Great work on the cover! Beautiful! Super adventurous title! Just a full on win for capturing attention! Love! Plus, it was truly a great read! Can't wait for another book!

While this book was good, it just wasn't quite as good as the first for me. I honestly didn't really get all that into it until around the last 20% or so. The world building was still great, and I still loved the characters. But I think the lack of Tatsumi was to blame. Not that Hakaimono wasn't interesting or anything. Because he definitely was. It's just that a good amount of the book was everybody talking and walking around. Hakaimono goes on to kill at will while delighting in making Tatsumi suffer by telling him what he's going to do. Yumeko and her group travel to Kage territory and then the Steel Feather Temple, all while talking about what they're going to do. I was okay with it all, but it wasn't all that exciting either. Though, traveling thru the land of the dead was a pretty cool way to drastically cut down on how long it took to get places. And the fights were still bloody, gory, awesomeness.

So as we know, Hakaimono has taken over Tatsumi's body. He kills any of the Kage sent after him but mostly refrains from killing others because he doesn't want to make it that easy for them to find him. He loves torturing Tatsumi with his plans for Yumeko and causes him to despair when we he makes his way to the master of demons. This guy may be a floating head at this point, but he is an evil man with an evil plan. He just sort of needs the dragon scroll to pull it off. And that's where Hakaimono makes his deal. He'll get him the last two pieces of the scroll in exchange for being freed from the sword. With the deal made, off to the temple Hakaimono goes.

At first, Yumeko is torn between following after Tatsumi and saving him or fulfilling her duty and taking her piece of the scroll to the Steel Feather Temple. But when she is summoned to meet with the Kage daimyo a new path opens for her to do both. The Kage leader wants Yumeko and her group to do what no other has ever been able to do before: force Hakaimono back into the sword and free the demonslayer. Of course Yumeko agrees. And as it turns out, Hakaimono is already on his way to the temple so she doesn't have to chose which one to go to first anymore. Though they are honored guests, the castle is a dangerous place for them because of those who want to see their daimyo fail. Even after leaving the castle (or maybe more so because they left) they're not safe and an ambush leaves them with one less comrade. But we also get a good preview of what Yumeko's fox magic can do with illusions.

Finally they make it to the temple. I really liked how the place was guarded by the Tengu. I wasn't expecting that. Together they all come up with a spectacular plan to trap Hakaimono and let Yumeko do her thing. See, this huge and powerful fox has been visiting Yumeko in her dreams to try and show her how she can save Tatsumi. One of the skills the kitsune have is a form of possession where they can take over a human's body. In order to drive Hakaimono back into the sword, she must battle him inside of Tatsumi's soul realm after taking possession of his physical body. It's incredibly dangerous on so many levels, but Yumeko is bound and determined to save Tatsumi. And it goes remarkably well for a time. But then something unexpected happens.

What Hakaimono never expected was the Master of Demons to betray him first and follow him to the temple. With his army. So while outside a fierce battle rages, inside the three of them need to come to a decision. Especially after Tatsumi is run thru. Decision made, Yumeko must find her own body. And when she does she awakens to a slaughter and new choice to be made. I have to say I was super pissed at what she does at the end. I mean seriously, REALLY?! Ugh, so mad. Now it's up to this little rag-tag team to save the world.

I am incredibly suspicious of Seigetsu. He acts like he's a player in a game and all the characters are his pieces to be moved at his will. But I can't tell if he's a bad guy or a good guy.

I just love the relationship between Tatsumi and Yumeko. They love each other and don't even know it. It's pure and sweet, and I can't help but hope they end up together somehow.

What I hate is when authors these days all have to be so fucking politically correct in their books. I was oh so very pissed when all of a sudden Okame and Daisuke were being forced into a relationship. And that's what it was forced. It made absolutely no sense because the two of them had no chemistry, barely got along, and it was just so completely unbelievable. How it was "stumbled upon" was a waste of page space and reading time. Then every reference after was super awkward. If that's your thing, more power to you. But I am so sick and tired of authors throwing it into their books when it clearly doesn't belong.

Soul of the Sword picks up directly at the end of the events of the first book in the series, Shadow of the Fox. If you haven’t read Shadow of the Fox, and you like Japanese mythology, what are you waiting for? Pick it up now! Also, skip this review, because spoilers.

If you liked the first book, you’ll like this one too. I did not remember the first book that well as I read it last summer, but Kagawa writes this in such a way that it’s easy for the reader to jump right back in. Most of our characters (save Tatsumi, because he’s mostly a demon now) get further development, and Yumeko in particular really seems to grown a lot throughout the course of the book. My favorite character, the ronin Okame, has an exceptionally fun development. The worldbuilding, which was fantastic in the first book, continues to be alluring as Kagawa continues to flesh out what was already a well-drawn world. The plot, like the first book, is fast-paced and while this is definitely something of a bridge book, it’s a bridge book that is really fun to read.

Readers of Rick Riordan who are looking for something a little more grown-up, or folks who like their fantasy to be steeped in mythology, you won’t go wrong with this series. I’m excited for the next one to come out. 4 stars – I really liked it!

Thanks to Harlequin Teen & Netgalley for the advance copy which I received in exchange for an unbiased review. Soul of the Sword will be available for purchase on 18 June or you can put your copy on hold today!

Kagawa has an amazing ability to bring her fantasy worlds and characters to life. So much so that they seem to breath off the very pages you are reading. You get completely immersed into her stories, into their lives, and into the danger that always seems to lurk in the dark and magical realms she is so good at creating.

I fell in love with Shadow of the Fox and couldn't have been more anxious or eager to get my hands on Soul of the Sword.

It didn't take me long to once again fall seamlessly into the very heart, the very center of the world that is this series. Totally invested in all that had happened last book and more than excited to find out where the story would take all of my beloved characters next.

With ore action, more danger, more risks, and more tension around every corner, not to mention bad guys, myths, legends, and lore and Soul of the Sword not only lived up the Shadow of the Fox, but I think it surpassed it.

I loved this title so much. I die hard loved everything about Shadow of the Fox and this one I devoured within one day. I could not put it down and I think that its Kagawa's best yet!! I can not wait to get my hands on the next title. All the story and characters came together in this sequel and it was SO GOOD!! I don't want to say to much about it because I don't want to give anything away but man if you love anime as much as I do. Make sure to check this one out!! Kagawa blends anime and her wonderful storytelling together for one killer story!

I felt like this was a great continuation of the story from Shadow of the Fox. The characters were interesting, the plot well paced and intriguing, and the world was well built. The ending was interesting and left you in wonder of what will happen to these characters in the next book. I can't wait to find out!

As per usual Julie Kagawa is incredible! I loved the first book and the sequel is just as intriguing!

My first question is where is the next book!?! Shadow of the Fox was amazing and I didn't think it would be possible for Julie Kagawa to write a sequel that was just as good - if not better - than the first book in the series. I did appreciate that this book contained more action then the first one and less of the traveling interludes. The fight scenes were well done and I like that Kagawa did not shy away from blood and gore. I would love to see her write more of this sort of gothic-horror genre - I think she has a real talent for it. With all of that said, I am excited for the next book in the series to see where the characters go from here and more of their development.

This was an interesting follow up to Shadow of the Fox. The main plot remains, Yumeko must take her piece of the ancient and powerful Scroll of a Thousand Prayers to the Steel Feather temple in order to prevent the summoning of the Harbinger of Change, the great Kami Dragon who will grant one wish to whomever holds the scroll. However, she has a new problem: her once protector, Kage Tatsumi of the Shadow Clan, is now her enemy since he has been possessed by a fearsome demon. Yumeko must test her Kitsune powers to try and save Tatsumi.

I always enjoy Kagawa's detailed, imaginative and action packed writing.

Kitsune is still on her quest to take a piece of an ancient scroll to the Steel Feather temple to stop the summoning of the great Kami Dragon. If she fails in her quest, the Harbinger of Change will grant a wish to the bearer of the scroll. Unfortunately, Hakaimono has escaped the sword Kamigoroshi and taken possession of Kage. Hakaimono is working with the Master of Demons to try and break the curse to completely set him free. He wants to take over the land and plunge it into darkness, but he can’t complete this goal without the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. Will Kitsune be able to free Kage from Hakaimono’s possession? What difficult choices will she need to make along the way?

Soul of the Sword is the second book in the Shadow of the Fox series. In a world full of magic and adventure, readers will easily recall the basics of the first book in order to become fully invested in this second installment. Kagawa has taken the world building that has already been completed and woven deeper characters and more diverse plot twists. Although this book has a satisfactory ending, it is not a duology and readers will be anticipating the next book when it is released.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was better than book 1. When a book has an amazing storyline, awesome mythology, as well as great characters then you have the complete package for an epic book.

<u> <b>Review for <i>Soul of the Sword</i> by Julie Kagawa </u> </b>


ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
Thanks for the opportunity to review this book!


<u>All opinions are my own.</u>

<b>Trigger Warnings (TW):</b> For violence, murder, gore, brutality, and some very graphic scenes. To me, this is almost on the same level as The Poppy War in brutality and gore. Stay safe, friends!

<u> <b>Summary: </u> </b>

<b>”One thousand years ago, a wish was made to the Harbinger of Change and a sword of rage and lightning was forged. Kamigoroshi. The Godslayer. It had one task: to seal away the powerful demon Hakaimono.

Now he has broken free.”</b>

In <i> Soul of the Sword </i> we pick up where the crew left off at the end of <i>Shadow of the Fox.</i> I will say, we hit the ground running here. We follow Yumeko as she tries to both save Tatsumi and condemn Hakaimono at the same time. Meanwhile Hakaimono has plans of his own, and they don’t exactly make Yumeko’s job any easier.


<u> <b>My Thoughts </u> </b>

I absolutely adored this sequel. I love all of the characters and will hint that there may be a budding romance, but not the one that we are expecting. I’m excited to see how this romance will grow throughout the next book! The characters have all grown so much since they were introduced in book one, and I can’t wait to see where they end up at the finale.

<b><i>“It is how you use you powers that determines the intent.”</b></i>
<i> Quote taken from an ARC and is subject to change upon publication. </i>


This book is vastly more graphic than the last one, to the point where I would be careful about recommending it to a younger audience, but maybe that is just me being sensitive about it. To me, the gore and brutality was almost on par with<i> The Poppy War</i>, though that dealt with some much darker themes as well.

I love when a book is based on a quest or a journey, and there was plenty of travelling in this book, but it never felt overbearing. Getting multiple perspectives really helped to strength my feelings for those characters, including Hakaimono. It was interesting to get inside his head and to understand his motives, which I feel is not something we get very often with our villains.
I was very happy with the ending of this book, but I’m curious how some of the loose ends will end up being dealt with in the next book.

<b> <u>Overall (TLDR)</b> </u>
This is a thoroughly action packed story, with really awesome mythology interwoven, as well as a great group of characters, and a unique magic system.
If you were a fan of the first book, I cannot tell you enough to continue on with the series. If you haven’t read <i>Shadow of the Fox </i> yet, I recommend you to do so.

Find me on Instagram and Twitter!
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/delaneyreads">Instagram
<a href="https://www.twitter.com/delaneyreads">Twitter</a>

Soul of the Sword by Julie Kagawa is the second book in the Shadow of the Fox series and in my opinion even better than the first book. Yumeko and her plucky band of hero's continue their journey to save the scrolls before the enemy can get them all. This story is beautifully written and so descriptive you easily loose yourself in this amazing story taken from Japanese mythology. I cannot wait to read the third book since this one leaves with a huge cliffhanger that truly leaves you on the edge of your seat. Definitely one of the most original series I've ever read.

I loved this book! Just a warning, this is the second book in Julie Kagawa's Shadow of the Fox series and could contain spoilers for the first book.

Yumeko and Tatsumi have parted ways... for now. Yumeko still has to protect the scroll and get to the Steel Feather Temple, while Tatsumi's body has been possessed by a demon and his soul is stuffed inside the demon's. What a mess! Will Yumeko be able to save Tatsumi? Will she, along with her friends that she's gathered together in Shadow of the Fox, be able to save the scroll? You'll have to (and you'll want to) read this book to find out.

I loved this book as much as I loved Shadow of the Fox. Yumeko is still the sweet kitsune that she was in the first book, although you can see that she's grown as a person in this book. She's willing to put herself in danger in order to save her friends. You get to see more of this great world in this book, as well as learn more about its history. There are new secrets that unfold as well.

There is a surprising twist at the end, and although I won't give away what happens here, I will say that I'm looking forward to seeing how this story concludes in the third book. I highly recommend this series for anybody that's interested in a sweet fantasy story with demons and mythological creatures set in a medieval-like Japanese setting.

A year ago, I received "Shadow of the Fox" where I fell in love with the mischevious Yumeko, the tortured demon slayer, Tatsumi, the various side characters, and the cliffhanger that left me on the edge of my seat. However, the sequel left me dissatisfied. I finally understood the critique that the first book was a constant journey from one location to another without anything happening. That's exactly what happened in this book.

The first book ended on a cliffhanger. Tatsumi finally gave into the demon, Hakaimono, who was trapped in his sword known as Kamigoroshi, to save his friends. This book starts soon after and Yumeko wrestles with her feelings and her companions about saving Tatsumi from this possession. Everyone tells her it is impossible to drive Hakaimono back into the sword without killing Tatsumi. (I kid you not this probably takes up a third of the book). Eventually in a dream, a mysterious white fox appears to Yumeko and tells her if she embraces her kitsune magic, she can save Tatsumi. After the group decides to save Tatsumi, they are taken to the Shadow Clan, where Yumeko has an audience with Lady Hanshou, who gives her blessing and tells Yumeko to save Tatsumi. At this point, it is also revealed that half of the Shadow Clan lead by Lord Iesada would like to unseat Lady Hanshou and put an end to training demon slayers to wield Kamigoroshi because they believe it will be the undoing of the clan.

Meanwhile, the book delves into the shared perspective of Tatsumi/Hakaimono, who seeks the Masters of Demons known as Genno. Genno wants the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers so he can overthrow the empire and unleash darkness/demons over the entire land. However, he needs to find all three pieces first. Hakaimono, who wants to break his curse and be free of the sword, promises to give Genno a body since at the moment he's a floating head and in return, Genno promises to help him. Once, this deal is made all the characters head towards the Steel Feather Temple, where a piece of the scroll and resides and Yumeko and Hakaimono finally face-off.

My main problem with this sequel is that nothing really happened. Sure, evil plans are now in progress but the journey to arrive at that point was completely forgettable. The group traveled around, got sidetracked at a gambling den, Hakaimono killed demons, demons attacked and eventually everyone found their way to the Steel Feather Temple, where Yumeko finally did what she'd been talking about doing the entire book. However, I didn't feel like there was any character development, especially concerning Yumeko, who was suddenly made out to have extremely powerful magic. I honestly did not feel like Yumeko was powerful enough to take on Hakaimono (several training sequences in a dream with a mysterious fox does not count) and her choice at the end felt forced/obvious. I'm hoping the next book will explore the characters more and their relationships with each other as everyone deals with Hakaimono/Tatsumi, as well as, the new romance between Daisuke and Okame.

I loved the first book but for some reason this book wasn’t hooking me like the first did. I love the world and I love the characters. But I just couldn’t get into this story. I got to 36% and ultimately had to DNF this book. I will likely try reading again in the future but right now it is just not happening for me.

Soul of the Sword picks up where Shadow of the Fox ends off, with the consequences of the final battle between the main characters and Hakaimono. This book follows the remaining characters' trek to the Steel Feather Temple, to retrieve the other piece of the scroll, and to save Tatsumi.

This book was a lot more action-packed than the last one, which had a lot of travelling interludes. I will say that Kagawa completely upped her scene-writing for fights, and I like that she didn't shy away from including the blood and gore from these fights. It's not horribly graphic, but makes a good difference in the atmosphere of the scene and novel as a whole. I really think she has talent in writing more horror-oriented stories, so I'm pleased to see that explored here.

The story had a few plot twists I hadn't expected - I was worried some storylines might go a generic, unoriginal route, but I will say I was overall happy with how the book progressed. The resolution of the Tatsumi/Hakaimono issue was especially good, and I'm looking forward to how it's further explored in the sequel! The villain who has been teased in the last two books is finally now an actual villain, and the stakes for the next book are even higher, so I am excited to see what happens next!

One minor issues I had was with Okame, who can't seem to go one sentence without reminding readers that he's a "dirty ronin dog." The self-deprecation gets tiresome after a while. I also didn't love a romance between two side characters. Though the story is told through limited first-person narration of several characters, these two particular characters don't get a POV. As such, "discovering" their romance through another character who literally stumbles upon it felt awkward. The characters themselves barely had any chemistry or interactions, which made their romance feel very forced.

Overall, I think this was a great sequel and I want the next book!

The story picks up pretty much right where the first book ended: The powerful demon Hakaimono has broken free of the cursed sword, Kamigoroshi, which held his soul for thousands of years, and possessed the demonslayer, Kage Tatsumi. With her protector and friend now gone, half-Kitsune Yumeko, must continue her quest of delivering part of the ancient Dragon Scroll to the elusive Steel Feather temple in order to stop the summoning of the great Kami Dragon who will grant the wish of whomever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers.

While Yumeko and her band of merry misfits--including a noble samurai, a ronin, and a shrine maiden-- rush to deliver the scroll to the temple, Hakaimono joins forces with the Master of Demons in order to break the curse on the sword and finally set him free for good. To do so, the pair must retrieve the Scroll first. As Yumeko and the possessed Tatsumi paths continue to cross, Yumeko vows to save Tatsumi's soul and banish Hakaimono before their land is plunged into darkness forever.

I really enjoy this whole story. The characters mesh and work so well together. The relationship between the group is by far my favorite thing, especially Okame and Daisuke, their banter is everything. I also really liked how you got to see a little bit more of Tatsumi's background and upbringing in the Shadow Clan. You really understand how he became the person he is and the true weight of the burden he carries. All the Japanese folklore influence is again very interesting. My only issue with this one was the same as the first, the pacing just seemed a little off. It took a bit of time before it really hit its stride, but once it did, I was fully hooked into the story. I can't wait to continue the journey and see where else the story goes from here.

Soul of the Sword picks up right where Shadow of the Fox left off. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about book 2 as I didn't love book 1 but I was pleasantly surprised. I very much enjoyed how all of the different relationships played out in this book and I am looking forward to seeing out it all ends.

This was such an intense read! It was adventurous and exciting! I enjoyed it from the very first page.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own