Review: The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo

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First I would like to say a big thankyou to NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy of this to review! The Fox Wife is now available to buy on all major platforms.

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo is a highly crafted, exquisitely flowing and entrancing story. It has a flowing, almost misty quality with memories floating to the surface, and engulfing the main characters; Snow and Bao. In a novel that is so deeply interested in folktales, Choo really channels that narrative voice. It has an intimate, telling stories round the campfire feeling that remained strong for me throughout. I felt almost as if I was reading a book told entirely in hushed voices and whispers. Not to say that it wasn’t compelling or exciting! The mysteries of The Fox Wife had me hungry to know more about how the two main characters Snow and Bao would fare on their journeys.

The main thread of the tale is simple. Two people on two distinct missions. A fox named Snow seeking vengeance for the death of her child, and Bao – a detective who can always distinguish truth from lies who is investigating the death of a young woman. Their stories seem untethered – though remain nonetheless highly intriguing – for much of the narrative before coming together to reveal an elaborate picture of events. I really enjoyed the way Choo chose to reveal the truth of the mystery just a little at the time particularly with Bao’s detective work. Sometimes she gave the reader more clues than Bao, so you were desperate for him to catch up with you, and at others she left you completely in the dark with the twists taking you by surprise.

The Fox Wife is beautifully written and certainly boasts an eerily mystical element that lives up to the reputation of the foxes that scamper across every page. The image Choo creates of late Qing Dynasty China is rich and enchanting. The clashing worlds of old and new, ancient powers and new uprisings, magic, mystery, love, death and treachery make for a fascinating novel. I thoroughly enjoyed The Fox Wife and look forward to exploring Choo’s other works. I’ve heard great things about The Night Tiger in particular!

Love, Grace xxx

P.S This is another book set in China that I’m reading while currently in China and it never stops being fun getting to go and eat whatever they’re eating. New reading tip: next time you go on holiday try reading a book set there!