Publishing date: 11.02.2025 (DD/MM/YYYY)
Thank you to NetGalley and Indigo River Publishing for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

TLDR: A family of foxes face difficulties with a pack of coyotes in their territory

We follow a family of foxes living near a farmstead. One day, a coyote pack moves in near their territory and strikes a deal which is beneficial to the coyotes, but not the foxes. Now they need to figure out how to drive them away without compromising their home.

There are a few different characters in the book, but none of them stuck out to me. They felt like the same character in different skins, playing a role. Like the same actor acting multiple people in a movie.
Somewhat slow pacing. Lots of domestic scenarios mixed with tension about the future.
I had a very hard time getting into the story. I didn't find the premise that interesting. On the blurb it was, but as I read I realized I may have set my expectations a little high. The coyote parts were slightly more boring than the foxes. I think their story would work better in a standalone novel.

Mood and atmosphere here is good. It felt cozy, and reminded me of exploring around the farm where I lived as a child. And looking through the eyes of the foxes gave a glimpse of what was so enticing about books like warrior cats.
I was not a fan of the writing, sadly. It felt a little stilted, it didn't flow like I wanted it to, and it might need a little "tightening" and refocusing.

Intended audience for this one is young. Middle grade to early young adult. Definitely a lot lower than my age, that was a misstep on my part.

I give this 2 stars. Even if I am not the intended audience, I think a lot of younger kids would also find this hard to read because of the writing.

It is a pretty straightforward story, almost bildungsroman in its genre. With adventure and fantasy as its backbone, this a story explores the enmity between foxes and coyotes. The fox family led by their patriarch Pennyroyal, his mate Moon, and their offsprings — Mistletoe, Marigold, Cricket, and Shadow live the idyllic provincial life at the edge of the farmland of farmer Reynolds. A treaty with the farm dog Tom, ensures that the family of foxes will never be hunted as long as they leave the farm chickens alone and control the mouse population.

With the arrival of the coyotes led by Thorn, his mate Nettle and their kids Voodoo and Ghost, the treaty is under the threat of being broken, for the coyotes want the chickens and are willing to fight the foxes for it.

With the help of majestic Ahwi and a magic portal entered through the giant oak tree, Mistletoe, the eldest of the kits, gains a powerful tail that launches fireballs! But, will this be enough to the end the battle between the foxes and the coyotes?

At times, Black’s anthropomorphic treatment of the animals was so pronounced that it reminded me I was reading a story entirely populated by non-human characters. I am still on the fence whether this is a weakness or a strength, but there is a strong emotional response to this. His treatment of the animals, a background, personality traits, and a defining arc is very uncommon in books for middle graders, especially for a story that is straightforward in its narration, but delivers a strong and definitive message about believing in yourself, always a compelling approach in a book for middle grade readers.

Well written tale! I enjoyed the fox family and their relationship to the farm animals. The coyotes added a good amount of conflict to the story. And I really enjoyed the magical elk and tree. Just enough suspense to keep the kids reading, and not so scary that it will keep them awake. The story has sad moments that are shown to be redeemed. Farmer is portrayed pretty realistically as he responded to threats to his farm from wild animals.
All around, very engaging tale. I'd recommend it for 5th grade up as there is some violence that could upset younger readers.

I struggled big time with this book. I worked hard to get into it, but I couldn't find a solid entry for me. Maybe this one just wasn't for me.

Fox: A Southern Fairytail is a story written by S.R.W. Black for middle school-age students. The story is set on a farm in fictional Big Creek, Alabama, a community just outside of Mobile. Mistletoe, a fox, is warring with a bad coyote, Thorn, who is trying to get the farmer’s chickens. After Mistletoe gets magical powers with his tail, he has to decide how he will use them.

Fox: A Southern Fairytail is a fantasy folktale for young readers that is like a mash-up of Watership Down and The Chronicles of Narnia. In addition to themes of good and evil, it explores the animal hierarchy and the natural world. There are some illustrations sprinkled throughout the book. I mistakenly assumed that this was a picture book for non-readers. Definitely parents who are Fantasy readers will want to introduce their younger children to that genre with this delightful story.

I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Indigo River Publishing for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

In this fairy tale that takes place in Big Creek, Alabama, S.R.W. Black eloquently captures the essence of animals, humans and southern traditions. With foxes as the primary characters, the tale tells of the First Fox and First Man, their trusted bond and reliance on one another, and the eventual betrayal by the greed of First Man. The story continues with a family of foxes descended from First Fox, who reside peacefully in the forest until new dangers present themselves. Coyotes arrive, threatening their peaceful life and the existing treaty between the foxes and the local farmer’s guardian pets. The newcomers have their eyes set on the farmer’s chickens, are bound to no treaty, and threaten to take over, displacing the foxes and breaking the loyalty and trust that has been established. Desperately, the foxes attempt to stop the horrors that are about to take place and the unforeseen hero, Mistletoe, a male fox born from the first litter, steps in. With Mistletoe in the lead the results turn out to be magical, mystical, and welcoming of a new world. In a tribute to southern culture, this fairy tale weaves in elements of a folktale. Hearkening back to the origins of coexistence between man and animal, it helps to explain the development of the current relationship of these two. A light touch of hand-drawn, black and white illustrations can found throughout, enhancing the character of the text. A great way to add mystery and a little mysticism to your library, this is a recommended read for ages 13 and up.

I made it to 43%, and I cannot seem to engage with this story so it's a DNF. The premise is wonderful, but the execution is boring.

Thank you to Netgalley and Indigo Publishing for a digital copy to read and review honestly and voluntarily.

There's potential here, but the writing felt awkward and stilted, it would have benefited from overall tightening and more consistent phrasing. The story itself was fine.

I was intrigued by the title and hooked by the emotional response I felt towards the family of Foxes, especially Mistletoe. I especially enjoyed the story told by Moon to her kits about the First Fox. An unusual twist on a fairy 'tale' which I really enjoyed.

Original. Beautiful. Fun. Sad. Tense. Did I say beautiful? This is a precious gem that everyone should read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This was a great fairy tale esque/intro to fantasy for those that are invested in animal characters as well as middle grade novels. While the ending was bittersweet, there was a hopeful note at the end. It showcases that not every story is going to have a happy ending. The pacing was even enough that a kid can take breaks if they need to. This was also substantial in terms of page numbers where it's not too much and it's not too little. I ultimately gave this four stars out of five.

I downloaded this one on a whim since it was Read Now from an indie publisher on NetGalley. I went in with low expectations and was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it!

🦊 animal story
🦊 middle grade
🦊 magical realism
🦊 multiple POV

SUMMARY:
On a farm just outside of Mobile, Alabama, a family of foxes has their lives disrupted when a group of coyotes encroaches on their territory. The foxes have the perfect treaty set up with the farm animals and have lived in peace for years. Coyote Thorn and his pack intend to target the chicken coop. Fox Mistletoe seeks help from a magical stag and new friends to bring balance back to the forest.

REVIEW:
This one felt like a classic animal story. It reminded me a lot of A Wolf Called Wander and even the fantasy Warriors or Guardians of Ga’hoole series. The foxes have a cozy, simple life until the coyotes arrive and things get action packed and bloody. Although the fox family is the protagonist, other character points of view are shown. This was done so well that I felt empathy towards the coyotes even though they were the villains. The POVs (even including the farmer) show that the dynamics are just the circle of life. Everyone is the hero of their own story and just doing what they can to survive.

The magical realism bits were a little strange as Mistletoe travels to an alternate dimension where there are no predators and prey and learns about his special gift. It works, though, especially since the reader is promised a “fairy tail.”

The only thing that didn’t work for me were the interior illustrations before each chapter. I’m hoping since this is an ARC that those are placeholders for the cover artists’ illustrations. We’ll see!

I’d recommend this one for animal lovers, 4th grade and up!

Thank you to NetGalley, Indigo River Publishing, and S. R. W. Black for the advanced reader copy!


Content warnings: mentions of cigars, multiple guns, kill traps, detailed descriptions of predators/prey and animal fights resulting in death

This was a really well done fairy tale and enjoyed the use of animals in this world. The characters were everything that I was hoping for and had that magical element that I was looking for. S.R.W. Black has a great writing style and it worked with everything that I was looking for.

Nice fairy 'tail", especially for kids! Though it seems to be lacking of just a few sprinkles of magical pixie dust here and there, overall it is an engaging and fun read for all ages.

What a cute fairy"tail"! My daughter and I read this together and she loves foxes. The art was beautiful and made reading this book extra fun.

I did receive an advanced copy via NetGalley but all thoughts are my own.

This is.a great read and such a precious book! I devoured this in one sitting and heavily recommend it!

The fun character art in between chapters and the writing style really pulled me in. Thank you for this treat! I loved this book.

I am leaving this review voluntarily. I received a free advanced copy. Thank you again!