Having really enjoyed The Shadow of the Fox I was really looking forward to read the sequel however I was a little disappointed. I felt the book dragged a lot and I kept having to put it down for long periods before coming back to reading it.

I felt the story didn’t really start until the last third of the book and the rest of the book was just building up to that point. So while I really enjoyed the ending, I did almost dnf the book. I am glad I didn’t but I still wish I had enjoyed it more.

I also had issues with the character development of several characters, especially the lack of character development of Yumeko. I really loved them in the first book but I just didn’t in this book.

And so the Japanese world continues with more myths, demons, ghouls, witches and ghosts trying to thwart the mission to save the World from Peril. Love and loss feature along the way with a bit of romance and magic on the action packed adventure.
Great characterisation really brings this high fantasy tale alive.
A brilliant sequel.
Certainly an author to keep an eye on!.

Thank you for gifting me this ebook. Sadly I got it before I had finished Shadow of the fox and I did not enjoy it enough to continue this series so I will have to pass on reading the second installment.
Apologies and thank you.

Thanks to HQ Young Adult and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Soul of the Sword pretty much picks up where Shadow of the Fox finished off. I really enjoyed the previous book in this series so was chuffed to bits to be approved for this sequel.

As before, the hands down coolest thing about this story are all of the different Yokai. For those who aren't familiar with Yokai, they are basically the supernatural creatures from Japanese myth and legend. In typical Japanese fashion they are really fascinating and creepy and all of the coolest Yokai make an appearance in this story.

Kagawa isn't afraid to push the boundaries when it comes to the creepiness factor and it is GLORIOUS. The journey through Meido, the Forest of a Thousand Eyes and the palace of the Kage clan were so fun to read. I guess that's the sense I get reading this series, despite being a solid story with interesting characters it's just really, REALLY fun to read.

I also really liked that one of the main points of view was that of the big bad, Hakaimono. It's not often that you get such an insight into the mind of a story's main antagonist, but I couldn't help but love him. He's just so unapologetically awful and I got a kick out of his perspective.

The only small issues I had were the same issues I had with the first book. I liked the characters overall, but they can feel a little Anime/JRPG-y. The bishounen prince, the gruff ronin, the earnest priestess etc. The sheer amount of Yokai also felt a bit much sometimes, if you were playing Yokai Pokemon you'd definitely catch 'em all.

There's also some LGBT representation in this one. Not going to elaborate further than that for spoiler reasons but I preferred this romance to the 'main' one.

Overall, a really enjoyable read and I can't wait for the conclusion of the story in the next book. This is definitely a series worth checking out.

I was so excited to be approved for an ARC request for Soul in the Sword, after loving Shadow of the Fox last year. Giving a synopsis would spoil the first book, but we follow our band of characters as they continue their quest. I must say this one did less for me than the first book. Perhaps it was because still, at this point in time, Yumeko is being so incredibly naïve and gullible, while conveniently being amazing at her powers – having never practised them extensively growing up, she is able to weave intriguing and extensive illusions. What? She’s a half-demon! How can she be so awesome without actually training for it? She did some illusions in the first book but never as realistic and grand as this. Also, there’s a secondary group of characters forming that feel like they’ve been taken directly from Inuyasha – the manga/anime that the first book gave me major vibes off. This just too closely resembled it for me not to get annoyed. And then oh, some convenient developments just when we need it, along with contradictions to earlier canon – like, for instance, isn't the Kage Mansion supposed to be impossible to navigate? With lots of confusing corridors and walls that aren't walls or whatever? And somehow Yumeko can manage it on her own. A lot of repeating still of dialogue or motivations. Reika was especially bad at this, though some others did as well. Disappointed, at the end of it all.

Soul of the Sword is the second book in the Shadow of the Fox series and picks up Yumeko's story almost immediately where the previous book left off. Tatsumi has been possessed by the demon Hakaimono and no longer has control of his own body, instead he is trapped deep inside his own mind and forced to watch as the demon uses his body to do unspeakable things. Yumeko knows she has to protect the remaining piece of the Dragon Scroll at all costs but at the same time she is determined to rescue Tatsumi even if that means putting her own life in danger.

I'm going to be honest and say I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as Shadow of the Fox, I missed Tatsumi's character and I felt there were times when the story lagged a bit, but it's still a strong instalment to the series and it definitely left me eager to get my hands on a copy of the final book asap.

Julie Kagawa really excels with her world building here, I love her use of Japanese mythology and all the different types of creatures she has introduced us to in this series. The different yokai & kami, the sword fights and the magic all combine into a fairly action packed story that kept me turning the pages. While I missed Tatsumi and the relationship he has with Yumeko I did find it interesting to see some of Hakaimono's point of view and I love Okame, Daisuke and the others who add a little light hearted fun to the story. Don't let the fooling around lull you into a false sense of security though, there is danger all around and the ending was a shocker!

4.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2019/07/22/soul-of-the-sword-shadow-of-the-fox-2-by-julie-kagawa/
Soul of the Sword may be the second book in the Shadow of the Fox series but it doesn’t suffer at all from middle book syndrome. In fact far from it. This book takes everything that was great in book 1 and builds even more firmly upon those foundations. There is more action, more emotion and more excitement as the quest style journey continues. In fact I had an unreasonably and unexpectedly good time reading this not to mention some real laugh out loud moments.

Shadow of the Fox is high fantasy set in a Japanese inspired world packed with fascinating people and creatures. Demons, witches, ghosts, kitsunes and Samurai to name but a few. It’s an exciting read, entertaining and absorbing and for me it surpassed the first in the series.

Please be aware that this review may contain spoilers for book 1.

I’m not really going to elaborate on the plot. We pretty much pick up from where book 1 concluded and again the book is strangely reminiscent of a Tolkien style adventure but with Japanese inspired myths and legends. Basically, we have a bunch of people travelling from A to B with a mission in mind. Of course, given the ending of Shadow of the Fox the characters and motivations have changed somewhat – but I won’t say why. What I would mention in terms of the changes are that if you’re picking up this book expecting more of a certain character – and I think you all know who I mean – then you might be disappointed as the dynamics between the POVs have necessarily altered. I actually liked the changes, they allowed us to get into the demon’s psyche and also to be in the middle of things from the opposing point of view.

Yumeko plays an excellent role this time around. She still retains a degree of her innocence but she has undoubtedly changed and become a lot more comfortable with her Kitsune abilities in the process. The other members of the team are all still present and contribute greatly to the entertainment value with their banter and camaraderie and we learn more about Tatsumi’s early years which whilst quite sad help to gain a better understanding of who he really is and why he is so affected by Yumeko.

The world building is really strong in both books and I absolutely love it. There is plenty of travel and a greater exploration into the Shadow Clan, their strange palace and their creepy mode of quick travel that involves walking a path haunted by hungry ghosts. We discovered a little bit about the politics of the Clan and what is really at stake should things ultimately go wrong. I also loved visiting the Steel Feather Temple which is so brilliantly described and packed again with unusual protections and riddles.

If I have any criticisms I think I would probably mention that Yumeko’s actions at the end seemed a little out of character – but, I would stress at the same time, that she was faced with some very difficult decisions and given her age and lack of experience her choices are more easy to come to terms with.

Overall, I had a thoroughly enjoyable time reading Soul of the Sword. It was fast paced, entertaining, in fact highly amusing at certain points, and full of action. The characters have managed to work their magic on me to such an extent that I was genuinely worried about who would live or die when all the fighting got underway and I think the conclusion was something I didn’t see coming at all.

In a nutshell, if you enjoy quests, fellowships and the fight between good and evil but with a different setting involving Japanese folklore, Samurai, ronin and warring Clans – then this could be just your cup of tea. I can’t wait to see how it all concludes.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

Soul in the Swords is an addictive read. 

Once I had started reading Soul in the Swords, I didn't want to put it down. Yumeko adventure has got even more interesting as the book progress. 

The book is split into several different POV, but the main one is Yumeko, Hakaimono and Suki. I like seeing the stories from different POV. Yumeko story has the biggest impact and the most to lose. Hakaimono as he is the biggest catalyst. Suki POV gives me more questions and makes me think something even bigger than I was led to believe

I know that Hakaimono is an evil demon, but I like him. He has been stuck inside a sword for over 400 years if that was me I would be a tad grumpy/ murderous rage bent on very bloody revenge. Hakaimono is sarcastic, sassy and funny. He made me laugh with his internal commentary. (Not his murdering commentary). 

One of my favourite commentaries is;

"The question is, will he see me as an equal partner, or just another demon he can subjugate? That would be unfortunate. I've never been good at being subjugated."
He even has a saying "subtle as a demon in a teahouse." This has now replaced Bull in a china shop for me. 

There is character growth in Soul in the Sword, some growth warmed my heart, another surprised me, and one did both. 

Soul of the Sword has

Action
Friendship
Splash of Romance
Japanese Culture
Sassy Demons
Politics
Secrets
My rating for Soul of the Sword is 4.8 out of 5

I loved book one of this and so couldn't wait for the second part

It didn't disappoint.

It's beautifully written, an amazing world with characters who will stick with you for days after you have finished reading it.

Honestly I was so happy to finish this book, but was sad that I had finished it

An incredible addition to the Shadow of the Fox trilogy. This continues from where Shadow of the Fox left off filled with the magic and Japanese mythology that led to me enjoying the previous book so much. While this book starts with an admittedly slower pace I think that this is one of the few instances where that fits the story and leads to this book reading like the ancient myths it draws inspiration from. I would highly urge anyone who enjoyed the first book in the series to read this one as I think it succeeds in being even better than the first and I can't wait to read the sequel.

Thank you to HQ Young Adult and to NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

After the sudden and climatic ending of Shadow Of The Fox I dove straight into the sequel without hesitation! I needed to know what was to become of my beloved characters! The sequel was again told through multiple POVs, however due to Tatsumi's current predicament, it is Hakaimono who narrated their chapters. We glimpsed into the inner thoughts of the evil demon who was determined to wreak havoc on the world!

This novel contained everything I loved about the first book, the multiple POVs, inclusion of Japanese legends & folklore, entertaining and diverse characters and an important quest! But there was also more drama, more risks, more action, more emotion and more tension! I was on the edge of my seat whilst reading most of this novel!

It's not often that a sequel can blow me away as much as the first book but I really think Julie Kagawa succeeded. The world the author has created was so vivid and detailed, I felt immersed in Yumeko's world of mage's and demons, of magic and samurai! I thought the plot of this novel flowed much more easily and steadily than the first, I was interested throughout.

The thing I loved the most about Shadow of the Fox as well as in the sequel was Yumeko's group of travelling friends. They were all characters with brilliantly individual personalities but together they formed a solid friendship built on trust and loyalty. I would love to be part of that group!

If you're considering picking up this series or read the first one and are considering buying the second, I definitely recommend it!!

My thanks to HQ Young Adult for an eARC via NetGalley of Julie Kagawa’s ‘Soul of the Sword’ in exchange for an honest review. It was published in June 2019 and I subsequently bought its ebook and audiobook combination.

This is the second in her ‘Shadow of the Fox’ series and it follows on from the events in the first book, ‘Shadow of the Fox’. I read it in October 2018 and fell completely in love with Yumeko, the half-kitsune, and her companions.

I won’t say anything about the plot so to avoid spoilers for new readers of the series. Just to say that it more than fulfilled my hopes for the next stage of their journey with plenty of action and surprises.

It’s a beautifully written fantasy focused on Japanese mythology and folklore and I highly recommend it and the series. I will be counting the days until the release of the next book currently scheduled for the spring of 2020.

This is a fantastic continuation of this series and it was great to be back in this world. The characters are once again well written and I loved their development in this sequel. The plot kept me hooked from the beginning and I really enjoyed the dual perspective of Yumeko and Hakaimono/Tatsumi. If you are looking for a new YA fantasy series to read, I highly recommend checking this one out. I cannot wait for third and final book.

Soul of the Sword Had a Lot of Spirit!

*Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review- but the heartfelt gushing is all me *

Well, I said at the end of my review for Shadow of the Fox that I wanted MORE and I definitely got it! Let’s cut to the chase, cos this book throws you straight back in at the deep end. This sequel picks up where the last one left off: the soul of the sword has broken free. With careful weaving of myths and legends, it shows you why this danger tears at the fabric of the world. Immediately, the reader is set upon by a terrifying tale and thrown deeper into the story’s history.

Thus, the stage is set and the narrative takes off at pace. A new, sharp voice enters the fray. Kagawa gives voice to a new (but also technically very old), sharp voice. We get to see first hand the struggle between good and evil taking root in the heart of a man. The reader can hear the thoughts of the hero tempered through the viewpoint of a villain. It’s fascinating to see the story from this perspective and it certainly makes for a mind-blowing opener. Instantly, the consequences of the last book are being felt.

Yet, hearing echoes of one character through another is far from the only brilliant moment when it comes to voice. Character is dealt with so strongly that you can tell who’s talking right away and without looking at the name at the start of each chapter. Yumeko is distinguishable through her humour and has all the same charm of the first book- perhaps even a little more ;)

I really enjoyed the writing in this one as well. With beautiful descriptions and poetic dialogue, this is Kagawa at her best. Everything adds to the atmosphere, giving the story a faintly mystical touch. The story flows beautifully and comes to life at each turn.

The pace sets off at a run and never loses footing. There is a clear sense that the plot is edging closer to the dragon’s wish, whilst also throwing in more intense challenges at the master of demon’s behest. There are plenty of clever, little developments along the way- but I have to give the most credit to the ending: it foxily sneaks up on you and pounces when you least expect. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say (rather vaguely) that it both concludes the storyline of the book perfectly AND sets up some crazy stuff for the next one!!

I can’t quite tell where it’s all heading, but one thing I know for certain is that the romance ante has been upped- not least because there’s more than one couple I am rooting for! If you’re hunting for forbidden love, then I can safely tell you that is something Kagawa excels at.

And I’m delighted to say that this was better than its predecessor. This is the kind of YA fantasy that will keep pulling me back to the genre- its got so much of the fun and vibrant spirit that makes it all worthwhile.

Rating: 5/5 bananas

The first book in this series (Shadow of the Fox) was full of adventure, danger, mythology and
great character dynamics, and I'm glad to report that this sequel was just as great. In fact,
Julie Kagawa went up a level to ensure that it was even more of a thrill.

I was looking forward to learning more about the characters and see them grow and I certainly
wasn't disappointed. Their interactions continued to delight me, with the development of a
LGBT+ romance bringing a smile to my face. I loved Yumeko exploring the strength/depth of her
kitsune power, and reading about the trials that Tatsumi went through in the process to become
the demonslayer was heartbreaking.

Whilst the climax of some fantasy novels can be disappointingly short, in this there are three
different extended scenes that are equally action-packed. They were cleverly devised and written,
making me wonder just how it will be topped in the next and presumably final book in the series.

I will say that I found some parts of the book a bit too gory but it didn't hamper my
enjoyment too much.

Overall it was a great read, and I can't wait for the next book.

Soul of the Sword picks up right where Shadow ends with Yukemo and her new band of friends on the run and still on their way to take her piece of the scroll to the Steel Feather temple. Now, Kage Tatsumi has fallen victim to the great demon Hakaimono. Locked away in his own mind, Hakaimono is now in control and joins forces with the Master of Demons to set himself truly free. Continuing the dual perspectives, we now follow the demon and Yumeko as their paths slowly reunite to a dangerous outcome.

I would say my feelings about this series didn’t change much after reading the sequel. I’m still stuck in this middle zone where I can’t really figure out if I really like this series or not a fan of this series. What I loved about Shadow does follow through into Soul, the secrecy and Japanese folklore with a lot of angrier demons on our lead’s tail. We now have our new perspective of Hakaimono, who is more violent and vengeful as he makes his way across the land. I wasn’t that huge on Hakaimono’s voice as it barely sounds like a demon and more like a ghost of Tatsumi. A better choice would’ve been keeping Tatsumi’s voice and following him through the demon’s journey.

Yumeko is more consolidated and confident than book one, and here we finally see her grow into the powers she was turned away from. Despite being locked away spiritually, we get a lot more development behind Tatsumi, which was quite surprising, and I really enjoyed learning where he started and how he becomes the person we meet in book one.

Like in the first book, we watch the characters travel from place to place. In Shadow, it didn’t bother me as much as I genuinely enjoyed watched all the characters interact with each other and bouncing off each other was quite hilarious. In Soul of the Sword, it felt a lot more dragged on. Like, we were being pulled along until we got to the moment where everything truly mattered in the end, and the cliff-hanger sets the scene for the final book. This book felt like a buffer where the reader is stringed along, the real bulk and action of the book comes from the last quarter and then we’re left with the ending and the real work will happen in the final book.
The characters remained their brilliant selves and came through in this book. I really appreciate how well they all held up despite the weaker plot and the story follows quite seamlessly with little interruption.

Soul of the Sword had a much dark tone but still kept the initial flair and interest I had in the story. Despite my own disagreements with the book, I am actually interested and very invested in seeing this entire story through.

What an amazing, fantastic read this was.

This second book comes in a different, much darker tone. Again, we find our team travelling and meeting new challenges as they try to bring the scroll to the place where it can be safe. New characters are introduced and the bigger story ark, the one with the Scroll that can summon each 1,000 years the dragon Harbinger of Change is further explained, as meanwhile, the quest goes on.

We have apart from the fluffy easy going travelling story, what I call for myself the 'manga element' of the story telling, heavy moments coming our way with a lot of blood and gore and death, as there are demons loose in the human world, and they mean destruction.

At moments I was wondering where the book is headed to, but now, that I have made it to the end, I just would like to go back to the beginning and read it again. This time, to read it a little bit slower, to savour all the details and see the connections forwards and backwards in the story telling, and, of course, have the third book available to see how it all ends. It ends well? Doesn't it?

There are many more expressions in Japanese in this book compared to the first one. Specially, at the beginning I felt the readability of the text slightly hampered, as there were just too many expressions I did not know where to place. Be assured, they are all explained in a Glossary at the end of the book. Once I got hold of a physical copy, the reading was easier as flipping forwards and backwards is in a physical book so much easier than on kindle.

I read this book partially as an eArc that I received from the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review. Thank you.

I received a free ecopy of this book in return for an honest review. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity.

The first point to note about this book is that it is book 2 of a trilogy. With some book series you may be able to jump in part way and just pick up the back story as you go along. Not so with this. I initially attempted to read it without reading Shadow of the Fox first, but the information gap was too big. If you haven’t read that first book, take note, this review may contain spoilers for it.

Secondly, there are a good number of Japanese words smattered throughout the book. There is a glossary at the end of the book, but that is difficult to access in an ebook without losing your place. If you are reading on kindle you can highlight them, in text, for a quick explanation, or Google them. There are some Japanese forms of address such as adding san, sama and chan to the end of names, which denotes status.

This book is a YA fantasy written from three perspectives, Yumeko who is half human, half kitsune (mischievous fox spirit), Tatsumi, a warrior demon slayer who became possessed in book one, and Hakaimono a major demon who was trapped in a sword for thousand years but has now escaped by possessing Tatsumi. The premise is that an dangerous ancient scroll which can summon a dragon once every thousand years in order to grant a wish was split into three and hidden. The wish isn’t just granted, it changes the course of the world, so an evil wish will plunge the world into darkness.

Yumeko was raised in a temple that protected one piece. This has been destroyed and Yumeko is on a mission to take the scroll to the protectors of the second piece at Steel Feathers Temple. Along the way, like Dorothy in Oz, she has collected a motley band of helpers. She now also wishes to free her friend, Tatsumi, from the demon who has possessed him.

This story is really about the journey. A great deal of the plot is taken up with the journey to Steel Feathers Temple. There are unexpected detours and problems along the way which, I have to say, got a bit tiring. It felt like a long trek for the reader as well as the characters. It seemed like the author felt an unnecessary need to extend the book by throwing catastrophe after catastrophe in the path of our heroes.

One thing I did enjoy, unexpectedly, were the chapters from the demon, Haikomono’s, point of view. He is a typical fictional villain, full of his own evil intentions. I probably shouldn’t have found that fun, but I did. I also enjoyed the peep into Japanese mythology. Yumeko’s mischievous nature was always great for lightening the story. I want more kitsune magic.

My three-star rating might seem a little harsh. I just felt that the book was elongated and the story could have been tighter. Having got this far, I will be keeping eye out for book three though.

*May contain spoilers for previous book in the series*
This Asian-inspired fantasy picks up where the last book finished. Tatsumi has been overpowered by the demon Hakaimono who now possesses his body and is determined to gain revenge on the Shadow clan for the hundreds of years he spent trapped in the sword. Yumeko is determined to save Tatsumi whatever it takes but first her and the rest of her group must deliver the second piece of the Dragon Scroll to the Steel feather Temple before it falls into the wrong hands.
I fell more in love with the characters in this one. I loved Yumeko’s determination and watching her growth throughout this especially in learning to accept her Kitsume. I also really love the side characters in this in particular Okame and I adored his developing relationship with Daisuke
Julie does a brilliant job at bringing this world to life and I loved getting to see the world expanded in this and getting introduced to more Japanese mythology.
This book is also a lot more action packed than the first book and faster paced, which I feel works really well for this as they are racing against the clock in order to protect the to protect the scroll before the Dragon rises.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to seeing where the concluding book takes us. I gave this 4 out of 5 stars.

This is an amazing sequel, as action packed as the first and with a lot of character development thrown in too. It’s such a great read, I’d encourage anyone who read the first to pick it up immediately and if you haven’t read the shadow of the fox you nee to go read it now ! Great twists and turns, even more that I didn’t see coming and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion