Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this early copy!

DNF. I really enjoyed the first novel, The Shadow of the Fox via Audiobook. However, for some reason, I could not connect with the second novel.

I found this sequel to be much slower than the first. I had to convince myself to pick it up and finish. The final one hundred pages or so was all action and I loved it. Despite it being a slow story, the world was fascinating. I love what Kagawa has done with Asian mythology. I loved all the different aspects of the world. I especially loved the Kitsune magic and seeing Yumeko learn more about it and herself.
This squad of unlikely friends gives me life. I love the way they bicker and argue. I loved the dynamics between them. There was a bit of male/male romance going on and I’m not sure how it will end but I’m so here for it. I don’t want to get into too much detail, but this group of friends is loyal and determined to beat the odds, to do what is right even if it leads to their deaths.
I definitely enjoyed the first book better, but I think that’s more because of my relationship with the fantasy genre is a little wobbly right now. I made myself read this rather than waiting until I was in the mood for it and that might have had en effect on how much I liked it. I definitely suggest it for anyone looking for fantasy that isn’t European based. It’s full of characters you can’t help but love, fascinating world-building, and myth and folklore that I’d never known anything about previously.

This book was fantastic! It's rare that the second book in a series doesn't experience some sort of lag or just falls short of the amazingness of the first book. It was interesting to me that our main characters spent so much time in one place as compared to the previous book -- but readers were able to see the more intricate nature of class and the culture of respect that was common in the time period that the novel is set in. I really liked how more introspective the novel went and we really got to see how Yumeko starts to evaluate her feelings toward the ninja. There were a number of scenes where she's being told what her feelings are which I found to be rather frustrating -- but Kagawa really let Yumeko figure things out for herself and I loved seeing Yumeko get to witness different kinds of love and respect in this novel. My only real complaint is that the side characters took on more of their trope-y characteristics and I am REALLY disappointed at how Okame's character was portrayed this time around.

Yumeko and company are back and planning on delivering the part of the scroll to the Steel Feathered Temple that Yumeko carries. But, Hakaimono has escaped the cursed sword and is possessing Tatsumi. Yumeko plans on rescuing Tatsumi along the way to the Steel Feathered Temple. And oh, the adventures they have on the way. An enforced visit to Kage Castle, walking the Path of Shadows, facing Kage assassins, and confronting an army of demons lead by Genno, Master of Demons. And since, this is the second book in a trilogy, the tale ends with a nice cliffhanger to keep the reader tetering until the next book comes out. Oh, Tarsumi is rescued, well sort of. Read the book and find out the details!

Soul of the Sword is the second book in the Shadow of the Fox series and picks up Yumeko's story almost immediately where the previous book left off. Tatsumi has been possessed by the demon Hakaimono and no longer has control of his own body, instead he is trapped deep inside his own mind and forced to watch as the demon uses his body to do unspeakable things. Yumeko knows she has to protect the remaining piece of the Dragon Scroll at all costs but at the same time she is determined to rescue Tatsumi even if that means putting her own life in danger.

I'm going to be honest and say I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as Shadow of the Fox, I missed Tatsumi's character and I felt there were times when the story lagged a bit, but it's still a strong instalment to the series and it definitely left me eager to get my hands on a copy of the final book asap.

Julie Kagawa really excels with her world building here, I love her use of Japanese mythology and all the different types of creatures she has introduced us to in this series. The different yokai & kami, the sword fights and the magic all combine into a fairly action packed story that kept me turning the pages. While I missed Tatsumi and the relationship he has with Yumeko I did find it interesting to see some of Hakaimono's point of view and I love Okame, Daisuke and the others who add a little light hearted fun to the story. Don't let the fooling around lull you into a false sense of security though, there is danger all around and the ending was a shocker!

Soul of the Sword is book two in this series and I enjoyed it more than the first book. I'm having such a hard time reviewing this as it's the second book and I do not want to spoiler ANYTHING! The characters are strong and my favorite part of these books. I am going to talk very lightly about this book so it's mostly random lines that may or may not make any sense.
So, demons are everywhere, trouble is brewing. These characters are what makes this story different. They are witty and willing to do what it takes to save what they love. There is a new relationship developing in this book and I am all for it. I don't know what more to say without giving anything away from either of these books. But I am dying to get the next book because this ENDING was crazy! They are still looking for pieces of the powerful scroll, and danger is following them with every step they take. There is a death, that did make me sad.

I don't know what more to say other then the culture in the book with the characters will make you fall into this world.

To be honest, as much as I loved the setting, the characters, and the continuation of this story, the sequel was not able to grip my attention as much as the first book did.

Before I begin my review, I want to thank Inkyard Press and NetGalley for sending me an e-book arc for an honest review!

I absolutely love this story! I fell in love with "Shadow of the Fox" when I received it in one of last year's Owlcrate boxes. I love fantasy but I never really read anything about Japanese folklore and culture. Let me tell you though I was hooked really quick!

This sequal, "Soul in the Sword" was darker, action pack, and really hit you in all the feels. The character building was my favorite to be honest. You really get to know more of the main core group characters and delve a littler deeper into their relationships with one another.

***Small Spoilers From First Book***

Poor Yumeko and her friends have a lot to face in this sequal while they have to figure out how to get a piece of the Dragon Scroll to the Steel Feather Temple and to protect it at all cost. They also made a new enemy, newly free big bad Hakaimono, a ridiculously old demon who was trapped for centuries in a cursed sword and now has taken over the body of one of their friends, Kage Tatsumi of the Shadow clan.

That's not even half of what they have to face in this book and trust me, if you find this intriguing, go check out the first book "Shadow of the Fox" to learn more of Yumeko the kitsune and the beginning of the whirlwind adventure. Then when your hooked, you will want to grab a copy of "Soul of the Sword" next! Prepare yourself, it's a wild ride! Oh and don't worry, next year there will be a third book.

Happy Reading!

Soul of the Sword was even better than the first book in my opinion. Like the first one, it had a long journey and it was a fiery beast. I was so happy to see all of the characters we love back and growing stronger than before.

I loved the character development we get to see in this second installment. I thought Yumeko still sounded very naive throughout most of the book. At the end she seems to grow immensely and I was happy to see it. Also, I was very happy with Tatsumi’s end-game in this. It was unexpected, but I’m super curious to see how it plays out in book three.

We also get to see more of the world and empire which is always super fascinating. I loved getting to see more of the shadow clan and how mysterious and sneaky they actually are. I would even mind a spin-off of a character growing up in that clan. It would be dark and absolutely entrancing.

Overall, I am SO happy with where this story is going. Julie Kagawa continues to slay the fantasy world, and I cannot wait to read the next installment!

**I received and advanced copy in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own**
I think it’s fair to say that I love everything I’ve ever read by Julie Kagawa and this book is most definitely included! I loved that there was more character development and world development, on top of what we got from book one.
It was a fast pace, which I liked, but not too fast. There were definitely times I had to take it slow to understand some of the words.
The ending of this book had me wanting more and now I have to impatiently wait for book 3. I can’t wait for it though!

This book is the second in the Shadow of the Fox trilogy and is best read in order.
Yumeko has been successful in keeping her portion of the Dragon Scroll safe so far, but her friend Tatsumi has been taken over by the evil Hakaimono, who is bent on destruction and revenge. The diabolical Lord Genno is after all fragments of the Scroll, and he will stop at nothing to obtain it. Lady Hanshou and another mysterious man are also after the entire Scroll, whether to make a wish with it or to use it for other purposes. With the rest of her friends and allies, Yumeko must find the Steel Feather Temple and find a way to save Tatsumi before it's too late, all while concealing the Scroll fragment. They will encounter many enemies and frightening, dangerous circumstances as they travel, and some may not make it out alive.
I enjoyed this second installment of the Shadow of the Fox series, but it is definitely more dark, violent, and horrifying than the first book. This type of book is definitely not my normal reading material, but the story is very well done and keeps me coming back to find out what happens. This series is rich in Japanese folklore, so there are many names and terms to keep track of. Many can be figured out by context clues, but the glossary in the back was extremely helpful for me. The characters are well drawn and realistic, and the descriptions are so vivid that I could see the events playing out in my mind as I read. I liked how the chapters were written from several different characters' perspectives because everything made much more sense that way. I didn't personally agree with some of the views and lifestyles presented. I recommend this book with reservations due to the dark nature of the content, but I think those who enjoy fantasy and folklore will enjoy this series. The ending was a little bit of a cliffhanger, and I am looking forward to reading the next book to find out what is next for Yumeko and her friends.
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.

Kagawa once again takes us back to the world of demons, dragons, and magical greatness. This book is full of wonderfully written characters, a beautiful world, and a story that sucks me in. Once again I will recommend this title to anyone that love fantasy, strong characters, adventure, and demons/gods/spirits.

I requested Soul of the Sword without realizing it's a second book in a series. I attempted to read it, but I definitely need to read the first book. For now, I am not reviewing. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I knew this sequel would be amazing because pretty much every one of Julie’s books are. Seriously though. I always love the first book in a new series by Julie but the sequels are where the stories really take off and this one doesn’t disappoint at all. I loved Shadow of the Fox so much and Tatsumi and Yumeko’s stories separate were new and intriguing but together shined bright and captured the readers attention. Afterall this isn’t just another fantasy set in a far away land. This is set in Japan guys!! It doesn’t get more exciting than this!

I thoroughly enjoyed Yumeko’s growth throughout Soul of the Sword. She started the story off still very young minded and she is inexperienced in life so it’s believable and isn’t aggravating like other characters have come off to be to me, but her naivety soon left and I enjoyed watching her grow and learning more about her kitsune heritage.

Even though I thought it interesting to read from Hakaimono’s POV, I didn’t really find his character believable. There was a lot of violence and that suits a demon’s perspective sure, but there was also a lot of inner dialogue in the beginning and that made it hard to believe that it was a demon and not more of Tatsumi. I needed more of Tatsumi!!

I still enjoyed the side characts throughout the sequel. Daisuke and Okame are definitely favorite characters of mine and their personalities really help to add more emotion and humor to the story!

Actual Rating: Did not Finish
Recommend: If you enjoyed the first book
Review:
Honestly, I think the reason I couldn't finish or love this book is because I am too old for the writing style and the maturity level of the characters. I know these books are marketed towards teenagers, the bracket of which I am no longer a part of, so I can't blame the author or the book for my not enjoying it. This is completely a me issue here.
Truly, I loved Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series, but I did read it as a teenager, and her Immortal rules trilogy reads older than teens, so even though I read it when I was an older teen, I still greatly enjoyed it. However, what I have discovered as a young adult is that her writing is definitely geared towards teens, which is fine! She writes TEEN books!
I tried getting into this book and really did give it a shot, but even though I love the series mythology, world-building, and characters, I just couldn't get into the book beyond it being words on a page. Personally, I found the Yumeko immature, but that's definitely because of our age difference.
Honestly, all I can say is this book wasn't for me because I think I have outgrown this incredible author. I do think her writing style and books are incredible and actual teens will enjoy her books!

Ok, first of all-- this world is amazing! It is nice to have a second book that is just as good (maybe even better) than the first. I loved picking up right where the last book left off and need more ASAP! I got anime feels and will be letting my friends know to read this soon.

I love this series, but I’ll confess that it took me a little while to get into this book. I started reading it, but I kept putting it down. I think it was mostly due to Hakaimono’s POV chapters—they were all death and destruction and demonic plotting, which are generally my least favorite aspects of fantasy (actually, once we got to the actual plotting, I was more engaged—it’s just all the demon beheading that bores me. I’m weird, I know). I eventually decided that this is the type of book that would work better for me via audiobook—and that was a fantastic decision!

The book really started to pick up for me once Yumeko made a decision about how she was going to handle Hakaimono. I obviously can’t share what that decision was, but I felt much more engaged with the story once I knew that goal—and I was definitely looking forward to how it would all play out. And the end of the book definitely did not disappoint. It all went in a direction I was not expecting at all—which I absolutely loved. And the book left me eager to find out what will happen next!

As far as the audiobook goes, all three narrators (Brian Nishii, Joy Osmanksi, and Emily Woo Zeller) were fantastic—I felt that they all captured the action of this series incredibly well, and Brian Nishii did an excellent job differentiating between Tatsumi and Hakaimono/Tatsumi.

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review (though I ended up listening to the audiobook from the library). No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

Kat Cho’s captivating debut Wicked Fox and Julie Kagawa’s Soul of the Sword bring Asian folktales and legends of the kitsune and guminho into the spotlight of YA fantasy. (minor spoilers ahead!)

Kat Cho’s mesmerizing debut, Wicked Fox, is a modern YA fantasy that takes place in Korea and follows a young girl with a secret that she cannot tell anyone, leaving her isolated amongst her peers at her new school. Reminiscent of a K-Drama, Wicked Fox brings mythology and high school drama together in an unforgettable story that is only just beginning.


Shadow of the Fox along with its sequel and new release Soul of the Sword by Julie Kagawa tells of an epic journey where a demon slayer, a demon, a shrine guardian, a rōnin (wanderer), and a palace noble end up working together to try to stop an ancient evil from being summoned.

Both of these stories have something in common, and that something is a mythical creature that can be found in many East Asian mythologies: the nine-tailed fox.

Folktales of the nine-tailed fox that has the power to transform into the shape of a human are derived from ancient Chinese myths and legends. The motif of a fox can be found throughout East Asian mythology, and make appearances in not only Chinese mythology, but in Japanese and Korean folktales as well.

In Japanese folktales the fox demon is called a kitsune, which is usually seen as a trickster. A kitsune is a type of yōkai, a Japanese spirit, demon, or supernatural creature from legend. In Japanese mythology, the older the kitsune, the more tails it has, which can be up to nine.

The Korean version of the nine-tailed fox is a guminho (or kuminho), whereas the Chinese name for it is huli jing. In all versions, the fox can transform into a human, usually a beautiful woman, along with possessing magical powers, including achieving immortality.

Wicked Fox’s main character is a guminho, a young girl named Miyoung whose mother has kept her isolated despite living among humans. Miyoung meets Jihoon, saving his life from a goblin, but her yeowu guseul, or fox bead which housed her soul, ends up outside of her body, vulnerable and easily lost.

In Wicked Fox guminho are immortal beings that survive by sucking the essence, or gi, out of someone. Reminiscent of European vampires, except instead of blood its life force. The Korean guminho is typically seen as the darkest of the fox demon myths, with the guminho usually killing unsuspecting men and beguiling them as a beautiful, irresistible woman.

Kat Cho brings a strong sense of familial obligation, high school pressures, and a mix of star crossed lovers into Wicked Fox that makes it a perfect YA fantasy that I can’t stop talking about to my friends. The relationship between Miyoung and Jihoon is wrought with tension and hesitation as Miyoung has to learn to trust not only a human, but herself as well.

Julie Kagawa’s Shadow of the Fox series features a kitsune named Yumeko, who grew up in a shrine where she was told to never use her trickster powers because they were bad. Along her journey, Yumeko comes into her own, realizing that she is more than her kitsune blood, and that not all tricks have to be done in a bad light.

Yumeko’s powers are foxfire, which is merely a trick, or fake fire that doesn’t actually burn, and minor illusion work that are common in kitsune lore. Another power that can be found throughout kitsune lore is that of the kitsunetuski, or fox possession, which plays a part in Soul of the Sword, which I absolutely loved.

Shadow of the Fox and Soul of the Sword reminds me of an anime, but in the best way possible. The group reminds me of the anime Inuyasha, along with the epic journey and different kinds of yōkai/demons throughout. It brings about a sense of nostalgia even though this book series is new. Curses, sentient swords, demons, and a sense of found family brings this book series to life.

Jihoon in Wicked Fox knows from his first meeting with Miyoung that she is a guminho, since she revealed herself as she saved his life. On the opposite side of the spectrum Kage Tatsumi in the Shadow of the Fox series has no idea that the girl he’s come to care about is his enemy. As a demonslayer, Tatsumi grew up killing those like Yumeko.

The differing character dynamics make both of these stories unique despite them both being based on the same legend. Each has their own distinct tone and version of the nine tailed-fox, so whether you’re looking for a contemporary fantasy or a more traditional Asian inspired fantasy, you won’t be disappointed in Wicked Fox and Soul of the Sword.

The Shadow of the Fox ended with Yumeko and her companions in an unexpected and dangerous position. In other words, it ended with one heck of a cliff hanger. Soul of the Sword continued their journey to deliver the piece of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers that Yumeko had been entrusted with to the Steel Feather temple. That’s no longer their only mission though. Yumeko can’t bring herself to give up on Tatsumi. She wants to save him and his soul from possession.

Soul of the Sword was an amazing followup to Shadow of the Fox. The POV switched between Hakaimono and Yumeko and a couple of other “voices” throughout the story. Connections were made with some of the side characters that were slightly vague in Shadow of the Fox. Yumeko learned a lot about herself and what she was capable of as well Tatsumi’s past during her travels. There weren’t quite as many “light” moments in Soul of the Sword, but there were just enough to break through a little bit of the darkness – which there was plenty.

I loved the way Soul of the Sword continued to weave the past and present and give even more dimension to all the characters. There was even an unexpected bit of romance that made me smile. Things are far from over for Yumeko and her companions. Decisions and unlikely alliances were made that changed the course of their mission and left them in even more danger. Needless to say, I can’t wait until the next book in the Shadow of the Fox is released.

OMG I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE THIRD BOOK!!!! This was so good!!! There’s a lot to read, but damn that ending ugh! I just can’t I’m ready for the next one! Thank you sooooo much Netgalley for this arc and I’m so sorry it took me forever to read it! The way Julie writes is beautiful and the way that Kage and the demon had to be was amazing!!!!