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ambeesbookishpages's review against another edition
3.0
The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz
*Thank you so much Imprint and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review WHITE FOX*
Content Warnings: Talks of suicide, talks of murder, suggested murder, on page panic attacks, underage drinking.
When I read The Tenth Girl last May and I immediately fell in love with Sara's story telling. The Tenth Girl kept me on the edge of my seat with dark imagery, intriguing mystery and a science fiction twist that I didn't see coming. When Sara announced the news of White Fox I was thrilled, I couldn't wait to see what twists she has for her readers this time around. I did enjoy White Fox, but I didn't love it as much as I hoped it would.
What I didn't like:
-White Fox felt really slow, it wasn't until about 55% that the pace picked up and things actually began to happen. There were a couple of instances where I did debate on putting this book to the side.
- When the plot did pick up things became rushed and the events that happened, happened quickly and felt like they were forced into the story line. They didn't feel like they flowed nicely.
- I had a hard time differentiating the difference between Manon and Thais's point of views. Their voices were nearly identical. They both want to know what happened to their mother and the mystery surrounding it, but I feel as if they had no plan, acted impulsively on things and jumped to conclusions before gathering the facts.
- Where I loved being able to read the White Fox script, the cryptic notes at the end broke the illusion of the screen play. You are wrapped up in this vivid imagery that was created and suddenly thrown into cryptic notes. It was also no implied who these notes were for, I assumed it was to the girls mother but...
- There are characters introduced, but very little is explained about them. A few also don't even play an essential role in the plot. The scenes that included them felt more like filler then anything else.
- Hero Pharmaceuticals and Clouded Cage played such a huge role in White Fox but they aren't really dived into. It is established early on that Hero Pharmaceuticals made its name by developing Ladyx, a miracle drug. But other then that, there is no further explanation of what Hero Pharmaceuticals is doing, their past or what they are working on until the end of White Fox and even then its super minimal. Clouded Cage is Teddy (Manon and Thais's uncle) company where he invented the Pocket Girlfriend, Pocket Friend and a few other technologies that are mentioned through out the novel. White Fox just touches the surface of these technologies, especially for the role it plays within the novel.
What I did like:
-Regardless of the issues above Sara does have a very lyrical way to her writing and it is full of imagery.
- *slight spoiler, please skip if you want to be surprised*
- The White Fox screen play. It is dark and mystical and plays homage to so much of the mother's life and the things she has been through and the things she wishes she could escape.
- The last 10% of the book when things began to be revealed. I expected some of the stuff that came to light, I had figured it out about half way through. Manon says in the first chapter that they do find their mother, but what she didn't specify was if their mother was alive or dead. The first chapter makes you assume one thing throughout the whole story, but then in the climax it was quite the opposite. I'll leave it at this: It's a bitter sweet feeling.
- A story hasn't evoked deep emotions within me in a very long time, the fact the White Fox did that says enough. Despite the issues I had above, nothing can take away the fact that this novel is so much deeper then just this mystery.
- I loved watching Manon and Thais's relationship throughout the entirety of the story and where they ended up by the end of it. The story opens to the sisters living in two separate worlds with very little communication.
Overall White Fox had its good and bad things about it. As much as I loved certain parts of it I wished other parts were different. Everyone is going to take something different away from this novel and I think that's what I love about it the most. If you enjoy mystery, thrillers and books with a technological sci-fi edge I do encourage you to give this book a try.
*Thank you so much Imprint and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review WHITE FOX*
Content Warnings: Talks of suicide, talks of murder, suggested murder, on page panic attacks, underage drinking.
When I read The Tenth Girl last May and I immediately fell in love with Sara's story telling. The Tenth Girl kept me on the edge of my seat with dark imagery, intriguing mystery and a science fiction twist that I didn't see coming. When Sara announced the news of White Fox I was thrilled, I couldn't wait to see what twists she has for her readers this time around. I did enjoy White Fox, but I didn't love it as much as I hoped it would.
What I didn't like:
-White Fox felt really slow, it wasn't until about 55% that the pace picked up and things actually began to happen. There were a couple of instances where I did debate on putting this book to the side.
- When the plot did pick up things became rushed and the events that happened, happened quickly and felt like they were forced into the story line. They didn't feel like they flowed nicely.
- I had a hard time differentiating the difference between Manon and Thais's point of views. Their voices were nearly identical. They both want to know what happened to their mother and the mystery surrounding it, but I feel as if they had no plan, acted impulsively on things and jumped to conclusions before gathering the facts.
- Where I loved being able to read the White Fox script, the cryptic notes at the end broke the illusion of the screen play. You are wrapped up in this vivid imagery that was created and suddenly thrown into cryptic notes. It was also no implied who these notes were for, I assumed it was to the girls mother but...
- There are characters introduced, but very little is explained about them. A few also don't even play an essential role in the plot. The scenes that included them felt more like filler then anything else.
- Hero Pharmaceuticals and Clouded Cage played such a huge role in White Fox but they aren't really dived into. It is established early on that Hero Pharmaceuticals made its name by developing Ladyx, a miracle drug. But other then that, there is no further explanation of what Hero Pharmaceuticals is doing, their past or what they are working on until the end of White Fox and even then its super minimal. Clouded Cage is Teddy (Manon and Thais's uncle) company where he invented the Pocket Girlfriend, Pocket Friend and a few other technologies that are mentioned through out the novel. White Fox just touches the surface of these technologies, especially for the role it plays within the novel.
-Regardless of the issues above Sara does have a very lyrical way to her writing and it is full of imagery.
- *slight spoiler, please skip if you want to be surprised*
Spoiler
The Tenth Girl Easter eggs! I literally almost fell off my chair at a certain part when Teddy is talking to the girls, it makes me wonder about time lines and settings now. Like, technically it could work.- The White Fox screen play. It is dark and mystical and plays homage to so much of the mother's life and the things she has been through and the things she wishes she could escape.
- The last 10% of the book when things began to be revealed. I expected some of the stuff that came to light, I had figured it out about half way through. Manon says in the first chapter that they do find their mother, but what she didn't specify was if their mother was alive or dead. The first chapter makes you assume one thing throughout the whole story, but then in the climax it was quite the opposite. I'll leave it at this: It's a bitter sweet feeling.
- A story hasn't evoked deep emotions within me in a very long time, the fact the White Fox did that says enough. Despite the issues I had above, nothing can take away the fact that this novel is so much deeper then just this mystery.
- I loved watching Manon and Thais's relationship throughout the entirety of the story and where they ended up by the end of it. The story opens to the sisters living in two separate worlds with very little communication.
Overall White Fox had its good and bad things about it. As much as I loved certain parts of it I wished other parts were different. Everyone is going to take something different away from this novel and I think that's what I love about it the most. If you enjoy mystery, thrillers and books with a technological sci-fi edge I do encourage you to give this book a try.
thestoryowl's review against another edition
3.0
I was offered a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Right away, I was pulled in by the mysterious atmosphere of what this story was truly about. The way the chapters are broken up by narrator worked well, especially since one of the narrators (Boy) is such a unknown factor and gives such sinister vibes. The script like quality to the portions of “White Fox” sprinkled in had a ethereal fairytale feel that I liked but that never manifested past a shallow veneer.
Right around halfway through I started to get frustrated by being constantly reminded of the girls’ personalities, I either wanted answers or more high-stakes mystery. SOMETHING other than what felt like a groundhog’s day-esque repetition of Tai is the manic pixie dream girl and Noni is the pensive anxious wallflower.
The action picked up nicely at the end. The ending felt reasonable and well explained.
Right away, I was pulled in by the mysterious atmosphere of what this story was truly about. The way the chapters are broken up by narrator worked well, especially since one of the narrators (Boy) is such a unknown factor and gives such sinister vibes. The script like quality to the portions of “White Fox” sprinkled in had a ethereal fairytale feel that I liked but that never manifested past a shallow veneer.
Right around halfway through I started to get frustrated by being constantly reminded of the girls’ personalities, I either wanted answers or more high-stakes mystery. SOMETHING other than what felt like a groundhog’s day-esque repetition of Tai is the manic pixie dream girl and Noni is the pensive anxious wallflower.
The action picked up nicely at the end. The ending felt reasonable and well explained.
hyuniecrisp's review against another edition
- boring, confusing, and I couldn't really tell the different sister's voices from each other
- ALSO the audiobook narrators pronounce all of the names differently and I was losing my mind
owlyreadsalot's review against another edition
3.0
This book has some craziness going on, which really wasn't expected with the first few chapters I had begun reading. Yes, the synopsis gave the reader some of what was coming, but nothing that comes close to the eerie moments that fill a good chunk of the pages that followed. And does it ever! For me though, it took awhile before I could get around to those pages, because much of that first half was something I don't usually find myself reading.
That would have to do with all the glitz and glamour talk that was involved in much of that first half. A lot of that comes from what Manon and Tai's mother did for a living before she disappeared, but it was definitely my least favorite parts as it didn't do much to keep my interest peaked. So why continue? What kept me reading to get to those chilling moments? That would have to be the talks of the "Eden" place known as Viloxin, and the mysterious and dark place known as the Delirium Forest.
And really, that place is all kinds of messed up. There's one section where the reader really gets flipped around as the world begins to get distorted. Talking miniature creatures (figurines, but don't you dare call them that), walls that breathe and sound back, and mysterious men and the unknown that follow the sisters' every move. That was definitely enough to continue my interest in this novel, to find out what it all meant, and what happened to their mother all that time ago.
I didn't completely fall in love with this book, but I did come to enjoy and appreciate the twisty turns of the second half. There is so much strangeness and curiosity that fills the mind, it's hard not to find a middle ground with the world that's been created. I can tell you, if you're a fan of the weird, the talks of spirits and supernatural forests, a roller coaster of emotions, and mysteries left to be discovered, you should absolutely give this read a go. Be prepared for a shocking ending!
***I received this copy from Fierce Reads, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
That would have to do with all the glitz and glamour talk that was involved in much of that first half. A lot of that comes from what Manon and Tai's mother did for a living before she disappeared, but it was definitely my least favorite parts as it didn't do much to keep my interest peaked. So why continue? What kept me reading to get to those chilling moments? That would have to be the talks of the "Eden" place known as Viloxin, and the mysterious and dark place known as the Delirium Forest.
And really, that place is all kinds of messed up. There's one section where the reader really gets flipped around as the world begins to get distorted. Talking miniature creatures (figurines, but don't you dare call them that), walls that breathe and sound back, and mysterious men and the unknown that follow the sisters' every move. That was definitely enough to continue my interest in this novel, to find out what it all meant, and what happened to their mother all that time ago.
I didn't completely fall in love with this book, but I did come to enjoy and appreciate the twisty turns of the second half. There is so much strangeness and curiosity that fills the mind, it's hard not to find a middle ground with the world that's been created. I can tell you, if you're a fan of the weird, the talks of spirits and supernatural forests, a roller coaster of emotions, and mysteries left to be discovered, you should absolutely give this read a go. Be prepared for a shocking ending!
***I received this copy from Fierce Reads, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
_mercury_'s review against another edition
4.0
3.7 stars
This was SOOOOOOOOO much better than Faring's debut, The Tenth Girl. She got a story line, stuck to it, and kept the plot twists at a moderate level.
This was SOOOOOOOOO much better than Faring's debut, The Tenth Girl. She got a story line, stuck to it, and kept the plot twists at a moderate level.
alamayhem_reads's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book. Although I was hoping the screenplay would be more involved in the story, I also appreciated how little it was incorporated into the entire plot, making me that more excited when we did get to a new part of the screenplay. I also loved the messages and the creepiness/twisted nature of the novel. Full review to come soon
rkiladitis's review against another edition
3.0
Ten years ago, Mireille Fox-Hammick, world-famous actress and mother to daughters Manon and Thaïs, disappeared. Their pharma-tech genius father sent them away from their Mediterranean island home to be raised by an aunt in the States. Although the sisters grew apart, complete opposites, they remain united in their grief and desire to know what happened to their mother. When an gala in celebration of their mother's career brings them back to the island of Viloxin, they find clues to a script their mother had written, White Fox; an autobiographical script that would explain everything. As the girls get closer to the truth, they also uncover hidden secrets that some would prefer remain buried.
White Fox started out strong, but didn't maintain its momentum for me. I admit I went into the book thinking I was going to read something similar to the podcast, The Last Movie, where the focus is on the lost film and the story is captured through interviews with people connected to the movie. White Fox is more of a family story; a reconstructing of long-buried secrets and lies, intrigue and corruption. The two sisters have the usual YA diverging personalities: Manon is the bookish, unfussy sister, determined to find out what happened to her mother and reconcile her conflicted emotions surrounding her disappearance. Thaïs is the Instagram influencer, the party girl, who just wants to have a good time. The two reunite over their shared interest in the White Fox script and through unraveling the mysteries their mother and deceased father left behind, and script excerpts from the White Fox script drop hints that lead them through their next steps. Although the book gets off to a strong start, it just floundered as mysteries began getting tangled up in one another, leaving me wanting something more than what I came away with. It's worth a read for mystery and thriller fans, because it has its moments, but it's more of an additional purchase rather than a must-have.
White Fox started out strong, but didn't maintain its momentum for me. I admit I went into the book thinking I was going to read something similar to the podcast, The Last Movie, where the focus is on the lost film and the story is captured through interviews with people connected to the movie. White Fox is more of a family story; a reconstructing of long-buried secrets and lies, intrigue and corruption. The two sisters have the usual YA diverging personalities: Manon is the bookish, unfussy sister, determined to find out what happened to her mother and reconcile her conflicted emotions surrounding her disappearance. Thaïs is the Instagram influencer, the party girl, who just wants to have a good time. The two reunite over their shared interest in the White Fox script and through unraveling the mysteries their mother and deceased father left behind, and script excerpts from the White Fox script drop hints that lead them through their next steps. Although the book gets off to a strong start, it just floundered as mysteries began getting tangled up in one another, leaving me wanting something more than what I came away with. It's worth a read for mystery and thriller fans, because it has its moments, but it's more of an additional purchase rather than a must-have.
lesliewatwar's review against another edition
2.0
This is my second Faring book. This one was much better than her first, but still lacked a solid story for me.
The idea of the story is intriguing! Sisters looking for the truth behind their famous mother's mysterious disappearance. I was hooked in the beginning. Then, about halfway through or so, I began to get lost. The description of some the events or places were overdone so much I couldn't tell what was going on.
The idea of the story is intriguing! Sisters looking for the truth behind their famous mother's mysterious disappearance. I was hooked in the beginning. Then, about halfway through or so, I began to get lost. The description of some the events or places were overdone so much I couldn't tell what was going on.
henrymarlene's review against another edition
2.0
White Fox started out as a very intriguing Hollywood-esque mystery with a twist – a once famous star who goes missing with an elusive secret script waiting to be found. The book itself feels like a dreamscape. It is otherworldly in some senses: the forest and the cabins filled with strange people and objects of wonder, the family mansion left desolate and uninhabited, the folklore of the island, and the weird mechanical beings that seemed to respond like humans. It all seemed like a lot going on all at once, and this was both captivating and distracting.
Two sisters, Manon and Thais, are lulled back to their home on a remote Mediterranean island to ‘celebrate’ the life of their mother, Mirelle Foix Hammick. They get caught up searching for the elusive ‘White Fox’ manuscript, written by Mirelle before she mysteriously vanished. Their quest of sorts is to find a connection to their home and to find their mother and the script. It is a book that has to be massaged while you read it to get substance out of it. It was imaginative, transcendent and unusual but something didn’t gel for me, and I still can’t put my finger on it. Some parts where I wished for more substance seemed rushed, like the sisters who seemed to be running everywhere. Other parts were detailed and I was not sure if the detail was for Manon and Thais or for the reader. One element I liked was the coming together of the sisters after such a long time estranged. It was hard work and was not instant, so there was a realness to the experience for both of them. It was often hard to remember who was who between them, as their inner thoughts were almost identical: that helped to solidify the connection between them; being lost for so long and living separate lives, they were in sync through their emotions and spiritual connections. A very interesting story.
Two sisters, Manon and Thais, are lulled back to their home on a remote Mediterranean island to ‘celebrate’ the life of their mother, Mirelle Foix Hammick. They get caught up searching for the elusive ‘White Fox’ manuscript, written by Mirelle before she mysteriously vanished. Their quest of sorts is to find a connection to their home and to find their mother and the script. It is a book that has to be massaged while you read it to get substance out of it. It was imaginative, transcendent and unusual but something didn’t gel for me, and I still can’t put my finger on it. Some parts where I wished for more substance seemed rushed, like the sisters who seemed to be running everywhere. Other parts were detailed and I was not sure if the detail was for Manon and Thais or for the reader. One element I liked was the coming together of the sisters after such a long time estranged. It was hard work and was not instant, so there was a realness to the experience for both of them. It was often hard to remember who was who between them, as their inner thoughts were almost identical: that helped to solidify the connection between them; being lost for so long and living separate lives, they were in sync through their emotions and spiritual connections. A very interesting story.