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

With Tatsumi possessed by the demon Hakaimono, Yumeko and squad have to make a decision to prioritize the delivery of the scroll to the temple where the other piece is kept. Their way there is not direct, and goes through a meeting with the Shadow clan. Meanwhile, Hakaimono, looking for ways to get rid of his entrapment, approaches the Master of Demons, a blood mage who had wreaked havoc on the land some centuries ago, to ally with him. Fighting through personal demons, and actual ones is pretty much the theme of the book, as Yumeko prepares to take on Hakaimono himself.

The level of action in this book is as much as that in the earlier one, with Hakaimono's POV delivering some brutal battles with the yokai he comes across, and his trek through a haunted forest. He frequently taunts the Tatsumi inside him, while also being affected by his human emotions. Yumeko and her friends mostly have to contend with the shady Shadow clan, whose internal politics threaten their safe passage through to their path. They also have to pass through Meido on their travels, the spirit realm that is somewhat like a purgatory for lost souls. All of that was built up so well, as was the even more shadier figure controlling events from the background, Lord Seigetsu whose activities we see through Suki's eyes. Some history is also explored in this book, chiefly how Hakaimono came to be in the hands of the Shadow clan, and why they were demonslayers.

While the action takes a lot of space in this book, there are some emotional developments too. There is a significant romantic development in the book (which I was so excited about) and through that, Yumeko realizes her feelings for Tatsumi; in the initial stages however, I was amused about how clueless she was while they were flirting. Towards the ending, the book also delivers some gut punches, with all that foreshadowing beforehand, and then the actual battle with so high stakes almost threatening to stop my heart. Overall, I would say it was a thrilling ride of a book, with fantastic action scenes, awesome world-building, and newer challenges.

So a Samurai, Ronin, Shapeshifter, cantankerous Shrine Maiden and her little dog too ... head off on a quest to save the world. What sounds like a joke or a twisted Wizard of Oz, turns out to be so much better, because their quest isn't thwarted only by witches. There are also ninjas, demons, dragons, ghouls, weird creepy old men, supernatural critters and ghosts galore! It was fantastic!!

A great followup to the first story. Still love this ragtag team of misfits trying to save the world and their friend. They will give you serious squad goals! Some of the pacing was a bit slow with most of the story focusing on another long roadtrip, but it gives you a chance to spend time with the characters and learn more of the history and mythology. It really is the calm before the storm and once the action starts... holy moly! I couldn't put it down. Another sleepless night spent staying up reading, but no regrets!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

After reading Shadow of the Fox last year and loving it, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequel! The end of the book was a bit hazy as it had been months since reading it and I was slightly worried about jumping back into this world but it was made very easy for me to pick back up and get straight back into the story.

The book keeps the same charms from the first book that I fell in love with, and of course the characters are some of my favourites. We really get a better look at Tatsumi and his relationship with Yumeko which was just heart warming. We also get a real good look at the demon Hakaimono and learn more of the general backstory and the role he ends up playing in this book I thought was really interesting and not something I saw coming.

I will say there is a LGBT romance in this book that I really didn't see coming and it did felt a bit forced but that might just be me. As with book 1, the ending of this really left me not able to put the book down until I had finished it, I actually feel like the end of this book was even better than the first book with a great twist.

I really love how Julie writes her fight scenes, some I have read previously in other books felt messy and hard to picture what is happening but she writes it in a way that you can see it playing out which is awesome.

For those that havn't read Shadow of the Fox, it very much feels like watching an epic Anime which is a big part of it's appeal for me and this carries over to the sequel. Same great humor and characters, highly anticipating what comes next!

Interesting premise to a story that is fairly well executed.
Pacing was a little erratic at times and I wasn't as charmed by the plot as much as I would've liked however this was a fun ya read.

Whereas I really loved Shadow of the Fox, unfortunately, the sequel just kind of fell a bit flat for me! I’m not saying that it wasn’t a good book because it was, it was just not as good as the first book which I fell in love with. Although, I haven’t been in the biggest fantasy mood lately so that could have had something to do with it.

I did still enjoy following these characters and their journey and I am happy with the direction of the story it just didn’t completely go the way that I wanted it to go!

Having said that, I still thought the plot was intriguing and fast moving and I did mostly enjoy my time reading it!

I need to take a breath after that! Following on from the events in Shadow of the Fox, we pick back up with Master Jiro’s tale of the origin of the sword Kamigoroshi and the demon within it Hakaimono. Yumeko and the gang must continue to the Steel Feather temple in order to protect the scroll but with Tatsumi presumably lost to Hakaimono, Yumeko feels torn over her feelings to Tatsumi and he duty to her former temple to protect the scroll.

I love this little group! I think the relationship between Okame and Daisuke is my favourite, they are an unlikely but refreshing duo and I loved seeing their relationship grow as the story progresses.

Julie’s writing is pure magic, the world building and story telling makes you feel like you are there with the characters, the detail is astonishing. Reading it makes you feel like you’re watching a film and you are so engrossed in the story. I blasted through this book and I am desperate to have the third book and to see how this story ends. I enjoyed the sequel more so than the first as I was already in Iwagoto and was able thanks to getting this book from Netgalley to dive right back in.

Not only is the story great but the characterisation too, they are multi-dimensional and almost leap off the pages. Yumeko, Daisuke, Okame, Reika and of course Tatsumi are constantly developing throughout the story and it’s an absolute pleasure to read it.

I even found myself quite intrigued by Hakaimono and to see how (without spoilers) the end of the book plays out.

Overall, if you’re a fan of the first book (Shadow of the Fox), Japanese fantasy or even just wanting to read something that will transport you away, get onto this series. It’s breathtaking!

I cannot wait for book three!

Disclaimer: Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I am so grateful to NetGalley and the Publishers, HQ Young Adult, for providing me with a copy of Soul of the Sword by Julie Kagawa

"One thousand years ago, a wish was made to the Harbringer of Change and a sword of rage of lightning was forged. Kamigoroshi. The Godslayer. It had one task: to seal away the powerful demon Hakaimono."


Soul of the Sword starts not long after the terrible events that finished the previous book, Shadow of the Fox. Tatsumi has been possessed by the demon, Hakaimono, Yumeko and their band of misfits all vow to save him - no matter the cost - whilst also trying to protect the scroll piece by taking it to the Steel Feather Temple.

I am a big fan of Japanese folklore, it's definitely a genre that I don't read enough. This world is incredible, full of mythology but with fantasy elements that add to the world even more. The character development throughout this book was great, Yumeko had an inner journey to discover how strong she truly is without the limitations from her childhood. We finally learn about what went into shaping Tatsumi into the demonslayer - these scenes were heart-wrenching!

Reika's development was minimal really - mostly with her becoming stronger in herself and more able to show off how much of a badass she really is. However my favourite character developments/arcs were that of Okame and Daisuke. I adore these two characters because they could easily stick with the stereotypes their lives have handed them - however they constantly break through constraints and better themselves. A scene involving them I definitely saw coming, but I loved it and I hope it continues through into the third book.

I only reason that I didn't score this book 5 stars is because I found the first third-ish of the book a little bit slow, considering that we spent practically all of the first book traveling to the Steel Feather Temple, for me it did slow down this book that they spent so much still travelling to the Temple. I know that several people found it strange that Hakaimono spoke like a twentieth century person, rather than the thousand year old demon he is. However, this didn't impact on my reading of his sections at all, I kind of see it that although he is an old demon, he is still able to interact with the world around him (to a degree), he is in the heads of the demonslayers and would therefore pick up on the various changes in how people speak.

Overall I really enjoyed the second book in the Shadow of the Fox trilogy, the characters are developing and keeping me on my toes, plus the plot for the most part is moving along, I can't wait to see what happens next especially considering that plot twist of an ending.

After having got drawn in by the first book in Kagawa's new series I couldnt resist this book, with my favourite fox girl and the magic scroll. I know I pronounce so many of the words wrongly, but I dont care. Like every good YA story there is love, loss and a slightly less obviously LGBTQ character or two. Theres demons, and death, and the need to save the world from peril. but the setting feels a little different to usual books and I just love the phrase Kitsune. i

This was everything you can hope for after that penultimate ending from SHADOW OF THE FOX your thrown back in to this world of samurai , kitsuni and Oni .
Where this book pretty much picks up straight after the end of book one and you see the characters starting the journey to take the two parts of the scroll to the Steel feather temple so that there out of the way form the ONI who wants them ..
Julie kawaga has done it again with this sequel and I yet again found myself beyond engrossed in this book it was amazing , heart breaking , victory cry worthy and above all made you believe that the magic in this story could be real , I can’t wait to see what the out come is in the final book

As I say, this book follows on pretty much directly from the events of the first book, so if you haven’t read that yet be warned, here be spoilers (though I’ll do my best to keep it spoiler-free for Soul of the Sword).

One thing that always interests me when reading a sequel is whether or not one has to re-read the previous book in order to understand what’s going on. In general, I find the answer is ‘no but it would probably help’. In this case the same is true, you can quite quickly remember what happened in book one and who you’re meant to care about, but I do expect it would be a quicker start if you already have that information. If you have the time and inclination a re-read might be beneficial.

That wasn’t the route I took, however, and while it was a little slow to start as a result I don’t think it did me any harm. Once you get back into the swing of the various points of view it’s not too taxing.

I liked that, at least Yumeko’s point of view, felt more like a journey than anything else. You got a real sense of the distance these characters were travelling and the various stops and challenges along the way. Often with books that feature journeys as the main driver of the plot, I find it hard to visualise the distance and difficulties, but Kagawa manages to capture that ‘travelling’ vibe.

One thing that I was less keen on was the ‘romance’ aspect of the story. I didn’t mind it so much in book one but I got slightly annoyed at how many ‘oh Yumeko don’t you realise you have feelings for him’ ‘no surely this cannot be!’ there were. It’s possibly my least favourite way of building a romance when two characters don’t actually interact so perhaps I’m more averse to it than others might be. I think come book three (as yet untitled) this won’t be an issue at all, it’s just a product of the way this plot has worked out. Should the two characters actually have a conversation again in the third book I’m sure all my concerns will melt away.

I still think this is a wonderful world, the characters they encounter, the way that ‘magic’ works – it feels really rich and detailed. I really enjoyed reading both books in this series. I liked a lot of the conflict (internal and ‘real’), particularly I thought how Kagawa handled the idea of the villain’s motivation(s) was clever and well done. It’s nice to read a villain who isn’t purely ‘I want to rule everything because of reasons’.

Overall, not as strong as Shadow of the Fox but altogether a pretty good sequel. I’m left very excited to read the third book when it comes out because I feel like it will be an epic conclusion. So maybe we view book two as a literary calm before the storm?

My rating: 3/5 stars

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

Soul of the Sword is available June 27th

Thank you to Netgalley, HQ and Julie Kagawa for my arc of Soul of the Sword in exchange for an honest review.

Spoiler warning: this is the sequel to Shadow of the Fox if you haven’t read Shadow of the Fox please be aware that there are some spoilers for it.

Synopsis: following the hectic events at the end of Shadow of the Fox Yumeko is now in a terrible position. She must get her piece of the dragon scroll to the Steel Feather Temple, but she also wants to save her friend Tatsumi who has been possessed by the demon Hakaimono. Hakaimono has joined forces with the terrible master of demons and together they pursue the scroll putting not just lives, but the world itself in terrible danger. Can Yumeko and her friends prevent them from getting the scroll and bringing about destruction?



I loved Yumeko’s character development in Soul of the Sword the naive half kitsune who knew nothing about the greater world, or even about herself, is having to grow up fast and learn to protect not just herself but others too. I loved how she learnt more about her kitsune side and what she is capable of and the mythology and folklore in this one was really rich and interesting! This one was certainly a lot darker too!



The story was great and bridges books one and two together while still remaining interesting and progressing in its own right. Can’t wait for book 3!

I have to start with the elephant in the room: How is it possible that an ancient mythological being communicates like a twentieth century normal dude? I just don't buy it. This really pulled me out of the story on a number of occasions and severely limited my rating. Shadow of the Fox was my least favourite book of last year, but the Japanese folklore really interested me and I hoped Soul of the Sword might be able to pull it back. It did, I liked this book much more than the first and was really compelled to keep reading initially, but I just feel so distant from the characters that I'm struggling to become invested in it.

In the last book Tatsumi was possessed by a demon which was released from a sword. Yumeko is determined to rescue him at any cost; even if that cost is her life. I actually quite like that Yumeko is the knight in shining armour. It's great to see some role reversal here, whereby the female protagonist needs to save the male one BUT I struggle with Yumeko because she has no apparent concern for the secondary characters. She's quite oblivious to the danger she may put them in because of her actions. It's one thing to be prepared to rescue someone at the cost of your own life, but I find it difficult to relate to a character who doesn't stop to question someone else's. Admittedly, Tatsumi is quite valuable to the wider group anyway and ultimately they want to keep Yumeko safe regardless but it still became a bitter issue for me.

The characters were difficult to connect with in the first book because none of them were especially interesting or likeable, Yumeko felt particularly under-developed and her kitsune magic was hardly explored at all. Soul of the Sword embraces Yumeko's connection to her kitsune magic which made for a much fuller world. In fact, Japanese folklore on the whole was really interwoven and this book felt like something straight out of anime, which was great. Yumeko develops a great deal from the stifled girl in the Temple of the first book but despite this remains to be quite wooden and wasn't a character I really cared enough about to become invested in.

I think the most telling thing of all is that even with the final book just around the corner, promising a great battle or resolution, I have absolutely no desire to read it. Make of that what you will.

I enjoyed Shadow of the Fox a lot, so I was waiting eagerly for this sequel. I think there should be more of these different myths combined with fantasy stories. These are based on Japanese mythology, and delivered in an exciting and atmospheric way.
I also loved the sequel. It had a fast pace, good story, enjoyable characters to read about. These books are great for escaping to another world and have fun.
Thanks a lot to the publisher and Netgalley for granting this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Shadow of the Fox was one of my top reads last year, so when I saw Soul of the Sword for request on Netgalley I jumped at the chance to grab an early review copy. I had super high expectations after the awesomeness of the first book and let me tell you, this met every single one of them.

The story starts not long after the Shadow of the Fox ended. Yumeko and the gang of misfits are deciding what to do after Kage Tatsumi was taken over by Hakaimono the demon that was trapped in his sword. Torn between wanting to rescue their friend and the need to make sure Yumeko's part of the dragon scroll doesn't fall into the wrong hands, they devise a plan which is quickly upended when the Daimo of the Kage requests Yumeko's presence at the home of the Shadow Clan.

This book was simply put epic! The world building is immense and I simply love Kagawa's writing style. She draws you into the story so completely with her descriptions and characters, that you almost feel like you are on the journey with them.

Yumeko is a fantastic character. Part Yokai, she has 'illusion magic' which enables her to make people see things that are not really there. This leads to some hilariously funny parts of the book that had be laughing out loud. She is also such a honest and honourable character, which is how she gained the unwavering loyalty of her group of unlikely friends, a Ronin, Samurai, Shrine Maiden and Priest. She is not afraid of putting herself in danger, and through the growth of her power, is determined that there must be a way for her to save Kage Tatsumi and put Hakaimono back into the sword for good.

I was so happy we got more Suki in this book as well. We got treated to whole chapters from her POV and she became the a massive part of the plot. Her character ARC is one of the more interesting, simply because since she died, she isn't quite sure why she still lives on this realm, and its only towards the end of the book that her true purpose comes to light.

Although I love all the characters I definitely have a soft spot for Okame. Though he's a Ronin - a disgraced Samurai- he is one of Yumeko's strongest and loyal protectors, and they have a fantastic relationship, almost that of brother and sister. When Yumeko is using her fox magic for mischief you can always be sure that Okame will not be far away.

I loved the twists and turns throughout this book, Kagawa manages to keep you guessing right until the end, and that ending! I definitely did not see that coming. There is also a beautiful love story woven through this, and though not a main part of the plot, I loved reading the characters interaction's, and seeing their bond grow throughout the book.

Yet another 5 star read. I cannot wait for the third instalment, especially after the cliff-hanger ending we were left with. I will simply have to bide my time digging into some more of Julie's books as I'm sure I will enjoy them as much as these.

I loved Shadow of the Fox and couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. I especially enjoy how Kagua has blended Japanese mythology with high fantasy and delivered it in a very visual way. And as difficult, tricksy and sometimes downright malevolent kitsune are in folklore, I’ve always had a soft spot for them, so this was right up my street. Anyway in this sequel, Yumeko goes on a quest to retrieve a magical sword which is capable of finally slaying the demon Hakaimono for good. It’s a wild ride and so much fun as well as being action packed, fast paced and occasionally gritty. Love this series. Highly recommend.