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themoodreader's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Death
Minor: Murder, Confinement, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Death, and Kidnapping
kassidyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Death, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Blood, Gore, and Body horror
Minor: Alcohol
fullybookedlola's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
At the beginning, the start didn't get that fast to me. It was only around chapter 6 that I started to like it, but reading more of it made the difference. Never taught I will love this book like I do now! Also the ending! The ending was too satisfying to be true, it was the perfect scenario to read as my last pages. Will definitely jump onto book 2!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual assault, Animal death, Alcohol, Grief, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent
booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
Yumeko spends a lot of time hiding the fact that she's half kitsune, with repeated references to how she's averting her instinctual reaction of doing magic when she's in danger, and making sure to avoid reflections (e.g. water, mirrors) because her ears and tail will be visible in them. I love how Yumeko gradually collects people and decides to journey with them while Tatsumi only barely avoids constantly feeling frustrated because he has to keep from showing any emotions at all. It's a great grumpy/sunshine dynamic and I enjoyed it immensely. At first I was a bit frustrated by Tatsumi's "no emotions" routine, but gradually it becomes apparent that he isn't actually emotionless and that the Shadow Clan conditioning him to be this way is actually a combination of emotional abuse and literal torture. He carries a demon-possessed sword which will take him over if it can get a strong emotional reaction from him (and it can do some damage with even mild emotions).
The worldbuilding is gradual, with Yumeko often serving as the mouthpiece because she's excited to explain whatever now-relevant thing the monks had taught her. Having two main characters with occasional other points of view for brief stretches allows for a lot of worldbuilding conveyed through the different ways they view what's happening. Occasionally when the perspective switches there will be an overlap in the scenes to convey at least what the second narrator thought about what happened, with only minor duplications when describing the events.
A few minor characters are portrayed in frustrating ways, such as in an early incident where a canonically fat character describes a (now dead) yōkai as the only one who ever loved him. He’s then almost immediately killed. I think his size was supposed to indicate that he used his wealth to hoard resources, especially when a later section comments on how farmers often starve for at least part of each winter, but it comes across as fatphobic when combined with his lament.
The three narrators for the audiobook work well, with one narrator each for Yumeko's and Kage Tatsumi's perspectives, then the third narrator for other points of view. The plot follows their travels from one temple to another, and the battles they fight along the way. By the time they get there, several events have created a new goal for them which I assume is the subject of the next book. The overarching goal of the trilogy as previewed here is to keep anyone from using a scroll (which was split into pieces and hidden at several temples) to summon the Kami dragon. I'm very interested in where this goes next, I enjoyed the characters and the cliffhanger ending promises answers which I very much want.
The worldbuilding is gradual, with Yumeko often serving as the mouthpiece because she's excited to explain whatever now-relevant thing the monks had taught her. Having two main characters with occasional other points of view for brief stretches allows for a lot of worldbuilding conveyed through the different ways they view what's happening. Occasionally when the perspective switches there will be an overlap in the scenes to convey at least what the second narrator thought about what happened, with only minor duplications when describing the events.
A few minor characters are portrayed in frustrating ways, such as in an early incident where a canonically fat character describes a (now dead) yōkai as the only one who ever loved him. He’s then almost immediately killed. I think his size was supposed to indicate that he used his wealth to hoard resources, especially when a later section comments on how farmers often starve for at least part of each winter, but it comes across as fatphobic when combined with his lament.
The three narrators for the audiobook work well, with one narrator each for Yumeko's and Kage Tatsumi's perspectives, then the third narrator for other points of view. The plot follows their travels from one temple to another, and the battles they fight along the way. By the time they get there, several events have created a new goal for them which I assume is the subject of the next book. The overarching goal of the trilogy as previewed here is to keep anyone from using a scroll (which was split into pieces and hidden at several temples) to summon the Kami dragon. I'm very interested in where this goes next, I enjoyed the characters and the cliffhanger ending promises answers which I very much want.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Sexism, Classism, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Body horror, and Self harm
Minor: Torture, Suicide, Body shaming, and Fatphobia
singalana's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Death, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Physical abuse
lolaslalaland's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
4.75
Young adult books tend to not work out for me, but this one was great! It really read like a manga, I kept making connections between Naruto and Demon Slayer but it very much has its own plot and story and characters. I just very easily played it in my head like an anime and I think that was great!
I loved how there were a lot of Japanese words inserted into dialogues and translated in a very fluid way so that it can make sense to anyone who does not know what the words mean (for an anime dork like me though it just brought me so much joy and made me feel knowledgeable 😂).
I absolutely loved the characters I thought they were so adorable, especially the kind of grumpy/sunshine thing between Tatsumi and Yumeko 🖤. I would summarize this book as the beginning of an unexpected adventure with the fate of the world hanging in the balance, unexpected friendships a long the way and keeping secrets from one another. Also, Okame was my favorite. His sarcasm and manners were *chef's kiss* would definitely drink sake with that man.
I loved how there were a lot of Japanese words inserted into dialogues and translated in a very fluid way so that it can make sense to anyone who does not know what the words mean (for an anime dork like me though it just brought me so much joy and made me feel knowledgeable 😂).
I absolutely loved the characters I thought they were so adorable, especially the kind of grumpy/sunshine thing between Tatsumi and Yumeko 🖤. I would summarize this book as the beginning of an unexpected adventure with the fate of the world hanging in the balance, unexpected friendships a long the way and keeping secrets from one another. Also, Okame was my favorite. His sarcasm and manners were *chef's kiss* would definitely drink sake with that man.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Sexism
tragedies's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
5.0
A surprisingly fun read. I first saw this in a bookstore right when it came out, skimmed bits of the first chapter, and made a mental note to get a copy of it the next time I stopped by. It slipped my mind, but I eventually stumbled upon it again while scrolling through an online shop. And my goodness, I wish I read this sooner. Possibly as soon as I picked it up from that shelf a couple years ago. The story is fascinating, and the lore even more so. There's an interesting cast of characters as well, with great dynamics and hilarious banter. It reminds me of shows like Avatar: the Last Airbender and Yona of the Dawn. I swear, I can easily imagine it as a tv series or an anime. Although the romance isn't front and center, it's there, and it certainly made my heart melt.
It's my first time reading Julie Kagawa's work, and I'm so happy I finally gave it a shot. I can't wait to see where the story goes from here.
Reread (July 10, 2022): Loved this just as much as the first time I read it, if not more. Yumeko, Tatsumi, and the rest of the gang feel like old friends, and the writing is still as beautiful and immersive as I remember it to be. I honestly can't remember why I originally rated this four stars? I love everything about it! Can't wait to reread the next one. Hopefully, I can finish it soon, so I can finally start on the last book.
It's my first time reading Julie Kagawa's work, and I'm so happy I finally gave it a shot. I can't wait to see where the story goes from here.
Reread (July 10, 2022): Loved this just as much as the first time I read it, if not more. Yumeko, Tatsumi, and the rest of the gang feel like old friends, and the writing is still as beautiful and immersive as I remember it to be. I honestly can't remember why I originally rated this four stars? I love everything about it! Can't wait to reread the next one. Hopefully, I can finish it soon, so I can finally start on the last book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Emotional abuse, and Body horror
ceilidhwilliams's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Body horror, Blood, and Murder
teri_b's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-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
5.0
I'm still loving this first book in the Shadow of the Fox the third time I read it on audiobook from the local library.
The story is actually more gory and bloody than I perceived it previously.
But you cannot not come to love Yokemi and root for Tatsumi and little Suki. Hers is the hardest story I have come across in my reading for quite a while.
Beautiful also, how all the storylines come together by the end of the book and open up to more mysteries and the question of what happens now.
This time round I struggled with the narrator's voices. Something just did not really gel with me.
The story is actually more gory and bloody than I perceived it previously.
But you cannot not come to love Yokemi and root for Tatsumi and little Suki. Hers is the hardest story I have come across in my reading for quite a while.
Beautiful also, how all the storylines come together by the end of the book and open up to more mysteries and the question of what happens now.
This time round I struggled with the narrator's voices. Something just did not really gel with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
mind control, mental abuse, demons, blood magictheyorkshirebookshelf'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
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Gore, and Blood