Quality Rating: Three Stars
Enjoyment Rating: Three Stars

I always love folklore retellings and Korean myth is one of my all-time favourites. Robin Ha weaves together a decidedly modern version of the Gumiho story set against the rich backdrop of Joseon (historical Korea). The dialogue and general tone was a bit lacking if I'm honest, the politics and hierarchical dynamics were obviously aimed at a younger audience and were able to be a bit fantastical in where Kai could fit herself into society and thus experience the story - but it was still excitable and enjoyable nonetheless. The graphic novel spans a surprisingly long time period which helps it feel more epic, but also fragments each chunk of the story away from feeling whole. Dare I say, a series might actually have explored the narrative that was being told a little more fluidly.

Kai has trained her whole life alongside her brother's in her father's martial arts school, determined to pave her own way in life, refusing to be the demure lady expected of her, but instead become the warrior she's always dreamed of being. Although she's looked down on for her gender, she proves herself time and time again, using her intellect and courage to protect her family against the ruthless assassins. However, Kai soon finds out she harbours a dark secret, after her first moon blood, she finds every consecutive full moon she's cursed to turn into a fox demon, and must hunt and kill a man to allow her to return back to her human form. But as the death toll mounts up, and bodies begin to be unearthed and suspicions of the Gumiho circulating, Kai is desperate to escape, and rid herself of this curse in anyway she can. Soon, she crosses paths with a girl she once saved, and how harbours a deep love for Kai, despite their previous interaction, and the love she holds may just be the key to breaking the curse once and for all.

This was a beautiful, impactful and moving story about generational trauma, and the oppression of women in Korea, as well as the healing capabilities of love. Written as a mesmerising and profound graphic novel, this story is full of strong, powerful and inspiring women, and divine feminine rage towards the patriarchy and the audacity of men to use women only for their own gain. Brimming with Korean folklore and legends, and engaging, insightful and important Korean history around the Joseon Era, this story will sear itself into your heart and take your breath away. The only reason this isn't 5 stars from me, is purely because the last part felt a little rushed for me, and I would've liked it to have been drawn out just a little longer, but it was still captivating from start to finish.

3.5☆

I haven't read much in terms of Korean folklore and I found this really interesting.

It begins with informative but concise world building, it does feel like a slight info dump but not too much and you get more along the way so you get a really good sense of the time and place it's set in.

I liked the exploration of feminist themes through many different and unique women and the trauma different characters experienced and how they face it.

Beautiful art especially the chapter art. It really conveyed the emotions of the characters, the beauty of the setting and the intensity of the action.

The plot and characters were engaging with a beautiful love story and entertaining family dynamics.

I did think some parts felt pretty rushed, especially the ending and the romance.

I loved the authors note it was very informative and you can tell the author poured a lot into this graphic novel

I like Robin Ha. I really enjoyed her previous work, culinary graphic novel Cook Korean! It was a delightful cross between a cookbook and a comic book. I never quite got around to reading her other graphic novel, the autobiographical Almost American Girl. The Fox Maidens is Ha's first fully fictional publication.

The Fox Maidens weaves a captivating tapestry of Korean mythology, historical intrigue, and fierce characters. Ha ventures into the realm of fantasy with remarkable finesse.

Set against the backdrop of Joseon-era Korea, the story revolves around Kai, the daughter of General Song. Haunting rumors link her to the mystical gumiho, the nine-tailed fox. When Kai begins to transform into a fox herself, her mother whisks her away to the secluded mountains. There, she encounters the last surviving gumiho, who becomes her mentor. Together, they navigate a world where magic and men intersect.

Three core themes are woven through the text. Namely, these are the themes of identity and acceptance, forbidden love, and power and responsibility. The first of these themes, that of identify and acceptance, is developed as Kai grapples with her dual nature; part human, part fox. Her struggle to reconcile these facets mirrors the broader theme of self-acceptance.

We see the theme of forbidden love develop as Kai unravels the mystery behind a series of murders. She forms an unexpected bond with a human. Their love defies societal norms and adds a layer of tension to the narrative.

Finally, Ha explores power and responsibility through Kai's magical heritage. The gumiho’s magic is both a gift and a curse. Kai must learn to wield it wisely while protecting those she cares about.

As a graphic novel, the artwork is crucial to the experience of the story, particularly in setting a visual tone. Ha’s illustrations burst forth with vibrancy. The lush landscapes, intricate hanboks, and mystical creatures come alive on the page. Each panel feels like a brushstroke in a traditional ink painting. This is clearly a labour of love.

But why read it? What does The Fox Maidens have to draw in and reward the reader? The first thing is the cultural element. This graphic novel invites you to really dive into Korean folklore and experience the gumiho's allure; the delicate balance between the human and supernatural.

It also features a satisfyingly fierce heroine. Kai defies gender norms, particularly as they would have been understood at the time in which this story is set, wielding her martial prowess and fox magic with equal grace. This also ties into something of a queer retelling of the gumiho legend; a nice twist on Ha's part.

The Fox Maidens is a feast for the senses. It is a tale of love, sacrifice, and the magic that binds us all. Whether you are a seasoned graphic novel enthusiast, a fan of Ha's previous work, an admirer of Korean folklore, or a curious newcomer, this book will ensnare your heart like a fox's spell.

Rating: 5 / 5

A captivating story that is beautifully drawn !!! I adore the use of colours, and I adore the characters !!! I truly loved and enjoyed this !!!

Congratulations to Andersen Press on a superb first graphic novel outing with this fantastic story from Robin Ha. A high stakes adventure with captivating plot and designs.

The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha is a graphic novel following the life of Kai, the daughter of General Song, famed for killing the fox demon Gumiho, who has trained hard to become her fathers equal in martial arts despite the expectations of women.

Pros:
- Really lovely take on the traditional myths of the 9-tailed foxes.
- Artwork really lends itself to the action scenes without being too graphic. I also love how they play with colour in the flashbacks!
- A woman with a sword is always going to be a plus.

Cons:
- I wish we had more time with our rebels, but don't feel like context or plot is compromised without it. (I'm a sucker for pining, more! Always more!)

4/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I had a fun time with this - loved the historical aspects of the story, and the way Kai's fox expressions were illustrated was hilarious. I felt that the dialogue was robotic at times and the ending was too abrupt, but overall a well-written graphic novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andersen Press for providing a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

The Fox Maidens is a Graphic Novel inspired by the ancient nine-tailed fox legends of Korea.

This is a beautiful graphic novel with gorgeous artwork. It was very engaging and just what I needed in the moment. I loved the story and the LGBTQIA representing. I do however think the ending was a little abrupt which is the only reason it's not getting a full 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley / Anderson Press for providing me with this e-arc!
I don’t often read graphic novels, but the description, its ancient folktale inspiration, and the beautiful cover convinced me to apply for this one, and I do not regret it. It brought together some of my favourite things that I look for in a novel: excellent representation, especially with queer women, folktales, and assassins.
The art was as compelling as the storytelling - neither overshadowing the other. The protagonist, Kai, is strong-willed and powerful without being too cold and distant. She is well-fleshed out and as a reader you really, really feel for her. Connecting to a character like that is always a getaway into really enjoying a book for me! The thought that was put into creating her character is a reflection of the author’s impeccable storytelling.
While I wish there was a little more towards the end, I finished it wanting to know more about Korean folklore and feeling happy to see two queer women represented so well in a fantasy romance (even if I wish there was a bit more of them than what we go at the end!)

The art was very beautiful, and I really liked the colour choices throughout the book and how they represented the emotions of Kai. I also really enjoyed the inclusion of Korean mythology with the Gumiho. However, I never felt connected to the characters, and while the first three quarters of the book felt like they dragged on, the ending felt very rushed. In fact, the last chapter or two felt completely disconnected from the rest of the story as a whole - it was very jarring. I think if we'd just had some more development on that ending, I would've enjoyed this more!

3.75* rounded up

The Fox Maidens primarily centres on Kai, the daughter of the man famed to have killed the fox demon and the woman rumoured to be her. The YA graphic novel tells her tale, the legend of Gumiho (the fox demon), her parents histories, with some small sections on Sura, an assassin sent to kill Kai.

The novel is rich in Korean culture, with notes adding further information about the culture and history, alongside the fantasy. I enjoyed the story, and whilst I wasn't familiar with the legend prior to reading, I think fans of Mulan and Teen Wolf will enjoy it. It was written and illustrated quote simply, so I think readers on the younger age of the spectrum would also enjoy it. It made for a quick easy read for me.

I'll echo another review who wanted more of Kai and Sura together - being badass and their love story. I felt like I was waiting and waiting for it, to only get a tiny bit at the end. It felt like Sura was forgotten for most of the novel. This was disappointing for me, as based on the description citing this plot point (plus it's tagged as LGBT first, before fantasy) I expected it much earlier than the end. If it was sold to me differently, it would have been a nice addition to the story. Both characters were 'not like other girls' and Kai explicitly didn't want to marry a man, which is valid in its own right (and also fine for a teenager to change their mind later), despite pressure and comments from those around her. I liked that her father support her interests and stood up for her in front of others. Her passion and determination was heralded as an asset, and he didn't use it against her.

In summary, an enjoyable fantasy but the ending was rushed, Sura was almost forgotten about, but overall good for younger audiences. Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'The Fox Maidens' by Robin Ha.

'The Fox Maidens' is a graphic novel and although the art style is so different to what I'm used to and I enjoyed following the story through the media of graphic art, the pacing of the actual story was a bit confusing for me so I did lose some interest half way through. I feel like everyone should try this graphic novel purely because the art style is that pretty.

This is one of the best mangas I have read so long it is fun. It is fresh it is whimsical not only does it talk about fuck spirits which is a very big thing especially in Japanese culture. I also really liked the art style. It was a mix between older style but also brought into the 21st-century twist I love the colour display on this and I love the different descriptions on the different ways that you can hear character voices. By the way the words are written on the Paige absolutely loved it. I thought this was stunning and I will definitely reading more from this artist and this author in the future.

3.5

I wasn’t expecting this book to be a graphic novel so i was pleasantly surprised. I also wasn’t expecting to read this book at all so it was a lovely surprise to find it on NetGalley. I purposefully didn’t read the blurb of this book and went into it purely knowing it was sapphic, and based off the cover.

I would argue that at points this book is more middle grade than it is young adult but I think that might just be because the character we follow starts off as a ten year old and we follow her into early adulthood.

I enjoyed the art style of this book and I also enjoyed the story. For me, the reason it only got 3.5 stars was because I think the ending was a bit rushed and that last chapter could’ve done with more development because you can tell that is where the story is leading and that’s where it’s going but it does kind of happen rather quickly and feels like it comes out of nowhere.

But this is still a really enjoyable read! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to read this book early!

This was a beautiful book, both the story and illustration were fabulous, especially the chapter pages. The art style was a delight and the writing was clear and well annotated when translations or explanations were required. The only thing stopping me giving this 5 stars is the kind of abrupt ending. It felt like it ended 2 or 3 pages too soon. But anyway, a delight, and it will make me check out more info about Korean folklore (which seems both very similar to Japanese, and very creepy).

This is a wonderful tale of love and revenge. Beautiful illustrations and representation,

Thank you for the advanced reader copy. Will be looking out for this when released

this was so good, i couldn't put it down i was very invested in everyone's story. the reason it's not five stars is because the end was extremely rushed and the romantic relationship came out of nowhere

This book was interesting. It follows our main character, Kai, whose father teaches her martial arts despite her gender because he wants her to be able to protect herself from his enemies. There's a lot of Korean folklore involved in the book as well, and I don't know a whole lot about the actual stories, but the author seems to be knowledgeable about it (it sounds that way, at least). The author also mentions in the note at the end of the book how they were inspired by traditional Korean ghost stories, and the tale of the Gumiho in particular, because of how different she was from most other characters in those stories.
I think the book itself was a bit rushed, and it could have spent more time developing the themes and the characters, but it's all good. Also, being hit with a "four years later" box mid-page was a bit jarring.
The art style of the book is pleasant, and I especially love the pieces at the beginnings of the chapters, they're truly gorgeous. I think the lack of shading made it a bit more visually noisy than I normally prefer, but it was still good art, and this book is definitely something I'd like having on my shelf.
So overall, this book is about a 3.75 out of 5, a good book and I would probably recommend this!

4/5

Thank you Netgalley and Andersen Press for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I thought the art in this graphic novel was beautiful and that it sang in such harmony with the storytelling. I loved Kai, I loved her ferocity, her determination and her heart. I loved so many elements of this story. My one complaint is that I think the ending wrapped it up too quickly, I would've liked more time to flesh that part of it out. But this story was such an interesting one, told in such a compelling way.