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dcfelk's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Eerie, lovely, textured. Layout and margins are gorgeous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, and Animal cruelty
ninebookishlives's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Child death
opossumreads's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Murder, Suicide, Child death, and Animal cruelty
elee2013's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I love these historical, not quite fantasy, mature and complex stories that YC writes! And her audio narration is always top notch — her voice is beautiful, the pacing fits perfectly, and of course, her bilingualism is excellent.
Snow, our main character, is curious, clever, and occasionally foolish, like any good fox spirit. She’s experienced a horrible thing, and she’s set out on a quest for revenge, but she can’t help being a good fox along the way. I love her interactions with people, and her internal monologue is charming.
Bao’s story is a sweet counterpart to Snow’s — as he follows along behind on her trail, we learn more about Snow from outside perspectives, and the events preceding the beginning of the novel. His relationship with Taktah (sp?) is cute too!
YC paces her books in the way I like best — it starts slowly, from far away, but as the end comes closer and closer, it speeds up to fly by you like a train. It’s never good to have too many foxes in one place!
Snow, our main character, is curious, clever, and occasionally foolish, like any good fox spirit. She’s experienced a horrible thing, and she’s set out on a quest for revenge, but she can’t help being a good fox along the way. I love her interactions with people, and her internal monologue is charming.
Bao’s story is a sweet counterpart to Snow’s — as he follows along behind on her trail, we learn more about Snow from outside perspectives, and the events preceding the beginning of the novel. His relationship with Taktah (sp?) is cute too!
YC paces her books in the way I like best — it starts slowly, from far away, but as the end comes closer and closer, it speeds up to fly by you like a train. It’s never good to have too many foxes in one place!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Grief
Minor: Violence, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Blood, Animal death, and Fire/Fire injury
hamohero's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Blood, Child death, Animal death, Addiction, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Toxic friendship, Classism, Vomit, Infidelity, and Mental illness
gingermouse's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty
Minor: Animal death
nukie19's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Like her other books, Choo weaves Chinese fantasy and historical events for a beautifully written story about a Fox who is out to avenge the death of her daughter. This is a very slow burn novel that alternates viewpoints between Snow, the fox who spends most the story as a beautiful woman, and Bao, a detective investigating a murder but who has a long history of interest in foxes.
There are a lot of high points but overall I felt this novel falls short of the high expectations that Choo set with her first two novels. The alternating viewpoints take a very long time to come together even though the two big reveals are pretty well choreographed early. She also spends some time explaining the Chinese folklore as events transpire, which is great for context but occasionally is a bit disruptive. Overall, a solid read for those who enjoy magical realism, especially in historical contexts.
Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
There are a lot of high points but overall I felt this novel falls short of the high expectations that Choo set with her first two novels. The alternating viewpoints take a very long time to come together even though the two big reveals are pretty well choreographed early. She also spends some time explaining the Chinese folklore as events transpire, which is great for context but occasionally is a bit disruptive. Overall, a solid read for those who enjoy magical realism, especially in historical contexts.
Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Animal death, Confinement, Alcohol, Death, Child death, Blood, and Grief
queergoth_reads's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley but all thoughts are my own.
This was an incredibly crafted tale. It's slow and steady and I was entranced by it. It is a tale of grief and vengeance and mystery. It was a heavy read at points but also fun and mysterious. The blending of Chinese fox mythology with a detective novel was so well done.
All the characters had such incredibly rich stores, even when they were a small part of the book and I think that really brought a lot of it to life.
This was an incredibly crafted tale. It's slow and steady and I was entranced by it. It is a tale of grief and vengeance and mystery. It was a heavy read at points but also fun and mysterious. The blending of Chinese fox mythology with a detective novel was so well done.
All the characters had such incredibly rich stores, even when they were a small part of the book and I think that really brought a lot of it to life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Animal death, Child death, and Misogyny
Moderate: Medical content, Confinement, and Misogyny
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
simonlorden's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I received an advanced copy through NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
"I was very sad without you."
Oh, I loved this. The Fox Wife is a magical story about fox spirits, but also about a mother's love for her child, but also two love stories in one. I gasped when the lines between the two POV characters connected, and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the reunion.
I loved the dynamic between the three foxes, and all the hints about their past that slowly forms a story, and the way the puzzle was gradually put together. I loved all the myths and magic around them, and the ending was just so soft and gentle, I won't quote it here because everyone should experience those final lines themselves.
My only complaint is that the three foxes didn't end up polyamorous like they absolutely should have (in my mind).
"I was very sad without you."
Oh, I loved this. The Fox Wife is a magical story about fox spirits, but also about a mother's love for her child, but also two love stories in one. I gasped when the lines between the two POV characters connected, and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the reunion.
I loved the dynamic between the three foxes, and all the hints about their past that slowly forms a story, and the way the puzzle was gradually put together. I loved all the myths and magic around them, and the ending was just so soft and gentle, I won't quote it here because everyone should experience those final lines themselves.
My only complaint is that the three foxes didn't end up polyamorous like they absolutely should have (in my mind).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Animal death
Moderate: Child death