Kit and the Nine-Tailed Fox

The Mythics #3

by Lauren Magaziner, Mirelle Ortega (Illustrator)

From Case Closed author Lauren Magaziner and award-winning artist Mirelle Ortega comes the third book in the highly illustrated middle grade fantasy series full of action, adventure, friendship, and mythical creatures.

It’s been eight weeks since Pairing Day when the Mythics—Kit, Marina, Hailey, Ember, and Pippa—learned that they are the only ones who can save Terrafamiliar. With Golden Jumpsuit tracking their every move, the Mythics are on edge, and now it’s Kit’s turn to find her Mythie. Kit has a hard time relying on others and she always expects the worst to happen. She’s also never had a team like the Mythics to help her.

Kit’s search for her mythical familiar leads to surprising secrets about the magic and history of Terrafamiliar. The Mythics realize there are bigger and darker forces at play.

With Golden Jumpsuit on their trail again and her followers scattered everywhere, Kit and the Mythics must learn to follow their instincts and lean on each other. Or risk watching Terrafamiliar crumble before their eyes.

176 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 14, 2024

About the author

Lauren Magaziner is the internationally bestselling author of the The Incorruptibles series, the Case Closed series, The Mythics series. She is also the author of stand-alone humorous middle grade books: The Only Thing Worse Than Witches, Pilfer Academy, and Wizardmatch. Lauren is originally from New Hope, Pennsylvania, and she currently resides in Philadelphia, where she writes full-time. You can visit her at laurenmagaziner.com or follow along with her newsletter at laurenmagaziner.substack.com.

Reviews

[Carter Siporin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great book! I love all of Lauren magaziner’s books, and this was no exception!!! It was packed full of adventure, and it’s wonderful for anyone that loves
Magical creatures!!! 10/10!

[Jules (Bookishfoxes) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75☆

I found this book when looking for a different book with nine-tailed in the title, and that's why I started this series. I LOVE foxes so much, so I was very excited. Sadly, this is my least favorite so far. It's still good, but just didn't keep me interested as much as the previous two.

[Megan Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would loooooove for Kit to be more trusting and not so on edge all the time, but for the sake of this story, she really DID need to be suspicious of everyone and everything. I wish we’d gotten a little bit more about her and Vix, but this one served more of the storyline.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! Very excited to read book 4!

[Andrew Hacket · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven't joined the adventure yet, what are you waiting for? The Mythics is a fast-paced adventure, filled with magic and friendship that will have you on the edge of your seat.

There is so much to love about this series, but perhaps my favorite part is the character development that Lauren has carefully crafted. Each of the five girls has a distinct and relatable voice and personality that will make every reader feel seen.

In this latest installment, Lauren has managed to keep the action fresh and unpredictable as our heroines continue their quest for their mythies, knowledge and the elusive (and oh so frustrating) villain, Golden Jumpsuit!

This series truly has something for everyone and it makes an EPIC read aloud in the classroom.

[Helen (they or he) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell in love with the Mythics series last year and have been patiently waiting to get my hands on this volume. It did not disappoint, but honestly? It could be a little better. I think it's good in terms of characterization and plot but Kit is just naturally a bit more pessimistic and it's really hard to portray pessimism in a children's book. I also understand why you don't want a miserable protagonist after book two because Hailey was such an upbeat character. There was a sense of mismatch, but not too much. I really love how the Mythies and Mythics were portrayed in this book and I cannot wait for book four.

[Ava F · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic 3rd book in the series with twists and turns! Kit gets her Mythie (and there might be another who gets theirs) I like how Kits experience was different and her arrow was going back and forth plus needing to solve riddles! There’s also a really awesome library! I can’t wait to find out what happens next, thankfully the next book comes out later this year

[Laura Lavoie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how adventurous this book is! I also love how Kit's power is lightning, it's really fun. Kit is sarcastic and sometimes really funny, which makes her a great character. The friendship between all the characters is really fun, too. I love all the MYTHICS books and can't wait for the next one! (Review from L, age 8)

[Linda Heggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good solid book for elementary students.
I did not read the first two as it was the title that caught my eye. The Kitsune/kumiho is a favourite mythological creature of mine but I am also looking for chapter books that have a strong female presence for some students I work with.
The combo of girl lead characters and animals might just draw one or two of the students into reading the series.

[Zoë]

Fun continuation of the series; I like seeing the way each narrowly defined personality grows, it's a good model for children to engage with emotional maturity. Also foxes are the best!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kit and her four new friends from Pairing Day are on a quest to find Kit’s Mythie—the mythical creature she must bond with to gain shapeshifting abilities and elemental powers. But her Mythie is a trickster, leaving riddles in its wake. As the girls follow its trail, a deeper threat emerges in the form of Golden Jumpsuit, a girl with a mysterious past and a dangerous anti-Mythic agenda. With the help of her friends, can cautious, pessimistic Kit rise to the challenge and protect Terrafamiliar?

As the third book in a series, this installment offers only minimal context for new readers. While it’s possible to follow along without having read the previous entries, the lack of backstory may make early chapters feel slightly disorienting for those new to the series. Fortunately, the cast is diverse and distinct enough to quickly ground the reader, and the plot is fairly straightforward.

The book’s expressive black-and-white illustrations are a nice touch, adding visual appeal and helping avoid default assumptions of character Whiteness. However, the worldbuilding could be stronger; key concepts sometimes feel glossed over in favor of quick pacing.

Overall, Kit and the Nine-Tailed Fox is a fun and accessible fantasy for middle grade readers who enjoy series like Tracey West's Dragon Masters or Maddy Mara's Dragon Girls, but aren’t quite ready for Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson books.

Recommended for purchase for ages 6-10, particularly for libraries that already have copies of the earlier books in the Mythics series. Be forewarned, however: this installment ends on a cliffhanger!

[Diversity Note: Kit has Asian heritage (or at least the fantasy equivalent of it). Her friends have a variety of body types and skin tones: Ember is Black, with natural hair, and an arm that appears to be amputated beneath the elbow; Hailey is White, with pixie-cut ginger hair; Marina reads as potentially Latinx; and Pippa is White, with a stocky/chubby build.]

Thanks to HarperCollins for the copy via the Southeast Ohio Young Adult Media Group.