A review by crookeddustjacket
Fire Fox by Amanda Sloothaak

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Thank you to the author for gifting me an eARC.

I was first intrigued by Fire Fox when I discovered it was set in Viking-era Scandinavia and had roots in Viking myth. 

At its core, Fire Fox is a story of growth and understanding one’s desires. The story centres on Dawn, a young healer’s apprentice who is unnerved by blood and injuries, and an inspiring shield maiden who grapples with the brutalities of war. As the daughter of the previous clan chief, she is critical of the new chief and his lack of regard for the people of the village and their wellbeing. As mysterious deaths and their enemies in the Red Lion Legion plague her village, Dawn resolves to protect her friends and family against the threats from their enemy. Although I found Dawn to be a little frustrating and immature at the beginning, we get to see her evolve throughout the story and become more courageous and resilient. The story is very character driven, with a lot of dialogue that helps us understand Dawn’s reasoning and decision making. There is a hint at a potential romance in the future, however, it is very minor. 

Most of the issues I had were based on personal preference rather than problems with the writing or anything along those lines. I found the pacing a little uneven and some modern terms used in the setting felt out of place. I’m also not personally a fan of the stream-of-consciousness style narration as it doesn’t resonate with me. Still, I can see where it was needed to convey Dawn’s thoughts and show us how her character develops.

Despite some pacing issues and stylistic choices, it’s a compelling read for fans of fantasy, Norse myths, and strong character growth.