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The Navigating Fox
The Navigating Fox is a fantastical fable of "knowledgeable creatures", in the vein of Brian Jacques's Redwall series but for adults, by Hugo and Nebula Award finalist Christopher Rowe
Quintus Shu'al, the world's only navigating fox, is in disgrace after guiding an expedition to its doom, leaving no survivors. One year later, Quintus is offered the chance to redeem himself: he will need to lead a motley, fractious team—both human and animal—all the way to the gates of Hell.
Quintus Shu'al, the world's only navigating fox, is in disgrace after guiding an expedition to its doom, leaving no survivors. One year later, Quintus is offered the chance to redeem himself: he will need to lead a motley, fractious team—both human and animal—all the way to the gates of Hell.
160 pages, ebook
First published September 26, 2023
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2446 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 264 reviews
July 5, 2023
The Navigating Fox was a joy to read. Each page is packed with well-developed world-building, compelling characters, humor, and mystery. I found it remarkable that so much excitement was packed into a one-session novella, and I hope to see many more stories set in this world.
The setting leans on Roman history for its naming conventions and overall aesthetic. In this world, the animals are divided into two categories. The gifted animals are "knowledgeable," self-aware and able to communicate with spoken language. They have been bestowed the gift of high intelligence. The rest of the non-knowledgeable animals are referred to as "voiceless," and they consist of traditional animal intelligence. What makes some animals knowledgeable? This is but one of many interesting questions raised during this story.
Quintus, our narrator, is a fox - and he's the only knowledgeable fox in the world. He is a navigator, and helps expeditions travel and explore using hidden paths. We join Quintus after he returns from a first, tragic journey. But he is soon pressed into duty for a second expedition, with a terrifying goal. The story alternates chapters between past (first expedition) and present (second expedition), while Quintus aims to discover important secrets about his past.
There is a wonderful set of characters in the story, and I quickly grew attached to several of them. Rowe injects lifelike personality into both his human and animal characters, while addressing issues of morality and purpose.
There's so much going on in this highly entertaining world that I would be shocked if there aren't more novellas planned in this setting. The Navigating Fox is a rich and colorful story, with fun characters and intriguing plot lines, and I am already hungry for the follow-up.
The setting leans on Roman history for its naming conventions and overall aesthetic. In this world, the animals are divided into two categories. The gifted animals are "knowledgeable," self-aware and able to communicate with spoken language. They have been bestowed the gift of high intelligence. The rest of the non-knowledgeable animals are referred to as "voiceless," and they consist of traditional animal intelligence. What makes some animals knowledgeable? This is but one of many interesting questions raised during this story.
Quintus, our narrator, is a fox - and he's the only knowledgeable fox in the world. He is a navigator, and helps expeditions travel and explore using hidden paths. We join Quintus after he returns from a first, tragic journey. But he is soon pressed into duty for a second expedition, with a terrifying goal. The story alternates chapters between past (first expedition) and present (second expedition), while Quintus aims to discover important secrets about his past.
There is a wonderful set of characters in the story, and I quickly grew attached to several of them. Rowe injects lifelike personality into both his human and animal characters, while addressing issues of morality and purpose.
There's so much going on in this highly entertaining world that I would be shocked if there aren't more novellas planned in this setting. The Navigating Fox is a rich and colorful story, with fun characters and intriguing plot lines, and I am already hungry for the follow-up.
July 12, 2023
Interesting, unusual, enjoyable and well executed.
In an alternate version of our world, a form of the Roman Empire has colonized part of North America (it did take me a while to figure out that the action was taking place on that continent and not in Europe), but the rest of the continent is still in the hands of its indigenous people. That's not the original bit. The original bit is that someone (possibly not the person credited by legend) has figured out an alchemical process which makes non-human animals "knowledgeable" - sentient, in other words.
The Navigating Fox is such a person. The adjective used for a knowledgeable creature differs depending on the species; for a fox, apparently it's "navigating," though since he is the only knowledgeable fox perhaps it isn't. He can guide people on a system of mysterious paths that take them between places more quickly than would otherwise be the case - nobody knows how.
A lot of things are not clear-cut, in a good way, and most of the major characters believe at least one thing that turns out to be significantly untrue about the way the world works and the intentions, motivations, knowledge and actions of other characters. The story opens with the fox, in a Tom and Huck's funeral moment, secretly attending a procedure to throw him out of the Explorers' Sodality on the basis that he is lying about the existence of the paths (but really because his accuser's sister was on his last expedition, the one from which only he returned). From there, we get two narrative threads. The main thread is a second expedition, commissioned by a senior priest, ostensibly to close the gates of hell and end death; the secondary thread consists of several chapters detailing how the first expedition unfolded.
While short, it packs in plenty of worldbuilding without any infodumping, plenty of character development without long passages of introspection, and a surprising amount of twisty plot. It takes a very capable author to pull off that kind of concise writing; the pre-release version I got via Netgalley is also very clean from a copy editing point of view, barring a few minor typing errors. It's a solid piece of writing, and gets an unhesitating recommendation from me.
In an alternate version of our world, a form of the Roman Empire has colonized part of North America (it did take me a while to figure out that the action was taking place on that continent and not in Europe), but the rest of the continent is still in the hands of its indigenous people. That's not the original bit. The original bit is that someone (possibly not the person credited by legend) has figured out an alchemical process which makes non-human animals "knowledgeable" - sentient, in other words.
The Navigating Fox is such a person. The adjective used for a knowledgeable creature differs depending on the species; for a fox, apparently it's "navigating," though since he is the only knowledgeable fox perhaps it isn't. He can guide people on a system of mysterious paths that take them between places more quickly than would otherwise be the case - nobody knows how.
A lot of things are not clear-cut, in a good way, and most of the major characters believe at least one thing that turns out to be significantly untrue about the way the world works and the intentions, motivations, knowledge and actions of other characters. The story opens with the fox, in a Tom and Huck's funeral moment, secretly attending a procedure to throw him out of the Explorers' Sodality on the basis that he is lying about the existence of the paths (but really because his accuser's sister was on his last expedition, the one from which only he returned). From there, we get two narrative threads. The main thread is a second expedition, commissioned by a senior priest, ostensibly to close the gates of hell and end death; the secondary thread consists of several chapters detailing how the first expedition unfolded.
While short, it packs in plenty of worldbuilding without any infodumping, plenty of character development without long passages of introspection, and a surprising amount of twisty plot. It takes a very capable author to pull off that kind of concise writing; the pre-release version I got via Netgalley is also very clean from a copy editing point of view, barring a few minor typing errors. It's a solid piece of writing, and gets an unhesitating recommendation from me.
October 31, 2023
This was a beautiful little novella. It’s an impressive feat to tell a story this rich in only 160 pages.
This book is set in a world where there are both humans and intelligent (“knowledgeable”) animals. Physically, the knowledgeable animals are indistinguishable from their natural counterparts, but they are sentient and able to speak human languages. They are, as far as I can tell, treated as having the same rights and same dignity as humans.
The protagonist of this story, Quintus, is unique in two ways. One is that he is a fox; no one had ever heard of a knowledgeable fox before he showed up, and even he doesn’t know how he came to be.
The other unique thing about Quintus is that he alone can find and navigate the Silver Roads, mysterious paths criss-crossing the continent that allow one to cover vast distances very quickly. Quintus doesn’t know how he does this either.
This novella spins out two stories simultaneously. One is Quintus remembering a past expedition he had led along the Silver Roads, where everyone but he was lost. The other is an expedition he is currently leading, at the command of a priest who promises to tell Quintus about his origins in exchange.
As a novella, this is short. But in that space, Rowe crafts a remarkably deep world and remarkably compelling story. Strongly recommended for something one can finish in a couple of hours.
My blog
This book is set in a world where there are both humans and intelligent (“knowledgeable”) animals. Physically, the knowledgeable animals are indistinguishable from their natural counterparts, but they are sentient and able to speak human languages. They are, as far as I can tell, treated as having the same rights and same dignity as humans.
The protagonist of this story, Quintus, is unique in two ways. One is that he is a fox; no one had ever heard of a knowledgeable fox before he showed up, and even he doesn’t know how he came to be.
The other unique thing about Quintus is that he alone can find and navigate the Silver Roads, mysterious paths criss-crossing the continent that allow one to cover vast distances very quickly. Quintus doesn’t know how he does this either.
This novella spins out two stories simultaneously. One is Quintus remembering a past expedition he had led along the Silver Roads, where everyone but he was lost. The other is an expedition he is currently leading, at the command of a priest who promises to tell Quintus about his origins in exchange.
As a novella, this is short. But in that space, Rowe crafts a remarkably deep world and remarkably compelling story. Strongly recommended for something one can finish in a couple of hours.
My blog
November 17, 2023
I found this to be an enjoyable read, if not the most memorable one. This novella is the story of Quintus, a "knowledgeable" speaking fox guiding people on hidden paths. The structure alternates between the current expedition to the gates of hell and the previous one, where only Quintus came back alive. The ending was fine (just didn't wow me). I found the focus on who knows what about Quintus's origins as a knowledgeable creature so much older than the rest of them to be not so compelling. It's the kind of thing that would land better with the strength of previous stories where he'd already been chasing those answers for a long time.
I'd happily read another dozen stories in this setting and with this narrator in particular, though-- he clearly has more stories to tell. The author does a great job of establishing political and societal tension in a small space without feeling too cluttered.
//Somewhere around 3.5 stars for me. The worldbuilding is great and I want to read a whole series set in this immersive world of overlapping political structures and knowledgeable animals, but I don't think this ever took the leap from interesting to gripping for me. RTC.
I'd happily read another dozen stories in this setting and with this narrator in particular, though-- he clearly has more stories to tell. The author does a great job of establishing political and societal tension in a small space without feeling too cluttered.
//Somewhere around 3.5 stars for me. The worldbuilding is great and I want to read a whole series set in this immersive world of overlapping political structures and knowledgeable animals, but I don't think this ever took the leap from interesting to gripping for me. RTC.
August 28, 2023
I received an advance copy via NetGalley.
Quintus is the only known navigating fox. In his world, where humans live alongside animals who are "knowledgeable" and "voiceless," an Empire with a distinct Roman flare rules a portion of the world. Quintus can navigate paths that are unseen to others--and his last mission, a year before, resulted in no survivors. When he is called to task on that, he is enlisted to lead yet another expedition, this one to the very gates of Hell. The story takes on a back and forth format between the two expeditions, as what happened in the first trip is gradually revealed.
The world here is so fascinating. I'd love to read more works in this setting. It feels like we're given the bare minimum of worldbuilding, enough to tantalize. The format of the book initially baffled me but I soon found the groove. This is a quick read, engrossing all the way through, with an ending that has a definite sense of rightness to it.
Quintus is the only known navigating fox. In his world, where humans live alongside animals who are "knowledgeable" and "voiceless," an Empire with a distinct Roman flare rules a portion of the world. Quintus can navigate paths that are unseen to others--and his last mission, a year before, resulted in no survivors. When he is called to task on that, he is enlisted to lead yet another expedition, this one to the very gates of Hell. The story takes on a back and forth format between the two expeditions, as what happened in the first trip is gradually revealed.
The world here is so fascinating. I'd love to read more works in this setting. It feels like we're given the bare minimum of worldbuilding, enough to tantalize. The format of the book initially baffled me but I soon found the groove. This is a quick read, engrossing all the way through, with an ending that has a definite sense of rightness to it.
November 1, 2023
I thought this novella sounded really interesting, and I genuinely wanted to enjoy it. Unfortunately, despite its short length, this book was a chore to get through.
I love the concept of animals who talk and possess the same intelligence as humans, so I did enjoy that aspect of the story. I also enjoyed the unique writing style. I can’t pinpoint what exactly about the writing stood out to me, but it just felt distinctive.
I didn’t really care for the plot or any of the characters or really any other aspect of the story, however. I do seem to be in the minority as most people have seemed to enjoy this book so far, so I encourage you to still check it out if it sounds like your thing.
I love the concept of animals who talk and possess the same intelligence as humans, so I did enjoy that aspect of the story. I also enjoyed the unique writing style. I can’t pinpoint what exactly about the writing stood out to me, but it just felt distinctive.
I didn’t really care for the plot or any of the characters or really any other aspect of the story, however. I do seem to be in the minority as most people have seemed to enjoy this book so far, so I encourage you to still check it out if it sounds like your thing.
July 11, 2024
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
March 31, 2024
This book was so delightful and fun and also gorgeous!!!! It’s highly giving Nghi Vo’s Singing Hills Cycle and since I am a huge fan of that series I’m unsurprised I enjoyed this as well. Been super into foxes lately I suppose… wonder what this means for the world at large…
March 24, 2024
this is the best novella I've read so far this year, and among one of the best books I've read in 2024 as well. the writing style and the world felt wholly unique, and the narrating style really gripped me from the start.
December 31, 2023
2.5 stars. The story has great bones, but sadly a lot of potential for worldbuilding, character development, and plot craft went untapped. I really wanted to like Quintus, our Navigating Fox, but he seemed almost uninterested in narrating his own story. What few interesting side characters there were didn’t impact the story in any meaningful way. Lastly, the finale was barely a fizzle, and answered zero questions. I think if Quintus had opened up to me as the reader, sharing his thoughts and experiences, it would’ve done wonders for keeping me engaged. As it stands (for me), this was only mildly interesting.
June 15, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley & Tordotcom for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.
3.5 stars
The Navigating Fox is set in an incredibly captivating world. The worldbuilding was exquisite and I would love to read more stories set here. The writing was distinctive and gripping and I wanted more.
Unfortunately, I think the length of this novella let the story down. The world was great, the characters were interesting, but there just was not enough to fully absorb yourself in the narrative and feel connected to the story.
3.5 stars
The Navigating Fox is set in an incredibly captivating world. The worldbuilding was exquisite and I would love to read more stories set here. The writing was distinctive and gripping and I wanted more.
Unfortunately, I think the length of this novella let the story down. The world was great, the characters were interesting, but there just was not enough to fully absorb yourself in the narrative and feel connected to the story.
Read
March 16, 2024DNF @ p. 50. Some good stuff here but imo a little bit too much being thrown at the wall. In other words, needs more focus, or a faster pace. I like the concept of the lone navigating fox a lot though.
I guess the premise is good but there’s a few too many “fun facts” about the fantasy world setting, and I just don’t find it that compelling? Fantasy Roman imperial setting, with talking animals - got it. Reminded me of The Family Tree by Sheri Tepper, which also has a world of talking animals but iirc it was a lot grittier, and there was also a great twist at a certain point that took that book to another level. Maybe this book has that too, who knows!
I guess the premise is good but there’s a few too many “fun facts” about the fantasy world setting, and I just don’t find it that compelling? Fantasy Roman imperial setting, with talking animals - got it. Reminded me of The Family Tree by Sheri Tepper, which also has a world of talking animals but iirc it was a lot grittier, and there was also a great twist at a certain point that took that book to another level. Maybe this book has that too, who knows!
October 16, 2023
In The Navigating Fox, animals are either voiceless or knowledgeable. Voiceless animals are akin to what we have in reality, knowledgeable ones capable of conversing. Quintus is the sole knowledgeable fox in the world. A year ago, he led an expedition that ended in disaster, with him as the only survivor. He’s been scorned ever since. A chance to redeem himself and discover his origins comes in the form of leading an expedition to the gates of Hell.
Christopher Rowe introduces readers to a vibrant world in a limited novella. The way the world is set up with both humans and talking animals is reminiscent of Narnia, though that’s where the similarities end. It’s an especially compelling concept when the story leans into potential conflicts that could arise in such a society. How do these animals live beside humans? What if a knowledgeable animal is mistaken for a voiceless one? With a setting inspired by Roman histories, I’d be very interested in reading more stories set in this world, especially because so many questions go unanswered.
The novella has surprisingly amusing moments. The scenes in chamber with all the attendants clamouring, human and animal alike, are rife with humour. Unfortunately, the novel features extensive contemplation, and builds questions regarding the world and history of knowledgeable animals that largely go answered. This makes for a story that’s hard to stay engaged with. It was only in the final 15% that I found myself deeply invested in the story and its resolution. If only the middle had the same sense of tension. Despite the characters journeying on a Very Important Mission, each with secret motives and goals behind doing so, there’s a missing sense of urgency to their travels. As if in actuality, the journey and destination are insignificant.
All in all, it’s a novella with an interesting concept and some funny scenes, but it also left me wanting something more gripping. Not terrible, but I do feel rather ambivalent towards the story.
2.5 stars
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Christopher Rowe introduces readers to a vibrant world in a limited novella. The way the world is set up with both humans and talking animals is reminiscent of Narnia, though that’s where the similarities end. It’s an especially compelling concept when the story leans into potential conflicts that could arise in such a society. How do these animals live beside humans? What if a knowledgeable animal is mistaken for a voiceless one? With a setting inspired by Roman histories, I’d be very interested in reading more stories set in this world, especially because so many questions go unanswered.
The novella has surprisingly amusing moments. The scenes in chamber with all the attendants clamouring, human and animal alike, are rife with humour. Unfortunately, the novel features extensive contemplation, and builds questions regarding the world and history of knowledgeable animals that largely go answered. This makes for a story that’s hard to stay engaged with. It was only in the final 15% that I found myself deeply invested in the story and its resolution. If only the middle had the same sense of tension. Despite the characters journeying on a Very Important Mission, each with secret motives and goals behind doing so, there’s a missing sense of urgency to their travels. As if in actuality, the journey and destination are insignificant.
All in all, it’s a novella with an interesting concept and some funny scenes, but it also left me wanting something more gripping. Not terrible, but I do feel rather ambivalent towards the story.
2.5 stars
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 18, 2024
I bloody well hope this story has a sequel, because it hit all the right notes for me, and I loved it.
My favourite books are those that have beautiful literary prose, but more interesting worlds and plots. This certainly did all of that, with really lovely writing throughout. The world it built was vaguely recognisable as an echo of our own geographically, with a Rome-like empire at its centre and a colony city (somewhat like our world's Carthage, maybe) as the starting setting. The key difference, of course, is that some proportion of animals are granted thought and speech by alchemy, though apparently not generally foxes. I really notice if a world imagines a fundamental difference from ours but then doesn't think of the ramifications, and I was pleased to find that this was not the case here, with logistics of a many-species society thought through. I loved that different species and people of different human cultures thought about the world differently, and that our narrator's mind felt properly different.
On top of that fantastic worldbuilding is a plot designed to get at the mysteries of the world and of our narrator. Quintus, alone among anyone he has met, can walk the Silver Roads, a set of paths that exist outside normal space and time, and he has been hired to walk those paths to the gates of hell. We get to explore the mysteries inherent to all of that in a somewhat non-linear narrative, and enough questions remain that I'm hoping Rowe is intending to write more of these. I know I will certainly read them.
Edit: I've read another review and realised that it takes place in an equivalent of North America, across Oceanus; the port is compared to the cities on Mare Nostrum, which would be the Mediterranean. It seems like it starts somewhere near Florida? Cool.
My favourite books are those that have beautiful literary prose, but more interesting worlds and plots. This certainly did all of that, with really lovely writing throughout. The world it built was vaguely recognisable as an echo of our own geographically, with a Rome-like empire at its centre and a colony city (somewhat like our world's Carthage, maybe) as the starting setting. The key difference, of course, is that some proportion of animals are granted thought and speech by alchemy, though apparently not generally foxes. I really notice if a world imagines a fundamental difference from ours but then doesn't think of the ramifications, and I was pleased to find that this was not the case here, with logistics of a many-species society thought through. I loved that different species and people of different human cultures thought about the world differently, and that our narrator's mind felt properly different.
On top of that fantastic worldbuilding is a plot designed to get at the mysteries of the world and of our narrator. Quintus, alone among anyone he has met, can walk the Silver Roads, a set of paths that exist outside normal space and time, and he has been hired to walk those paths to the gates of hell. We get to explore the mysteries inherent to all of that in a somewhat non-linear narrative, and enough questions remain that I'm hoping Rowe is intending to write more of these. I know I will certainly read them.
Edit: I've read another review and realised that it takes place in an equivalent of North America, across Oceanus; the port is compared to the cities on Mare Nostrum, which would be the Mediterranean. It seems like it starts somewhere near Florida? Cool.
June 13, 2023
What a gem of a story! What an intricate and interesting world built around talking animals that maybe should seem twee, but is, in fact, deeply grounded and lovely; what an animated and adventurous narrator as unreliable as he is earnest and as cunning as he is desperate; what magnificent prose--fluid, educated, worldly, beautiful! What an aching snapshot of how lonely Quintus is, despite all the people who surround him. This slim novella presents a nostalgic-feeling world that digs into the road to Hell and all the good intentions it's paved with. Simply, I loved it.
June 21, 2024
This delightful story is 150 pages and leaves you wanting to know more about this “fantastic” fox 🦊, the only navigating fox in this world of Latin names, talking and non talking beasts, and ancient gods. The journey to Hell, double crossing cult leaders, a discovery of ghosts, and twin cartographer raccoons named Loci and Foci make this two day read an amuse bouche that will leave you wanting more from this universe.
June 4, 2024
Let me start right off the bat and say: freaking love raccoons.
You know, there's just something about short stories. You pick them up when you want a quick read, and then you find yourself trying to slow down so you won't finish too quickly. The Navigating Fox was one of those books.
I believe one of the standout aspects of The Navigating Fox is its immersive, captivating, scrumdelicious world-building. Like, my god, guys, I'm actually kicking my feet while writing this. I'm a sucker for good world-building, and it takes a lot of work to make a good one, let alone one in a short amount of pages. The author has crafted a rich, detailed universe that captivates from the very beginning, and this without info-dumping. This just deserves an applause, because how? Christopher Rowe, you freaking genius.
Set in a world where an alchemy process turns non-human animals into "knowledgeable", we follow the journey of Quintus, the only known knowledgeable fox. He doesn't know who made him or why. Each character within this world is well-developed, with their own unique backstories and motivations (my favorites were the raccoons, cause duh). The ending of the book deserves special mention. I can understand why some people might not enjoy the way it ends, but I believe it was perfect. However, while the ending is satisfying, the journey to get there feels a bit rushed. A lot seems to happen, and conflicts that have been building up resolve too swiftly. This made the climax feel less impactful.
But overall, The Navigating Fox is a captivating read that excels in world-building. Despite a slightly rushed ending, it remains an enjoyable book that is well worth the read.
You know, there's just something about short stories. You pick them up when you want a quick read, and then you find yourself trying to slow down so you won't finish too quickly. The Navigating Fox was one of those books.
I believe one of the standout aspects of The Navigating Fox is its immersive, captivating, scrumdelicious world-building. Like, my god, guys, I'm actually kicking my feet while writing this. I'm a sucker for good world-building, and it takes a lot of work to make a good one, let alone one in a short amount of pages. The author has crafted a rich, detailed universe that captivates from the very beginning, and this without info-dumping. This just deserves an applause, because how? Christopher Rowe, you freaking genius.
Set in a world where an alchemy process turns non-human animals into "knowledgeable", we follow the journey of Quintus, the only known knowledgeable fox. He doesn't know who made him or why. Each character within this world is well-developed, with their own unique backstories and motivations (my favorites were the raccoons, cause duh). The ending of the book deserves special mention. I can understand why some people might not enjoy the way it ends, but I believe it was perfect. However, while the ending is satisfying, the journey to get there feels a bit rushed. A lot seems to happen, and conflicts that have been building up resolve too swiftly. This made the climax feel less impactful.
But overall, The Navigating Fox is a captivating read that excels in world-building. Despite a slightly rushed ending, it remains an enjoyable book that is well worth the read.
September 14, 2023
A very different and very whimsical book albeit the serious events and existentialist questions.
Quintus is the only knowing fox in a world of knowing and talking animals amongst humans. He is also the only fox able to navigate the silver road, and in his quest to find out exactly how he came to be, must lead another expedition along to life's end.
This book is very difficult to describe in entirety without spoiling too much since its novella sized. The world and story is incredibly intriguing and I found myself wanting to know more.
Despite this there are some sections that seem just a bit stilted and you're left wondering what you missed.
A small thing that can make this book a bit hard to read are the names, they are roman inspired and therefore not your everyday, flow of the tongue names, which honestly halts the reading flow when bombarded with many different characters.
That said, its fun and inspiring reading the hows and whats of the sly and cunning fox and the naivety of some religious followers. It’s a colourful tale of finding your place and purpose in life, even if it’s not what you originally set out for.
Quintus is the only knowing fox in a world of knowing and talking animals amongst humans. He is also the only fox able to navigate the silver road, and in his quest to find out exactly how he came to be, must lead another expedition along to life's end.
This book is very difficult to describe in entirety without spoiling too much since its novella sized. The world and story is incredibly intriguing and I found myself wanting to know more.
Despite this there are some sections that seem just a bit stilted and you're left wondering what you missed.
A small thing that can make this book a bit hard to read are the names, they are roman inspired and therefore not your everyday, flow of the tongue names, which honestly halts the reading flow when bombarded with many different characters.
That said, its fun and inspiring reading the hows and whats of the sly and cunning fox and the naivety of some religious followers. It’s a colourful tale of finding your place and purpose in life, even if it’s not what you originally set out for.
August 9, 2023
**Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review**
Quintus Shu’al is the world's only navigating fox, on a journey to repair his reputation after an ill fated first journey to the Gates of Hell. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The novella was fast paced, in some places a little too fast, and I found myself rereading pages to make sure I grasped what was happening. All together though? It really was a fun read. Humans and animals coexisting, some with voices, some without, all following the world’s only Navigating Fox to the Gates of Hell.
Quintus Shu’al is the world's only navigating fox, on a journey to repair his reputation after an ill fated first journey to the Gates of Hell. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The novella was fast paced, in some places a little too fast, and I found myself rereading pages to make sure I grasped what was happening. All together though? It really was a fun read. Humans and animals coexisting, some with voices, some without, all following the world’s only Navigating Fox to the Gates of Hell.
Read
June 13, 2023Idk … I enjoyed the worldbuilding. The plot/structure was fine. I think this didn’t quite satisfy me bc of the pacing of information reveals. For instance, once we know that Quintus was hired to kill the first expedition, that timeline loses tension/suspense. Also the main reason I was reading was to find out what Quintus wants to know—who created him and why. I get why this isn’t answered (leaving room for subsequent novellas) but still, I kind of finished this novella and was like “that’s it?” If, in the climactic scene, Quintus has been more torn between saving his friends vs trying to weasel the story of his origins out of Scipio, and then his decision to bail and save his friends had been more of a character growth moment, I would’ve been into that. Which reminds me—Hell didn’t really come off as perilous at all? Quintus can swoop in and swoop out with nary a scratch.
The politics are interesting. It’s essentially an alternate history about fantasy Rome coming into contact with fantasy Indigenous peoples of North America. I think the author wanted to make it clear that empire = bad without having imperialism be the central thematic issue … which, fair enough I suppose. Someone more knowledgeable than me should look at the portrayal of Indigenous peoples in this book too; they kind of came off as incredibly wise and enlightened, which, while probably better than the opposite, risks its own sort of stereotype.
I did enjoy reading this, to be clear, and I would love to read more in this world. I think I just felt unsatisfied on several fronts. Perhaps the novella isn’t the ideal form for this and it should’ve been a novel. Perhaps it should be a series of novellas and I’m judging prematurely.
The politics are interesting. It’s essentially an alternate history about fantasy Rome coming into contact with fantasy Indigenous peoples of North America. I think the author wanted to make it clear that empire = bad without having imperialism be the central thematic issue … which, fair enough I suppose. Someone more knowledgeable than me should look at the portrayal of Indigenous peoples in this book too; they kind of came off as incredibly wise and enlightened, which, while probably better than the opposite, risks its own sort of stereotype.
I did enjoy reading this, to be clear, and I would love to read more in this world. I think I just felt unsatisfied on several fronts. Perhaps the novella isn’t the ideal form for this and it should’ve been a novel. Perhaps it should be a series of novellas and I’m judging prematurely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2023
A colorful little novella with great world building, plenty of mysteries, and a main character that’s always has to do things the hard way. This story has both Redwall and the Golden Compass vibes, so do with that what you will. I had a great time!
ARC provided by Tor and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own.
ARC provided by Tor and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own.
September 21, 2023
There is a lot of punch packed into this little novel. The story itself is interesting and entertaining. The characters are engaging and relatable. What makes this book so great is the multitude of options for interpretation, symbolism and representation. This is something you can think about, peel back a layer and think about all over again, almost endlessly.
September 14, 2023
Oh look, another really good novella put out by Tor that leans towards the more literary end of the genre. Seriously if you want a quick and quality read in this genre just look at what Tor’s published. You can’t go wrong. I’m glad I got the read the ARC.
September 25, 2023
The Navigating Fox is the most creative book I've read all year. The world building is interesting and immersive, and I'm pretty sure I spent most of the time I set aside to read this every night to keep notes about the fantastic alternative world Rowe has created here.
Representation:
- there are a lot of diverse secondary characters
Quintus Shu'al, the world's only navigating fox, has a chance to redeem himself after leading his last expedition to their deaths. All he has to do is lead a fresh group—a Holy Priest, the sister of one of the first journey's victims, twin raccoon cartographers, and a well-respected bison ambassador—to the very gates of Hell. If he does this, then Quintus can finally learn about his own origins and why he's the only fox to have been given human-like sentience and speech.
I don't think I've loved a world so much since Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea. Even though it's an alternative reimagining of the Roman Empire and not a completely new creation, it still feels just as refreshing, creative, and original. In Christopher Rowe's world, humans (although it's not quite remembered when it happened or by whom) have figured out a way to give animals human-like speech and thought. These animals are considered Knowledgeable, and those that have not been meddled with are "regular" Unknowledgeable animals.
The Roman Empire has expanded, not only to what seems like East Asia, but pre-colonial North America as well—or, at least, it has alliances with these places. I won't lie, it might have taken me three-fourths of the novella to really understand the scope of the world, but that was part of the fun. For me, at least, because it seems like this made the story less enjoyable for other reviewers.
So yes, yes, I loved the world to death, but when it came to characters and plot, things were less entertaining. Our main character, Quintus, was very strong and had a great sense of humor, but the others seemed a little flat by comparison (wait, except for the bison Walks Along Woman, who is perfect in every way and needs her own standalone; actually, a whole cycle of novellas in this universe would be everything I ever needed). There was also a slightly disrespectful tone used whenever Quintus or the others would talk or think about nomadic tribes or smaller indigenous peoples. Although I'm not sure if that was a result of him and them being a part of the "great Empire", and looking down on those who weren't.
The plot also was a bit messy, and the climax a kind of strange and muddled. Ill-used humor shattered the tension, and because Quintus didn't care about anything that was happening during the climax, it was hard for me to care, too. But I still came out of the story feeling fond of the world and its characters—and most importantly, wanting more. The writing style was also elegant and witty in a way was never not cheap or reduced to solely snappy dialogue, and I'll definitely keep an eye on this author to see what he does next.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and Tordotcom for allowing me to read a copy of this book!
Representation:
- there are a lot of diverse secondary characters
Quintus Shu'al, the world's only navigating fox, has a chance to redeem himself after leading his last expedition to their deaths. All he has to do is lead a fresh group—a Holy Priest, the sister of one of the first journey's victims, twin raccoon cartographers, and a well-respected bison ambassador—to the very gates of Hell. If he does this, then Quintus can finally learn about his own origins and why he's the only fox to have been given human-like sentience and speech.
I don't think I've loved a world so much since Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea. Even though it's an alternative reimagining of the Roman Empire and not a completely new creation, it still feels just as refreshing, creative, and original. In Christopher Rowe's world, humans (although it's not quite remembered when it happened or by whom) have figured out a way to give animals human-like speech and thought. These animals are considered Knowledgeable, and those that have not been meddled with are "regular" Unknowledgeable animals.
The Roman Empire has expanded, not only to what seems like East Asia, but pre-colonial North America as well—or, at least, it has alliances with these places. I won't lie, it might have taken me three-fourths of the novella to really understand the scope of the world, but that was part of the fun. For me, at least, because it seems like this made the story less enjoyable for other reviewers.
So yes, yes, I loved the world to death, but when it came to characters and plot, things were less entertaining. Our main character, Quintus, was very strong and had a great sense of humor, but the others seemed a little flat by comparison (wait, except for the bison Walks Along Woman, who is perfect in every way and needs her own standalone; actually, a whole cycle of novellas in this universe would be everything I ever needed). There was also a slightly disrespectful tone used whenever Quintus or the others would talk or think about nomadic tribes or smaller indigenous peoples. Although I'm not sure if that was a result of him and them being a part of the "great Empire", and looking down on those who weren't.
The plot also was a bit messy, and the climax a kind of strange and muddled. Ill-used humor shattered the tension, and because Quintus didn't care about anything that was happening during the climax, it was hard for me to care, too. But I still came out of the story feeling fond of the world and its characters—and most importantly, wanting more. The writing style was also elegant and witty in a way was never not cheap or reduced to solely snappy dialogue, and I'll definitely keep an eye on this author to see what he does next.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and Tordotcom for allowing me to read a copy of this book!
September 25, 2023
I was provided an ARC of this manuscript in exchange for my honest review.
THE NAVIGATING FOX is an interesting read. It's a novella that takes place in a world where there are "knowledgeable" creatures (i.e., animals that can talk). Among these knowledgeable animals is Quintus Shu'al, the only one of his kind. He is a fox who can navigate the mysterious Silver Roads, a series of paths and shortcuts that only he can successfully travel (or bring others on). This journey may prove stranger than any other though, as he and his companions travel the Silver Roads to Hell, in order to seal off death forever.
I would primarily describe this as being beautifully written. The prose is lyrical, the imagery transporting the reader right into the story. This is one of those novellas where it just feels good to read it because the words sound pretty, even if you're not actually absorbing any of the story.
That said, the story itself is also philosophically intriguing. In addition to the more obvious exploration of the inevitability of death, there is also an interesting discussion about identity threaded throughout the book. As the last of his kind, Quintus Shu'al knows nothing about how he came to be, what his purpose is, or anything about his origins. The reason why he leads the group to Hell in the first place is because he believes that one among them holds the secret to his being. This creates interesting questions about what makes up a person's identity; is it important to know where we come from? To what degree does-- or should-- who we were affect who were are, or who we will become? Then there are questions about death: even if we could put an end to death, should we? What would be the consequences of erasing such a fundamental pillar of existence?
I also enjoyed thinking about this novella from a worldbuilding perspective. There is a definite hierarchy in this world-- and much like our own, this hierarchy can vary depending on regional and cultural differences. However, generally, knowledgeable animals were considered at least equal to the humans in all the regions we observed. Based on historical precedent, it seems unlikely that this came about without a fight, which begs the question, how did this society form? It's not a question we ever get an answer to, but nonetheless, it proves to be a fun thought experiment.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this novella. It was thought-provoking, beautifully written, and an interesting read in all. I would highly recommend this to people who like fables and want to really think about the nature of our world for a minute.
THE NAVIGATING FOX is an interesting read. It's a novella that takes place in a world where there are "knowledgeable" creatures (i.e., animals that can talk). Among these knowledgeable animals is Quintus Shu'al, the only one of his kind. He is a fox who can navigate the mysterious Silver Roads, a series of paths and shortcuts that only he can successfully travel (or bring others on). This journey may prove stranger than any other though, as he and his companions travel the Silver Roads to Hell, in order to seal off death forever.
I would primarily describe this as being beautifully written. The prose is lyrical, the imagery transporting the reader right into the story. This is one of those novellas where it just feels good to read it because the words sound pretty, even if you're not actually absorbing any of the story.
That said, the story itself is also philosophically intriguing. In addition to the more obvious exploration of the inevitability of death, there is also an interesting discussion about identity threaded throughout the book. As the last of his kind, Quintus Shu'al knows nothing about how he came to be, what his purpose is, or anything about his origins. The reason why he leads the group to Hell in the first place is because he believes that one among them holds the secret to his being. This creates interesting questions about what makes up a person's identity; is it important to know where we come from? To what degree does-- or should-- who we were affect who were are, or who we will become? Then there are questions about death: even if we could put an end to death, should we? What would be the consequences of erasing such a fundamental pillar of existence?
I also enjoyed thinking about this novella from a worldbuilding perspective. There is a definite hierarchy in this world-- and much like our own, this hierarchy can vary depending on regional and cultural differences. However, generally, knowledgeable animals were considered at least equal to the humans in all the regions we observed. Based on historical precedent, it seems unlikely that this came about without a fight, which begs the question, how did this society form? It's not a question we ever get an answer to, but nonetheless, it proves to be a fun thought experiment.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this novella. It was thought-provoking, beautifully written, and an interesting read in all. I would highly recommend this to people who like fables and want to really think about the nature of our world for a minute.
October 3, 2023
After Quintus, the world's only navigating fox, guides an expedition to its doom, he is offered a chance at redemption: lead a team of humans and animals to the gates of Hell.
I loved this book! From the very beginning, the premise and the world-building were quickly established in a way that is easy to comprehend. I loved how Aquacolonia was depicted, as a city that has systems and structures in place that are inclusive to the knowledgable animals as travellers/residents. I wished the backstory/religion/society behind the Lady of Toosa was explored more; I feel like a lot of her influence and status was left unexplained.
I found the cast of characters enjoyable; the dynamic of the group was interesting to read, and I wished there were more opportunities for them to interact, but Quintus is a pretty solitary character and so, keeps himself apart from the group.
I also enjoyed Quintus' perspective. He makes for a reliable guide when introducing readers to this world, but I get the sense that he is somewhat of an unreliable narrator. Outside of the part when Quintus tells of his first memory, he remains a mysterious figure whose past is unknown to the reader, and even to himself (this is kind of the subplot).
The premise of the Silver Roads is not anything original, but serves its function in the story. I found the depiction of hell to be rather intriguing, and I wish that that could have been explored further.
I would like to read a sequel to this, to find out where Quintus goes after the events of this book, and to find out how the revelation that occurs in this book impacts the Empire.
PS the racoon twins reminded me of Timmy and Tommy from Animal Crossing
Thank you NetGalley and Tor for the ARC!
I loved this book! From the very beginning, the premise and the world-building were quickly established in a way that is easy to comprehend. I loved how Aquacolonia was depicted, as a city that has systems and structures in place that are inclusive to the knowledgable animals as travellers/residents. I wished the backstory/religion/society behind the Lady of Toosa was explored more; I feel like a lot of her influence and status was left unexplained.
I found the cast of characters enjoyable; the dynamic of the group was interesting to read, and I wished there were more opportunities for them to interact, but Quintus is a pretty solitary character and so, keeps himself apart from the group.
I also enjoyed Quintus' perspective. He makes for a reliable guide when introducing readers to this world, but I get the sense that he is somewhat of an unreliable narrator. Outside of the part when Quintus tells of his first memory, he remains a mysterious figure whose past is unknown to the reader, and even to himself (this is kind of the subplot).
The premise of the Silver Roads is not anything original, but serves its function in the story. I found the depiction of hell to be rather intriguing, and I wish that that could have been explored further.
I would like to read a sequel to this, to find out where Quintus goes after the events of this book, and to find out how the revelation that occurs in this book impacts the Empire.
PS the racoon twins reminded me of Timmy and Tommy from Animal Crossing
Thank you NetGalley and Tor for the ARC!
October 23, 2023
You know how sometimes you're hanging out in a river with your friends and they warn you that there's a spot where the bottom seems to be as even as in all other places, but it's actually a deep ravine? This is what this novella feels like. In 160 pages Rowe packs enough lore to drown an unwilling reader, while those who get on board with the wondrous and dangerous world of knowledgeable animals will undoubtedly want to dive in even deeper.
I would be lying if I said I read this book, when what I actually did was devour it. Every page and every word felt essential, another little piece of this intricate and wordy puzzle, that manages to draw a place and time wholly unlike ours while keeping the tone fun and caper-y. If there's one thing I don't love about this, it's the fact that there isn't already a sequel novel or spin-off announced. I want more of this world and these characters and I am here to shout about it. Give! Me! More!
I would be lying if I said I read this book, when what I actually did was devour it. Every page and every word felt essential, another little piece of this intricate and wordy puzzle, that manages to draw a place and time wholly unlike ours while keeping the tone fun and caper-y. If there's one thing I don't love about this, it's the fact that there isn't already a sequel novel or spin-off announced. I want more of this world and these characters and I am here to shout about it. Give! Me! More!
December 19, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review!
I found this novella to be enjoyable. The characters and story building were interesting. When it came to the plot, I wasn’t entirely sure what was going on. I get the main point, but I would’ve liked some more explaining or details. Perhaps I would’ve enjoyed it more it more as a full length novel? Either way, I liked this book but I found some things lacking. It could be that I am not the intended audience or it simply wasn’t the right time for me to read it. I would like to read more from this author in the future nevertheless.
I found this novella to be enjoyable. The characters and story building were interesting. When it came to the plot, I wasn’t entirely sure what was going on. I get the main point, but I would’ve liked some more explaining or details. Perhaps I would’ve enjoyed it more it more as a full length novel? Either way, I liked this book but I found some things lacking. It could be that I am not the intended audience or it simply wasn’t the right time for me to read it. I would like to read more from this author in the future nevertheless.
December 19, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review!
I found this novella to be enjoyable. The characters and story building were interesting. When it came to the plot, I wasn’t entirely sure what was going on. I get the main point, but I would’ve liked some more explaining or details. Perhaps I would’ve enjoyed it more it more as a full length novel? Either way, I liked this book but I found some things lacking. It could be that I am not the intended audience or it simply wasn’t the right time for me to read it. I would like to read more from this author in the future nevertheless.
I found this novella to be enjoyable. The characters and story building were interesting. When it came to the plot, I wasn’t entirely sure what was going on. I get the main point, but I would’ve liked some more explaining or details. Perhaps I would’ve enjoyed it more it more as a full length novel? Either way, I liked this book but I found some things lacking. It could be that I am not the intended audience or it simply wasn’t the right time for me to read it. I would like to read more from this author in the future nevertheless.
January 5, 2024
Books like this are why I love visiting my local library and just browsing. I never would have found this otherwise.
This was a fun book! The story, two actually!, of Quintus the fox and his adventures in a world nothing like ours, and arguably all that much better for it. Joined by a cast of characters, some animal, some human, some with the knowledge, some without, and some with even more than that. Just enough worldbuilding - without info-dumping - for such a short book. The dialogue is humorous and smart, and the overall feel is of a morality tale or an otherworldly fable. I could imagine a follow-up, as we get plenty to expand upon here, but it is hardly necessary.
This was a fun book! The story, two actually!, of Quintus the fox and his adventures in a world nothing like ours, and arguably all that much better for it. Joined by a cast of characters, some animal, some human, some with the knowledge, some without, and some with even more than that. Just enough worldbuilding - without info-dumping - for such a short book. The dialogue is humorous and smart, and the overall feel is of a morality tale or an otherworldly fable. I could imagine a follow-up, as we get plenty to expand upon here, but it is hardly necessary.
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