This book started out telling a Chinese folklore about a fox that can shapeshift. Then it went on to include detective that is able to tell if a person is telling a lie because he can hear a slight sound when they start to speak. The book goes on with a courtesan being found frozen in a doorway and eldest sons dying before their twenty-fourth birthday. Between mortals, spirits, humans and beasts and what happens when they come together, I was over my head in Chinese culture. The book simply did not hold my interest.

Choo’s 2019 best seller (and a Reese’s Book Club Pick) “The Night Tiger” was a fabulous read. Choo again brings in fantasy with reality and once you accept it, you’re hooked. Set in 1908 Manchuria, the story is told by two people, and I use the term loosely as one of them is a fox which in Asian culture depicts a spirit having magical powers and often seen as human. Bao, an old man who since a childhood encounter with a fox spirit can detect lies, is a detective hired to find a “wife” a wealthy man has basically imprisoned but who escaped. Ah San, a young woman who is the mortal version of a fox named Snow is seeking revenge on a photographer who killed her daughter/kit for her coat to use in his pictures. The two seem on their own paths though of course they begin to intersect. Throughout Ah San’s narration there is intriguing talk of a thousand-year journey and at the end she says “…if you’re at least a little fond of foxes …leave out an offering of fried tofu…we may come and visit you one fine summer evening”. Magical.

Summary: In the icy clutches of winter, a young woman is discovered frozen in the snow. Whispers of fox involvement add a touch of mystique to her demise, prompting Bao, a detective known for his keen nose for truth, to embark on a quest to unveil her secrets. As Bao delves into the mystery, a family grappling with a generational curse encounters a mysterious woman who might change their luck—or doom them further.


Pros:
🌟 With a stellar 4-star rating, "The Fox Wife" charms with its enchanting prose and captivating storytelling. Yangsze Choo weaves a spellbinding story that transports readers to a world where folklore dances with the reality of life.

😄 As a fan of Choo's previous work, "The Night Tiger," the author's signature prose and storytelling prowess shine brightly. The evocative setting and well-drawn characters effortlessly draw readers into the enigmatic world of Manchuria.

😄 The characters leap off the page with their depth and complexity, inviting readers into their world of secrets and sorrows. From the tenacious detective Bao to the enigmatic fox spirit, each character adds layers to the beauty of the story.

🦊 The inclusion of Asian mythology and fox lore adds richness and depth to the story, offering a glimpse into a world steeped in tradition and magic.

Cons:
📘 While the overall tale is bewitching, a minor quibble whispers through the snowy pines—the pacing occasionally lingers. Like a fox navigating through a snowdrift, the pace may have lost its swift stride in certain places.


In conclusion, "The Fox Wife" is a delightful romp through a world of mystery and myth, where foxes and mortals tread the delicate balance between truth and legend. With its captivating prose and rich storytelling, Yangsze Choo enchants readers with a tale that lingers long after the snow has melted. 🦊❄️

Disclaimer: A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for providing this ARC. As for the opinions expressed here, well, they're as unpredictable as a fox's antics in the snow—unpredictable, but undeniably entertaining. 📚✨

A beautiful tale of people and foxes, loss and revenge, love and murder, endings and beginnings.

Once upon a time in Manchuria in the early 1900’s, there existed a group of characters…people, mostly, but a few foxes too…who met, connected, and wrought havoc in one another’s lives. In Chinese folklore, foxes can assume human form. They may beguile or trick humans to gain money, break hearts, or steal qi (life force)i. Or perhaps foxes, like people, are just trying to get by in a world that is full of danger….it depends upon whom you ask. In The Fox Wife, we meet a fox named Snow who is pursing a man whom she blames for the death of her child, an elderly man named Bao who can tell whether a person is telling a truth or a lie and uses that ability to act as a sort of private detective, and members of the Huang family who are the proprietors of a famous medicine shop and who are unable to shake a family curse. There are several different mysteries at play, so in some ways this is a detective story. But it is also the tale of a woman’s terrible loss and the lengths to which she will go to exact justice. There are loves that have been lost, foolish adventures that young men sometimes make, and obsessions galore. In short, it is hard to distill this novel down to a set category, but it is one well worth reading. I was fascinated by the lore behind the fox, and hearing about it not only from the humans who create it but the foxes themselves who live it and can distinguish myth from fact…foxes, Snow tells us, are living creatures just like humans, only usually better looking. Life for a female fox is doubly hard….in a world run by men, its not an easy existence to live as either a small pretty fox or a beautiful young woman. The unfortunate facts of life for women in China at this time in history, young or old, are woven into the story as well. This is a saga elegantly told, with characters well-drawn and (mostly) hard to resist, the various plots and pursuits leading gradually to an intersection of them all. Readers who have enjoyed books like The Tiger’s Wife by Téa Obreht, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, and The Princess Bride by William Goldman should incorporate The Fox Wife into their TBR pile. Just remember….don’t talk about foxes, and don’t fall in love with them. Many thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Company for allowing me access to this beautifully written novel.

I knew before picking up The Fox Wife that it would be good. It’s Yangsze Choo, after all, and a book I’ve been waiting five years for. But that five year wait was so worth it. More authors should put us through that I feel. The waiting is part of the reading experience!

Anyway, The Fox Wife follows two characters: the fox wife, on a quest for revenge after the death of her daughter, and a detective, Bao, hired after an unidentified dead body is found in an alley. Their paths start out looking disparate but will eventually converge, as it becomes clearer and clearer that this death ties into the fox wife’s own journey.

As with Yangsze Choo’s previous two books, this is a slowburning kind of mystery (the best kind, in my fully unbiased opinion). It takes a little while to get going — which is not to say I found it difficult to get into, but I can see how someone might. But in a good way! It’s setting the scene for when things start to unfold. And while I feel that Choo isn’t a writer who fills her historical fiction with copious amounts of detail, she still is able to sketch out a world that comes to life off the page.

Part of that also comes down to the narrative voice. I feel like there aren’t that many contemporary authors who write with such a distinctive voice as Choo does, which is great because her characters then also feel vibrant and alive. They’re also just a whole lot of fun. You never want to find the characters of a book (particularly one you might call typically character-driven like this) boring, and that’s never the case when it comes to Yangsze Choo.

Really, I don’t have all that much to say about this one: I enjoyed it a lot and it got me out of a run of a couple of 1-star reads. If you’ve never read a book by Yangsze Choo before, let this be a sign to start! This, while not my favourite of her three, would be a very solid start.

What a beautiful five-star read! Taking place in a lush, mystical world with themes of loss, grief, and second chances, The Fox Wife was everything I could have wished for in a historical Asian folklore story.

I have never read any of Yangsze Choo's other novels before reading this one so what really caught my eye was the simplistic yet beautiful cover which reminded me of the art I used to see in Chinese folklore books that I read as a child. And when I discovered that The Fox Wife is a novel centering around just that very thing, I knew I had to read it.

Although, after reading a string of a few Asian folklore-inspired books that I was very excited for but ended up missing the mark for me, I went into The Fox Wife cautiously. And yet, despite my wariness The Fox Wife easily became one of my favorite 2024 reads (even though 2024 has just started!) and will definitely be on my To-Be-Recommended list.

I was immediately hooked by the stunning writing style: lush without being too flowery and personal without being awkwardly intimate. Additionally, I found that the dual perspective storytelling of Snow and Bao worked so well in tandem with each other. The knowledge of the inevitability of their eventual crossing of paths made both stories so intriguing.

I loved Snow as a main female character. Her quiet strength and fortitude shone throughout the story and I truly felt reactive emotions when the story of her history unfolded over the course of the novel. Bao, the male main character, added depth to the story and, though I did enjoy Snow's chapters more than Bao's, I did really appreciate being able to experience this story from both sides: the fox and the fox hunter.

A few notes on aspects of the story that didn't bother me but could change other people's opinion:
- An unchanging alternative chapter format of Snow's POV, then Bao's POV, the Snow's POV, etc.
- Snow's POV was in first-person perspective while Bao's was in third-person perspective
- There was the occasional footnote during some of Snow's chapters
- Definitely a slower read as I felt that I did really have to read each sentence and paragraph to follow the plot
- A theme of loss (of a child)

All in all, I loved this book for quite a few reasons. One being the great balance of world-building, character development, and plot. All aspects were very well done, in my view, and I didn't feel that there was any sort of info-dumping, even though there certainly could have been opportunities to do so. Another reason was imply how well I felt it reflected Chinese/Asian folklore. Growing up with some of my parent's stories, as well as reading the lovable Grace Lin folklore stories, The Fox Wife took me back to those moments, albeit with more of an adult-centered story.

Absolutely gorgeous. What is there to say but Yangsze Choo gets better with every book and the Ghost Bride was perfection. Which makes The Fox Wife beyond perfection. Lovely story, beautifully written, great pacing. I liked the mythical aspect to the story. I can’t wait for the next because you know it will be just as exquisite. Highly recommend. 5/5.

Fox spirits are known to to be cunning and clever creatures who lure people by transforming themselves into beautiful humans. In 1908, Snow leaves her den in the grasslands to seeking vengeance for her lost child, a trail that will lead her from China to Japan. Meanwhile Bao, a detective, investigates the death of an unknown courtesan found frozen in the snow. As Bao follows Snow's trail, they both meet friends and foes and navigate the truths and myths about fox spirits. 

Yangsze Choo presents an enchanting premise with gorgeous magical realism rooted in Chinese mythology regarding foxes. Yet, the story itself was felt lacking. Choo's narrative is slow to develop, which would be fine except the plot is also anticlimactic. The combo leaves you wanting more: more development, more emotional connection, and more resolution.

Thank you NetGalley, Henry Holt & Company, and Macmillan Audio for an eARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review!

The Fox Wife is a wonderfully atmospheric and slow story with beautiful prose and excellent characters. It is told from two POVs: Snow, a fox spirit on the quest for revenge, and Bao, a detective who had a childhood encounter with a fox spirit. I really enjoyed seeing the ways their stories intertwined and the amount of folklore and mythology Choo wove into the story. This is what I’d call a quiet novel, but it was still captivating.

The strongest feature here is Choo’s ability to write characters and give them their own unique voices; sometimes I have trouble differentiating voices and have to take a second to reorient myself, but that wasn’t the case here. Snow definitely felt like a stronger voice and had a more compelling story to me, but I still found myself engaged with Bao’s side of things. This was immersive and I really liked waiting to see how the story unfolded. It’s definitely the kind of book I plan on re-reading, and I think it’s the kind of book you will be able to find new things to marvel at with each read.

It’s a rare and beautiful thing when the author narrates their own book, and Choo did such a lovely job here that I felt that it added to the overall atmosphere.

I always find it interesting when authors compare and contrast their characters. The best heroes and villains, after all, are two sides of the same coin: alike in drive and often goal, too, but who take very different routes to get there. There is no hero or villain among the main characters of Yangsze Choo's The Fox Wife, but its two main characters are at once wildly alike and completely different from the other.

It's not easy to travel without a coin to your name and only the stolen clothes on your back, but Snow is determined to make it work. After all, nothing but geography lies between her and a photographer, Bektu Nikan—the man who killed her daughter. It is true that Bektu Nikan could not have possibly known that the baby fox he abused to the point of giving it a long and painful death was a magical fox spirit, but that level of animal abuse deserves some revenge, anyway. Snow tracks him to a port city but needs time—and resources—to find him in the bustling city. An offered job as a servant to an older woman seems like just what the doctor ordered.

Meanwhile, Bao, a widower who has always had an uncanny ability to tell truth from lies, has been tasked with finding the true identity of a, ahem, lady of pleasure who died on the stoop of a local restaurant. There's no apparent cause of death, but the restauranteur is worried that, if the proper rites are not completed for the deceased, he will find himself with a haunted restaurant. Bao's search quickly suggests a magical fox might have been involved. But he also finds ties to a photographer named Bektu Nikan, and a photograph of a beguiling young woman. As talk of revolution amidst the waning days of the Qing Empire makes tensions rise, Bao and Snow's paths intertwine, with the mysterious Bektu Nikan in each of their crosshairs.

Though both characters in this dual-narrative story singlemindedly trek toward the same ultimate goal, they also share a deep sadness that changes their motivations in different ways. Snow's sorrow fuels her rage; Bao's recent loss of his wife, and the still-smarting loss of his first love when he was a teenager, cause him to reflect on how he has lived out his sixty-plus years of life and what matters most for however much time he has left. The actions of decades before reverberate to the present for both characters in ways as unique to them as their characters are from each other. As different as they are, they're both compelling in their own ways, and I couldn't help but root for both—even as it seemed their objectives directly contradicted the other's.

But that showdown doesn't come until late in the book, when many of the consequences of earlier choices have already come home to roost. There are far more pressing problems at hand, like blackmail, murder, coercion, very bad food poisoning, and more magical foxes to compound the chaos. As the various plotlines come together, the story does verge on zany, but successfully toes the line. And for a story that started with death and revenge, I was happy to allow Choo some coincidences (or, perhaps, twists of fate) to lead the characters to an improbably happy ending.

This review will appear at https://ringreads.com/2024/02/13/fox-wife-a-magical-tale-of-revenge-really/ on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at 3:16 p.m. MST.

After a photographer murders her daughter, a fox spirit sets out in search for revenge, and, as bodies start piling up, it isn't long before a detective is on her tail.

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo weaves a captivating fabulist tale interwoven with mythology and folklore.

However, going into this book, I think it's important to note that this is not a fast-paced revenge thriller. It's a journey. It’s a non-linear slowburn, and around the 40% mark the narrative pieces clicked together and I became fully invested in its characters.

By far the most interesting part of the story for me was the complicated relationship dynamics between the three main foxes and how the story explores their long-life spans in a changing world. The story takes place primarily in the early 1900s and follows the foxes as they have an increasingly difficult time concealing their identity and avoiding persecution with the advancement of photography and other technology. This made it feel like a very grounded, believable spin on fox spirits.

Overall, this is an achingly beautiful story about love, loss, and loneliness that will linger with you even after you finish its final pages.

This is my third read from Yangsze Choo so I was prepared for a bit of a slow start, however, this one was even slower than I was prepared for. My main issue isn't even that though, it's the fact that the chapters between the dual POVs were so short that I would constantly be getting into one characters POV and then we would switch. And this happened repeatedly. I never felt like I spent enough time with either character. Also, after the more personal first person chapters from Snow, the third person POV chapters of Bao felt a bit removed.

It's not going to be my favorite from Choo, which is disappointing because I love hulijing mythology. So, I was really excited for this. I probably placed too much anticipation on it, so that's on me. I think most readers who love Choo's previous works, especially The Night Tiger, will love this. I just wanted something more or different, which is a me problem.

This is such a beautiful story and the way the writer crafts the characters and the entire narrative is so artfully done that despite it having a slower pace I was absolutely hooked from the first few pages. This book is perfect for people who enjoyed Circe and want more stories like that. Based on my experience with this book I will definitely read anything this author has previously written and writes in the future.

Like her other books, Choo weaves Chinese fantasy and historical events for a beautifully written story about a Fox who is out to avenge the death of her daughter. This is a very slow burn novel that alternates viewpoints between Snow, the fox who spends most the story as a beautiful woman, and Bao, a detective investigating a murder but who has a long history of interest in foxes.

There are a lot of high points but overall I felt this novel falls short of the high expectations that Choo set with her first two novels. The alternating viewpoints take a very long time to come together even though the two big reveals are pretty well choreographed early. She also spends some time explaining the Chinese folklore as events transpire, which is great for context but occasionally is a bit disruptive. Overall, a solid read for those who enjoy magical realism, especially in historical contexts.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I received this advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. The novel was filled with interesting characters and had a bit of a slow start, but within the first 30% I was able to really get engaged with the characters and the storyline. I'm a big fan of this author and her previous work, and this novel lives up to her previous reputation! I enjoyed that most of the fantastical elements of the story were very light, not heavy magic or supernatural elements, but instead the story focuses more on realism between human characters and foxes. Highly recommended!

Fabulous story! I love the choices that the author made to include the reader in the story and how the fox's narrative provided footnotes for readers unaware of the folklore and myths. I will be recommending this heartily.

I was so excited when I learned that Yangsze Choo had written another book! Both "The Ghost Bride" and "The Night Tiger" are among my all-time favorite reads. "The Fox Wife" definitely lived up to my very high expectations and has joined the author's other books as one of my favorites.

Drawing on Chinese folklore, "The Fox Wife" combines elements of historical fiction, fantasy, and mystery into one heck of a compelling story. As usual, the author's descriptive writing is gorgeous and the story played like a movie in my mind as I read. Truly, reading this novel was like entering a vivid dream world where I was so completely transported into the time and setting of the story that I almost forgot I was sitting on the couch in my living room in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This is one of those books where the real world ceases to exist while reading. The story is rich and complex, and I was completely mesmerized from the first page to the last.

I know it is only January, but "The Fox Wife" just may be the best book I read all year. Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the absolute privilege of reading an advanced copy of this dazzling novel. Five stars!

I actually really loved this book. I really liked Snow, Kuro, and Shiro. and I enjoyed how all the time lines meet up. I really liked Bao and Tatagaa story and there love for the foxes and the mythology. I also loved Snow aka Ahn San story and how she worked through her backstory and the trauma with it. I do wish that the three foxes interacted more frequently and I hate to say it but I must Shiro really was my favorite character. I love how the story read like a journal. The inclusion of do wthe journal aspects made it feel like you were a part of the story. I the foxes were the most interesting aspects. IBUt it was very cute how Tatagaa and Bao both got a happily ever after. Overall highly recommend and which that Kuro and Snow get their own book as well as Shiro. 10/10

I found this one quite intriguing and beautiful, yet told in an almost quiet and graceful way. The lines felt cleaner and easier to follow than The Night Tiger. I definitely enjoyed everything about this one much more.

The two narrators really worked as the switching off helped move the story along and framed it nicely. I was unaware of people fascinations with foxes nor the folklore, so every bit - especially the side stories were a lot of fun. Snow and Bao were the perfect choices to tell this story.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Fox Wife is a tapestry of mystery, folklore, culture, love, revenge, family, and obligation. Woven together by Yangsze Choo to tell a story set in Manchuria, 1908. The story of a detective with the ability to tell when people are lying, a fox named Snow who is a mother seeking revenge, and a family who's curse haunts them. Their paths merge and weave in and out of each other in this beautiful story.
This is one to put on your TBR pile this year if you like mystery, folklore, slice of life, long lost loves. I am getting a hard copy for my shelves.

I received this book from NetGalley for this review. I was under no obligation to give a positive review. All opinions are on my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”Description
Some people think foxes are similar to ghosts because we go around collecting qi, but nothing could be further than the truth. We are living creatures, just like you, only usually better looking . . .

Manchuria, 1908.
In the last years of the dying Qing Empire, a courtesan is found frozen in a doorway. Her death is clouded by rumors of foxes, which are believed to lure people by transforming themselves into beautiful women and handsome men. Bao, a detective with an uncanny ability to sniff out the truth, is hired to uncover the dead woman’s identity. Since childhood, Bao has been intrigued by the fox gods, yet they’ve remained tantalizingly out of reach—until, perhaps, now.

Meanwhile, a family who owns a famous Chinese medicine shop can cure ailments but can’t escape the curse that afflicts them—their eldest sons die before their twenty-fourth birthdays. When a disruptively winsome servant named Snow enters their household, the family’s luck seems to change—or does it?

Snow is a creature of many secrets, but most of all she’s a mother seeking vengeance for her lost child. Hunting a murderer, she will follow the trail from northern China to Japan, while Bao follows doggedly behind. Navigating the myths and misconceptions of fox spirits, both Snow and Bao will encounter old friends and new foes, even as more deaths occur.

New York Times bestselling author Yangsze Choo brilliantly explores a world of mortals and
spirits, humans and beasts, and their dazzling intersection. Epic in scope and full of singular, unforgettable characters, The Fox Wife is a stunning novel about old loves and second chances, the depths of maternal love, and ancient folktales that may very well be true.