Shadow of the Fox - by Julie Kagawa

About the Book

Enter a beautiful and perilous land of shapeshifters and samurai, kami and legends, humans and demons...a world in which Japanese mythology and imagination blend together to create a lushly drawn fantasy adventure from the "New York Times"-bestselling author of The Talon Saga..

Book Synopsis

In this first book of her Japanese mythology-inspired Shadow of the Fox trilogy, bestselling author Julie Kagawa weaves a stunning, high-stakes tale of alliances and deceptions, characters who aren't what they seem, and secrets that could change the fate of the world.

Every millennium, whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers has the power to call the great Kami Dragon from the sea and ask for one wish. The time is near...and the missing pieces of the scroll will be sought throughout the land of Iwagoto.

When demons kill half-kitsune Yumeko's adoptive family, she's forced to flee her home with one part of the ancient scroll. Fate thrusts her into the path of mysterious samurai Kage Tatsumi, who is Yumeko's best hope for survival. But he's under orders to retrieve the scroll. An uneasy alliance forms, and Yumeko begins the deception of a lifetime, knowing her secrets are more than a matter of life or death--they're the key to the fate of the world.

Books in the Shadow of the Fox trilogy:

• Shadow of the Fox
• Soul of the Sword
• Night of the Dragon

Review Quotes

"Shadow of the Fox has just become one of my all time favorite fantasy novels! I'm in love with this book, its characters, its worldbuilding! Oni, giant centipedes, flesh eating ghosts, and terrifying half women/half spider things that will give me nightmares for weeks to come, this book is filled with terrifying Asian mythological creatures that make Medusa look like a mean grandma with a bad wig. Not to mention a lovable kitsune, a sexy demonslayer, and quite a few side characters that are larger than life and have completely wormed their way into my heart. I'm so invested in their lives and their quest and I cannot wait for the next installment of my new favorite series. In the meantime, I plan to re-read Shadow of the Fox again and again until I can be reunited with Yumeko and Tatsumi soon. So dear Julie, please write faster!"
-Ellen Oh, author of the Prophecy and Spirit Hunters series

"Kagawa (Inferno, 2018, etc.) uses elements of Japanese mythology and folklore to spin an epic yarn...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." -Kirkus Reviews

"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." -Booklist

"[E]xcellent writing and skillful plotting... [A] fresh and imaginative thrill-ride." -Publishers Weekly on The Immortal Rules, starred review

"The Iron Daughter is a book that will keep its readers glued to the pages until the very end." -New York Journal of Books

"Kagawa's fine storytelling elevates this novel within the crowded field of fantasy romance." -BookPage on Talon

"Julie Kagawa is one killer storyteller." -MTV's Hollywood Crush blog