Shadow of the Fox Series, Book 1

July 1, 2018

Gr 9 Up-The world of Iwagoto is full of ghosts, kami spirits, shapeshifters, samurai, and blood mages. Yumeko, a half-kitsune (supernatural fox), has lived a sheltered life in a remote monastery. When the leader of the monks informs Yumeko that they protect part of a magical scroll, she is thrust into adventure and danger. A demon attack on the monastery spurs Yumeko into action, and she becomes determined not only to protect the scroll but to set out on a mission to find the next piece. The author of the "Iron Fey" series moves away from urban fantasy in this story based on Japanese legends. Iwagato is richly detailed, but the simplistic plot and common archetypal characters cause the pace of the story to drag and stall, despite numerous action sequences. Kagawa continues her style of alternating points of view, creating more character development but also making the narrative repetitive. Readers who enjoyed Renée Ahdieh's Flame in the Mist, Jay Kristoff's "Lotus War" trilogy, or Annette Marie's "Red Winter" trilogy will appreciate Kagawa's latest work. VERDICT A slow-paced but immersive world is built in Kagawa's series opener based on Japanese legends and mythology.-Kaetlyn Phillips, Yorkton, Sask.

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2018
As the time of prophecy draws near, rivals seek the relic that will allow them to call upon the dragon god.An ancient scroll holds the prayer that summons the dragon who will grant one wish every thousand years. After one such wish brought destruction and chaos to the land of Iwagoto, the scroll was divided into three pieces and hidden away. Now both the emperor's concubine, Lady Satomi, and the Shadow Clan race to obtain the scroll. Tatsumi, demon slayer of the Shadow Clan, journeys with Yumeko of the Silent Winds temple to head off Lady Satomi's demonic attack on the Steel Feather temple, which houses one piece of the scroll. Tatsumi is bound to the sword of Kamigoroshi, the godslayer, and must remain devoid of emotion in order to keep the demon Hakaimono imprisoned within it. But as he travels with Yumeko he finds himself feeling more than he should. Yumeko, being half-human and half-fox spirit and secretly carrying another part of the scroll, is also wary of Tatsumi. Kagawa (Inferno, 2018, etc.) uses elements of Japanese mythology and folklore to spin an epic yarn. Readers who know these tales will recognize familiar elements and tropes. Despite some formulaic writing, readers will be drawn into the world of Kagawa's first Japan-based fantasy; with its engaging action scenes and the cliffhanger ending, they will look forward to the next volume.Action-packed adventure. (maps) (Fantasy. 14-18)

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September 10, 2018
Scattered across Iwagoto are three pieces of an ancient scroll that, once per millennium, can be used to summon a wish-granting dragon. When prophets predict the creature’s imminent return, Lady Satomi and her rival, Shadow Clan ruler Lady Hanshou, decide to attempt the document’s reassembly. Lady Satomi sends an army of demons to steal the first scrap from the monks at the Silent Winds temple, but their ward—a 16-year-old kitsune (human-fox hybrid) named Yumeko—manages to secure the treasure and flee. While searching for the temple that houses the second fragment, Yumeko encounters 17-year-old Tatsumi, a sword-toting Shadow Clan warrior dispatched by Lady Hanshou. Yumeko tricks Tatsumi into joining her quest, certain she’ll need protection but unsure what she’ll do when they reach their destination. Japanese folklore features heavily in this imaginative but uneven series opener from Kagawa (Inferno). A complicated setup slows the start, and although abundant action ensues, characters more closely resemble archetypes than flesh-and-blood beings. Ages 12–up. Agent: Laurie McLean, Fuse Literary.

August 1, 2018
Grades 8-11 Fans of manga and anime will enjoy this lavishly set demonic fantasy that reads like an Inuyasha, Naruto, and Otome Yokai Zakuro crossover. Yumeko is a half yokai?half demon fox, half human?who was left as a baby at a temple filled with monks. She has grown up as a cunning girl who loves to play mischievous pranks on the monks, but when the temple is attacked, her guardian tells her an important secret at the cost of his life. Meanwhile, Tatsumi Kage is a shinobu, the guardian of a demon-slaying sword, who is hired to retrieve a scroll at any cost. When these two characters' paths cross, they begin an epic adventure filled with ronin samurai, dangerous yokai, and an enemy who hides in the shadows. Kagawa's series starter never disappoints; she's a vet at putting realistic characters within believable worlds, here doused in Japanese folklore. Fans will be right at home and anticipate the next chapter.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)