About the Book

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo

Genre: Fantasy

Book Review

A tangled web of revenge, deceit and longing entraps the reader into a captivating tale.

Mythology and magic combine in this enchanting world where foxes can walk in two forms – their fox form and as an unusually beautiful, enchanting human. Told in two perspectives, this story weaves back and forth between a fox wife seeking revenge for the death of her cub at human hands and an investigator looking into the death of a young woman, a trail that eventually leads him to the fox wife.

The three fox characters are fascinating. Snow, the fox wife, is driven by revenge, but she’s also curious, cunning and cares about others. Shirakawa, a male fox, carelessly involves others in schemes and leaves them to face the consequences, while Kuko involves himself in almost nothing unless it concerns Snow. Snow’s mistress, who’s she’s working for as cover, had an experience with foxes as a child. Her son fears being haunted by ghosts. Together, they embark on a journey, each with their own private reasons.

I found the fox mythology to be captivating. The influence they exert on humans and the jams they find themselves adds intrigue and liveliness to a book that deals with some heavy themes and feelings.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book.