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Scion of the Fox

(The Realms of Ancient #1)

S.M. Beiko (Goodreads Author)

3.73 · Rating details · 277 ratings · 75 reviews

As the winter ice begins to thaw, the fury of a demon builds — all because one girl couldn’t stay dead . . .

Roan Harken considers herself a typical high school student — dead parents, an infected eyeball, and living in the house of her estranged, currently comatose grandmother (well, maybe not so typical) — but she’s uncovering the depth of the secrets her family left behi ...more

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Hardcover, 431 pages

Published October 17th 2017 by ECW Press

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· 277 ratings · 75 reviews

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Start your review of Scion of the Fox (The Realms of Ancient, #1)

Aug 08, 2018 Mel (Epic Reading) rated it really liked it

Shelves: own-ebook, arc-netgalley, arc-edelweiss

This Canadian gem is a great first novel in a new compelling and unique fantasy series. I'm usually not one to love urban fantasy but this is like urban meets earth magic. S.M. Beiko takes us on a journey set in frigid cold Winnipeg. She sets up the novel as if it's present day Winnipeg and her characters are all average teens or adults. That is until they aren't.

Setting
One of my favourite things about this novel is that the setting of Winnipeg (affectionately called Winter-peg by many Canadian ...more

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Oct 10, 2017 Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer rated it liked it

Shelves: g-r-shapeshifters, genre-diverse, imo-neat-premise, series-book-1, genre-friendship, rp-netgalley, g-t-contemporary, g-a-strong-family, g-c-other-places, 2017

Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...

Roan is an orphan that lives with her odd uncle and her loving aunt. After moving into her comatose grandmother's house she has a crazy interaction due to her infect eyeball and meets a powerful fox spirit named Sil. Marked to be sacrificed to the snake-monster Zabor Roan must gather friends from each of the families before it's too late and the flood waters unleash devastation on the world...

I too struggled with my ARC copy (lines every couple ...more

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Oct 02, 2017 Sheila Goicea rated it liked it

Shelves: arc-via-netgalley, 2017-completed-reads, 2017-releases, tbr-series-to-complete, includes-animals, arc-ebook, fantasy-young-adult, romance-free, includes-angels-demons, mystery

This full review can be viewed on my blog along with others at: shesgoingbookcrazy.com

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

The world was dreamed into being and kept by the collective consciousness of all those who passed before. We call this consciousness Ancient, for it is the spirit of the universe, and it is older than all of us.

Let me start out with saying that this book was good, but it was also very strange. The first quarter o ...more

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Oct 04, 2018 Meigan rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-or-new-adult, demons, fantasy, magic-or-witchcraft-or-summoning, received-for-review, mythology, reapers-harbingers-death-the-person, elementals

Mysterious and magical, Scion of the Fox was a compelling tale filled with danger, demons, and possible world destruction. At the center of it all is a regular girl who’s regular life is turned upside down when she’s tasked with potentially saving the world.

Roan Harken is just your average high school student, counting down the days until graduation and doing her best to blend in. Although that’s a little difficult when you’re convinced that everyone around you thinks you’re the “weird girl”. I Mysterious and magical, Scion of the Fox was a compelling tale filled with danger, demons, and possible world destruction. At the center of it all is a regular girl who’s regular life is turned upside down when she’s tasked with potentially saving the world.

Roan Harken is just your average high school student, counting down the days until graduation and doing her best to blend in. Although that’s a little difficult when you’re convinced that everyone around you thinks you’re the “weird girl”. In Roan’s defense, her life is a little strange, considering she has an eye infection that’s lingered for over a decade, she lives in her comatose grandma’s house with her aunt and uncle at the behest of said comatose grandma (who also lives in the house while comatose), parents who died under mysterious circumstances, and a stone fox in the garden that Roan is convinced has been watching her. At least her best friend doesn’t think she’s weird, which is always the best quality to look for in a best friend. Roan’s strange life gets even stranger when she’s followed by an actual real fox who decides that wherever Roan goes, it will also go. Little does Roan know that said fox is about to upend her already strange life by changing everything she’s ever known and pulling her into something deep, dark, and exceptionally dangerous.

Scion of the Fox was such an interesting and immersive read from almost the very first page. Roan’s life was indeed very strange, and if that wasn’t compelling enough, her strange life is entwined with such a fascinating mythology that was truly inventive. Earth magic, animals families, denizens — all have ancients roots and are tied to both creation and destruction, and all are prominent players in the balance of the world. The mythology was hands-down my favorite aspect with the characters coming in at a very close second.

The characters were so dimensional and varied, and such an interesting story all by themselves. Each one had a backstory and a history that added such depth to this book, and I don’t think there were any I truly disliked (the exception being the one who was definitely worthy of all the scorn. But the ending does tell of perhaps a little bit of redemption concerning said character, and I do love me a reformed villain. Or in this case, a *possibly* reformed villain.) Another important element is the value placed on friendship in this novel. Beiko highlights the incredible bond between friends, and I loved that Roan and Phae not only shared that bond, but their friendship was positive, uplifting, and supportive.

All told, I’m really glad I stumbled on this series (or, more appropriately, the publisher pointed me in the direction of it, and I’m incredibly grateful.) Highly recommended. I enjoyed every aspect of Scion of the Fox and I’m looking forward to seeing how things play out for Roan and Eli in the next installment, Children of the Bloodlands.

*Many thanks to ECW Press for providing a free copy for review purposes. ...more

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Jun 06, 2017 Lila Lockhart rated it it was amazing

Shelves: giveaways-and-review-copies, display, young-adult, fantasy, mystery, demons, netgalley, young-adult-fantasy

4.5/5.

Scion of the Fox is an innovative, compelling read. Roan was very relatable, and helped to draw me in to this world. Accompanying her was a series of lovable (and not so lovable) characters, all of which helped to give this book a personality of it's own. But what captured me the most was the world building, which was filled with animals, politics and an exploration of the spirit world. There were some moments where small things felt drawn out, but, for the most part, this was an exciting ...more

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Oct 18, 2017 Nicole M. Hewitt rated it really liked it

Shelves: own, fiction-addiction-read

This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction

This book is set in the modern-day world, but one steeped in ancient mythology and fantastical magical creatures. It’s an exciting combination!

What Fed My Addiction:

The worldbuilding.
The basis of this world is that there are some people who have animal spirits and magic (at least, that’s the best way I can describe it). There are five of them: foxes, rabbits, deer, owls and seals. Each type of animal has its own quali ...more

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May 18, 2019 Samm | Sassenach the Book Wizard rated it liked it · review of another edition

I'm having a hard time putting together a coherent written review so instead I'll just link my review video when it comes out ...more

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Apr 24, 2018 Charlotte Lisbon rated it did not like it

I did not enjoy this book at all. I did not like the main character one bit and found the story to be weird and the dialogue bland. The magic is this book is not properly explained and the common enemy very vague. I will not read the next instalment and will not recommend this book. 1 star for the beautiful misleading cover.

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Oct 16, 2017 Iryna KL rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc

I received a free e-copy of this book via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Publisher!

4/5 Stars

First of all, let me begin by saying that the book is beautifully written and the world which S.M. Beiko creates. It indeed reminded me of Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle and Princess Mononoke. The diversity of the world was also incredible, including a disabled character.
The story follows Roan, an orphaned girl, who develops a nervous condition after their death – mainly that ...more

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Mar 05, 2020 Clemy-chan rated it liked it

Shelves: series-ongoing

3.5
A very surprising but enjoyable story, rich in myth, magic and action! Well... maybe the action was too non-stop for me, messing with the pace of an otherwise solid story, but I am definitely going to read the continuation of this series!

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Mar 04, 2020 Sasha rated it liked it

Shelves: read-in-2020, fantasy, magic-chest

Anything animal centered gets me!

I think the audiobook made me rate it lower so I think i will have to reread it as it seems to be such a complex and fun world the author created!

It was magical, mysterious, filled with demons and a possible very bad future...

I loved how everything was balanced in this book: strange but compelling, new and old, earth magic and animal magic, destruction and creation, you had all the backstory you needed to understand everything and more, you had detail when needed ...more

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Jun 16, 2017 Klara rated it it was amazing

Just loved the book. The setting, the characters- finally a YA read with no roomance <3 Wonderful mix of japanese myths and paranormal fantasy. The ARC was extremely hard to read, though, that's why I gave 4 stars. I really liked the book but I think I would have loved it if the ARC hadn't been so bad. ...more

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Oct 15, 2017 Jessie Seymour rated it really liked it

Shelves: net-galley, arcs, review-copy

Edit #2:

I gave this book 4 stars. Scion of the Fox was unexpected. after trying to read the eARC and having an impossible time doing so, I didn’t have very high hopes for the rest of it. However, the author completely turned that around. I loved this book. It was full of complex characters and the thickest of plots, and a relationship that I’m not sure will ever even happen, but I’m really excited for.

I was kind of stupid and I read someone else’s review before finishing this book. I know, that Edit #2:

I gave this book 4 stars. Scion of the Fox was unexpected. after trying to read the eARC and having an impossible time doing so, I didn’t have very high hopes for the rest of it. However, the author completely turned that around. I loved this book. It was full of complex characters and the thickest of plots, and a relationship that I’m not sure will ever even happen, but I’m really excited for.

I was kind of stupid and I read someone else’s review before finishing this book. I know, that’s the number 1 no no for book reviewing, but I was looking for something specific (I didn’t find it), but I am happy to report that I didn’t actually agree with this other review of the book. That review was a bit negative, especially about the ending of the book. I however think it ended on a good note. It was left a bit open ended because this is going to be a series and the epilogue was there to get you even more excited for the next book in the series.

Roan was a character that I needed a bit of getting used to, but once that was all said and done with I grew to love her as a character. She wasn’t annoying or overly rude. She had no sense of entitlement or whiny at all. I genuinely liked her as a character. Reading the first chapter snippet of the second book at the end of this book, it doesn’t seem like she’ll be in it, or she may come in later. It really isn’t clear as of yet, but I really hope she is in the next one because I don’t think I’m done with her quite yet.

I like the dynamic going on between Roan and Eli. They spent most of the book hating each other and fighting, not just in the “I like you so I’m going to pick on you” kind of way, I mean the “I’m going to actively try to murder you” kind of way. They have something going on and I am here for it. I could see something possibly happening. Possibly. I would really like it if it did.

What I loved was that it was set in Canada. I find that most books are set in the U.S. and reference a lot of things only Americans are very familiar with such as historical events that are smaller than full-blown wars. It was nice to actually understand what was being referenced for once, such as Red River. Not enough books are set in Canada and usually if they are they take place in Toronto or just Ontario in general. It’s a bit annoying, so this book was very refreshing.

Edit: I have an actual finished copy now and will hopefully get to it soon and actually have a good review.

DNF at 20%

I received an ARC through Netgalley

This is the first time this has ever happened to me, but I found the formatting of the ARC to be so unbearable that I just couldn't read it anymore. Whole sentences and possibly paragraphs would be cut off in the middle and I just couldn't get a proper grasp of what was happening at times that I don't feel that I can give this book a proper review given that terrible ARC. So I won't rate it this one. I might eventually read a finished copy and hopefully get up a useful review, but I don't think I can do that with this copy. ...more

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Oct 21, 2017 Lauren rated it liked it

Scion of the Fox caught my attention as soon as I saw that it was blurbed by Kelley Armstrong, one of my favorite YA authors. If Kelley liked it then I was definitely going to like it - or at least that's what I hoped (and prayed). As it turns out, Scion of the Fox was a great series opener. Unique, compelling, and delightfully creep, Scion of the Fox ended up being the perfect way to spend an October evening.

Scion of the Fox introduces us to Roan Harken. Roan has always stayed under the radar Scion of the Fox caught my attention as soon as I saw that it was blurbed by Kelley Armstrong, one of my favorite YA authors. If Kelley liked it then I was definitely going to like it - or at least that's what I hoped (and prayed). As it turns out, Scion of the Fox was a great series opener. Unique, compelling, and delightfully creep, Scion of the Fox ended up being the perfect way to spend an October evening.

Scion of the Fox introduces us to Roan Harken. Roan has always stayed under the radar at her high school, and that's exactly how she likes it. She doesn't want people talking about the weirdness of eye or her parent's tragic (and possibly self-inflicted) deaths. However, everything changes the minute the stone fox in her year transforms into an actual fox....and just in time, to save Roan from immense, life threatening danger. The fox, named Sil, informs Ronan that she posses a huge amount of power - a power that threatens her life AND makes her potential savor.

Roan was an interesting main character. She was very blasé (I guess you would say) about everything - she was a more of a go with flow quietly kind-of-girl - but as more and more power and responsibility were thrown her way, Ronan begins to get comfortable in her shoes, taking her new powers in stride, knowing full aware that she needs to use them for good. As the book progressed, I liked Roan, but I never felt a real connection to her for some reason, unfortunately. There was just something about her that didn't click for me, but as with all characters, sometimes you get that connection and sometimes you just don't. I will say, though, that I loved her friendship with Sil. Sil was a funny, bull-headed little Fox, always helping Roan see the real picture.

The plot in this was interesting albeit slightly weird. The owls versus fox dilemma was unique, and I thought S.M. Beiko did a decent job of fleshing it out through not only Roan's POV but the POVs of others involved on both sides. It made the story well rounded. I also liked the setting. The coldness of winter added to the "scary" and "thrilling" factors, making it all the more enjoyable for a mid-Ocotber read.

In all, Scion of the Fox was a decent debut! I look forward to seeing what happens next.

Grade: B ...more

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Oct 10, 2017 Stephanie Cover2CoverBlog rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya

Scion of the Fox is the first book in the Realms of Ancients series. It follows Roan, a high schooler with an incredible family history waiting to be discovered. When she is attacked and almost sacrificed to a river monster, she starts to learn that things in Winnipeg are not as they might appear. There are ancient families that have animal counterparts and they must offer up their children, 1 every year, to the darkling in the river so that they are not flooded.

So what can you expect? The is a ...more

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Jan 01, 2021 Chance is currently reading it

Shelves: own, cover-envy

I received this book as a Christmas gift from my sister, who knows the author! My signed copies include adorable doodles of a fox and owl hand drawn by Beiko. I was told I got the last hardcover copies she had in stock, and I am thrilled! :D This will be my first read of the year, and I'm super excited to get started. Thanks Beiko, for the love. I love your book covers <3

Stay tuned for review. ...more

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Mar 24, 2018 Nell Beaudry rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, canlit, mystery, owned-books, ya

Okay. I normally write pretty fair, balanced reviews, I think.

This isn't going to be one of them. If you don't want to listen to me gush for like, seven paragraphs, you're probably better off finding a different review.

SCION OF THE FOX IS AMAZING. Scion of the Fox is PEAK Canadian YA Fantasy. S.M. Bieko is a goddess among women and we should all consider ourselves lucky she's picked up a pen. Okay? Okay. FIRST of all, let's talk about the setting. How many times have I picked up a book by a Cana Okay. I normally write pretty fair, balanced reviews, I think.

This isn't going to be one of them. If you don't want to listen to me gush for like, seven paragraphs, you're probably better off finding a different review.

SCION OF THE FOX IS AMAZING. Scion of the Fox is PEAK Canadian YA Fantasy. S.M. Bieko is a goddess among women and we should all consider ourselves lucky she's picked up a pen. Okay? Okay. FIRST of all, let's talk about the setting. How many times have I picked up a book by a Canadian author, been excited, and then realized the setting is in Europe or the US even though it has no bearing on the plot? Why not set it in Canada, then? Bieko goes so far in the other direction, it's amazing. Scion of the Fox is set in Winnipeg, and its setting is CRUCIAL to the plot. She works the city's unhappy relationship with devastating floods into the book, and gives it a supernatural element, no less. Bless you, Bieko, for making Canada cool, important, integral, for letting it shine and for loving it enough to make it the very lifeblood of your plot. There is no ignoring that Winnipeg is the setting, because she makes sure that she works in key details, important description, and historical pieces that make it clear that she wouldn't have, maybe couldn't have, set it anywhere else.

Moving on to characters. Our main character is Roan. She's fantastic. She's plucky, sarcastic, fallible, devoted to her friends, a careful and realistic balance of weak and strong. She isn't described as ridiculously gorgeous, or even gorgeous but insecure - Bieko describes her body as soft, awkward, maybe a bit heavy (like her mother!), her face is unremarkable by her own standards but also by those of other characters, she's what we've all been looking for in YA. She's a real teenager, with flaws, with average looks, with quirks. She's everything I've ever hoped for in a female protagonist. I loved her moments of weakness, her moments of wanting to give up, of regret. When we talk about strong female characters, Roan should be our strongest example. She's well-written, she's balanced. She'd not charging into battle and decimating everybody and being touted as strong because of her physical abilities. She's interesting, capable, nuanced, occasionally abrasive.

The supporting cast is just as fantastic. Bieko does not fuck around with diversity. There are four teenagers working together in this book. We first meet Roan's best friend, Phae, a pretty East-Indian girl whose cultural background isn't just hinted at. She's straightforward and clever and full of compassion and empathy. There's also Barton, a black boy who uses a wheelchair, who is athletic, intelligent, insecure but determined. And Natti, an Inuit girl who does not fuck around. She's no-nonsense, a hard worker, tender, and patient. Bieko takes care to ensure they all are full, complete characters, with strengths and weaknesses, with quirks, personalities, hopes and dreams that extend beyond the main thrust of the plot. A+ over here. The addition of Sil, Deedee, Arnas, and Barton's parents provide for a likeable framework of adults and guides. Even the villains are SUPER COOL, and there is nuance even here when we consider what makes a villain - the Owls are the most interesting of her "clans" by far.

Having mentioned the plot, let's talk about that. It's fresh, unique, interesting. It ties in some classic fantasy tropes with folklore and myth, working hand in hand to create an impossibly readable world, one in which you wish you could take part. It's exposed in a careful manner, avoiding too many "info dumps" so the reader stays engaged and so the plot moves along. I did feel like it dragged juuuust a bit at times, but I think that actually had more to do with the very long chapters than it did anything else. I personally felt like it would have been better served by breaking the chapters up and tightening up the transitions, because the pacing would have evened out a little bit. HOWEVER, I loved how imaginative and creative Scion of the Fox was. I loved the resistance to falling into traditional fantasy tropes, the self-awareness when it does, and the determination to include modern cultural markers rather than acting as though the book exists in a culture void, which I find frustrating although I understand the impulse.

In short, read it. Read it yesterday. I can't wait for the sequel. ...more

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Oct 09, 2018 Hellcat Mental rated it really liked it

I wasn’t sure I would like this as it was based in Winnipeg (for some reason I tend to find most Canadian set movies and books lame), but I loved the mythology in this. It was really neat!

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May 25, 2017 Koeur rated it liked it

https://koeur.wordpress.com/2017/05/2...

Publisher: ECW

Publishing Date: October 2017

ISBN: 9781770413573

Genre: Fantasy/YA

Rating: 3.4/5

Publishers Description: Roan Harken considers herself a typical high school student — dead parents, an infected eyeball, and living in the house of her estranged, currently comatose grandmother (well, maybe not so typical) — but she’s uncovering the depth of the secrets her family left behind. Saved from the grasp of Death itself by a powerful fox spirit named Sil, https://koeur.wordpress.com/2017/05/2...

Publisher: ECW

Publishing Date: October 2017

ISBN: 9781770413573

Genre: Fantasy/YA

Rating: 3.4/5

Publishers Description: Roan Harken considers herself a typical high school student — dead parents, an infected eyeball, and living in the house of her estranged, currently comatose grandmother (well, maybe not so typical) — but she’s uncovering the depth of the secrets her family left behind. Saved from the grasp of Death itself by a powerful fox spirit named Sil, Roan must harness mysterious ancient power . . . and quickly.

Review: This was a pretty good YA fantasy novel of which I am usually averse to reading. The writing style captured my attention in a big way. It flows (when allowed to) in comfortable fashion where everything evolves in a synchronous dance.

*Rant On* It is too bad that the first AND second run ARC were so miserably fuked up with sentences and paragraphs gone missing on every page. I asked the publisher to send a better corrected copy and they said “tough shjt”. Nah, they were nice about telling me to fukoff. There is so much missing from the story line as to render some areas nonsensical. Perhaps the author might be better served with a competent publisher as these ARC’s often define subsequent sales due to early reviews. *Rant Off* .

Roan never devolves into a mewling, whiney little, love-struck dipshjt and that is a very good thing as the characterization wins the day for this novel. The cast is as diverse as it is interesting and never fails to deliver the desired emotional intent. While the story line seems fairly simple and straightforward it is mired in complexity rendered in elegant fashion. Almost as if what you’re reading is wholly acceptable in the normal course of daily life. Animal denizens that have hidden forms and intent, frozen demons under the river and Roan’s slow discovery of an inner power are just a few examples of what awaits.

While I was sold a bill of goods by the publisher trying to get some resolution on a corrected copy, I made do with what was given and believe me, it was really hard to piece this novel together. You can only move on with a truncated story line when entire paragraphs are missing (or so I surmised). A solid 4 stars, completed…..I think.
...more

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Oct 09, 2017 Kirsti rated it liked it

Shelves: owned

I was first attracted to this book because of the fox. With the possible exception of the cat, the fox is my favorite animal and I loved reading books where they feature (and there aren't that many, honestly) Soon I was thrown into Roan's world, and at first I thought the rollercoaster ride was great! Action, action, action! But then I realized that 400 pages of breakneck pace was going to be too much, and I just wanted an end to it. I put it down to poor pacing? But also, there are so many prop ...more

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Jun 24, 2017 Jerricka Habib rated it really liked it

There is so much happening in this book. I was excited to find out it's set in Canada! It's really well written and the storyline is amazing.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a review copy. ...more

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Jan 22, 2018 Jae Waller rated it it was amazing

Shelves: canlit, fantasy, contemp

Animal-based fantasy set in Canada? That is totally my jam.

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Jan 07, 2018 Soren rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: People who enjoy a thrilling story with plenty of mystery and aventure

3.5/5 stars

The first time I read the summary of this novel in a bookstore I was hooked. Especially at the mention of any kind of Princess Mononoke eske themes.
Unfortunately, at the time that I first saw it I was there for another book and didn't have the funds to pick it up.
The book continued to nag at me and as soon as I was able I picked this book up off amazon and began reading it immediately.

The beginning of the novel gripped me and pulled me in. I really felt like I was along for the ride t ...more

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Feb 25, 2020 Anniken Haga rated it did not like it

Shelves: dnf

I usually don't rate books I DNF, especially when I DNF around the 50% mark - there's too much of the story I haven't expereinced to give a fair rating - but in this case, I feel like I can't JUST DNF the book.

It isn't that the book is bad. Even now, part of me want to continue listening to it. It has that kind of language, you know? The kind you can just relax into and drift away on? At least for me.
But, there are a bunch of other problems. Like how hysterical everyone is becoming, and how ou ...more

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Jan 30, 2019 Caitlin rated it really liked it

Shelves: canadian, fantasy, diverse-reads, young-adult, contemporary, indie

This book was AWESOME! None of your typical YA tropes, an awesome, diverse cast of characters and the most amazing world-building. The ending was a bit too rushed and neat but all in all a stellar trilogy opener and by far the best indie series I've read in about a year if not longer. I'll definitely be picking up the next one. ...more

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Jan 24, 2019 Manon rated it did not like it

I so wanted to enjoy this book, but sadly, it really wasn't for me. Halfway through I wanted to DNF it, but I ended up skimming the rest. This story just didn't grip my attention. ...more

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Oct 22, 2017 Liz H {Redd's Reads} rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley-edelweiss, blog-review, advanced-reader-copy, mine, read-2017, pub-contacted

This is a very enjoyable, quick read that presents a well-rounded cast of characters. I loved the mythology, the pacing, and the descriptions. It was also fun to read an urban fantasy set in Canada, which I am not up on my geography for, but I don't think that detracted from the story or my enjoyment. Definitely a book to pick and share! ...more

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Dec 02, 2017 Rachel rated it liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Nov 03, 2017 Rendz rated it liked it

3.5
Full Review: https://readingwithrendz.wordpress.co...

Well this was definitely an interesting read no doubt. It was a little bit of a roller coaster ride in terms of how I felt about it at times while reading, but overall it was a pretty fun read! With an added bonus that it’s set in Canada!

What I Liked

Characters

Roan: Our lovely chosen one. (As she so warmly names herself) Um…I actually have some mixed feelings about her. She was a very entertaining character to follow. She definitely wasn’t t ...more

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Sep 07, 2017 Jadzia rated it really liked it

I received an ARC of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
Scion of the Fox by S.M Beiko was an enjoyable read with likeable characters, a cool back-story, and an intricate plot that had me totally believing everything and instantly involved. I felt that it was very original in some aspects and also very cliché in others—young person destined to save the known world, sort of thing—but overall good enough to read and appreciate, though I am not entirely certain I received an ARC of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
Scion of the Fox by S.M Beiko was an enjoyable read with likeable characters, a cool back-story, and an intricate plot that had me totally believing everything and instantly involved. I felt that it was very original in some aspects and also very cliché in others—young person destined to save the known world, sort of thing—but overall good enough to read and appreciate, though I am not entirely certain that I will be reading any of the other Realms of Ancient books in the future.
The main character, Roan, is all right. She isn’t super cool or interesting to begin with, despite having so many strange things about her and happen to her (freaky eye, dead parents, creepy uncle, etc…), but I soon began to like her and appreciate her for her normalness. She was always pretty cool, even in difficult circumstances and she had a fun sense of humor that I really related to. However, I feel like, though she does grow and mature and change by the end of the book, that she perhaps didn’t grow enough. I would have liked to see more development in her character and to see some deeper meaning and connections in her relationships. It bothered me that the person (animal?) she was closest with, was the magical, talking fox that showed up outside her house one night. Not her grandma (but that makes a bit of sense, since she doesn’t know her well or spend time with her growing up), not her aunt and uncle whom she lives with, not her best friend, Phae, or her new friends, like Barton.
Speaking of the talking fox, and other characters, plot points, etc…a lot of this story was predictable and I found myself guessing what would happen, and being accurate, waaaaaayy before it actually did. Like who the fox was, how Barton came into play, how the book would end, certain characters becoming romantically interested in each other…but there were also a lot of surprises and besides, sometimes it is fun to know early, so you can be like, “yes! I was right!”
The other characters were pretty great. Honestly, Phae was the only character I never liked (her best friend), and I don’t even know why. Maybe it’s because after she gets really involved with the story that she is so chill about it and actually does more than Roan does. It makes Roan seem useless. Or maybe it’s because I thought Roan should be romantically involved with a particular someone and Phae was instead. BUT, if the story goes where I think it does, Roan becomes romantically involved with a different someone, which I am 100% in support of. Natti, also, never really clicked with me, though I hope she is developed further in later books. Sil, Barton, Roan, and Eli were my faves, though Eli didn’t make the list until the final chapters.
I felt like the monsters, the back story, the evil, the history, the current circumstances, were all totally believable and well done. I was actually picturing this as a movie the whole time and it was kick-butt awesome. There was so much that was unique and original and I felt like this world had existed forever and I just hadn’t been aware of it.
I will say that things slowed down in the middle and there didn't seem to be much happening for quite a bit of time. But the last few chapters got exciting again (the most exciting chapters in the entire book, besides the creepy eye and Moth Queen early chapters) and I am glad they did. My favorite part of the book was the part that featured the Bloodlands!
This being an ARC, there were tons of typos and a couple missing sentences. I literally started marking them in the book, because the writer and editor in me couldn’t help it. But then I stopped, because I felt silly, since no one would ever see my corrections, and that’s not my job anyway! I do hope they manage to weed out all those little things and have a perfectly polished version printed when it is published in October.
I enjoyed reading this book as a writer and as a reader and was able to appreciate it from both perspectives and I congratulate S.M Beiko on its completion (writing a book is quite the feat and she deserves a standing ovation, a hug, and a cake) and eventual publication. ...more

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About S.M. Beiko

S.M. Beiko

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SAMANTHA MARY BEIKO is a writer of whatever tromps into her head at the time--but mostly it is YA fantasy and its derivatives.

She currently works full-time the Canadian publishing industry as a freelance editor, graphic designer, and consultant, and is the Co-Publisher of ChiZine Publications. She devotes her days to helping traditional corporate publishers, as well as independent writers and crea ...more