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The Vulpine: an eerie YA dystopia filled with dark folklore, in which difference and sickness are forbidden
Enter a darkly dystopian world full of eerie
folklore, in which illness and difference have been prohibited. But
from deep beneath the earth, a rebellion is rising... Perfect
for fans of Never Let Me Go and The Luminaries.
Ora has always been fascinated by chilling fairy
stories of the Vulpine – the mythical,
fox-like monsters who live below ground, emerging at night to snatch
'imperfect' babies and children. Because Ora knows that disability
and illness have no place in her world. To succeed is to be
genetically ‘perfect’, just like her best friend Casta
and his family. Then, one day, Casta’s baby sister disappears.
And Ora’s mother reveals a long-buried Ora
herself has a genetic illness that affects her lungs... And she's
about to be found out.
Desperate for answers and sanctuary,
Ora decides to do the unthinkable and seek out the fabled Vulpine.
And below the earth, she discovers a hidden world that turns
everything she has been taught upside-down...
A unique
and powerful story about stepping into your power and creating
a better world, with a brilliant cast of disabled heroes, from
an author whose own experiences of chronic illness inform Ora's.
A chilling dystopian world filled with eerie science fiction
and a sweet, slow-burn romance. Perfect for fans of Never
Let Me Go, A Handmaid's Tale, The Hunger
Games and The Luminaries.
folklore, in which illness and difference have been prohibited. But
from deep beneath the earth, a rebellion is rising... Perfect
for fans of Never Let Me Go and The Luminaries.
Ora has always been fascinated by chilling fairy
stories of the Vulpine – the mythical,
fox-like monsters who live below ground, emerging at night to snatch
'imperfect' babies and children. Because Ora knows that disability
and illness have no place in her world. To succeed is to be
genetically ‘perfect’, just like her best friend Casta
and his family. Then, one day, Casta’s baby sister disappears.
And Ora’s mother reveals a long-buried Ora
herself has a genetic illness that affects her lungs... And she's
about to be found out.
Desperate for answers and sanctuary,
Ora decides to do the unthinkable and seek out the fabled Vulpine.
And below the earth, she discovers a hidden world that turns
everything she has been taught upside-down...
A unique
and powerful story about stepping into your power and creating
a better world, with a brilliant cast of disabled heroes, from
an author whose own experiences of chronic illness inform Ora's.
A chilling dystopian world filled with eerie science fiction
and a sweet, slow-burn romance. Perfect for fans of Never
Let Me Go, A Handmaid's Tale, The Hunger
Games and The Luminaries.
Kindle Edition
Published January 16, 2025
6 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Polly Crosby
7 books168 followersPolly Crosby grew up on the Suffolk coast, and now lives with her husband and son in the heart of Norfolk.
In 2018, Polly won Curtis Brown Creative’s Yesterday Scholarship, enabling her to write her debut novel, The Illustrated Child. Later the same year, she was awarded runner-up in the Bridport Prize’s Peggy Chapman Andrews Award for a First Novel, and she received the Annabel Abbs Creative Writing Scholarship for the prestigious MA at the University of East Anglia.
Polly's first book for Young Adults, This Tale is Forbidden, came out in January. Her next historical mystery, The House of Fever, is out in August.
In 2018, Polly won Curtis Brown Creative’s Yesterday Scholarship, enabling her to write her debut novel, The Illustrated Child. Later the same year, she was awarded runner-up in the Bridport Prize’s Peggy Chapman Andrews Award for a First Novel, and she received the Annabel Abbs Creative Writing Scholarship for the prestigious MA at the University of East Anglia.
Polly's first book for Young Adults, This Tale is Forbidden, came out in January. Her next historical mystery, The House of Fever, is out in August.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 19, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic UK for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Ora has always been fascinated by chilling fairy stories of the Vulpine – the mythical,
fox-like monsters who live below ground, emerging at night to snatch 'imperfect' babies and children. Because Ora knows that disability and illness have no place in her world. To succeed is to be genetically ‘perfect’, just like her best friend Casta and his family. Then, one day, Casta’s baby sister disappears. And Ora’s mother reveals a long-buried Ora herself has a genetic illness that affects her lungs... And she's about to be found out. Desperate for answers and sanctuary, Ora decides to do the unthinkable and seek out the fabled Vulpine. And below the earth, she discovers a hidden world that turns everything she has been taught upside-down...
Ora feels like she doesn’t belong. Stuck between being Perfect and Imperfect, she struggles with thinking about the future and considering where she is heading in life. Though this all changes when things take a turn. I loved her strength, her kindness and her compassion for those around her. She has been taught to fear the unknown - the Imperfect - yet other than slight hesitation, she is incredibly open and embraces change. I really enjoyed seeing her interactions with others, how she made strong connections with those who were similar to her and strengthened the bonds with those she loves and cares for. I do feel I could have seen a little more out of Ora but she was a great character to read.
As someone with chronic illnesses, I am always on the look out for authors who also deal with them so I can support their work. The moment I saw the blurb for this book, I knew I needed to read it. The plot was very solid. Demonstrating an ableist world and the profound discrimination against anyone “Imperfect” was strong and hits you deep. To have anything wrong with you is a sentence to a worse life in this book - and sometimes it seems that way in the real world too. I can clearly see and feel the emotion that Crosby has put into this story, wanting to prove to everyone that being “Perfect” isn’t realistic nor attainable. We should definitely be far more accepting of illnesses and disabilities (especially chronic and invisible illness!) and this book highlights the reasons why! The characters were great and I absolutely adored having such a dynamic cast. We got to see people with a range and variety of disabilities and conditions - and how they have adapted to live with them! They were all engaging and had their own story to tell. Even the background characters had their moments to shine! There was a hint of romance here but I think its general absence was perfect. This is not some great, big love story. It’s a story of survival, of being different and being proud to show the world who you really are. The ending was pretty good. It rounded up the story nicely, though was left a little bit open. I felt I finished reading with a few questions but on the whole, felt very satisfied.
Overall, The Vulpine is a brilliant story showcasing the struggles those with chronic illnesses and disabilities (both visible and invisible) deal with.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you again to NetGalley and Scholastic UK for an advanced copy of this book.
Ora has always been fascinated by chilling fairy stories of the Vulpine – the mythical,
fox-like monsters who live below ground, emerging at night to snatch 'imperfect' babies and children. Because Ora knows that disability and illness have no place in her world. To succeed is to be genetically ‘perfect’, just like her best friend Casta and his family. Then, one day, Casta’s baby sister disappears. And Ora’s mother reveals a long-buried Ora herself has a genetic illness that affects her lungs... And she's about to be found out. Desperate for answers and sanctuary, Ora decides to do the unthinkable and seek out the fabled Vulpine. And below the earth, she discovers a hidden world that turns everything she has been taught upside-down...
Ora feels like she doesn’t belong. Stuck between being Perfect and Imperfect, she struggles with thinking about the future and considering where she is heading in life. Though this all changes when things take a turn. I loved her strength, her kindness and her compassion for those around her. She has been taught to fear the unknown - the Imperfect - yet other than slight hesitation, she is incredibly open and embraces change. I really enjoyed seeing her interactions with others, how she made strong connections with those who were similar to her and strengthened the bonds with those she loves and cares for. I do feel I could have seen a little more out of Ora but she was a great character to read.
As someone with chronic illnesses, I am always on the look out for authors who also deal with them so I can support their work. The moment I saw the blurb for this book, I knew I needed to read it. The plot was very solid. Demonstrating an ableist world and the profound discrimination against anyone “Imperfect” was strong and hits you deep. To have anything wrong with you is a sentence to a worse life in this book - and sometimes it seems that way in the real world too. I can clearly see and feel the emotion that Crosby has put into this story, wanting to prove to everyone that being “Perfect” isn’t realistic nor attainable. We should definitely be far more accepting of illnesses and disabilities (especially chronic and invisible illness!) and this book highlights the reasons why! The characters were great and I absolutely adored having such a dynamic cast. We got to see people with a range and variety of disabilities and conditions - and how they have adapted to live with them! They were all engaging and had their own story to tell. Even the background characters had their moments to shine! There was a hint of romance here but I think its general absence was perfect. This is not some great, big love story. It’s a story of survival, of being different and being proud to show the world who you really are. The ending was pretty good. It rounded up the story nicely, though was left a little bit open. I felt I finished reading with a few questions but on the whole, felt very satisfied.
Overall, The Vulpine is a brilliant story showcasing the struggles those with chronic illnesses and disabilities (both visible and invisible) deal with.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you again to NetGalley and Scholastic UK for an advanced copy of this book.
January 16, 2025
Although I think this book deserves to be read by everyone, especially abled bodied people without health issues, it probably doesn't come as a surprise that I'm chronically ill myself. So, when I saw the premise of this book I was intrigued, curious and a little anxious to start reading. I ended up requesting a review copy through Netgalley and I was very happy when Scholastic granted me a digital copy of the book.
If you're, like me, a little anxious that the book is confronting and hard and heavy, I can assure you that it's not that bad. Yes, the book is about a society where being ill, sick or disabled means getting locked up in a hospital or being taken away by the vulpine. Yes, there are some remarks and lines that hurt. However, the book does a great job not making the book all doom and gloom. There is hope, there is love, there is warmth and from the very beginning I felt that.
And maybe that's both the good and bad of this book. It's nice that the author doesn't turn those characters into martyrs and people to pity, but in a way a lot of the gruesome things happening in this society happen off page. We hear about it, but we don't get to see it, we don't get to experience it. Since the book is marketed as YA I think the book could have done a little more show when it comes to the horrors that occur, even though I wouldn't wish that upon our heroine of course.
I'm also not entirely sold on the romance. I think that's because of the writing style of the book in general. The writing kept me as a reader a little at a distance. I was there to watch these characters go through everything, but it didn't really feel like I was there with them. I didn't have a strong connection with the heroine, I didn't really feel what she felt and therefore I also didn't really feel a connection with her.
So, I enjoyed the book, the themes and the way things were handled, but especially for a YA I also think the book could have been more.
If you're, like me, a little anxious that the book is confronting and hard and heavy, I can assure you that it's not that bad. Yes, the book is about a society where being ill, sick or disabled means getting locked up in a hospital or being taken away by the vulpine. Yes, there are some remarks and lines that hurt. However, the book does a great job not making the book all doom and gloom. There is hope, there is love, there is warmth and from the very beginning I felt that.
And maybe that's both the good and bad of this book. It's nice that the author doesn't turn those characters into martyrs and people to pity, but in a way a lot of the gruesome things happening in this society happen off page. We hear about it, but we don't get to see it, we don't get to experience it. Since the book is marketed as YA I think the book could have done a little more show when it comes to the horrors that occur, even though I wouldn't wish that upon our heroine of course.
I'm also not entirely sold on the romance. I think that's because of the writing style of the book in general. The writing kept me as a reader a little at a distance. I was there to watch these characters go through everything, but it didn't really feel like I was there with them. I didn't have a strong connection with the heroine, I didn't really feel what she felt and therefore I also didn't really feel a connection with her.
So, I enjoyed the book, the themes and the way things were handled, but especially for a YA I also think the book could have been more.
May 22, 2025
Let’s go cystic fibrosis representation!! 💪
December 20, 2024
Thought this was fab. Interesting ideas and well told leaving me lots to think about
October 31, 2024
I really loved this book. I like the way that the book blurb doesn’t make it clear whether you’re reading magical reality or dystopian fiction I felt begin with that I was reading a fairytale. I rather love that element of the novel particularly the children’s storybook a lead character finds that tells her about the Vulpine it sets
the story perfectly and starts her on her adventure. I found the way that this was handled really skilful. The dystopian world was just believable as I believe every good dystopian novel must be .Our search for perfection in human life is central to a lot of eugenics movements and on many occasions has gone too far. Think the third Reich and its treatment of disabled children as well as the way black people were forcefully sterilised or experimented on in the USA not so long ago
The characters are real and believable the author has the skill to carefully describe in individual characters and make them develop in an entirely believable way throughout the story
The story exciting enough to maintain your interest and I read it in one sitting this was one of those books that when I first woke up in the morning and remembered I had to finish it I couldn’t wait to open the book and start reading
There Is a sweet love story in the middle of the novel, however it doesn’t dominate it something that might’ve taken the book into the YA category
I loved the authors note at the end of the book ,as a doctor I had picked up at the potential diagnosis for the lead character was cystic fibrosis but it was nice to have this confirmed .As a non-medical reader. It didn’t matter what the illness was just that it was an “imperfection”In the context if the story .I rather liked the fact that she had a late onset medical condition which led to her reclassification and that the physical disabilities mentioned during the story seemed real and believable
When I started reviewing books five years ago, it was unusual to have main characters with medical or developmental even psychological conditions . As I read more I’ve come across more books with neuro diverse characters but reading about somebody with a medical condition and that not being the whole subject of the novel was lovely. I would imagine that themselves had cystic fibrosis would find this novel fabulous and nice to find themselves represented. I always appreciate when I read a novel which has something personal to the author in it there is nothing better than lived experienced to make the story feel entirely authentic
The author has clear flowing writing style making the novel and refreshing enjoyable read. I had previously read her novel Vita and the birds. I read this quite some time ago but the picture of the glasshouse in the salts marshes still comes to mind from time to time. She’s written a number of other novels including the illustrated Child the unravelling and the house of fever and I note that there is a Young Adult This tale is forbidden in 2024.
I’m trying to think of similar books but currently struggling to find one that is quite like this book. Pass me I really love to stay your novels and will gravitate to these if given a free choice in reading I’ve read a large number of these novels mostly newly published in the last five years and would say that this book is among the best of them ..
The novel is very descriptive in its setting and I think it would make a fabulous film if I was a film developer I would grab the rights to it .I hope to see it on Netflix soon !
There is something similar in the ethos of this novel with the book The Girl with All the Gifts by MR Carey or The power by Naomi Alderman If you liked either of these books and I think you will enjoy this novel .
Whilst this isn’t badged as a YA novel I think it would be entirely appropriate for teenagers to read and I would’ve loved to read it myself as an early reader.
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK. The book is published in January 2025 by Scholastic
This review will appear on NetGalley UK. Goodreads and my book blog bionicsarahsbooks.wordpress.com.After publication it will also appear on Amazon UK.
the story perfectly and starts her on her adventure. I found the way that this was handled really skilful. The dystopian world was just believable as I believe every good dystopian novel must be .Our search for perfection in human life is central to a lot of eugenics movements and on many occasions has gone too far. Think the third Reich and its treatment of disabled children as well as the way black people were forcefully sterilised or experimented on in the USA not so long ago
The characters are real and believable the author has the skill to carefully describe in individual characters and make them develop in an entirely believable way throughout the story
The story exciting enough to maintain your interest and I read it in one sitting this was one of those books that when I first woke up in the morning and remembered I had to finish it I couldn’t wait to open the book and start reading
There Is a sweet love story in the middle of the novel, however it doesn’t dominate it something that might’ve taken the book into the YA category
I loved the authors note at the end of the book ,as a doctor I had picked up at the potential diagnosis for the lead character was cystic fibrosis but it was nice to have this confirmed .As a non-medical reader. It didn’t matter what the illness was just that it was an “imperfection”In the context if the story .I rather liked the fact that she had a late onset medical condition which led to her reclassification and that the physical disabilities mentioned during the story seemed real and believable
When I started reviewing books five years ago, it was unusual to have main characters with medical or developmental even psychological conditions . As I read more I’ve come across more books with neuro diverse characters but reading about somebody with a medical condition and that not being the whole subject of the novel was lovely. I would imagine that themselves had cystic fibrosis would find this novel fabulous and nice to find themselves represented. I always appreciate when I read a novel which has something personal to the author in it there is nothing better than lived experienced to make the story feel entirely authentic
The author has clear flowing writing style making the novel and refreshing enjoyable read. I had previously read her novel Vita and the birds. I read this quite some time ago but the picture of the glasshouse in the salts marshes still comes to mind from time to time. She’s written a number of other novels including the illustrated Child the unravelling and the house of fever and I note that there is a Young Adult This tale is forbidden in 2024.
I’m trying to think of similar books but currently struggling to find one that is quite like this book. Pass me I really love to stay your novels and will gravitate to these if given a free choice in reading I’ve read a large number of these novels mostly newly published in the last five years and would say that this book is among the best of them ..
The novel is very descriptive in its setting and I think it would make a fabulous film if I was a film developer I would grab the rights to it .I hope to see it on Netflix soon !
There is something similar in the ethos of this novel with the book The Girl with All the Gifts by MR Carey or The power by Naomi Alderman If you liked either of these books and I think you will enjoy this novel .
Whilst this isn’t badged as a YA novel I think it would be entirely appropriate for teenagers to read and I would’ve loved to read it myself as an early reader.
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK. The book is published in January 2025 by Scholastic
This review will appear on NetGalley UK. Goodreads and my book blog bionicsarahsbooks.wordpress.com.After publication it will also appear on Amazon UK.
December 27, 2024
The Vulpine is an unsettling dystopian full of folklore and science fiction goodness. It was so easy to read making it accessible, yet it is also thought provoking. It is a YA read and definitely A⭐️ for a younger reader getting into the genre. There are eerie elements that make your spine tingle but this is balanced out with a sweet romance. The world is interesting, with a similar feel to the Uglies series. The characters are all distinct and relatable. I really appreciated the exploration of disability and how this was portrayed. Overall a dark fantasy for younger readers that’s engaging and interesting. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
July 2, 2025
The beginning of the book is perfect, magical. Especially when the Vulpine book and their folklore is introduced, I totally fell in love with it. Unfortunately the second part of the book turns to be average and having too simple solutions. It could be much more, this world has so much potential.
Read
January 18, 2025Ora lives in a society where all illnesses and disabilities have been eradicated. Scientists are employed in DNA sequencing, and all four-year-olds undergo a grading. Any children failing the ‘Prefect Test’ or babies born with obvious ‘defects’ go to live in the Hospital, which supposedly cares for them behind closed doors. Parents who don’t hand over their children risk having them stolen and eaten by the mythical Vulpine.
When I read this book, I thought of three things: the underground community in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang that protects children from the Child Catcher employed by the child-hating monarchy; the 2017 children’s novel A Place Called Perfect by Helena Duggan, in which villainous leaders manipulate the population into overvaluing perfection; and the utterly chilling documentary I once saw about the repugnant experiments Josef Mengele carried out on disabled children in Nazi concentration camps. Although The Vulpine touches on all of these (and allusions to real-life proponents of eugenics is particularly chilling), what makes it different is how Crosby makes the ‘Imperfect’ the central characters. They live in a community adapted to diverse needs, where they are able to develop their strengths and flourish. Each person is depicted as an individual. More than the sum of their disabilities or illnesses, they are variously brave, intelligent, bitter, foolish, suspicious, kind or cunning. They are the agents of their own lives and societal change.
The novel is marketed as YA – and that fits with the age of the protagonists (15 and 16), the hint of romance and the on-page violence and death – but the passages from the rhyming ‘Vulpine Storybook’ and the dressing up as monsters suggested a younger readership. Perhaps ten-year-olds who have enjoyed A Place Called Perfect will enjoy moving on to The Vulpine at eleven.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
When I read this book, I thought of three things: the underground community in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang that protects children from the Child Catcher employed by the child-hating monarchy; the 2017 children’s novel A Place Called Perfect by Helena Duggan, in which villainous leaders manipulate the population into overvaluing perfection; and the utterly chilling documentary I once saw about the repugnant experiments Josef Mengele carried out on disabled children in Nazi concentration camps. Although The Vulpine touches on all of these (and allusions to real-life proponents of eugenics is particularly chilling), what makes it different is how Crosby makes the ‘Imperfect’ the central characters. They live in a community adapted to diverse needs, where they are able to develop their strengths and flourish. Each person is depicted as an individual. More than the sum of their disabilities or illnesses, they are variously brave, intelligent, bitter, foolish, suspicious, kind or cunning. They are the agents of their own lives and societal change.
The novel is marketed as YA – and that fits with the age of the protagonists (15 and 16), the hint of romance and the on-page violence and death – but the passages from the rhyming ‘Vulpine Storybook’ and the dressing up as monsters suggested a younger readership. Perhaps ten-year-olds who have enjoyed A Place Called Perfect will enjoy moving on to The Vulpine at eleven.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
May 6, 2025
THE VULPINE is a dystopia about removing disabled people from society and a chance to fight back.
This book is an easy read - I read it on trains in an evening. The pages turn very easily as you follow Ora through her world, its flaws, and her determination to do something. If you have the time to set aside to gulp it down, I would recommend it.
The idea of a dystopia where disabilities are forbidden reminded me of THE VIRTUE SEASON, but in theme only, but these two dystopias are very different in setting and tone. That book is more historical in feel and more ethereal. This is a grittier, more modern dystopia. But this idea - of removing disabilities from society for its "betterment" is not new and we need many books discussing it - and exposing its flaws - particularly in a climate like this where disability rights are being attacked and misinformation spread.
I wish this book had gone deeper into it and the consequences of such a policy. It ends up feeling a bit like a "oh no, the government is bad" without really looking into the issue in much depth, like it was skating over the top of a big lake. For example, there is a grading system for people, but other thana few brief mentions, the stratification of society isn't explored. What does it mean for resource allocation? Living conditions?
I think this is really important in dystopia because these books not only need to make you think about our world reflected in it but also need that something else for the story to really click. It's hard to have twists, I find, in dystopia (the genre definition might as well be "the government is bad and up to dodgy stuff") so tales need to hook in another way. Overall, I was left wanting more from this tale.
This book is an easy read - I read it on trains in an evening. The pages turn very easily as you follow Ora through her world, its flaws, and her determination to do something. If you have the time to set aside to gulp it down, I would recommend it.
The idea of a dystopia where disabilities are forbidden reminded me of THE VIRTUE SEASON, but in theme only, but these two dystopias are very different in setting and tone. That book is more historical in feel and more ethereal. This is a grittier, more modern dystopia. But this idea - of removing disabilities from society for its "betterment" is not new and we need many books discussing it - and exposing its flaws - particularly in a climate like this where disability rights are being attacked and misinformation spread.
I wish this book had gone deeper into it and the consequences of such a policy. It ends up feeling a bit like a "oh no, the government is bad" without really looking into the issue in much depth, like it was skating over the top of a big lake. For example, there is a grading system for people, but other thana few brief mentions, the stratification of society isn't explored. What does it mean for resource allocation? Living conditions?
I think this is really important in dystopia because these books not only need to make you think about our world reflected in it but also need that something else for the story to really click. It's hard to have twists, I find, in dystopia (the genre definition might as well be "the government is bad and up to dodgy stuff") so tales need to hook in another way. Overall, I was left wanting more from this tale.
February 15, 2025
This is the first YA novel I have read in a long time, but I love books by Polly Crosby, and I also love dystopian fiction! I raced through this book and read it in two sittings.
Ora lives in a "perfect world" where there is no place for illness or disability. Imperfect babies are separated from their parents and sent to the hospital to live. If parents don't comply, their children are at risk of being snatched at night by the Vulpine - the mythical, fox-like monsters who live below ground.
Ora starts to question the world she has grown up in when, one day, her best friend Casta’s baby sister disappears. Ora’s mother also reveals a long-buried secret: Ora herself has a genetic illness that affects her lungs... And she's about to be found out.
Ora decides to do the unthinkable and seek out the fabled Vulpine. And below the earth, she discovers a hidden place she wasn't expecting.
I found this such a compelling storyline with some great relatable characters. The 'perfect society' that the government hoped to create was a great premise for a story. The repercussions for this society for anyone that fell ill or were born anything less than 'perfect' was horrific.
The story had such a fast-moving plot with some unexpected twists. The suspense really built up as the story progressed. I'm looking forward to sharing this book with my daughter in a year or so as I think she will love it too. I highly recommend this book for fans of dystopian fiction!
Ora lives in a "perfect world" where there is no place for illness or disability. Imperfect babies are separated from their parents and sent to the hospital to live. If parents don't comply, their children are at risk of being snatched at night by the Vulpine - the mythical, fox-like monsters who live below ground.
Ora starts to question the world she has grown up in when, one day, her best friend Casta’s baby sister disappears. Ora’s mother also reveals a long-buried secret: Ora herself has a genetic illness that affects her lungs... And she's about to be found out.
Ora decides to do the unthinkable and seek out the fabled Vulpine. And below the earth, she discovers a hidden place she wasn't expecting.
I found this such a compelling storyline with some great relatable characters. The 'perfect society' that the government hoped to create was a great premise for a story. The repercussions for this society for anyone that fell ill or were born anything less than 'perfect' was horrific.
The story had such a fast-moving plot with some unexpected twists. The suspense really built up as the story progressed. I'm looking forward to sharing this book with my daughter in a year or so as I think she will love it too. I highly recommend this book for fans of dystopian fiction!
October 30, 2024
3.5 stars
I'm fairly sure I've read all of Polly Crosbys work, and enjoyed them, so I was looking forward to this one.
It has some really good ideas, especially when you add the own voices element in, which I did not know about until the acknowledgement.
A dystopian future where illness is no-one, sounds too good to be true.
And it is.
Some good twists, and characters I could get behind.
I enjoyed this one.
I'm not the target audience, and there were a few times it felt too young for me, buy it never detracted from the story.
I'm fairly sure I've read all of Polly Crosbys work, and enjoyed them, so I was looking forward to this one.
It has some really good ideas, especially when you add the own voices element in, which I did not know about until the acknowledgement.
A dystopian future where illness is no-one, sounds too good to be true.
And it is.
Some good twists, and characters I could get behind.
I enjoyed this one.
I'm not the target audience, and there were a few times it felt too young for me, buy it never detracted from the story.
January 9, 2025
I gave this book 3.5 stars. It was an enjoyable read - very YA and beautifully written. I loved how it made me question how we treat people with differences or disabilities in today's society. There are themes of kindness, compassion and awareness. It's fantastic to see disability represented and seen through the eyes of a character who only knew "perfect". Thank you to NetGalley, Scholastic and Polly Crosby for letting me read an advanced copy of this book.
February 21, 2025
feel bad rating this so low because i respect what it’s going for but the writing is So Bad. no one speaks like a real person. there’s a scene where two guys basically go ‘we’re evil and we report to our Evil boss’ which is not a thing anyone would say to an actual human being or their colleagues unless it was necessary for exposition
September 20, 2025
Not particularly original and the writing is a little stilted and juvenile, but the concept and story is made more interesting and engaging after reading the author’s note. The personal connection changes the way you interact with the story. I think it’s an entry level tween (middle grade) dystopian that isn’t too challenging, complicated or clever.
December 30, 2025
Great and unexpected. Part myth and fantasy, part dystopian, but a really important highlight of disability and a society that tries to hide them. not particularly fleshed out, but at a good level for young teens.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2025
Overall engaging plot line. I was looking for a break from all of the fantasy and intese romance I read and this provided.
December 14, 2025
This was REALLY good but I did not like casta at all. His character didn’t feel really developed and the ending was a LITTLE rushed
January 23, 2025
This book had more of a fairy tale feel than a dystopia, particularly with the way the eponymous Vulpine are introduced.
It moves quickly enough but the world felt underdeveloped and I didn't connect with the characters as much as I'd have liked. I liked the themes of bodily autonomy and ablism.
It moves quickly enough but the world felt underdeveloped and I didn't connect with the characters as much as I'd have liked. I liked the themes of bodily autonomy and ablism.
December 3, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Scholastic for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I saw Polly talking about this book on Twitter and I was instantly hooked. As someone who is still learning to navigate life with a chronic illness and disability, I am trying to find novels that have characters going through similar things. Growing up, I don't remember having books with disabled characters in, or at least disabled characters as main characters, rather than just a tick boxing exercise or damsel in distress. And by combining that story with the popular dystopian settings, I think Polly has hit on a perfect idea and I couldn't wait to get stuck in.
I also loved the cover. It was so simple but striking and immediately caught my eye.
It is such a powerful book. At first glance it looks "just" like another dystopian YA book, full of young teenagers at school, going through relationships, angst with their parents, sneaking out etc. But this has such a deeper message, and whilst I appreciate that it is "just" a fictional story, I think it could become a very important read.
Amazon says it's aimed at readers 12+ (and at 31 I am a little over that, but still loved it). Hopefully it'll show children and young adults that illnesses and disabilities are not something to be feared or disgusted by. Children - and adults - who are "different " deserve to be treated exactly the same. And whilst it might be an extreme situation, this book shows the danger that comes from segregating them, and how the world is a much richer place for its diversity.
I admit I felt the pacing was slightly off at times, some bits drawn out and others not as much. For example, I felt the ending was a bit rushed and would like it to have been drawn out slightly longer. That's a minor thing that I think would have taken this book from great to amazing. It didn't spoil the reading or enjoyment of it in any way though.
It's got everything really - it's magical, dystopian, fantastical, there's some romance, light comedy, and action.
I read it in a matter of hours. Ironically, I was reading it whilst in the waiting room of a hospital for my own illness! I could definitely see it being made into a YA series or film. I think the settings especially would work well on screen. I'm not the intended audience but I really loved it and would definitely watch it.
Polly has an illness of her own and whilst I only found that out after I'd read it, you can tell there's something personal there, because of how sensitive it is, how powerful it is, that could only come from real experience.
I have read a lot of books in my life - we're talking 200-300 a year - and I have read every kind of plot going, but I don't recall ever reading something quite like this, which was a lovely surprise.
I saw Polly talking about this book on Twitter and I was instantly hooked. As someone who is still learning to navigate life with a chronic illness and disability, I am trying to find novels that have characters going through similar things. Growing up, I don't remember having books with disabled characters in, or at least disabled characters as main characters, rather than just a tick boxing exercise or damsel in distress. And by combining that story with the popular dystopian settings, I think Polly has hit on a perfect idea and I couldn't wait to get stuck in.
I also loved the cover. It was so simple but striking and immediately caught my eye.
It is such a powerful book. At first glance it looks "just" like another dystopian YA book, full of young teenagers at school, going through relationships, angst with their parents, sneaking out etc. But this has such a deeper message, and whilst I appreciate that it is "just" a fictional story, I think it could become a very important read.
Amazon says it's aimed at readers 12+ (and at 31 I am a little over that, but still loved it). Hopefully it'll show children and young adults that illnesses and disabilities are not something to be feared or disgusted by. Children - and adults - who are "different " deserve to be treated exactly the same. And whilst it might be an extreme situation, this book shows the danger that comes from segregating them, and how the world is a much richer place for its diversity.
I admit I felt the pacing was slightly off at times, some bits drawn out and others not as much. For example, I felt the ending was a bit rushed and would like it to have been drawn out slightly longer. That's a minor thing that I think would have taken this book from great to amazing. It didn't spoil the reading or enjoyment of it in any way though.
It's got everything really - it's magical, dystopian, fantastical, there's some romance, light comedy, and action.
I read it in a matter of hours. Ironically, I was reading it whilst in the waiting room of a hospital for my own illness! I could definitely see it being made into a YA series or film. I think the settings especially would work well on screen. I'm not the intended audience but I really loved it and would definitely watch it.
Polly has an illness of her own and whilst I only found that out after I'd read it, you can tell there's something personal there, because of how sensitive it is, how powerful it is, that could only come from real experience.
I have read a lot of books in my life - we're talking 200-300 a year - and I have read every kind of plot going, but I don't recall ever reading something quite like this, which was a lovely surprise.
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