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Shadow of the Fox (Shadow of the Fox, #1)

Julie Kagawa

Start date: September 1, 2021

Finish date: September 30, 2021

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What Members Thought

Oct 10, 2018 Lesa Divine rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018, read-it, library

Yumeko made to protect a powerful stroll from those that wants to use it for evil. Kage a demonslayer is made to not have feeling to stay away from humans and do as he's told. It's the rules to keep the demon from taking over his body. But with who he think is a pleasant girl on a journey with him to get a stroll he don't know she's more than a girl. Their journey become more interesting.
With samurais, ghosts, demons, wind witches and mages they journey becomes more interesting.

I'll read book 2 ...more

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May 12, 2019 Ronyell rated it it was amazing

Shelves: creepy-ending, my-blog-reviews, sexy-bad-boy-hero, young-adult-teen-books, sexy-good-girl-heroine, strong-heroine, fantasy, strong-hero, fairy-tales-folktales, best-of-2019

5.5 stars!!!

“It is very hard to be human, little fox. Even the humans themselves don’t do a great job of it.”

I had never read any of Julie Kagawa’s books before, even though I had heard about her famous “Iron Fey” series. So, when Owlcrate sent me a copy of her newest book “Shadow of the Fox,” I just knew that I had to check this book out and man, was this one of the best books that I had ever read this year!

Many years ago, a Kami Dragon was summoned to grant one wish and the land of Iw ...more

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Aug 20, 2019 Jenn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-finished, ya-fantasy

I loved Julie Kagawa's previous trilogy and once I had heard that she had new series out I couldn't wait to read it. Shadow of the Fox definitely didn't disappoint.

It is a world built around Japanese culture and fantasy.

"One thousand years ago, the Great Kami Dragon was summoned to grant a single terrible wish-and the land of iwagoto was plunged into an age of darkeness and chaos".

This is the basis of the story. Whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers, will be granted a wish. There are I loved Julie Kagawa's previous trilogy and once I had heard that she had new series out I couldn't wait to read it. Shadow of the Fox definitely didn't disappoint.

It is a world built around Japanese culture and fantasy.

"One thousand years ago, the Great Kami Dragon was summoned to grant a single terrible wish-and the land of iwagoto was plunged into an age of darkeness and chaos".

This is the basis of the story. Whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers, will be granted a wish. There are 4 pieces of the scroll scattered throughout the land and once the pieces are together it will grant the wish. There are evil forces who are trying to find the scroll.

The world within Shadow of the Fox reminds me of old world Japan days. With samurais and bushidos. It's a world that I absolutely loved.

Yumeko lived and grew up in the Silent Wind Temple. She has been living a quaint quiet life being part kitsune and part human. Things change when an oni (demon) attack the temple and kill everyone, including Master Isao. She is thrust into a journey she knows nothing about when Master Isao gives her a scroll piece and tells her she must get to another temple to warn the monks there who have the 2nd piece of the scroll.

Along the way she meets Kage Tatsumi, who is part of the Shadow Clan and is the holder of the Kamigoroshi blade which holds an Hakaimono (an old demon) within it. Tatsumi has trained to be able to bear the blade and keep the demon at bay within himself.

Yumeko and Tatsumi are two people that forge a friendship/alliance that is unlikely. They both do not know each other's secrets yet must work together for the same end goal, yet each not knowing the exact reason. Tatsumi has been trained not to care for others, yet Yumeko seems to break his barrier. I am looking forward to see how this relationship progresses in future books.

The ronin, Okame, is quite the likable character. He ends up joining the duo and adds a bit of light heartedness and humor to a serious situation. While he may act like a drunk or that he doesn't care about much he is actually a good fighter and surprises even Tatsumi. I really enjoy this character.

One thing I noticed throughout this book is the life lessons that happens. Or basically if you do good to someone else then down the line this act will "pay you back", so to speak. Yumeko is the one who is doing these acts as she is very naive to the outside world since she had never left the temple in her life. Her actions are based on what she has learned at the temple with the monks.

There wasn't really anything that I disliked about the book. One thing I am hoping is that each time there is a type of altercation we don't see Yumeko being too "goody-goody" as she was in a few encounters when they ended. I'm thinking that this may not be the case with the way the book ended.

I love Asian inspired stories and with Shadow of the Fox being a fantasy novel also it was just icing on the cake. The writing style was easy to read. I really enjoyed this story and will definitely be reading the remaining books, especially the next one as the author left quite the cliff hanger. Overall wonderful read and will have to look into when the next book comes out. ...more

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