I came for the cover and stayed for an engrossing, unique and well done Novella!
The pacing was great, and the world felt fleshed out. I will definitely be recommending this to friends!

The premise was what originally drew me in (I find that trickster anything is always a hit), and this novella did not disappoint! The world was so rich and full of life, particularly the pantheon and its workings. I adore the idea of there being 99 gods (well, technically 100), all animals with different domains, that young demi-gods can audition to—especially as a university student on the trying search for internships who has experienced more than one disappointment (I feel you Nesi!) My favourite parts were probably the interlude chapters that explored short stories of the gods. It immediately made me think of Jean de La Fontaine’s fables and as such had such a nostalgic feel for me (being French). Apart from the worldbuilding, I found the story in itself to be something close to a warm hug, especially in our, to put it lightly, trying times. Resistance can be found everywhere, in the smallest of acts and stories. There were moments during the novella when the plot lost me a little and I wished we could have dove deeper into certain elements, however the charming characters, beautiful world, and inherent fairy-tale-like whimsy of the book made this such an enjoyable read. Thank you Martin Cahill, Tachyon Publications, and Netgalley for trusting me with an advanced reader copy of the book!

More!!! I need more… this book was spectacularly refreshing, entertaining, and inspiring. I would read an entire series where these main characters and even the rest of the pillars go on adventures and share their stories. I laughed, I teared up, I couldn’t stop reading. In these times, this book is a perfect distraction. I will be absolutely buying a physical copy to add to my collection and telling everyone to read this!

Audition for the Fox, by Martin Cahill, is reminiscent of the fables I grew up reading. This novella is quick, entertaining, and, maybe to some, thought-provoking. I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

Was this a perfect book? No. Was it an absolute riot? Hell yes. I haven't had this much fun reading a book in a while. If I had to sum this up in a few words it would be: whimsy, charm, and heart. Despite it being a novella, the world-building was expansive, and the characterization of these myriad gods only further bolstered the world they made. We have a nervous, insecure protagonist who has a heart big enough to tackle colonizers and spark a rebellion, and we have a cunning fox god whose heart is even bigger. These characters absolutely made this book for me, but what really solidified this as a 5 star was the theme of story-telling. I LOVE themes of story-telling so I am absolutely biased, but this whole novella reads as a fable and, like I said, that really just heightened the whimsy of it all.

The pacing felt a little clunky at parts, sure, and I wish our side characters were given just a little more time to be fleshed out, but really, I had a wonderful time reading this story, and I think the themes it explores are especially relevant today. I'm going to miss these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!!

"Monsters prefer the dark; facing the light of day can reveal so much more than an unhandsome face."

This book has one of the most unique concepts I have read about in recent memory. The idea of traversing through time for the chance of an apprenticeship is an implacable setup.

While I really enjoyed the story when things got going, it did have a rough beginning. The novella starts off so jarringly that I thought I had missed something while I was reading. It felt particularly lacking in the ease of getting into the narrative. The story is also broken into parts separated by tales, which I would call fables, but I digress. I think this concept fits well with the themes and over-arching narrative; it felt like an odd pacing decision that broke the flow of the story. It also felt like most of the fables only existed to tell the Tale between the Fox and the Wolf—which was gut-wrenching. However, I felt like it could have flowed better.

I think that the characters all felt interesting, but there was only so much depth that could be explored in such a short period of time. The bison blood was an interesting choice.


Much of the story occurs off of the page and resolves without the readers bearing witness. This can work in some contexts, but it feels a little dissatisfactory in some instances.

Overall, decently enjoyable.

This short novella is written in an interesting 'oral tradition' style, which unfortunately means it often tends to telling not showing. Characters will announce their motivations and appear in the story exactly where they are needed without much justification for their feelings or allegiances. That said, the world is interesting and the basic premise of a trickster god trying to start a revolution is compelling. I would have liked more world building, as I wasn't sure if I was in a medieval world or the 1940s, but then again there's only so much that can be done in a novella!

This was such a fun novella that really, really packed a punch. I loved the cover and the blurb and as I fell further into the world of Nesi and the Fox and the other Pillars I ended up loving the story. It took me a while to feel grounded in it and understand the world and the history of it all, but such is the nature of being thrown in mid plot. And I loved it all despite that, it just took me a couple rereads back to really understand. I loved the interludes of the Fox and their siblings between each chapter of Nesi’s, it added layers to the Fox and the other Pillars that were much easier to build the entire nature of his character off of than if we spun through an elaborate back story, it lends a lot to the novella working well despite knowing there is likely deep history to the world that we’re not getting. Nesi was a great main character to follow, and watching the go from the desperation of becoming an acolyte and facing rejection but determined for her own future to being thrust into the past and piecing out her character by helping these people she met along the way. I know I keep saying it but I loved it all, it was very much folklore, and it reminded me deeply of the teachings of the Indigenous people here in Canada. I was also pleasantly surprised at how relevant it is today. To act in the face of tyranny, to keep your heart despite it all.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely ADORED this book. An incredibly interesting concept, with wonderful worldbuilding! I'd love to purchase a physical copy once it comes out.

The characters are loveable, with interesting characteristics and personalities, that gradually develop throughout the book, and I love seeing the darker themes come through during the book. It was a wonderful read and one I'd definitely love to read again!

“Audition for the Fox” Martin Cahill

The main character Nesi is trying to become an acolyte of one of the 99 Pillars of Heaven. She is a child with the blood of a god, and if she fails to get patronage, then she is not destined to get out of her temple home, where she is studying. And Nesi wants freedom.
She had already had 96 audiences with the Pillars of Heaven, but without success. And Nesi decides to pray to T'sidaan, the Fox of Tricks...
And it seems that the fox is a joker, but the task gives her is not a joke. He throws her back 300 years, when Nesi's homeland was occupied by Zemin's wolfhounds.
Nesi has heard stories about this time, and knows that there was a rebellion, but... It turns out that she is destined to be the spark of this rebellion, so that people can overthrow the exiled 100-year-old Pillar, the Wolf of the Hunt.
I liked the story, it even seemed short. I would like more. A good story comes with beautiful illustrations, and after the story chapters, chapters with fox stories. Nesi finds friends in the past, and how sad it is to know that she has to return to her own time.
The book will be published on September 16th, 2025
Thanks NetGalley and Martin Cahill for giving me opportunity to read this book

"But since I have no reason to lie to you, middling art tends to be my favorite kind. Poetry, fiction, movies--I mean plays, all of it I prefer middling, [...] Because middling art is the most inspiring kind of art!"

If middling art be the goal, I can confirm Martin Cahill failed utterly. This book was incredible. From the pacing to the worldbuilding, I was on the edge of my seat! The deity system made sense and it was expansive without being overwhelming. It kept up the suspense and energy through the whole of its length, and while I personally wouldn't have minded a longer story, I think the length is just right for what's being told. Having this fantasy story revolve around time travel made the topic fresh and unique - sometimes stories get bogged down trying to justify the ways time travel could feasibly exist, but in a fantasy novella you have to keep that explanation short and simple, which I appreciated. Our main character Nesi was so lovable, the side characters had me rooting for them (especially Teor), and even when you know a story like this must end hopefully I was still tense trying to figure out exactly how they'd all do it! Having a queernormative universe was pleasant as well. Nothing makes me feel cozy quite like seeing the use of they/them pronouns or some casual sapphics in the midst of a story.

T'sidaan gets their own paragraph for being one of the best depictions of a trickster god I've ever read in a modern novel. Although I grew up outside the reservation and largely outside the culture (I'm only 1/16th Native), you can't not learn about the trickster gods in indigenous folktales. And while the old stories maintain the charm, cunning, and occasional viciousness of a truly good trick, modern attempts often fall flat for me. To be a trickster is not just to be silly, and to be cunning is not to be cruel. T'sidaan captured that beautifully. The afterword mentioned a potential novella set in the same universe, and I have to say that even if it wasn't centered on Nesi and T'sidaan I'd pick it up in a heartbeat. After this, I think I'll pick up anything Martin Cahill writes.

I would have liked it better if it had been longer—maybe a full novel instead of a novella. As it is, it feels a bit rushed. Things are being told more than shown, and when the time comes for the emotional moments, I feel it would have hit harder if we had spent more time with the characters. More length could also have helped deliver the message more subtly.

The scenes that shined were the ones that showed one of the most important acts of rebellion can be kindness. I find that often goes overlooked, so it was nice.

I liked the art separating each section and the stories of the fox and the other pillars.

It was kind of middling, so the fox would be delighted. Thank you to Tachyon Publications and NetGalley for providing an ARC. All thoughts are my own.

This was such a pleasant surprise! I requested this ARC after seeing one of my fave authors recommend it on Insta and being enamored by the art on the cover, but I wasn't quite sure what to expect. What I got was an exploration on finding yourself, but also revolution and rebellion. Because this is a novella, there's not much I can say that won't spoil things. I will say that T'sidaan is exactly the type of god character I love to read about. They're funny and cheeky and really add moments of levity to a premise that might otherwise be weighed down by despair. Nesi, too, was a painfully relatable protagonist and I really enjoyed how well the author allowed her to grow in such a short page count.

The writing, too, was beautiful and expansive. While I do think that the pacing sped up a bit too quickly by the end, for my liking at least, I think this story and its characters were some of the best I've read in a novella in a long time. I do hope the author gets an opportunity to return to these characters in the future!

I had higher expectations for this. I know it is a novella but the lady of detail…leaves much to be desired. It wasn’t as engaging as it could’ve been. Great idea but not the best execution.

I might come back and edit this review later, because I have so many thoughts but none of them are ordered enough to put them into words.

What a novella. I didn't know what to expect from this story, I was simply drawn by the title and the cover. And, I must admit, I was a bit cautious about the tone and theme, because I care about both very much and it's hard to get it right, in my opinion.

Well, I was blown away. Really. First, by the amount of worldbuilding and sense of place placed in a short book. And without being heavy or boring! Truly amazing and inspirational.
Then, the story itself. Very mythical, full of bite and fun, but also violence and resistance. Martin Cahill somehow managed to balance all of it, in a gripping tale with wonderful description (I think very strongly about our Fox, their smile and sense of presence). I liked Nesi and her struggle to find her place with a god. She has a very relatable sense to her, while being very herself. Following her as she is sent back in time into a labor camp, all for an audition with the Trickster Fox God was a nice ride.

Are the messages (morals, if you will) of the story light or hidden under deep symbolism ? No, but it suits the story, its inspiration from fairy tale and folklore. It makes sense, and only add to the narrative.

Veryn very good surprise.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

I needed this novella badly, and I'll be highly recommending it when it comes out this fall. I'm a huge sucker for trickster gods and the power of stories, but Cahill hits home really hard with this, in the best kind of way. Because sometimes you feel lost in the plot of your own life and you need someone to show you that yes, the actions you take do matter. Throw in fox tales as interludes between the chapters and you get a novella that's like a warm jacket on a fall night. It won't let you forget that there's work still to be done, but that we can and will get through this, and the stories we tell to do so will matter a lot. Cahill mentions in the acknowledgements that there's years of work that have gone into this, and you can tell in the way this is crafted. Pick this up when it comes out this fall.

I enjoyed my time with this book. It is easy to read with entertaining characters, interesting events, and solid world building, but it's too fast, too smooth, too direct. It is a large story in book a bit too small. There are great bones, but not enough flesh on them for it to truly shine.

The characters are interesting and entertaining, but they don't have enough time to breathe. Their arcs resolve too easily and too quickly without time to feel the impact before we are on to the next thing.

The story beats are much the same, interesting events that we don't see enough of before they're resolved. Often resolving without the reader experiencing much in the way of challenge, robbing them of their impact. There is little to no planning, a glimpse of execution, and then results. Any struggle hidden from us.

The themes and messages the story tells are also too direct for my taste. Like many of the fables that inspire it, there is no need to guess at what the story is meant to tell you as it explicitly stated.

The book is certainly good, but it shows you how it could be great.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tachyon Publications for providing a digital advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

"Audition for the Fox" is a powerful, poignant novella. It is a masterful work of storytelling that addresses the central themes of tyranny and resistance with a deft hand the perfect amount of worldbuilding to support its message. I truly loved this book: the world is fascinating, the tale is creatively told through both traditional storytelling and fable making it a deeply interesting read, and it was easy to become emotionally invested in the characters. Strongly themed novellas with clever worldbuilding and mysterious, compelling characters are truly among my favorite kinds of reads, and this one is easily a new favorite.

This book follows Nesi, who is desperate to become an acolyte of any god, called Pillars, who will take her. She is down to her last few options, and, in a moment of recklessness, reaches out to the Fox, the Pillar of Trickery. The Fox is a feared Pillar: honored as a deity, yet seen as fickle, unknowable, and more likely to cause Nesi harm for their own amusement than aid her in her quest. The Fox chooses to test Nesi’s mettle by sending her back in time, to 300 years before when her homeland was being occupied by the violent Wolfhounds, worshippers of the Wolf. She is tasked with inciting rebellion against their tyrannical rule, with the Fox offering their support and guidance from the shadows.

The strongest aspect of this book is its theme. The book depicts tyranny: the sense violence of the ruling class, the loss of a sense of self of the subjugated, the risk of resistance, the way the tyrannical are willing to turn on their own to assert group identity. Moreover, it shows the power of trickery; how wit and social structure can be a powerful tool in dismantling oppressors. I will avoid going into this more deeply to avoid spoilers, but this message leaves a powerful impression on the reader. It feels acutely accurate to real-world events, yet managed to leave me with a sense of hope at the end of the story.

I also really enjoyed the way the book is written. The book intermixed fables about the Fox into Nesi’s story, and each one is incredible. They do an amazing job adding to the book’s themes, developing the character of the Fox, and giving the story a very unique voice. I found them to be an impactful addition to the book.

All in all, if this kind of novella is something you enjoy, I highly recommend picking this up. It’s an easy 5-star read for me

As a child who grew up on Aesop's fables and stories of tricksters like Anansi of West African folklore, this novella healed something in me.

I just love the world presented and how it plays into our treatment of animals as symbols. It does a wonderful job of capturing that feeling while attributing it to stories that answer a lot questions brought on by modern dilemmas.

For some readers it might be a little too on the nose with its morals and messaging, but those like me will feel a nostalgia beyond compare.

I'll light many candles to the Fox after reading this, and I hope others will too.