Name: A Fox in Shadow
ISBN: 9781636791425

Jane Fletcher

Cassie's mission is to add new territory to the Kavillian empire--murder, betrayal, war, and the clash of cultures ensue.

A Fox in Shadow

Wonko the Sane

** spoiler alert **
           I have enjoyed many of Jane Fletcher’s books in the past, so was pleased to be given this ARC ebook to review, courtesy of Bold Strokes and NetGalley. While I didn’t enjoy Fletcher’s last book, Silver Ravens, I found A Fox in Shadow a return to form and a fun, light, pacy read.

The plot concerns the political machinations of a powerful imperial family and the small, independent kingdom on the borders of a large empire, roughly analogous to Rome. Cassie is sent north, ostensibly to negotiate a trade deal, but naturally that’s not all she’s after.

Waiting for her in the north is her love interest Arian, the sister of the king. This is a definite enemies to lovers situation as Arian, like most of her people, hates the Empire and everything about it, particularly their laissez-faire attitude to queer intimacy, though in Arian’s case this is definitely an example of the lady protesting too much…

Just when you think you’re going to be treated to a slow tale of trade negotiations and occasional flirting, the bodies start piling up. Time for this to book to become a murder mystery! And I do enjoy a good murder, it has to be said. Cassie investigates the murder of the king’s heir and immediately realises that this situation is a bomb waiting for a spark, and she is happy to provide that spark. If she can avoid being killed herself along the way.

The romance between the lead characters progresses at a good pace in my opinion, and it has a little bit of an edge to it due to Arian’s cultural taboos against same-sex attraction and Cassie’s political machinations that are always at the forefront of her mind. The ending is somewhat open-ended, but satisfying nonetheless.

Overall, I enjoyed this book quite a bit and would recommend it to new readers of Jane Fletcher’s work, as well as returning fans - particularly those who enjoyed Rangers at Roadsend or Shadow of the Knife.

A Fox in Shadow

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