Enjoyable story on the Chinese myth of fox spirits. It was an interesting tale with unique, multidimensional protagonists, though the secondary actors seemed more like caricatures than fully-developed individuals. Perhaps that was on purpose, though, since a good tale of adventure, intrigue, and daring escapes needs villains who can take the fall in the end.

I listened to the audio version, which was narrated by the author herself. I have to say, this was one of the detractors of the story. The author, while a skilled storyteller able to accurately pronounce the multiple Chinese and Japanese words throughout the book, is not gifted an creating unique voices for the various characters. I often found myself confused as to who was speaking during moments of dialogue, and occasionally wondered if some musings were actually vocalized or simply the internal musings of the two main characters.

I couldn't get into the narration. The voice is very pleasant, but she reads too slow for me. I plan to buy the book so I can read it.

I read the audio version of the book. I loved the narration. Her voice is smooth and pleasant and immersive. I was very interested in the mythology around the foxes. That is a fascinating element. The storyline dragged for me. As much as I liked the narration, I wonder if I would be able to pay attention more if I read this title instead. It is well written but didn’t keep me engaged.

Many thanks to MacMillian audio and NetGalley for this advanced readers copy.

The Fox Wife by Tangsze Choo is a beautifully told story. It is multilayered and I enjoyed the Chinese Mythology elements of this story. I also think that the author did an amazing job at narrating her own story!

Manchuria, 1908. A young woman is found dead in the snow with rumors of foxes involved. Bao, a detective intrigued by tales of foxes since childhood, is hired to sniff out the truth. Meanwhile, a prestigious family with a burdened past welcomes a mysterious woman, Snow, into their household as their luck seems to change. How will Snow & Bao's lives intersect?

I read FOX WIFE on audio, narrated by the author herself, and loved the immersive experience, atmospheric writing, and the multilayered mystery. FOX WIFE is inspired by Chinese folklore of foxes and their magical abilities, along with the historical figure Bao Gong (包公 aka Justice Bao 包青天), who served as a politician in the Song Dynasty.

FOX WIFE has everything I love about fantastic Asian literature that doesn't cater to the Western/white gaze—Chinese/Japanese characters, local folklore, not centered on trauma, Chinese-Japanese history & political nuance, and citing Chinese books! Shakepeare quotes are so out of style now; can we please get more Pu Songling (jk jk). Most importantly, FOX WIFE is fun to read!

I'm in awe of how unique FOX WIFE is, and while it's my first read by Choo, it definitely won't be my last! For lovers of historical mystery looking to get lost in a snowy country with magical foxes, don't miss out on THE FOX WIFE!

Yangsze Choo delivers once again in this excellent story that blends fantasy with mystery seamlessly. She narrates this audiobook, as she did with her previous books, and for that I'm always grateful. She knows her characters, their voices, their feelings, and so she reads her stories as no one else can. I've listened to her previous books multiple times because the audiobook experience with her is excellent for both story and narration. I revisit them like beloved movies or tv shows, and I love that she has given me a new one to add to the rotation.

What I liked: being swept up in Chinese culture and the mythology of foxes. (I should also add the “The Night Tiger” was one of my favorites).

My disappointments: I felt it just dragged on. The story started slow, picked up in the middle, and then slowed again. It pains me to say that I perked up at the word “epilogue”

Themes: 🇨🇳🦊⚪️⚫️👹🕵🏻‍♂️

My thought: 🙂🙃😏

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Hold onto your fox tails, folks, because Yangsze Choo's "The Fox Wife" is a journey into a world of fox spirits and ancient folklore. Cue rumors of fox spirits who transform into drop-dead gorgeous men and women.

Now, let's talk about audio experience. At times I was tangled in a web of characters... Confusing? A tad. But I had the cast list down by the end.

"The Fox Wife" is a tapestry of richness, vibrancy, and transportive storytelling, weaving a beautiful journey through love and forgiveness with a captivating dash of folklore and mythology. Highly recommend.

Let's talk about covers first!!!! So stunning!

This was a great historical fiction with Chinese and Japanese folklore. Who doesn't like a very well written folklore story!

There was so much hype to this book and it stood up to the hype! It had mystery to it and it was a great read!

I will read further from this author!

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review

Thank you NetGalley, MacMillian Audio, and of course Yangsze Choo for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook for The Fox Wife before its release on February 13th! Truly enjoyed this mystical story!

This novel follows Bao and Ah San/Xue’er (Snow). Bao is a detective who has a sixth sense for lies. He’s investigating the death of a woman, and trying to find her real name so she can be properly put to rest. Snow is a fox spirit who appears as a beautiful woman and is posing as a servant to an elderly woman. She is gathering information and trailing a man in search of revenge for the loss of her child.

This book started as a story of loss, murder, and revenge and became one of atonement and love. It was slow-paced and some of the reveals were predictable, but I really enjoyed it! I was so eager for my predictions to come true that I didn’t mind at all and was actually really happy! Snow, Kuro, and Shiro were such an interesting trio! I definitely enjoyed their portion of the story the most, and the details of their long histories together being revealed. After finishing the novel I became a bit sad that I wouldn’t get more of these three’s antics! (you could say I’m susceptible to foxes 😅)

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I was sooo happy that Snow and Kuro rekindled their relationship. It became pretty clear that he was her husband and the father of her lost child early on to me. Still, again I didn’t mind because I was so eager for them to reconcile 🥺💔 I loved that he was so protective of her even from a distance while he trying to respect her wishes not to see him. Thank you Shiro for being annoying and bringing them back together 😂

I'm not big on fake-out deaths. I shed tears that I can't get back! I also wished that some of the investigation regarding Shiro's crimes was revealed rather than readers getting a semi-confession straight from Shiro in a short conversation. Other than these two things, I absolutely loved this novel. Yangsze Choo did an amazing job both as the author and the narrator! </spoiler>

I just finished this ARC. It was my first read by this author and I am so blown away but it! I need to go back and read Ghost Bride now…which I’d heard of but have not read. It’s 1908 and Snow is a mother seeking vengeance for her lost child. She is following their trail and it takes her from northern China to Japan. She joins the household that runs a famous apothecary shop…and a curse but while Snow is with them, their luck seems to improve. Bao is a skilled and respected inspector. He’s investigating the freezing death of a woman in a doorway when we meet him but more than that…he’s hunting Foxes. Fox gods are believed to be similar to ghosts but they say that is not true. They say they are very much like people…only better looking. This book is so gorgeously written. These characters have moved right into my mind and live there freely now. If you enjoy retellings, folklore, mysteries, historical fiction, magical realism, second chance stories, or just plain old excellent storytelling…this is a must read. It releases February 12th. Thank you to @henryholtbooks for the audio ARC!

The Fox Wife delves into Chinese mythology in this historical fantasy filled with mystery. When a woman is found frozen in the snow there are rumors that a fox, or mythical creatures disguised as beautiful men and women, were involved. What follows is detective Bao, who has his own history with fox gods, pursuing this case with determination and personal interest. In another storyline a mysterious woman shows up at a family's household, sparking rumors that she too may be a fox god with her own motives. This is a highly rated book and I wanted so badly to love it, but I struggled to get into this story with its incredibly slow pace. It is highly atmospheric and Choo's writing beautifully intertwines humanity with the spiritual realm, but I struggled to track with the characters and follow this incredibly slow-build mystery. Fans of folktales and Chinese mythology will likely enjoy this as long as they prepare for more of a winding tale, versus a fast-paced mystery.

📕Poor foxes, they always have bad reputation. If you are foxy woman, you are little “too much”. If you are silver fox, you might take it as a compliment but also it shows you past your prime no matter how good looking you are. If foxes are not blamed for that, they end up around someone’s neck
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📗The fox wife was hiding her fox side too because it was too dangerous to be noticed, to be known. Fox people were sucking out life force out of you; they were on the same level as murderers. When a woman was found dead, people thought it was those smart foxes again
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📘I liked the storytelling but at times I feel I’m losing my interest in the story. Maybe it’s because I was preoccupied with other things but it didn’t make me sit down and won’t lift my head up until I finished to story. It was great to learn about “foxes” in Chinese culture though!

This was a delightful historical fiction of Chinese and Japanese folklore. There was so much information in this book and details of the culture.It was so well written and I enjoyed it a lot. There is a little bit of mystery in this book that maid it fun to try and figure it out.

This gorgeous historical fiction novel follows the dual points of view of two equally fascinating characters: a young fox woman seeking revenge for the death of her child and an elderly detective blessed by the fox gods to always know when someone is lying. Their journeys intertwine as Bao's investigation into the death of unidentified young women draws him closer and closer to the world of foxes. It's a riveting story of love, loss, and revenge.

When a young woman is found frozen to death on the doorstep of a local business, the shop owner hires Bao, an amateur detective, to find out what happened in order to avoid the bad luck his business has suffered since.

Bao, retired from his day job, and in his 60s has a supernatural knack for knowing truth from lies, methodically follows the trail, slowly but doggedly unraveling the mystery which only leads to more mysteries.

Meanwhile, Snow, a fox spirit disguised as a human, is hunting down the man who caused the death of her baby/cub. In danger of being exposed as a fox and possibly being killed herself in the process, she nonetheless goes on a parallel journey as Bao- but hers is for revenge sake rather than professional curiosity.

As their paths converge, they discover the interconnections and truths underlying their shared mysteries, confront their respective pasts, and encounter new possibilities.

Set in Northern China in 1908 this novel is full of mythological folklore, magical elements, intricately plotted storylines and tenderly drawn characters. This atmospheric tale is a heartbreaking and life-affirming amalgam of fantasy, historical fiction and mystery that will appeal to a wide range of readers.

I very much enjoyed the narration by the author herself- she was expressive and has a wonderful and soothing voice.

I received an audiobook ARC for this title.
Read by the author, her lovely voice and cadence add another dimension to this novel. The story has a slower start and pace, but if you can get yourself through that start the tale is very interesting and intriguing.

We follow Snow, the fox wife, through northern China and beyond as she seeks revenge for a horrible crime. We also follow Bao, a detective, as he seeks information on the identity of a woman who was found dead.

Their paths parallel and intersect along the way allowing the reader to glean information on what has happened and who was responsible. The story is intricate and woven together beautifully with an ending that satisfies and warms you.

Trigger Warning: The book deals with the loss of a child & grief.

This was one of my most anticipated reads, but unfortunately, it was a miss for me.

Pacing is extremely slow. I didn't connect with the writing style. And I was bored.

The author narrates the audiobook. The recording speed is also extremely slow, so I sped it up quite a bit. While I enjoyed the way she told the story, it wasn't enough to keep me engaged.

DNF

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
NetGalley audio review Advance Reader Copy Macmillan Audio
Due out February 13, 2024

The weirdest thing happened to me while listening to the new book by Yangsze Choo. I was out hiking on the dunes in Cape Cod and saw the most beautiful fox. A fox that seemed so tame it did not run away but stood and watched. I even got a picture of it.

If you read this book you will certainly understand why I found this so amazing and just somehow portending of something I wasn’t sure what but it definitely had to do with this complex story. As a NetGalley reader I often choose to listen to an Advance Reader Copy in audio. It is great fun to listen to something with few reviews, yet I am finding that doing this without a print copy of the manuscript can be difficult at best.
If you want to know my thoughts on the audio format for this book I will discuss at the end. First the story itself.

Reading Choo’s two previous books I knew a little of what I was in for and I was in all the way. This book takes place in Manchuria in the early 1900’s and is the story of a woman who is on a journey to find the man she believes is responsible for the death of her daughter. Along the way are complications and the stirrings of a mystery and the death of another young woman believed to be a prostitute who was found in a frozen in a doorway. We are not sure exactly how the incidents are related but there seem to be Foxes and a photographer, Bektu Nikan and an old detective, Bao who is trying to identify the girl found dead and if possible to determine the events of the night she died.

This story is wrapped around a great deal of Chinese folklore, some Chinese history from the time and mostly Foxes and how they exist in the world according to Oriental legend. According to myths foxes are shaping shifting creatures who can turn into human form and enchant men and women. (next time you hear someone described as foxy think of this). A fox in human form is able to produce a love so obsessive in the human it encounters that it may drive a person to madness, the desire is so great. The Fox can not always choose who will be affected or what the result/ consequence will be. There are real dangers to the Fox when it shape shifts and interacts with humans. But sometimes they are driven to it. More than one fox populates this story including the mother looking for her child, who the reader learns is actually a fox now in human form.

This complexes the quest and the story in many, many ways both confusing and intriguing and there is no easy way to summarize it. The beginning is quite slow as we learn who the characters and the lore that makes the fox such a wily creature, who able to trick and fool mankind to get what it wants. I’ve found that Choo’s stories make me see the world in whole new ways and are not easily forgotten. In this one I really felt she had grown and attempted new heights in her weaving of story and myths. At times she almost reached too far (the story got redundant and muddled a little) but in all I loved what she was doing. It is not an easy listen and may not appeal to all readers but it is enchanting and quite unique for this reader. There is also a great author’s note at the end that gives a little more background into the history of this time in China and the lore about Foxes.

I will continue to follow Choo’s books but for my next listen I will want a print copy in hand as I found the audio alone often more than my brain could comprehend.
4.5 great stars yet there were many times in my listening I felt it was a little long and less than clear but the story and the lore keep me going and the reward was in the end. I too became enchanted and a little obsessed. I will be looking for Choo’s next.

Comments on the audio:
This book was really a challenge in audio for several reasons: It is a complex story following a Chinese myth, It has dual points of view, lots of unfamiliar to me Chinese names that were difficult at first to keep straight and is read by the author. A visual map of the area or a family tree of characters would have really helped (don’t know if the print will have either) but boy I would have referred to them. Just to have a list of characters would have been great. The author has a beautiful voice that is prefect for the story telling but she reads all parts and her voice has little inflection. It was sometimes difficult to tell which of the prime characters was talking. I had to know the context of where I was in the story in order to know who was speaking and this required often returning to earlier pages or paragraphs to first review.

Deep breath. Pause.
Pause.
Pause to rest in the epilogue.

I think I had expected this to be a mystery novel when I first read the description? I did not expect it to be a story of rage, mourning, love, searching, capriciousness, revenge, and peace.

This is a dual POV story in late Qing Dynasty. A woman, Snow, is searching for a man who wronged her. A detective, Bao, is hired to find the identity of a woman found dead in an alley (the business owners need to know her identity so she can be buried properly). But he also has a strange ability to detect truth and has been fascinated by myths of foxes since his childhood. Two people whose fates end up crossed in their own individual mysteries.

I am fascinated by stories about Chinese spirits and I was delighted to discover that this author also wrote the source novel for a show I had loved on Netflix (Ghost Bride). This was a long audiobook, but it was stunning and beautiful. I can't wait to buy a copy when it comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this audio ARC.