I read Shadow of the Fox earlier this year, and was instantly drawn into this gorgeous world created by Julie Kagawa. It follows Yumeko, a half-human, half-kitsune whose entire world turns upside-down when the temple where she lives is destroyed and she is tasked with protecting a piece of a scroll that could destroy the entire world. She's joined by Tatsumi, the demonslayer who struggles with a terrible secret and an internal darkness who has been tasked with getting that scroll, no matter who he has to kill to get it.

Soul of the Sword picks up where Shadow leaves off, with Yumeko determined to get the scroll where it belongs safely, as well as to rescue Tatsumi, who is now possessed by the killer First Oni Hakaimono. Along the way, she finds herself caught up in political intrigue, facing monsters and even some romance. Every step of the way, Yumeko's mettle and trickery are tested as she fights to save the people she loves.

I loved every moment of this sequel. It's exciting and fun, and leaves you breathless until the very end. Yumeko is such as wonderful character who is kind, optimistic and strong. Kagawa flawlessly incorporates ancient Japanese culture and mythology into this tale in such a captivating way. It's beautifully written and will leave you wanting more. If you loved Shadow, you'll love Soul of the Sword. I highly recommend this series to anyone and everyone who loves reading about worlds different from their own. It's such an amazing read that you won't regret reading!

I requested this book with intention to read it after the first book. I could not get through Shadow of the fox. The language was to difficult and I felt it jumped everywhere.

WOW this book was unbelievably good! Such an amazing sequel to book 1. Julie took the stakes and made them higher, with twists and turns in the plot that I never expected. The characters were more developed which I loved to see, and some issues with pacing that i had in the first book didn't tend to bother me in this one. It was pretty much always a mystery to me what would happen next, which is something i really love in a book. Overall loved this one and desperate for book 3!

Soul of the Sword is the second installment in author Julie Kagawa's Shadow of the Fox series. Soul of the Sword picks up right where Shadow of the Fox ended. One thousand years ago, a wish was made to the Harbinger of Change and a sword of rage and lightning was forged. Kamigoroshi. The Godslayer. It had one task: to seal away the powerful demon Hakaimono. Now he has broken free and a mighty hero has been consumed by the demon.

It is now up to an unusual group of people, Yumeko, Master Jiro, Taiyo Daisuke, Reika, and Okame, to bring Yumeko's piece of the Dragon Prayer scroll piece to the Steel Feather Temple which hasn't been seen in a very long time. The book once again filters through several key characters including Hakaimono which gives the book an even great depth as well as some pretty cool action scenes, and some bizarre creatures who come out to fight again the now released demon who was caught up in a wish to the Harbinger.

Meanwhile, Yumeko has another mission. She has to find a way to save Tatsumi from being possessed by Hakaimono. After all, Tatsumi saved her life numerous times and now she feels as though she owes him. That means dealing with the Shadow Clan who sees Tatsumi as a failure and a danger that must be removed. That means finding an inner strength to believe that she can actually fight against Hakaimono and win.

Yumeko and her allies have to rush against time to prevent an even more dangerous villain from collecting all three parts of the Dragon Prayer and bringing an end to everything. It's absolutely wonderful to see Yumeko discover who she really is and what she is capable of. In the first book, she started out as an innocent who was bullied by her former Temple mates. Along the way, her world has not only expanded, but she has become comfortable taking the lead when her friends think about running away and hiding. I also loved that Reika gets more than her fair share of the story which was brilliant since she was so mysterious until now.

My only real complaint is the forced issue of a romance that really didn't have to be part of this story. It was just a total waste of time to be perfectly honest. Kagawa draws on the same magical style employed in the creation of the Nevernever, the beloved and incredibly popular setting of The Iron Fey. Deeply rooted in fantasy mythology, and inspired by popular anime themes, Soul of the Sword is sure to captivate Julie’s core audience and new fans alike.

This is the sequel to Shadow of The Fox, in the first book we left off on Tatsumi having lost control of Hakaimono. The Soul of the Sword picked up from where we left off. I think the book was paced out well, we learned more about Hakaimono and we also got to see Yumeko’s and Tatsumi’s feelings grow for each other. This part is interesting because neither of them have a good understanding on what those feelings mean. They grew up, one suppressing those feelings and the other being sheltered and naive to the concept of love.

This was action packed and tense with a bit of fluff. Not too much that things stay focused on it but enough to be enjoyed. This had me on the edge and I could not put this down. I highly recommend this series, Julie did an amazing job at keeping me hooked from book one! I can’t wait to read the final book to this series!

Such a fun time! Adventure and danger and risks and everything that I could have wanted! I'll be recommending this series to anyone looking for a well-done fantasy series!

Book 2 of the Shadow of the Fox series picks right back up from the events of Book 1's conclusion - the demon Hakaimono has escaped from his sword prison and taken possession of Tatsumi's body, and half-kitsune Yumeko must still seek out the Steel Feather temple to find the Dragon scroll fragment keepers. Kagawa has kept the three-narrator format (with a slight twist), and it works far more effectively for the plot this time around, and it was an interesting way to reintroduce the characters to us. The story takes awhile to start up, but it finally felt like it was moving forward about 40% in, with the same callbacks to both Japanese mythology and anime that made book 1 so good. I didn’t care for the first park of Yumeko’s journey with the group – it was sort of but not really necessary for them to visit the Shadow Clan, and I was antsy for them to move on. But I really enjoyed Kitsune’s arc, the dramatic battle scenes toward the end, and especially the setup for book 3. Soul of the Sword proved to be satisfying, interesting, and NOT a filler/bridge book in a trilogy.

Let me start by saying that I LOVED Shadow of the Fox so when I saw this was available I knew I had to read it. Unfortunately I didn't love it as much as I did the first book. The story continues right where it left off but this just seemed more detailed and less action despite all that is going on. There were a ton of descriptions of things that didn't seem all the necessary and inner monologues of the characters that I could have done without. That being said there were parts of this that were great, basically the last 30% where it picks up a bit. We are left with a bit of a cliffhanger and lots of questions so you know I'll be reading the last of this trilogy.

SPOILER!!!



I am 1000000000% here for Daisuke & Okame!

Shadow of the Fox started so good, but Soul of the Sword took this saga to the next level. I am in love with Yumeko the fox shape-shifter. I so need the next book pronto. I hope the romance side of the story gets better and not forced.

I must start by saying that Julie Kagawa is one of my favorite, must read authors. This is the second book set in this world and though it had all of the same charm and excitement of Kagawa's prior books, I struggle to find myself getting drawn into this one. It was well written, beautiful oriental content, and characters I enjoyed, just took me a bit longer to truly connect. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was incredibly boring.

I vaguely remember having the same feeling with the last book because I had just read a book (Red winter by Annette Marie) that felt similar, so it kind of threw me off. I had hopes that with the ending of book one, this will pick up. I was wrong. It seems the pace even got slower.

This book picks up after Hakimono's success in pushing Tatsumi out. So basically we had to listen to the demon do demon things. In other books I find these "demon things" interesting but for some reason it was mind numbingly boring. First off he was very introspective for a demon, we had to hear thoughts upon thoughts. I not only had to deal with that but also Yumeko's gallivant to the Steel Feather Temple, as if the journeying in the previous book was not boring enough.

To be honest the only thing that saves this book was the last 84%, that's when things started to pick up.I thought it was going to be the end of the series because I just cannot see why another one would want to continue reading this nightmare but I was wrong, apparently there is going to be a book three.

I will only read the third book as penance for my sins and only if self flagellation is off the table.

Soul of the Sword is the sequel to Julie Kagawa's "Shadow of the Fox" and the second book in this Japanese-myth-inspired fantasy trilogy. I liked but didn't love Shadow of the Fox - the story took a lot of predictable beats and never broke out into truly interesting directions, but had some excellent characters and the adventures right out of Japanese myth were always fun. Still, the first book left off at a point that promised an interesting change of directions, so I requested this book off Netgalley when I saw it show up.

And Soul of the Sword both delivers on that promise and at the same time....doesn't. Whereas Shadow of the Fox presented a series of different adventures in this Japanese mythology focused world, this book is more focused upon its end goal and feels a lot smaller as a result. On the other hand, the characters remain excellent, and the plot works well to come to an ultimate conclusion that again is satisfying and unlike in the first book, is a little more surprising.

Warning: Spoilers for Shadow of the Fox are inevitable after the Jump.
-------------------------------------------Plot Summary----------------------------------------------
Hakaimono, the incredibly powerful demon who once almost tore the country of Iwagoto asunder, is unleashed. Playing on the feelings its wielder, Kage Tatsumi, had for Yumeko, it has managed to possess Tatsumi and has now left Yumeko and her friends stuck in Sky Clan lands as they try to take a breath after their last encounter with a deadly blood mage. Yumeko feels incredible guilt over her role in Tatsumi's possession, but knows that she still has to deliver her piece of the Dragon Scroll to the Steel Feather Temple before she can do anything about it. Only then can Yumeko confront Hakaimono and try to find a way to drive him back into the sword he came from and to save Tatsumi.

But Yumeko and her friends may not get that chance, as the Shadow clan is very interested in what happened to Tatsumi....and why she and her friends are still alive. And some of the Shadow Clan are not interested in saving Tatsumi as opposed to killing him, as well as anyone who might get in their way. And then there's Hakaimono himself, who's far more patient after 400 years of imprisonment, and is willing to forge a temporary alliance with an evil force just as dangerous as himself, one with interests of its own in the Dragon Scroll.

It will take everything Yumeko can think of, both in her wits and her fox magic, in order to complete her quest, protect the Dragon Scroll, and to possibly save Tatsumi from his fate. But does she - an untrained half-kitsune - have what it takes to really fulfill her goals and save her friends? And at what cost?
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Like its predecessor, Soul of the Sword splits its story by chapters which take place from 2 to 3 points of view: Yumeko (our primary heroine), Tatsumi/Hakaimono, and Suki - the ghost spirit from the first book who is our view into events being manipulated far away from our heroes. Yumeko is obviously our lead character, and as such gets the majority of the page-time, especially with Tatsumi no longer alongside her to given an alternate perspective.

And this works out generally pretty well because the characters are still excellent. Yumeko is a fun heroine, the girl unsure of her own powers and afraid she can't quite pull off what she needs, but determined to do it anyway. She's loyal to her friends and her family, and her earnest good nature makes her really easy to root for. And the book shows even more of the impressive.....and dangerous things she can do with her own powers, which really contrasts with her personality to a nice effect. Her only annoying attribute is the book continues to have her not just be naive, which well is fine and understandable, but to as a recurring joke just not get sarcasm, which doesn't work at all (she's half-kitsune and has a trickster nature, are you really telling me she doesn't get sarcasm?).

Hakaimono, now taking Tatsumi's place in most of his chapters, is an excellent antagonist to follow as well - unlike many other examples of the "Sealed Evil in a Can" trope (to steal the name from TVTropes), he's learned quite a bit from his imprisonment and is a lot more patient and deliberate with his moves. It makes him all the more formidable and scary and unpredictable, making him a more compelling figure to act as one of this series' main antagonists.



Besides those two, the minor characters continue to get some development, and they tend to complement the major characters very well. Ronin Okame and the noble swordsman Taiyo Daisuke in particular work really well, and have their own developments that work pretty well, even if they're more to the side of the main plot. And the nature of the characters in the Shadow clan continues to be revealed in interesting ways, although some of those developments are clearly being used as setup for the trilogy's finale.

As for the book's main plot....it has its ups and downs. On one hand, the story is a bit more unpredictable than its predecessor, with how things twist and turn occurring in ways I was not guessing more than once. On the other hand, it's a bit slower of a book, owing to the change in plot structure. Shadow of the Fox basically involved the characters having a series of adventures with various elements of Japanese mythology, as they moved closer and closer to the next step of the main quest. This book instead always has two objectives in mind and doesn't really waver from them - saving Tatsumi and getting the scroll to the Steel Feather Temple - and so we lack those side adventures which were such fun before. And the book takes around 60% of the way through to really get out of setup mode into the questing mode, with certain developments coming by way of mysterious messengers to ensure the protagonist are always aware at the right time of what they have to do....which is a little deus-ex-machina-y. Add in the fact that the cryptic powerful character still staying in the background throughout, and well, there's a lot of slow burn here that might annoy a reader looking for a more enjoyable and satisfying experience.
Still, it all works out rather well, with the ending both being satisfying and presenting a pretty big cliffhanger for the trilogy's finale. It's enough to ensure that I will be here for that finale, and I hope that all of the setup here really comes together there - the characters really deserve it.

Overall, a decent sequel in the Shadow of the Fox series. I had a hard time getting into this book, and I felt that the pacing throughout the first two thirds was quite slow, however the ending made up for it, and definitely improved my opinion of the book overall. Without giving away any spoilers, I felt like the majority of this book missed a lot of the witty banter and romantic tension that the first book had, but hopefully the third book will bring these elements back.

I really like this story and how it’s flavored with this oriental vibe. Not to mention the covers that are in this series so far are stunning! I really enjoyed the premises of the story without giving spoilers! Julie has been one of my favorite writers since the Iron fey series. This series is no different!

I was very excited to receive a copy as this is one of my anticipated sequels of the year. Unfortunately, I didn’t love it as much as the first book. There’s a spark that is missing and I believe the lack of Tatsumi is to blame.

The book picks up where the first leaves off where Tatsumi has been taken over by Hakaimono and Yumeko vowing to get him back. Even though the whole group (minus Tatsumi) is traveling together it feels like we don’t get as much dynamics between the characters as much as the first one. Side charcters do get shown to have feelings for one another but it’s done in an almost creepy stalker why as this story is told in first person.

Things I did love is the lore and mythology it’s been captivating and wonderful to read. It was fun to see the world expand as the group traveled. Yumeko is finally learning all the things she can do with her magic and embracing her Kitsune side.

The last quarter of the book was the most engaging with the twists and a few face palms it sets up the next installment for higher stakes. I am very much looking forward to seeing how everything concludes and how many casualties we endure.

Arc provided by Harlequin Teen via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars

In this exciting sequel to Soul of the Sword we see Yumeko and the squad continue their journey to the Steel Feather Temple but on top of trying to keep the scroll safe there is the added challenge of Tatsumi now being possessed by the demon Hakaimono. While Hakaimono is off causing lots of chaos Yumeko has made it her goal to save Tatsumi from the demon possessing him on top of getting the scroll to the Steel Feather Temple. But this journey is not easy and the squad (Okame, Reika, Master Jiro, and Daisuke) hit many roadblocks along the way. It is an exciting and thrilling story that is nothing short of enjoyable. If you loved the first book then you will love this one as well.

Now why is this not a 5 star read if I enjoyed it so much? Here are my critiques. This was a similar issue with the first book but the story is very slow moving. There is one goal in mind and it takes the entire book to get there. Now this is not a huge issue but I just wish there was more. I want more from this story. Secondly there was many predictable moments. While some things did come as a shock to me there was a lot that did not as well. Predictability is not bad but it makes the story a little less enjoyable. Lastly Tatsumi was not in this book that much and I missed him...that is a personal thing but these are my reasons why this book is a 4.5.

Let's talk about character development. There was a lot and I am thrilled about it. Yumeko grew so much! One of my complaints about the first book was that she was too innocent. Well not anymore my friends Yumeko really explores her kitsune side in this book and uses her powers a lot more. She also grows as a person. She was very oblivious to the world in the first book but she becomes a lot more aware in this one. She starts to understand feelings as well (not just romantic feelings) and I think that was so important to her character development. Reika really took charge in this book, I really saw her as the leader of our little squad and not a force to be trifled with. Daisuke and Okame! My precious boys I love them. They also develop a lot in this book but I won't say how. I think it is better left unknown before going into the book. What I will say is that Okame is not the only humorous character anymore. Lastly Tatsumi/Hakaimono, well Hakaimono is a demon so he does pretty shady things. Like I mentioned we don't see Tatsumi much since he is possessed but the dynamic and development of these two characters is very important. You'll see what I mean when you read it.

I was dying to read this book and I was not disappointed. This series is really one of my favorites and I am so excited to see how it is going to end. It is so unique and different from much of what is out there nowadays and I want more! Everytime I finish one of these books I miss the story and characters and want to reread it immediately. Not many books can do that.

Last year, I read Shadow of the Fox, the first in this series. The story continues in Soul of the Sword as kitsune shape-shifter Yumeko and her companions continue their journey to the Steel Feather Temple.

But--the demon Hakaimono escaped and possessed Tatsumi, the young warrior who was protecting Yumeko. This complication, which occurred at the end of The Shadow of the Fox, continues to make things difficult and dangerous. (I found the added pov of Hakaimono actually slowed things down a bit. I much preferred getting back to the sections with Yumeko and her little band because I'm much more involved with them.)

If you liked Shadow of the Fox, you will be sure to enjoy Soul of the Sword.

"itsune (狐 or きつね, Kitsune) is the Japanese word for fox. Foxes are a common subject of Japanese folklore; in English, kitsune refers to them in this context. Stories depict them as intelligent beings and as possessing magical abilities that increase with their age and wisdom. According to Yōkai folklore, all foxes have the ability to shape shift into men or women. While some folktales speak of kitsune employing this ability to trick others—as foxes in folklore often do—other stories portray them as faithful guardians, friends, lovers, and wives." (Source)

My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho is one of my favorite Korean dramas. The nine-tailed fox is a gumiho in Korean (kitsune in Japanese).

NetGalley/Harlequin Teen/Ink Yard Press
Fantasy/Mythology. June 18, 2019. Print length: 304 pages.

ARC provided by publisher.

The author has a way with weaving words to create a lush world and believable characters with depth that pull the reader into the story and doesn't let go until long after you finish the final word.
After the first book I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book.
Somehow, Soul of the Sword managed to double down on the intrigue, action, and stakes in this sequel.
I recommend this series to everyone who loves fantastical worlds and unforgettable characters.

When I read Shadow of the Fox a few weeks ago, I was just going by my dear friend’s recommendation and wasn’t sure what to expect. But to my pleasant surprise, I completely fell in love with it and my excitement doubled when I got approved for the ARC of this sequel. Second books of beloved series can always be tricky but I’m so delighted that this book exceeded all my expectations.

Just like in the first book, the world building in this one too is phenomenal. We get introduced to more creatures and monsters from the Japanese mythology, one more scarier than the other and it was such a joy to read. Some of them are so vividly described that imagining them really scared me and I think that’s a great testament for an author. As the group is on another journey through the story, we get introduced to more new settings and I loved how masterfully the author brought them to life - whether it be the eerie palace of the Shadow clan or the guardians of the Steel Temple. I can only say that the way the world was expanded and given more detail in this book was very interesting and we also get enough clues to realize that we are going to encounter more terrifying things in the next book, and I can’t wait for it all.

I didn’t expect to fall more in love with the characters but I did. Yumeko is not the same naive little girl from the first book - the fight at the end and the loss of Tatsumi have made her more determined. She is still trusting and doesn’t understand sarcasm yet (makes for a lot of hilarious conversations), but she also learns to accept her kitsune nature and develops her skills to have a fighting chance. She may not understand her feelings towards Tatsumi, but she still never wavers from her decisions and does whatever she can to protect her friends.

I wasn’t expecting to get a POV of Hakaimono but it is definitely fascinating being in his head. We know he is one of the greatest and most powerful demons and he is very confident about his abilities, but he has also been a captive in a sword for centuries in the company of humans. This definitely seems to have had some affect on his personality, which makes for some very sarcastic comments from him that had me chuckling. However, it is also painful to read because he keeps taunting Tatsumi, who is struggling with whatever will he has left to hold on to his soul.

Daisuke and Okame are a pair of contrasting characters but I just loved their interactions. One who totally believes in the samurai code and wants to live and die by honor, the other who revels in being dishonorable - the two of them are just such unlikely companions but the development of their friendship is wonderful to read. I just wish we had gotten atleast one of their POVs so that I could know more about what they are thinking in their hearts. Reika may look like she just wants to fulfill her duty but she does like Yumeko and will do anything to protect her. The whole group just bickers throughout the book but I could only smile at their interactions because they genuinely care about each other. I was also surprised to see Suki’s POV continue but she has some very crucial moments and I loved it. Seigetsu is still a mystery but I have a feeling he is gonna bring lots of troubles into the life of my favorite characters.

While I loved the first book, it was mostly a slow paced journey with a bit of action in between and towards the end. In this book however, the author upped her game. We still have a journey but there are more dangers, the characters are more skilled and the monsters are more scary. There is a lot more action and some of those sequences are absolutely terrifying and exhilarating. The book also felt much more fast paced, probably because there was a lot more happening and the stakes also felt much higher this time. While most of the characters think Yumeko and Tatsumi love each other and we can guess that it’s where the story is going, I’m glad that the author still left it at a point where they are unsure of their own feelings and figuring everything out. The development of another romance came as a bit of a surprise but I am totally there for it, and I’m actually much more excited to see what lies in store for them in the future. The whole illusion part of Yumeko’s magic got a lot of page time in this book and the author showed a lot of imagination in these scenes, the one towards the end being absolutely mind blowing. I was also expecting the Tatsumi/ Hakaimono storyline to go in a predictable direction, but the twist the author gave towards the end was so surprising, I’m still recovering from it. The buildup towards the end was done amazingly well and I think the payoff was worth the wait.

All I want to say is that if you loved the first book, you are gonna be very very happy with this one too. This sequel is darker and scarier, much more action packed and our characters have grown so much that we can’t help but root for them. This is the perfect second book where the stakes kept getting higher and higher - which ultimately gave us a thrilling and unpredictable but very satisfying ending, while also leaving us many exciting clues for the much anticipated third book. That wait is gonna be long and excruciating.

I am enamored with absolutely anything Julie Kagawa writes, and this was no exception! Absolutely beautifully written. I can't wait for more from her!