Into the Foxhole

by Nicoline Evans

Imagine if all the pivotal moments in your life manifested as fantastical stories inside your mind—every defining memory, emotion, and interaction existing in your head as an ever-evolving fairytale. Imagine if the essential parts of your identity fractured into spectacular characters within magical storylands personifying the moments that have shaped your life.

How would your story read?

Inside this book are Jane’s stories—every story that you read takes place within her mind. When her mental health is challenged by an invasive illness, the whimsical harmony inside her head is disrupted. Chaos ensues and the line separating ruin from love becomes blurred. Fantastical creatures representing different parts of her identity—known as the Faces—rally to save her, but how do we save ourselves when we are also the enemy?
Here, you will witness Jane’s struggle for salvation.
Here, you will learn how to love yourself anyway.

Into the Foxhole is an intense poetic fantasy tale for those who enjoy deep and abstract reads. For those in the trenches fighting silent, solitary battles—this one is for you. This is how we save ourselves.

373 pages, Paperback

Published October 3, 2023

About the author

Instagram: @nicolinenovels - www.instagram.com/nicolinenovels
Twitter: @NicolineEvans - www.twitter.com/nicolineevans
Facebook: facebook.com/nicoline.eva
Wordpress: www.cloudhoppingwithnicoline.wordpres...

Reviews

[Robert Brink · Rating 5 out of 5]

The battle of the mind, not something I am fond of, although it is a good read nonetheless. At times I could see glimpses of the struggles from my own past that shaped the person I am, though the story and my experiences differ. This gives a good insist into a person who is struggling with mental health, especially when I remember some of the material about the mind from my college psychology class.
Note: this is a rather dark story.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all Nicoline Evan’s books, but this is definitely a favorite. It’s a bit different than what she normally writes, but as always an amazing story. Her fantasies are nothing like anything else I’ve read and that’s the same for this one. In this tale her writing has definitely grown, she really has matured as a writer. I highly recommend this interesting story into the working of the mind. A very different way to look at how the mind works and is balanced or imbalanced?

[Bonniejean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book completely resonated with me. I absolutely loved the metaphorical world that Evans creates to tell the story of Jane and her mental health journey. The Faces of Jane’s identity know little of her actual experiences, which allows us to examine her struggle from an abstract but, I think, insightful angle. I found myself able to draw parallels and reflect on my own experience through the lens of this world.

[Olivia Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely amazing. I love everything that she writes, but this one was by far my favorite. This is 100% relatable to anyone who struggles with their mental health, but would still be incredible for those who don't.

[WildKate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book, the concept is intriguing. I struggled to stay engaged throughout with so many characters and overlapping stories. I couldn't see how it fit the outer experiences of human. I enjoyed the final message.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s fantasy meets Carl Jung in the absolute best way.

[Casey Hendrix · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this one was really interesting and uniquely written 🩷 it hit home for me and I really enjoyed it

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fantastical journey through the mind of Jane battling mental illness. Several characters take the reader on this journey through Jane’s mind. It begins with the deterioration of Jane’s mental health and continues with its progression. This book was dark but in the best way possible. I loved the analogies about breaking before rebuilding. It reminded me of the Japanese practice of Kintsugi - repairing broken objects with gold - “Golden scars to remind you how far you’ve come.” If you enjoy anything related to fantasy, psychology, mental health, self-help, or short stories, this book is for you.

“Will that monster always live inside me?”
“I believe so… Love yourself anyway.”