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roshreviews's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.25
In a Nutshell: This is supposedly a retelling of ‘The Little Mermaid’ but it has hardly any similarities to the original. (And I mean the ‘original’ by Hans Christian Andersen, not the Disney version.) Mixed feelings, but the lore elements were outstanding. Not as good as the second book of this series, but not bad as well.
Story Synopsis:
Rin is an immortal kitsune (a magical fox with shapeshifting abilities). However, a witch’s curse has turned her into a human without the ability to utter any sound. To regain her abilities, Rin has to fulfil the witch’s directive within the next fortnight. This would have been an easy command to carry out, except that it involves Hikaru, a human who is the eldest son of a local lord and will do anything to protect his clan. When Hikaru spies Rin, he feels an instant connect with her, but when the “lady” who charmed him doesn’t even speak, he feels torn between his heart and his duties.
Okay, the story involves a lot more than this and I can’t do justice to it here. It focusses on Rin, Hikaru, their attraction and clashes, and if/how things will return to how they were. Also involved in the proceedings are a boar, a dragon, a wolf, and a disgruntled second son, and the proceedings include clan rivalries, angry ‘guardians’, and a lot more. It is very complicated to sum up here!
The story is written in the third person limited narration of various characters, though Rin and Hikaru get the maximum chunk.
Where the book worked for me:
✔ Loved reading all the parts connected to Japanese lore – kitsune, yokai, and many other names that I don’t know how to spell because I heard the audiobook. 😛
✔ I had ended up reading the second book of this series (<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4860752387”>Yuki: A Snow White Retelling</a>) prior to this one. I love how neatly the ending of this segued into the second. At the same time, the second works perfectly as a standalone too. The author’s plot is well-planned!
✔ Rin is a wonderful lead character and carries the story well on her shoulders. I liked Shin as well, though Hikaru failed to live up to my expectations.
✔ To me, its biggest plus point was that it gave me a nice background to the procedings in Yuki.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
❌ This is a very distant retelling of the original fairy tale, though it is as dark as the Hans Christian Andersen version. Moreover, my brain refused to accept a ‘Little Mermaid’ retelling set in a forest. I missed the ocean!
❌ The plot becomes repetitive in between. Unlike in Yuki, there is a whole lot of rambling and hardly any action. Everyone is just mouthing the same thoughts again and again. (Plus, a few of the scenes are really silly.) This book definitely required a better editor.
❌ The pacing is quite slow, a problem exacerbated by the repetition mentioned above. It picks up only in the final quarter. (Having the audiobook helped.)
❌ There are too many characters, and too many character perspectives. After a while, it becomes tough to remember who was who and who is fighting under whom and against whom. Many of the characters are interconnected, which worsens the problem.
The audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at a little more than 9 hours, is narrated by the talented Joanna Roddy. Reading a slow-paced book in the audio version is definitely a benefit. At the same time, there are too many sub plots during which the narration keeps shifting to the respective character. If you are the kind who loses focus easily in the audio version, stick to reading.
On the positive side, the author does seem to have sharpened her craft after this book because most of the flaws I mentioned were not present in ‘Yuki’. I still want to read the final book of this trilogy, especially as it focusses on Shin. I want to know what happens to him.
Overall, I liked ‘Kitsune’, but I didn’t love it. Worth a one-time read.
3.25 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the author through ‘StoryOrigin’ and these are my honest thoughts about it.
Story Synopsis:
Rin is an immortal kitsune (a magical fox with shapeshifting abilities). However, a witch’s curse has turned her into a human without the ability to utter any sound. To regain her abilities, Rin has to fulfil the witch’s directive within the next fortnight. This would have been an easy command to carry out, except that it involves Hikaru, a human who is the eldest son of a local lord and will do anything to protect his clan. When Hikaru spies Rin, he feels an instant connect with her, but when the “lady” who charmed him doesn’t even speak, he feels torn between his heart and his duties.
Okay, the story involves a lot more than this and I can’t do justice to it here. It focusses on Rin, Hikaru, their attraction and clashes, and if/how things will return to how they were. Also involved in the proceedings are a boar, a dragon, a wolf, and a disgruntled second son, and the proceedings include clan rivalries, angry ‘guardians’, and a lot more. It is very complicated to sum up here!
The story is written in the third person limited narration of various characters, though Rin and Hikaru get the maximum chunk.
Where the book worked for me:
✔ Loved reading all the parts connected to Japanese lore – kitsune, yokai, and many other names that I don’t know how to spell because I heard the audiobook. 😛
✔ I had ended up reading the second book of this series (<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4860752387”>Yuki: A Snow White Retelling</a>) prior to this one. I love how neatly the ending of this segued into the second. At the same time, the second works perfectly as a standalone too. The author’s plot is well-planned!
✔ Rin is a wonderful lead character and carries the story well on her shoulders. I liked Shin as well, though Hikaru failed to live up to my expectations.
✔ To me, its biggest plus point was that it gave me a nice background to the procedings in Yuki.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
❌ This is a very distant retelling of the original fairy tale, though it is as dark as the Hans Christian Andersen version. Moreover, my brain refused to accept a ‘Little Mermaid’ retelling set in a forest. I missed the ocean!
❌ The plot becomes repetitive in between. Unlike in Yuki, there is a whole lot of rambling and hardly any action. Everyone is just mouthing the same thoughts again and again. (Plus, a few of the scenes are really silly.) This book definitely required a better editor.
❌ The pacing is quite slow, a problem exacerbated by the repetition mentioned above. It picks up only in the final quarter. (Having the audiobook helped.)
❌ There are too many characters, and too many character perspectives. After a while, it becomes tough to remember who was who and who is fighting under whom and against whom. Many of the characters are interconnected, which worsens the problem.
The audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at a little more than 9 hours, is narrated by the talented Joanna Roddy. Reading a slow-paced book in the audio version is definitely a benefit. At the same time, there are too many sub plots during which the narration keeps shifting to the respective character. If you are the kind who loses focus easily in the audio version, stick to reading.
On the positive side, the author does seem to have sharpened her craft after this book because most of the flaws I mentioned were not present in ‘Yuki’. I still want to read the final book of this trilogy, especially as it focusses on Shin. I want to know what happens to him.
Overall, I liked ‘Kitsune’, but I didn’t love it. Worth a one-time read.
3.25 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the author through ‘StoryOrigin’ and these are my honest thoughts about it.
ewil6681's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
justchelsea's review against another edition
1.0
Again, I wanted SO BAD to like one of her books, but the grammatical errors and lack of proper editing really ruined the story. This author would benefit greatly by just getting a good editor. She clearly has the imagination.
bookcleavage's review against another edition
1.0
DNF'd after 64 pages.
The writing was very amateurish
The story wasn't original or unique or engaging
None of the characters had any personality
There was never any realistic dialogue
I just couldn't anymore with this...
The writing was very amateurish
The story wasn't original or unique or engaging
None of the characters had any personality
There was never any realistic dialogue
I just couldn't anymore with this...
pagesinkedinshadows's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
3.5
This was definitely an interesting twist of a retelling.
There is so much going on and still so much to learn, hoping for more answers in book 2.
There is so much going on and still so much to learn, hoping for more answers in book 2.
liz_lyles's review against another edition
1.0
I really wanted this book to be good. I have loved the different takes on fairy tales lately. I just could not get into the book, even the action scenes were dull.
cneywendleton's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty Good
Reads almost like a Martial Arts movie. Could be a bit slow going on places but really picks up at the end.
Reads almost like a Martial Arts movie. Could be a bit slow going on places but really picks up at the end.
lunadaea's review against another edition
5.0
As I sit here writing this review, there are a lot of thoughts racing around my mind. Now don’t think they are bad thoughts, believe me, they’re not. But these thoughts threaten to break me. There aren’t enough words in the English language to describe how I am feeling.
The Little Mermaid is one of my favourite fairy tales/Disney movies. In fact, it’s my third favourite. Aladdin being first and Beauty and the Beast coming in close second. This means that I hold retellings to a very high standard. Call me ridiculous, but that’s just me. But let me tell you that the retelling I have just completed surpassed all of my expectations. If anything, it has raised the bar.
Kitsune is one of the best novels I have read this year. And thanks to my gargantuan of a reading slump, I haven’t read that many. It’s a tale of love, war and betrayal, with a huge dollop of magic. I love me some magic. If I had to sum it up in one word, well, I can’t. That’s how good it was.
I went into to this novel not knowing much about and that is the best way to enjoy this novel. As much as I love the supernatural I had no idea what a Kitsune or Yokai was. I knew it was something do with animals but I did not fully understand what they were. But even with my lesser knowledge I cannot believe how much I enjoyed this book. It’s one of those novels that you just know will stay with you.
Nicolette Andrews, how talented you are. Is there some special potion you drink that give you magic writing powers? If so, where can I get some?
This is the first novel I have read by this fabulous author and it definitely won’t be the last. In fact, when I finish this review I am going to jump on Amazon and go on a book hunt.
Anyway on with the actual review.
The world in Kitsune is unique, magical, beautiful and, above all, one I don’t want to leave. The vivid descriptions brought to life many magnificent images in my mind. I didn’t know words could leave me like this. And don’t even get me started on the characters. But this is a review so I kind of have to.
Each character is brought to life in just a few lines. Every character is complicated but in the most beautiful of ways. Shin, for example. I liked him, then I hated him. And then I liked him again. This is the kind of power Nicolette holds. There were points in the book I where I didn’t know what to do with myself.
I have read many retellings where the plot is exactly the same as the original storyline. Kitsune did the opposite. While keeping the same elements as The Little Mermaid, Nicolette turned the story into something else. Going into it, I knew to expect the same sort of story but in actual fact, I found myself lost in a world bares only a slight resemblance to that of its origin. That’s what drew me in. The fact that Kitsune is a retelling that is not a retelling.
Towards the end of the book, I found myself reluctant to keep reading. I didn’t want the story to end. As I type, I am staring at my Kindle and I’m struggling to keep myself from diving back into that world. There was action in every chapter and right now, I’m struggling to keep the spoilers from presenting themselves on this post. The pace, oh my God the pace. It wasn’t too fast and it wasn’t too slow. It was just right. And now I feel like Goldilocks.
I highly recommend jumping to Amazon and grabbing this novel before it’s too late. I promise you, you will not regret it. If you do, then you obviously have no taste in literature. Nah, I’m just kidding. But seriously. Get. This. Book.
*Enter Shia LeBeouf*
So there we have it. Your next favourite read.
The Little Mermaid is one of my favourite fairy tales/Disney movies. In fact, it’s my third favourite. Aladdin being first and Beauty and the Beast coming in close second. This means that I hold retellings to a very high standard. Call me ridiculous, but that’s just me. But let me tell you that the retelling I have just completed surpassed all of my expectations. If anything, it has raised the bar.
Kitsune is one of the best novels I have read this year. And thanks to my gargantuan of a reading slump, I haven’t read that many. It’s a tale of love, war and betrayal, with a huge dollop of magic. I love me some magic. If I had to sum it up in one word, well, I can’t. That’s how good it was.
I went into to this novel not knowing much about and that is the best way to enjoy this novel. As much as I love the supernatural I had no idea what a Kitsune or Yokai was. I knew it was something do with animals but I did not fully understand what they were. But even with my lesser knowledge I cannot believe how much I enjoyed this book. It’s one of those novels that you just know will stay with you.
Nicolette Andrews, how talented you are. Is there some special potion you drink that give you magic writing powers? If so, where can I get some?
This is the first novel I have read by this fabulous author and it definitely won’t be the last. In fact, when I finish this review I am going to jump on Amazon and go on a book hunt.
Anyway on with the actual review.
The world in Kitsune is unique, magical, beautiful and, above all, one I don’t want to leave. The vivid descriptions brought to life many magnificent images in my mind. I didn’t know words could leave me like this. And don’t even get me started on the characters. But this is a review so I kind of have to.
Each character is brought to life in just a few lines. Every character is complicated but in the most beautiful of ways. Shin, for example. I liked him, then I hated him. And then I liked him again. This is the kind of power Nicolette holds. There were points in the book I where I didn’t know what to do with myself.
I have read many retellings where the plot is exactly the same as the original storyline. Kitsune did the opposite. While keeping the same elements as The Little Mermaid, Nicolette turned the story into something else. Going into it, I knew to expect the same sort of story but in actual fact, I found myself lost in a world bares only a slight resemblance to that of its origin. That’s what drew me in. The fact that Kitsune is a retelling that is not a retelling.
Towards the end of the book, I found myself reluctant to keep reading. I didn’t want the story to end. As I type, I am staring at my Kindle and I’m struggling to keep myself from diving back into that world. There was action in every chapter and right now, I’m struggling to keep the spoilers from presenting themselves on this post. The pace, oh my God the pace. It wasn’t too fast and it wasn’t too slow. It was just right. And now I feel like Goldilocks.
I highly recommend jumping to Amazon and grabbing this novel before it’s too late. I promise you, you will not regret it. If you do, then you obviously have no taste in literature. Nah, I’m just kidding. But seriously. Get. This. Book.
*Enter Shia LeBeouf*
So there we have it. Your next favourite read.
originstorytoloveisdestroy's review against another edition
3.0
The beginning was very tough to get through but it was good overall. I enjoyed the spin on the little mermaid with the blending of Japanese folklore.
lili_darknight's review against another edition
4.0
A little mermaid retelling? I think this story is so much more! Kitsune is part of Japanese mythology and as a fox spirit; she has really interesting life full of mischief. I loved the Japanese culture; it was so different in every way. It was really refreshing. The story was thrilling and emotional and mysterious. I had no idea, what is going to happen next. Even better than the story were the characters. Rin was like fresh air because of her foxiness. Hikaru was sweet in one way, but honourable in the other. I got really great story full of magic and different creatures. I loved it!