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The Fox Witch #1
Outfoxed
Death is a way of life outside of the safety of Inner Tulsa, and Jade means to keep flipping Mother Nature off until old age claims her. With one eye always on the sky, the last thing she needs is a pack of bounty hunters out for her living head. With no idea of why anyone would want her, her wits might keep her free, assuming she can resist the charming lures of Sandro, one of the men out to claim her as his own.
Left with the choice of being the evening snack of a tornado or taking shelter with the bounty hunter, she does what she does best: she lives on the edge.
Striking a bargain with the handsome bounty hunter buys her another day of life, but it also dumps her into the heart of a sinister plot, one meant to enslave the residents of the storm-tossed city—and the others brave and foolish enough to call the Alley home.
Left with the choice of being the evening snack of a tornado or taking shelter with the bounty hunter, she does what she does best: she lives on the edge.
Striking a bargain with the handsome bounty hunter buys her another day of life, but it also dumps her into the heart of a sinister plot, one meant to enslave the residents of the storm-tossed city—and the others brave and foolish enough to call the Alley home.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 3, 2020
About the author
R.J. Blain
63 books1,229 followersRJ Blain suffers from a Moleskine journal obsession, a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning.
When she isn't playing pretend, she likes to think she's a cartographer and a sumi-e painter. In reality, she herds cats and a husband, and obeys the commands of Tsu Dhi, the great warrior fish.
In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Should that fail, her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until she is satisfied.
When she isn't playing pretend, she likes to think she's a cartographer and a sumi-e painter. In reality, she herds cats and a husband, and obeys the commands of Tsu Dhi, the great warrior fish.
In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Should that fail, her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until she is satisfied.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
November 3, 2020
Loved This New World!
I didn't know what to think of this world when I was introduced to it. The magic is way different but still familiar. The rules of society are written by the powerful magic families. It sucks to be poor. If you live around Tulsa you have to get used to tornadoes everyday.
I love the character of Jade. She's tough with a soft heart. Plus she's a fox, which caught my attention. You see the world through her eyes as she struggles just to survive each day. Add in bounty hunters and it becomes a fight for her freedom.
The world building is excellent. There's lots of explaining about how it works, but it's done in a tasteful way. I'll be prepared to just jump right in to the rest of the series after this one. All in all a solid novel that I thoroughly enjoyed!
I didn't know what to think of this world when I was introduced to it. The magic is way different but still familiar. The rules of society are written by the powerful magic families. It sucks to be poor. If you live around Tulsa you have to get used to tornadoes everyday.
I love the character of Jade. She's tough with a soft heart. Plus she's a fox, which caught my attention. You see the world through her eyes as she struggles just to survive each day. Add in bounty hunters and it becomes a fight for her freedom.
The world building is excellent. There's lots of explaining about how it works, but it's done in a tasteful way. I'll be prepared to just jump right in to the rest of the series after this one. All in all a solid novel that I thoroughly enjoyed!
November 3, 2020
I was afraid that I won't enjoy this book, it was said to be more heavy than Witch&Wolf series, but it wasn't, not really. It is very fortunate that the Author is absolutely amazing, and although that book is not a funny light read, the darkness is balanced with humor, hope and good people. The main character is a strong woman who is not afraid of hard work, who knows how to fight and is ready to do so, and in this brutal world in which she lives she managed to preserve her heart: she's compassionate and posses strict moral code. But, as all foxes are, she's also curious. Can you feel the mayhem that is coming? I assure you: it's good. Go check for yourself if Jade will be able to charm you! 🦊
January 4, 2022
Our novel is set in the future and an alternate reality. Our heroine lives in Tulsa, Okla. Since I grew up there I can attest to the many tornadoes and how destructive they can be. But in my time they weren't as bad as they are in our heroine's time.
She grows suspicious of dark forces at work and must enlist the aid of one of the bounty hunters after her. She didn't commit a crime to have a price on her head, instead it's because of who and what she is.
An excellent story and a great introduction to a series I am looking forward to continuing by an amazing author.
She grows suspicious of dark forces at work and must enlist the aid of one of the bounty hunters after her. She didn't commit a crime to have a price on her head, instead it's because of who and what she is.
An excellent story and a great introduction to a series I am looking forward to continuing by an amazing author.
November 3, 2020
Excellent reading
I'm not going to give a synopsis as the author blurb can do that far better than I, and I refuse to give spoilers. That said this is another excellent novel by the author. The world building, plotlines, character building and dialogue (both internal and external) are top notch as always. I had this on pre-order and read it in one sitting and loved every minute spent reading it.
Highly, highly recommended.
I'm not going to give a synopsis as the author blurb can do that far better than I, and I refuse to give spoilers. That said this is another excellent novel by the author. The world building, plotlines, character building and dialogue (both internal and external) are top notch as always. I had this on pre-order and read it in one sitting and loved every minute spent reading it.
Highly, highly recommended.
November 3, 2020
Just a wow of a book. received at midnite read it straight thru. didnt bother even thinking about sleep. Just a great urban fantasy in a new world setting for the author. Still has some great humor but this is not a rom com, its far more.
October 30, 2020
A new author and series for me.
I loved the chapter names, they did make me chuckle.
The chapters are pretty long, but are chopped into day or time slots, it’s a little like reading a diary.
Jade is a fox shifter, now most shifters can only partially shift, Jade is a full shifter, her genes are a top prize. But she’s not interested in becoming a wife, Jade is a free spirit and will stay that way, unless the bounty hunters get hold of her!
I liked Jade, she was independent, she was resourceful and she had an attitude I just loved, she had me chuckling at odd moments.
Vagrants are poor people who live in the alley.
Asylum is where the rich and powerful live. It’s very much a dystopian story. It’s very descriptive, really well written. When she’s not being chased by her “ethical” bounty hunter, she’s thinking about him. It’s driving her crazy!
Sandro is the current bounty hunter on her tail, he’s caught up with her, and now they are hiding out from a fierce storm. Really wasn’t too enamoured with him at first, all he saw was cash when he saw Jade, then insulted her by saying she could make money as a stripper!!
But promising her a five minute head start after the storm abated.
When he finally catches up with her, he persuades her to live with him for a while! That part I was confused with, if he’s a bounty hunter, then why not take her straight to where you’ll get paid? Unless he has an ulterior motive?
Jade also uncovers why she’s so valuable, and if she’s sold as a courtesan then she could be made to have children to more than just her husband! That’s why she has so many bounty hunters after her! She’s worth a small fortune. She needs to hide, and stay hidden under they get bored and move on.
But she’s not that lucky, she’s being targeted, and Sandro has to pull strings and throw money at the problem.
But in the end, Jade is entered into the auction (I really did think differently) and what will be her fate? A brood mare, a plaything, or a beloved wife?
I have to admit it’s slow, it’s a little long winded, but there was something that kept me reading. I wanted to find out if she escapes Sandro, I wanted to know if they ever got out from under the rule of the Asylum......
And in the end, I have to admit, it was a pretty good book.
Sandro’s family is absolutely hilarious, I loved his mother, I had a permanent smile on my face as I read the whole families interaction with one another and Jade.
🦋
I loved the chapter names, they did make me chuckle.
The chapters are pretty long, but are chopped into day or time slots, it’s a little like reading a diary.
Jade is a fox shifter, now most shifters can only partially shift, Jade is a full shifter, her genes are a top prize. But she’s not interested in becoming a wife, Jade is a free spirit and will stay that way, unless the bounty hunters get hold of her!
I liked Jade, she was independent, she was resourceful and she had an attitude I just loved, she had me chuckling at odd moments.
Vagrants are poor people who live in the alley.
Asylum is where the rich and powerful live. It’s very much a dystopian story. It’s very descriptive, really well written. When she’s not being chased by her “ethical” bounty hunter, she’s thinking about him. It’s driving her crazy!
Sandro is the current bounty hunter on her tail, he’s caught up with her, and now they are hiding out from a fierce storm. Really wasn’t too enamoured with him at first, all he saw was cash when he saw Jade, then insulted her by saying she could make money as a stripper!!
But promising her a five minute head start after the storm abated.
When he finally catches up with her, he persuades her to live with him for a while! That part I was confused with, if he’s a bounty hunter, then why not take her straight to where you’ll get paid? Unless he has an ulterior motive?
Jade also uncovers why she’s so valuable, and if she’s sold as a courtesan then she could be made to have children to more than just her husband! That’s why she has so many bounty hunters after her! She’s worth a small fortune. She needs to hide, and stay hidden under they get bored and move on.
But she’s not that lucky, she’s being targeted, and Sandro has to pull strings and throw money at the problem.
But in the end, Jade is entered into the auction (I really did think differently) and what will be her fate? A brood mare, a plaything, or a beloved wife?
I have to admit it’s slow, it’s a little long winded, but there was something that kept me reading. I wanted to find out if she escapes Sandro, I wanted to know if they ever got out from under the rule of the Asylum......
And in the end, I have to admit, it was a pretty good book.
Sandro’s family is absolutely hilarious, I loved his mother, I had a permanent smile on my face as I read the whole families interaction with one another and Jade.
🦋
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2020
I know that "feisty fox" is a cliche, but seriously, is there a better description of Jade? Fierce, independent, very talented, compassionate and surprisingly well-connected - Jade is the kind of woman I can see as a matriarch. Fortunately for Sandro, he seems to be a good match for her. Of course the author has to test these two and she has created a quest worthy of these two troublemakers. Just who has it in for Tulsa? Inquiring minds want to know!
November 23, 2020
Convuluted
There is a problem with your world building if the author has to spend half the book explaining it. I was super bored every time they once again explained the courtesan system. Stop explaining it and add to the plot. I got it. Since I was bored with this book, I won't continue the series.
There is a problem with your world building if the author has to spend half the book explaining it. I was super bored every time they once again explained the courtesan system. Stop explaining it and add to the plot. I got it. Since I was bored with this book, I won't continue the series.
November 3, 2020
Oh how I flubbing loved this new start to this series. RJ Blain has always been an instant buy for me. Her books make me laugh, cry, and want to throw my kindle sometimes as i wait for the next book. Her book have always entertained me. Some i Love better than than the others. Some stories ate fucking fantastic read and some are a great read. Outfoxed was a Fantastic fucking read for me. Now i want to cry as i have to wait for book 2. I will definitely be going back to reread this as i wait impatiently for book 2.
This is not a happy go lucky book. It is dark and stormy just like the area it takes place in. Tornado alley Tulsa. But famn its a good read. If you are a fan of the Royal states world this is that world but before null and void. The magic, and storyline are some of my favorites. Do yourself a favor and read this.!!!!!!
This is not a happy go lucky book. It is dark and stormy just like the area it takes place in. Tornado alley Tulsa. But famn its a good read. If you are a fan of the Royal states world this is that world but before null and void. The magic, and storyline are some of my favorites. Do yourself a favor and read this.!!!!!!
November 3, 2020
Outfoxed is the start of a new series by R. J. Blain, and I loved it! She has built a new world, slightly different from her Magical Romantic Comedy (with a body count) and Royal States worlds, and slightly darker than the Mag Rom Coms, but still with a good amount of humor, especially in the later part of the book. I really liked Sandro’s mother, she’s hilarious and reminded me of Juliette in the author’s romantic comedies (writing as Bernadette Franklin). As expected there is lots of action, and plenty of plot twists, unusual situations, and quirky characters. Add in a seriously badass heroine and a hero who might be nicer than he seems, and it’s an enjoyable read. I’m really looking forward to getting the next book in this series!
November 16, 2020
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
A fabulously fun start to a new series! Jade is both funny as well as able to take care of herself. She lives in Tulsa where survival is the game as mother nature sends storm after storm full of tornados to take them out. A half breed with an adorable tails and ears (plus plenty of secrets) she believes she is safe from being made a slave but then she runs across a bounty hunter out to catch her. When she finds out why the intrigue and survival games amp up drastically. It makes for a magically fun adventure as we follow her story. A well written urban fantasy that will keep you hooked as it all plays out. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
A fabulously fun start to a new series! Jade is both funny as well as able to take care of herself. She lives in Tulsa where survival is the game as mother nature sends storm after storm full of tornados to take them out. A half breed with an adorable tails and ears (plus plenty of secrets) she believes she is safe from being made a slave but then she runs across a bounty hunter out to catch her. When she finds out why the intrigue and survival games amp up drastically. It makes for a magically fun adventure as we follow her story. A well written urban fantasy that will keep you hooked as it all plays out. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
November 3, 2020
Great start to a new series
As with her other worlds, RJ Blain has created a brand new world to fall deep into. Jade and Sandro are by turns stubborn, sneaky, and hilarious, and watching them dance around each other as they try to win the war against each other is great fun. The world building is elaborate but well crafted, with a delightful mix of both current and fantasy that lets you find enough familiar ground, yet be amazed at how the magic works. Well set up start to the series and world, I'm looking forward to the continuation of the storyline.
As with her other worlds, RJ Blain has created a brand new world to fall deep into. Jade and Sandro are by turns stubborn, sneaky, and hilarious, and watching them dance around each other as they try to win the war against each other is great fun. The world building is elaborate but well crafted, with a delightful mix of both current and fantasy that lets you find enough familiar ground, yet be amazed at how the magic works. Well set up start to the series and world, I'm looking forward to the continuation of the storyline.
November 4, 2020
R J Blain does it again. Magic, witches, mages, and tornados, what's not to like. I have been looking forward to this new series for months and I am not disappointed. Although this book is not filled with laughs as some of Ms. Blain's are, it is very satisfying and there is some snark. Ms. Blain is the Queen of Snark. This book is ground laying and has some back story. But, her characters are what sucks you in to the story. All of it just made me want more. I am pumped for the next book hopefully coming later next year.
November 5, 2020
She's done it again.
R.J. Blain has begun a new series with a new vision of the United States and blown it out of the ballpark. Jade is a fox hybrid who is skilled in surviving Tornado Alley in Oklahoma. And there are many things that make survival difficult, not the least being the tornadoes. Oh, and she has a bounty on her head and one of the hunters makes her fox ready to turn belly up for scritching. Jade knows better. Let the games begin.
R.J. Blain has begun a new series with a new vision of the United States and blown it out of the ballpark. Jade is a fox hybrid who is skilled in surviving Tornado Alley in Oklahoma. And there are many things that make survival difficult, not the least being the tornadoes. Oh, and she has a bounty on her head and one of the hunters makes her fox ready to turn belly up for scritching. Jade knows better. Let the games begin.
November 4, 2020
With this author you consistently get outstanding characters, intense action, and tightly crafted world building. Outfoxed does not disappoint on any point. It is the start of a new series, The Fox Witch.
I enjoyed it but, like Booked for Murder [Vigilante Magical Librarians], the current story line is resolved but you're panting for the sequel... Well done!
I enjoyed it but, like Booked for Murder [Vigilante Magical Librarians], the current story line is resolved but you're panting for the sequel... Well done!
November 3, 2020
Awesome book
Absolutely love this story. It is not a romantic comedy but it still had me laughing in places. I loved the characters and can’t wait to see what they do in the next book Definitely recommend this story
Absolutely love this story. It is not a romantic comedy but it still had me laughing in places. I loved the characters and can’t wait to see what they do in the next book Definitely recommend this story
May 30, 2021
I've got really mixed feelings about this one. The novel enters with a really strong start, introducing both our MC and our future LI in a very interesting way, but then the plot just kind of... stops. It's almost like the author went "aight, time for worldbuilding and showing how altruistic the MC is" for almost two thirds of the book, and the progression of the plot really suffered for it. I found parts of the plot a little forced, too. A shit ton of bounty hunters failing to locate a girl with fox ears working at a bar? Even after figuring out where she lives? I'm sorry, but I just don't buy it.
The ending isn't as strong as the beginning, but it's way stronger than the middle, leaving me interested in reading what happens next despite being a pretty bored through most parts of the book. The series does show some potential whenever the plot actually decides to pop out of its hiding hole.
The ending isn't as strong as the beginning, but it's way stronger than the middle, leaving me interested in reading what happens next despite being a pretty bored through most parts of the book. The series does show some potential whenever the plot actually decides to pop out of its hiding hole.
January 8, 2021
I've tried a few of this author's series and this one i really like. The world building interests me, the recognizing voodoo is a blanket term for related diaspora religions pleased me, and it's a much cleaner (stylistically) read than the MagRomComs. There's still the repetitive issues that seem pretty standard for Blain (I'm talking about word usage not quality) but much much less than MRC. It has some kinship with the Royal States books but this world works a lot better for me.
August 24, 2022
Great new world and start of a series. This book is not like her Magical Comedies and ia closer to Jesse Alexander.
December 2, 2021
Fun read!
July 28, 2023
Something very strange is going on with the books by this author.
While this is clearly set up very similarly to the Royal States series to the point where it could even be a direct prequel, it sadly belongs in a pile with "Booked for Murder" in terms of quality.
The author is trying to avoid info dumping in the form of dry exposition at all costs and instead shoehorns world-building and exposition into every dialogue and even inner monologue.
If you are subtle about it this can work and I have seen this type of thing used to great effect, especially in epic fantasy. But in this case, it is as subtle as a brick to the face. And that is how it reads as well. It makes reading these passages of which there are many painful instead of interesting.
The second problem with the in-your-face "hidden exposition" is that there are many dialogue sections specifically set up to tell you a certain fact about the world but there are multiple different redundant segments across different dialogues and monologues that reiterate the same exposition details which makes this entire thing a lot more frustrating to read at least for me.
This problem becomes much less present later on in the book where it reads exactly like another entry into the royal states series.
What also annoyed me a lot was how terribly done the borrowing of the Japanese cultural elements was handled. It is full of made-up pseudo-wisdom that is not actually related to the ideas it is trying to borrow from. This is very painful to read.
The sloppy and careless way the author handwaves these cultural concepts around was very frustrating to read. Don't get me wrong, I am not demanding some insane level of historical accuracy or anything and neither am I trying to brag about my superior knowledge of Japanese spirit or samurai culture (which I don't have). But the dojo training shenanigans read like a Naruto fan fiction written by a 14-year-old. She even goes so far as to start talking about the "The Way of the Sword" which this trainer dude teaches to random 12-year-old kids in like a month or some absurd bs like that.
I don't expect insane in-depth research here but if your main character is a Kitsune after traditional Japanese culture that is supposed to be inspired by the path of the sword with traditional samurai teachings and a 100 bazillion times folded steel magic katana then I think it is not too much to ask that you at least skim over a few Wikipedia articles before writing an entire book based on this premise.
And what makes this even stranger, is that the Susan Copperfield (pen name of R.J. Blain) books all did an excellent job at this kind of due diligence research.
Maybe I am totally reaching here but I honestly got the impression that the author tried to write an introduction that appeals to a different audience in the hopes she can spark interest in her particular brand of romance by luring them into it. But this introduction is simply just bad. So only the fans that have the patience to wade through the terrible first half can get to something fun which seems like it would have the opposite effect.
The quality and the lack of logical coherence reminds me a lot of "Booked for Murder" which had a lot of the same issues.
This is one of those books that compels me to annotate all the strange and contradictory sentences which intrude on my enjoyment of the story as not justifiable or illogical within the worldbuilding of the story (and maybe sending this annotated version to the author). And there are so many of these. In some parts of the book, I felt the compulsion to annotate the text with questions pointing out the inconsistencies at least once every other paragraph.
I get the impression that editorial notes like that would add up to at least 20% of the total book length again if not more.
I guess the book dies a death by a thousand cuts.
While this is clearly set up very similarly to the Royal States series to the point where it could even be a direct prequel, it sadly belongs in a pile with "Booked for Murder" in terms of quality.
The author is trying to avoid info dumping in the form of dry exposition at all costs and instead shoehorns world-building and exposition into every dialogue and even inner monologue.
If you are subtle about it this can work and I have seen this type of thing used to great effect, especially in epic fantasy. But in this case, it is as subtle as a brick to the face. And that is how it reads as well. It makes reading these passages of which there are many painful instead of interesting.
The second problem with the in-your-face "hidden exposition" is that there are many dialogue sections specifically set up to tell you a certain fact about the world but there are multiple different redundant segments across different dialogues and monologues that reiterate the same exposition details which makes this entire thing a lot more frustrating to read at least for me.
This problem becomes much less present later on in the book where it reads exactly like another entry into the royal states series.
What also annoyed me a lot was how terribly done the borrowing of the Japanese cultural elements was handled. It is full of made-up pseudo-wisdom that is not actually related to the ideas it is trying to borrow from. This is very painful to read.
The sloppy and careless way the author handwaves these cultural concepts around was very frustrating to read. Don't get me wrong, I am not demanding some insane level of historical accuracy or anything and neither am I trying to brag about my superior knowledge of Japanese spirit or samurai culture (which I don't have). But the dojo training shenanigans read like a Naruto fan fiction written by a 14-year-old. She even goes so far as to start talking about the "The Way of the Sword" which this trainer dude teaches to random 12-year-old kids in like a month or some absurd bs like that.
I don't expect insane in-depth research here but if your main character is a Kitsune after traditional Japanese culture that is supposed to be inspired by the path of the sword with traditional samurai teachings and a 100 bazillion times folded steel magic katana then I think it is not too much to ask that you at least skim over a few Wikipedia articles before writing an entire book based on this premise.
And what makes this even stranger, is that the Susan Copperfield (pen name of R.J. Blain) books all did an excellent job at this kind of due diligence research.
Maybe I am totally reaching here but I honestly got the impression that the author tried to write an introduction that appeals to a different audience in the hopes she can spark interest in her particular brand of romance by luring them into it. But this introduction is simply just bad. So only the fans that have the patience to wade through the terrible first half can get to something fun which seems like it would have the opposite effect.
The quality and the lack of logical coherence reminds me a lot of "Booked for Murder" which had a lot of the same issues.
This is one of those books that compels me to annotate all the strange and contradictory sentences which intrude on my enjoyment of the story as not justifiable or illogical within the worldbuilding of the story (and maybe sending this annotated version to the author). And there are so many of these. In some parts of the book, I felt the compulsion to annotate the text with questions pointing out the inconsistencies at least once every other paragraph.
I get the impression that editorial notes like that would add up to at least 20% of the total book length again if not more.
I guess the book dies a death by a thousand cuts.
March 8, 2021
First, on a side note, I'd like to point out how much worse the formatting for printed versions have become. For someone who almost exclusively reads books on paper, this is a big deal.
The font size makes the text too narrow on the page and uncomfortable to read. If you want bigger font, you are supposed to bake the book itself bigger as well, not smaller. I'm pretty sure it's common sense. When you make font bigger and books smaller, you only waste paper, space, and make the book difficult and uncomfortable to both hold and read, as it becomes heavier and the smaller amount of text that fits on a page forces you to turn pages more frequently.
It's also kind of not-quite-mass-market size, as the book didn't even want to fit into the book cover I use for all other mass-market editions. This formatting choice kind of really baffles me.
Now, and this is unrelated to the above formatting issues, this is probably the first book by this author I have given less than 4 stars. While this book had some enjoyable sections, they were few and far between, surrounded by main character's excessively lengthy (even more that usual) inner monologues with repetitive thoughts.
Firstly, this book is centered about an unpleasant idea of people being treated and purchased/auctioned/passed around as expensive breeding stock. They are also for some reason called 'courtesans', which is a weird choice, considering the word's etymology. It becomes even weirder with the whole 'some of them are actually treated very nicely, and chosen to become family heads' idea is presented.
Which leads me to the second point, which is the fact that you have to read through the main character getting an explanation of how there 'courtesans' work at least 3 times in the first part of the book. And then some more towards the end. 'Repetitiveness' is really this book's second name.
Thirdly, too much of this booked seemed not only boring, but also potentially irrelevant to the rest of the story. Especially the first 30-40%. It could have been interesting if it was made a bit more relevant. But right now, it just feels like we were introduced to a lot of throw-away characters and scenes.
Finally, another thing this book really goes overboard with (besides the whole disgusting topic of people being sex slaves/breeding stock/pets etc.) is treating the main character as an extra special snowflake. Random rich people all want to buy her, or save her, or teach her, or generally take care of her. She is the most expensive prize they've seen. No one really knows her, but suddenly everyone believes that she is just too damn special. It just wasn't presented believably.
Overall, this book just feels chunky and badly constructed. Like the author just threw all the chunks of ideas in there, but didn't care to polish them into a more connected/readable flow. Maybe thing will make more sense after sequels come out. Maybe not.
The font size makes the text too narrow on the page and uncomfortable to read. If you want bigger font, you are supposed to bake the book itself bigger as well, not smaller. I'm pretty sure it's common sense. When you make font bigger and books smaller, you only waste paper, space, and make the book difficult and uncomfortable to both hold and read, as it becomes heavier and the smaller amount of text that fits on a page forces you to turn pages more frequently.
It's also kind of not-quite-mass-market size, as the book didn't even want to fit into the book cover I use for all other mass-market editions. This formatting choice kind of really baffles me.
Now, and this is unrelated to the above formatting issues, this is probably the first book by this author I have given less than 4 stars. While this book had some enjoyable sections, they were few and far between, surrounded by main character's excessively lengthy (even more that usual) inner monologues with repetitive thoughts.
Firstly, this book is centered about an unpleasant idea of people being treated and purchased/auctioned/passed around as expensive breeding stock. They are also for some reason called 'courtesans', which is a weird choice, considering the word's etymology. It becomes even weirder with the whole 'some of them are actually treated very nicely, and chosen to become family heads' idea is presented.
Which leads me to the second point, which is the fact that you have to read through the main character getting an explanation of how there 'courtesans' work at least 3 times in the first part of the book. And then some more towards the end. 'Repetitiveness' is really this book's second name.
Thirdly, too much of this booked seemed not only boring, but also potentially irrelevant to the rest of the story. Especially the first 30-40%. It could have been interesting if it was made a bit more relevant. But right now, it just feels like we were introduced to a lot of throw-away characters and scenes.
Finally, another thing this book really goes overboard with (besides the whole disgusting topic of people being sex slaves/breeding stock/pets etc.) is treating the main character as an extra special snowflake. Random rich people all want to buy her, or save her, or teach her, or generally take care of her. She is the most expensive prize they've seen. No one really knows her, but suddenly everyone believes that she is just too damn special. It just wasn't presented believably.
Overall, this book just feels chunky and badly constructed. Like the author just threw all the chunks of ideas in there, but didn't care to polish them into a more connected/readable flow. Maybe thing will make more sense after sequels come out. Maybe not.
November 3, 2020
First of all, I would like to say that the concept is nothing new, but, the way Blain delivers the story, really got my attention.
This story is set in a world when suddenly magic decided to make an appearance. And suddenly there were mages, witches, shapeshifters, and all kinds of extraordinary people.
Our story follows the day by day of a magnificent Fox. Her name is Jade Tamrin, a fully fledged shapeshifter and witch, and instead of living a life in comfort in exchange for a prearranged marriage (which just happens to happen when her parents practically sell her to the highest bidder) she decides to strike it on her own, and be free to either make it or lose it in the process, but the choice is hers.
But along the way she learns there is a bounty on her head, a very hefty bounty, for her to become an uncontested courtesan bought by a mother for her useless son… or so she thought!!
The bounty Hunter: Sandro Flores Moreti, a quadrant master and mage. A Very very handsome mage, that is doing everything in his power to collect the bounty on Jade… the one thing we don’t know is, if he wants the bounty or Jade herself!!
Jade is a very strong and independent lady, that has had it rough, but what I like about her is that she always sees the positive, she is a very strong person, I really liked the way the author created her.
She does not know what the love of a family feels like, since her parents only saw her as a means to get what they wanted. But in comes the Moreti family and she is in for a whole new experience. The mother, while overbearing, I really like her.
This first book is a set up for the following books. I am definitely looking forward to the next instalments
For more reviews, visit me at my blog: Ingrid's book blog
This story is set in a world when suddenly magic decided to make an appearance. And suddenly there were mages, witches, shapeshifters, and all kinds of extraordinary people.
Our story follows the day by day of a magnificent Fox. Her name is Jade Tamrin, a fully fledged shapeshifter and witch, and instead of living a life in comfort in exchange for a prearranged marriage (which just happens to happen when her parents practically sell her to the highest bidder) she decides to strike it on her own, and be free to either make it or lose it in the process, but the choice is hers.
“I needed to get some action sooner than later. I blamed the damned fox in me, as I’d spent all winter and the majority of spring slapping her perverted little nose so she wouldn’t get us into trouble”
But along the way she learns there is a bounty on her head, a very hefty bounty, for her to become an uncontested courtesan bought by a mother for her useless son… or so she thought!!
The bounty Hunter: Sandro Flores Moreti, a quadrant master and mage. A Very very handsome mage, that is doing everything in his power to collect the bounty on Jade… the one thing we don’t know is, if he wants the bounty or Jade herself!!
“While a bounty hunter, I am a gentleman.”
Jade is a very strong and independent lady, that has had it rough, but what I like about her is that she always sees the positive, she is a very strong person, I really liked the way the author created her.
“If needed, I’d become a dragon, a strong and fierce one ready to breathe
fire”
She does not know what the love of a family feels like, since her parents only saw her as a means to get what they wanted. But in comes the Moreti family and she is in for a whole new experience. The mother, while overbearing, I really like her.
“I’m a mother. It's my job to be protective”
This first book is a set up for the following books. I am definitely looking forward to the next instalments
For more reviews, visit me at my blog: Ingrid's book blog
November 12, 2020
Magic is afoot in 2043 Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jade Tamrin, a fox shifter, and a witch is running from deadly tornadoes that will take her life and determined bounty hunters who will take her freedom. Armed with her vixen-like savviness and cunning, witchy scavenging techniques, and a sword of justice named Peace, she is on a mission to find out who is behind the tornadoes and destruction and who wants her bad enough to pay $100,000 for her bounty.
Jade is resourceful and clever and apparently very trendy for a fox. Most people don't even like vixens, but she's smart and her reputation for evading bounty hunters has caught someone's attention back East. They want to auction her off as an uncontested courtesan to a wealthy family to secure an heir for the family line. So she makes a deal with an ethical bounty hunter named Sandro who saves her life and will do anything to keep her safe.
So the series begins with a strong and independent heroine, a mysterious and protective hero, and a whole lot of twisters and turns that kept this reader reading into the night. If you like dark and magical worlds with lively and intriguing characters, give this book a try.
Thank you to Ms. Blain for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Jade is resourceful and clever and apparently very trendy for a fox. Most people don't even like vixens, but she's smart and her reputation for evading bounty hunters has caught someone's attention back East. They want to auction her off as an uncontested courtesan to a wealthy family to secure an heir for the family line. So she makes a deal with an ethical bounty hunter named Sandro who saves her life and will do anything to keep her safe.
So the series begins with a strong and independent heroine, a mysterious and protective hero, and a whole lot of twisters and turns that kept this reader reading into the night. If you like dark and magical worlds with lively and intriguing characters, give this book a try.
Thank you to Ms. Blain for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
February 15, 2021
A good read set in an interesting world
The author has created an interesting world of magic and a country divided into 4 magical quadrants. The book has a good plot, and mystery to solve, and a developing romance, all with interesting and engaging characters. It’s well-paced and well-written and had me gulping the whole thing down in a day. Unlike some of her other books, she exercises restraint with this one and doesn’t get carried away hashing the same things over and over.
My only caveat on my praise would be that the courtesan system that plays a major role in the story, and even the reason for the system existing in the first place, doesn’t hold up logically to me at all. In fact, it seems less logical the more times she explains and expounds on it. And the author tries, not entirely successfully, to ride a fine and wavering line between making it both scary, but then not-so-bad and even good and somewhat humorous for our heroine. But if you accept it as a plot device and don’t ponder the intricacies of it too much (because, let’s face it, rich people don’t need to go through that much insanity to capture unwilling brides), you can still enjoy the book and the twists and turns and humor and drama it presents.
The author has created an interesting world of magic and a country divided into 4 magical quadrants. The book has a good plot, and mystery to solve, and a developing romance, all with interesting and engaging characters. It’s well-paced and well-written and had me gulping the whole thing down in a day. Unlike some of her other books, she exercises restraint with this one and doesn’t get carried away hashing the same things over and over.
My only caveat on my praise would be that the courtesan system that plays a major role in the story, and even the reason for the system existing in the first place, doesn’t hold up logically to me at all. In fact, it seems less logical the more times she explains and expounds on it. And the author tries, not entirely successfully, to ride a fine and wavering line between making it both scary, but then not-so-bad and even good and somewhat humorous for our heroine. But if you accept it as a plot device and don’t ponder the intricacies of it too much (because, let’s face it, rich people don’t need to go through that much insanity to capture unwilling brides), you can still enjoy the book and the twists and turns and humor and drama it presents.
November 9, 2020
I very seldom dislike one of R.J.Blain's - "Outfoxed" is another A+ success. Like most first books in a new series, there is a lot of world building to read. Jade is my kind heroine. She's strong, compassionate and just a little bit crazy. Tornados are a terrifying thing to live with, a least hurricanes or blizzards give you fair warnings. Oh, the people you'll meet in a dystopian Earth, a tornado besieged Tulsa, Batbayar, the sensi and owner of Rising Sun Martial Arts who thinks that Jade could be a Kitsune - or does he? After all, she only has one tail. One of Batbayar's younger students says that Sensi taught Jade to move like the rain. Let's not forget her boss at the bar, tough as shoe leather Brent McCoy owner and bartender at McCoy's Bar & Grill. He's tough but you better not upset or mistreat his workers because he protects them. Sandro, the ethical bounty hunter and mage. Such an interesting group of people. This is going to be another re-readable series. Sandro, not every man looks so good in a wet white shirt. Just who or what is he?
November 15, 2020
Another Hit
The world this fox lives in is a very dangerous one, set in the United States but not a United States anyone would recognise. Magic abounds in this place and those without magic lead difficult - if not impossible lives, those who do have magic are the elite, rich, protected from the dangers inherent in this world Jade Tamarind is a fox witch a hybrid female with magical abilities, fox ears and a tail, but more importantly she possesses the genetic capacity to pass these traits on to her children. She is a prize, sought by many in a world where women ( and men) can be sold to the highest bidder as Courtesans whose main purpose is to have children continuing and adding to bloodlines. There’s a bounty out on Jade, her desirability as a courtesan means the bounty is a high one, someone is determined to purchase her and Jade has only her wits to rely on to keep her out of the bounty hunters hands. Of course that’s assuming the massive storms battering Tulsa every day don’t result in her death first.
The world this fox lives in is a very dangerous one, set in the United States but not a United States anyone would recognise. Magic abounds in this place and those without magic lead difficult - if not impossible lives, those who do have magic are the elite, rich, protected from the dangers inherent in this world Jade Tamarind is a fox witch a hybrid female with magical abilities, fox ears and a tail, but more importantly she possesses the genetic capacity to pass these traits on to her children. She is a prize, sought by many in a world where women ( and men) can be sold to the highest bidder as Courtesans whose main purpose is to have children continuing and adding to bloodlines. There’s a bounty out on Jade, her desirability as a courtesan means the bounty is a high one, someone is determined to purchase her and Jade has only her wits to rely on to keep her out of the bounty hunters hands. Of course that’s assuming the massive storms battering Tulsa every day don’t result in her death first.
November 8, 2020
Her best book yet
I loved so many things about this book, that if I wrote them all down, you wouldn’t need to read the book (spoilers LOL)
I honestly think this is the authors best book so far. I can’t wait to read more of this series as it comes. I loved the strong female lead and her strong compassionate hero. I loved the post apocalyptic setting that combine fantasy with science fiction. The book is a little darker than others, but it works with this book and brought it depth. It also brought me a few smiles, which was a nice bonus. The other characters added interesting elements of drama. I got so caught up in it, that I read it in one go (best spend time of my Saturday LOL). Anyway, I can warmly recommend this to readers, who like fantasy, strong female leads, action and slow paced romance. It’s also detailed enough that it will make a great audiobook.
I loved so many things about this book, that if I wrote them all down, you wouldn’t need to read the book (spoilers LOL)
I honestly think this is the authors best book so far. I can’t wait to read more of this series as it comes. I loved the strong female lead and her strong compassionate hero. I loved the post apocalyptic setting that combine fantasy with science fiction. The book is a little darker than others, but it works with this book and brought it depth. It also brought me a few smiles, which was a nice bonus. The other characters added interesting elements of drama. I got so caught up in it, that I read it in one go (best spend time of my Saturday LOL). Anyway, I can warmly recommend this to readers, who like fantasy, strong female leads, action and slow paced romance. It’s also detailed enough that it will make a great audiobook.
August 8, 2021
Outfoxed
"The only things anyone in Tulsa needed to remember were that a storm was always brewing on the horizon and that the first day of May was only the beginning of the nightmare." - Jade
Jade just wanted to live her life. Unfortunately, others didn't view her as a person. Someone saw her as a commodity; meat to be bought and sold... Dodging the bounty hunters was bad, but when Jade discovers the truth about the tornadoes, her horror turns into outrage, and a promise... Of retribution...
"Bounty hunters, crazy Mongolian marital artists. Both would challenge me, and fool that I was, I’d bite on the bait and see what life had to offer. I’d choose how I went out, and damn it, I wouldn’t give up just because the odds were against me." - Jade
Oh the twists and turns! Non stop action and surprises galore!
"The only things anyone in Tulsa needed to remember were that a storm was always brewing on the horizon and that the first day of May was only the beginning of the nightmare." - Jade
Jade just wanted to live her life. Unfortunately, others didn't view her as a person. Someone saw her as a commodity; meat to be bought and sold... Dodging the bounty hunters was bad, but when Jade discovers the truth about the tornadoes, her horror turns into outrage, and a promise... Of retribution...
"Bounty hunters, crazy Mongolian marital artists. Both would challenge me, and fool that I was, I’d bite on the bait and see what life had to offer. I’d choose how I went out, and damn it, I wouldn’t give up just because the odds were against me." - Jade
Oh the twists and turns! Non stop action and surprises galore!
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