Julie Kagawa

In this first book of her Japanese mythology-inspired Shadow of the Fox trilogy, bestselling author Julie Kagawa weaves a stunning, high-stakes tale of alliances and deceptions, characters who aren’t what they seem, and secrets that could change the fate of the world. Every millennium, whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers has the power to call the great Kami Dragon from the sea and ask for one wish. The time is near...and the missing pieces of the scroll will be sought throughout the land of Iwagoto. When demons kill half-kitsune Yumeko’s adoptive family, she’s forced to flee her home with one part of the ancient scroll. Fate thrusts her into the path of mysterious samurai Kage Tatsumi, who is Yumeko’s best hope for survival. But he’s under orders to retrieve the scroll. An uneasy alliance forms, and Yumeko begins the deception of a lifetime, knowing her secrets are more than a matter of life or death—they’re the key to the fate of the world. Books in the Shadow of the Fox trilogy: Shadow of the Fox Soul of the Sword Night of the Dragon

Shadow of the Fox

One thousand years ago, the great Kami Dragon was summoned to grant a single terrible wish--and the land of Iwagoto was plunged into an age of darkness and chaos. Now, for whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers, a new wish will be granted. A new age is about to dawn. Raised by monks in the isolated Silent Winds temple, Yumeko has trained all her life to hide her yokai nature. Half kitsune, half human, her skill with illusion is matched only by her penchant for mischief. Until the day her home is burned to the ground, her adoptive family is brutally slain and she is forced to flee for her life with the temple's greatest treasure--one part of the ancient scroll. There are are many who would claim the dragon's wish for their own. Kage Tatsumi, a mysterious samurai of the Shadow Clan, is one such hunter, under orders to retrieve the scroll, at any cost. Fate brings Kage and Yumeko together. With a promise to lead him to the scroll, an uneasy alliance is formed, offering Yumeko her best hope for survival. But he seeks what she has hidden away, and her deception could ultimately tear them both apart. With an army of demons at her heels and the unlikeliest of allies at her side, Yumeko's secrets are more than a matter of life or death. They are the key to the fate of the world itself.

“It is very hard to be human, little fox. Even the humans themselves don’t do a great job of it.”
--
Shadow of the Fox is a beeautifully written YA fantasy with so much character and charm, studded with the fascinating myths and lores from Japanese culture. In this masterfully conducted story, we follow a mischievious kitsune on a mission and a fearless assassin with a demon-possessed sword, through a fast-paced, action-packed adventure.
The book really took me by surprise with its great characters, terrifying mythical creatures, and great world-building. You can expect a fun story, with never a dull moment, yet slow-burning and belieavable character developments.
I will definitely keep going with this series.

nina 

3.5 stars

i actually want to see what happens and how certain scenes will eventuate but i don’t feel like reading the second book 😑

The first book in a brand-new series set in ancient Japan from New York Times bestselling author Julie Kagawa. Enter a beautiful and perilous land of shapeshifters and samurai, kami and legends, humans and demons...a world in which Japanese mythology and imagination blend together When destiny calls, legends rise. Every millennium the missing pieces of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers are hunted, for they hold the power to call the great Kami Dragon from the sea and ask for any one wish. As a temple burns to the ground Yumeko escapes with its greatest treasure - the first piece of the scroll. And when fate thrusts her into the path of a mysterious samurai she knows he seeks what she has. Kage is under order to kill those who stand in his way but will he be able to complete his mission? Will this be the dawn that sees the dragon wake? Fans of Sarah J. Maas, Marie Lu, Cassandra Clare will be captivated by this enchanting new series. Readers adore Julie Kagawa's Shadow of the Fox! 'Hands down one of the best books I've read this year!' 'This book was amazing! If you love Japanese folklore, assassins, Samauri, Ronins, adventures, magic...this is the book for you!' 'The world building was phenomenal, she gives us so much detail and history that I was CRAVING for more!' 'Buy this book, read it!' 'If you have school or work, you'll be sleep deprived because you won't be able to put it down!' 'Shadow of the Fox is one of the best fantasy books I've ever read.' 'If you want an action-packed fantasy set in historical Japan, with samurais, spirits, and demon-slayers, and a dash of romance, please pick up this book!' 'I loved this book and ended up staying awake until 3:00 in the morning to read it!' 'I don't have enough stars to give Julie Kagawa for this book!' 'Full of magic, mayhem, and ahmazing folklore, Julie Kagawa created a beautifully intricate world that was so fun to get lost in. I loved it️!' 'I couldn't finish this book fast enough! I loved this and can't wait for the next book to be released already!!!' 'MIND BLOWN!'

nienke

4 / 5 stars
book 4 of 2022

'It's very hard to be human, little fox. even humans themselves don't do a great job at it.'

In my opinion, the book started a bit slow. However, I eventually got pulled because of the world-building and the storyline. I'm curious how the next book is and if more things get cleared up.

At times, the multiple points of view were annoying. You just want to continue with the 'mindset' of the character you're currently reading about. Another thing that I found quite confusing, is that when a new chapter started, you have to figure out in which point of view you're reading (the name of the chapters had nothing to do with in which point of view you're reading). Quite confusing at times.

Hope Gamble

Lorien O'Brien

Um, this is so good. It *NEEDS* to be an anime! Like, NOW! And I need to buy the rest of the series

Dee B. 

Those. Last. Few. Chapters!!! Oof! Talk about reeling you in and leaving you desperate for more. I won't even get into that epilogue. Eep! 

I'm not usually focused on the characters, as I'm more interested in an the book having an engaging plot, but every character had me invested in their story. I especially loved the ronin. Tatsumi and Yumeko's interactions, goodness if the burn could be any slower. 

If you want an adventure where everything can all unravel with one wrong move, an underlying layer of deception and characters that you enjoy reading about, pick this up. 

Off to read book 2

Julie Janis

This was such a fun fantasy to read! I loved the Asian culture in it, the haunting demons, and world of different temples. I got really excited finding out this was a journey book, which is something I love to read in books. Yumeko is such a fun, quirky character and I loved her relationship with Tatsumi. They're so fun! One other thing I love about Yumeko is that she is confident and is kind to everyone around her. I feel like it's rare to see those traits in female protagonists these days (especially characters who are kind) and it's something I really admire. She's definitely going on my favorite female protagonists list. I can't wait to read the next book and find out what will happen to the characters!

Livia

The story is so good but yumeko being THAT naive grates on my nerves so much

Anna Oeltjenbruns

I just wish the characters were more developed instead of getting all these weird mini conflicts that do nothing to progress the story aside from getting a new person to add to “the gang where everyone has one single personality trait and no past worth delving into but I’m supposed to love and support them”. Otherwise the end was good enough to make me want to continue on and find out what happens.

Eryn Bradshaw

Yumeko, a half kitsune, half human, was raised by monks in the Silent Winds temple. She is a mischievous little yokai who is thrown into the duty of guarding the temple's greatest treasure, part of an ancient scroll. She must carry the scroll to a hidden temple to keep it safe from the demons who seek to obtain the scroll. On the way, she meets Kage Tatsumi, a samurai of the Shadow Clan, who must obtain the scroll Yumeko has kept hidden. They form an unlikely alliance, Kage guiding Yumeko to the temple under false pretenses that the monks at the temple can help him.

This book grew on me. The first chapter hooked me and hooked me real good. But the following chapters, I wasn't so sure. It seemed a little slower paced than was set up in the first chapter, but oh does the ball get rolling and rolling quick. I was quickly immersed in the gorgeous world of fantastical, ancient Japan.

I loved how each character, including the side characters, grew and had a life of their own. I loved all the little side quests Yumeko and Kage faced while on their journey.

Themes of magic and friendship are constantly woven throughout the book. This is a story where the characters are there to forge their own paths, even though they are constrained and put under pressure due to their natures and assumptions. Each one grows and pushes back, trying to become who they think they should be.

I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who like a bit of anime, and even those who don't. It's a great fantasy and gives us a peek into myths we may not be familiar with ourselves. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series! I give this book a solid 5 stars!


  HQ Young Adult provided a copy of Shadow Of The Fox through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to read this book!

Yumeko, a half kitsune, half human, was raised by monks in the Silent Winds temple. She is a mischievous little yokai who is thrown into the duty of guarding the temple's greatest treasure, part of an ancient scroll. She must carry the scroll to a hidden temple to keep it safe from the demons who seek to obtain the scroll. On the way, she meets Kage Tatsumi, a samurai of the Shadow Clan, who must obtain the scroll Yumeko has kept hidden. They form an unlikely alliance, Kage guiding Yumeko to the temple under false pretenses that the monks at the temple can help him.

This book grew on me. The first chapter hooked me and hooked me real good. But the following chapters, I wasn't so sure. It seemed a little slower paced than was set up in the first chapter, but oh does the ball get rolling and rolling quick. I was quickly immersed in the gorgeous world of fantastical, ancient Japan.

I loved how each character, including the side characters, grew and had a life of their own. I loved all the little side quests Yumeko and Kage faced while on their journey.

Themes of magic and friendship are constantly woven throughout the book. This is a story where the characters are there to forge their own paths, even though they are constrained and put under pressure due to their natures and assumptions. Each one grows and pushes back, trying to become who they think they should be.

I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who like a bit of anime, and even those who don't. It's a great fantasy and gives us a peek into myths we may not be familiar with ourselves. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series! I give this book a solid 5 stars!

Emma Sullivan

So, I absolutely loved this!
But, I'll always have a soft spot for Asian fantasy books 😂
It took me a few chapters to get into the narrative switching between the two main characters chapter to chapter but that also made the book all the more interesting, with it switching perspective!

I read another review with someone saying it's like a Japanese version of the Wizard of Oz, and I kinda get it, it's that meets Naruto, and a couple other manga/anime!

I found it a really easy read, and as soon as I'd finished I'd started up the second book! Definitely one of my favourite reads of the year so far!


Nadine 

Enjoyed this story in particular a few interesting female characters including the antagonists. Liked the playfulness & gentleness & kindness contrasted with the samurai.

Enter a beautiful and perilous land of shapeshifters and samurai, kami and legends, humans and demons...a world in which Japanese mythology and imagination blend together to create a brand-new and lushly drawn fantasy adventure from the New York Times bestselling author of The Talon Saga and The Iron Fey. Fans of Sarah J. Maas, Julie C. Dao, Marie Lu, Cassandra Clare and more bestselling YA fantasy will be captivated by book one of this enchanting new series. Once Every Thousand Years... Every millennium, one age ends and another age dawns...and whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers holds the power to call the great Kami Dragon from the sea and ask for any one wish. The time is near...and the missing pieces of the scroll will be sought throughout the land of Iwagoto. The holder of the first piece is a humble, unknown peasant girl with a dangerous secret. Demons have burned the temple Yumeko was raised in to the ground, killing everyone within, including the master who trained her to both use and hide her kitsune shapeshifting powers. Yumeko escapes with the temple's greatest treasure--one part of the ancient scroll. Fate thrusts her into the path of a mysterious samurai, Kage Tatsumi of the Shadow Clan. Yumeko knows he seeks what she has...and is under orders to kill anything and anyone who stands between him and the scroll. A WISH WILL BE GRANTED AND A NEW AGE WILL DAWN.

allie

3.5 stars

thank you for this ARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review!

while this book was a slow read for me, i found myself really getting into it near the end. i really loved the focus on Japanese mythology and folklore, but i did have issues with some of the dialogue. in certain scenes, it felt a little choppy which unfortunately threw me off. i also wasn't super attached to any of the characters in the beginning, but as the story went on and more were added to the cast, i started to get excited about this rag-tag group of kids brought together on this whirlwind of a mission. the last couple chapters were when i found things got really interesting and because of that i will most likely be picking up the sequel when it comes out!

chloe mcpherson

This book couldn't be further from what I usually read, 
This book follows Japenese Folklore about a girl who is half kitten who has lived her whole life raised by monks, who are sworn to protect an ancient scroll. But when the temple is attacked by demons, Yumeko is the only hope to save the word. She only has to safely get to another temple with the scroll.
Another character you follow is Kage. Who is a Samurai of the shadow clan, known to be one of the deadliest warriors. He wields a sword, Hakaimono, that gives him greater power. He is sent on a mission to retrieve this scroll, instead he finds Yumeko and promises to take her to the hidden temple and in return she promises to help him find the ancient scroll. Not knowing Yumeko has what he's after all along.
Along the way Yumeko and Kage travel place to place, making new friends along the way, and you get to see different Japanese folklore and mythology woven through the story.

This book totally captivated me and has completely stolen my heart. And I am so glad that i picked this one up.
Yumeko is such an interesting and fun character. And Kage is a dark and interesting character to read the perspective from.
And can I just say this is the slowest burn romance i have ever read and it is absolute torture but also i am completely here for it and made me love the book 10x more.
AND ALSO can i just the ending... wow. Literally tore my heart in half.

I am looking forward for the second book because i need to know what happens!!

New from the New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Fey... Enter a beautiful and perilous land of shapeshifters and samurai, kami and legends, humans and demons...a world in which Japanese mythology and imagination blend together to create a brand-new and lushly drawn fantasy adventure. Prepare to be captivated by book one of an enchanting new young adult fantasy series, Shadow of the Fox! Once Every Thousand Years... Every millennium, one age ends and another age dawns...and whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers holds the power to call the great Kami Dragon from the sea and ask for any one wish. The time is near...and the missing pieces of the scroll will be sought throughout the land of Iwagoto. The holder of the first piece is a humble, unknown peasant girl with a dangerous secret. Demons have burned the temple Yumeko was raised in to the ground, killing everyone within, including the master who trained her to both use and hide her kitsune shapeshifting powers. Yumeko escapes with the temple's greatest treasure--one part of the ancient scroll. Fate thrusts her into the path of a mysterious samurai, Kage Tatsumi of the Shadow Clan. Yumeko knows he seeks what she has...and is under orders to kill anything and anyone who stands between him and the scroll. A WISH WILL BE GRANTED AND A NEW AGE WILL DAWN.

Listened as an audiobook and read physically.

This needs to be an anime. The fact that it isn't is painful. It is an anime in book form, and I effing LOVED THIS!

Tatiana Alvarez 

Julie Kagawa is one of those authors I can pick up and know I will love her story. She hooked me years ago with Blood of Edan and I haven’t been able to stop reading her since then. 

I love mythology and know very little about Japanese mythology, so it was fun to read a story that centered around Kagawa knows her stuff! She also knows how to write characters and keep the plot entertaining. 

But her endings?! Damn! That epilogue left me shook so I’m super excited to read the next one!

Maria

This is so boring. 

I mean, ok, I've read only 25%, and maybe it gets better later (uh... no, I don't believe it). I'm not sure if it's the writing which is bad, or the plot which is predictable, or the characters which are plain, or most probably all of the above, but I don't want to finish. And actually, the Japanese setting and stuff somehow do not feel authentic - in a way Grishaverse was not authentic (well, not THAT bad but close). Like, why do they insert words like "hai" in their sentences? It always frustrates me when they do it in the movies - when a character speaks fluent English but, for example, says "spasibo" or "nyet" in Russian. Seriously, would he really not know how to say "no" or "thank you" but use words like "embezzle"? I'm maybe not the one to judge Japanese authenticity but  Flame in the Mist or  Red Winter seemed much more believable to me.

Sahi K

Probably more of a 4.5 but I’m rounding it up.

I read the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa ages ago and really loved it a lot. It was probably one of my first introductions to the Fae world and it was fantastic. But I never read anything else by the author, for whatever reasons. Even this book wasn’t really on my radar, and I probably wouldn’t have thought about it except for my decision to read more Asian author’s works this year, and like always the brilliant recommendation from my dearest friend Nandini. I have now come to a decision that I will blindly pick up any book she loves because she is always right. And this book was no different. 

As it’s been a while, I don’t really remember much about the author’s writing style. So, reading this book felt like discovering a new author. Right from the first page, we are introduced to a new world - one with its own myths and legends and stories, an interesting political system, the legendary samurai warriors, the ascetic monks who are much more than just spiritual guides, magic users and blood mages, and a very fascinating variety of supernatural creatures. I loved being in this world and getting to know more about it. I’m not an anime or manga fan, so I don’t know any Japanese terms which made it difficult to keep track of all the words that the author was using initially, but I got used to them quickly after a little note taking and then it was a joy to read. I love when author’s toe the line between using many native words and explaining them to unfamiliar readers. Kagawa explains in some cases, leaving us to understand some ourselves by gathering the context and I really enjoyed that process - I don’t mind putting in that effort to understand a new mythology and culture which I know nothing about. This book is also mostly a journey, with the characters on a quest and these are my favorite kinds of books. The author manages to introduce us to interesting legends and other side characters during the MCs journey and it made the story all the more fun. The pacing is pretty slow but even throughout until it ended with a bang and I kind of liked it that way. The action sequences are very well written and I was thrilled every second of reading them, wondering how the fight would unfold. 

Yumeko is a kitsune who has lived her whole life among the monks at the Silent Winds temple and it makes her slightly naive, innocent and just enjoying playing pranks on others. However, having to suddenly lose her home and the only people she has even known, and then travel to an unknown place on a high stakes quest is a huge challenge for her - but she never balks from this duty. She is young and doesn’t know the way of the world but is cunning because of her half Fox nature, has no clue what to do in social situations, her total ignorance of sarcasm is hilarious and she is just so trusting - everything about her endeared her to me so much. I just wanted her to be ok and protect her. But it’s in this innocence lies her strength, her resolve to do the right thing. 

Tatsumi on the other hand started off as a cold blooded demonslayer, who has to always control his emotions so as to not be possessed by the monster in his sword. But getting to know his terrible backstory was horrifying - how he has been raised and trained to be an emotionless killer, a weapon to be yielded with no thoughts of his own, loyal only to his clan. But the journey he undertakes with Yumeko, albeit disgruntingly completely turns his life upside down. She gets him to let down his guard, possibly trust someone other than his clan, even start having thoughts and emotions unrelated to his mission. It’s a revelation to himself, and watching him fight it was both delightful and painful. But the tentative friendship that develops between them is beautiful and while there is a possibility of romance, it’s too slow burn to even contemplate yet - but they do start caring for each other and it’ll be interesting to see what happens next after that cliffhanger ending. The side characters who they meet during their journey together make up this quirky group whom I have come to love and can’t imagine anything bad happening to them at all. 

There are so many underlying themes in the book that make up the core and heart of this story, loyalty being one of the most important. Yumeko is loyal to her monks but it’s love that guides her, Tatsumi to his clan but it’s more due to being trained whereas Okame seems to have been betrayed by those he was loyal to and now questions the point of it. But it’s the loyalty they unwittingly develop for each other that guides them on their journey ultimately, even if they try to deny it all the time. Yumeko might be very naive and innocent, but it’s her inherent trusting nature that forms another major crux of the story - her belief that everyone should be given a chance despite their past actions, that there is always a hope for redemption if given the option, that there is always something more to the story behind someone’s actions. I loved this faith she had in second chances and how it informs every decision she makes, even in dreadful circumstances. It might not always help her in the short term, but I think her belief that every kindness will have unknown consequences might just have a huge impact in the later books and I can’t wait to see how it all plays out.

Finally, I just want to say that this Japanese mythology inspired fantasy was a delight to read and I would highly recommend it. If you are a fan of reading about a group of unlikely heroes undertaking a quest, then this book is perfect for you. This one has everything you can ask for in a fantasy - great worldbuilding, wonderful friendships, magic and monsters and prophecies. I absolutely loved this one and I’m actually glad being late to the party, because I only have to wait less than two months for the sequel and to know what the next journey for these heroes is going to be like.

Enter a beautiful and perilous land of shapeshifters and samurai, kami and legends, humans and demons...a world in which Japanese mythology and imagination blend together to create a brand-new and lushly drawn fantasy adventure. Prepare to be captivated by the first book of an enchanting new young adult fantasy series, Shadow of the Fox! ONCE EVERY THOUSAND YEARS... Every millennium, one age ends and another age dawns...and whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers holds the power to call the great Kami Dragon from the sea and ask for any one wish. The time is near...and the missing pieces of the scroll will be sought throughout the land of Iwagoto. The holder of the first piece is a humble, unknown peasant girl with a dangerous secret. Demons have burned to the ground the temple Yumeko was raised in, killing everyone within, including the master who trained her to both use and hide her kitsune shapeshifting powers. Yumeko escapes with the temple’s greatest treasure — one part of the ancient scroll. Fate thrusts her into the path of a mysterious samurai, Kage Tatsumi of the Shadow Clan. Yumeko knows he seeks what she has...and is under orders to kill anything and anyone who stands between him and the scroll. A wish will be granted and a new age will dawn.

Shadow Of The Fox

Laura

I have been trying to get into manga and anime but have felt overwhelmed.  This last year, I sat and watched Demon Slayer and fell in love. Reading this book gave me that same feeling. That adventure meeting new companions, conquering mini "quests," magic, connections, and all wrapped up in a bigger story. I need to go get the rest of the series now!

laura

*I gave this book 4.5 stars for review*

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I really loved the world building and also the fast pace adventure story off the novel. I loved how the book kept "finding" new characters for this adventure. I thought the myth and lore was such well crafted and I was super invested in this characters. This book was super easy to see in my mind and I had a hard time putting this novel down. I felt the ending was a tad rushed and wish she would have fleshed out the ending a bit more. Also some times through out the novel i was confused about who's POV we were in and wish that was structure was made clearer. but i am really excited for book 2! This was a really engaging read!

Mollee Clingenpeel

I really liked this book! I was a bit unsure at first because the dual (sometimes three) perspectives were confusing. They didn’t get any less confusing. Sometimes I’d be reading and forget whose head we were in and that’s why I only gave it 4/5 stars instead of 5/5. But overall I really enjoyed the plot, the pacing, the characters, the romance. Yumeko is so cute and innocent in the outside world. And Tatsumi is the brooding antihero we love in a story. I also didn’t really expect to like Okame as much I did either. Surprises abound! I am here for this story and I put a hold on the other two books as soon as I finished the first one. I wish I had them in physical copy but I’m so excited to keep reading I’m going to start them right away.

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I got this book from Owlcrate. Aka I bought it. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 3/5

Publication Date: October 2, 2018

Genre: YA Fantasy

Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, death, brutality, slight sexual content)

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pages: 409

Amazon Link

Synopsis: One thousand years ago, the great Kami Dragon was summoned to grant a single terrible wish—and the land of Iwagoto was plunged into an age of darkness and chaos.

Now, for whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers, a new wish will be granted. A new age is about to dawn.

Raised by monks in the isolated Silent Winds temple, Yumeko has trained all her life to hide her yokai nature. Half kitsune, half human, her skill with illusion is matched only by her penchant for mischief. Until the day her home is burned to the ground, her adoptive family is brutally slain and she is forced to flee for her life with the temple’s greatest treasure—one part of the ancient scroll.

There are many who would claim the dragon’s wish for their own. Kage Tatsumi, a mysterious samurai of the Shadow Clan, is one such hunter, under orders to retrieve the scroll…at any cost. Fate brings Kage and Yumeko together. With a promise to lead him to the scroll, an uneasy alliance is formed, offering Yumeko her best hope for survival. But he seeks what she has hidden away, and her deception could ultimately tear them both apart.

With an army of demons at her heels and the unlikeliest of allies at her side, Yumeko’s secrets are more than a matter of life or death. They are the key to the fate of the world itself.

Review: Okay so for the most part I thought this was a well done novel. I thought that the book was great, especially if you’re a fan of manga or anime. I also felt that the characters were pretty well developed and the story was very intriguing.

However, I do feel that the world building wasn’t as well done and the pacing was everywhere. I also felt that the book was kind of hard to follow. The book introduced a lot of different monsters and legends, but didn’t explain in the writing. There was a glossary in the back, but there was still a lack of description as to what the monsters looked liked and acted, etc.

Verdict: An okay book, but great for manga or anime lovers.

B. K.

A fun, demonic adventure. Didn't love the characters quite as much as I loved the setting, but will definitely continue in the series.

Read for the O.W.L.s Magical Readathon 2020.
Transfiguration: read a book that includes shapeshifting.

Shadow of the Fox

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