in the story. Julie Kagawa’s style of writing was evocative, with beautiful descriptions and storytelling that really pulled me in.

5 out of 5 stars – I did not want to stop reading this story and I’m already eagerly waiting for the day when I can preorder the sequel.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

I loved this book! Five stars worth of fantastic!
I can't wait to learn what happens next.
I loved the worldbuilding and the characters!

I read this book from netgalley and this is my honest review.

Probably a 3.5 to me, though I wanted SO BADLY for this to be another 5-star Kagawa story. In terms of personal preference, this story falls below The Immortal Rules but is still miles ahead of the Talon series. I am still in love with everything Iron Fey and I adore The Immortal Rules, but I snoozed at the Iron Fey spin off and the Talon books. This first book in a new trilogy is off to a good start. Kagawa has always mastered the taut story telling of deceit and warring goals - and doesn’t disappoint here! There is a compelling conflict with an array of likeable characters. But what kept me from loving this book was a tendency toward exposition (clunky side notes about every Japanese mythological creature) and the random insertion of italized Japanese words like “hai” and “ano”. I’m totally cool with honorifics but the small words got to me... maybe too reminiscent of anime fan fiction? Anyway, I feel like I’m on the path to rekindling my love of Kagawa’s writing with this book - because despite my bad luck with books from her current publishing house, I think Julie Kagawa has earned a bit of ”story cred” (after all she created the ever beautiful Ash), and I’m willing to see where she goes with this!

Normally I really enjoy Kagawa's books but for whatever reason I didn't like this one. It was kind of disjointed and all over the place. I'm sure others liked it but I for one did not care for it.