4.5 stars!
I have only read Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series and now Shadow of the Fox and I'm just going to put it out there, that I think she may be one of the best fantasy writers. If you read the Iron Fey, you'll like this one too.
The book has a lot of Japanese mythology. It's about a half-kitsune girl, Yumeko, who has to travel to the Steel Feather temple with an ancient scroll in order to keep it safe. The scroll has a piece of a prayer that when it is said with the other two pieces that have been hidden around the land, it will awaken a dragon. The dragon will grant a wish to whomever wakes it, which could become deadly if the scrolls fall into the wrong hands. Yumeko meets Tatsumi, a samurai who has been sent to retrieve the scroll, and lies that the scroll is already at the temple and they need to get there to warn them of a demon attack. Together they go on an adventure fighting demons, ghosts, and a giant centipede, all while picking up a ronin and a noble along the way.

The chapters switch point of views between Yumeko and Tatsumi, which I liked because they see things differently and are both keeping secrets from each other. Julie's writing has a way of drawing you in and the imagery is like watching a movie inside of your head. I love a good "girl tricks boy into going on an adventure" story and there is always something happening like a real adventure novel. There are always different monsters showing up and conflict that keeps them from their path. The book has a great cast of characters with different personalities and motives. All of the characters have a reason to be there. There was one character who had a very small part and I thought that can't be it and of course they show up at the end and I'm sure will have a bigger part in the next book. Now the waiting begins...

I loved the Blood of Eden series by this author and while I haven't read it yet, I do have the Iron Fey series I look forward to reading. So when I saw that she's writing a series based in Japanese myth and culture? I was super excited. I'm kind of hugely into parts of that. I was not disappointed with this. While the fist 20% or so was pretty slow, it didn't take long to get me into it after that. While I knew almost all of the Japanese terms and words she used, I still think she did a good job giving people who wouldn't know their meaning without making it seem like it was just shoved into the story. The world building was done well and was believable. And each of the characters were well developed.

Yumeko and Tatsumi couldn't have been more different, but they went together perfect. Yumeko is half kitsune and has been raised in a temple her whole life. She has such an innocent naivety to her despite her penchant for mischief. Tatsumi has been raised as weapon. He plays host to a demon sealed within a sword he wields and any show of emotion gives the demon a chance to take over his body. So all feeling and emotion has been beaten and trained out of him. He even uses a manta of him being nothing to suppress any emotion he might be feeling because he actually believes it.

This story is based around a scroll that once put back together can summon a dragon who would then grant that person any wish they might have. Needless to say it's the bad guys after it. Yumeko didn't know until it was too late that her temple actually guarded a piece of it. When everyone there is slaughtered by an oni, she is the only one able to flee, taking the piece with her. It's when she's running that she encounters Tatsumi. He has been sent by his clan to obtain that piece but obviously got there just too late. Before he died, Yumeko's master tasked her with a vital mission that she must complete. Seeing how Tatsumi fights, she decides she needs his help. Because he is also after the scroll, she must be careful, but she spins a story that matches closely to reality in order to get him to help her get where she must go and they make a deal. Traveling together, Yumeko is constantly excited by what she sees and always so happy. Tatsumi, on the other hand, the more time he spends with Yumeko the more he finds his thoughts and emotions changing. I'm sure no male would approve of this description, but jealousy was adorable on Tatsumi. Along the way they encounter horrible creatures trying to stop them and various people. Much to Tatsumi's chagrin, an irreverent ronin decides to join them and eventually a noble as well. Despite the difficulties her mere presence gives him, Tatsumi would much rather it be just him and Yumeko.

There is much going on behind the scenes that this group doesn't know about and soon enough they find themselves facing a blood witch. Well, facing her trap I guess is more accurate. That goes horribly, horribly badly for them. In the end one of Yumeko's secrets is out, and she loses Tatsumi. She knows she has to complete her mission, but now she is also determined to get him back. At least she's not alone in this world that she doesn't understand.

That ending killed me. I just loved Tatsumi, the tortured boy he is, and to see what happens to him was just brutal. I was so frustrated with that ending because I want more NOW and I don't want to wait months to find out what happens next.

Thanks to Harlequin Teen and Netgalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for a fair review.



Yumeko has been taught her whole life how to suppress her kitsune side. But it also makes her well versed in keeping secrets. When she finds the Silent Winds temple under attack and her mentor who gives her a scroll and orders to find the Steel Feather Temple, Yumeko knows that keeping secrets are now life and death.



Kage Tatsumi is a member of the Shadow Clan and swordsman with no equal. But he is hiding secrets of his own, and he has been sent to get the scroll. Yumeko knows that she can't trust him, when he is seeking the very thing she is hiding, but she also knows that the road to Steel Feather Temple will long and fraught with danger and she will need all the help she can get.



The Dragon is rising, and many players want that wish for themselves. Can Yumeko stay one step ahead of her many enemies?



So let me start by saying that I am fairly certain that if Julie Kagawa published a book about her grocery lists I would read it. I have read every single one of her books and I love them. So it pains me to say this wasn't my favorite. It is good and full of the normal action and adventure and a whole lot of danger that Julie is famous for. But I just didn't connect with the characters. More than one of her books has brought me to tears. It may be a me thing, and it is Julie so I still heartily recommend reading it.


Plus I loved learning Japanese mythology. It was utterly fascinating. I don't know a ton of things about Japanese myths, but I find the culture and myths compelling.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Teen, and Julie Kagawa for the opportunity of reading this book in exchange for an honest review.

Love the book, but at first it was a bit hard to follow. The first three chapters each have a different narrator, and I didn't quite realize that until reading a bit further in. I think a more definite/obvious narrator change would be very helpful. Chapter one feels more like a prologue, and chapters two and three establish the two main perspective characters for the rest of the novel. Once I figured out the perspectives and got to know Yumeko (a fox [kitsune] half-demon) and Tatsumi (a samurai member of the Shadow [Kage] Clan), it really picked up and was enjoyable to see how the two story lines would intertwine.

It's a good thing I have seen the anime Inu-Yasha in its entirety, because many of the things I learned about feudal Japanese culture come from watching that anime. This book has a number of references to different types of demons, historical terms (like daimyo), and a heavy use of the Japanese language in general. Having studied Japanese language and culture, this was pretty easy for me to pick up on and made the story interesting based on my own personal interest in Japan. For many readers, though, I find that this could get very confusing is not elaborated on. Some words are elaborated on once, such as Kamigoroshi, Godslayer. Some people might not remember that name on the first go, so a sprinkled reminder here or there for Japanese words would help the reading audience that is not so versed in anime and Japanese culture. The focus of this novel actually feels like the audience would be much more limited to those who do know some Japanese or invest themselves in learning about the culture, and it's not a book I would recommend to those who don't know much about Japan.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I liked the quest feel to Yumeko's plot, and I enjoyed the characters that continued to be added to her party. While the end wasn't quite what I was hoping for, or what I expected, I feel like this trilogy has a lot of potential and I am definitely interested in investing myself further into the series. I also enjoyed some of the (extremely) subtle romantic aspects between Tatsumi and Yumeko, and I wasn't to see how that might develop. Nothing physical happened, but each has had at least brief, fleeting thoughts about the other.

Definitely a series I would recommend to anime fans, lovers of Japanese culture, and a book I might just have for students to choose on my classroom bookshelf. 

You can see this and other YA book reviews on my site: https://teresacrider.wordpress.com/

Review originally published October 2, 2018

Overall this was a fun and engaging fantasy story that felt very unique with using elements from Japanese mythology and the hero's journey with a few twists here and there. It hooked me from the first chapter! I was immediately invested in the rich, folklore-filled plot and the likeable and complex characters, especially the main character Yumeko.

The world-building and magic system was one of the best parts of the story for me. Unique, wonderfully executed without being info-dumped on, I was sold onto this story.

This was such a great book and I can't wait to continue reading this story in the sequel and find out what other adventures that awaits this ragtag group of misfits.

What do you get when you take a naive half-kitsune whose never left her temple and a stoic assassin and send them on a journey together through a Japanese-inspired setting that’s filled with yokai, demons, and shenanigans?

A book that is a surprising amount of fun!

It took me a bit to warm up to this book, but once I did, as I said, it ended up being surprisingly fun, despite the seriousness and danger of some of the scenes and situations. It reminded me of the movie Tangled, which is one of my favorites. It had this kind of zany road trip feel with all the shenanigans the characters got into during their travels and the way they kept picking up stragglers and adding more people to their odd little group along the way. Granted they were traveling by foot and most of their shenanigans involved fighting for their lives against murderous supernatural beings, and things did get more serious and heavy at the end, but still. Yumeko’s playfulness, innocence, and wonderment at everything she experienced, Okame’s debauchery and sarcasm, and Tatsumi’s sighs of resignation and begrudging acceptance of his role as the responsible one made the whole thing lighthearted and a pleasure to read.

My favorite thing was the characters and the dynamics between them. Yumeko was adorable, and I loved her. She was playful because of her fox nature, and she had never left her temple before, so she was really enthusiastic about things she was experiencing out in the world. She also was brave and fought when she needed to, but she was kind and took the peaceful road whenever possible in confrontations.

Tatsumi grew on me as I got to understand him more. He was literally trained to suppress his emotions, and that can be a hard kind of character for me to like because I can’t connect to those who have no emotions, but I felt horrible for him, and I liked seeing his struggle when he did start to feel things.

As soon as Okame was introduced, I wanted him to be part of the story, so I’m glad that he was. Okame was like 90% awful, but the other 10% was sarcastic and entertaining and useful in a fight, and I couldn’t help but like him. And in a way, I kind of understand why he was the way he was, and I’m curious to know his story.

Daisuke had some odd pasttimes, but he was likeable. I’ll just leave it at that and let you get to know him for yourself.

Another thing I really liked was that I finally got to read about a kitsune! I know barely anything about kitsune, but I enjoyed this author’s portrayal nonetheless. There were a lot of other supernatural beings too (all based on Japanese mythology), which was really cool.

Last but not least, I can’t say for sure because I don’t know much about this, but it seemed like the story was really immersed in Japanese culture. The characters, the society, the settings, the language, the beliefs, the supernatural creatures.

Honestly, I don’t even have any complaints. I loved the characters and their dynamics, the Japanese setting, the supernatural beings, and the story. This was a great book, and I had a lot of fun reading it! I think the next book might have more intensity and heaviness than this one, but I’m happy to follow these characters wherever their journey leads them next.

It’s been a little while since I have read anything by Kagawa, and I’m glad I decided to try her out again all these years later. I was a bit worried that my tastes would have changed too much to allow me to enjoy it, and while I do see areas that I would have loved more all those years ago I still really enjoyed the world she presented here.

Shadow of the Fox is set in a feudal Japan type setting full of samurai, shinobi, yokai, and epic mythology. I’ve been hoping that Kagawa would do a series set in Japan since The Immortal Rules because she really showed off her skill with badass females and awesome yet chilling action-packed moments. She definitely brings that forward with this one. We have three POVs in Shadow, though I will not mention one as it’s tied into a very spoiler heavy part of the book, and each one adds a really interesting angle to the story. Yumeko is our Kitsune main character, who is super mischievous and fun loving. She’s incredibly naive to the world outside of the shrine and has an optimism about her that is just so needed when in a world full of demonic oni and so much bloodshed. Then there is Kage Tatsumi, a samurai from the Kage clan who’s path crosses with Yumeko’s and they find themselves after similar things. He is very reserved and where he is knowledgeable about the world and its horrors, he is new to anything resembling friendship. These little glimpses into each one of their thoughts, especially Tatsumi’s as he has a lot going on, is really awesome. I love the differences between the two, and their growing (albeit slowly) friendship. I personally find myself glad that while you can tell the build-up for the romance is there, it’s not something that simply springs forward early on despite having no real basis.

I will say that my favorite part of this and what I think is the strongest portion is the world building that Kagawa presents. I love Japanese mythology and I’m a little partial to fuedal japan settings steeped in that mythology since that’s basically what I started out on in my childhood. I’ve seen some people say it has Inuyasha vibes and while I do think it didn’t feel like a copy it certainly had that tone. It has that light-hearted build up with unlikely friendships and journeys, but also that darker edge as they fight for their lives against monstrosities. I love the set up of the world and their separation into different elemental lands, and I really just enjoyed the vibrancy in which she paints the scenes. Even the smallest villages were easy for me to imagine.

While I will say I’m a little disappointed in its overall ability to really grip me from the get-go, and it’s somewhat simplistic nature in terms of style and character development, I do think I have enjoyed this quite enough to want to continue. It has that aura of both nostalgia and mystery that makes me really want to see how things go for Yumeko, especially after the rather shocking ending that Kagawa treated us to. I’d say if you are looking for a quick fun read with a different setting, and some really great imagery then Shadow of the Fox is worth checking out!

I received a complimentary copy for review purposes, all opinions are my own.

“…Follow me if you dare, little ducklings. Into the dark we go.”

This book was so different from anything I could have imagined. It was such a lovely surprise. There’s a ton of Japanese lore and mythology throughout this book that just made me fall even more in love with this book overall. I’m a sucker for any sort of mythology, so that was a big selling point for me.

Yumeko was amazing. I love my little kitsune heroine. She’s naïve and helpless at times, but she grows a lot and really starts learning the extent of her abilities.

Okay. So, the overall storyline reminded me a lot of the movie Tangled. We have our totally naïve, young heroine who’s got a huge secret attached to her, who’s been essentially locked away for years and has no knowledge of the outside world. Enter warrior/ borderline criminal hero. The two agree to make a journey together. Shenanigans ensue. Another character enters, one they’re really not sure they can trust, but who is along for the journey nonetheless. More shenanigans ensue. Fight with the big, bad villain when everything looks like it can’t possibly work out. The end.

This book definitely had its tropes, but I didn’t really mind it. The “love interest” wasn’t overdone, and while it did play some part in the storyline, it definitely wasn’t a focus, which I enjoyed.

Two things that really did bother me though, and they’re the main reason this book doesn’t have the full 5 stars. One is that it switches POV’s between Yumeko and Tatsumi, and sometimes I didn’t know who was talking until it mentioned the other or the way they talked about certain characters that varied, but it bothered me that they weren’t more distinctive. The other thing was the ending. There was a pretty good shock at the end (what saved it from being 3 stars), but it BUGGED ME SO BADLY that the big villain just kinda… walked away. I know it was literally for nothing other than allowing that sequel, but I hate when that part is anticlimactic. More so because the villain actually said they were letting our MC go… for now.

Overall, this was a fantastic book and I am so excited to see where this series goes.

lush japanese mythology lays the foundation for shadow of the fox, a new fantasy series from julie kawaga. i honestly loved the serting, and the lush descriptions. i loved the japanese terminology because it made it feel more authentic even though at times there were so many characters with so many honorifics i was maybe a little confused.

but this book started out slow for me, because the first chapter relates an event that's so disconnected to a huge part of the narrative that i had a hard time connecting to the first person switch from suki to yumeko and then later again to tatsumi. sometimes narrative frames like this don't work for me, because when i pull up these books on my e-reader i have no idea what they're going to be about. i don't usually remember back cover copy. so when i start reading something that's one thing, only for it to become another, i am challenged to stick with it.

but eventually you get caught up in the fantasy and story, and you want to know where this journey will lead yumeko and tatsumi.

**shadow of the fox will publish on october 2, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/harlequin teen in exchange for my honest review.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It took me a while to get into it, probably because I was unfamiliar with a lot of the Japanese terminology used and couldn't just flip back and forth to the glossary in the ebook, but I found the story compelling and the characters interesting, and the more I read the more I realized I was actually really invested in what happened to these fictional people. I did occasionally struggle with the alternating first-person perspective, as the voices weren't really distinguished enough that I could tell who was speaking without clues like "I was holding kamigoroshi" or "I saw Tatsumi," and I didn't totally buy that Yumeko wouldn't understand sarcasm (she's a half-kitsune surrounded by monks who find her stressful and has at least one kitsune friend in the woods - I'm sure she's encountered sarcasm!). But I did love that Yumeko manages to be innocent and somewhat naive without being portrayed as unintelligent, and I loved seeing the way Tatsumi slowly opened himself up to emotions. I also thought the addition of Okame to the party was an excellent offset to Yumeko and Tatsumi's very focused perspectives, and I enjoyed the characters in general. And then that ending happened and OOF! Okay, yep, I was more invested than I realized and definitely want to read the sequel!

I will say, I've been trying very hard not to judge Kagawa's storytelling based on the physicality of my reading experience, but at least in the e-galley, spacing was a problem: Any word that had the letters "fl" together (like flying, floor, shuffle, etc) would have a space between them (f lying, f loor, shuff le) in a way that was jarring and sometimes forced odd line breaks, and sometimes "SHADOW of the FOX" would appear in the middle of a sentence or even a word, or a line break between paragraphs would be missing. This isn't the fault of the writing, but it did make the book somewhat difficult to read and detracted from my reading experience; hopefully this will be fixed before an actual ebook is published.

This was a fun story that I'm particularly excited to offer to kids in my library who love manga and are trying to transition into prose novels (and I bet some of them will draw incredible fanart!).

The Good
I loved the setting! I want more fantasies set in Asia, and this is definitely one of them. I also loved that Yumeko is half kitsune. Again, I want fantasies that incorporate non-Western mythology. And, in general, I want books that explore what it’s like to be torn between two worlds. I like Kagawa plays with Yumeko’s identity and how Yumeko is tested throughout her journey and has to come to terms with herself.

As far as the plot is concerned, this is a standard quest plot: Yumeko leaves her home and goes on a journey, meeting complications and side plots along the way, before ultimately finding the object of her quest. This is an old plot, but it’s old because it works. And it worked here, even if it was predictable. It was fun to read a quest in Asia and I’m willing to go with the plot arc because of the setting and fantasy elements.

The Bad
My main problem with this book is that I was never concerned for the characters. Yumeko is naive, but that naivety never seems to be a problem for her. Instead, it makes all sorts of different characters like her and agree to join forces with her. This seemed a little unbelievable for me and made the book lose a lot of its tension. I never worried that any of the characters would get hurt, because Yumeko and her goodness would ultimately save the day. Even the cliffhanger ending–which would have bothered me in other books–left me feeling nothing because I’m sure everything will turn out fine. It did with every other problem.

The Verdict
This is a fun, light fantasy set in a cognate of medieval Japan, which is what makes it special. I didn’t actively dislike it, but I also won’t be re-reading it.

Shadow of the Fox is an amazing adventure story. I loved everything about it, I already want to read it again.

I loved every character. There was something unique about each of them but our main characters Yumeko and Tatsumi are truly fascinating.

Yumeko is half Kitsune and for some reason I love Kitsune. I think it’s just from different manga/anime I have read and watched. I like foxes more than I like dogs. So I’m not that fond of Inu. I don’t know, but it really brings this cool aspect to her character. Especially compared to Tatsumi. People who know what Yumeko is, view her differently because of her Kitsune Yokai side. They don’t always give her a chance. She grew up in a temple with monks, so she is naive but I’m not sure necessarily innocent. She knows there are bad things in the world but just hasn’t really experienced them. It’s interesting those like Tatsumi who can’t see who she is, think of her as being a sweet innocent girl. If he knew what she was, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill her. When really she is still the same sweet innocent girl too.

Tatsumi is such a complicated character!!! I mean is he bad or good. Really it depends on your definition. He does his job and he’s been taught/beaten into having no emotions because it won’t just jeopardize himself to do an unbiased job. It could also spell death for the world if the demon takes over.

I love a story that involves travel and characters collecting a party along the way. I love how different personalities can both clash and compliment others. Bringing out the best and worst of characters. Even though Kage Tatsumi and Yumeko are the heart of the story. I loved Okami, who reminds me so much of Mugen from Samurai Champloo, it made me happy. Although he is quite his own character. He brings some much needed comic relief to some very serious and sometimes a little gory run ins. Daisuke is just delightful in his own way. I also hope Reika continues to have a presence.

The other thing I really really love about this story being more on the quest side is the smaller stories built inside. Like maybe a village has a mystery to be solved or maybe some creatures need to be freed. Tatsumi and Yumeko find themselves helping people along the way, intentionally or not. Plus all of the Japanese Mythology that is weaved into the story in so many ways. I loved reading it.

That ending……..ahhhhhh I can’t wait for the next book. I wasn’t ready to stop journeying with the characters yet! I can’t wait until we can continue on and more things come to be revealed. So if you enjoy a story with an Anime/Manga vibe, filled with awesome mythology and adventure. This is the story for you.

Yumeko was left at the temple when she was a baby with just a note. The monks raised her to hide and control her kitsune side, but her ability to do magic works well with her need to cause mischief. When the temple is attacked and burned, she is given the task to escape with the temple’s greatest treasure. It is only a piece of an ancient scroll, but this scroll is full of power and must not get into the wrong hands. Kage Tatsumi has been tasked with getting the scroll and it must be fate that brings Yumeko and Kage together. Yumeko promises to help Kage with the hope that his presence will ensure her safety, but they are both keeping secrets and these very secrets might be each other’s downfall.

Shadow of the Fox is the first book in a new series with the same name. Kagawa has created a fantasy novel that has the potential to become a great epic fantasy. The world building is so complete that I found myself thinking about the characters and their story even when I had to pull myself away to do other tasks. The adventure is spread throughout the pages and the ending leaves enough of an open storyline that readers will definitely be looking for the next installment. The Shadow of the Fox should be added to all fantasy reader’s TBR list.

I have two confessions:
1. This is my first Julie Kagawa book.
2. I've been sitting on this review for months!

From the first page, I was completely transfixed by "Shadow of the Fox". My only previous experience with Kitsune was through Final Fantasy games so there was a lot of filling in to be done. Kagawa manages her explanations without seeming to go overboard or be heavy-handed.

I am IN LOVE with Kagawa's flow and storytelling abilities. I can recommend this book whole-heartedly to my hardcore fantasy readers who just aren't satisfied with the current YA fantasy trends. My kiddos who are fascinated with Japanese mythology will also really dig this read. It's fairly clean with little swearing and a bit of sexual tension. Nothing crazy or over-the-top.

My one itty bitty picky criticism is that the journey seemed to take an awfully long time. I found myself skimming parts to just make that move forward quicker. This may be a Kagawa-style thing or it may be something else. I really don't know.

Honestly, what's not to like? Kagawa has a slam dunk with an all-encompassing fantasy. I can't wait to see what happens next!

I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. Kagawa's writing is so beautiful and rich. This is not something I would call a fast read, but not because it was slow in any way. I found myself needing to absorb chunks of it before continuing. The descriptions were well developed and I felt each of the main characters (or semi-main) were well fleshed out with individual personalities.

This is the first time I have read one of Kagawa's books and after reading this I definitely want to not only get the sequel as fast as humanly possible but I may pull out the few of her books I have on my TBR shelf and read them sooner rather than later. I was captivated by her writing style and just loved the pacing and language so much.

I could see some things within the story that other people may have issues with, but for me this was just perfect. I did not want the story to end and found myself not wanting to finish it simply so I could prolong it somehow. For me that is always a good sign but also a little heartbreaking because I need more.

The details and cultural/mythological references were so well done and well developed in the story. There's just enough explanation that I immediately knew and could envision what was going on.

All in all this was one of my favorite reads of this year and I CANNOT wait for more in this story.

*A review will be going up on my blog on the release date, October 2nd.

Thank you so much, Netgalley, for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’m a big fan of Julie Kagawa’s books so I was very excited to read this one. I knew very little of the Kitsune lore but found the premise very intriguing. Surprisingly, it was a somewhat of a slow start for me which I didn’t anticipate. (I wish I would have discovered the glossary before I read the book so I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with it before starting the book.;) About a third of the way through, I eventually I got very immersed in the story. I loved Yumeko. Even though she was raised in a monastery and more naive than worldly, she was not clueless or spineless. There seems to be a lot of heroines in YA books described as “kickass warriors” or something similar, but Yumeko is very different than this type of MC. I found this to be a refreshing change. She’s perceptive, kind, and brave, as well as a force to be reckoned with when she fully embraces her Kitsune power. I really enjoyed how her character evolved throughout the story.

Kage on the other hand, is very serious, intimidating, and closed off (rightfully so.) He was raised to not have a life of his own but rather to live to serve. He carries a heavy burden along with his power. I felt so sorry for him as he struggled with his duty and his identity which seem to become more at odds with each other as the book progressed. I enjoyed his interaction with Yumeko and how her presence slowly changed him.

There’s a lovely and whimsical fairy tale feel to the story with lots of Japanese lore and mythology throughout. Yumeko and Kage team up on their quest for the dragon scroll and have quite a long and eventful journey. They end of being joined by two more characters along the way. I felt the story picked up speed after that as they added some much needed humor and witty banter to the mix which kept the story from dragging. There were a lot of mythological creatures they encountered as well. Some were more whimsical and others were brutal and downright horrifying!

I don’t want to give any spoilers, but overall there’s plenty of action, a hint of a blossoming romance (very subtle so don’t expect it to drive the story if that’s what you’re looking for) and an exciting finale with somewhat of a cliffhanger that sets up the next book. While it wasn’t quite as addictive a read for me as some of her other books I’ve read, I enjoyed the story and look forward to the next book.

I tried twice to get I to this one, but I just couldn’t. I had a hard time picturing it and following it the first time I started it. I took a break and started it again. I was able
To follow it, but I still couldn’t get into it. I am disappointed....it has such high reviews for a book not even published! Perhaps I will try again at a later date.

Kagawa has this amazing talent of creating imagery with words. Worlds burst to life within the pages of each and every one of her books. Shadow of the Fox is a world of magic, demons and political mechaniations.

A cast of unlikely characters find themselves thrust into a hair raising quest. Not all are looking to accomplish the same goal, actually some of their goals are out and out opposing, but in the end they band together. The cast is introduced slowly with each one joining as the journey progresses.

I am a fan of all Julie Kagawa books and in the end I am a fan of Shadow of the Fox... and here comes the but ... But, I struggled getting into this story. I liked it but it was a pretty slow building read until about 45% in and then I LOVED IT.

Would I recommend Shadow of the Fox? ABSOLUTELY! Will I read on? I wouldn't miss it! My recommendation, push on because once you break through you will not want this novel to end.

I received this ARC copy of Shadow of the Fox from Harlequin TEEN. This is my honest and voluntary review. Shadow of the Fox is set for publication October 02, 2018.

My Rating: 4 stars
Written by: Julie Kagawa
Age Range: 12 - 18 years
Grade Level: 7 - 9
Series: Shadow of the Fox
Publication Date: Book 1
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Teen; Original edition
Publication Date: October 2, 2018
ISBN-10: 1335145168
ISBN-13: 978-1335145161
Genre: Youth Fantasy

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This was such fun, plain and simple! And that ending? I mean, good grief, you can't leave me hanging like that.

Seriously though, this novel was so much fun to read. About half of the book is one of those that follows a group of characters as they travel to a distant place, and along the way meet monsters of myth and magic and darkness that they must defeat. While some may say that gets boring after a time, I adored it. Especially when Kagawa threw in a few twists I definitely did not see coming. Any book that has a chapter ending with me yelling, "Yassss!" is kind of a winner. *Shrugs*

The Japanese lore surrounding this story was extensive and wonderful to be exposed to. It suited the story well, building it up and pushing it forward as well as the characters. My only complaint is I wish there was a glossary or something. There were a lot of terms thrown around, and I struggled a little in the beginning to keep up and keep everything and everyone straight. Usually my Kindle look-up feature is a godsend, but it didn't know what half the terms were. That said, I still loved seeing the myth and legends of Japan. Some of it I found to be quite fascinating, but mostly refreshing AF. Yurei, oni, ronin, kitsune; all of it had its place in this story.

Speaking of kitsune, the cast of characters in this was phenomenal! Yumeko was a fast favourite. She's a sweet spark of a girl with magic at her fingertips and a streak of mischief. I never thought I'd say this, but I loved her naivety. It lent a different dynamic and a humour to the character and the novel itself. The story is told from dual POV: Yumeko and the brooding samurai, Tatsumi. Good grief do I have a crush on that boy. Normally I'm not into the whole "bad boy will change for the good girl" trope, but I was squealing each time his cold demeanour melted a little bit. Which makes what happens all that much harder to sit with. But the angle with him and his demon infested sword was so intriguing! And honourable mention to the ronin who comes along for the ride. The sarcasm and humour were well appreciated.

I admit it took me a bit of time to get into this. I felt like I was reading and reading, yet my progress marker barely shifted. But I'm so glad I kept plugging away because this is definitely being shelved as one of my new favourite fantasy series. And, as mentioned, THAT ENDING! I cannot wait until the next book.

“Kage Tatsumi, the demonslayer of the Shadow Shadow Clan. A boy who didn’t know the first thing about kindness, compassion or mercy. Who was ruthless, dangerous and would will anyone - human, demon or yokia - that got in our way. Who didn’t realize that the exact thing he wanted, the entire reason for his mission, was sitting not ten feet from him.”

If you enjoy Japanese anime or lore, pick up this book immediately!

Yumeko is half kitsune (fox spirit) and half human, living in a monastery and raised by monks. Her kitsune half makes her a little trickster, and of course gets her into a bit of trouble. Growing up her entire life in the monastery, she’s very naive about the outside world, but Yumeko has a heart of gold, and although she usually gets easily scared, she’s quick to help anyone she comes across. She really a refreshing character to read about; although she does have a hidden agenda with the dragon scroll her almost child-like quality has her acting to ask forgiveness later.

Tatsumi is the polar opposite of Yumeko. Raised by the strictest of ninja elitist, he bares a sword possessed by a demon. In doing so, he was taught not to have any emotion or hold any ties to keep the demon from possessing him as well. For him it’s a battle to keep the bloodlust of the demon at bay while fighting to protect Yumeko on her journey- and to keep himself from feeling anything for her.

During the story you’ll find a slew of Japanese words (Ite-ouch Kuzo-crap), customs, and creatures of lore. Ghibli fans will be happy to know that Kodama (tree-spirts) make an appearance. It’s small touches that make a world of difference.

The storyline itself switches back and forth between an evil witch and Yumeko with her adventurous fellowship. Taking the Dragon Scroll to the temple is their main objective, but along the way they come across plenty of side quests, if you will. Tatsumi is kind of our reluctant hero, along with a Ronin (Samurai without a lord) that joins the gang, and an actual lord. It makes an interesting and dynamic combination!

Overall, I can’t praise this enough. I love Japanese anime. I love Japanese culture and lore, and love this book. I can’t say if you’ll enjoy this book if you don’t enjoy the others, but I’d like to say you probably would anyway. Give it a try! You might find a entirely new genre you like!