The Navigating Fox by Christopher Rowe

Source: NetGalley and the Publisher – thank you!!!
TL;DR: I loved this but it’s my type of novella, definitely not for everyone.

Plot: This one is going to not work for everyone with a drop you in, dual time line story but I thought it tied together nicely and was well thought-out
Characters: Clever and unique I enjoyed the characters a lot, they felt 3 dimensional in such a short story
Setting: Two journeys, but both felt like real places and wildernesses in the world. Well drawn.
Magic: Unexplained but deeply intriguing. The magic is simply the abilities and presence of our animal friends and I want to know more!

Thoughts:

The Navigating Fox was a big surprise for me. I’m not going to pretend like I didn’t judge it initially by the cover and get a hair concerned I wouldn’t enjoy it. Ironically enough, now that I’ve read the story the cover absolutely suits it. The Navigating Fox follows the titular character who is tells his story in two timelines. The one in the past where he is leading a party to their doom, and the one in the future where he is leading another group to the gates of hell to attempt to close them.

This is the type of story where you’re dropped in and you get to figure it out from there. Those definitely do not work for every reader but for me – I love these. This one especially with the cast of talking and intelligent animals, it was fantastic. There were also hints and nods at the arrogance of man even in a world such as this where animals could and did become fully aware and involved in the societies and government. Just – catnip for me. This is the type of thing I love.

There is also an alternating timeline happening, which ties together nicely in the end. My only complaint on this book is that I wanted more. Not that I think it necessarily needed more but I as a reader was thirsty for more of it. The world and the story. I want more answers for our Fox friend, and I sincerely hope this gets a sequel or even a full length story.

5 out of 5 Sassy Crows