🪲 Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for the ARC. 🪲

A delightful coming-of-age story about a young girl named Ro, who yearns for the forest even though it’s filled with unknown magic, faeries, and creatures that aren’t what they seem to be.

The story was as sweet as honey with beautiful writing and a pretty light read if you wanted a nice palate cleanser with a bit of mystery. I felt like the beginning was a bit slow and I actually disliked Ro. She is pretty juvenile at the start, but it was enjoyable to see her grow into something more.

If you enjoy story’s with magical forest, easy light reads, and sapphic love stories; I would recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for a review!

I loved this book, it's such a sweet sapphic romance, and delivers on its promise of being for fans of Holly Black. It's a cozy little fantasy with the perfect blend of plot and romance, one doesn't overtake the other in importance which I really enjoyed. These characters were sweet, simple but well rounded, and easy to like from the start to the end.

Title: Call forth a Fox

Rating: 4/5

At first glance, "Call Forth a Fox" might seem like just another journey through the wilderness, but delve deeper, and you'll uncover a rich tapestry of characters and emotions. The plot, while intriguing, does have its moments of sluggishness, particularly in the middle where repetition threatens to dampen the reader's enthusiasm. However, perseverance is rewarded as the narrative gains momentum in the latter half, leaving readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

What truly sets this book apart is its clever integration of folklore into the main storyline. The parallel narrative of the fox and the bear adds depth and intrigue, offering insights into the characters' motivations and inner struggles. The relationship between the bear and Ro is particularly captivating, evolving from skepticism to genuine affection in a way that resonates with readers on a deeply emotional level.

The dynamic between the sisters is another highlight, striking a delicate balance between reliance and independence. Their bond adds layers of complexity to the narrative, enriching the overall reading experience.

While the characters are undeniably compelling, there is a sense that they could benefit from further development. Ro and the bear, in particular, feel somewhat undercooked, lacking the polish and depth that would elevate them from good to great. However, this minor flaw is overshadowed by the unexpected twist at the end, which defies expectations and leaves a lasting impression.

In conclusion, "Call forth a Fox" is a captivating journey filled with twists and turns that will keep readers hooked until the final page. While the characters may lack a bit of polish, the strength of the storyline and execution more than makes up for it. Dive into this enchanting world, and prepare to be swept away on an unforgettable adventure. As a retelling, i feel like i have learned about new story through this.

Book Review of Call Forth a Fox by Markelle Grabo

Cover Story: Sweet
BFF Charm: Yay
Talky Talk: Too Slow
Bonus Factor: Bisexual Representation
Factor: Faeries
Relationship Status: A Little Cold

Cover Story: Sweet
Another instance of a unique illustrated cover, this one fits nicely with the historical fantasy feel of the story within. I love all the details of the story, too.

The Deal:
The clock is ticking for Ro and her sister. As soon as the thaw comes in Spring, their mother will return to their small village from the city and take them both back with her. Ro wants nothing to do with the plan, even though most of the villagers make her feel strange and ostracized; the western woods that their cottage sits at the edge of is her home, and she feels safe there. It feeds her and warms her, and the stories of the faeries that live there are nothing but stories.

But then Ro has to save a fox from being killed by a bear … and the bear turns into a young man who’s memory is lost. Turns out the stories about faeries might actually be true, and Ro’s more involved than she could have ever expected.

BFF Charm: Yay
Ro is a very cool girl. The people of her village misunderstand her and/or don’t bother to even try to befriend her, but she’s someone who people ought to give a bit more time. I get how her introverted nature turns some folks off, but underneath the social anxiety is a strong willed, dedicated person who can be a bit too stubborn and nearsighted, but she’ll grow out of that. I’d give her a BFF charm for sure.

Swoonworthy Scale: 6
Ro meets Colette, a girl from the village, when they’re both our foraging in the western woods. There’s an immediate connection … or so we’re told. The chemistry between Ro and Colette never really lights, if you’ll excuse me a match metaphor, and it seems very one-sided. The two also have a lot to work through, and there’s no amount of swoon that will override the need to actually talk things out.

Talky Talk: Too Slow
Grabo has a good handle on old-timey fantastical language, and her world-building and characters are great. But the plot of the story dragged on far too long for something that could have been a lot more punchy and to the point.

Bonus Factor: Bisexual Representation
In the village in which Ro lives, people are OK with same-sex relationships, but they don’t understand Ro’s bisexuality. It doesn’t quite make sense to me, but it’s a good example of bisexual erasure, which I know is a problem for a lot of folk.

Factor: Faeries
The faeries in Call Forth a Fox, while very cool looking in description, are not the Rhysand sort. They’re the jerky, xenophobic, judgemental type. And as much as I enjoyed reading about them, I really didn’t enjoy them as people.

Relationship Status: A Little Cold
I wish I could say that we sizzed, Book, but it was more like we fizzled. I liked the idea of your story more than the execution, and I had to stop myself from jumping in a few times and asking you just to get on with it already. There are folks out there for both of us, but I don’t think we’re that for each other.

AMAZING. STUNNING. BRILLIANT. this book is THE queer fantasy book i have waiting for all my life and now it's finally here in my favorites folder sitting pretty.

call forth a fox is definitely a fun mysterious read with themes of faeries and mythical creatures. i was skeptical at first when i saw the word "fae" because i have pretty bad experiences with books who also has "fae" in it but OH MY i loved it here. i think what engaged me the most to read this is the writing itself. it was beautiful, it was lyrical, and it was easy to comprehend and imagine the descriptive words the author used.

i can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book i’m literally not joking AAAA i wish it’s available here in the Philippines already so I can immerse myself again with this beautiful BEAUTIFUL book. people might think i’m exaggerating this, but oh boy, read it for yourself !! it’s truly a ride with all of the twists and turns this book took.

THANK YOU to the author for allowing me have the ARC <3 love your writing so much! thank you for contributing in the bookish community. you are a GEM! Thank you as well to NetGalley! <3

This story is really good for anyone looking for a winter cozy fantasy. The forest acts like a character by itself, it really worked great! The characters are diverse and lovable, except for the villain, whom I didn't really like as a character, because he felt too predictable, cliché even. The relationship between the sisters is so interesting, the connection to the other two characters is both heart-warming and heart-breaking and it's done in such a delicate and beautiful way. I would have liked to know more about the mother, who was always absent and really didn't feel even important in the sisters lives. The curse was so cool and mysterious, I like it a lot that even if some parts of it were obvious, a big chunk of it was unexpected. The ending needed a little polishing for me, I couldn't really understand from it if this book is a standalone or part of a series (though I think it would work best as a standalone). It's a fairy tale retelling sure to grab the attention of readers who know of it and those who haven't heard of it, which I think shows a lot of talent from the author, in the sense that it brings such a new and fun twist to the story while welcoming newcomers into this beautiful tale. My favourite part of the writing is really how immersive it is. The snow, foraging in the forest, following foxes, drinking warm tea, wearing your dad's clothes - it's lovely how sensorial it all is and the feelings of coziness and contentment it brings.

This was an okay read. Nothing more, nothing less. I enjoyed all the different fairies and would've liked to learn more about them. Sadly the characters and relationships fell kinda flat, I found myself not caring for any of them (except maybe Brend a little bit).
Still, if you like fairytale retellings this book may be for you!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of this!

Call Forth a Fox is an enchanting YA fantasy story weaving together a queer normative world, sisterhood, curse-breaking and a faerie-filled wood!

The slow reveal of the mysteries and the cosy vibe of the story kept me hooked along with a fairy tale rooted in older fae stories, the atmosphere (a little village on the side of the wood) would be perfect for later in the year.

However this does read more on the young side of YA, so i struggled a bit to connect with the characters, but i enjoyed their development within the story and their relationships with one another

This book would be perfect for someone looking for an atmospheric coming of age fantasy

This book didn’t quite succeed for me largely because of its cyclical repetitive plot. It felt like we were continually repeating scenes of the Fox and Bear fighting each other and transforming. I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing however. This book is clearly inspired by the structure of fairy tales and they are often repetitive stories. I think that’s a great writing choice for this style of book but this taught me it’s not something I enjoy. If you want something that feels very whimsical and fairytale inspired it’s very likely that this will appeal to you.

A big thanks to NetGalley and PageStreet Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This gave me HUGE Among the Beast and Briars vibes, but make it SAPPHIC!

Call Forth a Fox by Markelle Grabo is YA fantasy sapphic retelling of Snow White and Rose Red. The western wood is where Ro's father built their garden, taught her to forage, and told her tales of the faeries who live there—how to summon them, how to protect herself, and warnings of what they are capable of. Now, her father is gone, the garden has withered, and their family is struggling. Her mother and sister want to move into town, but Ro doesn't want to give up the memories of her father and his stories—or the charming village girl who shares Ro's love of the trees. The forest isn't ready to let Ro go either. One winter night, on her way home from foraging, Ro encounters a bear attacking a fox. She fights the bear to save the fox's life, only to see the bear turn into a boy after her sister shoots him with an arrow. When the boy wakes, he has no memory of who he is—all he knows is Ro's name and that he has to kill the fox. Ro never believed in the faeries from her father's stories, but she can't deny the magic surrounding her and that both the boy and the fox are victims of a faerie curse. She'll have to remember everything her father taught her in order to extract herself from this deadly game and keep her precious fox out of harm's way.

I was sold on the comp of Holly Black, but I fell in love with the general vibes. The writing is beautiful, the characters are relatable, and the plot is absolutely perfect with it's pacing. I feel as though this book will be one that I re-read until the cover falls off.

This was such an enjoyable read. I really like how when a character relationship, be it friendships or a potential romance, when through varying phases. The characters had so much growth throughout the story.

This book follows Ro and her sister when their life changes after Ro encounters a fox being attacked by a bear. She fight's back to save the foxes life and her sister shoots an arrow at the bear. It hits. only the bear isn't exactly a bear anymore. Instead he is just a boy who has no memory of who he is, but he knows who Ro is and the curiosity of the story really sinks in. Ro's sister also has some strange attachment to the boy, where Ro is often time on the offense trying to throw logic and reason, her sister won't hear any of it.

As the story continue to unravels we learn so much about all of the characters. Things from their pasts, what's expected of their futures.

Honestly if you were a fan of The Buried and the Bound, you might also really enjoy this one!

With atmospheric, evocative prose, a battle for the throne, and cursed teenagers, this book had me hooked from the very beginning. I loved the world and the types of faeries and learning about the magic system along with the characters. The relationships, while complicated, are a strength of the book. The love of a sibling is like no other, and seeing Ro and Eirwyn's connection ebb and flow, or Brend's awkward forays into friendship was a highlight for me, especially towards the end of the story. I also really liked the pacing- it was fast paced and action packed, but it still felt like you had time to absorb and mull over major plot points.

This book includes biphobia, blood/injuries, and mentions of death so take care of yourself when reading.

Ro’s life is turned upside down when she comes across a fox being hunted by a bear when she’s out foraging in the woods.

She never believed in the faeries from her father’s stories, but now as she faces a boy turned bear she can’t deny the magic surrounding her.

From the moment I found out this was a retelling of Snow-white and Rose-red but make it sapphic, I knew I had to read it.

Being a fairytale and fantasy lover I really loved the whimsical feeling and setting of this book. And I loved the cast of characters, the secondary characters stole my heart.

While at sometimes it felt rushed, its fast pacing made me devour it in a day because I was so intrigued about what was going to happen.

This book is the perfect read for a cold day, and if you love fairytales, retellings and/or Holly Black this is the perfect book for you.

I want to thank @coloredpagesbt and @pagestreetya for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for a honest review.

"Call Forth a Fox" by Markelle Grabo is a wintery fantasy adventure that will whisk you away on a magical journey faster than you can say "fairytale"!

Our protagonist Ro is a spirited young girl whose cozy cottage upbringing and love for foraging are disrupted when her father passes away and her mother decides to uproot their lives for the city. But Ro's world takes a turn when she stumbles upon a Fox being hunted by a bear in the forest. What unfolds is a captivating tale of faeries, curses, and unexpected transformations that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The highlight of this book for me was its cast of characters, led by the fiercely independent Ro. Her journey of self-discovery and resilience will tug at your heartstrings, while the evolving relationships between characters feel as natural as a snowflake drifting to the ground. While themes of sisterhood and grief resonate throughout the narrative, they never weigh it down, but instead add depth and richness to an already captivating tale.

So, if you're craving a cozy read that's as magical as a winter's night and as heartwarming as a cup of cocoa by the fire, "Call Forth a Fox" is an absolute must-read. Highly recommended for fantasy lovers and faerie tale aficionados alike!

Thank you to NetGalley and Page St. Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I'm swooning!! CALL FORTH A FOX is the wintery sapphic fairy tale of my dreams, full of magic and sisterhood and ~yearning~ galore. Plus THAT COVER!!!! Markelle Grabo has written a such cozy-yet-thrilling world, and I adored it.

This book was fun to read and enjoy the subversion of the traditional fairy tale. It was also refreshing to have a twist on a fairy tale that is more rooted in old fae and sidhe stories with influences from mythologies around the world. The setting was absolutely gorgeous. A little village with a faerie infested wood? Changelings? Low magic setting? Adore adore adore! The plot was very simplistic but interesting with new mysteries for the characters to uncover. That being said, this is a YA fairy tale retelling, so the twists were relatively easy to guess, although no less satisfying when the characters finally get there. While this book was an enjoyable read, I struggled somewhat with the pacing. The beginning was rather slow, but the end felt rushed and a bit unsatisfying with the resolution of the various relationships. It feels like the author could have turned the story into a duology but perhaps chose not to at the last minute. If that’s the case, I hope they change their mind, as I’d love to learn more about the characters!

Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for "Call Forth a Fox" by Markelle Grabo.

Wonderful job helping the reader being able to visualise the world, especially the focus on the forest and village.

Addressing the relationship with the sister and family dynamic: I loved how Ro and Eirwyn's relationship developed, and grew as the story progressed. There were so many unexpected surprises revealed along the way... mostly due to secrets that were kept.
I will say I really did appreciate that our main protagonist had her own secrets, she wasn't written to be some secret heir to a throne.

First encounter with the fox... and bear, and the roles they play. Interesting look at Changelings and the danger of faerie bargains. Truly highlights that they really aren't benevolent, and you should always be careful.

As for romance: The romance was cute.. even though it was still had its conflict, and I'm happy it wasn't the main focus of the story.

This book is one I would recommend!

5/5

Whimsical and Cozy, Call Forth a Fox lures readers into the Western woods and doesn't let them leave until the final pages.

This story was a refreshing offering in the YA genre. It masterfully subverts many of the troupes that have had me tiring from youth driven stories. For example, there are actual adults in Call Forth a Fox and they provide steadfast and insightful guidance! The Youthful characters felt age appropriate, making the occasional rash decision, while still feeling rooted and thoughtful. The star of the story, in my opinion, was the plot. It is in the end what kept me turning pages as I needed to know how all the threads would inevitably connect! The world is lush and reminiscent of a classic fairy tale.

I did find that at the 80% mark that Call Forth a Fox began to feel a bit drawn out for my liking. It was then that I realized that while the characters were likable, I wasn't completely invested in what would inevitable happen to them. As mentioned before, it was the plot and the mystery of it all that helped me push through that last bit...it was crafted in a way that I just needed to read each and every reveal.

I think this could find it's audience with the cozy reader crowd that wants just a bit more movement in a story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

AW what a cozy and delightful read, like chicken noodle-soup for the soul. The cottagecore vibe and setting is so atmospheric and immersive, it felt like I was coming home. Ro and Eirwyn are charming characters and their development and growth throughout Call Forth a Fox is beautiful and heartwarming.

The worldbuilding was magical and full of whimsy. The pacing was well done and kept me engaged through the whole story. Beautifully done.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for an e-ARC.

4 stars

Sapphic twist on Snow White and Red Rose! And a bi(/pan) MC!

This book handles all the faerie elements SO well, they weren't kidding when they said that this book is for fans of Holly Black 😭 the twists were so perfect, and I loved all the plot intrigue and characters! Also that ending!! It was so well done? Like it was the perfect mix of a concluded story / open threads for a possible book 2, and I can't wait for more of this author's writing 😭

TWs - violence, death of parent (past)

-- ty to the author, the publisher and @coloredpagesbt for an advanced copy!