What do you think?
Rate this book
Amaranthine Saga #1
Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox
Tsumiko inherits an ancestral home, a vast fortune, and a butler who isn't exactly human.
Humanity is rocked by the Emergence of a people who call themselves the Amaranthine. They are our myths and legends come to life. Neither human nor animal, yet embracing qualities of both, the inhuman races inspire both awe and fear. Every newsfeed is clogged with updates about the peace process, but some places don't concern themselves with worldly affairs. Like the girls' school run by Saint Midori's of the Heavenly Lights, where Tsumiko Hajime grew up.
A letter from a long-lost aunt names Tsumiko heiress to an ancestral estate and its accompanying fortune. Only the legacy comes with an aloof heirloom: an inhuman butler. Argent has served the Hajime family for centuries, and Tsumiko must renew the generational bond or he'll die. Argent hates her for the hold she has over him, but he craves her soul almost as much as he craves his freedom.
Amazon Editors' Picks for the Top 20 Best SciFi/Fantasy Books of 2018
Humanity is rocked by the Emergence of a people who call themselves the Amaranthine. They are our myths and legends come to life. Neither human nor animal, yet embracing qualities of both, the inhuman races inspire both awe and fear. Every newsfeed is clogged with updates about the peace process, but some places don't concern themselves with worldly affairs. Like the girls' school run by Saint Midori's of the Heavenly Lights, where Tsumiko Hajime grew up.
A letter from a long-lost aunt names Tsumiko heiress to an ancestral estate and its accompanying fortune. Only the legacy comes with an aloof heirloom: an inhuman butler. Argent has served the Hajime family for centuries, and Tsumiko must renew the generational bond or he'll die. Argent hates her for the hold she has over him, but he craves her soul almost as much as he craves his freedom.
Amazon Editors' Picks for the Top 20 Best SciFi/Fantasy Books of 2018
478 pages, Paperback
First published February 22, 2018
222 people are currently reading
5057 people want to read
About the author
Forthright .
37Ìýbooks539Ìýfollowersa teller of tales with a fondness for unlikely friendships, wary alliances, unexpected upshots, hard-won trust, diverse cultures, found family, local legends, and folksome things. Author of the Immortal Holmes series, paranormal mysteries with a steampunk aesthetic set in an alternate history & the romantically-inclined Amaranthine Saga, with all of its attendant short stories & serials.
As a reader, this account is where I rate and review manga.
As a reader, this account is where I rate and review manga.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 454 reviews
Want to read
July 24, 2018Ilona Andrews told me to read this. (Not personally but still)
July 21, 2024
There is, it turns out, a whole below-the-radar ecosystem on Kindle of fanfiction with the serial numbers filed off and turned into indie pro works. This caught my eye when it popped up on one of those Amazon page bot-offerings of "if you looked at that, look at this". Metadata says it started life as Inuyasha fic, which is an anime I watched many years ago. In the same wheelhouse (magical white fox boyfriends) I preferred Kamisama Kiss, but this was right there.
Prose style very good on the sentence level -- better than most of the translated light novels I've read -- very well proofread, story about what you'd expect if you know the context. Girl who turns out, eventually, to be magically special inherits mansion, fortune, and fox servant/slave, shenanigans ensue for several hundred pages. (It's always an inheritance -- because how else could a girl acquire such a grubstake -- it would take a lifetime of hard and smart work to actually earn, and then she wouldn't be a pretty young heroine anymore. The Demon Prince of Momochi House has the same setup, for like reasons, ditto Kamisama Kiss. No post-menopausal self-made female entrepreneurs need apply.)
It made a rather fascinating compare-and-contrast with the last book I read, the much more dudely The Left-handed Booksellers of London. Like much fanfic, Tsumiko gives no truck to traditionally male interests of violent conflict, war, and other forms of male-male biosocial dominance contests, focusing instead on making central such female interests as family formation of various kinds. (Fanfic, and its profic spinoffs, even does this even when the protags are m/m.) The threats are threats to the nascent family, not to the world. In place of battles, births. In the romance plot, the woman's agenda wins. Marriage (or an equivalent, usually monogamous but always for-life, commitment), not a stage littered with tragic bodies, is the end game.
Ta, L.
July 27, 2018
This was delightful. I of course picked this up because Ilona Andrews brought it to my attention in their blog, and I am glad I did. The heroine, Tsumiko, doesn't have a strong personality but apparently her soul packs a pretty big punch. You can kind of tell this is the author's first book as the whole soul/power thing is never quite explained fully, it just sort of exists for some people (called reavers) and Tsumiko's is apparently so bright she is considered a beacon. In one fell swoop Tsumiko discovers she has inherited from a distant relative an estate that is also home to several employees along with a butler that needs 'tending to' via an innate power Tsumiko never knew she had.
This story kind of meanders along at times, the 'clean' romance is a bit of a delayed insta-love, and a major plot line is left open ended for presumably a future installment to this series, but I read this book in less than 24 hours and when I put it down I was left wishing there was more of it for me to read. I'll definitely keep an eye out for future books by this author.
This story kind of meanders along at times, the 'clean' romance is a bit of a delayed insta-love, and a major plot line is left open ended for presumably a future installment to this series, but I read this book in less than 24 hours and when I put it down I was left wishing there was more of it for me to read. I'll definitely keep an eye out for future books by this author.
June 2, 2018
I have been a fan of Forthright's stories for years. Their fan fiction has been a source of entertainment and a great source of comfort when I've had a bad day and needed a pick-me-up. Their writing in Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox is just as beautiful and poetic as ever. And that's why it breaks my heart that I didn't enjoy this book.
My review will be a little incoherent but bare with me.
The changes that were made to distinguish this original story from the Inuyasha universe and characters (that Forthright's fan fiction is based on) just didn't make sense to me. I didn't understand how Tsumiko could be such a powerful reaver that she sends the most powerful Amaranthine to their knees without ever knowing it. I understand that the Amaranthine hadn't made their presence known until recently yet how could she have so much power and no one discovered it until a distant relative sent a legal team to search for her? If she were that powerful, wouldn't an Amaranthine have noticed since she had no way of suppressing those powers and her soul was "bottomless?"
Amaranthines have a volatile history with humans where they would eat their babies and kill them and yet no one remembers them at all until the Emergence. How? Why? What about the subplot where Nona is after Tsumiko and Argent and how there's a member of the dragon Amaranthine clan kidnapping and raping human women? That seems kind of important yet they were pretty much brushed aside for most of the story that focused on Argent and Tsumiko falling in love. I just don't understand the politics behind the Amaranthine clans pre- and post-Emergence with the reavers, and especially with the Wards. Despite the info dumping that tried to fill me in into this world, I was confused as ever.
The tending ritual between an Amaranthine and a reaver made me really uncomfortable. I liked how there was that description that Amaranthine customs often clashed with human modesty because they're so much more affectionate. However, I felt like the Tending that Amaranthines and reavers experience was just an excuse for fan service or romantic moments between Argent and Tsumiko, Suuzu and Akira, and a very uncomfortable moment between Michael and his cat sensei, Hisoka. For example, there was a scene where Hisoka-sensei Tended to Michael and the descriptions were saying that he moaned and twitched with the full power of his master's soul and just YUCK. It didn't help later on where Gingko reflected on how Tending was like falling in love and that sometimes it felt better than sex. Like what?
I also didn't like Tsumiko. She was too pure. Too good to be true and too self-sacrificing. She felt like a child and I felt like Argent was taking advantage of her naivety. I've seen this in another person's review but she was also eerily calm throughout everything. For someone who didn't know anything about the Amaranthine's existence, she accepted everything so calmly without question, which was weird considering one of her first encounters with their kind was during the ritual where she had to be intimate with Argent by touching his bare chest and kissing him. And then there was the time Argent got hurt after fighting with Nona and he kept her in bed to Tend him for days where he would hold onto her and lick her shoulder so much that her shirt was wet.
I'm glad everyone else enjoyed Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox. I wish I was one of those people too. However, there were way too many things that I'm not skilled enough to articulate into this review that didn't personally work with me.
My review will be a little incoherent but bare with me.
The changes that were made to distinguish this original story from the Inuyasha universe and characters (that Forthright's fan fiction is based on) just didn't make sense to me. I didn't understand how Tsumiko could be such a powerful reaver that she sends the most powerful Amaranthine to their knees without ever knowing it. I understand that the Amaranthine hadn't made their presence known until recently yet how could she have so much power and no one discovered it until a distant relative sent a legal team to search for her? If she were that powerful, wouldn't an Amaranthine have noticed since she had no way of suppressing those powers and her soul was "bottomless?"
Amaranthines have a volatile history with humans where they would eat their babies and kill them and yet no one remembers them at all until the Emergence. How? Why? What about the subplot where Nona is after Tsumiko and Argent and how there's a member of the dragon Amaranthine clan kidnapping and raping human women? That seems kind of important yet they were pretty much brushed aside for most of the story that focused on Argent and Tsumiko falling in love. I just don't understand the politics behind the Amaranthine clans pre- and post-Emergence with the reavers, and especially with the Wards. Despite the info dumping that tried to fill me in into this world, I was confused as ever.
The tending ritual between an Amaranthine and a reaver made me really uncomfortable. I liked how there was that description that Amaranthine customs often clashed with human modesty because they're so much more affectionate. However, I felt like the Tending that Amaranthines and reavers experience was just an excuse for fan service or romantic moments between Argent and Tsumiko, Suuzu and Akira, and a very uncomfortable moment between Michael and his cat sensei, Hisoka. For example, there was a scene where Hisoka-sensei Tended to Michael and the descriptions were saying that he moaned and twitched with the full power of his master's soul and just YUCK. It didn't help later on where Gingko reflected on how Tending was like falling in love and that sometimes it felt better than sex. Like what?
I also didn't like Tsumiko. She was too pure. Too good to be true and too self-sacrificing. She felt like a child and I felt like Argent was taking advantage of her naivety. I've seen this in another person's review but she was also eerily calm throughout everything. For someone who didn't know anything about the Amaranthine's existence, she accepted everything so calmly without question, which was weird considering one of her first encounters with their kind was during the ritual where she had to be intimate with Argent by touching his bare chest and kissing him. And then there was the time Argent got hurt after fighting with Nona and he kept her in bed to Tend him for days where he would hold onto her and lick her shoulder so much that her shirt was wet.
I'm glad everyone else enjoyed Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox. I wish I was one of those people too. However, there were way too many things that I'm not skilled enough to articulate into this review that didn't personally work with me.
June 24, 2019
50% DNF
This book is just a ball of tropes loosely strung together with a thin and un-researched Japanese veneer. It reads like fan-fic, where the author is more interested in making the main characters kiss than giving them an actual reason to do so, or filling in any of its ENORMOUS plot holes.
The main character is nothing. She starts out kindof terse and shrewd (in a positive, interesting way), but then devolves quickly into a bucket in which the supporting cast shovels exposition (they literally spend two pages talking about how family crests work, and it was at that point that I decided I was done).
The 'enslaved fox' starts out resenting the main character for two pages, and then instantly goes into the tsundere trope of, "I hate you, baka" (not an exact quote, but it could be), and then everyone else tells the main character, "You can't trust what a fox says." Repeat this about fifteen times and you get the first half of the story. It seems like the only reason things happen in the book is to put the main character and the fox dude in situations where they do, can, or might kiss. Oh no! He's injured! I guess main character has to lay in bed with him so he can get better!
There are only about five characters, which might be fine if there wasn't vastly more interesting things going on in the background that never really get addressed. There's a main villain lady I guess, but she literally shows up out of nowhere and there's a fight and she doesn't say a single word, so we have no idea what her motives are or why we should give a shit about anything she's trying to do.
All the characters have undefined powers. Their chef/doctor is also a 'battler' who fights -I guess- but the one point at which she would fight she doesn't. She just doesn't. She's about to, but then she doesn't. It's not even a choice she makes, the story just forgets she exists so it can show off fox dude. The main character is a Special Girl with Special Girl Powers but what those powers are or what they do don't fucking matter because the main characters are too busy kissing shut up don't worry about it. There's a dude who's a Ward, and he puts up wards, but what those are is never explained really and he can apparently make them out of nothing and do so with no effort so fuck it whatever.
I don't really have a conclusion other than... if you like making dolls kiss, this might be the book for you.
This book is just a ball of tropes loosely strung together with a thin and un-researched Japanese veneer. It reads like fan-fic, where the author is more interested in making the main characters kiss than giving them an actual reason to do so, or filling in any of its ENORMOUS plot holes.
The main character is nothing. She starts out kindof terse and shrewd (in a positive, interesting way), but then devolves quickly into a bucket in which the supporting cast shovels exposition (they literally spend two pages talking about how family crests work, and it was at that point that I decided I was done).
The 'enslaved fox' starts out resenting the main character for two pages, and then instantly goes into the tsundere trope of, "I hate you, baka" (not an exact quote, but it could be), and then everyone else tells the main character, "You can't trust what a fox says." Repeat this about fifteen times and you get the first half of the story. It seems like the only reason things happen in the book is to put the main character and the fox dude in situations where they do, can, or might kiss. Oh no! He's injured! I guess main character has to lay in bed with him so he can get better!
There are only about five characters, which might be fine if there wasn't vastly more interesting things going on in the background that never really get addressed. There's a main villain lady I guess, but she literally shows up out of nowhere and there's a fight and she doesn't say a single word, so we have no idea what her motives are or why we should give a shit about anything she's trying to do.
All the characters have undefined powers. Their chef/doctor is also a 'battler' who fights -I guess- but the one point at which she would fight she doesn't. She just doesn't. She's about to, but then she doesn't. It's not even a choice she makes, the story just forgets she exists so it can show off fox dude. The main character is a Special Girl with Special Girl Powers but what those powers are or what they do don't fucking matter because the main characters are too busy kissing shut up don't worry about it. There's a dude who's a Ward, and he puts up wards, but what those are is never explained really and he can apparently make them out of nothing and do so with no effort so fuck it whatever.
I don't really have a conclusion other than... if you like making dolls kiss, this might be the book for you.
August 8, 2018
Finished in one day.
Quite enjoyable. I liked most of the characters. It was like a fairytale. If this would have been longer And DEEPER, It’d be perfect. But for a read in one sitting, I had a good time reading it.
Quite enjoyable. I liked most of the characters. It was like a fairytale. If this would have been longer And DEEPER, It’d be perfect. But for a read in one sitting, I had a good time reading it.
July 28, 2018
Ok, so first of all this book is well-written and creative for what it is - which is not to knock it, but the author does a sort-of anime/fan-fic sort of thing. So you may like it if that's your thing!
I would have maybe made this a 3 to 4 star review, except for One. Huge. Flaw.
Rape as plot device -ok, rarely done well, whatever, I'm used to this happening all the time, it's lazy overdone woman-victimizing writing but fine. Pregnancy as result of rape? Sure sure. Unwanted pregnancy? Yep, obvi. Weird half-breed child killing mom? Hello Twilight, ok yes.
Rape victim mom who doesn't want baby and is being killed by fetus and LITERALLY NO DISCUSSION OF TERMINATING THE PREGNANCY? IS EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM HIGH.
Like look, I would have rolled by eyes, but this could have been lampshaded easily, "Oh, she doesn't want the pregnancy and knows it's harming her but she's a strict real-life/made up religion and so she won't have an abortion" or like something.
Instead, we just have rape victim as vessel to produce a magical baby completely against her will without anyone offering to help her at all with the actual problem.
Ew ew ew ew ew why no. Where is her agency. Like religions who are generally very anti-abortion make exceptions in cases of rape or danger to the mother AND THIS WAS LITERALLY BOTH.
Anyway from there on out I checked out.
I would have maybe made this a 3 to 4 star review, except for One. Huge. Flaw.
Rape as plot device -ok, rarely done well, whatever, I'm used to this happening all the time, it's lazy overdone woman-victimizing writing but fine. Pregnancy as result of rape? Sure sure. Unwanted pregnancy? Yep, obvi. Weird half-breed child killing mom? Hello Twilight, ok yes.
Rape victim mom who doesn't want baby and is being killed by fetus and LITERALLY NO DISCUSSION OF TERMINATING THE PREGNANCY? IS EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM HIGH.
Like look, I would have rolled by eyes, but this could have been lampshaded easily, "Oh, she doesn't want the pregnancy and knows it's harming her but she's a strict real-life/made up religion and so she won't have an abortion" or like something.
Instead, we just have rape victim as vessel to produce a magical baby completely against her will without anyone offering to help her at all with the actual problem.
Ew ew ew ew ew why no. Where is her agency. Like religions who are generally very anti-abortion make exceptions in cases of rape or danger to the mother AND THIS WAS LITERALLY BOTH.
Anyway from there on out I checked out.
January 4, 2022
4 1/2 to 5 stars
This book was recommended by Ilona Andrews a while back:
I'd hoped to read it last year for one of my challenges, but it wasn't meant to be. I was determined to rectify that situation in 2021 and I'm so glad I did.
I really liked the various characters, especially Argent (the fox), as well as the fascinating world and dynamics that the author brought to life. Like IA, I was also thinking (as I listened to this tale and pictured certain unique, unexpected, and magical things in my mind's eye) that if you like anime, there's a good chance you will like this.
It's not a perfect tale, but what worked for me worked quite well. TATEF was enjoyable and I looked forward to listening to the audiobook (narrated by Travis Baldtree) whenever I had the opportunity.
I was hoping for an intriguing story with interesting characters that drew me in, touched my emotions, stirred my imagination, and had me looking forward to future adventures.
My hopes were realized.
I definitely plan to read/listen to the rest of the series in future.
This book was recommended by Ilona Andrews a while back:
I'd hoped to read it last year for one of my challenges, but it wasn't meant to be. I was determined to rectify that situation in 2021 and I'm so glad I did.
I really liked the various characters, especially Argent (the fox), as well as the fascinating world and dynamics that the author brought to life. Like IA, I was also thinking (as I listened to this tale and pictured certain unique, unexpected, and magical things in my mind's eye) that if you like anime, there's a good chance you will like this.
It's not a perfect tale, but what worked for me worked quite well. TATEF was enjoyable and I looked forward to listening to the audiobook (narrated by Travis Baldtree) whenever I had the opportunity.
I was hoping for an intriguing story with interesting characters that drew me in, touched my emotions, stirred my imagination, and had me looking forward to future adventures.
My hopes were realized.
I definitely plan to read/listen to the rest of the series in future.
July 29, 2018
Ok I loooooved this book. I picked it up after Ilona Andrews recced it and was completely entranced from start to end. Also this appears to be the first in a companion series, so this particular story is complete, though this world has just begun to open and expand, and I cannot wait to discover what is next. One of my favorite parts of this story is our heroine Tsumiko, who has lived all her life sheltered at a boarding school, until she discovers she’s inherited a fortune and a house and a person. Although she is naive, Tsumiko knows her mind and isn’t a pushover or easily fooled. I loved her quiet dignity and inherent understanding of others needs and constant desire to help, including her new inheritance. Argent is the person that Tsumiko inherits. He is a powerful fox shifter who has been enslaved by her family for generations. From the start, I adored their interactions and the bond that forms between them. The Amarathine all have animal natures and Tsumiko soon realizes how full her world is of them. In some aspects of culture, this book reminded me of Anne Bishop’s Others series, where Amarathine express themselves similarly to animals. This is one of my favorite parts of both series. Lots of nestling. Actually, I’d say this book is a little bit of a cross between The Others and Jane Eyre (minus the attic wife), but it’s also very much it’s own world and story. This book also has a vivid cast and I’m looking forward to more of these characters in the future. I’m especially hoping for an eventual book starring Tsumiko’s brother and Suuzu.
Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger scale: appears to be the first in a companion series. I read somewhere that 7 are planned? However many, I cannot wait for them!
Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger scale: appears to be the first in a companion series. I read somewhere that 7 are planned? However many, I cannot wait for them!
November 5, 2020
Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox is an interesting debut novel. The feel is mostly "if Anne Bishop's had been a j-drama with a clean romance" - the whole story starts out rather anime-y and then settles into a more defined plot and whereas there is kissing, it is no KISSING (which took a moment to get used to, as I usually read books with K I S S I N G !!1). There are some dark elements (abuse, consent, off-screen rape) but overall, it is pretty fluffy and the heroine is a shining beacon of light (literally) and goodness. I did not mind it too much though, it was not too cloying - but I don't think I want to read another installment in the story with the same type of Pure and Good Lead. I was actually surprised she was supposed to be 20, the first impression I got from the reading sample was a naive teenager. However, the overall setting with the Amaranthine people and the different clans was super interesting (foxes! YAY) and I wish that some of the points had been more elaborated upon, such as who is the ? Is he supposed to turn up in book 2? Probably?
The tending ritual also made me somewhat uncomfortable - it felt a lot like fanservice and yeah, I get that Amaranthines are supposed to be more affectionate than humans but it was a VERY blurred line. Like, again, I get that the tending between Tsumiko and Argent was nescessary for plot / romantic tension reasons. I'll take it. However, taken out of the romantic context, it becomes super weird, like when Michael tended to Deece (his first time! oh man so awkward) or his old sensei (again, kinda awkward but on a whole different level) - a lot of the feelings that Amaranthine go through during tending are very orgasm-like and it was just a bit squicky, as this was not nescessary the setting where everybody is just casually poly and free with their looooove, you know? Something about this just seemed off to me.
Overall, 3.5 stars - it is an overall decent fantasy debut that could have done with a bit more plot tightening / world explanation. The good bits were a delight, and I just wish that the book has been as consistently good as its strongest parts. My rating could have probably been rounded up to 4 stars but along with some issues I already mentioned the author included one of my least favourite tropes, , which I hate.
Full explanation ahead, I tried to keep story spoilers to a minimum: .
The tending ritual also made me somewhat uncomfortable - it felt a lot like fanservice and yeah, I get that Amaranthines are supposed to be more affectionate than humans but it was a VERY blurred line. Like, again, I get that the tending between Tsumiko and Argent was nescessary for plot / romantic tension reasons. I'll take it. However, taken out of the romantic context, it becomes super weird, like when Michael tended to Deece (his first time! oh man so awkward) or his old sensei (again, kinda awkward but on a whole different level) - a lot of the feelings that Amaranthine go through during tending are very orgasm-like and it was just a bit squicky, as this was not nescessary the setting where everybody is just casually poly and free with their looooove, you know? Something about this just seemed off to me.
Overall, 3.5 stars - it is an overall decent fantasy debut that could have done with a bit more plot tightening / world explanation. The good bits were a delight, and I just wish that the book has been as consistently good as its strongest parts. My rating could have probably been rounded up to 4 stars but along with some issues I already mentioned the author included one of my least favourite tropes, , which I hate.
Full explanation ahead, I tried to keep story spoilers to a minimum: .
September 14, 2018
Wonderful, original use of Japanese mythology.
April 11, 2021
In hindsight, I'm not sure what made me buy a copy - it has a pretty cover...? In any case, this is an outlier.
100 pages in, I read that this was based on an Inuyasha fanfic and, wow, that definitely explained the growing sensation that I was in fact reading a late 2000s fantasy/ romance shoujo manga in novel length. It also cleared my confusion as to why this was set in Japan when there was practically no visible Japanese involvement, let alone Japanese people. Even Tsumiko was raised in a christian convent/ orphanage with heavy western influence.
Also much to my confusion, everything has an impromptu feel to it: Tsumiko dropping her whole life like a hot potato to become an heiress despite her background, Argent's undying love, his release and subsequent "promotion" to world leader, everyone's sudden magical acceptance of crossers etc.. I could go on. It felt surreal how easily things got resolved - no real explanations offered, problems getting gently bamboozled out of your mind as if you were reading a trick version of this novel. But I guess that's also charming in itself - nothing comes hard in this one, suffering takes place off-screen.
It's all in all a pleasant read with easy, decent writing (I could have done with less tsk'ing) and okay-ish world building. The latter felt less original than described in some reviews, reminding me of mangas I've read as a teen.
I liked Tsumiko, too - quiet, firm and unassuming. She just let herself get carried around in the literal sense a tad too much. I've had my fair share of swashbuckling heroines lately though, and that shit's exhausting in the long run.
My biggest issue with this is how the overarching conflict (hint: rape and dragons) didn't get resolved, not even close. It just seemed to serve as an unnecessarily warped means to introduce Kyrie. I wonder if the sequels address this - not that I'm dying to check. There were so many loose threads.
Edit: ALSO this deserves a disclaimer for the sheer horror of 3 continuous years of pregnancy
100 pages in, I read that this was based on an Inuyasha fanfic and, wow, that definitely explained the growing sensation that I was in fact reading a late 2000s fantasy/ romance shoujo manga in novel length. It also cleared my confusion as to why this was set in Japan when there was practically no visible Japanese involvement, let alone Japanese people. Even Tsumiko was raised in a christian convent/ orphanage with heavy western influence.
Also much to my confusion, everything has an impromptu feel to it: Tsumiko dropping her whole life like a hot potato to become an heiress despite her background, Argent's undying love, his release and subsequent "promotion" to world leader, everyone's sudden magical acceptance of crossers etc.. I could go on. It felt surreal how easily things got resolved - no real explanations offered, problems getting gently bamboozled out of your mind as if you were reading a trick version of this novel. But I guess that's also charming in itself - nothing comes hard in this one, suffering takes place off-screen.
It's all in all a pleasant read with easy, decent writing (I could have done with less tsk'ing) and okay-ish world building. The latter felt less original than described in some reviews, reminding me of mangas I've read as a teen.
I liked Tsumiko, too - quiet, firm and unassuming. She just let herself get carried around in the literal sense a tad too much. I've had my fair share of swashbuckling heroines lately though, and that shit's exhausting in the long run.
My biggest issue with this is how the overarching conflict (hint: rape and dragons) didn't get resolved, not even close. It just seemed to serve as an unnecessarily warped means to introduce Kyrie. I wonder if the sequels address this - not that I'm dying to check. There were so many loose threads.
Edit: ALSO this deserves a disclaimer for the sheer horror of 3 continuous years of pregnancy
August 29, 2019
Actual Rating: 2.5
I liked the beginning of this book because the idea is interesting & unique and the story reminded me of the anime show Kamisama Kiss (which I throughly enjoyed). However, the main character is bland, the plot is weak/barely there, the romance turned instalovey, and I also spent a lot of time confused about who certain characters were and what was going on. This book had potential but was unfortunately, not executed well.
I liked the beginning of this book because the idea is interesting & unique and the story reminded me of the anime show Kamisama Kiss (which I throughly enjoyed). However, the main character is bland, the plot is weak/barely there, the romance turned instalovey, and I also spent a lot of time confused about who certain characters were and what was going on. This book had potential but was unfortunately, not executed well.
July 18, 2019
10 stars - gorgeous fantasy, wonderful writing. The H has been badly used by humans, and he hates his new 'owner' but he comes to see how different she is from his other owners. She is wonderful, a very spiritual person, and she has special gifts needed by his people. While he is old and bitter, she's young and perceptive and she sees how the H has been hurt by her family. She is determined to free him at any cost, he thought he wanted this too, until he realises the h will suffer for his freedom. This is a rich and complex story, wonderful characters, and I loved it.
March 13, 2022
Notes:
Yay for libraries!
This was a feel good, don't ask too many questions, UF with Asian flair. A light romance with interesting characters and a promising story setting.
Yay for libraries!
This was a feel good, don't ask too many questions, UF with Asian flair. A light romance with interesting characters and a promising story setting.
February 24, 2018
As a fan of Forthright's previous work, I was excited when she announced this original project and was not disappointed by my purchase! Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox was just what I wanted in a character-driven fantastical romance within a setting that has just enough tidbits of worldbuilding to inform and entice without being overwhelming. Dark and serious crimes were also touched on by the plot, but without grossly fetishistic detail. While there are small religious elements, they unobtrusive to the overall story and are an organic part of the protagonist Tsumiko with her own personal coping mechanisms- I was pleasantly surprised by the inclusion and depiction, but other readers should be aware in case. There's also fleshed-out cast who extend beyond just the couple in question and their romance, showing both family and friendships and even different flavors of conflict from the antagonists. This work work more under the Shifters than Werewolf category, the inhuman/human relationships shown are complex and often endearingly platonic in a way that feels more welcoming than exclusive.
Now for some character spoiler specifics,
I look forward to future works in the Amaranthine Saga and from this author.
Now for some character spoiler specifics,
I look forward to future works in the Amaranthine Saga and from this author.
August 19, 2021
Yes I read this because Ilona Andrews told me to, and I can see why, it has a very different premise and is very different from anything else I’ve read lately. It does remind me a lot of a manga/anime, with the descriptions of the characters, settings and premise, and also how the characters behave. That said I did not really enjoy the book very much. The writing is cryptic to the point of being ambiguous and leaves too much up to the reader to guess and fill in the blanks. I know it’s the first book but a lot of the time I felt a like I was guessing at the characters feelings, thoughts and motivations (without eventual confirmation) and there are too many unanswered questions. While the plot does draw you in and I did feel strongly for the characters, I find I didn’t like them very much, even by the end of the story - apart from the inherent allure of a dude who is also a super powerful, alpha-territorial, silver-haired fox-person. The relationship, while unique, could have been developed more fully instead of relying heavily on the circumstancial intimacy of the tending and the enslavement bond. And I could really have done with moments of levity and humour. All in all I’m not sure what it was exactly but at the end of the book I felt a strange sense of dissatisfaction that I can’t really put my finger on.
November 29, 2020
1.5 stars
Yikes...
OK.
First thing first: I have watched a lot of anime. Seriously. A. LOT. Months of my life have been spent on anime. I'm a real anime nerd.
So believe me when I say: This book is one big, fat anime trope 100% straight through.
Whiiiiich I, at first, thought was going to be fine. Like a guilty pleasure of sorts. I don't mind those from time to time. So I kept rolling my eyes and smiling at familiar clichés.
Then something other than a forced insta-hate-that-becomes-romance plot tried to make an appearance and it was just ... meh. I did not find it engaging and so it totally lost me.
The only thing that kept me from not finishing the book was the narrator. I liked his voice and he deserves some kind of reward for reading the entire story with a straight face. I would have cracked up and rofled all over more than once.
All in all a book for young teens.
Me? I'm too old for this and too picky. I'm won't be coming back to this series.
Yikes...
OK.
First thing first: I have watched a lot of anime. Seriously. A. LOT. Months of my life have been spent on anime. I'm a real anime nerd.
So believe me when I say: This book is one big, fat anime trope 100% straight through.
Whiiiiich I, at first, thought was going to be fine. Like a guilty pleasure of sorts. I don't mind those from time to time. So I kept rolling my eyes and smiling at familiar clichés.
Then something other than a forced insta-hate-that-becomes-romance plot tried to make an appearance and it was just ... meh. I did not find it engaging and so it totally lost me.
The only thing that kept me from not finishing the book was the narrator. I liked his voice and he deserves some kind of reward for reading the entire story with a straight face. I would have cracked up and rofled all over more than once.
All in all a book for young teens.
Me? I'm too old for this and too picky. I'm won't be coming back to this series.
dnf
January 14, 2019Anul acesta mi-am propus să nu mă oblig să termin o lectură care nu îmi place, iar acest volum s-a încadrat foarte bine în acastă categorie. Povestea unei tinere care se trezește, din senin, bogată, deosebită și cu un servitor extra-sexy-frumos-demon-puternic, de care o leagă un jurământ de acum o mie de ani, dar totul ia o altă întorsătură, cu el care o urăște și ea care e mielușică... ei bine, poate e vârsta, poate e stilul, poate e faptul că am citit nșpe manga cu acest subiect și exact aceleași elemente fac din acest volum o lectură pe care nu vreau să o continui; nu simt că mi-ar aduce ceva nou.
May 12, 2019
I am earnestly struggling between 1 and 2 stars. Ultimately, it is closer to 2 stars for me in terms of the world the author has invested in and the writing. But in terms of my satisfaction level, I feel quite frustrated with this book. It is a 1 star in this regard.
Tsumiko's character feels flat in the way that she comes across as too nice, too gentle and too sheltered. I felt ultimately that Argent did not fight hard enough for the freedom he purportedly craved and resented his retainers/masters for. I have read better chemistry. I also didn't really care for the other characters although I thought the animal characteristics and attributes were a nice touch when the Amarathine were in human form or otherwise.
At times, the world building felt jumbled and some relationships just unexplained. I honestly don't know where the author was going with physical and emotional intimacy between reavers/humans/Amarathine, more so with some characters than others. With Tsumiko and Argent it made more sense, but with Tsumiko's little brother and the bird/phoenix Amarathine, what the heck? With that cat leader's nephew and Argent's married good friend at the manor, umm? Okay, so I admit I may be missing something when I read the book, but honestly I reached the halfway point in the book and just wished it would end already.
I can only say that I persevered and finished this book instead of DNFing. Just not my cup of tea, unfortunately.
Tsumiko's character feels flat in the way that she comes across as too nice, too gentle and too sheltered. I felt ultimately that Argent did not fight hard enough for the freedom he purportedly craved and resented his retainers/masters for. I have read better chemistry. I also didn't really care for the other characters although I thought the animal characteristics and attributes were a nice touch when the Amarathine were in human form or otherwise.
At times, the world building felt jumbled and some relationships just unexplained. I honestly don't know where the author was going with physical and emotional intimacy between reavers/humans/Amarathine, more so with some characters than others. With Tsumiko and Argent it made more sense, but with Tsumiko's little brother and the bird/phoenix Amarathine, what the heck? With that cat leader's nephew and Argent's married good friend at the manor, umm? Okay, so I admit I may be missing something when I read the book, but honestly I reached the halfway point in the book and just wished it would end already.
I can only say that I persevered and finished this book instead of DNFing. Just not my cup of tea, unfortunately.
May 25, 2019
“Tsumiko repaid him for his reticence, far more richly than he deserved. For she slipped the bracelet from her wrist. Power flowed around them in ribbons, sliding against him as if she had not five or seven or nine tails, but a hundred. Tsumiko might withhold kisses, but in all else, she was generosity itself.�
That was such a delightful read!
Simple, yet completely captivating and full of magic!
4/5★★★★
That was such a delightful read!
Simple, yet completely captivating and full of magic!
4/5★★★★
Read
July 28, 2024Dnf 25%
June 4, 2019
To be completely honest, I'm not really sure how I feel about this book. I wanted to like it, but just so much of it seemed to fall flat to me. For one, I wasn't a huge fan of any of the characters. Tsumiko just seems very naive and childish, and for someone with no knowledge of what's going on, she doesn't seem to care very much. She's kind of just calm throughout everything, but she doesn't ask questions, doesn't do too much of her own research, and just accepts what she is and who she is without protest, even when situations make her uncomfortable.
Which brings me to tending... To be fair, there was an explanation that often times it clashed with people's modesty, but it was just full pages of characters who don't really like or care about each other, cuddling and licking and... it was just kind of uncomfortable to read about even though I think it was supposed to be more cutesy and romantic.
Additionally, a lot of the plot points in this book get swept to the side. The amaranthine are trying to develop a relationship with humans, and it's brought up as though they're entirely new and were just really amazing at hiding. Then it's said earlier that they did have contact in the past, but there was a lot of fighting and terrible events, and yet none of the humans remember this? There's an entire subplot about a dragon kidnapping and raping women and it just disappears never to be mentioned again. It was a plot device for Tsumiko to wind up with a baby and realize her true call of taking care of abandoned children and then it just disappears into the sunset without being solved or developed or brought up again.
From what I've been seeing on other reviews, it looks like this story was originally an InuYasha fanfiction and I can totally see that. There wasn't a whole lot of development or character building because these were originally pre-established characters. Overall, I wanted a lot more from this book and it just didn't deliver. By the end of it, I still felt like I had a ton of questions that weren't answered or story points that weren't resolved. Maybe I'll read the next one and see if any of this gets resolved later, but for now, I've been bouncing between 2 and 3 stars.
Which brings me to tending... To be fair, there was an explanation that often times it clashed with people's modesty, but it was just full pages of characters who don't really like or care about each other, cuddling and licking and... it was just kind of uncomfortable to read about even though I think it was supposed to be more cutesy and romantic.
Additionally, a lot of the plot points in this book get swept to the side. The amaranthine are trying to develop a relationship with humans, and it's brought up as though they're entirely new and were just really amazing at hiding. Then it's said earlier that they did have contact in the past, but there was a lot of fighting and terrible events, and yet none of the humans remember this? There's an entire subplot about a dragon kidnapping and raping women and it just disappears never to be mentioned again. It was a plot device for Tsumiko to wind up with a baby and realize her true call of taking care of abandoned children and then it just disappears into the sunset without being solved or developed or brought up again.
From what I've been seeing on other reviews, it looks like this story was originally an InuYasha fanfiction and I can totally see that. There wasn't a whole lot of development or character building because these were originally pre-established characters. Overall, I wanted a lot more from this book and it just didn't deliver. By the end of it, I still felt like I had a ton of questions that weren't answered or story points that weren't resolved. Maybe I'll read the next one and see if any of this gets resolved later, but for now, I've been bouncing between 2 and 3 stars.
April 3, 2021
I adore the wealthy girl and butler trope! Mainly Corrin x Jakob from Fire Emblem Fates which is the superior female Corrin ship in all of Fates. I said what I said. Not changing my mind. However, I am getting sidetracked because although this book does have an heiress x butler trope, I was thoroughly disappointed. Going into it I thought it was going to be more fun and cute, but the story definitely diverged into darker storylines that didn't make much sense to me.
I will try reading Forthright's fanfiction because I enjoyed this book's beginning ideas and side characters, but the romance felt disjointed and stiff. Tsumiko and Argent had surface level characterization and felt more like blank slates to me. I would have loved more explanation on the Amaranthine and the different clans, but that may be explored in the future books.
Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox mainly reminded me of Inyusha and Kamisama Kiss which are two animes I really love. The ending was the part of the book that really solidified my rating. I don't like how a certain trope was used and how the side character was sort of tossed aside and given no real depth. That specific storyline's purpose was meant to only benefit the main characters, and I wasn't a fan.
I will try reading Forthright's fanfiction because I enjoyed this book's beginning ideas and side characters, but the romance felt disjointed and stiff. Tsumiko and Argent had surface level characterization and felt more like blank slates to me. I would have loved more explanation on the Amaranthine and the different clans, but that may be explored in the future books.
Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox mainly reminded me of Inyusha and Kamisama Kiss which are two animes I really love. The ending was the part of the book that really solidified my rating. I don't like how a certain trope was used and how the side character was sort of tossed aside and given no real depth. That specific storyline's purpose was meant to only benefit the main characters, and I wasn't a fan.
January 31, 2022
This book is the first one I've ever read that truly captured that anime feeling. The story has all the hallmarks of this anime genre: The seamless blending of technology and magic. The emphasis on physical touch that occasionally veers on truly weird and a little uncomfortable. World-building that mostly happens in the background of the character relationships. The gradual addition of colourful side characters. A found family.
(And like most anime, it sometimes steers a little too close to irking your feminist sensibilities)
But it's not only the story that's clearly anime-inspired, it's also the way scenes and characters are written, and even the gestures that are described and emphasised. If you've watched enough anime, you can actually see this book play out in your mind.
And it's a good anime.
It's the kind of anime that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. The kind that you binge-watch not necessarily because of the story, though that's good too, but mostly because you just want to spend more time with the characters. More importantly, you want to see them spend more time with each other.
(And like most anime, it sometimes steers a little too close to irking your feminist sensibilities)
But it's not only the story that's clearly anime-inspired, it's also the way scenes and characters are written, and even the gestures that are described and emphasised. If you've watched enough anime, you can actually see this book play out in your mind.
And it's a good anime.
It's the kind of anime that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. The kind that you binge-watch not necessarily because of the story, though that's good too, but mostly because you just want to spend more time with the characters. More importantly, you want to see them spend more time with each other.
July 24, 2018
4.5 stars - This book was so creative and addicting. I started to read it last night after receiving an email/blog post from one of my favorite authors recommending it. I figured with their original stories being so good that any story they recommended must be pretty unique. I was definitely not disappointed! I took off half a star because there were some parts of the story that didn’t flow well and I had to reread them a couple of times to figure out what was going on, but overall, the writing was really good. The story itself was so much different than most things I’ve read that it more than made up for any other shortcomings. I’m eager to see what else this author comes up with!
dnf
July 31, 2018The writing was just not for me.
And seriously, it’s not you, it’s me.
Honestly this book would have been helped with more edits, as there were a lot of inconsistencies that really hindered my reading. The shifters are pretty cool, but none of the characters stood out to me or caught my attention, and this felt more like a fan fiction of - I’m guessing - an anime than anything. Tsumiko was just yawn and I didn’t get how/when Argent started liking her in this hate to love romance. So sad to say this after seeing this book recommended by Ilona Andrews, lol.
And seriously, it’s not you, it’s me.
Honestly this book would have been helped with more edits, as there were a lot of inconsistencies that really hindered my reading. The shifters are pretty cool, but none of the characters stood out to me or caught my attention, and this felt more like a fan fiction of - I’m guessing - an anime than anything. Tsumiko was just yawn and I didn’t get how/when Argent started liking her in this hate to love romance. So sad to say this after seeing this book recommended by Ilona Andrews, lol.
August 3, 2018
Almost DNF. The author has a great imaginative world in mind but the story lacks cohesiveness. It reads like a bunch of scenes hobbled together to form a plot similar to a comic or anime book. A story editor could have provided better direction. The characters needed to be fleshed out a bit more as well. I feel all the 5 star reviews hide what is really immature storytelling and fail at providing a new author proper feedback. 2.5 stars at best
January 28, 2020
This was enchanting! I should definitely have been studying instead of binge-reading a cute slow-burn romance with bits from Japanese folklore.
The synopsis kind of reminded me of the manga Kamisama Kiss and I was really excited about reading this as I loved the manga. The story is very different, however, and I was immensely enjoying it!
"Fear the fascination, not the fear."
This was like a balm for my soul. It tenderly escorts you into this new world of Amaranthine and reavers. The world-building is definitely interesting, the plot, however, leaves a lot of unanswered questions, some parts not properly clarified. But it didn’t bother me? The characters were probably the strongest point because I really liked every single one of them! Tsumiko was a steady and calm person, ready to help others. I was immensely thankful for her critical streak, still I did wish for her to have more long-lasting characteristic impressions. Argent was my favourite of the lot, a bitter fox whose only wish was to be set free. And I just bathed in this glorious romance! It was really adorable!
"You are my choice."
And the relationship between Argent and Gingko gave me life!
The synopsis kind of reminded me of the manga Kamisama Kiss and I was really excited about reading this as I loved the manga. The story is very different, however, and I was immensely enjoying it!
"Fear the fascination, not the fear."
This was like a balm for my soul. It tenderly escorts you into this new world of Amaranthine and reavers. The world-building is definitely interesting, the plot, however, leaves a lot of unanswered questions, some parts not properly clarified. But it didn’t bother me? The characters were probably the strongest point because I really liked every single one of them! Tsumiko was a steady and calm person, ready to help others. I was immensely thankful for her critical streak, still I did wish for her to have more long-lasting characteristic impressions. Argent was my favourite of the lot, a bitter fox whose only wish was to be set free. And I just bathed in this glorious romance! It was really adorable!
"You are my choice."
And the relationship between Argent and Gingko gave me life!
October 29, 2018
I'm a fan Ilona Andrews and thus I also read their blog and now & then they'd (mostly Ilona) recommend a book that they themselves liked. This was one of the times and the blurb had me snatched up in a second because:
1. It is awesome (absolutely my kind of book)
and
2. It totally reminds me of the manga/anime Kamisama Hajimemashita :D
The world created in Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox is truly interesting with it's Amaranthine race and the plot was also good enough.
And overall I did love the book.
Yet somehow, while I was rather fond of the characters...I felt sort of detached from them. For some unbeknownst reason I just didn't quite feel the connection this time, which is real sad for me.
Thus the 3* for me but it's most likely a 4* read if one did get sucked into the characters ;)
Also, there's no helping me, can't not see Argent as Tomoe XD
1. It is awesome (absolutely my kind of book)
and
2. It totally reminds me of the manga/anime Kamisama Hajimemashita :D
The world created in Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox is truly interesting with it's Amaranthine race and the plot was also good enough.
And overall I did love the book.
Yet somehow, while I was rather fond of the characters...I felt sort of detached from them. For some unbeknownst reason I just didn't quite feel the connection this time, which is real sad for me.
Thus the 3* for me but it's most likely a 4* read if one did get sucked into the characters ;)
Also, there's no helping me, can't not see Argent as Tomoe XD
Displaying 1 - 30 of 454 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.