I love anything written by Julie Kagawa. Her Iron Fey series was my introduction to the Fae and started me down the path of young adult fantasy. Her Blood of Eden series filled a vampire void I didn’t even know existed. Yet it is her Soul of the Sword series and its finale Night of the Dragon that made me an emotional wreck.

What makes her novels so good is the fact that Ms. Kagawa does not allow any of her characters to maintain easy paths. Her characters face death, destruction, and nearly impossible choices with very real and sometimes harsh consequences. No one is purely evil or purely good. Each character maintains the capacity for some level of each within him or herself. Similarly, much like in real life, the situations in which her characters find themselves are rarely simple. There are layers upon layers of past actions and consequences that lead up to the situations in which her characters now find themselves. For novels that are firmly in the fantasy realm of gods, demons, and magical beings, her stories are as realistic as one will read.

There is a lot to love within the entire Soul of the Sword series. Its messages of love and honor are ones that hit particularly hard after three years with an administration that has no honor and is incapable of love for their fellow citizens. Its lesson of size being inconsequential and unrelated to capabilities is another reminder that even the smallest person can institute change. Plus, it introduces most readers to Japanese folklore and myth in a way that is fascinating.

As for Night of the Dragon, I loved every word. I cringed. I feared. I worried. I laughed out loud. I cried. Seriously, I cried. After ten years of writing reviews, I can still count on two hands how often a book made me shed tears. Ms. Kagawa brought me to tears with her ending for Kumeko, a character I absolutely adore.

While I am sad that my time with Kumeko and her friends is at an end, I am happy that I got the chance to meet this remarkable girl. Her unwavering loyalty, as well as her strong belief in duty and honor, gave me hope that such traits are admirable and needed in our world. Her refusal to cave to her fears and others’ expectations of failure is pure inspiration. Fantastical but still applicable to reality, Night of the Dragon is the perfect ending to a truly spectacular series.

What a ride.

I received the first book, Shadow of the Fox, through my OwlCrate subscription back in October 2018. I read the second installment some time ago through NetGalley. Once again, NetGalley has given me this opportunity to read, what I assume, the finale of this series.

Since this is the third book, I want to share my thoughts without giving away spoilers. First of all, by the third book, the posse of protagonists is established, and I couldn’t help but to be attached to all of them. As characters, they are well-rounded and balanced.The main character, Yumeko, is very likable. The pacing is fast, with a healthy balance between dialogue and action.

This series is also rich with Japanese folklore. Reading through this, I couldn’t help to think of how horrifying it would be if some of those creatures existed. For example, there’s a creature called Umibōzu. It’s a massive creature known to appear to sailors at night. They tend to cause shipwrecks. The scariest thing about them, though, is their appearance.

Nightmare fuel.

I digress! This book, along with it’s previous installments, belongs on the shelves of anyone who appreciates a good fantasy, or someone with an appreciation for Japanese folklore.

This series is easily one of my favorites. The ending was bittersweet, but I feel that it was the most realistic outcome, given the odds. I’m not saying it didn’t have a happy ending—but I think that, while this is fantasy, things rarely conclude the way we want to. At first, I felt a wave of disappointment. However, after ruminating on the ending, I found myself satisfied, knowing that it was entirely appropriate given the circumstances.

I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with copy in exchange for an honest review.

For whatever reason, this novel tugged at my heart strings. I knew how everything was going to turnout, but putting myself in Yumeko’s shoes, dang, I’m not sure how I’d be able to accomplish what she is. I love her! She is such a great dynamic character, her growth from the first novel to the last was so significant and she is so pure of heart, full of doubt, and hopeful that you can’t help but like her.

Next…the supporting characters who are super supportive and selfless, but also main characters. The story just wouldn’t be the same without them. Usually, there are multiple characters I dislike, but man, Tatsumi (*heart eyes*), Daisuke, Okame, Reika, and Suki are all such good friends. They all have their own personalities, but are willing to risk it all for the better of Iwagoto.

The magic system intertwined within Iwagoto is unique in of itself. The Japanese mythology woven throughout the trilogy is refreshing and animating. I find myself wanting to look more into the history. Now I know where Eevee and Ninetails came from!

What I didn’t like was the predictability of the story. While I liked the outcome, I like a little suspense. One thing I didn’t find believable was the demons being “good” or turned off by the protagonists. I don’t think demons would react that way. However, none of this ruined the plot by any means.

“you’ll know it’s me because our souls will recognize each other”

Night of the Dragon is a tale of friendship, love, and the power of good. Readers who like a story where the good guys win and the bad get what they deserve will love this novel.

I absolutely adore this series. Julie kagawa is one of my favorite fantasy authors. I just want to read everything she writes

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.

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.

5/5 Stars - A Masterpiece

I wanted this book to be three times longer than it was. It was a perfect length as it was, but I wasn't ready to say goodbye to these characters and this world just yet. But, that's the mark of a good story, I suppose.

The Shadow of the Fox trilogy follows a young kitsune named Yumiko. In this chapter of the story, we finally learn just where she came from, why her powers are so strong, and just how much stronger she can be.

But this story isn't just about Yumiko, and that's what makes it so lovely. She may be the "main" character, but her friends are just as important. Kage Tatsumi has regained control of his body, to some extent. His soul is now merged with the demon Hakaimono. I really enjoyed the changes that brought to his character. It made him more bold and a bit more reckless. Reika, the shrine maiden keeps the balance among the group of friends. She is the level head they all need. But, honestly, my favorite two characters are the outcast ronin Okame and the noble swordsman Daisuke. I would read a thousand books about them. No joke. Their dynamic is perfectly balanced and just a pleasure to read. And you'll need some Kleenex for some of the things they say in this book.

I wasn't sure how this book would end. I knew going in that the enemy we knew was much too strong for a "everyone rides off into the sunset" kind of ending. I knew there would be loss. But this book also introduces, or unveils a threat we didn't realize, and makes the stakes impossibly higher. It really felt like masterpiece storytelling.

If you haven't started on this journey yet with Shadow of the Fox, then you should get started. The first book is a little slow with world building, but it's worth it for the payoff.

** For teachers and parents, this book doesn't have any foul language issues that I can remember. It does have a couple of sexual scenes, but they are very toned down and mostly happen off script. The plot of this series has multiple threads and could be difficult for struggling readers. I would recommend audio for this book, even for medium to strong readers as the place names, character names, and other greetings are all based in Japanese. The narrators of the audiobooks really brought this story to life. They are phenomenal. I would put this book at a junior high level or higher. I think it would even interest adults like myself.**

** Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **

Don’t read this book in public. Okay, you might be fine to read the first 40-50% in public, but after that, just go lock yourself up in your bedroom or living room or a closet, wherever, and binge-read the rest where people won’t be around to witness the storm of emotions that cross your face.

Oh, and make sure you have tissues.

Wow, this was an intense finale to a trilogy. I loved seeing how Tatsumi/Hakaimono struggle to figure out who they are now that they are basically merged together. And I definitely love that Yumeko has definitely grown in her kitsune abilities and her role as the leader of the group. I love how she is this bright light to her companions. She has always been such a great character, a wonderful blend of compassion and mischief.

We also get to discover some serious revelations in this one, most especially who Yumeko is and where she comes from. She has spent her whole life as that baby who was just left on the steps of a monastery, and that’s it. She struggled with feeling like she belonged and having a family who love and accept her. And while she has created this awesome found family, we all know she still wonders about who her parents are.

There is even more travel and struggles on the road in this book. I feel like this trilogy has done quite well with this whole adventuring party traveling on road and sea, on a mission to save the world. I love adventure fantasy books.

I’m honestly still processing this book. And I feel like I’ll probably want to do a binge-re-read of the whole trilogy just so I can absorb and enjoy the whole story at once. But I am so very glad to have read this, and I’m looking forward to seeing what is next from Julie Kagawa (I mean, aside from her return to the world of the Iron Fey, because I’m pretty sure I’ll love that anyway).

Thank you @netgalley! I loved this book! Had to finish the journey with the little fox and her friends! Love all the twists and turns and fight scenes.. keeps me on my toes.. very much enjoyed this book..

continuation of Soul of the Sword.
We continue to follow Yumeko and her friends as they race against time to stop Genno from summoning the Kami Dragon and destroying Iwagoto. Safe to assume eventually it will be the world. And not just the short time they have: they have a challenging journey ahead because Genno will stop at nothing to prevent them from ruining his plans. Like the first two books, Kagawa introduces us to new yokai from Japanese mythology: each of them just as cruel, vicious and caring for nothing but spilling the blood of anything that stands in their way.

Tatsumi has a bit of an identity crisis here.
He’s not sure if he’s Haikaimono now that they’ve merged their souls or if he’s still Tatsumi. But over the course of his journey from Shadow of the Fox when he first meets Yumeko through the third book, he’s changed drastically. He’s not the only one who’s changed either; his literal resident demon inside of him has changed too, but he’s still the same badass Kage from the first book. He’s just more bloodthirsty.

I’m here for all the slow burns!
My heart is all mushy with the ships being sailed. Finally! Inside my heart cried because, at this point in the series, I’m cheering the group on to success. All the odds are against them, but I want my favorite cinnamons to conquer.

My heart still cries from wherever it landed.
I’m not surprised by the ending, but it doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt any less than it did. Either way, it was beautiful and perfect, and I couldn’t ask for anything less. (But I mean, it’s Julie Kagawa! I should know at reading 90% of her works that endings to a series are going to be *chef’s kiss*.)

Soul of the Sword was a struggle for me to get through, but it is so worth going through for Night of the Dragon. All the questions I had from the very beginning of the series get answered as everything comes together for an ending that made me want to cry and question my life choices.

*How do I bring justice to such perfection?! All the words have flown out the window. What even is a review?

I never wanted this to end. I tried to drag it out as long as possible, but sadly, it is done.
My favorite YA Fantasy trilogy has come to an end. It is time for me to leave Yumeko and the land of Iwagato behind. The spirit will live in my heart for a lifetime.
Julie Kagawa has blessed us all with the Shadow of the Fox triology and for that, I will be forever grateful.
As a conclusion to the series, this gave me everything I wanted and more. All of the loose ends were tied, lessons were learned and so many feelings were felt.
The final few pages of this legit shattered my heart into a million pieces while simultaneously putting them back together again.
The entirety of this installment is packed full of action. There was so much on the line and our protagonists did not have it easy. There was no easy way out in this story.
The world creation skills that Kagawa displays are simply top shelf. I was completely immersed in this world. I saw it all playing out in my minds eye like I was actually there. It was so impressive. I don't know what else to say. I am speechless.
I loved all of the characters so much. I loved the world. I loved the quest. I love the Japanese inspired folklore and feeling of it all. Just an overall incredible story from beginning to end.
If you have not given this series a shot, I really hope you do. For me, it's pure perfection, one I will read again in the future.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Inkyard Press and NetGalley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. It was easily my most anticipated YA Fantasy of the year and it did not disappoint!

"I hoped they would not interfere; I wasn’t afraid of what they would do to me, but if Yumeko was hurt or killed because of it, this forest would burn to ash before I was done."

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

I finished reading Night of the Dragon late last night, and I'm still crying! Seriously, I had tears in my eyes the last 30% of this book. My husband thought someone IRL had died, but then saw me cradling my Kindle Fire like it was a package of toilet paper. I'm pretty sure he rolled his eyes, but who cares about him! (Me! I totally care about him, but he does not get my attachment to fictional characters.)

Kagawa knows how to make you really care for the people in her books, and this one was no exception. I loved Yumeko and her youthful innocence. She didn't know the world could be cold and cruel, her life lived with monks mostly uneventful, until she suddenly lost everything that was important to her. She was always willing to take a chance on people, even when others said they weren't worth her time or energy (some of those people became her very best friends). Yumeko conversed with creatures that others had written off as evil or irredeemable, and always managed to see past the exterior and into the heart of everything. She was an incredible person and a kitsune that I will miss going on adventures with.

Tatsumi started this story a little worse for wear, and thinking about his upbringing still makes me cringe. No child should have to endure what he did, and I hate what was done to him. I'm happy it brought him to Yumeko, but their journey was difficult and filled with strife. They lost and found each other over and over again, and had to learn to accept the changes that happened along the way. He was the Kage Demonslayer, but he was also Tatsumi. A boy that fell in love with a kitsune girl.

Okame was the snarky one in their group, and I love the comic relief he provided. He teased Reika and called Daisuke a peacock. His banter with the group always made me smile, and I was so happy when he finally found his people. He'd thought so little of himself for so long, it was wonderful to see him appreciated and accepted for who he was. I especially loved his relationship with the Taiyo.

Daisuke was an incredible swordsman that was always looking for the next challenge. He was constantly trying to improve himself by fighting the best fighters in the world. He was happiest when he was in the midst of a battle and evenly matched. His goal was to eventually fight the Kage Demonslayer, but the two fought together and earned the other's respect on the battlefield. Daisuke was also a noble and samurai, but he didn't adhere to the rules quite so strictly. He took pride in himself, and always wanted to do the honorable thing, but he also followed his heart. His big, beautiful heart that shined brightly for one ronin in particular.

Reika was a miko, or shrine maiden, and somewhat of a mother figure to Yumeko. The kitsune grew up with monks, so Reika was the first female to really play a role in her life. She was often frustrated by the antics of the others, but she cared deeply about them all. She kept Okame from being inappropriate (most of the time), reminded Tatsumi not to let Hakaimono take control, and supported Yumeko while reprimanding her for doing something foolish. She was a solid part of their group, and a fierce fighter that never faltered.

Hakaimono was the demon in Tatsumi's sword, and why he's called the Kage Demonslayer. Tatsumi's always kept a tight leash on his emotions, and kept the demon from taking over his body. It's a constant struggle, and one new friendships threatened to tip in the demon's favor. I understood Hakaimono and why he was the way he was, but I also felt like he had some redeemable qualities as well. I had a grim appreciation for him at the end, which is why he's claimed a small spot in my heart. Without him, I don't think our group of heroes would have made it as far as they did. He played a large role from the start, and went from an unwilling participant to a willing player in the unfolding events.

There are so many threads woven into this story, and the author expertly reveals information that completely changes what you thought you knew. I was constantly making assumptions based on the facts I had, but new information would have my head spinning in an entirely different direction.

I don't like to talk about the story too much at the end of a series, because I think it's something you need to experience for yourself! I don't want to spoil anything! Night of the Dragon is something you want to experience without any previous knowledge. It's a fantastic world with amazing characters, and one I know I will revisit in the future. Kagawa has completely destroyed my heart, but also given me hope. If this series wasn't on your radar before, it needs to be now!

When I first received this ARC I actually hadn't read any of this series yet. I had the first book, Shadow of the Fox, sitting on my shelf but for lack of time I hadn't gotten around to reading it yet. Then I saw the opportunity to grab Night of the Dragon and I thought, no better sign to get on this series than to join the blog tour! So here we are! And I am so glad I made the decision because what an amazing journey it was to get here. These books are fantastic and from the first to the last I was swept away to the land of Kitsune, evil demons trapped in swords, and a magic scroll to summon a harbinger of wishes that can change the fate of the world. I loved every minute, every detail, every bit of character and world development that transported me too another world completely. The characters I fell in love with, the land was lush and magical, and above all there was such sweet romance holding it all together.

Starting right where the second book ends, we begin book three by jumping right back into the action. There is no time to waste as our band of unlikely heroes must do all that they can to save the world from the Master of Demons making a wish to end the world as they know it. So off they are on yet another journey to put an end to the chaos that they unwittingly unleashed. Just one problem, the demon Hakaimono has been released from the sword, and is now sharing a soul with Kage Tatsumi and they aren't really sure who it is they are putting their trust in to help them achieve this impossible mission. But with the ever positive and lucky demeanor of Yumeko, they trust him anyway and set out to stop the madman before its too late.

I found that I actually loved how no matter what Yumeko always seems to be able to sooth the savage beast. She finds a way to get even a demon to love her and fight for her and the constant struggle within Tatsumi finally ceases once he realizes that his life belongs to her no matter what. Every single person in her group knows that they are with her to the end, and there's something about that undying loyalty that moves me to want to jump into the pages and join their crew and fight for something to believe in so strongly as well. Its a deep emotion and you feel it bleeding off the pages throughout this entire installment in this series. These friends that Yumeko has made along the way believe in her with their entire beings and it brings a tear to my eye to think of it even now. I love when a book can bring about these intense emotions that sit with you long after the story is over and that is exactly the case here. I still feel like I've been to hell and back with these characters and I would fight to my last breath to keep them all safe and happy. 

Not only that, but the action scenes. OMG. They suck you in and you can see each move as if it was a movie playing before your eyes. There was never a dull moment throughout this entire book. I had to stop at one point and think to myself, my gosh how much more can these poor characters go through, because they had literally been through hell. It was a whirlwind from the first to last page that swept me away and refused to put me back down until my face was streaked with tears and my eyes hurt from reading so fiercely for hours on end.

The romance in these is so subtle and sweet that it is like honey to a sore throat. While constantly bouncing from one battle to the next, its like a cool breeze on a spring day brushing across your skin to relieve your senses and give you a bit of reprieve. Its not overdone, nor does it feel forced. There is a steady buildup throughout the books that leads to a real and emotional connection between the characters that inevitably turns into love. I find it perfect and cheesy enough to sooth my hopelessly romantic heart. I couldn't get enough of each romance and thought that they all fit perfectly with the story. There were times when a single line would choke me up so badly I had to stop and let it sink in before continuing to read. I LOVE THIS LOVE!

To wrap it all up, I thought that this series was amazing. five out of five stars all the way around. I will definitely be diving into some of Kagawa's other books now that I know I'm a fan of her writing. Its sad to think that just as I found out what an amazing series this is, its also already over... but there's nothing saying I can't start it from page one and read it all over again. (which will most likely be the case- they are just that good!!) I have already been recommending these to my other reader friends who have yet to jump on the bandwagon and can't wait to gush about all the crazy parts and swoon over the romantic parts! I am so happy I took the time to give these a chance and hope that if you are considering them as well then this review will convince you to take the leap. its definitely worth it!

When you read a good series, you just know it. Julie Kagawa has left my heart and soul shattered in so many good ways with night of the Dragon. But I wasn’t surprised by my reactions, because Julie has been doing a spectacular job since book one. The writing in Night of the Dragon continued to blow my mind. Julie continues the story with vivid descriptions, magical scenes, and heartbreaking moments.

Night of the Dragon, like the two before it, captivated me form the very first chapter. I wanted to know what happened after Yumeko made a sacrifice [not of her life] to save those she loves. Night of the Dragon continues the story where we meet our Yumeko and her crew preparing to stop the Master of Demons from using the scroll and unleashing an evil that will put the entire empire in chaos. Night of the Dragon is a great conclusion of Fox shifting Yumeko and her companion’s epic journey.

In regards to the characters, I really enjoyed seeing Yumeko’s character through each story, especially in this last book. Yumeko began as a naive girl, and developing into a powerful warrior. She learned so much in her journey and used that to grow better and stronger. Julie Kagawa showed this transformation so masterfully. It didn’t feel rushed, or half baked. I truly enjoyed seeing that development happen gradually rather than happen all at once. Yumekop’s character development was also not something she did on her own. Julie also created such great supporting characters that not only added to Yumeko’s development but also developed drastically in their own skin. Overall, character development was on point and you couldn’t help but root for Yumeko and her companions.

The plot was amazing, powerful and full of action. Julie made a page turning adventure with Night of the Dragon. I was fully invested in ending this series form the first chapter. Was it hard to see Yumeko’s journey end? Of course! But the plot was created in a way where the ending felt okay. It was an impossible task Yumeko and her companions were given [prevent a world where their lives would be forever in danger], but by the end you didn’t doubt the story or the characters. You rooted and cried for them. You held onto the ending feel a piece of your heart missing but knowing that the entirely story was phenomenal at every interaction and every scene of action. You yelled in joy when Yumeko was finally able to accept herself fully. Did I get a book hangover? Of course! Even the best written endings can leave your heart torn and feeling like you need a vacation from reading. It was worth it though.

The Shadow of the Fox trilogy is a trilogy you should pick up. Julie Kagawa continues to amaze me with her masterful storytelling. Night of the Dragon has action, romance, friendship and heart-tugging moments all wrapped into a beautiful story. I highly recommend it!

Would I recommend it? Yes
Would I read more by this author? yes . In fact this isn't the first time I've read her and what I have read so far I've loved
rating:4
Would I read more by this author ? Yes
First off I want to say thank you to the publisher for inviting me to read it which i'm so glad i did because it introduced to me a new series by this author which i had no idea was out and after reading this one even though its book 3 I definitely want to read this series from the very beginning In fact i don't think I've ever read anything that deals with kitsune .With that said i also want to thank NetGalley for letting me read and review it as well.

Very happy to have received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com
This was a fitting end to a great trilogy. There were some surprises but then knowing this was the end some characters who seemed to always escape death finally met their end. In this world though one person may meet another again at some point when they are reborn so not that tragic in a some ways. The writing was great throughout the series and even though I haven't read Shadow of the Fox yet I will and then will reread the entire series to get the full experience of this trilogy I think. Her use of Japanese mythology is great and I will let people see an another world of creatures besides the usual elves and stuff. I see a lot of this material in anime as well and this series would probably make a wonderful anime series as well. I am wondering what other stories could told from this world as there are other lands filled with barbarians. Could we Yumeko return in some other story in the future but one can only dream.
A dreaming fox
dancing in light and shadow
her journey at end
for a time
until she dream again

An excellent, well written and enthralling epic fantasy according to my heart.
I loved the great characters well thought and perfect for a quest that requires great heroes with no grey moral area, some great villains and an amazing world building inspired by Japan.
I appreciated the strong female characters that are kick-ass and not sort of damsel in distress.
The plot flows and it is both entertaining and gripping. I love how fast paced and action packed this story is and I love the end that keeps you on the edge till the epilogue.
I loved everything in this book because it was a great travel to a different universe and a different time.
It was a good series and this is an excellent end.
I strongly recommend it especially if you want to read an entertaining and well crafted epic fantasy.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I loved this book! It held the same magic that book one did so I am one happy reader. This was my first Kagawa series, so I will DEFINITELY be reading everything by her. This series reads like an anime.

Yumeko becomes soooooo freaking cool, y’all. She really grows into her own leader. She faces some TOUGH decisions. She also finally finds out answers to many mysteries of her life. And they are some big answers! I do not envy her. She goes through some stuff, man.

I LOVED Tatsumi/ Hakaimono. Their mashup still makes me chuckle sometimes. They do well together. Their evolution is probably my favorite to read about. It was super interesting to see how they share a body and feelings and memories.

The other side characters were great to read about too. How they all functioned as a unit was fun to see. They all worked well together.

The premise of the book was EPIC. It went from like, a cute, fun story in the first book to this huge climax in the last book. It was crazy! And of course, I loved the adventure going on.

I thought this was a perfect end to an amazing series! I literally tell everyone to go read this. Especially if you love anime. It just gives me those vibes!

Yumeko had to relinquish the last piece of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers to protect the people she loves, but that doesn’t mean she is planning to give up. She has put together a group willing to travel to Iwagoto to stop the evil that has been planned. The Master of Demons wants to get a wish from the Great Kami dragon … this wish would take the people into further darkness. Kage has gained control over his body, but the deal he had to make with the demon inside him may be worse than what he already went through. Will Yumeko be able to separate Kage and this demon? Will this group be able to save the empire from the impending darkness?

Night of the Dragon is the final book in the Shadow of the Fox trilogy. Since all of the world-building transpired in the first two books, Kagawa was able to focus on the characters and the story in this fantasy adventure. The story is told in alternating voices and the readers will enjoy knowing what is happening in parallel passages. This novel has a very firm and complete ending, yet as in any fantasy novel, there is always room for more stories. I recommend Night of the Dragon to everyone who already finished the first two books.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Netgalley, and Inkyard Books for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

I’m so freaking sad that this is over, okay?! Like…. I have been invested in Yumeko’s journey and even Tatsumi’s internal struggle with Hakaimono messing up his life. I mean, gosh…. Kage Tatsumi having to deal with that kind of internal struggle that isn’t even coming from his personal demons and still somehow maintaining his humanity even though that wasn’t going as well as he thought it was! Ugh this was just amazing.

I don’t even want to get into this because it would be full of spoilers galore. It’s definitely difficult to write the kind of thorough review that I want to for this novel without getting into the spoilers that make it so crucial, but long story short: I loved this book. I think it was the perfect ending for this journey, and this book and series as a whole really solidified my thoughts that Kagawa is one of my all time favorite authors.

Stay tuned for a spoiler filled review at a later date, because I will go deeper into this book with way more thoughts than I can share right now.