This was amazing and I really loved it.
I loved getting to know these characters and the wickedly amazing plot was addictive.
I couldn't put this book down at all and can't wait for the next one.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

as with my previous review of book to I really couldn't get into this title. I did read a previous one but I decided to DNF the second one quite early on, it's not a series I will be continuing this.

Overall I found the series longwinded and overly complicated when it really didn't need to be. It's a shame because I have read a few of Julie Kagawa's books and enjoyed them in the past

It seems like this story has gone on forever - the first book dragged a little and the second book was better. This third book was the best of the series, but I did feel that the final showdown was rushed and kept you on your toes with a changing goalpost! I did feel the ending was justified and liked it very much. This series is different to other Julie Kagawa books and I have to say, I prefer those

In the previous book, Yumeko had to give up the last piece of the scroll of a thousand prayers in order to save the people that she loved. But now because of that, the master of demon’s has it and has a head start especially since he has an army aiding him to the summoning site. Now that Yumeko has got that over with, the Shadow Clan threatens her life and her friends. The shadow clan is constantly on them and makes constant attempts on their lives. Every step of their journey to stop the summoning is dangerous and they must make it through by banding together and building strength within each other over the trauma that they share.

This being the last book in the series, we do begin to see the series tie up it’s lose ends making everything come full circle. The action within the book was incredible, giving us twists and turns but also the moments where this didn’t happen were filled with emotion and really showed us that Yumeko and the gang were fighting for their lives. They have truly grown within the series to become great characters that are complex and would take risks with what they are doing.

Overall, this was a bittersweet ending to the series. I have yet to read Julie Kagawa’s other series but I plan on doing so, so she will not be getting rid of me as a fan just yet.

4 out of 5 stars.

The start of Night of the Dragon is very much a “what happened last time” and I think a bit too much time may have been spent on it. I read The Soul and the Sword not too long ago which may have made me feel this way, but I did remember a lot that was covered that I think I would have remembered anyway. So whilst recaps are really helpful, I think this one could have been less character telling us it all again.

Yumeko as our main character has finally learnt what she can accomplish with her powers. And I love it. Way back when I finished reading the Shadow of the Fox I mentioned I would like a bit more magic, and the rest of the series really did deliver. Yumeko grows as a character, learns who she is in more than one way, and acts as a true hero to save the world.

The book also allows the characters to further develop relationships in this book. There’s more communication between the couples (finally!) which allows forward momentum to the end of the book which both rips out your heart and makes you sigh with relief. Discussing feelings and being more mature allowed the characters to open up and stop hiding parts of themselves, which I think led to better decisions on both sides.

Seigetsu is much more involved in this book not just an observer like he was previously. His character was a good opposition to our main characters as he was built up in previous books showing he had parallels to our main characters, but this book proves his differences. We finally learnt what his motivations were too, as he was a bit of a strange addition to the other books at times.

A downside to the characters in this book is that the Ronin, the noble, and the shrine maiden were all relegated to nameless characters in parts of the book. I’m unsure if I just didn’t notice it in previous books, but I felt this minimised the characters until closer to the end where the names are used more in emotionally driven scenes. However off the top of my head, I cannot remember the Ronin or Shrine Maiden’s actual name.

The series as a whole, but particularly Night of the Dragon feels a whole load darker and more foreboding than the Iron Fey and the Talon series. There’s a lot more action in this book, and also scenes that are a bit gory which I wasn’t expecting. But there is also mysteries still to be uncovered which grips your interest. There’s some big secrets that were around in book one, but have been expertly woven in as answers in this book that you didn’t know you needed.

Positives of Night of the Dragon
Character development and relationship building
Even more magic and fantasy elements
Negatives of Night of the Dragon
Slow start

Why an absolutely glorious conclusion to a brilliantly written trilogy!!

I absolutely adored this just as much if not more than the previous books, full of characters I love and am glued to from start to end. The storyline twists and turns in so many unexpected ways I just have no idea what will happen next and am more than happen to be taken along for the ride!

I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book, with it’s unique plot and well rounded characters, i know these are books i will happily return to time and again

It took me a long time to work up the courage to read this book. I was scared of what was going to happen and how it was going to ultimately end.
It wasn’t the ending I wanted, well it was and it wasn’t. Some of my babies deserved better but I understand why their stories ended the way they did.
Over all it was a compelling tale and I cried as my two favourites left, hoping that they could fully be together on the other side

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this book. Once again I really enjoyed this book, I can’t say too much as it is the third book but all I can say is this amazing! The characters, the plot and the writing all so well done and amazing and great to read. 4.5 stars. Highly recommended picking up all 3 books.

Thank you to Netgalley, Julie Kagawa and HQ Young Adult for my arc of Night of the Dragon in exchange for an honest review.

Spoiler warning, contains spoilers for the first two books Shadow of the Fox and Soul of the Sword.

Synopsis: this epic fantasy trilogy comes to end with Night of the Dragon. Desperate to stop the Master of Demons from summoning the dragon and bringing the world into chaos, Yumeko, Tatsumi and the rest of the gang are gearing up for the final battle. Tatsumi now shares his soul with the demon general Hakaimono and Another player in the game, up to now unseen is about to be revealed...

This was such an epic finale to a series I've loved since the first book! (Review of Shadow of the Fox can be found here: https://lifehasafunnywayofsneakinguponyou.wordpress.com/2018/10/19/shadow-of-the-fox-by-julie-kagawa-review/ and Soul of the Sword here: https://lifehasafunnywayofsneakinguponyou.wordpress.com/2019/05/14/soul-of-the-sword-by-julie-kagawa-review/ )

All the characters in this book are extra special. Not only are they really well written and likeable but the group are all very different and yet put these differences aside to not only work together but to blossom into wonderful friendships and even romances. From the half Kitsune to the Kage with his demon sword, the noble, the Ronin and the priestess.

I loved that all the loose ends were tied off and that Julie Kagawa does not balk from breaking her reader's hearts! I laughed, I cried and my heart shattered into a thousand pieces. An absolutely brilliant trilogy that I would highly recommend to anyone!

This is the conclusion of the Shadow of the Fox series. I loved diving back into this world, and really enjoyed how Yumeko grew from book 1 into this final one. The setting, the characters and the epic ending was so well-done. I think this book is much darker compared to books 1 and 2, but I LOVED it. I would highly recommend this series to anyone looking to dive into a world teeming with dragons, ghosts, shape-shifter's and more! I can't wait to read more of Julie Kagawa's works!

5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2020/05/14/night-of-the-dragon-shadow-of-the-fox-3-by-julie-kagawa-wyrdandwonder/
Night of the Dragon is one of the books I was reading as part of Wyrd and Wonder’s month long celebration of fantasy – (details here). My review is below and the TL:DR is: this is a great series. Fun, epic, packed with creativity, creatures of myth and legend and characters trying to save the world against the odds.

Night of the Dragon is the concluding episode in the Shadow of the Fox series by Julie Kagawa and brings to an end a highly entertaining, well written and completely absorbing story. Ahh, that bittersweet feeling when a series you’ve enjoyed comes to an end but what a spectacular ending this was and one of the most enjoyable YA series that I’ve read for a long time.

So, this is the final leg of Yumeko and her companions’ quest and in true fantasy fashion things get real. This is packed with drama, there is a much bigger picture going on here than is immediately apparent and the twists and turns at the end are almost none stop.

I’m not going to go into the plot too deeply. Suffice to say this is a desperate race by a ragtag and unlikely bunch of characters trying to save the world from the demon hoards that concludes in a dramatic finale on the stormy cliffs of Iwagoto. Did I mention a dragon? There may be a dragon.

What works so well for me with this series is a combination of things.

Firstly, the relationships and characters are excellent. You can’t help but form attachments to them and really care, you read the fight scenes with your heart in your throat and I’m not going to try and pull the wool over your eyes, Kagawa is pretty ruthless, so prepare yourselves, stock up on tissues and get ready to be gutted. Some of these chapters will hit you hard but the author doesn’t give you a moment’s respite – straight onto the next scene – and I say ‘scene’ because this book is like a movie playing inside your brain. It’s so cinematic and easy to visualise. Please, somebody, anybody, the God of Anime – lets do this thing. This series would be so good if adapted (if adapted well that is). It’s chock full of fantasy goodness. Ghosts, dragons, demons and a young and innocent girl who also happens to be a fox.

Secondly, the writing. Not going to lie, sometimes I find YA a little too skimpy, I end up reading but having questions that remain unanswered and whilst I understand that not every reader wants overly fine detail it can be a difficult balance to strike. Here’s it’s done well, there’s enough information to see the place and know the characters, to understand the places they’re travelling through and the adversaries they’re coming up against without feeling cumbersome or over wordy to the extent that the tension and plot suffer.

Thirdly, here is a romance in a story that I can really appreciate. No instalove – which I think deserves a big thank you simply on it’s own. But, on top of that characters that are getting to know each other, there’s a slow burn of tension and chemistry and at the same time a light touch that prevents it becoming the key focus of everything. It’s a background issue that you’re aware of, it builds gradually finding a footing in a natural way that doesn’t overshadow the rest of what’s taking place.

In a nutshell this has been such an enjoyable series. An epic quest, a fascinating world and a coming of age tale of a young girl who wins hearts and minds. Not to mention all the emotions. Oh, my heart with the final scene. There could have been tears.

I have no hesitation in recommending this series.

Rating 5 stars

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve really enjoyed this series and was excited to read the final book in the trilogy. It’s guilty of being a bit trope-y at times but it is YA after all and it’s a hell of a lot of fun with it, so I'd say it gets a free pass.

Some of the action scenes and characterisation can feel a bit similar to those found in anime and JRPGs – there's the gruff ronin, the bishie, the pure maiden, the angsty hot guy and the earnest anthromorphic girl. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, but it might seem a bit tired to readers who have reached saturation point with these kinds of characters.

Kagawa is one of those rare YA authors who takes genuine risks with her characters which is rather refreshing as someone who reads a lot of these books. Knowing you can’t bank on anyone to come out of things unharmed adds a level of frisson and anxiety which kept me guessing until the end.

If anything, there was maybe TOO much action in this book and there were times I was left feeling like I wanted something meaningful to happen and for the characters to have a conversation about something...anything! There was also quite a lot of faffing around with the penultimate event of summoning the dragon and I was left thinking “ffs guys can we just hop to it please?”

As with the first two books in the series, the Yokai are the coolest thing in the books. I wish there had been more featured in this instalment, but I can also understand not introducing a bunch of new characters in the final book in a series.

This is also pretty much the only book series that I forgive for having random foreign language words spattered throughout the text. Is it because I speak Japanese? I say forgive but I don't think I ever want to see “kuso” written in English ever again.

The ending was satisfyingly epic and I even blubbed a bit as I did get rather attached to these characters.

Seems like I'm criticising some aspects of this book but I'm really not, I actually really enjoyed this series and would definitely recommend it to others. Readers interested in Japanese culture will really enjoy these books and they are a lot of fun too for those less familiar, I've certainly enjoyed the ride.

A fantastic end to this trilogy, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it from the worldbuilding, to the characters and their development, and the narrative. A well-deserving conclusion, and a series that would happily recommend to any fantasy lovers.

In bringing to a close her Shadow of the Fox trilogy, Kagawa has created a sweeping, intensely satisfying conclusion, bringing together elements of all that went before and concluding the tale of the Dragon's Scroll in a heart-pounding, heart-breaking, heart-warming finale that mixes mythical god-beings with humans with tired legs and leaves you with your jaw hanging and tears in your eyes as Yumeko's tale comes to a close.
When we left off, at the end of Soul of the Sword, the Dragon Scroll had been reunited. Yumeko and her friends have no time to rest as they need to prevent Genno, the Master of Demons, from summoning the Great Dragon, the Harbinger of Change, and throwing the world into chaos as he merges the hell-dimension Jigoku with ningen-kai, the reality humans live in. They're down to just five (and a half) (and a dog) weary travellers, and worst of all, Tatsumi's soul is intertwined with that of Hakaimono, the First General of the demon lands. Tired, beaten, but not defeated, there are many obstacles to overcome before the Night of the Dragon is complete and the Wish is fulfilled. But little do they know that they're merely pieces on a chess board, as a mysterious hand has been directing events - we've seen Suki and her mysterious chess-master, but at the last minute, he will reveal himself, and the stakes will become even higher than Yumeko could have imagined.

I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this finale to the trilogy. Yumeko is still a precious cinnamon roll, but she's growing into her powers, embracing her kitsune nature, and making the most of her magic. Plus, in this book, she learns more about her parents, as it turns out that they're important. Tatsumi and Hakaimono are tangled together in Tatsumi's body, marked by a pair of demon horns curling out of his forehead. Daisuke and Okame are still the ultimate odd couple, worthless Ronin dog and noble Taiyo royal. And shrine maiden Reika and her protective dog/lion/thing Chu. I love them all. The stakes are incredibly high in this book. Nobody's survival is guaranteed. They will face demons, witches, and yurei like they've never seen before. And I loved it. Emotional punches followed heart-stopping action, and Yumeko - pure-hearted, mischievous Yumeko - is forced to reach deep within her to find reserves of strength she doesn't even know she has. Embracing her human and kitsune sides, her growth in this breathtaking finale is glorious to watch. And that epilogue! It was awesome. Japanese mythology and folklore combined with real human emotion make this a thoroughly enjoyable ending to a trilogy I was lucky to read.

Night of the Dragon is a spectacular way to end a great series.

The second half of Night of the Dragon emotional ruined me. My emotions went on a rollercoaster that caused me to laugh and cry. The last third of the book I spent most of it crying as the connection between the character, their honour in battle with the seriousness of the situation emotional choked me.

In Night of the Dragon, the stakes are higher, the fights are more deadly and the revelations surprising.I've split those three categories below to give more detail;

Stakes: Stopping the wish and the drama around it means it's the end of the world type stakes. Especially as the day of the wish is so close.

Fights: There are so many great fights in Night of the Dragon. Fights between, Demon, human and the dead. I like that each character has there own fighting style.

Revelations: So many revelations from the wish, what certain characters are planning and finding out someone linage.

Night of the Dragon is beautifully written, fast-paced and completely engaging. I stayed up late to read this book in one night.

One of my favourite elements in Night of the Dragon is the emotional, romantic connections between the main gang of characters, There are all so different with different background but they have made an unlikely family. The moments between Yumeko and Tatsumi, and Okame and Daisuke warmed my heart. Especially the moments between the Dog and the Peacock.

Night of the Dragon is perfect for people who enjoy books with;

Magic
Romance
Friendship
Japanese Mythology
Action
Drama
Demon
Then I advise giving this book/series a read.

My rating for Night of the Dragon is 5 out of 5.

Quality Rating: Three Stars
Enjoyment Rating: Three Stars

Look, the Shadow of the Fox trilogy has been fun. I've made a lot of arguments pointing out my issues with it, but I have also tried to make it clear I found a lot of entertainment in it as well. I got what I was expecting, ups and downs, the whole way through and that counts for a lot.

I've had the same pet peeves about the writing style throughout the series; flippant narration, abundant cliches, overly-direct plot clues, confusing perspectives etc. What felt more prominent in Night of the Dragon was that a lot of things are said to sound cool rather than to make sense. When a character says two contradicting sentences mere lines apart it pulls you out of the narrative as a reader because you question yourself and the author - which is fine in a first draft but at this point, it contributes to making everything feel messy.

For this last instalment, we basically have a massive battle from very early on - or rather four or five battles because the baddies and 'rules' keep (predictably) changing. With all the illusions and confusing perspectives, it's not the easiest to keep track of, but it is definitely entertaining. The rest is as expected: melodrama, romantic angst, monster fighting. Kudos to Kagawa for not totally copping out at the end, which she definitely had the opportunity to do. I'm sure a lot of people will be really satisfied even if the might see it coming.

Really, the only thing that really disappointed me was the fact that Tatsumi's transformation had zero impact (there are quite a few events in this that you could cut out of the book and the actual plot wouldn't be affected but this was the only one I was genuinely frustrated by). Other than that, you get to see all the characters doing their thing, Yumeko has a cool arc and finale, and the monsters are demons are at the top of their game.

In a nutshell: exciting, engaging, eye-rolling, but enjoyable. This trilogy has given me some much-needed respite over the week I read all three in. It's a worthy addition to the catalogue of YA, not least for its freshness and authentic exploration of Japanese mythology; but it's probably tedious for those outside of the direct YA audience.

A wonderful and thrilling epic fantasy! The unlikeliest friendships & a mishmash of heroes became a formidable team!
Night of the Dragon is the third and final part of the Shadow of the Fox trilogy and having recently read the first two books, I was ready to jump into this book headfirst and it didn’t disappoint!

I had already fallen in love with the ‘unlikely team of heroes’ and this exciting YA Japanese fantasy, and couldn’t wait to see what happened next. The second book ended with the Scrolls of a Thousand Prayers now in the hands of the Master of Demons! While our unlikely heroes are down (but not out), if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that as long as they still breathe, there’s still a chance to turn things around! Unfortunately, it’s not just the Master of Demons who stands in their way, - foes are fierce and there’s monsters, demons, gods, witches, shinobi warriors etc and some powerful secret enemies are waiting in the background too. Everything’s at stake because whoever holds the Scrolls of a Thousand Prayers can claim a wish from the great Kami Dragon, which could change the fate of the empire and cause death and devastation. This fateful journey is going to require everything from them, not just skill, power and magic, but a steely determination, faith in each other and at times unshakeable belief.

Yumeko, half kitsune, half human has grown up having to hide her true nature and we get to see her magic blossom to the fullest. Samurai Kage Tatsumi character goes through some of the biggest of changes and though his POV in this story, it’s great to not only delve into his mind to see how these changes came about but also his internal struggles with Hakaimano. We also learn more about, how his fate intertwined with Yumeko. Okame was one of my favourite characters, he was tough on the outside but really had a heart of gold and was hilarious! Teamed up with Daisuke they made the sweetest pair.

This story is complex, fast-paced (along with slower sweet moments) and so rich in Japanese mythology;- the descriptive world building, the forms and shapes and history of magic weave wonderfully around the characters. All the characters (from humans to yoki and kami) are fully developed and described so vividly that you can’t help but conjure them up in your head while reading. Julie really brought the battles - sword fighting, combat, physical and mental magic - to life.

The book answered questions I’d had about the true nature of Yumeko and as well as finding out about her past, we even get a glimpse into what her future looks like. I loved this series and the final conclusion wrapped everything up perfectly up at the end - the questions I had and the mysterious pasts and links to different characters all came together.

You can’t help but want everyone to survive and win and so it hurts (as it should) when blood gets spilled and when you sometimes have to say goodbye. The unlikeliest friendships and a mishmash of heroes became a formidable team! It was an exciting and emotional read and I was left feeling fulfilled but with a heavy heart.

5 stars from me for this wonderful epic fantasy!

Thank you for the ARC.

This book was the perfect ending to this trilogy.

Immediately after falling in love with the first book, I knew this trilogy was going to be one of my favourites and just like the other two books, this one lived up to every expectation I have. Kagawa gives us a deep and emotional ride into the last challenge for our group of ragtag would-be heroes. She broke my heart, she made me cry, laugh, and love these characters with every fibre of my being. I'm not sure I can say much except that this was the perfect ending to a perfect trilogy.

Thank you to HQ and NetGalley for a copy of this in exchange for my honest opinion.

I've been a fan of Julie Kagawa's writing for years but I honestly think that the Shadow of the Fox series is her best one yet. I've been caught up in this world from the beginning and I'm really sad that it's now time to say goodbye.

It's so hard to review the final book in a trilogy because I want to encourage everyone who hasn't started this series yet to dive straight in but I don't want to go into too much detail because I don't want to give away spoilers. What I've loved most about these books has been the fantastic Japanese mythology and all of the wonderful yokai & kami creatures that Julie Kagawa has introduced us to along the way. Our band of characters has been through so much since the first book but it all comes to a head in Night of the Dragon and they're facing more danger than ever before.

I'm not going to lie and tell you this is an easy end to their journey, this book prefers to grab you by the throat while it slowly rips your heart out, but what I will say is that I loved every minute of it. There are definitely heartbreaking moments in this book but there are also really sweet and heartwarming ones to balance that out and it was definitely a fitting end to a much loved series.