Anthropomorphic/magically uplifted animals form an abused underclass in this alternate-world fantasy, in which the first American revolution had failed some years ago and another - led by, among others, John Quincy Adams - is brewing.

I didn't realize when I picked it up that it is the second of the series. There was enough backstory given that I wasn't confused, though.

The protagonist is a fox who's one of the first two Calatians (uplifted animals) to be allowed to learn magic. His companions in being despised by the establishment for daring to learn magic are an otter, a woman, and an Irishman.

When I first started, I was keen; it's well edited and the concept is strong. It's largely plot-driven, though, and the characters, for me, didn't gain a lot of depth. It felt like there was nothing to them that wasn't on the page, and there was nothing on the page that wasn't directly relevant to the plot.

The otter, in particular, I felt, was a passive character; his value was largely the importance of the friendship that the protagonist projected onto him, rather than anything he said, did, or was. It was almost like he was pre-refrigerated.

For that reason, I don't think I'll go back and read the first one, or continue with the series. It was a decent book, and I enjoyed it while reading it, but it wasn't compelling enough to carry me into other books by the same author.

The Demon and the Fox, written by Tim Susman, is a well written novel that follows a fox-Calatian (a human fox - this is where I got a bit confused) Kip Penfold who has powers, and is enrolled in a school to become a sorcerer. And this is the story of how he learns that he has an insane amount of power.

This novel was well written, however the descriptions of Kip's ears etc just made the book odd for me. I wish that the cover had a picture of a full creature so that we could get a better idea of what he looks like. This novel isn't written in the fashion of high fantasy, and makes references to our history, which really just takes away from this novel. I wish this was set in a different world completely without having overlapping events with the real world.

That isn't to say this is a bad novel, but this is a novel that I recommend reading the first chapter to determine if you are interested in it. I think in the first chapter you can figure out if you will enjoy it or not.

If you like more urban style fantasy with realistic animal creatures, give this a shot. It has action and magic.

I didn't enjoy it because I imagined the folks in it looking more like a stuffed animal than what the author was going for.

As original as the first in terms of magic, setting, and characters. I enjoyed how the plight of the animal-humans was presented. It clearly depicted their forced isolation and brutal discrimination, made all the more real by showing the viewpoints of different calatians the MC, Kip, meets.

I like how Kip grows in his magic, and debates the merits and dangers of siding with colonial America or with the British Empire.

This book felt a bit slower than the last. I think it could've used a faster pace, a bit more action.

What I liked best was the Kip's friendships, and the way they always stick up for each other, despite any arguments they had.

I rate this at about 3.7 stars. Mostly because without a faster pace or anything strong enough to hold my attention, I got bored pretty quickly.

I received a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I often find that Young Adult fantasy novels make up in originality what they sometimes lack in depth of characterisation. The Demon and the Fox , however, as with the previous volume in this series, does a great job of covering both bases. Alternate history, talking animals with an agenda of their own, enough Hogwarts-type elements to interest Harry Potter fans but enough originality to preclude TOO much comparison, and a likable lead character who happens to be a magical fox!
I'm greatly enjoying this series, even though I'm a Young Adult in mind not body!