Children of the Fox Review: A beautifully written disappointment
Kevin Sands's The Blackthorn Key series is one of my favorite series of all time. As such, I've told friends and family for years that it's essential reading, and that Kevin Sands is one of my favorite authors. The series is full of heartfelt friendship, snappy prose, a unique apothecary "magic system," and incredible mystery elements that most novels can't match. Outside of the fourth book—which was still solid!—I'd call every entry in that series masterful.
It took me way too long to get around to reading the Thieves of Shadow series, judging by how much I love The Blackthorn Key... But I've been hyped to check it out ever since it was released! So, did Children of the Fox hook me in as much as his previous work, or did it leave me wanting more? That's what I will be discussing in today's Brighton's Bookshelf review. Thanks so much for joining me, and I hope you enjoy your time on the site!
Let's start with the positives. I was still thoroughly impressed by Sands's snappy yet well-worded prose. I found so many strong words I loved and want to use in my own novels—words that didn't feel like purple prose, but made the sentences feel unique. He's always had a way with words that is equal parts unassuming and brilliant. He keeps things commercial, keeps descriptions lean, and makes educated decisions about when to use more niche words. His writing style has always been one of my favorite parts of his novels, and he continues to do a great job here, while keeping things different enough that it doesn't feel like he's just copying the narration of The Blackthorn Key.
I also thought the main character had a decent voice and motivation, and there were some great character beats involving Shuna, The Eye, and the climax. There were also some fantastic flashback moments later in the book. And, even though they felt oddly placed, they were perhaps my favorite moments of the book. Though, the climax also comes close. The climax is unique, feeling heavy yet not like a blockbuster, and leads to a solid tease for what's to come.
However, the negatives unfortunately prevail. The book is unfortunately rather mediocre, and far weaker than any of The Blackthorn Key books. While some great moments—like the gaff and the flashback—do live up to that series, most do not. The protagonist's wit is interesting, but he's not as likable as Christopher. I'm not saying that one must be funny and quippy to be likable, but I fell in love with Christopher more in one chapter than with the main character of this book in the whole book. Unfortunately, I can't quite say I even remember his name while writing this review. While I did empathize with his plight, his scars and poverty were the main defining traits of his character, and I can't remember much else even a few days later. Also, his thoughts of the Old Man are less interesting than Christopher's of Benedict Blackthorn. They feel like the Walmart to Christopher's Whole Foods, but if the prices were the same.
The side characters suffer the same fate. Tom wasn't exactly the most in-depth character in the original series, but his rational juxtaposition with Christopher's insanity was always hilarious and heartwarming. Sally's spunk and wit made her my favorite character in those books, and characters like Lord Ashcombe and the King add a lot of weight and fun. And all that being said, the characters aren't even that complex or deep in those books; they're just approachable and entertaining. The characters in this novel are surface-level to a fault, and while the prose is interesting, the dialogue is quite the opposite.
The book's magic system is also so soft and underdeveloped that I kept forgetting this is supposed to be fantasy. Regrettably, the worldbuilding never felt convincing. All these elements resulted in a book that was not poorly written, but felt creatively bankrupt.
The Brighton's Bookshelf Verdict
Brighton's Bookshelf Score - 5/10
Letter Score - C
Children of the Fox is supposed to be a fun Ocean's Eleven for middle-grade readers, but if I were young and not a book critic who is a huge fan of The Blackthorn Key series, I wouldn't have finished this one. While the prose is fantastic as ever, the rest of the book does nothing to redefine or expand on The Blackthorn Key, and I don't know if I've ever been more sad to be disappointed by a book. Still, I plan to read the next two books, and hopefully I'll find them pleasantly surprising.
Interested in checking out some of my other fantasy, crime, thriller and middle-grade novel reviews? Check them out below!
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