Audition for the Fox is a standout novella. The intricate balance between mythic storytelling and a deeply grounded exploration of resistance and identity. I especially appreciated your point about the Fox being a symbol not just of trickery, but of subversive wisdom — how cunning, when wielded with purpose, can become a revolutionary force. That nuance is one of the things that lingered with me long after reading.

The structure, too — with its interwoven fables — felt like a kind of storytelling within storytelling, like oral history filtered through divine mischief. It gives the world a living texture, as if the stories themselves are part of the rebellion. And Nesi’s journey, with all its emotional stakes, was a compelling lens through which to explore the cost and courage of defiance.

"Start thinking of how small a cog you are and how big the machine is and nothing will work."


Audition for the Fox is a tale of humility in many forms; a mortal descendant of gods that has never passed a test, and the gods who are forever being humbled by the Fox, local ego-checker. Nesi, our flop demi(quadri?)god time travels to a wartime labor camp in what could be her last attempt to prove herself to a god, and schemes are hatched to fuel an uprising that history is waiting for.

For a novella, I did not expect the world-building for the pantheon of gods to be this good, it was very fascinating to read about them in both the main story and the vignettes in between chapters. Loved the structure too, I think it was a great decision to have records of oral storytelling about the gods in between the events of the main story, really packs a lot of insights into the characters and the world as a whole even with a small page count. Little bits of wisdom are also interspersed within the narrative, giving it a very folktale vibe. The way it was written makes it feel like the beginning of many adventures, and I could definitely see this as a series, or in an anthology of loosely connected tales.

Despite the grim setting (and certain events…), the tone of the book never gets too dark, focusing more on the light at the end of the tunnel and the journey towards that. Due to its length, there wasn't much space to delineate the past and the present, since the book spend most of its time in the past and the few times we see the present, it's in a temple- which is, well, a temple- one of the institutions most immune to the ravages of time. The light bits of humor was also middle-grade leaning, but that doesn’t take away from the quality of the story.

A thought-provoking tale with the right blend of whimsy and gravitas.

Thank you to Tachyon Publications and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nesi is God-touched, a human born with divine powers, which means in order to be free to leave the temple she must be sworn as a dedicant to one of their world’s ninety-nine gods, called Pillars. After failing 96 auditions, her options are running thin. She decides to try her luck auditioning for the Fox, the mercurial Pillar of trickery and mischief, and finds herself thrown into a dangerous situation where she needs to think on her feet to escape, set certain events into motion, and impress the Pillar to earn her freedom.

I highly enjoyed this little book! There’s a lot of humor here and a fantastic message that is strongly referenced throughout the story. The world-building is about as solid as it needed to be and Nesi herself is as fleshed-out a main character as necessary. I loved the little peeks into the other 98 Pillars and their stories woven throughout. The only gripe I have is some modern malapropisms that I wish were rephrased since they tended to take me out of the story a bit. I’d love to see another novella set in this same world, maybe another Pillar or continuing adventures of Nesi and the Fox. Here hoping this book does well so we can get more!

Brilliantly written and charmingly witty, this fantasy is an absolute must-read for any lovers of mischief and trickery! Thank you to NetGalley and to Tachyon Publications for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 ⭐

Nesi must find a god willing to accept her as an acolyte—or risk being confined to her temple for the rest of her life. Out of ninety-nine Pillars of Heaven, she’s already been rejected by ninety-six. Only three remain: the Lion of War, the Serpent of Assassination, and the Fox of Trickery.

She chooses the Fox without hesitation—even though the stories she knows paint him as a mocking, mischievous god. So of course, his idea of an audition is to throw her 300 years into the past—right into the heart of the Zemin occupation. What else would you expect from the god of tricks?

This is the story of an underestimated girl searching for freedom, and of a Fox god operating in the shadow of his more dominant siblings—two characters who have more in common than they realize.

I absolutely loved this novella. I was especially drawn to the fragmented narration: a section from Nesi’s POV is immediately followed by a myth or tale. There’s something soft in the chaos she lives through, and something beautiful in the Fox’s mischief. The story blends fictional folklore with moral undertones, yet it’s clearly written for an adult audience.

The Fox quickly became a favorite—charming, clever, and perhaps the most humble of all the gods.

My only real struggle was with some of the language. Certain invented words—especially the gods’ names—made parts of the story harder to follow. Combined with the fable-like storytelling and occasional shifts in narration, it added a layer of complexity. That said, it’s also what makes this novella so unique and stylistically rich. I’m torn on that point, but I see its purpose.

Overall, this is a strong debut—clever, well-constructed, and filled with layers of meaning that reflect the real world. A genuinely enjoyable read.

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.