**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher via NetGalley. There are spoilers ahead if you have not read the first and second books in this series, Shadow of the Fox and Soul of the Sword.**
Title Night of the Dragon (Shadow of the Fox #3)
Author Julie Kagawa
Release Date March 31, 2020
Description
All is lost.
To save everyone she loves from imminent death, kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko gave up the final piece of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. Now she and her ragtag band of companions must make one desperate final effort to stop the Master of Demons from using the scroll to call the Great Kami Dragon and make the wish that will plunge the empire into chaos.
Shadow clan assassin Kage Tatsumi has regained control of his body and agreed to a true deal with the devil—the demon inside him, Hakaimono. They will share his body and work with Yumeko to stop a madman, and to separate Hakaimono from Tatsumi and the cursed sword that trapped the demon for nearly a millennium.
But even with their combined skills and powers, this unlikely team of heroes knows the forces of evil may be impossible to overcome. And there is another player in the battle for the scroll, a player who has been watching, waiting for the right moment to pull strings that no one even realized existed…until now.
Initial Thoughts
Thank you so much to Inkyard Press for offering me the chance to be a part of this blog tour! I absolutely love this series and I was so excited to read the final book early.
Some Things I Liked
- Multiple POVs. I loved the points of view used in this book. We got to hear from so many characters at just the right moments. I always love when authors build suspense by switching narrators.
- THE ROMANCE. Finally, after waiting since 2018, Yumeko and Tatsumi finally admitted they like each other and it was everything! Also, I will always love the peacock and the dog – they’re a super close second for me.
- InuYasha and Naruto vibes. Since this is a book blog, I rarely discuss my other interests (outside of books), but in this case, I will make an exception. I have also seen a ton of TV. All kinds of TV, including anime. I watched both InuYasha and Naruto when I was a teenager (many years ago 😂) and I absolutely loved the nostalgic feelings that this book brought back. I loved the stories in those shows and this book had so many of the same vibes.
- The twists! I was literally on the edge of my seat reading this book. I read it all in one afternoon because I could not stop. I absolutely loved the plot twists and big reveals. The build up was amazing.
Series / Spin-Off Value
Give me a spin-off about Reika! I loved her voice of reason wisdom and her canine sidekick. I felt like she was the only character who didn’t have anything beyond the mission. I’d love to see a story about her (in any form) where she gets to be the main star.
Furthermore, I’d absolutely love to see this crew go on more adventures. Hakaimono is still out there and demons still exists. There’s plenty more this group can do to protect the world!
Final Thoughts
Certain parts of this book totally broke my heart. But, I loved every page. Everything was so purposeful (tear-jerking, but purposeful). I would absolutely love to see more from these characters as well as more set in this world.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommendations for Further Reading
- Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean – this is another Japanese inspired story of romance, oni, and yokai. If you like one, you will defintely like the other.
- Talon, Rogue, Soldier, Legion, and Inferno by Julie Kagawa – I love Julie Kagawa’s writing style (and dragons) so if you do too, check out the 5 book Talon Series.
- Flame in the Mist by Renée Ahdieh – if you liked the Asian inspiration in this series, try this duology by Renée Ahdieh
Books Over Everything 