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The Fox Demon's Kiss
Often times, the best way to move on is to move forward. At least that’s what Dana Jones thinks when she and her younger sister Nikki fly to Kyoto, Japan to fulfill their late mother’s wish. But as a young black college student in a new land, Dana’s skills are put to the test—and no amount of work can prepare her for what comes next.
On the day of their arrival, a mysterious man warns Dana that she will meet a monster. She dismisses him, thinking he’s a superstitious old guy who gets a kick out of scaring foreigners. But everything changes when something attacks her at the Chihoshi Inn.
Sorahiko, the inn’s co-owner and the handsomest man Dana has ever laid eyes on, saves her. He explains that the monster she encountered is a demon that belongs to a clan of demons with a sinister mission. They go after humans with a sacred heart—something Dana seems to have, and more valuable than she can fathom. To make matters worse, she’s their next target.
Going back home to New York seems like the best course of action—only the demons have other plans. Sorahiko offers Dana his protection, but at a heavy price. Will Dana pay that price to save herself and her family, or will she risk it all by facing the ferocious beasts who will stop at nothing to devour her?
On the day of their arrival, a mysterious man warns Dana that she will meet a monster. She dismisses him, thinking he’s a superstitious old guy who gets a kick out of scaring foreigners. But everything changes when something attacks her at the Chihoshi Inn.
Sorahiko, the inn’s co-owner and the handsomest man Dana has ever laid eyes on, saves her. He explains that the monster she encountered is a demon that belongs to a clan of demons with a sinister mission. They go after humans with a sacred heart—something Dana seems to have, and more valuable than she can fathom. To make matters worse, she’s their next target.
Going back home to New York seems like the best course of action—only the demons have other plans. Sorahiko offers Dana his protection, but at a heavy price. Will Dana pay that price to save herself and her family, or will she risk it all by facing the ferocious beasts who will stop at nothing to devour her?
- GenresRomance
327 pages, Paperback
Published October 24, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 11, 2020
When I started this book I thought this is going to be a long read. I started reading and became so engaged in the characters and immersed in the backdrop of Japan before I knew it I was at the end of the book. Regrettably. I think if I could want for anything out of this pleasant read it would be more of the dating side of the relationship between Dana and Sorahiko. So much of their time together was overshadowed with angst and intrigue from outside forces. There was some open-ended questions which has me thinking the creative Ms. Moore has a series in mind. If not, hopefully I can get her to consider doing so with this review for there are a few brothers and cousins waiting for love. A baby sister who had chemistry with a certain sexy red fox. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a Blasian read that takes place abroad in Japan. It's rare to find a writer who choose to do their homework and take the reader on a journey outside their comfortable American setting and to do so in the winter season. This makes me hope we can go back and revisit during the cherry blossom season.
November 28, 2020
I typically do not read this particular genre but I absolutely enjoyed this story. The author did a great job being descriptive and I feel the story was well written. For the life of me I could not find myself to like Dana who is the main character. To be in a foreign country engulfed in a completely different culture, she seemed very arrogant and like a know it all. I kept trying to give her the benefit of the doubt due to her young age.
This story really opened my perspective on reading fiction books. I'm hoping that one day the author will write a sequel because I want to know what life is like after going back to New York.
This story really opened my perspective on reading fiction books. I'm hoping that one day the author will write a sequel because I want to know what life is like after going back to New York.
December 7, 2020
I stumbled across Keri Moore while she was promoting her upcoming urban fantasy release on IG back in September 2020. I began following her and expressed interest in reading her book upon its release. Guess what happened, she released the book!!!! Let me tell y'all I got my fantasy fix with this debut novel!!! The Fox Demon's Kiss is absolutely captivating from beginning to end. This book is not attached to any book club reading list; however, she is a perfect candidate for #FeatThaUnknown!
Brief Synopsis: Two sisters are looking to honor one of their late mother's dreams: vacationing in Japan. The oldest and protective sister/Dana does all the research and decides to visit Kyoto, Japan during the coldest time of the year there. She was drawn to it by the beautiful landscape she saw online. Her little sister/Nikki is down for the trip but may not be as excited as Dana. After a strange interaction with a Japanese male on the Shinkansen (bullet train), Dana's time in Kyoto gets stranger and stranger. The arrival at the Chihoshi Inn takes Dana on a magnificent journey into a world no one fathoms exists. Can you see yourself interacting with a monster, a demon even? We deal with figurative monsters all the time, trying to decipher their masks. What happens when you come face-to-face with several literal monsters??? Sorahiko has a commanding presence creating an attraction Dana didn't know she was even looking to investigate. Will him being a monster interfere? What will Nikki think? How does the stranger on the Shinkansen play a role into all of this? Real and figurative monsters, sounds like Dana and Nikki should have stayed home! Or maybe not? Read this book!!!!
As I stated this is Keri Moore's debut release and I tell you, she did not disappoint. Let me stop rambling and get to what spoke to my soul.
The first idea that spoke to my soul is how we become so fixated on labels, we never look to develop our on opinions about people, principles, and life in general. How can you blindly form an opinion based on someone else's perspective. We're all unique individuals. What appeals to me, may not appeal to you. Conversely, what doesn't appeal to me, just might appeal to you. Does it make it wrong? Maybe, maybe not. As I continue to reach my highest level, I've found you need to investigate things on your own with an open-mind. It's okay to dismantle the preconceived notions that are fed to us from birth into adulthood. Ultimately, intent overshadows any action in my opinion. You can do something 'good' and have ulterior motives. You can do something 'bad' with just cause. Simply put, let's scrap the labels and focus on pure intentions.
The next idea that spoke to my soul is every battle in your life is not meant to be fought alone. Opening up and seeking help isn't a bad thing or a sign of weakness. Instead, it is a sign of wisdom and balance. Attempting to travel some roads alone or withholding information has the potential to be even more detrimental than at least informing others of the gravity of the situation you're in. Adding another level-headed mind to the equation gives you added ammunition to fight the most formidable battles. Think of it in terms of superheros. Even they collaborate and team up despite their phenomenal powers. Must I remind you of The Avengers or The Justice League?
The final idea that spoke to my soul is the concept of immortality. The saying goes, "nothing is certain in life but death and taxes". True, perhaps. How about we guarantee our legacies? How about we learn how to never let the essence of humanity, you, me, ever die. As Sorahiko eloquently put it, "Things only die when you let them!" Let's keep the best parts of our lives and those we love ever-present, undying, eternal.
If you're a #nerdygirl like me, then you'll find yourself looking up the numerous Japanese words used in this book. While Moore does define the majority of the words in time, I like to know immediately. Especially if I can't ascertain the meaning contextually. Japanese folklore is very intriguing. As I read this book, coincidentally my husband began playing the game The Ghost of Tsushima. I quickly noticed the consistency and authenticity of Keri Moore's fantastical narrative. I anxiously await on what I believe will be a series. This is just my wish. I need more!!!!!!!
As Always,
#HappyReading
Tracey Robinson
Words For The Soul Book Club
Brief Synopsis: Two sisters are looking to honor one of their late mother's dreams: vacationing in Japan. The oldest and protective sister/Dana does all the research and decides to visit Kyoto, Japan during the coldest time of the year there. She was drawn to it by the beautiful landscape she saw online. Her little sister/Nikki is down for the trip but may not be as excited as Dana. After a strange interaction with a Japanese male on the Shinkansen (bullet train), Dana's time in Kyoto gets stranger and stranger. The arrival at the Chihoshi Inn takes Dana on a magnificent journey into a world no one fathoms exists. Can you see yourself interacting with a monster, a demon even? We deal with figurative monsters all the time, trying to decipher their masks. What happens when you come face-to-face with several literal monsters??? Sorahiko has a commanding presence creating an attraction Dana didn't know she was even looking to investigate. Will him being a monster interfere? What will Nikki think? How does the stranger on the Shinkansen play a role into all of this? Real and figurative monsters, sounds like Dana and Nikki should have stayed home! Or maybe not? Read this book!!!!
As I stated this is Keri Moore's debut release and I tell you, she did not disappoint. Let me stop rambling and get to what spoke to my soul.
The first idea that spoke to my soul is how we become so fixated on labels, we never look to develop our on opinions about people, principles, and life in general. How can you blindly form an opinion based on someone else's perspective. We're all unique individuals. What appeals to me, may not appeal to you. Conversely, what doesn't appeal to me, just might appeal to you. Does it make it wrong? Maybe, maybe not. As I continue to reach my highest level, I've found you need to investigate things on your own with an open-mind. It's okay to dismantle the preconceived notions that are fed to us from birth into adulthood. Ultimately, intent overshadows any action in my opinion. You can do something 'good' and have ulterior motives. You can do something 'bad' with just cause. Simply put, let's scrap the labels and focus on pure intentions.
The next idea that spoke to my soul is every battle in your life is not meant to be fought alone. Opening up and seeking help isn't a bad thing or a sign of weakness. Instead, it is a sign of wisdom and balance. Attempting to travel some roads alone or withholding information has the potential to be even more detrimental than at least informing others of the gravity of the situation you're in. Adding another level-headed mind to the equation gives you added ammunition to fight the most formidable battles. Think of it in terms of superheros. Even they collaborate and team up despite their phenomenal powers. Must I remind you of The Avengers or The Justice League?
The final idea that spoke to my soul is the concept of immortality. The saying goes, "nothing is certain in life but death and taxes". True, perhaps. How about we guarantee our legacies? How about we learn how to never let the essence of humanity, you, me, ever die. As Sorahiko eloquently put it, "Things only die when you let them!" Let's keep the best parts of our lives and those we love ever-present, undying, eternal.
If you're a #nerdygirl like me, then you'll find yourself looking up the numerous Japanese words used in this book. While Moore does define the majority of the words in time, I like to know immediately. Especially if I can't ascertain the meaning contextually. Japanese folklore is very intriguing. As I read this book, coincidentally my husband began playing the game The Ghost of Tsushima. I quickly noticed the consistency and authenticity of Keri Moore's fantastical narrative. I anxiously await on what I believe will be a series. This is just my wish. I need more!!!!!!!
As Always,
#HappyReading
Tracey Robinson
Words For The Soul Book Club
February 26, 2021
As a man, I am not much into romance novels. So you could understand my reluctance when a Facebook Ad recommended this novel to me. Well, it caught my attention when I read the premise of a young Black woman going on a trip to Japan, which in itself is rarely heard of. As I was expecting to read all about her womanly hopes of finding love in Japan, I was pleasantly surprised at how the author was describing the protagonist Dana's experience upon arriving to Japan and her reaction to Japanese culture. The plot began to thicken as Dana began going through her first ordeals during her stay at a quaint Japanese inn. And once Dana encountered the Fox Demon, I needed to know how their interaction would play out and thus couldn't put the book down at that point.
Although this definitely qualifies as a paranormal romance, it's definitely not the typical cliche story arc found in stories like "Twilight" or "The Vampire Diaries". And it also doesn't fill it's pages with the pandering hopeful emotional dribble of love, romantic encounters, and the anticipation that leads up to sugar coded porn like the typical romance novel does. As the plot progresses, there is a sense of mild excitement on what will happen next because these cast of characters don't act the way you would expect in a Paranormal Romance.
This is also a book that men would enjoy as it conveys more of the human experience of love rather than just the woman's experience. This is definitely a book a couple could enjoy reading together. Another pleasant surprise was that this book is excellently edited and contains no spelling or grammatical errors which is another distinguished quality of this novel because many of the independently published books sold on Amazon are riddled with spelling and grammatical errors. As I am a very picky reader, I can honestly say that I was expecting to be disappointed by this book. I'm glad that I was wrong 😁. I strongly recommend to any who read this review that you get this book. If you're looking for a different kind of romance to dive into, especially one that stands out from all the other romance novels out there, you will not regret choosing The Fox Demon's Kiss.
Although this definitely qualifies as a paranormal romance, it's definitely not the typical cliche story arc found in stories like "Twilight" or "The Vampire Diaries". And it also doesn't fill it's pages with the pandering hopeful emotional dribble of love, romantic encounters, and the anticipation that leads up to sugar coded porn like the typical romance novel does. As the plot progresses, there is a sense of mild excitement on what will happen next because these cast of characters don't act the way you would expect in a Paranormal Romance.
This is also a book that men would enjoy as it conveys more of the human experience of love rather than just the woman's experience. This is definitely a book a couple could enjoy reading together. Another pleasant surprise was that this book is excellently edited and contains no spelling or grammatical errors which is another distinguished quality of this novel because many of the independently published books sold on Amazon are riddled with spelling and grammatical errors. As I am a very picky reader, I can honestly say that I was expecting to be disappointed by this book. I'm glad that I was wrong 😁. I strongly recommend to any who read this review that you get this book. If you're looking for a different kind of romance to dive into, especially one that stands out from all the other romance novels out there, you will not regret choosing The Fox Demon's Kiss.
March 3, 2021
Dana
Just wow! I love the mythology in this book. I love Dana’s character development as well. Will there be a book 2?
Just wow! I love the mythology in this book. I love Dana’s character development as well. Will there be a book 2?
February 15, 2021
The Fix Demon's Kiss
This was a great read. This was the first BWAM\Demon book that I have read that told more about the mythos part of why Japanese demons do what they do. Can't wait for a follow up book about her sister.
This was a great read. This was the first BWAM\Demon book that I have read that told more about the mythos part of why Japanese demons do what they do. Can't wait for a follow up book about her sister.
January 13, 2021
This is a must read!!!! It was so good I was afraid to finish it, the plot was amazing and well written, looking forward to reading more books from this author....
November 4, 2020
Thank you to Keri Moore and Tethys Night Sky Publishing for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
•
I’ll be honest - this is not the type of story I will typically read, so it was kind of hard for me to get into. I had a lot of trouble adjusting to Dana’s character. She goes through a lot, but as someone with a more quiet personality myself, I found a lot of her louder reactions and choices to be strange or almost rude. Especially considering she’s a guest in a place she’s never been and dealing with culture she’s only somewhat familiar with, the way she faced everything threw me off and made it hard for me to warm up to her. However, I did admire her courage and kindness throughout the story, and her love for her sister and family is admirable. Another thing I enjoyed is while reading, I noticed the chapter titles are creatively named, and I love that choice! I always really like reading creative title names.
Overall, the writing style is familiar in the sense that it is similar to a lot of the other books I’ve read, and it flows and is easy to read. There were only a few spots where time seemed to pass weirdly or I got stuck on certain details. I really like the author’s use of descriptions and how detailed everything is - it allowed me as a reader to enter the story more fully and picture everything more clearly. It made me want to travel and see the beauty that Dana admires on her trip!
Parts of it definitely seem unlikely to happen or caught me off guard (without giving too much away, Dana has a lot of good luck in the start of the story that seemed a little unrealistic) but the author does a great job of making sure that for the most part they all make sense the later you get into the story.
All in all this story is an unexpected journey of stepping outside of comfort zones and finding a little more fortune than you might expect.
•
I’ll be honest - this is not the type of story I will typically read, so it was kind of hard for me to get into. I had a lot of trouble adjusting to Dana’s character. She goes through a lot, but as someone with a more quiet personality myself, I found a lot of her louder reactions and choices to be strange or almost rude. Especially considering she’s a guest in a place she’s never been and dealing with culture she’s only somewhat familiar with, the way she faced everything threw me off and made it hard for me to warm up to her. However, I did admire her courage and kindness throughout the story, and her love for her sister and family is admirable. Another thing I enjoyed is while reading, I noticed the chapter titles are creatively named, and I love that choice! I always really like reading creative title names.
Overall, the writing style is familiar in the sense that it is similar to a lot of the other books I’ve read, and it flows and is easy to read. There were only a few spots where time seemed to pass weirdly or I got stuck on certain details. I really like the author’s use of descriptions and how detailed everything is - it allowed me as a reader to enter the story more fully and picture everything more clearly. It made me want to travel and see the beauty that Dana admires on her trip!
Parts of it definitely seem unlikely to happen or caught me off guard (without giving too much away, Dana has a lot of good luck in the start of the story that seemed a little unrealistic) but the author does a great job of making sure that for the most part they all make sense the later you get into the story.
All in all this story is an unexpected journey of stepping outside of comfort zones and finding a little more fortune than you might expect.
March 29, 2021
I enjoyed this book and really liked the voice of Sorahiko, he was every bit the Kitsune to me. I also enjoyed the female MC, Dana, she knew what she wanted out of life and was firm in her goals even when it was at odds with her heart. A very interesting match for sure and I would recommend this read to friends. I may even read this book again in the future especially if I'm ever back in Tokyo headed out to an adventure in the deep country! Great work Keri :)
September 13, 2021
I like it
Not your typical boy meets girl story, that's for sure. It was a good mix of romance, adventure, humor, and drama. It would also make a great beginning to a series. Maybe the next book could be about her sister Nikki. If not about Dana convincing her dad to accept the marriage. Lol
Not your typical boy meets girl story, that's for sure. It was a good mix of romance, adventure, humor, and drama. It would also make a great beginning to a series. Maybe the next book could be about her sister Nikki. If not about Dana convincing her dad to accept the marriage. Lol
June 2, 2021
What a wonderful story! The history behind the location and the legend of the fox demon really came off the pages. I implore everyone who's interested to read this book. I can only hope the author continues more of Dana and Sorahiko's story. I also would like to find out more about Nikki and Seiya. It should be opened up to more stories because of the girls' Dad and Sorahiko's brothers. I'll be keeping my eye pealed.
July 7, 2021
Cute Story
Nice story. Dana as a heroine took a minute to grow on me. But she did change as the story progressed. Loved Sokehiro and the fact that he is a yokai. That made for an interesting story. Wouldn't mind seeing more stories like this.
Nice story. Dana as a heroine took a minute to grow on me. But she did change as the story progressed. Loved Sokehiro and the fact that he is a yokai. That made for an interesting story. Wouldn't mind seeing more stories like this.
August 18, 2021
Wow!
OK... I really liked this book. But if you like Anime then you already know the story. Kamisama Kiss. Just subtle changes here and there. I loved that the heroin was black. I loved how she loves her family. The sacred heart was a bonus. The story is a good one. I loved Sorahiko's love for her and his willingness to protect her at all cost. I'd like to read more from this author. Good job.
OK... I really liked this book. But if you like Anime then you already know the story. Kamisama Kiss. Just subtle changes here and there. I loved that the heroin was black. I loved how she loves her family. The sacred heart was a bonus. The story is a good one. I loved Sorahiko's love for her and his willingness to protect her at all cost. I'd like to read more from this author. Good job.
July 27, 2021
Nice pacing
This wasn't too short or too long. This has a sweet romance. Her resistance was a annoying. His Patience made up for that.
This wasn't too short or too long. This has a sweet romance. Her resistance was a annoying. His Patience made up for that.
February 25, 2021
Not my cup of sake
This book really annoyed me. First Dana and Nikki's mother died leaving them an inheritance (which is odd considering that their father is still alive and the book never mentions their parents being divorced) Second Dana is beyond annoying, indecisive and so whiny. Every chapter I kept asking myself will this book finally start to be enjoyable, the answer in my opinion was no.
I hope someone finds this book to their liking because I definitely could not stand reading the book
This book really annoyed me. First Dana and Nikki's mother died leaving them an inheritance (which is odd considering that their father is still alive and the book never mentions their parents being divorced) Second Dana is beyond annoying, indecisive and so whiny. Every chapter I kept asking myself will this book finally start to be enjoyable, the answer in my opinion was no.
I hope someone finds this book to their liking because I definitely could not stand reading the book
December 11, 2020
I truly wanted to love this story. It has everything, a touch of fantasy, a visit to one of my favorite places in the world (Japan), culture, a BIPOC protagonist, romance, beautiful vistas, a touch of magic. The story is intriguing, but I struggled with the execution, as I felt slowed down and disconnected by the details of every moment and every thought. This lead to me not connecting with the characters as much as I would like, because I was in their heads rather than their hearts.
I believe Keri Moore has a lot of potential as an author. Her imagination is vivid, and she clearly has a passion for what she is writing. I hope that as she continues to write, she finds that magical balance between showing and telling that truly brings a story to life.
I believe Keri Moore has a lot of potential as an author. Her imagination is vivid, and she clearly has a passion for what she is writing. I hope that as she continues to write, she finds that magical balance between showing and telling that truly brings a story to life.
October 12, 2021
A good story except...
This is a very enjoyable read, except that the author needs to learn the difference between lie, lied, lay, lain and laid.
This is a very enjoyable read, except that the author needs to learn the difference between lie, lied, lay, lain and laid.
December 28, 2022
Meh 😑. I liked it but I can’t give it 4 stars. I just feel that the erotic sex scene throw it for me. It messed up the tone of the story. Everything was fluffy and lovey dovey, you know, innocent then 💥, graphic sex scene. That’s the only thing I would change.
November 19, 2021
3.00 Stars. (BW/AM). kindle Edition-book. 0.99. Paramormal. Fox shape shifter. Despite my close warm to this story, the book is well written. Part of my problem with this book is the heroine, she comes off as a controlling know it all because she insists that her sister follow her instructions without question and her denial of her attraction and desire for the hero. The heroine, Dana Jones, is a 20-year-old college student who along with the her 18-year-old sister, Nikki, are taking a trip to Kyoto, Japan, to pursue the dreams of their mother for them to see the country and visit certain shrines. Upon their arrival, Dana enters a wager with a stranger regarding her marrying a demon in exchange for certain gifts. She accepts. Dana and the hero, meet shortly thereafter, when he saves her life and advises her that she has a rare heart that demons find desirable because it is endowed with the power to make the demon more powerful than he/she would otherwise be. Dana kept putting Sorahiko, the hero, off by accepting his proposal of marriage and then changing her mind. Eventually, they get an HEA but there is no real romantic chemistry development between the two.
January 9, 2022
The Kyoto, Japan trip and demons
This book was riveting, sent my blood pressure up but so worth the read. SPOILER ALERT: Dana’s heart was a sacred heart and every demon wanted it…her. Well not her literally but her heart (to eat it) as it would add 1000 years to their lives or so the fable goes. Clans tried to kill her but Sorahiko won her heart. Now they just have to convince her dad to let them get married.
This book was riveting, sent my blood pressure up but so worth the read. SPOILER ALERT: Dana’s heart was a sacred heart and every demon wanted it…her. Well not her literally but her heart (to eat it) as it would add 1000 years to their lives or so the fable goes. Clans tried to kill her but Sorahiko won her heart. Now they just have to convince her dad to let them get married.
February 20, 2021
I wanted to like it.
I so wanted to like it. It has a good premise but it just doesn't come together. The biggest issue is the lack of background information on the yokai. The next issue, Dana is hard to like. She spends a great deal of energy going over the same ground. It wasn't bad but it could've been so much better.
I so wanted to like it. It has a good premise but it just doesn't come together. The biggest issue is the lack of background information on the yokai. The next issue, Dana is hard to like. She spends a great deal of energy going over the same ground. It wasn't bad but it could've been so much better.
July 14, 2022
Big Inuyasha vibes! I loved watching Inuyasha as a kid and when I saw this my interest was immediately piqued. I am loving and living for seeing Black women in this genre. It was a great read but Dana really got on my nerves sometimes by being too overprotective over her 18 year old sister almost to the point of insanity. By the time Dana allows herself to get over her fear, she and Sorohiko make a great dynamic. I loved the wit and how descriptive the world and fights were.
December 11, 2022
Demonic Animals vs Humans?
A very quirky tale that pits human females against demons, and some of them fall in love. Good story but I didn't like the ending.
A very quirky tale that pits human females against demons, and some of them fall in love. Good story but I didn't like the ending.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews