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Hope the Little Fox
Hope is a wild and carefree child growing up in a remote cottage near the coast. Hope’s high-born mother worries her unruly daughter will never become a proper lady living out in the wilderness, while her father, a grizzled military leader, does not share this concern. Instead, he encourages his crafty daughter to run free and explore, giving her the nickname “Little Fox.” When tragedy strikes their peaceful household, Hope must learn to fend for herself -- even if it means taking up the blade. But girls can’t fight...
Or can they?
Follow the Little Fox as she develops her combat skills secretly, with the help of some unlikely friends. When she realizes her abilities may reach beyond protecting her family, will Hope keep her talents hidden? Or will she understand the importance of her powers in a changing world, and unleash them for the greater good?
Or can they?
Follow the Little Fox as she develops her combat skills secretly, with the help of some unlikely friends. When she realizes her abilities may reach beyond protecting her family, will Hope keep her talents hidden? Or will she understand the importance of her powers in a changing world, and unleash them for the greater good?
329 pages, Paperback
Published May 4, 2020
12 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
E. Ozols
3 books14 followersE. Ozols lives in Alexandria, Virginia, where she spends her time on walks or jogs in the woods. Hope the Daring Fox is her third published novel, and the second in the Hope the Little Fox series. Her debut novel was Holly, the Captain, and Handsome Jack.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 12, 2020
Well, I wrote this one, so I'm a little biased. But it's a damn fun story and you should read it!
August 27, 2020
August 27th
I'll be talking about Hope The Little Fox by E. Ozols today. But first name a book you loved because of it's brilliantly written feminist take on the story!
"You are a girl."
"I don't want to be a girl "
"Why don't you want to be a girl?"
"Because I want to be a person."
It's a book that really surprised me. It's a fantasy-fiction which has a brilliant touch of feminism in it. It does contain pieces of sexual assault on women, and it has been written into the story and portrayed with brutal honesty. The depiction of the mental disintegration of a women after enduring sexual assault is aptly captured. The thread of feminism and the plight of subjugated women is woven into the fabric of the story. It was a tale that I devoured, literally. And it has notes of patriarchal politics that added to the story. A girl can be anything if she puts her mind to it. Nothing is impossible for us. That's the message and I couldn't agree more.
I completely loved the story of Hope, a six year old little girl who grows up in a cottage far from the bustle of the cities. She's the daughter of Anton, a great military advisor to King and Lady Rebecca, a high-born noble women. But pleasant morning, 'The Others' barge into their small cottage and tries to rape Lady Rebecca, while a blind Anton defending his wife is nearly beaten to death by this group of barbaric men. Hope, only six, who has no knowledge of what is happening, charges at them all.
She grows up secretly learning how to fight, how to defend. But society isn't kind to a women wanting to learn the art of war and the skill to fight. So she disguises herself under a mask to hide her identity and audaciously enough demands an equal chance to show her skill in order to be a pupil of the most prestigious academy of warcraft.
The characters in this book are well crafted, and I'm not going to forget King Marius, Lady Rebecca, Count Hugo, Vilk and Spider anytime soon. I liked that no characters were flawless, as every human is flawed in some form or the other. And in the end I wanted to read more, though it seemed a bit rushed to me. I was looking forward to reading more pages of the tale of 'The Little Fox' and I would definitely recommend this one!!
P.S. Thank you for the book e-book! @booksirens I enjoyed reading this one.
I'll be talking about Hope The Little Fox by E. Ozols today. But first name a book you loved because of it's brilliantly written feminist take on the story!
"You are a girl."
"I don't want to be a girl "
"Why don't you want to be a girl?"
"Because I want to be a person."
It's a book that really surprised me. It's a fantasy-fiction which has a brilliant touch of feminism in it. It does contain pieces of sexual assault on women, and it has been written into the story and portrayed with brutal honesty. The depiction of the mental disintegration of a women after enduring sexual assault is aptly captured. The thread of feminism and the plight of subjugated women is woven into the fabric of the story. It was a tale that I devoured, literally. And it has notes of patriarchal politics that added to the story. A girl can be anything if she puts her mind to it. Nothing is impossible for us. That's the message and I couldn't agree more.
I completely loved the story of Hope, a six year old little girl who grows up in a cottage far from the bustle of the cities. She's the daughter of Anton, a great military advisor to King and Lady Rebecca, a high-born noble women. But pleasant morning, 'The Others' barge into their small cottage and tries to rape Lady Rebecca, while a blind Anton defending his wife is nearly beaten to death by this group of barbaric men. Hope, only six, who has no knowledge of what is happening, charges at them all.
She grows up secretly learning how to fight, how to defend. But society isn't kind to a women wanting to learn the art of war and the skill to fight. So she disguises herself under a mask to hide her identity and audaciously enough demands an equal chance to show her skill in order to be a pupil of the most prestigious academy of warcraft.
The characters in this book are well crafted, and I'm not going to forget King Marius, Lady Rebecca, Count Hugo, Vilk and Spider anytime soon. I liked that no characters were flawless, as every human is flawed in some form or the other. And in the end I wanted to read more, though it seemed a bit rushed to me. I was looking forward to reading more pages of the tale of 'The Little Fox' and I would definitely recommend this one!!
P.S. Thank you for the book e-book! @booksirens I enjoyed reading this one.
August 3, 2020
Thank you to BookSirens and author E. Ozols for the opportunity to review an Advanced Readers Copy of the book without cost. This honest review is being left voluntarily.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. While the author could extend the books events into a series, I believe she chose a natural stopping point, which leaves the reader with a sense of closure coupled with a thirst for more. To me, this is the ultimate complement; sort of like wanting to continue a meal because it is so good, even if you've had enough.
The book follows a young girl, Hope, also known as the Little Fox to those close to her, over a period of approximately 10 years. This is a "coming to age under difficult circumstances" story. She faces a variety of challenges, including familial, social, physical, and economic. Throughout the book, she faces challenges with grace under pressure, determination, and intelligence, without compromising her values. While the author stresses the values of education and personal effort, she also highlights the values of family and friendship.
While there are scenes of violence in the book, the violence is neither described in a gratuitously gory fashion, nor is the violence glorified. For those concerned about sexual violence triggers, while it is pretty gently described, there are a couple of scenes of attempted sexual assault. I do not recall any instances of strong language, but if there were any, they were very mild and passing. I would have had no problems sharing this book with my adolescent daughter, and in fact, this book could serve as an opening for a variety of useful family conversations.
My only complaint is that this is not offered presently in hardcover, according to Amazon, so you can get a softcover or ebook. For myself, I seriously would put this on the same shelf as The Princess Bride, to be read when I have a granddaughter or child to care for visiting. Of course, no one would see me if I snuck it off the shelf to read again myself, right?
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. While the author could extend the books events into a series, I believe she chose a natural stopping point, which leaves the reader with a sense of closure coupled with a thirst for more. To me, this is the ultimate complement; sort of like wanting to continue a meal because it is so good, even if you've had enough.
The book follows a young girl, Hope, also known as the Little Fox to those close to her, over a period of approximately 10 years. This is a "coming to age under difficult circumstances" story. She faces a variety of challenges, including familial, social, physical, and economic. Throughout the book, she faces challenges with grace under pressure, determination, and intelligence, without compromising her values. While the author stresses the values of education and personal effort, she also highlights the values of family and friendship.
While there are scenes of violence in the book, the violence is neither described in a gratuitously gory fashion, nor is the violence glorified. For those concerned about sexual violence triggers, while it is pretty gently described, there are a couple of scenes of attempted sexual assault. I do not recall any instances of strong language, but if there were any, they were very mild and passing. I would have had no problems sharing this book with my adolescent daughter, and in fact, this book could serve as an opening for a variety of useful family conversations.
My only complaint is that this is not offered presently in hardcover, according to Amazon, so you can get a softcover or ebook. For myself, I seriously would put this on the same shelf as The Princess Bride, to be read when I have a granddaughter or child to care for visiting. Of course, no one would see me if I snuck it off the shelf to read again myself, right?
June 27, 2020
"Hope the Little Fox" was a fun summer read! Although it is set in a fantasy world of Kings and nobles, without the benefits or interference of modern technology, the author uses this to her advantage. The book's theme of challenging societal norms should resonate with readers, especially girls who feel like they have to choose between femininity and physical strength or athleticism. Hope will teach them that it doesn't have to be either/or, all within the context of a compelling narrative with plenty of intrigue and action.
August 9, 2020
A charming tale of a girl called Hope, who grows up wild and unruly , but is tamed to become a lady. Always wanting to become a warrior and fight battles. She does so in secret wearing a mask, beating her male counterparts. Through this this discovers a plot by the king to induce favour amongst his subjects.
This is a tale of growth and understanding good read despite some spelling and grammatical errors.
This is a tale of growth and understanding good read despite some spelling and grammatical errors.
August 10, 2020
This was a really fun read, the characters were great as was the plot of the book. Overall I had a lot of fun reading this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 24, 2020
Loved it! A fun fantasy novel about a young warrior who gradually awakens to the political and romantic realities of her world. I was genuinely surprised by a few of the plot turns and enjoyed the descriptions of her training and the fight scenes. My only beef is that the title should have a comma after "Hope."
May 29, 2020
An enthralling adventure
It took a few chapters to really get into the main character’s head, but once we were there, I couldn’t put it down! So many of the characters had layers and surprised hidden, I felt at times like I was reading a mystery, trying to figure out who did what, why, and who to trust. Recommended!
It took a few chapters to really get into the main character’s head, but once we were there, I couldn’t put it down! So many of the characters had layers and surprised hidden, I felt at times like I was reading a mystery, trying to figure out who did what, why, and who to trust. Recommended!
August 21, 2020
Huzzah for a good read!! I really enjoyed the medieval setting (hedge maze!), how the women were all strong in their own ways and the twists the story took (not a fairy tale - just like life). I did flinch while reading about some of the fighting but the author’s descriptive writing made it seem like I was witnessing it first hand!
January 6, 2021
This book is so good! I could not put it down and stayed up way past my bedtime, as well as not doing any housework, just to finish it and see how it ended. The story is beautiful and well written, with a good plot, a strong female lead, and plenty of surprise twists. There were a few places that had me guessing multiple options for where the story might lead, and I was not disappointed. It does end in a cliffhanger, but all I can say about that is ,"Where is the next book?!" I cannot wait to see where the next book takes Little Fox, and I hope she has many adventures and happiness along the way.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 21, 2020
This was a real adventure
When I got this book I saw just the title and thought it was a children’s book that my daughter would like. I was so wrong! Not only was this book a real adventure from the beginning when Hope fought The strangers from across the water when she was just a six-year-old girl I knew it was going to be something special. I have read many books of mid evil times and times long ago where men were the heroes it was so refreshing in such an entertaining book we’re hope is a secret warrior. She trains in secret and when she comes out to fight for the good it is in a mask and dark cloak. There is so much to love about this book, but especially The fact that a woman is the hero. I highly recommend this but if you love Robin Hood or books like that you’ll love this book. I received this book from authors XP in exchange for an honest review and this is my honest review I loved it! I am not gonna lie when I first got this book I didn’t read the summary, because I thought it was a children’s book. I mean the title is hope the little fox… Right in my wrong? Anyway, this book turned out to be so much fun and such an adventure. When I was little I love Robin Hood and that’s what this book kind of reminded me of except it was a female named little fox. After witnessing a tragedy at the age of six and defending her parents only for her brother to show up in time when she finally missed stepped and was going to be injured herself he Showed up in the nick of time. I highly recommend this book, there’s a little bit of a romance a teeny tiny bit in a lot of adventure and there’s love a family for her blind father Anton her mother the lady her brother Adrian all of them the family is so sweet and loving and I just love this book.
When I got this book I saw just the title and thought it was a children’s book that my daughter would like. I was so wrong! Not only was this book a real adventure from the beginning when Hope fought The strangers from across the water when she was just a six-year-old girl I knew it was going to be something special. I have read many books of mid evil times and times long ago where men were the heroes it was so refreshing in such an entertaining book we’re hope is a secret warrior. She trains in secret and when she comes out to fight for the good it is in a mask and dark cloak. There is so much to love about this book, but especially The fact that a woman is the hero. I highly recommend this but if you love Robin Hood or books like that you’ll love this book. I received this book from authors XP in exchange for an honest review and this is my honest review I loved it! I am not gonna lie when I first got this book I didn’t read the summary, because I thought it was a children’s book. I mean the title is hope the little fox… Right in my wrong? Anyway, this book turned out to be so much fun and such an adventure. When I was little I love Robin Hood and that’s what this book kind of reminded me of except it was a female named little fox. After witnessing a tragedy at the age of six and defending her parents only for her brother to show up in time when she finally missed stepped and was going to be injured herself he Showed up in the nick of time. I highly recommend this book, there’s a little bit of a romance a teeny tiny bit in a lot of adventure and there’s love a family for her blind father Anton her mother the lady her brother Adrian all of them the family is so sweet and loving and I just love this book.
November 7, 2020
What an absolute delight and wonderful surprise this book was! Thank you profusely to Book Sirens and E.Ozols for sharing an e-book copy of Hope the Little Fox with me in exchange for an honest review.
I truly enjoyed this story from start to finish! I was impressed that the story began strong and took off quickly grabbing my interest instantly, while also fully fleshing out the cast of characters and developing the readers relationship with them at a comfortable pace. I genuinely like essentially all of the characters in Hope the Little Fox. At the almost half way point I felt this was a very enjoyable story and that events were seemingly occurring as expected, though I was very much enjoying the story. Then- wham! A big surprise and great change occurs that surprised me greatly. I wondered where would we go from here... and I wasn’t disappointed. Hope the Little Fox could remain a self contained tale but I am very hopeful that I will get to read more from Hope and her continued adventures! While reading, I was reminded of my favorite novels from Tamora Pierce and Maria V. Snyder. Hope is a heroine for ladies fair and fearsome to relish! Thank you to E. Ozols for such a fun ride. I immediately purchased her other published novel. I recommend Hope the Little Fox to all who love adventure.
I truly enjoyed this story from start to finish! I was impressed that the story began strong and took off quickly grabbing my interest instantly, while also fully fleshing out the cast of characters and developing the readers relationship with them at a comfortable pace. I genuinely like essentially all of the characters in Hope the Little Fox. At the almost half way point I felt this was a very enjoyable story and that events were seemingly occurring as expected, though I was very much enjoying the story. Then- wham! A big surprise and great change occurs that surprised me greatly. I wondered where would we go from here... and I wasn’t disappointed. Hope the Little Fox could remain a self contained tale but I am very hopeful that I will get to read more from Hope and her continued adventures! While reading, I was reminded of my favorite novels from Tamora Pierce and Maria V. Snyder. Hope is a heroine for ladies fair and fearsome to relish! Thank you to E. Ozols for such a fun ride. I immediately purchased her other published novel. I recommend Hope the Little Fox to all who love adventure.
August 10, 2025
This is an unexpected middle-grade gem! The narrative style reads like an old fairy-tale, but the story is more along the lines of the first Alanna book by Tamora Pierce. I don’t want to compare them, though.
I was surprised at how some really difficult content (attempted r*pe) was treated in an age-appropriate way (if that’s possible!?!). A brief spoiler from early in the book to help explain: when she’s 6, some bandits come and attack her house. She says her mother is terrified with the men and she’s never seen her mother’s legs before, her skirt is pushed up. Another spoiler to ease your mind - as far as I could tell the bandits were unsuccessful, but a bit is left to the imagination. This was an important part of the plot, which I realize might be strange in a book that seemed aimed for middle-schoolers, but alas- the world is not an easy place.
I read this to get read to review second book in the series that is coming out this month, and I have to say, I’m looking forward to it!
Thanks to the author and BookSirens for a review copy! The book is available on KindleUnlimited.
I was surprised at how some really difficult content (attempted r*pe) was treated in an age-appropriate way (if that’s possible!?!). A brief spoiler from early in the book to help explain: when she’s 6, some bandits come and attack her house. She says her mother is terrified with the men and she’s never seen her mother’s legs before, her skirt is pushed up. Another spoiler to ease your mind - as far as I could tell the bandits were unsuccessful, but a bit is left to the imagination. This was an important part of the plot, which I realize might be strange in a book that seemed aimed for middle-schoolers, but alas- the world is not an easy place.
I read this to get read to review second book in the series that is coming out this month, and I have to say, I’m looking forward to it!
Thanks to the author and BookSirens for a review copy! The book is available on KindleUnlimited.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2021
What a great book. I thoroughly enjoyed how Hope developed and how she coped with and faced the challenges of her world, purely because she was girl. If she had been a boy the world would have been her oyster. Instead, she had to hide her greatest skills, and learn how to disseminate and pretend to be something she didn’t want to be.
Well written story, with some unexpected twists and turns that have you wondering who she should trust, even her own brother comes under question. Some great characters, some of which are not who they seem and keep you guessing, and you end up reading ‘just another chapter’. You will be drawn into this richly imagined medieval world, and not be able to put the book down.
There is so much more to this story, and I want to know what happens next. I sincerely hope there is a book two; I can’t wait to revisit these characters.
Recommended read. I received this ARC via Hidden Gems, and am leaving an honest review.
Well written story, with some unexpected twists and turns that have you wondering who she should trust, even her own brother comes under question. Some great characters, some of which are not who they seem and keep you guessing, and you end up reading ‘just another chapter’. You will be drawn into this richly imagined medieval world, and not be able to put the book down.
There is so much more to this story, and I want to know what happens next. I sincerely hope there is a book two; I can’t wait to revisit these characters.
Recommended read. I received this ARC via Hidden Gems, and am leaving an honest review.
October 3, 2020
The cover and the title is a bit misleading. First, I thought it was something for middle schoolers; the language initially has even confirmed it. But the book was growing in seriousness as the heroine herself was growing up, and presented a challenge after challenge. About the middle of the book, one stops liking almost all characters, to be honest; at the end, you tolerate some, and you like some, and you want more. The book is a bit too long, but I think it is justified as its genre basically is a growing up narrative, a book about how the character of our heroine was established. A biopic, of sorts in a fantasy-medieval like setting. It has left me actually thinking about it, and that is why I have awarded it five stars.
I have received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I have received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
November 14, 2020
Rather than spending time learning the ways of being a woman, Hope spends her time in the forest, learning the ways of the warrior from her brother. Her carefree attitude and quick flexes since childhood earned her the nickname "Little Fox." When tragedy struck their home, Hope vows to become a warrior, even when society tells her she is unfit for such a role.
Hope the Little Fox's medieval setting sets the perfect tone for women breaking traditions. Aside from facing the usual adolescent problems, Hope fights her way to be acknowledged as a good, if not excellent, combatant. If you're looking for your next kickass YA read, I suggest you look no further. Hope the Little Fox has the perfect blend of adventure, awesome fights, and a girl being one badass warrior.
Hope the Little Fox's medieval setting sets the perfect tone for women breaking traditions. Aside from facing the usual adolescent problems, Hope fights her way to be acknowledged as a good, if not excellent, combatant. If you're looking for your next kickass YA read, I suggest you look no further. Hope the Little Fox has the perfect blend of adventure, awesome fights, and a girl being one badass warrior.
June 6, 2025
This book was amazing. Plain and simple. The plot slowed down and sped up when it needed to enhance and emphasize areas of importance. The characters are realistic and relatable. The pace of the story was perfect. At no point while reading did the story feel overly dramatic. The parts that were exciting were very exciting. When the main character was experiencing happiness, sadness, panic, fear, and pride, the reader does as well. The only disappointment to this book was when it ended. But this is typical when a reader picks up a "can't put it down" kind of a book. With the end of the book comes the obvious question of "when can I start reading the next"? Excellent book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 15, 2020
I must say three things:
Hope the little fox, had well formulated characters with hidden layers.
It had, descripted, well crafted, smooth writting.
It was a compelling story of action, adventure, and intregue.
With that said, this author knew how to manipulate his readers! Wow! You did not want to put it down. I was totally glued to my seat. What would happen next? I didn't want to miss anything.
A tale of finding the strength and courage from within to fight and achieve what needs to be done. No matter who we are! Brillent!
Please, read and enjoy!
I received an ARC free from BookSirens and this is my voluntary honest review.
Hope the little fox, had well formulated characters with hidden layers.
It had, descripted, well crafted, smooth writting.
It was a compelling story of action, adventure, and intregue.
With that said, this author knew how to manipulate his readers! Wow! You did not want to put it down. I was totally glued to my seat. What would happen next? I didn't want to miss anything.
A tale of finding the strength and courage from within to fight and achieve what needs to be done. No matter who we are! Brillent!
Please, read and enjoy!
I received an ARC free from BookSirens and this is my voluntary honest review.
January 14, 2021
Let me just say that it would be totally awesome for this book to have a movie or series version. I mean, let's face it, not everyone has the patience to read but this story is far too good for non-readers to miss!
I love all the characters, they're all well developed and interesting. The way that the story is written gives me Merlin-Arthur-Camelot-esque with just a tinge of GoT and a whole lot of kick ass heroine vibe. It's a perfect coming of age, young adult book to recommend for tweens and teens alike!
A bunch of thanks to Booksirens and E.Ozols for this free ARC. This review is posted of my own accord, with no compensation whatsoever from the above-mentioned and publisher.
I love all the characters, they're all well developed and interesting. The way that the story is written gives me Merlin-Arthur-Camelot-esque with just a tinge of GoT and a whole lot of kick ass heroine vibe. It's a perfect coming of age, young adult book to recommend for tweens and teens alike!
A bunch of thanks to Booksirens and E.Ozols for this free ARC. This review is posted of my own accord, with no compensation whatsoever from the above-mentioned and publisher.
August 10, 2025
Delightful adventure with engaging characters!
Little fox envisions training to become a warrior. She never wavers and decides to even break traditions to reach her goal. She is dedicated and determined, despite her being a lady.
As the story unfolds, you meet her family and unlikely companions. The plot twists keep her adventures exciting, as she encounters betrayal, a brush of romance and trust.
Can't wait to begin the second book.
Well written and as a retired librarian, I've read a lot of novels. Anyone will enjoy it, but highly recommended for YA.
Little fox envisions training to become a warrior. She never wavers and decides to even break traditions to reach her goal. She is dedicated and determined, despite her being a lady.
As the story unfolds, you meet her family and unlikely companions. The plot twists keep her adventures exciting, as she encounters betrayal, a brush of romance and trust.
Can't wait to begin the second book.
Well written and as a retired librarian, I've read a lot of novels. Anyone will enjoy it, but highly recommended for YA.
October 8, 2020
3.5 stars
Definitely sure this was longer than 328 pages but whatever it was good enough :)
RTC
Definitely sure this was longer than 328 pages but whatever it was good enough :)
RTC
March 3, 2021
10/10
Thoroughly enjoyed the book. Easy read and a great plot line with a strong female lead challenging stereotypes. Would 100% recommend
Thoroughly enjoyed the book. Easy read and a great plot line with a strong female lead challenging stereotypes. Would 100% recommend
May 28, 2020
Hugely enjoyable read that you won't want to put down - a very impressive second novel by E. Ozols
It all starts with...a good blurb. I was pretty excited about this book from the get-go. Let's just say that 'wild and carefree child growing up in a remote cottage' and 'But girls can’t fight...Or can they?' promises a great YA combination of fights, character development and a female heroine.
I'm glad to say the book delivers.
The writing itself is good and I would definitely classify the book as a page-turner; especially in the middle part I was loath to put it down. Yes, there is the occasional phrase or wording that could benefit from further editing, and a few more place names would be great (what kingdom are we in, what's the capital called...) but this does not distract from the story and is in the nature of self-published work; and overall the writing is smooth and compares well to other books in the genre (i.e. those with few millions copies as well...)
But for me the really enjoyable bit are the overall construct, and the themes the author brings into that story. At it's core the story is simple: Girl grows up and tries to find her place in the world. But there is so much more to it than that - from not judging people by appearances, the broader expectations and role of women in society, all the way to xenophobia (literally named 'The Others' in the novel). In my mind, E. Ozols strikes a good balance here, bringing all these concepts into the story, at times even making them a pretty central pillar of it, but never at the cost of telling an enjoyable tale.
I also liked that while many characters appear one-dimensional initially, they typically aren't, and demonstrate that everyone has the capacity for good and bad - and the ability to make mistakes.
In fact, I quite enjoyed many of the characters (Vilk, Spider, Count Hugo), though my favourite may actually be Lady Inara. Not by any means the most important character, but an essential one nevertheless - and with surprising depth.
Where does this leave me? I really enjoyed the book, and would love to read a second one - it is perfectly set up for a trilogy after all, where we get to learn more about the world outside the kingdom...
It all starts with...a good blurb. I was pretty excited about this book from the get-go. Let's just say that 'wild and carefree child growing up in a remote cottage' and 'But girls can’t fight...Or can they?' promises a great YA combination of fights, character development and a female heroine.
I'm glad to say the book delivers.
The writing itself is good and I would definitely classify the book as a page-turner; especially in the middle part I was loath to put it down. Yes, there is the occasional phrase or wording that could benefit from further editing, and a few more place names would be great (what kingdom are we in, what's the capital called...) but this does not distract from the story and is in the nature of self-published work; and overall the writing is smooth and compares well to other books in the genre (i.e. those with few millions copies as well...)
But for me the really enjoyable bit are the overall construct, and the themes the author brings into that story. At it's core the story is simple: Girl grows up and tries to find her place in the world. But there is so much more to it than that - from not judging people by appearances, the broader expectations and role of women in society, all the way to xenophobia (literally named 'The Others' in the novel). In my mind, E. Ozols strikes a good balance here, bringing all these concepts into the story, at times even making them a pretty central pillar of it, but never at the cost of telling an enjoyable tale.
I also liked that while many characters appear one-dimensional initially, they typically aren't, and demonstrate that everyone has the capacity for good and bad - and the ability to make mistakes.
In fact, I quite enjoyed many of the characters (Vilk, Spider, Count Hugo), though my favourite may actually be Lady Inara. Not by any means the most important character, but an essential one nevertheless - and with surprising depth.
Where does this leave me? I really enjoyed the book, and would love to read a second one - it is perfectly set up for a trilogy after all, where we get to learn more about the world outside the kingdom...
January 2, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and BookSirens for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. It has been published in May 2020.
"Hope the Little Fox" by E. Ozols is a fantasy adventure YA novel that simply doesn't deliver on the awesome potential that you can glimpse in the blurb.
I love YA coming of age novels about strong female characters, but this one fell flat for me.
The writing style is verbose, full of unnecessary adjectives, adverbs and repetitions.
The dialogues have no credibility at all. For instance, when Hope's mother discovers a dangerous intruder in her house, she tells her six-year-old daughter: "Hope, sweet child, go quietly to your father and fetch him here at once. Tell him there is somebody here. And, whatever you do, stay back in that room until one of us comes to find you. Do you understand? Go quickly!" Am I supposed to believe a woman in this situation would just waste precious time like that? And am I supposed to believe that during this long, repetitive monologue a six-year-old child wouldn't interrupt even once? I'm sorry, but I can't get immersed in a story that feels so fake.
Besides, the narration is full of inconsistencies: the characters never act or react like normal people, they just keep switching their behaviour back and forth between unreasonable extremes in every single scene. They're also painfully stereotypical--all of them, even the protagonist: no depth whatsoever.
The fact that the point of view kept moving from one character to the next, all within a single scene, didn't help matters. It gave me reader's whiplash. I just couldn't get immersed in any one character before the point of view changed to a different one without a warning or even a reason.
While I was reading, I kept wondering whether this novel has ever been seen by an editor.
I really struggled to finish this one, it did not feel like entertainment at all.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
"Hope the Little Fox" by E. Ozols is a fantasy adventure YA novel that simply doesn't deliver on the awesome potential that you can glimpse in the blurb.
I love YA coming of age novels about strong female characters, but this one fell flat for me.
The writing style is verbose, full of unnecessary adjectives, adverbs and repetitions.
The dialogues have no credibility at all. For instance, when Hope's mother discovers a dangerous intruder in her house, she tells her six-year-old daughter: "Hope, sweet child, go quietly to your father and fetch him here at once. Tell him there is somebody here. And, whatever you do, stay back in that room until one of us comes to find you. Do you understand? Go quickly!" Am I supposed to believe a woman in this situation would just waste precious time like that? And am I supposed to believe that during this long, repetitive monologue a six-year-old child wouldn't interrupt even once? I'm sorry, but I can't get immersed in a story that feels so fake.
Besides, the narration is full of inconsistencies: the characters never act or react like normal people, they just keep switching their behaviour back and forth between unreasonable extremes in every single scene. They're also painfully stereotypical--all of them, even the protagonist: no depth whatsoever.
The fact that the point of view kept moving from one character to the next, all within a single scene, didn't help matters. It gave me reader's whiplash. I just couldn't get immersed in any one character before the point of view changed to a different one without a warning or even a reason.
While I was reading, I kept wondering whether this novel has ever been seen by an editor.
I really struggled to finish this one, it did not feel like entertainment at all.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 28, 2025
Very fun book starring a plucky young female protagonist. Lots of twists and turns I didn't see coming and lots of lovable and despicable characters. Reminded me a bit of the Robin Hobb Elderlings series, as well as some of my favorite young female characters from my other favorite fantasy works. Look forward to following the saga of the Little Fox in future books. Hope she has a long and storied career.
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