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booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
SOUL OF THE SWORD picks up where SHADOW OF THE FOX left off, with Yumeko and her remaining party traveling to the Steel Feather temple, and the demon Hakaimono taking Kage Tatsumi's body far away in pursuing its own aims.
The worldbuilding uses what was established in SHADOW OF THE FOX and builds on it, generally explaining things as they come up rather than trying to extemporize. Some things aren't explained but just implied because the other characters have social contexts that Yumeko doesn't, which allows some things to build undisturbed because Yumeko doesn't disrupt them by asking about them. There's one relationship in particular that Yumeko mostly discovers by accident and leaves to develop on its own once she gets an inkling that it exists. The relationships between the characters and the delicate balances of loyalties, promises, and honor-bound obligations which bind them together and propel their journey is just stunning. Each combination of characters has their own dynamic which shifts (usually subtly though sometimes dramatically) as things progress.
I'm so happy about the dynamic between Yumeko, Kage Tatsumi, and Hakaimono. It's not always great for the characters involved, but it's very well written and gains nuance here that wasn't available when Hakaimono was only a disruptive thought in Kage Tatsumi's head. Hakaimono gets to be a much fuller character while Kage Tatsumi fades mostly into the background, reversing their positions from the first book (but this time with the benefit of having experienced Kage Tatsumi's perspective). I'm excited for the novel possibilities opened up by their status at the end of this book, but I have no idea whether it'll actually turn out well for them.
As a sequel, this begins right where the first book left off, with some refreshers of who everyone is, but it continues the action almost straight away. It wraps up the question of what happened next to Hakaimono/Kage Tatsumi after the finale, and also gives more information on a relationship which had glimmers of something more intimate showing by the end of SHADOW OF THE FOX. The new main storyline revolves around rescuing the person who actually knows where the temple they need is, and journeying to the temple to bring together the first and second parts of the scroll. I'm not sure if anything major is introduced and resolved which wasn't present before, since this is part two of a quest they intended to complete in the first book but were unable to. Also, most things which appeared here for the first time clearly will have some continuation and resolution in the final book. This leaves several things for later, some relationships, some internal struggles, and several quest-related items. The main characters are the same, even the audiobook narrators for each character continued as before (one for Yumeko, one for Hakaimono/Kage Tatsumi, and one for Suki the ghost plus any other perspectives as needed).
I don't think this would make sense if someone tried to start here and hadn't read the first book. This is a very character-driven book, with the relationships (and occasional tensions) between the members of the group forming the heart of the story. A lot of their interpersonal dynamics play off of the history of why, how, and when they began traveling together. One very dramatic scene between the noble and the ronin (possibly my favorite) has a depth of emotion and tension which relies on the second half of the first book in addition to most of the second up to that point in order to have its full impact. The plot is a journey story, with the characters traveling to find out a particular location then going on a multi-stage quest to actually reach it, then their arrival prompts a series of conflicts as their pursuers catch up.
I love this series and I'm excited to get to the end, since this really is one giant story split into thirds and I need to know the conclusion.
The worldbuilding uses what was established in SHADOW OF THE FOX and builds on it, generally explaining things as they come up rather than trying to extemporize. Some things aren't explained but just implied because the other characters have social contexts that Yumeko doesn't, which allows some things to build undisturbed because Yumeko doesn't disrupt them by asking about them. There's one relationship in particular that Yumeko mostly discovers by accident and leaves to develop on its own once she gets an inkling that it exists. The relationships between the characters and the delicate balances of loyalties, promises, and honor-bound obligations which bind them together and propel their journey is just stunning. Each combination of characters has their own dynamic which shifts (usually subtly though sometimes dramatically) as things progress.
I'm so happy about the dynamic between Yumeko, Kage Tatsumi, and Hakaimono. It's not always great for the characters involved, but it's very well written and gains nuance here that wasn't available when Hakaimono was only a disruptive thought in Kage Tatsumi's head. Hakaimono gets to be a much fuller character while Kage Tatsumi fades mostly into the background, reversing their positions from the first book (but this time with the benefit of having experienced Kage Tatsumi's perspective). I'm excited for the novel possibilities opened up by their status at the end of this book, but I have no idea whether it'll actually turn out well for them.
As a sequel, this begins right where the first book left off, with some refreshers of who everyone is, but it continues the action almost straight away. It wraps up the question of what happened next to Hakaimono/Kage Tatsumi after the finale, and also gives more information on a relationship which had glimmers of something more intimate showing by the end of SHADOW OF THE FOX. The new main storyline revolves around rescuing the person who actually knows where the temple they need is, and journeying to the temple to bring together the first and second parts of the scroll. I'm not sure if anything major is introduced and resolved which wasn't present before, since this is part two of a quest they intended to complete in the first book but were unable to. Also, most things which appeared here for the first time clearly will have some continuation and resolution in the final book. This leaves several things for later, some relationships, some internal struggles, and several quest-related items. The main characters are the same, even the audiobook narrators for each character continued as before (one for Yumeko, one for Hakaimono/Kage Tatsumi, and one for Suki the ghost plus any other perspectives as needed).
I don't think this would make sense if someone tried to start here and hadn't read the first book. This is a very character-driven book, with the relationships (and occasional tensions) between the members of the group forming the heart of the story. A lot of their interpersonal dynamics play off of the history of why, how, and when they began traveling together. One very dramatic scene between the noble and the ronin (possibly my favorite) has a depth of emotion and tension which relies on the second half of the first book in addition to most of the second up to that point in order to have its full impact. The plot is a journey story, with the characters traveling to find out a particular location then going on a multi-stage quest to actually reach it, then their arrival prompts a series of conflicts as their pursuers catch up.
I love this series and I'm excited to get to the end, since this really is one giant story split into thirds and I need to know the conclusion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Violence, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Misogyny, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Sexism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, and Animal death
Minor: Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
tragedies's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This series is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. I loved this book just as much as the last one, if not more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. If it weren't for my classes, I probably would've finished this in one sitting. Kagawa's writing is vivid and immersive, almost as if I was there with the characters watching everything unfold before my eyes and I couldn't look away no matter how hard I tried. From the first to the last chapter, I was completely hooked.
The story started out a bit slow, but the characters more than made up for it. They complement each other so well that I honestly can't imagine the story with one of them missing. Although they were brought together by circumstance, they seem like they've known each other their whole lives, what with their easy chemistry and witty banter and unwavering loyalty. I've grown to love this bunch of random misfits, even more so now that I finished the Soul of the Sword. I'm not sure what's going to happen to them in the next book, but my god, I just want all of them to be happy. I don't think my heart can take it if they weren't.
Reread (July 13, 2022): Wow. That ending though. I still don't know what this is building up to, but I have a feeling the finale's gonna be an emotional rollercoaster. Not sure I'm mentally prepared for that, but here goes nothing...
The story started out a bit slow, but the characters more than made up for it. They complement each other so well that I honestly can't imagine the story with one of them missing. Although they were brought together by circumstance, they seem like they've known each other their whole lives, what with their easy chemistry and witty banter and unwavering loyalty. I've grown to love this bunch of random misfits, even more so now that I finished the Soul of the Sword. I'm not sure what's going to happen to them in the next book, but my god, I just want all of them to be happy. I don't think my heart can take it if they weren't.
Reread (July 13, 2022): Wow. That ending though. I still don't know what this is building up to, but I have a feeling the finale's gonna be an emotional rollercoaster. Not sure I'm mentally prepared for that, but here goes nothing...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, and Gore
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
emily_mh's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
4.5. For the most part, this was a fantastic instalment in the Shadow of the Fox trilogy - it's ending sequence in particular was phenomenal and a huge step-up from the first book. Also, Kagawa writes really good romances, ESPECIALLY pining, which I LOVE. However, at first I really wasn't enjoying it, and I think that was because in the beginning so much of the story was told from Hakaimono's perspective. I simply wasn't interested in him, and thought his POV should have been told in Tastumi's voice, or at least there should have been less chapters from him. Also, I lost a lot of respect for Yumeko in the end for making the incredibly selfish decision to give the scroll to Genno. I also felt like it was lazy writing for Genno to be able to come into command of all three pieces of the scroll, when this could have been engineered in some other way to avoid Yumeko having to make a selfish and illogical decision. Despite this, I am definitely looking forward to reading Night of the Dragon!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Murder, Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Body horror
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, War, Physical abuse, and Alcohol
Minor: Grief, Child death, Ableism, Vomit, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Excrement, Cursing, Sexual content, Infidelity, Torture, Self harm, Medical content, and Confinement
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