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American Kitsune #1
A Fox's Love
The story of a boy, a fox, and a lot of fan service…
Kevin Swift has the worst luck with women. It’s not that he’s unattractive or even unpopular. He just can’t talk to them. He blames it on all of those shōnen love comedies that he enjoys watching. Fortunately, or unfortunately―depending on who’s asking―Kevin’s love life is about to start looking up.
After saving a fox, Kevin discovers that he actually rescued a kitsune, a shape-shifter capable of transforming into a beautiful girl who appears to have popped right out of the pages to a shōnen manga. Her name is Lilian, and she’s decided that he’s going to be her mate―whether he likes it or not!
Kevin Swift has the worst luck with women. It’s not that he’s unattractive or even unpopular. He just can’t talk to them. He blames it on all of those shōnen love comedies that he enjoys watching. Fortunately, or unfortunately―depending on who’s asking―Kevin’s love life is about to start looking up.
After saving a fox, Kevin discovers that he actually rescued a kitsune, a shape-shifter capable of transforming into a beautiful girl who appears to have popped right out of the pages to a shōnen manga. Her name is Lilian, and she’s decided that he’s going to be her mate―whether he likes it or not!
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2014
256 people are currently reading
921 people want to read
About the author
Brandon Varnell
138 books371 followersBrandon Varnell is a writer. The end.
... Just kidding.
Brandon Varnell is the author of several book series, all of which involve anime-inspired fanservice. Having been an anime nerd for basically his whole life, his books tend to reflect that. He likes writing stories with loads of T&A, shonen-style battle scenes, and steamy romances that are both light-hearted and erotic. He is also a huge fan of harem anime, so most of his books feature harem romances. If that bothers you, you probably shouldn't read his books.
If you'd like to be constantly updated on anything that he is doing, you can sign up for his mailing list at www.varnell-brandon.com or you can follow him on Twitter (@BrandonBVarnell) or Facebook (@AmericanKitsune).
... Just kidding.
Brandon Varnell is the author of several book series, all of which involve anime-inspired fanservice. Having been an anime nerd for basically his whole life, his books tend to reflect that. He likes writing stories with loads of T&A, shonen-style battle scenes, and steamy romances that are both light-hearted and erotic. He is also a huge fan of harem anime, so most of his books feature harem romances. If that bothers you, you probably shouldn't read his books.
If you'd like to be constantly updated on anything that he is doing, you can sign up for his mailing list at www.varnell-brandon.com or you can follow him on Twitter (@BrandonBVarnell) or Facebook (@AmericanKitsune).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
March 19, 2015
This book is fucking hilarious. And the author owes me a new keyboard, goddamnit. Yeah, I'm talking to you, Brandon. Don't give me that look. No, it doesn't have a warranty. It's just a $10 keyboard. What? No, I don't have a spare one lying around. Shut up, man. Just shut up.
Yeah, this book is like that. The author talks to his characters, and the characters talk back. Hell, he even talks to you, the reader. Because he can, I guess. And because it's fucking hilarious.
This book is the story of anime coming to life. A 15-year-old boy finds a wounded fox on the side of the road. He takes the fox home, and tends to its injuries. Amazingly, the fox starts to heal itself. Kevin watches as the wounds gather together and heal. Then he notices that the fox has two tails.
He figures that maybe the fox is some kind of mutant, or a government test subject. But whatever, man. Yeah, I told 'em that bit. Shut up! I'm getting to it. Fuck. So Kevin leaves the fox in his room, and goes off to school. Stop giggling, man. Yeah, I know what comes next. Big titties. Damn, dude. You're drooling.
So, yeah... Kevin comes home, and finds that his fox has transformed into a Kitsune, which is a fox who can transform into a human. And in this case, it transformed into a beautiful teenage girl, with the biggest tits that Kevin had ever seen. Because, yeah man, here it comes... She was standing there, plain as day, naked.
Kevin promptly faints, as you do. Because his tiny 15-year-old brain cannot handle what he was seeing. Hot. Naked. Girl... Panic. Yeah, I told them about the tits, man. Jesus, calm down. Go jack off, or something. What? No, man. Get your own fucking lube. Damn.
Okay, I get the panic, I really do. I was a timid and shy 15-year-old. If I saw a naked girl in my room, I'd probably panic as well. I might even flee. Or piss my pants. Or just stand there staring. Yeah, I'd probably just stand there and gawk. And drool. But I wouldn't pass out, for fuck's sake. That's just retarded.
Shut up, man. I know it's your story, and it's a good story, but it still has its flaws, okay? So shut the fuck up, so I can finish this thing. Damn. But seriously... This fucking guy faints like 5 goddamn times in this book. Every single time, because of this sexy fox, and her super hotness. And those huge fucking boobs.
I'm pretty sure the author of this book jacked off several times while writing it, because damn. He described those boobs so many times... Yes you did, man. Shut up. I know they're awesome, but you don't have to tell me nine thousand fucking times how awesome those tits are, man. I get it.
Plot things happen, and then the boy and his fox are chased by a hound. Well, it's really a bully from school who can turn into a hound. And apparently, hounds don't like foxes, especially human foxes. So a battle ensues, and the fox-girl uses her super anime powers to escape and defeat the hound.
But she leaves him alive, so he can gather up all his hound buddies for the next book. I hate it with authors do this. I mean, I get it. You want me to read the next book in the series. But still... Shut up, man. Let me have my beef. No, I don't want a goddamn hamburger. Oh, you're going to town? Good. Get me some fries.
Glad I finally got rid of that fucker. Now, where was I? Oh yes, my beef. This kid, Kevin. I don't get this kid. He's got this naked girl throwing herself at him, and all he can do is scream and faint and try his damnedest to get rid of her. At no point does he cop a feel.
This story goes on for another 200 goddamn pages, with this naked fox-girl throwing herself at this kid, and the entire time, all he can do is squeal. I mean, they sleep in the same bed and everything. Well, he sleeps on the couch, but she finds him, and they always end up sleeping together. Naked.
And you know this fucker has a boner the entire time. Even when the fox-girl finally puts some clothes on, she's still coming on to poor Kevin constantly. He's got to have a constant boner. He takes cold showers every day, but the fox-girl barges into the shower with him, and nearly rapes him. But he still resists.
What the fuck, Brandon? I said Coke, not Diet Coke, damn. Where was I? Oh, yeah. I was telling them about Kevin and his boner, and why he doesn't bang the living shit out of this hot-ass fox-girl. That's the problem, man. There's no reason for him not to bang her. Yes, I know he's got a crush on that other girl in school. Big fucking deal. He's got this even hotter girl throwing herself at him. What's his fucking problem?
Yes, I know you said he wasn't gay. Are you sure? No, man. I'm telling you this kid has got to be gay. I don't care how timid or shy you are, you don't deny yourself pussy for that long. When it's being thrown at you constantly? Fuck no, man. You're eventually going to give into it.
I still loved this story, though. It reminded me of my teenage years. It showed me what a perfect teenage fantasy would look like. Okay, not so perfect. He should have banged her, man. She was begging for it. Whatever. Go fuck yourself.
Yeah, this book is like that. The author talks to his characters, and the characters talk back. Hell, he even talks to you, the reader. Because he can, I guess. And because it's fucking hilarious.
This book is the story of anime coming to life. A 15-year-old boy finds a wounded fox on the side of the road. He takes the fox home, and tends to its injuries. Amazingly, the fox starts to heal itself. Kevin watches as the wounds gather together and heal. Then he notices that the fox has two tails.
He figures that maybe the fox is some kind of mutant, or a government test subject. But whatever, man. Yeah, I told 'em that bit. Shut up! I'm getting to it. Fuck. So Kevin leaves the fox in his room, and goes off to school. Stop giggling, man. Yeah, I know what comes next. Big titties. Damn, dude. You're drooling.
So, yeah... Kevin comes home, and finds that his fox has transformed into a Kitsune, which is a fox who can transform into a human. And in this case, it transformed into a beautiful teenage girl, with the biggest tits that Kevin had ever seen. Because, yeah man, here it comes... She was standing there, plain as day, naked.
Kevin promptly faints, as you do. Because his tiny 15-year-old brain cannot handle what he was seeing. Hot. Naked. Girl... Panic. Yeah, I told them about the tits, man. Jesus, calm down. Go jack off, or something. What? No, man. Get your own fucking lube. Damn.
Okay, I get the panic, I really do. I was a timid and shy 15-year-old. If I saw a naked girl in my room, I'd probably panic as well. I might even flee. Or piss my pants. Or just stand there staring. Yeah, I'd probably just stand there and gawk. And drool. But I wouldn't pass out, for fuck's sake. That's just retarded.
Shut up, man. I know it's your story, and it's a good story, but it still has its flaws, okay? So shut the fuck up, so I can finish this thing. Damn. But seriously... This fucking guy faints like 5 goddamn times in this book. Every single time, because of this sexy fox, and her super hotness. And those huge fucking boobs.
I'm pretty sure the author of this book jacked off several times while writing it, because damn. He described those boobs so many times... Yes you did, man. Shut up. I know they're awesome, but you don't have to tell me nine thousand fucking times how awesome those tits are, man. I get it.
Plot things happen, and then the boy and his fox are chased by a hound. Well, it's really a bully from school who can turn into a hound. And apparently, hounds don't like foxes, especially human foxes. So a battle ensues, and the fox-girl uses her super anime powers to escape and defeat the hound.
But she leaves him alive, so he can gather up all his hound buddies for the next book. I hate it with authors do this. I mean, I get it. You want me to read the next book in the series. But still... Shut up, man. Let me have my beef. No, I don't want a goddamn hamburger. Oh, you're going to town? Good. Get me some fries.
Glad I finally got rid of that fucker. Now, where was I? Oh yes, my beef. This kid, Kevin. I don't get this kid. He's got this naked girl throwing herself at him, and all he can do is scream and faint and try his damnedest to get rid of her. At no point does he cop a feel.
This story goes on for another 200 goddamn pages, with this naked fox-girl throwing herself at this kid, and the entire time, all he can do is squeal. I mean, they sleep in the same bed and everything. Well, he sleeps on the couch, but she finds him, and they always end up sleeping together. Naked.
And you know this fucker has a boner the entire time. Even when the fox-girl finally puts some clothes on, she's still coming on to poor Kevin constantly. He's got to have a constant boner. He takes cold showers every day, but the fox-girl barges into the shower with him, and nearly rapes him. But he still resists.
What the fuck, Brandon? I said Coke, not Diet Coke, damn. Where was I? Oh, yeah. I was telling them about Kevin and his boner, and why he doesn't bang the living shit out of this hot-ass fox-girl. That's the problem, man. There's no reason for him not to bang her. Yes, I know he's got a crush on that other girl in school. Big fucking deal. He's got this even hotter girl throwing herself at him. What's his fucking problem?
Yes, I know you said he wasn't gay. Are you sure? No, man. I'm telling you this kid has got to be gay. I don't care how timid or shy you are, you don't deny yourself pussy for that long. When it's being thrown at you constantly? Fuck no, man. You're eventually going to give into it.
I still loved this story, though. It reminded me of my teenage years. It showed me what a perfect teenage fantasy would look like. Okay, not so perfect. He should have banged her, man. She was begging for it. Whatever. Go fuck yourself.
January 11, 2015
Manga, Amine, do I know what they are? YEP. Did it matter to me when reading Brandon Varnell’s A Fox’s Love? NOPE. Before you gasp in dismay, or disbelief, once I started this quirky, sweet and often hysterical novel, I was a goner! No, I didn’t get lost in the story, Brandon Varnell cleverly placed reality checks along the way, kind of like speed bumps without the jarring or maybe like one-liners a comedian would toss out, a split second later you get the laugh value and love it! Tongue-in-cheek comments, aside, Brandon Varnell has a light-hearted fun read, definitely written from a male perspective!
A teen with a love for animals rescues an injured fox, sneaks it into his apartment and attempts to nurse it back to health. What happens next may justify the saying,”No good deed goes unpunished,” but I can’t say the punishment was completely unpleasant for Kevin, school geek, virgin and far too shy to even speak to girls. That adorable little fox not only healed amazingly quickly, but turned into a stunningly beautiful, well-endowed female, stark naked of course. Better than any fantasy, completely uninhibited and standing right in his apartment, tail wagging. So, like any normal red-blooded teen male, Kevin naturally succumbs to staring and assessing and sounding like a blathering fool, but do note, he managed to keep staring.
Lilian is a Kitsune, and has claimed our Kevin as her mate, with all that en’tails’. He is in way over his head, as Lilian is a force to be reckoned with, but wait, there’s more! Could there be more like her? Could Kevin be in danger? Come on, how much can a high school sophomore take?
Brandon Varnell has set the bar high for this new series; can he keep the laughs and quirkiness up? Can he create even more characters that make you laugh, make you want to visit their world just for the fun of it? Does Mr. Varnell have a literary work of art on his hands? Um, well, I guess that depends on how much one wants to enjoy a few laughs, look at high school from the eyes of a teen (trust me, this was a very REAL look) and if one wants to be in a good mood when they finish! Greatness is in the mind of the reader! I do know I will be recommending this to friends!
I received this copy from Brandon Varnell and as soon as I stop chuckling will thank him.
Series: American Kitsune - Book 1
Publication Date: February 28, 2014
Publisher: Brandon Varnell
Genre: Humorous Fantasy
Print Length: 278 pages
Available from: Amazon
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
A teen with a love for animals rescues an injured fox, sneaks it into his apartment and attempts to nurse it back to health. What happens next may justify the saying,”No good deed goes unpunished,” but I can’t say the punishment was completely unpleasant for Kevin, school geek, virgin and far too shy to even speak to girls. That adorable little fox not only healed amazingly quickly, but turned into a stunningly beautiful, well-endowed female, stark naked of course. Better than any fantasy, completely uninhibited and standing right in his apartment, tail wagging. So, like any normal red-blooded teen male, Kevin naturally succumbs to staring and assessing and sounding like a blathering fool, but do note, he managed to keep staring.
Lilian is a Kitsune, and has claimed our Kevin as her mate, with all that en’tails’. He is in way over his head, as Lilian is a force to be reckoned with, but wait, there’s more! Could there be more like her? Could Kevin be in danger? Come on, how much can a high school sophomore take?
Brandon Varnell has set the bar high for this new series; can he keep the laughs and quirkiness up? Can he create even more characters that make you laugh, make you want to visit their world just for the fun of it? Does Mr. Varnell have a literary work of art on his hands? Um, well, I guess that depends on how much one wants to enjoy a few laughs, look at high school from the eyes of a teen (trust me, this was a very REAL look) and if one wants to be in a good mood when they finish! Greatness is in the mind of the reader! I do know I will be recommending this to friends!
I received this copy from Brandon Varnell and as soon as I stop chuckling will thank him.
Series: American Kitsune - Book 1
Publication Date: February 28, 2014
Publisher: Brandon Varnell
Genre: Humorous Fantasy
Print Length: 278 pages
Available from: Amazon
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
September 27, 2017
This book was sweet and adorable. I wasn't sure what to expect going into this novel. Some of the reviews were lukewarm, some even ugly. I decided to reserve judgment until I'd read it.
This book turned out to be intensely heartwarming. Every character is a sweetheart, and their personalities shine through in every page. I can't wait to get going on the rest of the series and watch them develop.
This book definitely has some adult content. There are various ways to phrase that, but just be aware that sensuality occasionally plays a big role. The book didn't feel like it crossed lines into full on erotica, but it's present, so just be aware.
The writing style and narrative voice is solid. This author has talent and is only going to improve with time. I can't wait to get into his other works.
Good, good stuff. And a brand new author. I got the kindle edition, but I'll be grabbing a paperback copy for my shelf.
This book turned out to be intensely heartwarming. Every character is a sweetheart, and their personalities shine through in every page. I can't wait to get going on the rest of the series and watch them develop.
This book definitely has some adult content. There are various ways to phrase that, but just be aware that sensuality occasionally plays a big role. The book didn't feel like it crossed lines into full on erotica, but it's present, so just be aware.
The writing style and narrative voice is solid. This author has talent and is only going to improve with time. I can't wait to get into his other works.
Good, good stuff. And a brand new author. I got the kindle edition, but I'll be grabbing a paperback copy for my shelf.
July 23, 2016
Free copy courtesy of Brandon Varnell, which in no way influences this review
DNF at 65%
So let me start off with the good.
The premise is interesting. The idea that Kitsune and various other mythological critters are running around among us and we just haven't noticed is, though fairly common these days, still a good one. The idea that the kitsune Kevin (the main character) saves falls in love with him (again, fairly tried and true). The problem is that the actual implementation.
The biggest problem is that this book kind of triggers some of my biggest pet peeves.
Biggest pet peeve: Female stalking, groping, sexual assault, etc. is not cute, funny, or sexy.
Second biggest pet peeve: I hate the trope of "all women except the heroine are ass holes" in YA. The version in here is even worse. Pretty much all characters except Kevin are total ass holes. I get that we're supposed to see Kevin as a great person, but we don't need to make everyone else trash to show it. Maybe, like the female equivalent, it's to justify the fact that the love interest (who is far too good for the MC) is in love with a bland character? Not that Kevin's all that bland, but...
Third pet peeve: My disbelief can only be suspended so far. There are a lot of factual errors that took me out of the story. Lillian showing up to school in a shirt that showed off her cleavage and shoulders, for example. There have been plenty of news reports lately of girls being essentially barred from schools because of dress code rules and teachers targeting female students because *gasp* their collarbones were showing. There's no way that Lillian would get away with her boobies hanging out.
People without the same pet peeves as me will probably get more mileage from this story than I did.
Anyway, the writing was okay. Not spectacular, not terrible. It was a fairly easy read. The artwork, while not the best, is certainly better than a lot of stuff I've seen.
Basically, all I can say is that it wasn't my cup of tea, but others might like it. If you like ecchi rom coms, you might like it.
I've heard that later books in the series are better, but as I couldn't get through the first book, I think I'll pass.
DNF at 65%
So let me start off with the good.
The premise is interesting. The idea that Kitsune and various other mythological critters are running around among us and we just haven't noticed is, though fairly common these days, still a good one. The idea that the kitsune Kevin (the main character) saves falls in love with him (again, fairly tried and true). The problem is that the actual implementation.
The biggest problem is that this book kind of triggers some of my biggest pet peeves.
Biggest pet peeve: Female stalking, groping, sexual assault, etc. is not cute, funny, or sexy.
Second biggest pet peeve: I hate the trope of "all women except the heroine are ass holes" in YA. The version in here is even worse. Pretty much all characters except Kevin are total ass holes. I get that we're supposed to see Kevin as a great person, but we don't need to make everyone else trash to show it. Maybe, like the female equivalent, it's to justify the fact that the love interest (who is far too good for the MC) is in love with a bland character? Not that Kevin's all that bland, but...
Third pet peeve: My disbelief can only be suspended so far. There are a lot of factual errors that took me out of the story. Lillian showing up to school in a shirt that showed off her cleavage and shoulders, for example. There have been plenty of news reports lately of girls being essentially barred from schools because of dress code rules and teachers targeting female students because *gasp* their collarbones were showing. There's no way that Lillian would get away with her boobies hanging out.
People without the same pet peeves as me will probably get more mileage from this story than I did.
Anyway, the writing was okay. Not spectacular, not terrible. It was a fairly easy read. The artwork, while not the best, is certainly better than a lot of stuff I've seen.
Basically, all I can say is that it wasn't my cup of tea, but others might like it. If you like ecchi rom coms, you might like it.
I've heard that later books in the series are better, but as I couldn't get through the first book, I think I'll pass.
June 2, 2015
This book was a gift from Brandon Blake Varnell and Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock for an honest review. I am giving this book 4 fangs. This book is not what I expected at all. I really didn't care for the end. I feel like the book just dropped off. Kevin is my favorite character. I am glad that Kevin helped the Fox when she was hurt. I was definitely not expecting the Fox to become a woman. Lilian the Fox gives Kevin all kinds of troubles along the way. Give this book a try you might like it.
April 8, 2016
Awesome read, completely up my alley and will definitely read the second one (and a third if I'm lucky ;) .)
April 17, 2015
This story is seriously funny.
May 31, 2020
Rating 3.o stars
I bought this book a long time ago so I forgot about the synopsis. I figured I knew what I was going to get by looking at the cover art. I did and I didn't get what I expected. This book was heavily influenced by anime and manga. These are things that I have heard about but never really got into myself. I was into superhero comics when I was younger but that is not exactly the same. While reading this book there were a lot of references to specific anime and manga series that I assume are famous. Those references went over my head. I then went to wikipedia and looked up the definitions to manga, anime and hentai. Anime was pretty straight forward being short for animation. Manga was cartoon like comics or graphic novels in japan. Hentai was the weird one. I found out that Hentai actually means pervert in japanese (per wikipedia). That's a little harsh. It's is basically animation with sexual content, that doesn't seem that perverted to me? Anyway I was a little confused with the story at first.
The story follows Kevin. He is an extremely shy 15 year old living in Arizona. He is not shy with his male friends but he is unable to talk to any girl without making a fool of himself or passing out, especially his crush Lindsey. He comes across a wounded fox and takes it home to take care of it. He has a deep love for all animals. After a few days the fox is back to good health again and Kevin gets the surprise of his life when he comes home and doesn't find the fox but instead a beautiful woman with 2 tails. The fox that he saved was a kitsune and she has decided that Kevin is to be her mate. Things got a little weird from there
I bought this book a long time ago so I forgot about the synopsis. I figured I knew what I was going to get by looking at the cover art. I did and I didn't get what I expected. This book was heavily influenced by anime and manga. These are things that I have heard about but never really got into myself. I was into superhero comics when I was younger but that is not exactly the same. While reading this book there were a lot of references to specific anime and manga series that I assume are famous. Those references went over my head. I then went to wikipedia and looked up the definitions to manga, anime and hentai. Anime was pretty straight forward being short for animation. Manga was cartoon like comics or graphic novels in japan. Hentai was the weird one. I found out that Hentai actually means pervert in japanese (per wikipedia). That's a little harsh. It's is basically animation with sexual content, that doesn't seem that perverted to me? Anyway I was a little confused with the story at first.
The story follows Kevin. He is an extremely shy 15 year old living in Arizona. He is not shy with his male friends but he is unable to talk to any girl without making a fool of himself or passing out, especially his crush Lindsey. He comes across a wounded fox and takes it home to take care of it. He has a deep love for all animals. After a few days the fox is back to good health again and Kevin gets the surprise of his life when he comes home and doesn't find the fox but instead a beautiful woman with 2 tails. The fox that he saved was a kitsune and she has decided that Kevin is to be her mate. Things got a little weird from there
June 10, 2014
A Fox’s Love by Author Brandon Varnell is a novel that parodies Shounen manga, set in America with a situation only seen in anime and stories from Japan.
As a fan of manga and anime, I knew I would enjoy this novel the second I saw it. When I started reading I was hooked immediately. Kevin is an interesting and hilarious character thrown into a situation that is way over his head. Lillian bursts into his life like a hurricane, destroying any and all normalcy he had with her undying love and readiness to get naked with him.
There aren’t enough stories with Kitsune in them, I’ve often said, so when I discovered that the heroine was a Kitsune I couldn’t pass it up. I was ecstatic to see a Kitsune outside of manga, and I was not disappointed by the way they were portrayed in this novel. The only reason I give this book a four star is because I felt the author’s tactic of breaking the fourth wall was a little tacky. Other than that, I seriously enjoyed this novel and I am definitely planning on reading the next installment of the American Kitsune series
As a fan of manga and anime, I knew I would enjoy this novel the second I saw it. When I started reading I was hooked immediately. Kevin is an interesting and hilarious character thrown into a situation that is way over his head. Lillian bursts into his life like a hurricane, destroying any and all normalcy he had with her undying love and readiness to get naked with him.
There aren’t enough stories with Kitsune in them, I’ve often said, so when I discovered that the heroine was a Kitsune I couldn’t pass it up. I was ecstatic to see a Kitsune outside of manga, and I was not disappointed by the way they were portrayed in this novel. The only reason I give this book a four star is because I felt the author’s tactic of breaking the fourth wall was a little tacky. Other than that, I seriously enjoyed this novel and I am definitely planning on reading the next installment of the American Kitsune series
June 28, 2016
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
A Fox's Love follows a nerdy teenage boy that is obsessed with anime, manga, and video games named Kevin. One day on his way home he finds an injured fox and takes her home. Little does he know, this fox is actually a kitsune and she (Lillian) has claimed him as her Beloved and mate. Kevin's world is turned upside down as he tries continuously to stave off the sex-deprived fox shifter.
This is a rather funny book. I giggled through 90 percent of it. Brandon also managed to make a character I positively despise with a burning passion (seriously, she's up there with my hate for Dolores Umbridge).
While they were more than a few grammatical mistakes, this is a book I would recommend to anyone who likes anime and manga. Hilarity ensues and the breaking of the Fourth Wall is entertaining also.
A Fox's Love follows a nerdy teenage boy that is obsessed with anime, manga, and video games named Kevin. One day on his way home he finds an injured fox and takes her home. Little does he know, this fox is actually a kitsune and she (Lillian) has claimed him as her Beloved and mate. Kevin's world is turned upside down as he tries continuously to stave off the sex-deprived fox shifter.
This is a rather funny book. I giggled through 90 percent of it. Brandon also managed to make a character I positively despise with a burning passion (seriously, she's up there with my hate for Dolores Umbridge).
While they were more than a few grammatical mistakes, this is a book I would recommend to anyone who likes anime and manga. Hilarity ensues and the breaking of the Fourth Wall is entertaining also.
August 24, 2016
Hi, Freaking Larious.
I laughed. I cried. It was better than Cats because Kitsune are where it's at. I love Anime, I love parody. What's better than Anime Parody? Anime Harem Parody, that's what! It's a little naughty, a little silly, a lot tropey but Varnell plays those tropes like Weird Al plays his accordion, which is to say he rocks them. I'm still trying to get the coffee stains off my Kindle due to my bad habit of drinking while reading something this funny. I'll be reading the rest of this series after coffee hour from now on, but read it I will.
I laughed. I cried. It was better than Cats because Kitsune are where it's at. I love Anime, I love parody. What's better than Anime Parody? Anime Harem Parody, that's what! It's a little naughty, a little silly, a lot tropey but Varnell plays those tropes like Weird Al plays his accordion, which is to say he rocks them. I'm still trying to get the coffee stains off my Kindle due to my bad habit of drinking while reading something this funny. I'll be reading the rest of this series after coffee hour from now on, but read it I will.
December 23, 2014
Wonderful
The book is wonderful. I had high hopes for it because I've read the author's other works and the book didn't disappoint me at all.
The book is wonderful. I had high hopes for it because I've read the author's other works and the book didn't disappoint me at all.
January 19, 2015
A load of laughs. The only thing I'd change would be tapering of the 4th Wall breaks after the first third or so of the book instead of the seeming increase in them.
February 14, 2018
I'll preface this by saying that I've never read an anime novelization, although I watch a lot of anime and read a lot of manga. That said, I really got the anime vibe from this book and there were a lot of anime tropes in here that were recognizable and fun. Random nose-geysers and fainting at the sight of nakedness being one of them.
The story itself is lighthearted (for the most part) and fun.
Kevin is a decent kid, although I didn't really understand why, throughout the entire book, which took place over the course of a week or two, he didn't contact his mother. She was out of town, but I can't remember what she was doing (working, that much I know) or why he never once called her. Teenagers. *shrug* What can you do? Still, I loved his character, although there were plenty of times I felt he made situations worse by not being completely truthful with Lilian from the beginning. A lot of problems might have been prevented if he'd just talked to her. Again, teenagers. What can you do?
Lilian was funny, albeit clingy. She's super cute, and I love how she doesn't care what other's think. In a way, she's innocent and naive, but in others, she's completely manipulative and mysterious. I like that we got to see both sides of her. I'm interested to see how she develops in future books. I like her right now, but I don't like how much trouble she causes Kevin or how he doesn't really do anything to stop it. Their relationship is... strange...
There were several side characters that didn't get as much screen-time that I hope we see in future books, because I do plan on reading more of these. I'm not to keen on Kevin's best friend. I didn't mind him being pervy, but he was a lot worse once he met Lilian, although I'm starting to wonder if he wasn't just affected by her being a kitsune more than anything else.
There was a lot of fourth-wall breaking, but I didn't see much of it until about halfway through the book. Lilian was the one breaking it, and she doesn't talk right away, but there were several moments, reflecting back upon some of the first scenes she appeared in and spoke, where it would have been great to break it. I didn't notice her breaking the fourth wall until much later than when it *could* have started. The moments where it did happen were great though and I thoroughly enjoyed them.
Overall, I liked this book and can't wait to read the next in the series. I'm interested to see what happens next between these two not-so-crazy-about-each-other (at least on Kevin's end) lovebirds.
The story itself is lighthearted (for the most part) and fun.
Kevin is a decent kid, although I didn't really understand why, throughout the entire book, which took place over the course of a week or two, he didn't contact his mother. She was out of town, but I can't remember what she was doing (working, that much I know) or why he never once called her. Teenagers. *shrug* What can you do? Still, I loved his character, although there were plenty of times I felt he made situations worse by not being completely truthful with Lilian from the beginning. A lot of problems might have been prevented if he'd just talked to her. Again, teenagers. What can you do?
Lilian was funny, albeit clingy. She's super cute, and I love how she doesn't care what other's think. In a way, she's innocent and naive, but in others, she's completely manipulative and mysterious. I like that we got to see both sides of her. I'm interested to see how she develops in future books. I like her right now, but I don't like how much trouble she causes Kevin or how he doesn't really do anything to stop it. Their relationship is... strange...
There were several side characters that didn't get as much screen-time that I hope we see in future books, because I do plan on reading more of these. I'm not to keen on Kevin's best friend. I didn't mind him being pervy, but he was a lot worse once he met Lilian, although I'm starting to wonder if he wasn't just affected by her being a kitsune more than anything else.
There was a lot of fourth-wall breaking, but I didn't see much of it until about halfway through the book. Lilian was the one breaking it, and she doesn't talk right away, but there were several moments, reflecting back upon some of the first scenes she appeared in and spoke, where it would have been great to break it. I didn't notice her breaking the fourth wall until much later than when it *could* have started. The moments where it did happen were great though and I thoroughly enjoyed them.
Overall, I liked this book and can't wait to read the next in the series. I'm interested to see what happens next between these two not-so-crazy-about-each-other (at least on Kevin's end) lovebirds.
May 21, 2017
A hilarious book that successfully pulls off mirroring the feel of an anime/manga.
I enjoyed the bulk of the book, and plan on getting the next in the series if it gets a discount. It was full of great laughs, though most of it will not have its intended effect if you're not knowledgeable about anime tropes. I was impressed with how well the author was able to give the story those elements.
About three-fourths through the book, the plot takes a hard left into a completely different genre, which didn't really fit with the storyline. In addition, one of the characters at this same point starts to break the fourth wall on purpose. It's also very disruptive to the enjoyment of the book.
Overall it wasn't a bad read, but my praise for it dwindled with the final fourth of the book.
I enjoyed the bulk of the book, and plan on getting the next in the series if it gets a discount. It was full of great laughs, though most of it will not have its intended effect if you're not knowledgeable about anime tropes. I was impressed with how well the author was able to give the story those elements.
About three-fourths through the book, the plot takes a hard left into a completely different genre, which didn't really fit with the storyline. In addition, one of the characters at this same point starts to break the fourth wall on purpose. It's also very disruptive to the enjoyment of the book.
Overall it wasn't a bad read, but my praise for it dwindled with the final fourth of the book.
September 5, 2015
A fox's love, the first book within the american kitsune series, is basically boy meets fox, fox turns into girl, girl tries to bone boy and chaos ensues from there.
I thought the story was well for a first book, a story inspired by the to love ru anime and not only takes all of the elements of that but it also takes on elements of anime like to love ru; one word to describe it may be: ecchi, fanservice, borderline erotica. The use of "The rules of anime and manga" as the story put it, is used well; though the realism of such action, is debatable.
I'm gonna be honest the whole ecchi and fanservice elements were not very favorable, along with other elements; but for now, the ecchi and fanservice. The focus on feminine features is extensive in the book, explaining in detail the anatomy of the girls in question (which is where my notion of borderline erotica comes from). So, it's like to love ru and like to love ru, behind all the fanservice and nosebleeds, it does have a story. Another thing I didn't take a liking to were the fourth wall breaks and the anime/manga elements; the fourth wall breaks are self explanatory, but with anime/ manga elements I mean the fainting, the anime type reactions and of course the nose bleeds; the realism of these elements are non existent. Finally, the language; obscenities and the like were a bit to strong for my taste.
As for the characters, let's start with Kevin. He was the stereotypical opinionated hero that lives in the black and white world we all know and love. He came of a bit conceited to me, like he was the cousin of god or something. Lilian was a bit more complex than Kevin; her one mindedness to be with her her "beloved" was at times sweet. Although her feelings towards Kevin were a bit rushed- which personally I think properly illustrated relationships now a days, but I'm not gonna rant -she had how conviction and wasn't gonna lose it, being sweet and innocent making Kevin look like more of, for lack of family friendly words to say, a big stinky meany. She was sweet, when she wanted to be and if you got on her bad side, you'll regret it. Lindsay wasn't that developed in this book; but from what was given, she seems more of the well rounded type. Eric is the very personification of lust itself. Other characters included: Stereotypical mean teacher, gym coach, track coach and bully. In addition to the jealous boys and girls, which were far from believable.
With all that i've said, do I hate the book? That would be a big fat N and O. Sure I have my problems with it; but like to love ru, I enjoy it. Although I didn't know when I first read, I know now, but the author brandon varnell is working on more books and I believe will carry this series on for 20 installments, a icosalogy if you will. So if you look at it as a first attempt, then it's a great one. Fanservice aside, the story at the beginning and end were interesting and seem well thought out. I look forward to seeing future installments.
From a critique standpoint, it may not be the best, but it's a work in progress
From an enjoyment standpoing, it was really good
I thought the story was well for a first book, a story inspired by the to love ru anime and not only takes all of the elements of that but it also takes on elements of anime like to love ru; one word to describe it may be: ecchi, fanservice, borderline erotica. The use of "The rules of anime and manga" as the story put it, is used well; though the realism of such action, is debatable.
I'm gonna be honest the whole ecchi and fanservice elements were not very favorable, along with other elements; but for now, the ecchi and fanservice. The focus on feminine features is extensive in the book, explaining in detail the anatomy of the girls in question (which is where my notion of borderline erotica comes from). So, it's like to love ru and like to love ru, behind all the fanservice and nosebleeds, it does have a story. Another thing I didn't take a liking to were the fourth wall breaks and the anime/manga elements; the fourth wall breaks are self explanatory, but with anime/ manga elements I mean the fainting, the anime type reactions and of course the nose bleeds; the realism of these elements are non existent. Finally, the language; obscenities and the like were a bit to strong for my taste.
As for the characters, let's start with Kevin. He was the stereotypical opinionated hero that lives in the black and white world we all know and love. He came of a bit conceited to me, like he was the cousin of god or something. Lilian was a bit more complex than Kevin; her one mindedness to be with her her "beloved" was at times sweet. Although her feelings towards Kevin were a bit rushed- which personally I think properly illustrated relationships now a days, but I'm not gonna rant -she had how conviction and wasn't gonna lose it, being sweet and innocent making Kevin look like more of, for lack of family friendly words to say, a big stinky meany. She was sweet, when she wanted to be and if you got on her bad side, you'll regret it. Lindsay wasn't that developed in this book; but from what was given, she seems more of the well rounded type. Eric is the very personification of lust itself. Other characters included: Stereotypical mean teacher, gym coach, track coach and bully. In addition to the jealous boys and girls, which were far from believable.
With all that i've said, do I hate the book? That would be a big fat N and O. Sure I have my problems with it; but like to love ru, I enjoy it. Although I didn't know when I first read, I know now, but the author brandon varnell is working on more books and I believe will carry this series on for 20 installments, a icosalogy if you will. So if you look at it as a first attempt, then it's a great one. Fanservice aside, the story at the beginning and end were interesting and seem well thought out. I look forward to seeing future installments.
From a critique standpoint, it may not be the best, but it's a work in progress
From an enjoyment standpoing, it was really good
June 21, 2015
A Fox’s Love: Part I of the American Kitsune Series – I finished this tale several months ago and, overall, I found it to be a fun and humorous read. Brandon Varnell has authored a book (the beginning of his American Kitsune series) in which the plot revolves around Japanese Shonen manga. Fans of this unique literary style will most likely enjoy this read.
Opening the book, the reader will immediately meet Kevin Swift; a boy living with his mom in Phoenix, Arizona – a teenager who feels that he has a rather boring life. His young life consists of early morning newspaper deliveries, high school classes Monday through Friday and many, many hours of free time spent watching love-filled Shonen manga movies.
As luck would have it though, the fragile monotony of Kevin's life is about to be upset – and permanently at that. He had just finished his newspaper route one morning, when he stumbled across the cutest little fox. The only problem – it was seriously injured. Being an animal lover, Kevin bundled up the fox and brought it home with him in an attempt to help the animal recover. Unfortunately, Kevin still needed to get to school; which meant that he left anything the fox might need within its reach, prior to departing for his day. But when he returned home later that afternoon – he could swear that the fox's skin had woven part of itself back together. Too exhausted to dwell on the oddity, Kevin fell asleep on the couch.
Needless to say, I'm certain that you can well imagine Kevin's shock upon waking the next day – only to discover the fox gone and a beautiful (and naked) girl in the house instead. Let me also mention that this ‘girl’ sports a lovely red tail (or two).
I don’t want to provide any additional story information (no one enjoys unasked for spoilers), but for the most part A Fox’s Love was an interesting and unique read. It was indeed fun and humorous (as the author had promised me) although, to be fair, I did struggle with two things.
First and foremost, would have to be the spelling (and overabundance) of the word: “anyways.” While I do understand that “anyways” is ‘technically’ a word (an extremely informal version of “anyway”), within the confines of written text “anyway” is generally the industry preferred standard.
My other challenge was that oftentimes the exact explanation for something was repeatedly used throughout the book. It would have read better (or easier) if something like: “as previously mentioned, …” had been added to preface these repeated statements and explanations. This way, it doesn’t come across to the reader as if the author had forgotten what he had already explained in multiple prior passages and/or chapters.
In summary though, if the reader can overlook some novice writing mistakes from a new author – then I'm certain that he, or she, will enjoy A Fox’s Love; especially if the reader is a fan of anime or manga style adventures.
Opening the book, the reader will immediately meet Kevin Swift; a boy living with his mom in Phoenix, Arizona – a teenager who feels that he has a rather boring life. His young life consists of early morning newspaper deliveries, high school classes Monday through Friday and many, many hours of free time spent watching love-filled Shonen manga movies.
As luck would have it though, the fragile monotony of Kevin's life is about to be upset – and permanently at that. He had just finished his newspaper route one morning, when he stumbled across the cutest little fox. The only problem – it was seriously injured. Being an animal lover, Kevin bundled up the fox and brought it home with him in an attempt to help the animal recover. Unfortunately, Kevin still needed to get to school; which meant that he left anything the fox might need within its reach, prior to departing for his day. But when he returned home later that afternoon – he could swear that the fox's skin had woven part of itself back together. Too exhausted to dwell on the oddity, Kevin fell asleep on the couch.
Needless to say, I'm certain that you can well imagine Kevin's shock upon waking the next day – only to discover the fox gone and a beautiful (and naked) girl in the house instead. Let me also mention that this ‘girl’ sports a lovely red tail (or two).
I don’t want to provide any additional story information (no one enjoys unasked for spoilers), but for the most part A Fox’s Love was an interesting and unique read. It was indeed fun and humorous (as the author had promised me) although, to be fair, I did struggle with two things.
First and foremost, would have to be the spelling (and overabundance) of the word: “anyways.” While I do understand that “anyways” is ‘technically’ a word (an extremely informal version of “anyway”), within the confines of written text “anyway” is generally the industry preferred standard.
My other challenge was that oftentimes the exact explanation for something was repeatedly used throughout the book. It would have read better (or easier) if something like: “as previously mentioned, …” had been added to preface these repeated statements and explanations. This way, it doesn’t come across to the reader as if the author had forgotten what he had already explained in multiple prior passages and/or chapters.
In summary though, if the reader can overlook some novice writing mistakes from a new author – then I'm certain that he, or she, will enjoy A Fox’s Love; especially if the reader is a fan of anime or manga style adventures.
May 29, 2017
Good lord was this a goofy, Fourth Wall breaking mess of a story! (And I mean that in a good way.)
I've got to admit that a lot of my enjoyment came more from getting into imaginary reference/pun wars with the book than it did with the story itself.
The story is stereotypically ecchi in nature, but is intentionally written that way, as a loving parody of the manga style. Both Lillian and The Author take great delight in playing around with the stereotypes of the genre, and the story *still* manages to have a more appealing Main Hero than most ecchi/harem mangas.
The plot is almost secondary to the humor and the references - it acts more like a setting, or a backdrop than the driving force of the story. Kevin, the main character, rescues a fox who is actually a kitsune, and hijinks ensue...oh god. I think I'm still stuck in reference mode!
Speaking of the references...I did my best to keep track of everything I managed to recognize: H.P. Lovecraft, Naruto, Bleach, Dragonball Z, Thor, Spaceballs, Twilight, something I'm pretty sure Bennett the Sage reviewed on Anime Abandon, World of Warcraft, Rosario to Vampire, Tenchi Muyo, Inuyasha, The Fox and the Hound, Disney, Friday the 13th, Wolverine, Resident Evil, Mario, and possibly Disgaea. I'm unsure on that last one - I don't know any other video games that feature half-animal Overlords, though. I know that I referenced Disgaea, in retaliation to a section that included mentions of both vampires and fish.
(You have no idea how long I've been sitting on that Valzy and Fenfen gif, waiting for a chance to use it.)
I appreciated the references in the book, in this context - normally, throwing Naruto into the story to represent how well someone knows anime annoys me. Instead of sticking to namedropping the bigger, more popular anime (like Naruto and Dragonball Z) though, the book gave a shout out to lesser known series. It made the references feel less like an attempt to cash in on the anime/manga craze, and more like a love letter to the art style, and pop culture in general.
It wasn't all fun and games, though. As I read the book, a small voice in the back of my head kept yelling, "Keita! Keita!" and before I knew it, I had the Inukami opening song stuck in my head.
Do you have any idea how long I spent trying to get that song out of my head, book? TWO YEARS. And now you've gone and ruined everything.
The book wasn't perfect, but I had a lot of fun with it anyway. I'd definitely be interested in reading more. The reference gauntlet has been thrown.
I've got to admit that a lot of my enjoyment came more from getting into imaginary reference/pun wars with the book than it did with the story itself.
The story is stereotypically ecchi in nature, but is intentionally written that way, as a loving parody of the manga style. Both Lillian and The Author take great delight in playing around with the stereotypes of the genre, and the story *still* manages to have a more appealing Main Hero than most ecchi/harem mangas.
The plot is almost secondary to the humor and the references - it acts more like a setting, or a backdrop than the driving force of the story. Kevin, the main character, rescues a fox who is actually a kitsune, and hijinks ensue...oh god. I think I'm still stuck in reference mode!
Speaking of the references...I did my best to keep track of everything I managed to recognize: H.P. Lovecraft, Naruto, Bleach, Dragonball Z, Thor, Spaceballs, Twilight, something I'm pretty sure Bennett the Sage reviewed on Anime Abandon, World of Warcraft, Rosario to Vampire, Tenchi Muyo, Inuyasha, The Fox and the Hound, Disney, Friday the 13th, Wolverine, Resident Evil, Mario, and possibly Disgaea. I'm unsure on that last one - I don't know any other video games that feature half-animal Overlords, though. I know that I referenced Disgaea, in retaliation to a section that included mentions of both vampires and fish.
(You have no idea how long I've been sitting on that Valzy and Fenfen gif, waiting for a chance to use it.)
I appreciated the references in the book, in this context - normally, throwing Naruto into the story to represent how well someone knows anime annoys me. Instead of sticking to namedropping the bigger, more popular anime (like Naruto and Dragonball Z) though, the book gave a shout out to lesser known series. It made the references feel less like an attempt to cash in on the anime/manga craze, and more like a love letter to the art style, and pop culture in general.
It wasn't all fun and games, though. As I read the book, a small voice in the back of my head kept yelling, "Keita! Keita!" and before I knew it, I had the Inukami opening song stuck in my head.
Do you have any idea how long I spent trying to get that song out of my head, book? TWO YEARS. And now you've gone and ruined everything.
The book wasn't perfect, but I had a lot of fun with it anyway. I'd definitely be interested in reading more. The reference gauntlet has been thrown.
August 9, 2016
I'm not sure what I expected with this work. The author kindly warned me it was something I was probably not used to reading, and he was right.
Manga and anime tropes galore! Fan service up the wazoo! The body language is over the top and, frankly, a bit much.
But I'll go back to the beginning.
Kevin Swift (one of the fastest runners in school - get it? Yeah) is coming home from his paper route one day when he stops to collect and care for an injured fox. His mother is nowhere to be seen - for some reason or other. She is never seen, although her wardrobe ends up being convenient.
Back to the fox. She has two tails and demonstrates amazing healing abilities. And then, a day later (two?) she transforms to a human form. This includes her tails and her fox ears although she still has human ears. Confused yet? How about her preference for nudity and her 24/7 horniness?
Also - ufufufuf? It took several chapters before the reader is told that is the character's laugh. I had honestly thought it was something earthier. Musta been all the nudity, etc.
Characters go over the top and the deck is stacked, piled high for the fox-woman, Lilian. Even Kevin's crush, Lindsay, is enchanted. Kevin does not object to a spell quite literally being cast over Lindsay, who I felt was a far more sympathetic character. While it was pretty obvious who was going to win (hint: that's not Lindsay on the cover), that much felt disappointing. I really was starting to actively root for Lilian to lose. Not necessarily go down in flames, but the thumb wasn't just on the scale. It was a whole village's worth of thumbs.
Eric, Kevin's best friend, ends up coming across as mean-spirited, vindictive, and harassing. Teachers are overly strict but this isn't their story, either. A bully who turns out to be something other than human was a little too convenient in terms of placement. That was sort of a get out of jail free card for the plot, to give it a means of making Lilian if not a heroine but to at least give Kevin a reason to keep her around. It also, without giving away any spoilers, sets up at least one of the sequels.
I get the author's love for the genre. The fourth wall bursting bits were great fun. I truly loved them! But they were overtaken by an annoyingly clingy character who I felt had way too much screen time.
I want to see more of Lindsay. She's real. She's got some depth, and she's got potential. But she was never going to be the star of the piece.
Manga and anime tropes galore! Fan service up the wazoo! The body language is over the top and, frankly, a bit much.
But I'll go back to the beginning.
Kevin Swift (one of the fastest runners in school - get it? Yeah) is coming home from his paper route one day when he stops to collect and care for an injured fox. His mother is nowhere to be seen - for some reason or other. She is never seen, although her wardrobe ends up being convenient.
Back to the fox. She has two tails and demonstrates amazing healing abilities. And then, a day later (two?) she transforms to a human form. This includes her tails and her fox ears although she still has human ears. Confused yet? How about her preference for nudity and her 24/7 horniness?
Also - ufufufuf? It took several chapters before the reader is told that is the character's laugh. I had honestly thought it was something earthier. Musta been all the nudity, etc.
Characters go over the top and the deck is stacked, piled high for the fox-woman, Lilian. Even Kevin's crush, Lindsay, is enchanted. Kevin does not object to a spell quite literally being cast over Lindsay, who I felt was a far more sympathetic character. While it was pretty obvious who was going to win (hint: that's not Lindsay on the cover), that much felt disappointing. I really was starting to actively root for Lilian to lose. Not necessarily go down in flames, but the thumb wasn't just on the scale. It was a whole village's worth of thumbs.
Eric, Kevin's best friend, ends up coming across as mean-spirited, vindictive, and harassing. Teachers are overly strict but this isn't their story, either. A bully who turns out to be something other than human was a little too convenient in terms of placement. That was sort of a get out of jail free card for the plot, to give it a means of making Lilian if not a heroine but to at least give Kevin a reason to keep her around. It also, without giving away any spoilers, sets up at least one of the sequels.
I get the author's love for the genre. The fourth wall bursting bits were great fun. I truly loved them! But they were overtaken by an annoyingly clingy character who I felt had way too much screen time.
I want to see more of Lindsay. She's real. She's got some depth, and she's got potential. But she was never going to be the star of the piece.
August 9, 2015
A Fox's Love is that kind of book, which begins to get interesting at the end. During the first chapters, the story is moving at a slow pace. There was quite a impressive number of pages in which, there was described Lilian’s (main heroine) perfect body, from head to toes, front and back, not to miss any of her impressive assets, if you know what I mean...so yeah that was a super boring part for me to read and maybe for the majority of girls who would read it. At that moment, I realized that this novel is written especially for boys. I think them, especially teenagers, would enjoy this novel, and would love Lilian, who seems to be such a silly sexy fox-girl, who falls in love with the protagonist, kind of, at first sight.
Kevin, the protagonist, is so lame and useless. In the first chapter, he was ok, I liked him, he is responsible and independent and kind hearted, and I appreciated him when he saved the fox (kitsune/Lilian), but after that, he was like a rag doll, doing nothing while Lilian was doing everything she wanted with him. And seriously, he passed out for four times, no 5, or 6..I don’t know exactly, because he passed out so many times that I lost count. Kevin you are a boy… why are you so weak?...
Reading this book was like watching an anime. That’s one reason why I liked this book. I mean, a book in which there are anime references or which contains words like: japan, anime, manga, kitsune, yokai, chakra, that kind of book attracts me and it makes me to give it a try...yeah I’m a big fan of Japan and its culture, especially pop culture. Additionally, I like the author’s style of writing, the fact that Lilian knows that she is a book character and that she interacts with the author at some point, that part seemed interesting for me and almost unique for a book. The second reason why I enjoyed this novel is the author’s great sense of humor.
Even though, at the beginning I wasn’t so pleased with the story and I made I little effort to read it, toward the end I began to like it and I began to be fond of the characters, so, after all, it wasn’t a totally waste of time.
In conclusion, it is an enjoyable read. I recommend it, mostly, to males and to anime fans.
PS: I am also curious what is going to happen next, so maybe I will try the sequels.
Kevin, the protagonist, is so lame and useless. In the first chapter, he was ok, I liked him, he is responsible and independent and kind hearted, and I appreciated him when he saved the fox (kitsune/Lilian), but after that, he was like a rag doll, doing nothing while Lilian was doing everything she wanted with him. And seriously, he passed out for four times, no 5, or 6..I don’t know exactly, because he passed out so many times that I lost count. Kevin you are a boy… why are you so weak?...
Reading this book was like watching an anime. That’s one reason why I liked this book. I mean, a book in which there are anime references or which contains words like: japan, anime, manga, kitsune, yokai, chakra, that kind of book attracts me and it makes me to give it a try...yeah I’m a big fan of Japan and its culture, especially pop culture. Additionally, I like the author’s style of writing, the fact that Lilian knows that she is a book character and that she interacts with the author at some point, that part seemed interesting for me and almost unique for a book. The second reason why I enjoyed this novel is the author’s great sense of humor.
Even though, at the beginning I wasn’t so pleased with the story and I made I little effort to read it, toward the end I began to like it and I began to be fond of the characters, so, after all, it wasn’t a totally waste of time.
In conclusion, it is an enjoyable read. I recommend it, mostly, to males and to anime fans.
PS: I am also curious what is going to happen next, so maybe I will try the sequels.
December 18, 2014
On my Kindle, I'm interested in reading anime and manga influenced novels that were originally written in English and for an English language audience. So far, as far as worthwhile novels go, (sorry, Firefly Club!) I've read the light and fun shoujo romance Maid for Me by Kat Lieu and the bizarre early 90s OAV stylings of Sakuri by Jacob Henzel. Both of those were fun, but neither really took off with the same amount of loopy self-consciousness held by A Fox's Love.
This novel is a fairly on-the-mark take on fan service laden shonen romance series, down to the pathologically terrified of girls hero and the obsessive beauty that latches on to him. What really stands out about this book, however, is the slightly unnerving relationship between the characters and the TV Trope quoting omniscient narrator. This is the first book of a series, so not much is revealed, but the Tristram Shandy for message board addicts style is a lot of fun and deserves further exploration. The story and the characters are fine, but I like the conceit so well that they tended to pale in comparison.
Despite that, I have my usual complaints about the first books of Kindle series to spew here. There are a few mistakes, but nothing that harms the readability of the book. More irritatingly, though, this ends on another eBook cliffhanger. There's nothing here on the scale of the Chrissy Peebles stuff I burned through this summer, where the story seems to drop off between chapters at the end, but there's a definite "what's next?" feel here that, because it shows up so often, rubbed me a bit the wrong way. I know that, to some extent, this is necessary to keep readers hooked, and at the very least, there's a sense that, in the end, the character relationships have progressed. Still, this pet peeve of mine is not fading.
These are minor complaints about a fun, light read that made for a sunny break from finals. There's no doubt that anime fans will get the most out of this book, but I'm quite curious to see where the narrative experimentation goes as this series continues.
This novel is a fairly on-the-mark take on fan service laden shonen romance series, down to the pathologically terrified of girls hero and the obsessive beauty that latches on to him. What really stands out about this book, however, is the slightly unnerving relationship between the characters and the TV Trope quoting omniscient narrator. This is the first book of a series, so not much is revealed, but the Tristram Shandy for message board addicts style is a lot of fun and deserves further exploration. The story and the characters are fine, but I like the conceit so well that they tended to pale in comparison.
Despite that, I have my usual complaints about the first books of Kindle series to spew here. There are a few mistakes, but nothing that harms the readability of the book. More irritatingly, though, this ends on another eBook cliffhanger. There's nothing here on the scale of the Chrissy Peebles stuff I burned through this summer, where the story seems to drop off between chapters at the end, but there's a definite "what's next?" feel here that, because it shows up so often, rubbed me a bit the wrong way. I know that, to some extent, this is necessary to keep readers hooked, and at the very least, there's a sense that, in the end, the character relationships have progressed. Still, this pet peeve of mine is not fading.
These are minor complaints about a fun, light read that made for a sunny break from finals. There's no doubt that anime fans will get the most out of this book, but I'm quite curious to see where the narrative experimentation goes as this series continues.
April 20, 2016
This review is by Bob Boze on behalf of Truth About Books
A Fox’s Love is the first book in the romance comedy series, American Kitsune.
The story is really based around Japanese gaming and Shonen Manga, which if you have no clue about (as I did), you’ll struggle with some of the characters but will eventually catch on to.
In any case, our hero Kevin, is a very shy HS sophomore who rescues an injured female fox, only to find she is actually a Kitsune. A Kitsune named Lilian who is a female fox with magical powers from Japanese mythology. (That’s my definition, which may or may not be close to reality.)
Lilian turns out to not only be comfortable running around naked, but also has the hots for Kevin whom she considers to now be her mate; or beloved, as she calls him.
As Lilian stays glued to her mate and tries to please him, Kevin keeps going into overheat and passing out or having nose bleads. Both of which get completely over played to the point that Kevin becomes impossible to believe. No teen, no matter how shy, could not possibly continue to refuse the advances of the drop dead, gorgeous and sexy Lilian, as Kevin does in the story. Likewise, his friends, especially Eric, are also all over the top; as in completely over sexed, rude and would have been run over by the girls at school long before Lilian comes along.
Life for Kevin becomes further complicated when Lilian follows him to school and uses her magical enchantment powers to put spells on teachers and students alike, as the story drones on.
So, by now we have unbelievable characters. A boring story that’s hard to follow unless you’re into Japanese culture and gaming. And, the biggest violation of all, a first book in a series that only sets you up to buy the next book to find out what’s going to happen. (Oops, don’t think I gave the ending away because there wasn’t one. At least not in this book.)
Added to all that, I found next to no humor and there were a lot of errors.
I sincerely hope the rest of Brandon’s books are not only better written but written to be stand alone.
In summary, not worth reading and certainly not worth being bated to buy the next book.
A Fox’s Love is the first book in the romance comedy series, American Kitsune.
The story is really based around Japanese gaming and Shonen Manga, which if you have no clue about (as I did), you’ll struggle with some of the characters but will eventually catch on to.
In any case, our hero Kevin, is a very shy HS sophomore who rescues an injured female fox, only to find she is actually a Kitsune. A Kitsune named Lilian who is a female fox with magical powers from Japanese mythology. (That’s my definition, which may or may not be close to reality.)
Lilian turns out to not only be comfortable running around naked, but also has the hots for Kevin whom she considers to now be her mate; or beloved, as she calls him.
As Lilian stays glued to her mate and tries to please him, Kevin keeps going into overheat and passing out or having nose bleads. Both of which get completely over played to the point that Kevin becomes impossible to believe. No teen, no matter how shy, could not possibly continue to refuse the advances of the drop dead, gorgeous and sexy Lilian, as Kevin does in the story. Likewise, his friends, especially Eric, are also all over the top; as in completely over sexed, rude and would have been run over by the girls at school long before Lilian comes along.
Life for Kevin becomes further complicated when Lilian follows him to school and uses her magical enchantment powers to put spells on teachers and students alike, as the story drones on.
So, by now we have unbelievable characters. A boring story that’s hard to follow unless you’re into Japanese culture and gaming. And, the biggest violation of all, a first book in a series that only sets you up to buy the next book to find out what’s going to happen. (Oops, don’t think I gave the ending away because there wasn’t one. At least not in this book.)
Added to all that, I found next to no humor and there were a lot of errors.
I sincerely hope the rest of Brandon’s books are not only better written but written to be stand alone.
In summary, not worth reading and certainly not worth being bated to buy the next book.
November 21, 2014
I just finished the first book of the American Kitsune series and I have to say it was amazing. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down; I just wanted to find out more and what happens next. Overall, the use of "The laws of anime" was done remarkably well, In fact I wish more books took your approach; which is why I can't wait to read your next book in the series. A few nitpicks I did have about the series were just some small grammatical errors and the use of breaking the fourth wall was not to my taste, however that's neither here nor there.
Those nitpicks didn't take away from the overall enjoyment of the book. I definitely am in love with this series, just continue doing what you are doing and you will stay an awesome writer. You even inspired me to write a book, though it probably won't be as good as your series, but i'll try as hard as Kevin tries to convince everyone that he is not in a relationship with Lillian. Anyway, I am looking forward to your next book; super excited in fact.
* * * * * * * * * * / * * * * *
The book deserves a good rating like that, good luck and stay awesome.
Those nitpicks didn't take away from the overall enjoyment of the book. I definitely am in love with this series, just continue doing what you are doing and you will stay an awesome writer. You even inspired me to write a book, though it probably won't be as good as your series, but i'll try as hard as Kevin tries to convince everyone that he is not in a relationship with Lillian. Anyway, I am looking forward to your next book; super excited in fact.
* * * * * * * * * * / * * * * *
The book deserves a good rating like that, good luck and stay awesome.
July 19, 2015
To be honest, I don't know much about animes or mangas and so I don't get most of the references in this book. So ecchi? I didn't get that until I was like halfway of the book and felt like it meant something that speaks about the story so I ask a friend who is addicted to anime about what it meant and then bam! HAHAHA i didn't mind it actually, I am familiar with Kitsunes because there is this one Korean TV show I love that has the same premise with this book. I promise I did not compare because its two different medium. With the humour, I have to say I laughed a great deal while reading this book. It cheered me up most of the time HAHA. Now with the urban fantasy thing, I kind of expected much more from it. I just think that there was not so much regarding that genre, like more of of what happened in this book was just ecchi and the fantasy thing was just a light touch. So I kind of was looking for more action, for more serious stuff to be introduced as well.
To read more check out my blog: https://abookishowl.wordpress.com/201...
To read more check out my blog: https://abookishowl.wordpress.com/201...
August 9, 2017
A good go for an independently published book. I'd put it around the same enjoyment factor as a few Japanese-style manga that I have read in the past. Definitely a lot of fan-service within the pages.
April 21, 2015
(Free copy courtesy of Brandon Varnell, which in no way influences this review)
This book was quite funny. The narrator and the characters interacting was quite interesting and fairly well done, as well as the many trope references. Don't take things too seriously.
The ecchi part is funny at first, but kind of gets old after a while. I wish there was more story in here, but from the end I can guess that things are headed towards more plot. I look forward to reading more.
This book was quite funny. The narrator and the characters interacting was quite interesting and fairly well done, as well as the many trope references. Don't take things too seriously.
The ecchi part is funny at first, but kind of gets old after a while. I wish there was more story in here, but from the end I can guess that things are headed towards more plot. I look forward to reading more.
November 24, 2016
Cute anime style story
There were times when the forth wall breaks got a little distracting, as did the plot devices, but all in all I enjoyed the ride. And those plot devices were pointed out as just that in fun good humor. It is a very basic story, but the author did a great job making it a fun read. I just wish there was more tension and build up between Kevin and his bully before the climax.
There were times when the forth wall breaks got a little distracting, as did the plot devices, but all in all I enjoyed the ride. And those plot devices were pointed out as just that in fun good humor. It is a very basic story, but the author did a great job making it a fun read. I just wish there was more tension and build up between Kevin and his bully before the climax.
December 23, 2017
The MC is about a dense as a mile of concrete. It's the characters around him that are quite funny. This book is almost quite honestly an American version of a Light Novel. There's 4th wall breaks, and various anime/manga themes all throughout. This was not a bad book by any means, it's just that the MC is so damn dense sometimes. I felt him making my blood rise more than the Kitsune made his albeit for different reasons. Overall, this was a nice story. Seriously.
January 26, 2016
Awesomeness defines this book...
This is totally a five out of five star rating and up! I love that this book was similar to a manga in many ways except with out the pictures and the thought bubbles, etc. but still this was the funniest book EVER. sweet job!!!>0)
This is totally a five out of five star rating and up! I love that this book was similar to a manga in many ways except with out the pictures and the thought bubbles, etc. but still this was the funniest book EVER. sweet job!!!>0)
November 24, 2015
A very well written storyline, with a cutie twist and turns.
This author can be very disruptive in the embarrassment of the hard headed male . He is in denial, and can not understand the love being offered. The books lighthearted look at this relationship is enjoyment to read.
This author can be very disruptive in the embarrassment of the hard headed male . He is in denial, and can not understand the love being offered. The books lighthearted look at this relationship is enjoyment to read.
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