The Fox Wife Review

I haven't done this in a while so let's see if I can remember to do this lol. I might take this time to change a few formatting things while I get back into the groove. I have been using a few new book tracking apps lately and I really like the rating systems so I think I will combine them instead of just the standard 5 stars. Also, if you want to follow along on my reading journey. I am @therosereads on both Pagebound and StoryGraph. I will also try and link them somewhere on the main page.

First, I just want to say that my tastes in books have changed a lot in recent years. I have grown tired of YA if I am being completely honest. I have been an adult for a little bit now and I can say there is so much more to life than being in high school, which for me and for quite a few people wasn't our best years. And as my frontal lobe is almost fully developed, I realize that the media is obsessed with youth. I find it strange. Because what does anyone REALLY know at 18? I have been craving more mature and nuanced characters. Characters I can learn from and see myself in because they have lived life! They've experienced loss, heartache, and disappointments. And while they might not have fully recovered, if anyone really does, they are changed by it. And I am certainly not to say that every character in their teens hasn't experienced all of these things, by no means, but I have a harder time resonating with them lately.

I have also found I enjoy a good thriller, mystery, historical fiction, and occasional true crime read. And while I have tried many times, I have a hard time getting fully immersed in high fantasy. This has been a big bummer because so many books lately are in this genre. I think I have a hard time suspending reality enough to enjoy them.

My new rating system:

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall: _/5

Enjoyment: _/5

Quality: _/5

Characters: _/5

Plot: _/5

And Pagebound has a section for emojis! so cute!!

StoryGraph is more description driven with tags and prompts like:

Plot or character driven

Strong character development

Loveable characters

Diverse cast of characters

Flaws of characters are a main focus

Then these answers get put into a statistic that can be seen on the books main review page. Which is nice as a quick overview of the book. I also like that the app has user tagged content warnings. While this can be sort of a spoiler it is nice to not get blindsided by a random trigger.

I won't include the StoryGraph rating since it really shines when combined in the statistics. I think StoryGraph's strength is when looking for recommendations and tracking reading statistics.

Now on to the review!

Book: The Fox Wife

Author: Yangsze Choo

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall: 4.5

Enjoyment: 5

Quality: 4.5

Characters: 4

Plot: 4.5

Synopsis:

Bao, a middle-aged self-proclaimed detective, investigates the death of a woman found frozen on the doorstep of a restaurant. He has the mysterious gift of detecting lies which helped him carve out the niche career for himself. Fascinated by foxes since he was a child, due to his childhood caretaker's secret worship of the beings, this case seems to have foxes scattering about it, but just out of reach.

Snow has had many names over her long existence living among and around humans, but it has been some time since she was among them. As a fox, she has been careful to leave no trace behind, as public sentiment toward her kind is not always welcoming. This time, however, she is hellbent on avenging her child’s death, and while usually calculated, she will stop at nothing to see it through. On her path toward vengeance, Snow quickly becomes entangled with a medicine shop’s family curse: the first son of the family always dies before his twenty-fourth birthday.

Review:

This is actually my second book I have read by Yangsze Choo. In my neighborhood there are a number of little library book swap boxes and while walking my dog I picked up The Night Tiger to read when I had time. I have been wanting to explore Asian cultures, and it seemed like the perfect book. There was mystery, murder, romance, and a beautiful Malaysian setting. It revolved around the legend of weretigers. I was really good and I enjoyed it. The only thing that might turn some people away was the romance between step siblings. I have seen this in other Asian media, so I wasn't too bothered by it.

This is Choo's latest book, and I found it hauntingly beautiful. Set after the turn of the 20th century in Manchuria, the author weaves a beautiful tale of mystery, loss, and acceptance. The characters have rich backstories that push the story forward and the storylines remain distinct until they combine as Boa's investigation leads him closer to Snow. My favorite character was Snow by far. Her story was heartbreaking and while I am not a mother, I was caught up on all her emotions of grief and anger. Her character progression throughout the book as her own resolve begins to falter was very compelling.

I enjoyed Bao's story too and I know that it was completely necessary to move the plot forward but for me it lacked the emotional pull that Snow's had. Also, I found Snow's insight into the fox world cute and humorous. The other characters were also memorable. I loved the dynamic between Snow, Shirom, and Kuro. They all had this sense of playful curiosity within each character that was perfect.

I have loved Choo's previous books. I have yet to read her first one The Ghost Bride, which got turned into a series on Netflix. It is definitely going on the TBR.

This book has inspired me to deep dive into Asian American authors and literature. It is such a beautiful world with rich history and some crazy myths and legends. I plan to read The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang next. Not sure about how I feel starting a series because I really enjoy standalones, but it has been recommended to me and on several lists as exactly what I'm looking for.

Now that I have time to cultivate my hobbies, I hope to write more posts again.

Until next time!

- The Rose

Quotes (I have a few all from Snow, she was obviously my favorite character):

"It's when you least expect it when sorrow returns, like a thief who steals joy."

"What would best avenge my child? Was I really doing this for her, or for myself? My motives were becoming hazy, unraveling like a purplish-black fog and confusing me with creeping tendrils of doubt."

"I wept bitterly then. Because I was the one who told Kuro to get out. To never come back or speak to me again. I hope you die, I said, snarling and furious. Because you can never bring our child back. Sometimes our wishes come back in the darkest, most twisted ways, like a thorn that pierces and grows through your flesh. A tree that drinks blood and blots out the sun. The sin was mine; I have watered it with hatred and tears of rage, and it had grown to cast a monstrous shadow."

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