Parents' Guide to

Soul of the Sword: Shadow of the Fox, Book 2

By Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Lots of gory carnage in engaging samurai sequel.

Book Julie Kagawa Fantasy 2019
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This samurai sequel remains just as cool as the first, with shadowy secrets, Japanese folklore, and compelling main characters, but here the demons are a lot more bloodthirsty. The heads really get rolling, so much so that by the last battle readers will feel a bit numb to it. (i.e. There goes another one, thunk, roll -- gross.) Much of the freewheeling carnage happens in the chapters that trace the demon Hakaimono's perspective, so it's to be expected. What's unexpected is the demon's voice in the story. This extremely vengeful creature from hell describes landscapes in flowery language and sometimes barely sounds like a demon at all. Perhaps a more natural choice for author Julie Kagawa would have been keeping the voice as Tatsumi's in these chapters.

The sections in Yumeko's perspective work the best, especially as she travels through dreams and ignites her own powers. It brings her and Tatsumi together in a deeper way and offers a blessed break from the bloodshed. Events are well set up for an exciting finale, especially when unlikely alliances form.

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