The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo

Pages: 401 

Publisher: Quercus 

Released: 13th of February 2024 

Some people think foxes are similar to ghosts because we go around collecting qi , or life force, but nothing could be further than the truth. We are living creatures, just like you, only usually better looking . . .

Manchuria, 1908.

A young woman is found frozen in the snow. Her death is clouded by rumors of foxes involved, which are believed to lure people by transforming themselves into beautiful women and men. Bao, a detective with a reputation for sniffing out the truth, is hired to uncover the dead woman’s identity. Since childhood, Bao has been intrigued by the fox gods, yet they’ve remained tantalizingly out of reach. Until, perhaps, now.

Meanwhile, a family that owns a famous Chinese medicine shop can cure ailments, but not the curse that afflicts them―their eldest sons die before their twenty-fourth birthdays. Now the only grandson of the family is twenty-three. When a mysterious woman enters their household, their luck seems to change. Or does it? Is their new servant a simple young woman from the north or a fox spirit bent on her own revenge?

What I Have to Say 

I love love love stories about foxes based around Asian mythology. I love the idea of the mischievous fox spirits, shape shifters and trouble makers that go into human society and cause chaos. This telling was based around the Chinese mythology and differed in many ways from the Japanese tellings I've read before, but I enjoyed seeing the similarities. 

I loved Snow's character in this. It was masterfully woven to bring in the wildness of the fox and combine it with human emotion to make her relatable. I enjoyed how the author kept reminding the reader that she was in fact a fox with the base personality traits of mischievousness and troublemaking. She's unlike any character I've seen before. 

I also liked how this story wasn't so romance based. This was a fox spirit who had already been married and wasn't really interested in the romance side of things. And though there was hints at romance, it was a more steadfast kind of love. It was just very different to a lot of the things I read. 

This is honestly just a really great read that I'd recommend to anyone! 

4 stars 

My thanks go to Quercus and Netgalley for providing me with this gifted copy for review. 

The Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan

Pages: 480 

Publisher: Harper Voyager 

Released: 10th of November 2022 

The stunning sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess delves deeper into beloved Chinese mythology, concluding the epic story of Xingyin—the daughter of Chang’e, and the mortal archer, Houyi—as she battles a grave new threat to the realm, in this powerful tale of love, sacrifice, and hope.

After winning her mother’s freedom from the Celestial Emperor, Xingyin thrives in the enchanting tranquility of her home. But her fragile peace is threatened by the discovery of a strange magic on the moon, and the unsettling changes in the Celestial Kingdom as the emperor tightens his grip on power.

While Xingyin is determined to keep clear of the rising danger, the discovery of a shocking truth spurs her into a perilous confrontation. Forced to flee her home once more, Xingyin and her companions venture to unexplored lands of the Immortal Realm, encountering legendary creatures and shrewd monarchs, beloved friends and bitter adversaries. With alliances shifting quicker than the tides, Xingyin has to overcome past grudges and enmities to forge a new path forward, seeking aid where she never imagined she would.

As an unspeakable terror sweeps across the realm, Xingyin must uncover the truth of her heart and claw her way through devastation – to rise against this evil before it destroys everything she holds dear, and the worlds she has grown to love… even if doing so demands the greatest price of all.

The epic conclusion to her sweeping Celestial Kingdom series, Sue Lynn Tan’s tale of Xingyin, the daughter of the moon goddess, delves deeper into beloved Chinese myths, weaving them into a wholly new and magical story. 

What I Have to Say 

These books are everything to me. Chinese mythology, political intrigue, a strong female main character, what more would you want? These books are beautiful and an absolute joy to read. 

While the mythology is probably my favourite part and have made me want to learn more about the myths that inspired the story, I want to talk most here about the writing. To me the writing is perfect. It describes things in such a richly detailed and invocative way so that you can picture the scene so clearly. I had to stop several times just to reread stuff and appreciate the beauty of the text. 

I also loved the political intrigue, how there were so many different factors and Xingyin had to navigate all the loyalties and conflicts between the different nations while working to save the world. 

I will be an avid reader of whatever Sue Lynn Tan writes next and I will definitely be rereading these books over and over again. 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for providing me with this copy for review. 

The Dragon's Promise by Elizabeth Lim

Pages: 400 

Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton 

Released: 30th of August 2022 

Series: Six Crimson Cranes #2 

From the New York Times Bestselling author of Six Crimson Cranes comes a thrilling new adventure! A journey to the kingdom of dragons, a star-crossed love, and a cursed pearl with the power to mend the world or break it... Fans of Shadow and Bone will devour this soaring fantasy.

Princess Shiori made a deathbed promise to return the dragon's pearl to its rightful owner, but keeping that promise is more dangerous than she ever imagined.

She must journey to the kingdom of dragons, navigate political intrigue among humans and dragons alike, fend off thieves who covet the pearl for themselves and will go to any lengths to get it, all while cultivating the appearance of a perfect princess to dissuade those who would see her burned at the stake for the magic that runs in her blood.

The pearl itself is no ordinary cargo; it thrums with malevolent power, jumping to Shiori's aid one minute, and betraying her the next—threatening to shatter her family and sever the thread of fate that binds her to her true love, Takkan. It will take every ounce of strength Shiori can muster to defend the life and the love she's fought so hard to win.

What I Have to Say 

Six Crimson Cranes was one of my favourite books from last years, so I had high expectations for this book but I wasn't disappointed in the slightest. 

It took me a little time to remember what had happened in the last book (I was confused for a little while about why she had made the promise to Raikama until I remembered them reconciling), but it quickly came back to me and I fell back in love with the characters once more. Shiori is one of my favourite characters of all time and Kiki has a special place in my heart, so it felt very much like coming home again. I'm really going to miss these characters. 

I loved how so many elements of Chinese mythology are bound up in this duology. From the dragons and their pearls to the red string of fate that connects Shiori and Takkan, it is full of Lim's take on these very Chinese elements while adding her own fantasy elements as well. 

I also thought it came together in a very satisfying way. I definitely hope this isn't the last we hear from the characters as I know she's had cameos before. 

I was so relieved that I still have the Spin the Dawn duology on my shelf to read as I'm so in love with Lim's writing. 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for this copy for review. 

An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X. R. Pan

Pages: 400 

Publisher: Hachette Children's Group 

Released: 12th April 2022

Romeo and Juliet meets Chinese mythology in this lyrical and magical novel by the New York Times bestselling author of The Astonishing Colour of After.

Hunter Yee has perfect aim with a bow and arrow, but all else in his life veers wrong. He's sick of being haunted by his family's past mistakes. The only things keeping him from running away are his younger brother, a supernatural wind and the bewitching girl at his new high school.

Luna Chang dreads the future. Graduation looms ahead, and her parents' expectations are stifling. Then her life is turned upside down by the strange new boy in her class, the arrival of unearthly fireflies, and an ominous crack spreading across the town of Fairbridge.

As Hunter and Luna uncover hidden secrets and navigate the feud between their families, everything around them begins to fall apart. All they can depend on is their love . . . but time is running out, and fate will have its way.

An Arrow to the Moon, Emily X.R. Pan's brilliant and ethereal follow-up to The Astonishing Colour of After, is a story about family, love, and the magic and mystery of the moon that connects us all.

What I Have to Say 

I didn't like this as much as The Astonishing Colour of After.  I don't know why really. It just fell a bit flat for me. I do wonder if it's just that I wasn't in the right mood for this book. It's a fantastic story, based on the Chinese legends of the Moon Goddess. It skilfully wove the legends together with the contemporary setting to make a beautiful new story. Maybe I'll reread it sometime and see if my opinion of it changes. 

I'm really glad that I was already acquainted with the story of Chang'e and Houyi. I could read a lot deeper into this book and all the foreshadowing because of that knowledge. If both books appeal to you, definitely read Daughter of the Moon Goddess or at least read through the legends before you read this one because you'll have so much more appreciation for the story. 

In all, I'm really disappointed that this book didn't live up to what it should have done. I don't think this review gives it any kind of justice. Maybe I'll re-review it some time in the future.  It was really a beautiful story and I feel I should have enjoyed it a lot more. 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Hachette Children's Group for providing me with this copy for review.