Yangsze Choo
The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo is a historical fantasy novel unfolding in two parallel threads. Set on 1900s Manchuria, the first thread is the story of Snow, a mother seeking vengeance against the murderer of her child. The second thread is of Bao, a private detective initially hired to discover the identity of a dead woman found at the doorstep of a business. The threads unfold separately in alternating chapters. Although the same characters are mentioned and/or appear separately in both threads, the two threads don’t merge until close to the end of the novel.
The novel blends Chinese mythology; folk tales; mysterious, shape-shifting fox spirits that can assume human form; and disappearing shadows. Although it had a lot of potential, it failed to meet expectations. The slow start and dragging momentum made it a challenge to sustain interest. The characters seem directionless and lackluster as they drift from one episode to another. The plot meanders. The dialogue frequently smacks of hackneyed phrases and cliches. The writing is somewhat simplistic; the conclusion, predictable. And although we are told Snow is a shape-shifting fox, she is never shown as a fox.
On the whole, a disappointing read.