This book left me with a fair few emotions that I wasn’t expecting. I have enjoyed this series from start to finish and I’m really happy with how it ended.

I would recommend reading the other two books in the series first o that you are able to keep up with al the action the group has gone through to get to where they are now. The characters were amazing and really well written and the world building was fantastic.

The adventure and action were none stop and the writing was top notch. It was a welcome distraction during these hard times and one story I won't be forgetting in a hurry. I would highly recommend this YA series.

My thanks to HQ Young Adult for an eARC via NetGalley of Julie Kagawa’s ‘Night of the Dragon’ in exchange for an honest review.

As with most 'end of trilogy' reviews, I'll try to keep this fairly succinct - if you've got to the end of book two and you're reading a review odds are you already know if you're going to love a series or not - you just want to know if it's worth finishing it. 

In this case, if you've enjoyed these books from the start I would say this is a good conclusion - but it's definitely worth refreshing your memory with a quick flick through the previous books as this definitely drops you right back into the midst of a fairly complicated story! I personally didn't do that because of time constraints and I think my enjoyment of the book suffered as a result, it was harder to get back into this world when I was desperately trying to remember what on earth had happened prior to this. 

I do think this book felt...less epic than I had thought it would - and I don't think that was just because I hadn't read the previous books recently. I think something about the different characters and all the different threads of story just didn't quite gel for me - it all felt quite disparate and I didn't find myself feeling as absorbed by the world as I thought I might. 

I still think there are good aspects to this book, it's a quintessential YA fantasy romance storyline so those who enjoy those won't be dissapointed! There are also some very cool magic moments that reminded me why I enjoyed books one and two. 

Overall, I'm not sure this series as a whole did enough to completely wow me - I did enjoy reading them but I won't be rushing to re-read any time soon. It'll be a series that some will truly adore -but I don't think I'm one of them. 

My rating: a solid 3/5 stars

I received a free digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own. 

Night of the Dragon is out now!

Night of the Dragon Left Me Starry Eyed

Happily, I’m returning to the world of Iwagoto today, to talk about the finale in the Shadow of the Fox series. With a strong opening and the promise of plenty of emotional turns to come, I settled down for a night or two of wild reading 😉. Granted, I will admit there was a bit more telling at the start in order to recap the events of the last book, but it didn’t take long for the action to get going.

As with the previous instalments, the characterisation is a massive bright spot in the story. Yumeko is as likeable as ever; Tatsumi is broodingly conflicted. I liked the touch of having Tatsumi have a slightly different tone from the last book, though it was (understandably) a little more distant at times. Both of the main characters undergo serious character development- which I particularly liked in Yumeko’s case. The reveals about her history cut deeper than a samurai sword. Most of all, however, I liked Kagawa’s execution of the slow burn romance, with its ups and downs, giving the narrative hints of darkness and delight.

Once again, the adventure aspect was strong too. Not only was the writing sharp, the action was non-stop and on point. Even better, there was a tricksy ending that I wasn’t quite expecting! Kagawa doesn’t go for the straightforward happily ever after and yet still manages to deliver something sweet- which makes for a very satisfying conclusion to the saga!

Ultimately, while it took me a little longer to get into this book, I can’t fault this series for sheer entertainment, gorgeous characters and transporting me to a fantastic fantasy land. It was a very welcome distraction and I’m tempted to reread the entire thing! 😉

Rating: 4/5 bananas

My thanks to HQ Young Adult for an eARC via NetGalley of Julie Kagawa’s ‘Night of the Dragon’ in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third and final in her ‘Shadow of the Fox’ series based on Japanese mythology and folklore. It follows on from the events in the first two books, ‘Shadow of the Fox’ (2018) and ‘Soul of the Sword’ (2019) and continues the journey of Yumeko, the half-kitsune, and her companions to prevent the destruction of their world by the Master of Demons.

I won’t say anything further about the plot in order to avoid spoilers for those readers new to the series.

It was brim full of action and adventure with plenty of fight scenes, including one with zombies! The conclusion also beautifully expressed the sense of mono-no aware, an important element of the Japanese literary tradition.

I am sad to say goodbye to Yumeko, Tatsumi, and the others though appreciated being able to accompany them on this epic journey.

The cover art for this series has been amazing and I also appreciated the inclusion of a glossary.

I highly recommend this novel and the series as a whole. While marketed as Teen/YA, I am certain that it will appeal to lovers of fantasy of all ages.

𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 5/5 STARS⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦: Tatsumi, Hakaimono, Yemeko, Okame, Daisuke, Suki, Chu and Reika ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗔𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗦: There are no words to describe what a journey this series has been. Japanese mythology, an entire culture that I had never experienced but from what I’ve read in this series, has proven to be so rich and intense. The creatures, the legends, the depth that this book has absorbs you from the very beginning. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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Gorgeous world building aside, the characters easily latch on to your heart. Yumeko’s earnestness and power, Tatsumi’s development from brooding to vulnerable, Okame’s wit and insecurity, Daisuke’s honour and intelligence, Reika’s rules and voice of reason, Hakaimono’s sarcasm and ruthlessness, made it impossible not to love this found-family. My heart ached in this book, in a way I haven’t experienced in a while. It made me want to go back and experience it all over again, to savour every moment of their story. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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The ending is, in my opinion, satisfying and well-crafted. It’s unconventional compared to how many other series end. Julie Kagawaa is unafraid to make your heart break; she goes above and beyond to make her readers appreciate the journey of her three books. The common thread that I learnt from this story, and Yumeko, especially in the times we’re in right now: hope, kindness, curiosity, and humour, are our tools for survival.⁣⁣⁣⁣
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𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥: readers that crave a magical adventure

I really enjoyed this and I am sad to see the series end, but I didn’t think this book was as strong or as good as the previous books. It just seemed to lack something, a certain sparkle the first two books had. Saying that I still did really enjoy this, it’s full of action, monster battles and this is still one of the best Japanese mythology based series out there. I also enjoyed the romantic elements in this book, which are so well done, it’s still a great book and end to the series and I’d love a movie of this series so much. Thoroughly entertaining and recommended


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

Such a good ending to a great series.

A great coming of age take with satisfying hero’s, with core beliefs in honour, duty and loyalty.

If you haven’t read this series I urge you to pick it up now!

This has been a really solidly enjoyable series for me, and while this final instalment was probably the weakest in my opinion, it still packed in a lot of great monster battles and kitsune action.

The Positives: I found the structure of the book fun once again. Told in dual perspectives, it is always great to get more than one take on a situation. The series has had a real video game feel to it, and this final book is no exception as we work our way through a series of obstacles to reach the final boss.

The Negatives: There was something about this instalment that just fell a little flat for me, which I can't really articulate. A lot of the same things that I had really enjoyed about the first two books didn't seem to grab me as much here. I also thought that the character arcs were a little disappointing.

Overall, this is a very fun series that I would recommend to anyone with a love of anime.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

What a great conclusion to a great series that deserves more attention.

Being the final book in a fantasy trilogy, you somewhat know what to expect from it - one final push to defeat the bad guy in an epic battle in order to restore peace to the world. That being said, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable read that wasn't afraid to hold back. Quite often in a book series you'll find that all the 'good guys' live and so it doesn't really have much of an emotional impact. Without giving away too many spoilers, let's just say that this isn't the case here - I rarely cry at books but this one got me.

One of this series' strong points is how rich it is in Japanese mythology, folklore and culture. I've said this before in my reviews for the first two books but it amps up once again for the finale. A variety of new demons are introduced, from smaller yōkai such as the firewheel Wanyūdō to the much larger sea priest Umibōzu. My existing knowledge may not have been very extensive (there's a useful glossary at the end of the book) but I still found myself fully immersed in the world that the author artfully created.

I also love the main characters. They all have distinct personalities and voices, with their interactions and camaraderie giving a clear sense of the strength of their friendship. Their individual character development continues to progress throughout the conclusion, making it a delight to see just how much they've grown through the series. It's mentioned in the book how it is Yumeko's fun-loving, kind and determined nature that brought the group together in the first place and she really comes into her own in this. It was also nice to see how Suki (who only appears now and again) was just as important as the others and had her own role to play in proceedings.

With any group of characters who spend time travelling together there is of course the possibility of romance. I'll keep away from spoiling anything but there are some lovely scenes in this which tug on the reader's heart strings. I found myself favouring one pairing in particular and had a strong case of the warm fuzzies whenever they shared a moment.

There are plenty of battles throughout the book with each one described in enough detail to enable the reader to fully picture what was happening. As a result things were a little gory at times so I'd advise caution to anyone sensitive to reading that kind of thing.

All in all I fully enjoyed Night of the Dragon and highly recommend the series, especially to anyone who is a fan of The Priory of the Orange Tree, Dragonball Z and Final Fantasy.

Great conclusion to this trilogy! Like the others, great characters, engaging writing and exciting plot! I'll read anything again from Kagawa. Definitely recommended to fantasy lovers.

I have loved this series since reading Shadow of the Fox back when it was released in 2018 and have been lucky enough to recieved advanced copies for both of the other books in the trilogy.

I already had a very strong attachment to the characters before going in to this final book and was a bit scared knowing this was the end and what might happen to them. Without giving too much away, the book was more final than I anticipated but I feel like it worked for the story and was purhaps the onlyway this was going to end.
I really loved the hope left behind in the prologue though and wish the author would write more stories set in this world.

As per the previous 2 books, they are so action packed from start to finish and I love how the fight scenes are written, we also got to meet some new characters and I feel the handling of the fate of other characters was done really well.

I will dearly miss these characters and this trilogy will definitely be one I will revisit in years to come.
Many thanks in sending me this early copy.

This is the third and final book in the Shadow of the Fox trilogy. I thought this was a fantastic concluding instalment and I enjoyed every second of reading it. The plot was compelling, the writing is great and the character development continues to be so well done in this installment. If you enjoyed the two previous books, then you'll probably love this one too. If you haven't started this trilogy yet, I definitely recommend checking it out.

The final book in Kagawa’s epic Japanese fantasy series sees Yumiko the kitsune come into her own. Once again we join the band of unlikely allies, friends and lovers as they battle Yokai in a race to reach the dragon god – Harbinger of Change. This is an amazing series full of action, humour, romance and with its roots firmly in Japanese mythology. I just need Studio Ghibli to acquire the rights and make a series of animated feature films now. Lovely books, amazing auth

I have loved this series from the first book & though I may not have been emotionally prepared enough for this final instalment, it was the perfect ending to what has become an all time favourite series. Please beware that this review will more than likely contain spoilers for the first two books.

Night of the Dragon picks up hours after the ending of Soul of the Sword. Yumeko, Kage Tatsumi, Reika, Okame and Taiyo Daisuke have just lost the final piece of the Dragon Scroll, injured and defeated they must band together to defeat Genno and prevent him calling the Great Dragon and getting his wish. They must make it to Tsuki territory, the islands of the Moon Clan and take part in a battle to prevent the mass extinction of all humankind. Yumeko will need every single one of her unlikely crew to make the journey and defeat Genno, a journey filled with despair, discoveries, betrayals and new beginnings.

I love Yumeko, she became an instant hit with me in the first book and her progression through the series is staggering. Though she is still a young and naive girl, these are some of her strongest traits, she is able to see the good in everybody even a Ronin and a boy sharing his soul with a demon. She is the glue that holds the gang together and they would have been defeated long ago if it wasn't for her kitsune power and ability to win over mythical creatures. She knows going in to the final battle that it will likely be their last, and yet nothing could stop her from her goal. Kage Tatsumi is just well *swoon*. Stoic and afraid of what has become of himself since his soul merged with Hakaimono the demon once cursed to his sword. He feels like he is too dangerous to be around, and it is only through Yumeko's stubbornness and unwillingness to be afraid of him that he comes to realisations that he never thought possible. Along with Reika, Okame and Taiyo Daisuke they make up one of my all time favourite literary gangs, Reika the ultimate mother hen, Okame's ability to diffuse tension and always get a laugh and Taiyo Daisuke the most honourable warrior. They each have their part to play in Yumeko's journey and the book simply wouldn't be the same without them.

This book destroyed me, I thought I was emotionally prepared enough and I had guesses as to the ending but nothing could have prepared me for what the author created. Her writing has you flying alongside the crew on their journey and she makes this possible with giving us our third Narrator in Suki. When I read her part in the first book I had no idea how pivotal she would be to their journey, she brings about all kinds of revelations, some intentionally and others not. Though she may have had a sad start and terrible death, seeing her fulfil her purpose and finally getting the peace she deserves had me tearing up. Kagawa's world building through the series has been immense, we have travelled through multiple clans lands, some friendly some not, travelled through the shadow realm and in this book we travel to the Moon Islands, the place of the original rising of the Dragon. Her writing style makes the story flow effortlessly, and before you know it you're nearly finished.

The romance, man the romance. It was so beautifully done. We know from the first book that Yumeko and Kage Tatsumi have feelings for each other, but after his soul was merged with Hakaimono he feels even less like he deserves the love and trust from this amazing Kitsune girl. Seeing their relationship grow through this book was a blessing and their interactions were bittersweet and beautiful. The second romance in this series was written equally as beautifully and *spoiler for book 2* I loved seeing Okame and Taiyo Daisuke's relationship progress to the point where they didn't feel the need to hide in front of their friends.

There were sooo many twists and turns in this book. It went in a direction I never expected and though at first I felt like a certain bit was put in simply because it could be, the purpose was made clear towards the end and I couldn't imagine it ending any other way. Talking about endings, I know I said the book destroyed me, and it did. However, I was over it I was happy and then I got to the epilogue and the last 4 words had me bawling all over again. This was the perfect ending to a truly immersive and entertaining series, one which I will definitely come back to from time to time and I would love the author to write more books based in this world. There are so many more things I want to talk about but i'm trying to make this as spoiler free as possible!The easiest 5/5 of the year so far. Anyone remotely interested in fantasy, mythology and kick ass crews should pick this series up instantly.

It says a lot about a series when you receive a copy of the latest release and immediately abandon your looming TBR pile for a 'quick' 750+ page re-read of the story so far.

I adore this series. The medieval Japanese world-building with its mix of folklore and mythology is wonderful and has been a delight to read. Our ragtag crew of misfits: a kitsune, shinobi demonslayer, wandering ronin, royal samurai and cantankerous shine maiden with her little dog too, expands to include a demon lord and a ghost, and their adventures and friendship will give you all the feels. Serious serious squad goals peoples!!

Kagawa delivers a satisfying conclusion to their story. With hindsight, it may come across as formulaic for fans of YA fantasy series, but I was too engrossed in the action-packed journey to be distracted by stereotypes, tropes and sherlocking any foreshadowing. It is an effortless read.

My only disappointment is the absence of a tragic poem!! Where is the tragic poem, Julie Kagawa?!? :D I really feel this was something not-so-subtly promised to readers and all we are left with is Daisuke's earlier ode to Okame:

<b>The archer unbowed.
The demon could not break him.
He laughed as he died. </b>

Although, have got to say that is still a mighty fine and fitting haiku.

I foresee my books growing increasingly tattered and dog eared. They will be well worn and well loved tomes as I return to this story again and again for more future reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.