The Fox Wife

When a thousand-year-old fox - who can take the shape of a woman - goes on a vengeful mission to kill the man who murdered her kit, the path before her takes her instead to unexpected friends, old flames, resurging grief, and, eventually, peace. Or something like it. Yangsze Choo is an incredible world-weaver, blending east Asian folklore, fantasy, and feminist critique of both into compelling characters and swirling plots. This was one of the best books I read this year, and might be my favorite of all her books. My favorite thing about this book is how she plays… show more.

This intriguing story includes culture, myth, mystery, and fantasy woven into an epic tale. As with most books I love, the characters make the book for me, and these characters had such heart and soul, family nuances, real-life longing, and real-life fears.  

The mystery at the heart of the story was very well plotted. While there were fantasy elements, they subtly impacted the plot without becoming the plot. The historical elements were handled delicately, bringing the world-building to life.