The Fox Wife set in Manchuria – Yangzse Choo
The Fox Wife – Manchuria
Imagine the scene. It’s 1908 and you are in Manchuria ( North East China). There’s rumours of foxes who are able to shapeshift. They are able to transform into beautiful women and men and lure them into all kinds of danger.
Even if time travel were possible, think this bookish journey is going to be safter from the comfort of my armchair.
Susan Booktrailer x
BookTrail the locations in The Fox Wife
BookTrail the locations in The Fox Wife
Boarding Pass Information
Destination : China
Author guide: Yangzse Choo
Genre: magical realism
Food and drink to accompany: I would say fox meat but that would be wrong
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A novel to transport you to Manchuria 1908
BookTrail the locations in The Fox Wife
This is a novel filled with magical folklore. Imagine the scene – it’s snowing and everywhere in Manchuria is white. A woman has been found dead in the snow. They say she’s been murdered but whispers of folktales and mystery abound. They say that foxes take the shape of humans and lure them into dangerous and deadly situations.
Well that got me interested!!!
This is a slow story where you have to snuggle down on the soft, hot chocolate in one hand, furry fox in the other and just indulge yourself. The setting is wonderful and you feel so surrounded by the snow and the landscape that you can’t take your eyes of it. There is magical wonder in the air and the literary tapestry that forms is one you look at and then need to stand back from to see the overall effect.
Detective Bao was an interesting character. He is called upon to investigate the death of the mystery woman as well as to identify who she is. Turns out that as a young boy, he was fascinated by stories of foxes and the fox shapeshifters so imagine what he feels like when he investigates a murder with them at their heart! Characters like him with hidden depth and backstory really helped shape the narrative if you pardon the pun.
I felt this read as a set piece, a play almost or a very lyrical film. I would love to see this play out on screen as can you imagine the CGI or animation!
Magical in more ways than one.
BookTrail the locations in The Fox Wife
Postcard details: Access The BookTrail’s Map of Locations and travel guide here
More books set in China
BookTrail Boarding Pass: The Fox Wife
Twitter:@yangszechoo
