For a series in which book one didn’t hook me, I am shocked to say I fell in love with Yumeko and her ragtag posse. I cried, nay sobbed throughout the last 100 pages of this novel. Let’s get into it.

Book three starts off immediately where book two leaves off — at the Steel Feather Temple — with the group readying themselves to fight Genno before he can make the wish with the Dragon Scroll. As with the rest of the series, the reader is treated to several minor battle scenes against demons and other baddies, filled with humorous banter, slow burn romance, and plot twists galore. At about the halfway point, I began doubting Kagawa’s ability to pace a novel, as what I believed to be the climax of the book arrived. I was resigned to give this a mediocre rating, but then out of nowhere, the stakes became even higher. To say that I flew through the last few chapters of this book would be an understatement.

There wasn’t much more I could have wished for in a conclusion to a series. Nearly every question I had was answered, nearly every theory confirmed (or terribly, terribly denied), and nearly every wish granted. But what I loved most about this book was the cohesion it brought to the series. I could tell that Kagawa set out with intention from book one, seamlessly carrying those threads throughout the entire trilogy. I found myself genuinely shocked in moments, a rare feat in YA for this older reader. I will be purchasing this trio of books for my classroom library, and will be rereading it at some point.

I thought this was a great conclusion to the series! Compared to the other two books the pace was definitely faster, and I found that helped make this book more engaging than the first two books in the series. The third book will definitely give fans some of the character interactions they have been waiting for, while resolving the main obstacles that have been at play throughout the series. The ending may not give fans exactly what they wanted for the cast of characters, but I think the author did a great job making sure each issue had a resolution and making sure the ending felt true to the story. If you are a fan of the author's other series this trilogy does not disappoint.

A better ending than I could have hoped for but still so bittersweet!

“Night of the Dragon” takes us through a thrilling conclusion as our favorite crew looks to save the world from a wish that could open the door between worlds allowing demons to walk amongst men.

So my synopsis has to be a bit shorter than usual because so much happens and I can’t give any hint away because it would spoil so much because wow every bit of this story is packed with action and heartbreak and I am a mess.

What I truly love about the story as a whole is the bonds these characters created with each other, they’re all so different and in some cases shouldn’t work, looking at you bloodthirsty demon who somehow becomes a part of the fam, but still are so loyal to each other than when faced with what could arguably be the end not one character flinches which is what makes each of those scenes so heart warming and ultimately heart breaking as not all of our favorites make it to the final page.

The story really wrapped up well with the mythology too as we watched Yumeko really come into her own over the course of the first two books and have her moment to shine here in moments that were both playful and powerful as she took advantage of her gifts and embraced her talents as a kitsune without the fear of being judged for who she is and I loved every second of it.

This is a really fun series and I’m thinking it might make my list for a full reread weekend so I can pick up on little details I’m sure I missed and really enjoy and appreciate their journey from start to finish.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review!**

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Perfect ending to a wonderful trilogy. I've been with these characters for some time now, and I feel like it could not have ended any other way. This book was packed full of twists and surprises and as sad as I am to see it end, I am glad it ended the way it did. I doubt anyone is with me on this.. But I really don't see how it could have been any other way. I won't lie, I was a mess of emotions through most of it.. I don't know if it was the content or the fact that I knew whatever happened at the end was the end end.

Thank you kindly to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this review copy.

ARC Provided by InkYardPress through Netgalley, my review is my own opinion.

This is the final installment to the Shadow of The Fox series and I’m not ready for it to be over. If anyone knows where to send this to get this into an adaption send it now! I gave this book 10/5 stars. This one has to be by far my favorite out of the series, it was fast paced and it was so unexpected. This caught me in the feels like you have no ideas. I cried a few times, I got angry a few time, I swooned like you have no idea all in one sitting. I had vivid dreams of this book while I wasn’t reading it, asleep and awake. I could not get it out of my mind. I think Julie is amazing at detail, in describing a scene or a place, she was able to evoke raw feeling and this is the type of book I long for. As things are coming to a close, Julie really gave us moments that were so unbelievable and shocking. Somethings you already catch on to but are still as shocking to realize they played out the way they do. Yumeko became such a strong character and I did see a different side of her which was to be expected as she just had her world turned upside down for the second time. Tatsumi he’s my shadow clan book boyfriend enough said. I have a Blog Tour stop coming up on the 3/30 the day before release day and it will have way more details of all my feelings if y’all are up for it. I’m so sad to see this story end, to say good bye to these characters. But I am really happy on the conclusion. Highly recommend this one to everyone!

https://keniarojomamo.wordpress.com

Night of the Dragon, the final installment of Julie Kagawa's Shadow of the Fox trilogy, follows the little band of heroes to the final conflict with evil. Hoping against hope to stop the Master of Demon's plan, Yumeko, Tatsumi, Reika, Okame, Daisuke, and the little ghost maiden Suki embrace the challenges and put their lives on the line for the chance of saving the world.

I love the characters. I loved the first two books. This final book, however, deals more with the battles and monsters than with the characters. I'd be interested in the percentage of time spent on battles vs time spent with characters who have made the trilogy so much fun for me. The purpose was, perhaps, to increase suspense, but for me, it became simply frustrating. I quit caring about how many heads and limbs were lost and just wanted to get on with the plot. Even the appearance of the silent game player that gave a late twist to the plot...didn't quite feel right.

So, if you've been following Shadow of the Fox, you will want to read this to discover a number of secrets revealed and how our charming band of hopefuls end up. You may not agree with my opinion of too many lengthy battles.

NetGalley/Inkyard Press
YA/Fantasy. March 31, 2020. Print length: 384 pages.

I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

Night of the Dragon is Julie Kagawa’s conclusion to the Shadow of the Fox trilogy and brings Yumeko’s story to a close. If you’ve been having fun so far in this series, then you are in for a wild ride with this one as Yumeko and her friends race to stop the demon, Genno, from reciting the prayer to summon the dragon and get his wish for untold destruction. This is a read that will have you turning the pages as fast as you can to see who will win this epic race.

Yumeko and her motley crew have had it rough the past few days, weeks, as they’ve been striving to stop Genno from calling the dragon forth to receive the wish. They’re not done yet battling it out with enemies from left and right and all over the place. This book pretty much had them going from one battle to another, big and small, until the time comes when they will be at the final battle.

This book. What do I say about this book? I’ll admit that this series has been challenging for me. Reading this particular series on my kindle probably wasn’t the best idea ever since I did not have access to the glossary in back. I was left fumbling over words and having no clue what they were and I didn’t always have access to the internet to check as well. It would basically be too time consuming to stop, get to the internet, refer back and forth between my book and the browser for spelling to get the word’s definition on the screen and then re-read the sentence for clarity. For the most part I was able to infer what the word was, demon, food, weapon, some holy object or some such thing. So it wasn’t terrible, but when you get bombarded with several words in a handful of paragraphs back to back, it’s overwhelming.

As far as pacing goes this one was pretty good! I mean, I think Yumeko started with two days until the Genno could summon the dragon, so already we have a time crunch since Genno has a huge lead on Yumeko and her friends and has left them several surprises along the path. There were quite a few battles that led up to the grand battle and even that one was stretched out into mini battles! This conclusion was INTENSE!

If the action isn’t enough to keep you going, know that there are several jaw-dropping surprises to happen along the way too! Ones I didn’t really see coming and left me shell shocked! And if you’ve read any Julie Kagawa books, you know she doesn’t hold back the punches, so…be prepared.

One thing I’ve loved the most about this series was the budding relationship between Yumeko and Tatsumi. It was a tenuous one at best in the beginning and was definitely one that started out as something like partners to eventual friendship, and then the something more. It’s definitely one of those slow-burning romances that I secretly love!

As far as endings go, this one will shock you! There were so many surprises to this one that I didn’t really see coming and left me in a mess of emotions. This book will tear you apart, but as is Julie’s way, she doesn’t leave you disappointed before those final two words appear on the page. Despite my personal challenges with this series, I still did enjoy it to some extent! It’s been a series that challenged me, frustrated me, but still managed to keep me coming back again and again! Needless to say, I am a Julie Kagawa fan for life!


Overall Rating 3.5/5 stars


Night of the Dragon releases March 31, 2020

Night of the Dragon concludes A Shadow of the Fox trilogy in a spectacular fashion that is as bittersweet as it is exciting and full of adventure. Yumeko, the kitsune, leads her heroic band to the final battle, and no one comes out without having their lives changed completely. I am so glad that I got to tag along for the ride, and explore this Asian fantasy world full of creatures from myth and legend.

Favorite character: Suki

Suki is a ghost, but that does not stop her from helping whenever and however she can. Meek and mild when she was alive, she now shows a hero’s resolve in her determination for a happy ending to the story. I also had a best friend in grade school named Suki, so I loved that the character brought up fond memories for me.

What I loved

The world-building, which is extraordinarily essential in epic fantasy, is glorious in its detail. I never for a second doubted that this world exists even if just between the covers of a book. It is lush, full of color, and dangerous at times. The mythical beings that inhabit these lands add a touch of whimsy and magic that enabled me to understand why it is so essential to stop the wish that is about to be made. The only thing that was a bit fuzzy for me was the palace. The interior descriptions just were not as sensory as the outside world.

The characters are heroic, and just a touch flawed, so you know they are human. The romance between Yumeko and Tatsumi felt inevitable and beautiful in its unconditionality. An excellent example of soulmates meeting that could only happen to two people as deserving as these two with their selflessness and bravery.

I love the use of a kitsune. A mythological beast not often seen in literature, I have always found them to be intriguing creatures. When they are in stories, the role they play is naughty, with a touch of evil about them. Yumeko is a fun look at a kitsune who is neither of these things.

I found it to be a beautiful conclusion to the trilogy – full of action scenes and battles to get to the end. The battle scenes get a bit cumbersome, but then I never can follow them in movies either, so it is probably a “me thing.” The story builds up to the last battle, and it does not disappoint. I loved the way it seemed like it was over only not to be entirely done numerous times.

To Read or Not to Read

If you love epic fantasy, then you will want to get your hands on this trilogy. Though it is a YA Fantasy, it reads like adult epic fantasy, so it can be easily read and enjoyed by ages teen and up. A heroic journey to save the world that will take you on an emotional journey full of love and loss. If you are like me, you will find yourself smiling through the tears.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade, and Inkyard Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It picks up right where the last one left off, so immediately you are immersed in the story. So much happens in this book, it is a bit of whirlwind. It was a thrilling and realistic end to a wonderful series. This series reminds me of Avatar: The Last Airbender, with the rag-tag group of friends fighting to save the world. I devoured this book in one sitting, only stopping to refuel and get chocolate!

Well, this book sure knew how to rip out my heart and stomp on it. I think I cried at least five times while reading it. I just loved this series so much, and I can’t believe it is really over. Yumeko really grew as a person in this novel, and I was beyond happy she finally got closure about her family and where she came from. Tatsumi also changed as a result of Yumeko and the journey they went on. Their group experienced almost nonstop action, but there were definitely still some tender moments, like the forest and veranda scenes, that helped slow it down and give the novel depth. I will say that I was disappointed by the way in which the wish was phrased. I feel like a lot more could have been accomplished if it had been worded differently, but I know it was necessary to set the scene for the last page of the book. I feel like it would be misleading to say the novel ended on a cliffhanger, but it kind of did. Even so, I was more than okay with it because of the closure it brought to the book and some of the characters. I would highly this book to readers on the grounds of it’s creativity, authenticity, and eloquent word choice. 5/5, would recommend.

I received an ARC of this novel through Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

#NightoftheDragon #NetGalley #Edelweiss
Julie Kagawa finishes out this series with an knockout! A great final edition to a well written series for young adults.

This novel was a great conclusion to the series. Ms. Kagawa once again weaves a thrilling tale that draws you in with each turn of the page. All things must come to an end and what a showdown it is! Nothing is as it seems, for a plot has been brewing for a long time. Yumeko and her friends must stop the evil that places on awakening the Dragon to receive the wish and use it to destroy the world. Enemies from the past emerge for Kage Tatsumi, has his body shared with Hakaimono. Both have enemies who would like to see dead and the sword in their own hands. As Yumeko and the others travel to where the Dragon will emerged, feelings will be revealed, but none realize what is truly coming. Many battles will be fought and lives will be lost and sacrificed for both good and evil, for this a battle that they will most likely will not survive. The true threat is one that none suspect coming. Secrets are also revealed, which greatly affect Yumeko. Yumeko will have use her abilities as a Kitsune to save the world, but will it be enough?
I received this novel as an ARC from net galley and the publisher! Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a great book in this trilogy and probably one of my favorites so far! Thank you Netgalley for giving me an early copy to read and review.

Thank you to Inkyard Press for this advanced readers copy of THE NIGHT OF THE DRAGON by Julie Kagawa. I was provided this book in exchange for my honest review. This story will release, March 30th, 2020.
THE NIGHT OF THE DRAGON is the dramatic conclusion to the Shadow of the Fox series. I love diving into other cultures and learning about their history and belief system. Ms. Kagawa does an amazing job at education, but not boring the readers as they dive into the beautiful artistry which is their ancient culture. There are a lot of words that may be new or unknown, but she provides a glossary of terms in the back of each book.
Yumeko blazes onto the pages in the final part of her character arc, really coming into her own and embracing her destiny. She stops being afraid and realizes that what will be, is just that. As her merry band of friends begin to try and stop the demon from securing the Kami Dragon’s thousand year wish, they start to realize a bigger game is at play.
I love the romance in this third book. It was perfectly placed and if it would have been left out, the book would not have been as high of a rating for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love a slow burn, but sometimes the flame fizzles out before the author gets to it. This was not the case between Yumeko and Kage Tatsumi. I also enjoyed the diversity within the side romances between the secondary characters.
This was a 4.5 star read for me, HIGHLY recommend.

To save everyone Yumeko loves and cares about she gave up her portion of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. Now Yumeko and her friends must hurry to keep the demons from using the one Dragon wish and plunging all they know into darkness and ruin.

This is a awesome book and I didn't want to say to much for fears of spoilers. But this the third and final book of the trilogy and it is just as action packed. The suspense at times is oh my gosh off the meter, along with the story twists just made this book a joy to read. I will miss these friends but I hope Ms. Kagawa will bring more friends to life in a new series.

This review will appear on my blog on March 31st.

As the last book in Julie Kagawa's trilogy, and I've really enjoyed the entirety of it. I love the struggle of Kage Tatsumi and him being split between who he is and the oni inside him. The inner struggle of good and evil is personified through him. Yumeko, as a heroine is fearless and brave. It was very action filled throughout the book, but for some reason it still did not seem so fast-paced to me. I think the lead up to the final battle was too anti-climatic but I did enjoy the end. Although it was bittersweet, it still was a nice end to this series.

Night of the Dragon was deliciously harrowing, intensely engrossing, and thoroughly satisfying. There is love, loss, redemption, and strife, but the ending provides an appropriate resolution to this epic tale. There are some minor quibbles, the torment was drawn out and Kagawa’s penchant for overly used phrases and descriptions sometimes grates, but I am still an ardent fan of this trilogy. The core characters are pure magic and their story has a transportive quality. Their grace, loyalty, and love for one another is inspiring and l loved travelling along with them on their heroic, selfless quest. I am sad the story is over, but I am grateful to have made this journey.

Thank you Inkyard Press and NetGalley for providing an egalley of this highly anticipated book. The opinions offered are my own and are an honest assessment of the book.

I absolutely loved this series! I couldn't wait for this book to come out so I could find out what happens! The plot is so interesting and the main characters are as well. This book kept me engaged throughout it and I will be recommending this book to all my teens at the library!

**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher via NetGalley. There are spoilers ahead if you have not read the first and second books in this series, Shadow of the Fox and Soul of the Sword.**

Title Night of the Dragon (Shadow of the Fox #3)

Author Julie Kagawa

Release Date March 31, 2020

Description

All is lost.

To save everyone she loves from imminent death, kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko gave up the final piece of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. Now she and her ragtag band of companions must make one desperate final effort to stop the Master of Demons from using the scroll to call the Great Kami Dragon and make the wish that will plunge the empire into chaos.

Shadow clan assassin Kage Tatsumi has regained control of his body and agreed to a true deal with the devil—the demon inside him, Hakaimono. They will share his body and work with Yumeko to stop a madman, and to separate Hakaimono from Tatsumi and the cursed sword that trapped the demon for nearly a millennium.

But even with their combined skills and powers, this unlikely team of heroes knows the forces of evil may be impossible to overcome. And there is another player in the battle for the scroll, a player who has been watching, waiting for the right moment to pull strings that no one even realized existed…until now.

Initial Thoughts

Thank you so much to Inkyard Press for offering me the chance to be a part of this blog tour! I absolutely love this series and I was so excited to read the final book early.

Some Things I Liked

Multiple POVs. I loved the points of view used in this book. We got to hear from so many characters at just the right moments. I always love when authors build suspense by switching narrators.
THE ROMANCE. Finally, after waiting since 2018, Yumeko and Tatsumi finally admitted they like each other and it was everything! Also, I will always love the peacock and the dog – they’re a super close second for me.
InuYasha and Naruto vibes. Since this is a book blog, I rarely discuss my other interests (outside of books), but in this case, I will make an exception. I have also seen a ton of TV. All kinds of TV, including anime. I watched both InuYasha and Naruto when I was a teenager (many years ago 😂) and I absolutely loved the nostalgic feelings that this book brought back. I loved the stories in those shows and this book had so many of the same vibes.
The twists! I was literally on the edge of my seat reading this book. I read it all in one afternoon because I could not stop. I absolutely loved the plot twists and big reveals. The build up was amazing.

Series / Spin-Off Value

Give me a spin-off about Reika! I loved her voice of reason wisdom and her canine sidekick. I felt like she was the only character who didn’t have anything beyond the mission. I’d love to see a story about her (in any form) where she gets to be the main star.

Furthermore, I’d absolutely love to see this crew go on more adventures. Hakaimono is still out there and demons still exists. There’s plenty more this group can do to protect the world!

Final Thoughts

Certain parts of this book totally broke my heart. But, I loved every page. Everything was so purposeful (tear-jerking, but purposeful). I would absolutely love to see more from these characters as well as more set in this world.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommendations for Further Reading

Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean – this is another Japanese inspired story of romance, oni, and yokai. If you like one, you will defintely like the other.
Talon, Rogue, Soldier, Legion, and Inferno by Julie Kagawa – I love Julie Kagawa’s writing style (and dragons) so if you do too, check out the 5 book Talon Series.
Flame in the Mist by Renée Ahdieh – if you liked the Asian inspiration in this series, try this duology by Renée Ahdieh

I was really looking forward to this conclusion to the trilogy! I enjoyed the first two books, particularly Soul of the Sword. As a long-time reader of Kagawa's books, I think she's grown her writing style and complexity a lot.

That said, I struggled to get back into this book. I felt like there were too many action scenes without much purpose--in the first few chapters alone, the characters are propelled forward mostly through fights and ambushes. This occurred in the first two books as well, but I didn't mind so much. Here, it felt strange with the otherwise sense of urgency the characters have to defeat the villain before a specific date. Obviously, obstacles in the characters' way is a given (else it'd be a boring story!), but there wasn't enough lull time between action scenes, which is exhausting as a reader.

The characters' dynamics also felt off to me. There are two relationships that don't make sense to me at all, and another character who doesn't have enough page space to have a personality. Unfortunately, I won't be finishing this series.