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Red Fox
In the 1950’s, a Siberian scientist began an experiment with one goal in mind - to breed a domesticated variation of the red fox. After ten generations of breeding the scientist had reduced the adrenalin levels in the animal and created a tame creature named the Silver Fox.
Decades later, the Australian government use this knowledge to devise a shocking plan that will end humanity as the world knows it.
When Freya Walker and her family are ordered to attend a town meeting by the ruthless Biocentric government, Freya is certain something horrible will occur.
The people of her town are split into four groups of people: As, Bs, Cs and Ds. Freya is the only one placed into the mysterious Bs group and transported to a ring in the bushland where she must survive a fortnight without food, water or weapons with her new companion and fellow Bs member, Whilliam Cliff.
As Freya and Whil begin to unravel the truth behind the Bs group, fighting for their freedom becomes a key part in overthrowing the Government and putting an end to their heinous plans for humanity.
Decades later, the Australian government use this knowledge to devise a shocking plan that will end humanity as the world knows it.
When Freya Walker and her family are ordered to attend a town meeting by the ruthless Biocentric government, Freya is certain something horrible will occur.
The people of her town are split into four groups of people: As, Bs, Cs and Ds. Freya is the only one placed into the mysterious Bs group and transported to a ring in the bushland where she must survive a fortnight without food, water or weapons with her new companion and fellow Bs member, Whilliam Cliff.
As Freya and Whil begin to unravel the truth behind the Bs group, fighting for their freedom becomes a key part in overthrowing the Government and putting an end to their heinous plans for humanity.
- GenresDystopiaYoung Adult
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 11, 2015
18 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
Lara Fanning
4 books14 followersThis author is also published under L.E. Fanning.
Lara Fanning is an Australian author of children and young adult fiction. Her young adult trilogy, Red Fox, is currently her most notable work. Lara was born in Melbourne, Australia, and moved to a small coastal community in New South Wales at the age of five. Here, she developed a deep love for the land, ocean, and wildlife. She worked in various animal care and writing positions before completing a Bachelor of Zoology with first-class honors in animal welfare science at the University of New England. She currently works as an animal welfare researcher with the University of Melbourne, aiming to improve the living conditions of animals under human care. Through writing, Lara aims to blur the lines between magic and science, fiction and reality, using the knowledge gained throughout her studies. She focuses on creating stories that inspire and delight young readers, with the hopes that these works also help mature audiences to remember the joy of reading, discovery, and imagination. ' to 'Lara Fanning is an Australian author of children and young adult fiction. Her young adult trilogy, Red Fox, is currently her most notable work. Lara was born in Melbourne, Australia, and moved to a small coastal community in New South Wales at the age of five. Here, she developed a deep love for the land, ocean, and wildlife. She worked in various animal care and writing positions before completing a Bachelor of Zoology with first-class honors in animal welfare science at the University of New England. She currently works as an animal welfare researcher with the University of Melbourne, aiming to improve the living conditions of animals under human care. Through writing, Lara aims to blur the lines between magic and science, fiction and reality, using the knowledge gained throughout her studies. She focuses on creating stories that inspire and delight young readers, with the hopes that these works also help mature audiences to remember the joy of reading, discovery, and imagination.
Lara Fanning is an Australian author of children and young adult fiction. Her young adult trilogy, Red Fox, is currently her most notable work. Lara was born in Melbourne, Australia, and moved to a small coastal community in New South Wales at the age of five. Here, she developed a deep love for the land, ocean, and wildlife. She worked in various animal care and writing positions before completing a Bachelor of Zoology with first-class honors in animal welfare science at the University of New England. She currently works as an animal welfare researcher with the University of Melbourne, aiming to improve the living conditions of animals under human care. Through writing, Lara aims to blur the lines between magic and science, fiction and reality, using the knowledge gained throughout her studies. She focuses on creating stories that inspire and delight young readers, with the hopes that these works also help mature audiences to remember the joy of reading, discovery, and imagination. ' to 'Lara Fanning is an Australian author of children and young adult fiction. Her young adult trilogy, Red Fox, is currently her most notable work. Lara was born in Melbourne, Australia, and moved to a small coastal community in New South Wales at the age of five. Here, she developed a deep love for the land, ocean, and wildlife. She worked in various animal care and writing positions before completing a Bachelor of Zoology with first-class honors in animal welfare science at the University of New England. She currently works as an animal welfare researcher with the University of Melbourne, aiming to improve the living conditions of animals under human care. Through writing, Lara aims to blur the lines between magic and science, fiction and reality, using the knowledge gained throughout her studies. She focuses on creating stories that inspire and delight young readers, with the hopes that these works also help mature audiences to remember the joy of reading, discovery, and imagination.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 6, 2017
Liked it,
While I did like it ,I just didn't love it, the story it's did pull me in but it also reminded me of how Hitler treaded people . But in all it's a good story to pick up.
While I did like it ,I just didn't love it, the story it's did pull me in but it also reminded me of how Hitler treaded people . But in all it's a good story to pick up.
July 28, 2015
This was an interesting and very imaginative book with a strong YA heroine, set in Australia in a dystopian future. Kudos to the young author for her imagination, good writing skills, excellent pacing and plotting, and interesting three-dimensional characters. There were a few minor holes in the plot and characterization, and she needs to hire an editor to cut down on spelling and minor grammar errors, but the book is worth a read and I expect she will mature into a writer worth watching!
February 25, 2015
Australian Hunger Games
I found this book when it was offered for free and honestly, I don’t usually find myself actually reading the never-ending stack of books that is accumulating in my Kindle.
This is the sentence in the description that caught my attention: “In the 1950’s, a Siberian scientist began an experiment with one goal in mind - to breed a domesticated variation of the red fox. After ten generations of breeding, the scientist had reduced the adrenalin levels in the animal and created a tame creature named the Silver Fox.” Well, you had me at “In the 1950’s, a Siberian scientist began an experiment….”
I’m always looking for a new dystopian. I’m searching for a different spin and while this one was true to form in possessing many of the same elements dystopian fans love, it had some other things I’m truly a sucker for.
First I’ll go over some what I didn’t totally love (although to be honest, I loved the story.)
1. There are a lot of similarities between Red Fox and Hunger Games. Just to name a few, Freya is remarkably similar to Katniss (minus the bow, she favors her teeth as her weapon.) Whil was very similar to Peeta in that he was a very likable, but clumsy guy with a non-violent nature. Then there was a character closely matching Haymitch, but I won’t name him for fear of spoiling a very enjoyable storyline as we get to watch that character evolve. There are also birds in this book called Lyrebirds that are exactly like the Jabberjays from Hunger Games in that they could mimic sounds. In the beginning, when there was mention of Nightshade in the “arena” in Red Fox, I became pretty apprehensive that this was going to be some sort of Hunger Games fanfiction, but I found that it didn’t really end up detracting from the story.
2. I found myself wishing the dialogue was a little snappier, more quick-witted, and demonstrative of character, but a lot of it was like just a way for them to talk and I thought their conversations lacked clever banter and surprising comebacks. The dialogue wasn’t necessarily bad. I’m always just looking for larger than life characters who speak in a way I wished I could.
3. There were quite a few clichés in this story and there are two minds of this. First, it’s in first person and one could say that the character is thinking these clichés in her mind, so it’s fair game to use in the writing, but clichés sort of weaken the writing for me and I’d like clichés removed altogether in writing so that I could visualize something better in the unique way the character may see or feel something.
4. There were some inconsistencies in the storyline. For example, traditional learning had been outlawed long ago and subjects taught only consisted of survival skills, but yet somehow Freya knows exactly how to use a computer later. There were also a lot of things the government did that just didn’t really add up for me. It seemed like maybe more of a way to build tension without really having a good reason for doing some of these absurd things.
5. Freya tells us a lot about what she is like and how she feels about things. I would rather just see her put in a situation and I can deduce that for myself. For some reason, there’s just so much more satisfaction by me having to figure out the character for myself rather than her telling me who she is, but that can be a pitfall of first person, which is one of the reasons I find myself straying away and searching for stories in third person.
6. The ending was just a tad disappointing to me. I don’t feel like Freya (our main character) reached a point where she overcame a flaw in order to resolve something. Funny I say that because it sounds like I’m asking for some kind of formula for which character has flaw, character overcomes flaw, character develops plan, character implements plan, and character has satisfying ending, and I really don’t want to say that either. Good stories shouldn’t’ all look the same. I was maybe just hoping for a little more out of her.
So How about those things I loved?
Reading Red Fox was really actually quite a ride. While I did have the above little complaints, they weren’t enough to take me out of the story. I’m actually super picky with what I read these days and I found myself unable to put this down. I finished this in just a couple of days and I can’t even count how many books I have started and abandoned over the past few months.
1. The setting and descriptions. I’ve only read one other book set in Australia, that being Stolen by Lucy Christopher and I think it may have been that book that made me fall in love with The Land Down Under. The setting was described beautifully in Red Fox with alluring descriptions of the bush and rainforest. Flanning has a way of using just enough description to let us see the layout, but not too much to bog down the story. I’m not a huge fan of long descriptive paragraphs, finding myself more interested in getting to the action and character development. I thought the balance of action and setting were done perfectly. Also, I really liked how Flanning weaved in the everyday things like something as small as bathing after a few days of living in the muck. A way for Freya to start anew, refresh and recharge in a situation that is clearly an uphill battle, as well as really take us home to the fact that this is a dystopian setting and a warm shower is a luxury we all take for granted. There’s something very dystopian about it and the symbolism is not lost on me.
2. Lots of action. This is one of the two reasons I enjoyed this book so much. Something was ALWAYS going on. The first 50% was a bit slower as we got to know Freya’s situation and got to know Whil and watch them navigate their new environment, but as soon as 50% happened, it was a wild ride of one thing happening after another and I was truly surprised by the events of the second half. I actually remember thinking “this just got nutty.”
3. The second thing that really kept me intrigued was the story questions and surprising turns. I think this is the reason that I may be abandoning other books. Red Fox created many curiosities for me and did what books are supposed to do, which was make me have to find out what happens next. The tension and pacing were done really well the climax was exhilarating. There was a section right before the climax where I actually might have gasped out loud and got that excited feeling a story is supposed to give you. Props for that. It was truly fun.
4. The clinical aspect of this story was fascinating. The idea that humans can be seen as lab rats and experiments really terrifies me and this was a great spin for the dystopian genre. Even the name Biocentrics (leaders who formed this experimental movement) leads to curiosity. I would love to know more about the origins of the Biocentrics, but I suppose that is yet to come.
5. I have to say I loved Freya. I cannot even pinpoint exactly why except that she was tough and loyal and man, that girl could take a beating. I found myself a little saddened by her as I can sense a love triangle heading our way for book number two, and I truly fell in love with Whil, but you just never know, this author had a way of surprising me.
So while it seems as if my grievances listed outnumber the things I loved, I have to give Red Fox five stars for showing me again why I love to read. I’m basing this on the enjoyment factor alone. I ignored my housework and ignored the flashing on my Kindle demanding to be recharged and as I reached the end of this book and in true Murphy’s Law fashion, it died right before I got to the end, and I found myself scrambling all over the house searching for a charger because I just had to know what happened. I only tell you this because I just can’t express how much I enjoyed this book.
I have no hesitation in recommending this book to dystopian lovers and I shall patiently await book number two.
I found this book when it was offered for free and honestly, I don’t usually find myself actually reading the never-ending stack of books that is accumulating in my Kindle.
This is the sentence in the description that caught my attention: “In the 1950’s, a Siberian scientist began an experiment with one goal in mind - to breed a domesticated variation of the red fox. After ten generations of breeding, the scientist had reduced the adrenalin levels in the animal and created a tame creature named the Silver Fox.” Well, you had me at “In the 1950’s, a Siberian scientist began an experiment….”
I’m always looking for a new dystopian. I’m searching for a different spin and while this one was true to form in possessing many of the same elements dystopian fans love, it had some other things I’m truly a sucker for.
First I’ll go over some what I didn’t totally love (although to be honest, I loved the story.)
1. There are a lot of similarities between Red Fox and Hunger Games. Just to name a few, Freya is remarkably similar to Katniss (minus the bow, she favors her teeth as her weapon.) Whil was very similar to Peeta in that he was a very likable, but clumsy guy with a non-violent nature. Then there was a character closely matching Haymitch, but I won’t name him for fear of spoiling a very enjoyable storyline as we get to watch that character evolve. There are also birds in this book called Lyrebirds that are exactly like the Jabberjays from Hunger Games in that they could mimic sounds. In the beginning, when there was mention of Nightshade in the “arena” in Red Fox, I became pretty apprehensive that this was going to be some sort of Hunger Games fanfiction, but I found that it didn’t really end up detracting from the story.
2. I found myself wishing the dialogue was a little snappier, more quick-witted, and demonstrative of character, but a lot of it was like just a way for them to talk and I thought their conversations lacked clever banter and surprising comebacks. The dialogue wasn’t necessarily bad. I’m always just looking for larger than life characters who speak in a way I wished I could.
3. There were quite a few clichés in this story and there are two minds of this. First, it’s in first person and one could say that the character is thinking these clichés in her mind, so it’s fair game to use in the writing, but clichés sort of weaken the writing for me and I’d like clichés removed altogether in writing so that I could visualize something better in the unique way the character may see or feel something.
4. There were some inconsistencies in the storyline. For example, traditional learning had been outlawed long ago and subjects taught only consisted of survival skills, but yet somehow Freya knows exactly how to use a computer later. There were also a lot of things the government did that just didn’t really add up for me. It seemed like maybe more of a way to build tension without really having a good reason for doing some of these absurd things.
5. Freya tells us a lot about what she is like and how she feels about things. I would rather just see her put in a situation and I can deduce that for myself. For some reason, there’s just so much more satisfaction by me having to figure out the character for myself rather than her telling me who she is, but that can be a pitfall of first person, which is one of the reasons I find myself straying away and searching for stories in third person.
6. The ending was just a tad disappointing to me. I don’t feel like Freya (our main character) reached a point where she overcame a flaw in order to resolve something. Funny I say that because it sounds like I’m asking for some kind of formula for which character has flaw, character overcomes flaw, character develops plan, character implements plan, and character has satisfying ending, and I really don’t want to say that either. Good stories shouldn’t’ all look the same. I was maybe just hoping for a little more out of her.
So How about those things I loved?
Reading Red Fox was really actually quite a ride. While I did have the above little complaints, they weren’t enough to take me out of the story. I’m actually super picky with what I read these days and I found myself unable to put this down. I finished this in just a couple of days and I can’t even count how many books I have started and abandoned over the past few months.
1. The setting and descriptions. I’ve only read one other book set in Australia, that being Stolen by Lucy Christopher and I think it may have been that book that made me fall in love with The Land Down Under. The setting was described beautifully in Red Fox with alluring descriptions of the bush and rainforest. Flanning has a way of using just enough description to let us see the layout, but not too much to bog down the story. I’m not a huge fan of long descriptive paragraphs, finding myself more interested in getting to the action and character development. I thought the balance of action and setting were done perfectly. Also, I really liked how Flanning weaved in the everyday things like something as small as bathing after a few days of living in the muck. A way for Freya to start anew, refresh and recharge in a situation that is clearly an uphill battle, as well as really take us home to the fact that this is a dystopian setting and a warm shower is a luxury we all take for granted. There’s something very dystopian about it and the symbolism is not lost on me.
2. Lots of action. This is one of the two reasons I enjoyed this book so much. Something was ALWAYS going on. The first 50% was a bit slower as we got to know Freya’s situation and got to know Whil and watch them navigate their new environment, but as soon as 50% happened, it was a wild ride of one thing happening after another and I was truly surprised by the events of the second half. I actually remember thinking “this just got nutty.”
3. The second thing that really kept me intrigued was the story questions and surprising turns. I think this is the reason that I may be abandoning other books. Red Fox created many curiosities for me and did what books are supposed to do, which was make me have to find out what happens next. The tension and pacing were done really well the climax was exhilarating. There was a section right before the climax where I actually might have gasped out loud and got that excited feeling a story is supposed to give you. Props for that. It was truly fun.
4. The clinical aspect of this story was fascinating. The idea that humans can be seen as lab rats and experiments really terrifies me and this was a great spin for the dystopian genre. Even the name Biocentrics (leaders who formed this experimental movement) leads to curiosity. I would love to know more about the origins of the Biocentrics, but I suppose that is yet to come.
5. I have to say I loved Freya. I cannot even pinpoint exactly why except that she was tough and loyal and man, that girl could take a beating. I found myself a little saddened by her as I can sense a love triangle heading our way for book number two, and I truly fell in love with Whil, but you just never know, this author had a way of surprising me.
So while it seems as if my grievances listed outnumber the things I loved, I have to give Red Fox five stars for showing me again why I love to read. I’m basing this on the enjoyment factor alone. I ignored my housework and ignored the flashing on my Kindle demanding to be recharged and as I reached the end of this book and in true Murphy’s Law fashion, it died right before I got to the end, and I found myself scrambling all over the house searching for a charger because I just had to know what happened. I only tell you this because I just can’t express how much I enjoyed this book.
I have no hesitation in recommending this book to dystopian lovers and I shall patiently await book number two.
January 6, 2017
This story had such potential. This story had such plot holes.
Set in Australia, the government finally decided to do something about global warming. They decided to ban use of all electricity. They decided to ban use of all gas-powered things. (Good thing Australian government officials don't need to be elected, right? ...wait.) Then they go beyond that -- they want all humans to go back to living as we did in caveman times. Nothing but hunters/gathers; they wanted all humans to go back to being "feral".
How would such a thing be accomplished? First they had to kill off a good third of the population. Anyone who protested that (a tiny, tiny, tiny fraction of people, one in a thousand or less -- the main character one of them, of course) got turned into "Breeders" -- humans who were (assumedly) more aggressive so the government wanted their children to populate the world so they'd do better as hunters/gathers.
One of the first big problems of this story: How does that make sense for the government to do? Where is the benefit to the people with the power/money?
But anyway, since it was an interesting idea, I kept reading.
So the government has all these "aggressive" human types, and now they need babies. They put them into groups (three men with twenty women) and order them to make babies. If you have a bunch of "alpha type" men who are ordered, under the threat of death, to make babies with women, shouldn't there be (at the very least) pressure from the men to have sex with the women? If not outright rape? That never happened! (Other than one single almost-case of it, at the very end of the book.) All of these supposedly "aggressive" alpha males were nothing but nice and kind and blushing at the idea of having sex with the women... UGH.
It really was an interesting idea for a story, and some parts of it held my attention. I read the first 90% of it then started skimming because the end got even worse: Set-up for a love triangle in book two. Ugh.
I'd love to see this story in the hands of a more experienced, more skilled, and edited writer. (Self-published, this book was full of editing mistakes. One character was called three different names on a single page!) Still, that this author is 22 years old and this was her first book. She has potential. I'm not going to read any other books in this series, but I might pick up something from her again in the future.
Set in Australia, the government finally decided to do something about global warming. They decided to ban use of all electricity. They decided to ban use of all gas-powered things. (Good thing Australian government officials don't need to be elected, right? ...wait.) Then they go beyond that -- they want all humans to go back to living as we did in caveman times. Nothing but hunters/gathers; they wanted all humans to go back to being "feral".
How would such a thing be accomplished? First they had to kill off a good third of the population. Anyone who protested that (a tiny, tiny, tiny fraction of people, one in a thousand or less -- the main character one of them, of course) got turned into "Breeders" -- humans who were (assumedly) more aggressive so the government wanted their children to populate the world so they'd do better as hunters/gathers.
One of the first big problems of this story: How does that make sense for the government to do? Where is the benefit to the people with the power/money?
But anyway, since it was an interesting idea, I kept reading.
So the government has all these "aggressive" human types, and now they need babies. They put them into groups (three men with twenty women) and order them to make babies. If you have a bunch of "alpha type" men who are ordered, under the threat of death, to make babies with women, shouldn't there be (at the very least) pressure from the men to have sex with the women? If not outright rape? That never happened! (Other than one single almost-case of it, at the very end of the book.) All of these supposedly "aggressive" alpha males were nothing but nice and kind and blushing at the idea of having sex with the women... UGH.
It really was an interesting idea for a story, and some parts of it held my attention. I read the first 90% of it then started skimming because the end got even worse: Set-up for a love triangle in book two. Ugh.
I'd love to see this story in the hands of a more experienced, more skilled, and edited writer. (Self-published, this book was full of editing mistakes. One character was called three different names on a single page!) Still, that this author is 22 years old and this was her first book. She has potential. I'm not going to read any other books in this series, but I might pick up something from her again in the future.
March 20, 2020
Such an addictive book! This novel was such a welcome escape, I could not put it down and found myself holding my breath throughout the book. I experienced fear, disgust, terror, relief and curiosity as I consumed this novel, finding it flowed well, kept me completely hooked and hungry to see what happened to Freya next. There are also scarily accurate representations of where our society could end up, that aren't too hard to imagine and I appreciated the geeky references along the main story line to the silver fox studies, a topic that has long held my interest in the animal world. I really enjoyed the mental imagery of the Australian landscape woven into the storyline. It is easy to get addicted to these characters and I am so glad there are two more books to look forward to. I especially loved relating to Freya, her fierce character and passionate nature, living vicariously through her appreciation of the other main character, Whil, who is easy to grow attached to.
Lara is an extremely talented writer, her descriptive narrative is both engaging and compelling. I am very much looking forward to reading the remaining books in this series.
Lara is an extremely talented writer, her descriptive narrative is both engaging and compelling. I am very much looking forward to reading the remaining books in this series.
March 30, 2018
This was an entertaining YA book. I’m always happy to read books set in Australia and I’m a fan of the YA genre. Having said that, I got a strong sense of déjà vu reading this book. While it was enjoyable in and of itself, I felt very much that I was reading a combination of the “Tomorrow when the war began” series, crossed with the Hunger Games. Strong female lead - check. Mad dash through bushlands and nature - check. Love interest that gets a bit complicated - check. Evil people in power pushing a hidden agenda - check. Props to the author for the writing though - the book was well paced, the plot was fairly decent although there were a few small holes, and the character development was fairly well done too. It could do with a strong editor to help fix some of the plot holes and grammar, but it’s an all around solid effort. I liked the book and if the sequels come out, I’d be happy to read them too if they continue in the same vein.
May 6, 2020
I won this book in a contest on another site.
I LOVED THIS STORY! I don't give away spoilers.
The main characters were a teen couple and it brought back all those awkward, embarrassing moments I had as a teen while trying to get to know a boy. The book's settings were very well described and I could easily imagine the detailed settings. The main character - Freya, was strong, funny and relatable. Her partner, Whil, was easy to imagine and her reactions to him were true to any teenager's nature.
the story was well written and easy to follow. It was interesting to read this during the Covid19 pandemic.
I was happy to go online after I finished the book and to find the story continues.
I LOVED THIS STORY! I don't give away spoilers.
The main characters were a teen couple and it brought back all those awkward, embarrassing moments I had as a teen while trying to get to know a boy. The book's settings were very well described and I could easily imagine the detailed settings. The main character - Freya, was strong, funny and relatable. Her partner, Whil, was easy to imagine and her reactions to him were true to any teenager's nature.
the story was well written and easy to follow. It was interesting to read this during the Covid19 pandemic.
I was happy to go online after I finished the book and to find the story continues.
January 28, 2019
future story . the Australian Government takes over communities and divides citizens into 4 groups.
the A group, sent to other communities to live.
The B group, mysterious rebels, are sent to be bred into aggressive throwbacks
The C group,k also allowed to live
The D group, deemed useless, is taken away and executed
All modern conveniences, including cell phones and automobiles are done away with.
As might be expected, putting a bunch of rebels together and expecting them to follow rules does not work out well!
the A group, sent to other communities to live.
The B group, mysterious rebels, are sent to be bred into aggressive throwbacks
The C group,k also allowed to live
The D group, deemed useless, is taken away and executed
All modern conveniences, including cell phones and automobiles are done away with.
As might be expected, putting a bunch of rebels together and expecting them to follow rules does not work out well!
May 15, 2021
The title Fox Red I thought an interesting title. And then in the book it explains the title. It is set in Australia, but I kept forgetting that and thinking U.S. It is not a mystery or history which I like. Red Fox was so good and I wanted to read all the time. Red it if you want something different.
April 16, 2020
3.75 Stars
February 10, 2017
4.5 Stars. One of the most unique storylines I’ve read in a long time. There were some really twisted things that happened to the main character in this book, and though they were awful I enjoyed every second of watching her overcome them. Lara Fanning explores a dystopian Australia where the government seeks to take the population back to their more primitive and savage roots. Freya is a high school girl who witnesses tragedy and turmoil as her government turns her country upside down, forcing those worthy of survival to do unspeakable things. I loved this. My only complaint is that I just wish we’d gotten a little more interaction between the two main characters, Freya and Whil, in the second half of the book.
[Read more of my reviews at http://laurynapril.blogspot.com]
Freya was a well written character. She was intelligent and fierce. There were moments that I didn’t like her much in the beginning. At times, she came across as ungrateful and selfish. But, I admired her strength and independence and I think those parts of her personality kept me interested in who she was and what was happening to her. She could also be a little impulsive at times, but I think that played into this “Red Fox” concept the author explores.
Whil was also a great character. He was softer than Freya and I think he helped even her out, but he was also smart. I really liked their dynamic, and the time they spent together were my favorite scenes. Part way through the character’s environment drastically changed and it changed the mood of the book. Though it was a little abrupt, I really enjoyed the direction the story went in the second half. I just wish we’d seen more of Whil in it.
Overall, the writing was good. I found a few typos and maybe a sentence or two that was redundant, but the plot had me hanging on every word. One thing I found a little strange was that the book started out with some religious points that I didn’t understand how they fit into the overall story. For example, the first sentence is “Q1. Do you believe in God?” It was the first question on a test that Freya took, and while I understood how the test itself played into the overall plot, I felt like the rest of the story didn’t have anything to do with the character’s religious beliefs. It just seemed like there could have been less emphasis on religion in the beginning. This is definitely a must read and I’ve added the second book to my ”to-read” list.
[Read more of my reviews at http://laurynapril.blogspot.com]
Freya was a well written character. She was intelligent and fierce. There were moments that I didn’t like her much in the beginning. At times, she came across as ungrateful and selfish. But, I admired her strength and independence and I think those parts of her personality kept me interested in who she was and what was happening to her. She could also be a little impulsive at times, but I think that played into this “Red Fox” concept the author explores.
Whil was also a great character. He was softer than Freya and I think he helped even her out, but he was also smart. I really liked their dynamic, and the time they spent together were my favorite scenes. Part way through the character’s environment drastically changed and it changed the mood of the book. Though it was a little abrupt, I really enjoyed the direction the story went in the second half. I just wish we’d seen more of Whil in it.
Overall, the writing was good. I found a few typos and maybe a sentence or two that was redundant, but the plot had me hanging on every word. One thing I found a little strange was that the book started out with some religious points that I didn’t understand how they fit into the overall story. For example, the first sentence is “Q1. Do you believe in God?” It was the first question on a test that Freya took, and while I understood how the test itself played into the overall plot, I felt like the rest of the story didn’t have anything to do with the character’s religious beliefs. It just seemed like there could have been less emphasis on religion in the beginning. This is definitely a must read and I’ve added the second book to my ”to-read” list.
July 11, 2016
I'm not a big fan of dystopian. As far as YA genres go, I hate it. I'm not a fan. Because of my extreme distaste towards it, I shouldn't have fallen in love with this book.
What an utterly fantastical surprise. WOW! Just wow.
Red Fox is the type of book that the Big 5 publishers (HarperCollins, Penguin, etc.) SHOULD be putting out right now. This fantastical novel satisfies all the genre expectations of YA while simultaneously being unique enough to feel original. This indie novel is well-edited, organized and obviously well-thought out.
AND GUESS WHAT. This book is the first one I've read in a very long time, from indie pubs and traditional publishers alike, that actually ties up all the ends and MAKES SENSE. There is no meandering around in the plot, no mopey main character hanging about to drag you down with pointless emotional reflections that have no relevance to the story. Everything Freya feels is real, and her thoughts and actions feel real next to the quick moving storyline. The author's ideas combine an apocalyptic wasteland with the beauty of the Australian outback, making this book two parts futuristic and three parts survival story. The romance is well developed, and each of the characters, no matter how small of a part they have to play, have a motivation. This is what indie books should be modeled after. I would be very surprised if the author tried querying this book to an agent and got rejected, because really, this book is excellent. It really is that good.
There were some misplaced commas here and there, some small things don't match up (ex. A test is said to be in a week, but a few weeks pass before it actually happens) and I think it could've been cut off a chapter before it ended, but that's my only gripe. All small things thay can be easily fixed, no major plot problems. The only question I have now is why isn't this book getting more attention. I hardly ever give out 5 stars...the last 2 books I read, both NY Times bestsellers and traditionally published, got a lame 1 star from me. But Red Fox earns it. If this is the only YA book you read this year, it's worth your time. I'm so happy that this 22 year old author knows what she's doing. After I finished this book in one sitting, I one-clicked the next book. Buy it. I promise it's worth it.
What an utterly fantastical surprise. WOW! Just wow.
Red Fox is the type of book that the Big 5 publishers (HarperCollins, Penguin, etc.) SHOULD be putting out right now. This fantastical novel satisfies all the genre expectations of YA while simultaneously being unique enough to feel original. This indie novel is well-edited, organized and obviously well-thought out.
AND GUESS WHAT. This book is the first one I've read in a very long time, from indie pubs and traditional publishers alike, that actually ties up all the ends and MAKES SENSE. There is no meandering around in the plot, no mopey main character hanging about to drag you down with pointless emotional reflections that have no relevance to the story. Everything Freya feels is real, and her thoughts and actions feel real next to the quick moving storyline. The author's ideas combine an apocalyptic wasteland with the beauty of the Australian outback, making this book two parts futuristic and three parts survival story. The romance is well developed, and each of the characters, no matter how small of a part they have to play, have a motivation. This is what indie books should be modeled after. I would be very surprised if the author tried querying this book to an agent and got rejected, because really, this book is excellent. It really is that good.
There were some misplaced commas here and there, some small things don't match up (ex. A test is said to be in a week, but a few weeks pass before it actually happens) and I think it could've been cut off a chapter before it ended, but that's my only gripe. All small things thay can be easily fixed, no major plot problems. The only question I have now is why isn't this book getting more attention. I hardly ever give out 5 stars...the last 2 books I read, both NY Times bestsellers and traditionally published, got a lame 1 star from me. But Red Fox earns it. If this is the only YA book you read this year, it's worth your time. I'm so happy that this 22 year old author knows what she's doing. After I finished this book in one sitting, I one-clicked the next book. Buy it. I promise it's worth it.
September 9, 2015
Ohhh, I loved this book. Filled with hope, angst, rebellion, and so much more!
The Australian government no longer deems cars, TV, or some people necessary. They have everyone take a test and then put them into groups, A, B, C, or D. If you happen to fall into D you are unnecessary and are killed. It's at the sorting that Freya's best friend is told she is D. Freya's instincts kick in and she tries to protect her, but this only leads Freya to being placed in the B group. A group no one knows anything about.
She is now separated from her family and her town, transported to high in the Australian Alps, where she must survive for 2 weeks in the wilderness, with nothing but her wits and her fellow B cast off Whil. Can they survive? With a daring escape, the two think they are finally free from what ever the government wants them to do, only to have the very man himself who took them away, Seiger is waiting for them to return them to the government with all the other B's.
At the compound they learn what B stands for and what it means for them. They are separated and put in lock down. Can they survive? Can the government do this to them? What will happen to Freya at the compound? What about Whil?
Check out more over at http://6feetunderbooks.blogspot.com/2...
The Australian government no longer deems cars, TV, or some people necessary. They have everyone take a test and then put them into groups, A, B, C, or D. If you happen to fall into D you are unnecessary and are killed. It's at the sorting that Freya's best friend is told she is D. Freya's instincts kick in and she tries to protect her, but this only leads Freya to being placed in the B group. A group no one knows anything about.
She is now separated from her family and her town, transported to high in the Australian Alps, where she must survive for 2 weeks in the wilderness, with nothing but her wits and her fellow B cast off Whil. Can they survive? With a daring escape, the two think they are finally free from what ever the government wants them to do, only to have the very man himself who took them away, Seiger is waiting for them to return them to the government with all the other B's.
At the compound they learn what B stands for and what it means for them. They are separated and put in lock down. Can they survive? Can the government do this to them? What will happen to Freya at the compound? What about Whil?
Check out more over at http://6feetunderbooks.blogspot.com/2...
January 16, 2016
Freya Walker is an 18 year old living in post-Crisis Australia with her family of sheep farmers. The government group in power are the Biocentrics, who believe humans and animals are equals and that humans should live in as natural an environment as possible. But, not all is as it seems with the government. When Freya and all members of her community are rounded up and sorted into groups by representatives of the Biocentrics, harsh realities are revealed. Due to her outspoken nature Freda is placed in group B and taken away from her family to an arena where she is expected to survive based on her wits alone. There she is paired with Whilliam Cliff who is from another part of the country. Will they work together to survive? Will they determine what is group B’s purpose? What has the government done with the rest of the population?
Fanning’s first book in the Red Fox series, Red Fox is a young adult dystopian novel. Her characters are well developed and the fast-paced plot keeps you interested. She describes the environment in such a way that you are easily able to picture it. There are a number of twists that keep you surprised and wondering what will happen next.
Red Fox is a very enjoyable fast read. The sequel, Red Fox, Silver Fox was recently released and I look forward to continuing this exciting story.
Fanning’s first book in the Red Fox series, Red Fox is a young adult dystopian novel. Her characters are well developed and the fast-paced plot keeps you interested. She describes the environment in such a way that you are easily able to picture it. There are a number of twists that keep you surprised and wondering what will happen next.
Red Fox is a very enjoyable fast read. The sequel, Red Fox, Silver Fox was recently released and I look forward to continuing this exciting story.
February 13, 2015
I loved this book so much! I was lucky enough to be able to get a copy from Lara herself! This book was written very well and sadly that's a bit hard to find in some newer books.
This story is set in a time after the environment has been destroyed by pollution and other things. a new government steps up to change this and they promise to make the environment better. BUT in ever good distopian we all know the government is not to be trusted. The main character Freya is suspicious when the government call the town to a big meeting. During the meeting the people are split into groups A ,B ,C ,D. Freya is the only one chosen to be in the B group. This story then takes you through Freya's Journey in uncovering what the B group is and the government ultimate plan for the world!
As I said before I loved how well it was written! Lara was able to make chapters filled with information, but not make you feel overwhelmed. I felt like I was going through everything Freya was during the story. I was so emotionally attached to the characters it was crazy! This story is definitely a must read.
This story is set in a time after the environment has been destroyed by pollution and other things. a new government steps up to change this and they promise to make the environment better. BUT in ever good distopian we all know the government is not to be trusted. The main character Freya is suspicious when the government call the town to a big meeting. During the meeting the people are split into groups A ,B ,C ,D. Freya is the only one chosen to be in the B group. This story then takes you through Freya's Journey in uncovering what the B group is and the government ultimate plan for the world!
As I said before I loved how well it was written! Lara was able to make chapters filled with information, but not make you feel overwhelmed. I felt like I was going through everything Freya was during the story. I was so emotionally attached to the characters it was crazy! This story is definitely a must read.
October 31, 2016
Ding Ding Ding we have a winner.
This is why I love indie writers, I feel like that this book is probably the author debut and I want to compare this book to a rough diamond that still needs some polishing.
One big turn down is the cover, if the book was not for free on Amazon I probably wouldn't have looked further then the cover. But don't let the cover fool you this a great read.
Some scenes were to much, or to less needed some more pace or less drama.
Ok This sounds so negative now all the good. The author has talent, I liked the world building, loved the characters, this book made me curious and if you sum it up this book is just the way I like them.
The main character Freya is a fighter and for some reason those Aussi books are so interesting.
I can't wait to read the sequel.
This is why I love indie writers, I feel like that this book is probably the author debut and I want to compare this book to a rough diamond that still needs some polishing.
One big turn down is the cover, if the book was not for free on Amazon I probably wouldn't have looked further then the cover. But don't let the cover fool you this a great read.
Some scenes were to much, or to less needed some more pace or less drama.
Ok This sounds so negative now all the good. The author has talent, I liked the world building, loved the characters, this book made me curious and if you sum it up this book is just the way I like them.
The main character Freya is a fighter and for some reason those Aussi books are so interesting.
I can't wait to read the sequel.
September 2, 2015
I must say I loved the book. At first it felt like Hunger Games but that quickly passed. And I like the fact it in based in Australia. But I did have to look up words as I am in the US and didn't understand them but I like learning something new.
I won't say a lot as I do not do spoilers. But imagine if governments wanted to breed certain traits into a new breed of humans. And not good traits and there you have the premise of the story. Works very well too.
You will have characters you love but so many you will hate. Just a nice mixing of people and places.
I hope the next book isn't to long of a wait. Want to know what goes on now. So buy it, begin and grab a cup of tea.
I won't say a lot as I do not do spoilers. But imagine if governments wanted to breed certain traits into a new breed of humans. And not good traits and there you have the premise of the story. Works very well too.
You will have characters you love but so many you will hate. Just a nice mixing of people and places.
I hope the next book isn't to long of a wait. Want to know what goes on now. So buy it, begin and grab a cup of tea.
September 18, 2015
Young adult is not a favorite genre for me. Given that basis, I would have liked a little more development of the fall of society, I don't believe people would go along with it as easily as told. The pacing had a little to much feelings rather than action. This book follows the usual GOV. is bad and the characters fight against it. Which is common to the human history of man. This would be a 4 or 5 star read for Young Adults, as much of the plot is devoted to feelings, relationships, falling in love, and sexual pairing.
February 9, 2015
I found Lara Fanning's Red Fox a challenging read, not because it was difficult but because it opened my eyes to how the world could become. Lara make's the story so real and believable that it could, very easily, come to fruition some time in the future. I hope it doesn't.
The story touches, on some sensitive issues that many authors avoid. I think that, considering the story includes subjects such as violence, murder and rape, this book is best suited to an 18+ audience.
The story touches, on some sensitive issues that many authors avoid. I think that, considering the story includes subjects such as violence, murder and rape, this book is best suited to an 18+ audience.
January 27, 2015
Amazing book. A good take on a dystopian Australia. It's pace keeps you interested and entertained. The red fox is definitely worth the read and it leaves you wanting more from this up and coming author.
February 9, 2015
Red Fox
What a great read. I didn't want to put it down. Perfect recipe written here. Enough detail you know what is going on without getting bored. Believable characters. Ends with a an opening for the next part of this story.
What a great read. I didn't want to put it down. Perfect recipe written here. Enough detail you know what is going on without getting bored. Believable characters. Ends with a an opening for the next part of this story.
February 12, 2015
Good story, fast paced.
Story could use some more editing. Some parts had things that contradicted the story line. I enjoyed the story and I'm looking forward to more of their adventures. Thank you.
Story could use some more editing. Some parts had things that contradicted the story line. I enjoyed the story and I'm looking forward to more of their adventures. Thank you.
May 29, 2015
Wow, this book was incredibly good. Review to come.
July 22, 2015
Wow!
Not at all what I expected, in a good way!
I will be looking out for anything this author puts out!
Not at all what I expected, in a good way!
I will be looking out for anything this author puts out!
October 17, 2015
Liked it!
I liked this book very much and can't wait to see what happens next with this group of people !!!!
I liked this book very much and can't wait to see what happens next with this group of people !!!!
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