I loved that the author narrated the audiobook and it definitely added an extra layer of coziness to the story .
thank you netgalley for the eArc .

Beautifully written supernatural mystery. The one aspect I did not enjoy was the switch in tense. It would have been more cohesive if the change in POV was their both in first person or both in third.

I love Choo’s writing, it’s quietly evocative. There is a strength to it but it creeps up on you in a soft poetic way versus loud statements. The story is definitely a slower build and I’ll admit it took me a while to become completely immersed in it but once I was, I needed to get to that ending.

Helping that slow build though was definitely the audio. I’m not always a fan of author’s narrating their own books but Choo has such a lovely and lively voice. Wonderfully paced and delivered to move through the story.

It’s a journey through historical East Asian cultures. Romanticized at times and occasionally grim, there’s a brilliant dichotomy between the dream-like story of myth and the lively interactions of the foxes. The mystery and frailty against the resilience and determination. There is a lot of beautiful subtlety in between the characters and chase.

The reader follows two separated characters; Snow and Bao. Snow is the heart of the story, the mythic Fox with a righteous cause and a long life. And Bao, the unlikely, though special, private detective that is swept along by events. They’re not specifically connected, but their backstories and journeys help illuminate the other’s and cross in serendipitous ways. It’s jarring at times to keep switching back and forth between such separate characters, but ultimately it comes together.

There are also a lot of characters to keep straight. I would get them confused occasionally and need to stop and reorient. And I didn’t love how a couple of things played out or resolved in the middle or by the end. It’s all spoilers though so I’ll leave it.

Basically, it wasn’t perfect, but it was still enjoyable. And overall, it’s a memorable tale that I’m sure to mark as a standout of the year.

Snow wants to avenge the death of her daughter. She knows the guilty party and will stop at nothing to see him dead. Snow won’t fail because she is a fox.

This remarkable story of Chinese fox folklore drew me in and kept me listening. I especially loved that the author read the audiobook. I highly recommend this book.

I found The Fox Wife to be a decent if not overly enthralling read. Somehow a bit cozy, and bit magical, and a bit dry, all at once, I vacillated between fully gripped by the tale, and ready for it to be over- and then, somehow, drawn back in.

The author did a decent job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Yangsze Choo, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book is beautifully written and it's a lovely story, but I can't finish it. I'm so bored. There's just too many books I want to read to stick with one I'm not vibing with.

To be fair, I am about half way through this 15-hour audiobook, which is far too long for this slow-paced novel. I honestly think the story is decent, but it's dragging for me. I'm curious if the final version is shorter. I would imagine books available on NetGalley are near, if not completely, the same as the soon-to-be published version; but we'll see.

The narrator is good, but there's not much difference in the sound for each character, making it difficult to differentiate them. However, it is clear and very easy to follow, even sped up to 2x.

A beautifully written historical fiction surrounding the Chinese folklore of Fox Spirits! The pacing was a bit slow in the beginning but I felt that it gave me more time to dive in to the characters. I really enjoyed following the perspective of Snow as she traveled China searching for her revenge. She has such a playful and curious way of looking at the world and yet still portray an old, wise, pained spirit. Choo did a marvelous job at making her character jump off the page. Choo’s writing is fluid and immersive. I particularly enjoyed how she weaved the lives of all these characters together and tied it up with a neat bow ending. I look forward to reading more from her.

THE FOX WIFE by Yangsze Choo is a highly atmospheric folklore-driven tale centering on two protagonists in Qing Dynasty-era China. In the first storyline, a fox named Snow is on a quest for vengeance against a photographer whom she believes was involved in her fox cub daughter’s death. Snow, in human form (don’t ask how or why foxes can sometimes become humans), is hired to work as a servant for the matriarch of a family that owns a traditional Chinese medicine shop, which provides her cover while she tries to track down the photographer. Meanwhile, Bao is a private investigator with an uncanny ability to detect lies. He’s scrutinizing who—or what—is behind the death of a beautiful courtesan found in an alley after a freezing night.

The highlight of this book is Choo’s crisp, elegant prose that effectively evokes a time and a place, as well as the Asian folklore vibe, something that I’m absolutely here for. I also enjoyed Snow’s vivacious and coy narrative voice. Yet one thing I noticed in this novel that didn’t bother me in THE NIGHT TIGER is it feels like Choo builds suspense in fabricated ways that don’t necessarily deliver. The alternating storylines allow each chapter to end on a cliffhanger, but when we get back to the plot, much of the time, nothing actually happens. In particular, Snow’s storyline, which hinges on avenging her daughter’s death, feels like the wind is taken out of its sails prematurely.

I’d still recommend THE FOX WIFE for readers who want to be immersed in a vivid reimagining of early 1900s Manchuria, who enjoy the twists and turns of intrigue, and who appreciate a heartwarming ending. This is a cozy, wholesome mystery, and sometimes you need that (I’ll read anything Choo writes!).

Thank you @netgalley @macmillanaudio for the ALC. Choo reads the audiobook herself with beguiling warmth and sophistication – highly recommend.

Y’all know how much I love my Asian literature and this book did not disappoint!!
I was so excited to get my hands on this-it releases February 13.
Lucky for me I discovered this author through Book Of The month with The Night Tiger- another amazing read if you haven’t read it yet... The Fox Wife has been added as a February 2024 selection so I suggest you add it because you will not want to miss out on this beautifully written book not to mention that cover that needs to be displayed on bookshelves.
The story is told from two different POVs-
Bao, who I just want to see in books. I want to watch movies about him. I want to be friends with him.
Then the main queen Snow. This woman is my soulmate. Sassy, vengeful and marches to the beat of her own drum.
The book is based off of an old Chinese tale about Fox Spirits. During the author note she mentions how little information there is and I loved that she made a story about something I never heard of. I suggest if you’re listening to the audiobook you go the very last section after author notes where you get a breakdown of character names/origins.
The author is also the narrator. Yangsze Choo has such a soothing proper voice. I want her to read more books! It’s the perfect tone for this beautiful Chinese mythology.

Thank you to Yangsze Choo, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for a copy of an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Did not finish @35%

I am so disappointed. I absolutely love this author and was so excited to read this book [with its STUNNING cover] and then I started it and...sigh. I started it and found that 1. it was the super-popular trope of a dual POV [UGH!] and 2. it was...boring. Super boring. I found I didn't care about the characters, or the story, or...anything. I was making myself read it every day, and was so relieved when that day's reading was done. I realized then, that I need to just DNF the book and move on; I am very sad to have to quit, but also relieved because I just was not loving this.

I am so glad that I had this audiobook ARC; truly, the authors narration was the thing that kept me going as far as I did in the book. Her soft lyrical voice is just so lovely and I hope that she continues to narrate the books she writes [because I will absolutely keep reading her, regardless of how I felt about this book] because she does an amazing job!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Yangsze Choo [author/narrator], Henry Holt & Company, and Macmillan Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

Yangsze Choo's writing is as rich and delicious as always, layered with intricate folklore, fickle, funny characters and necessary historical context. I read The Night Tiger quite a few years ago at this point, so I can't draw any stronger comparisons between the two, but something about her work left enough of an impression to have me jumping for her newest release.

My complaints, if I have any, are that the two simultaneous mysteries/pursuits unfolding across the narrative made it a little difficult to keep some of the details straight—who knows whom, what tidbit is going to be a surprise for which character—all the details that make a good mystery so compelling. However, I liked both of the main characters so much (as well as their personal backstories), that this didn't bother me; the details all came together in the end.

If I were to recommend this book to anyone, it wouldn't necessarily be to the mystery/thriller girlies. I think The Fox Wife will be more appealing to readers of mythology retellings, like Circe or the Witches Heart, or perhaps literary thrillers—like Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead.

A note on the audio in particular: I believe it says on the cover that Yangsze Choo (the author) is the narrator, and if that's the case, she's got incredible skill. Her voice felt natural and soothing, which fit the style of the story perfectly, and her pacing made each scene appear vibrantly in my head. Her narration for the FMC in particular seemed spot on—the character appeared equally youthful and impulsive as well as wise and otherworldly, which is something I didn't realize a voice could evoke.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read and review!!

This was a beautiful audiobook. It was well narrated and the story of a fox/woman captivated me. I enjoyed the fantastical aspects and the roots of Inuit folklore. If you like the Snow Child I think you would also love this! I

When I see a book about fox spirits, I read a book about fox spirits! There is no negotiating! And this one was so very much worth the read.

The majority of this book concerns a vixen, Snow, who is out for revenge. A human killed her daughter, and while Snow was once a virtuous fox, attempting to complete a 1000 year spiritual journey, she has thrown that all aside.

But Snow is not merely hunter, but also hunted, as private detective Bao is on her trail. He has his own odd past with foxes, and is greatly intrigued by the description of Snow and her companions.

I had a small problem getting into the book, until the appearance of two other foxes, old associates of Snow's, kicked up the pace of Snow's backstory reveal. And, well, the potential romance and love triangle definitely got my attention!

The descriptions in this book are so lush, or sometimes stark, as in scenes set in the colder nights.

The narrator's voice is very dignified, and it manifests in two separate ways. For Snow, as she watches humans, she sounds somewhat haughty. She sees them as obstacles, and very silly ones, at that. For Bao, he has more of the dignity of age (ironic, considering he's younger than Snow) and of a sharp mind. He's quite the intriguing detective!

This one has big potential to go on my book club's reading list!

Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.

Audio: 4 stars
Book: 2.5 stars
Pro:
* Treademark Choo blend of fantasy and realism.
* Snow’s narrative
Con:
* Again with multiple points of view in a ping-pong fashion. I’m so so tired of this gimmick. To say it has been overdone js an understatement. It’s impossible to get really invested when you’re getting bounced back and forth
* Aren’t “crazy like a fox” and “revenge is a dish best served cold” Western idioms? They feel out of place.
* Moves slowly with the artificial moving between perspectives. Disappointing.

Thank you to Yangsze Choo, Henry Holt & Co., and NetGalley for an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review

A beautiful blend of mystery, historical fiction, romance, and action; with poetic prose and rich descriptions, humor and heartbreak. Each character pulled at the heartstrings, and the story wove their lives together brilliantly. I recommend the audiobook read by the author.

3.5 Stars
I love Asian mythology! So when I saw this, I knew I had to read it!

I appreciate the effort put into creating the story, and I found it to be enjoyable overall. However, I do think there is some room for improvement. While the story did pick up in the second half, it took a bit too long to get going and didn't quite have the impact I was hoping for. It lacked momentum and oomph. That being said, I did find Bao's childhood and his friendship with the neighbor's daughter to be a highlight of the story.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Yangsze Choo, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

This is a slow-moving book, and not much happens, but I really liked it. I loved the characters, And I liked that the audiobook is narrated by the author.

Snow wants revenge for her daughter's murder. In tracking the suspect, Snow finds herself mixed with an ancient family with a curse. A curse where the eldest son can not reach an age above 24 before passing away. Simultaneously, a private detective, Bao, has a skill to sniff out the truth, and is hired to investigate the freezing death of a young courtesan. As the two story lines continue, their relationship between one another becomes apparent, and is slowly interwoven.

This was a very interesting novel, and gave me insight to some of the historical Asian folklore surrounding Foxes - or the people that could transform from the animal into attractive and unique men and women with the abilities to trick and connive. There was a a bit of whimsy, mystery, romance, revenge, and forgiveness mixed into this novel. Overall I enjoyed it, and would recommend to someone looking for something just a bit different.

I loved listening to this new novel! It was deeply engrossing and made me think a lot about foxes! The audiobook narrator has a lovely voice and adds a nice touch to the story.

Goregeous storytelling combined with an interesting story, couldn't ask for more! I will continue to read for this author because there's something so special about the way she can make worlds come alive. Audio narriation is exceptional as well.