A review by ninaprime
The Navigating Fox by Christopher Rowe

4.0

3.5 stars - Rowe has conceived such fascinating characters in a unique world that this being a novella was a disservice because I wanted it to be more fully developed, especially the ending. My heart ached for Quintus who is seeking his origins and a home in the world as the sole navigating fox, and who starts the story as an object of suspicion having lost all the participants of his last expedition. His allies and frenemies, with highlights being rascally twin racoons Loci and Foci, intrepid explorer Octavia, and the shady High Priest Scipio, have varied motivations, adding complexity to a simple quest to the gate of Hell. Rowe alternates between the first and second journeys, which is a little confusing at first, but ultimately brings new dimension to the characters and sheds more light on continental politics as the plots converge. While the ending wraps up neatly, it fell short of feeling conclusive for me because of its abruptness.