(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!

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.

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.

Richly imaginative. Kagawa weaves a creative tale with such in-depth world building that readers will feel fully immersed within the story. Great characters, action, adventure, and surprises that will leave readers eager for the upcoming sequels of the Shadow of the Fox series.

I have intensely mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, Kagawa is a highly respected author who writes great fantasy. On the other hand, I was... so bored. But I feel like others will love this book, and maybe the pacing/writing style just isn't for me.

I must say, I found this to be a very significant improvement over Kagawa's Iron King novels at the beginning. Those novels had their moments, but also came across a bit sickly-sweet and preachy (don't get me wrong, I enjoyed them immensely). Shadow of the Fox represents a more serious tone underlined by more competent craft and storytelling. This arc of improvement, which started at an already-high standard, makes me excited to see where Ms Kagawa will take her novels going forward.

I really wanted to like this. I really really did.
However, I just didn't
The first half was beyond boring, the second half got a bit better, however by then I kinda had given up already.
Add to that the very cliche everything and well, this is just simply a disappointment in a book, with a beautiful cover at least.
I love the idea, I love the whole setup, just not the execution. And here is the crux. I am giving this 2 Stars, even though I know that the storytelling is probably most important in a book. And Kagawa failed me there.
The sad thing: I know she could do better because she has done better before.
This feels sloppy and like Kagawa didn't spend long enough time planning and building the storyline and characters.
A pity.
This could have been so good.
Alas, it's not and I have no intention to read the next instalment.
But worst of all, this left me with doubts of Kagawa's ability to write more good books. I don't want to give up on her just yet, but I am close.
1.5 stars rounded up

Yumeko the girl, a fox shapeshifter, has been given one task from the Master of the Silent Winds Temple: take one of the three scrolls that make up the Dragon's prayer and take it safely to the Steel Feather Temple to keep it safe from those who would use it for evil to summon the Dragon and make a wish (which can only be done once every thousand years). On the run from demons and incomprehensible evil, Yumeko joins forces with Tatsumi, a deadly shadow warrior. They both have to fight for their lives multiple times as they each try to fulfill the missions they were given, and in the process much will be lost. Will they escape with their lives, and can Yumeko keep the scroll safe?
I was hesitant to read this book at first because of some of the content, but once I started reading, the story completely sucked me in. I couldn't put the book down because the plot, the characters, and each situation were so well written and descriptive that I could see everything clearly playing out in my mind. I'm not familiar with Japanese culture or mythology, so it was interesting to read a book about a different culture. The relationship between Yumeko and Tatsumi is complicated and painfully sweet, and I really want to see everything work out for them in the end. The ronin was absolutely hilarious, and he provided some much needed comic relief in between intense and dangerous events. I literally can't wait for the next book because I NEED to find out what happens! Caution: I wouldn't give this book to young or very sensitive teens because many of the situations are not only pretty intense and scary, but very gory at times. I didn't like the profanity, and I don't agree with some of the views presented. That being said, this fantasy is excellent and I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.