This book is enchanting. I usually do not like fantasies (it is difficult for me to suspend disbelief), but I found myself willingly going along with the central conceit of the plot because the author's writing was so engaging and compelling. There is something for everyone here: mystery, action, romance, history, comedy, and insight into the human condition. Highly recommended for all libraries. ( )

A young woman calling herself Snow - a fox - travels on a revenge trip, intent on killing the photographer Bektu Nikan in Manchuria, 1908. Meanwhile, an investigator Bao who has the talent on being able to tell truth from lies is asked to investigate the mysterious death of a young woman - could it be the work of a fox?

Choo draws on the Chinese mythology of foxes to tell a compelling, lyrical story of Snow and Bao, and the family that Snow meets and gets involved with in the course of her mission to find the photographer. With an evocative atmosphere and complex characters but very deliberate pacing, this is a book to sit down with for long stretches and get lost in. ( )

According to the National Wildlife Federation, foxes are the most widely distributed carnivorous mammals in the world.
This novel is a very readable story filled with interesting folklore regarding the nature of foxes and fox spirits...
"a drug that should be taken only in small doses." ( p.324)
Vengeful, seductive, curious these fox spirits can turn themselves into humans and wreak havoc.
In this story, Snow is seeking revenge for the death of her daughter. She crosses paths with Bao, a detective who has the talent of hearing lies, brought on by an early encounter with a fox god.

Read more on my blog!
https://lovelearning619870804.wordpress.com/2024/03/26/book-review-a-foxy-lady-i... ( )

Excellent novel. Great characters, great pacing, great story.
This is historical fiction, magial realism, set mostly in 1908 northern China, based on the legend of foxes who can shift to human form. ( )

A fascinating book about mythical shapeshifting foxes and set in the waning years of the Qing Empire. Snow is a fox-woman on a quest for revenge. Governed by a code of morals--unlike most of her kind--she follows in pursuit of the Manchurian photographer who killed her child. In parallel is the tale of Bao, a private investigator who can tell if anyone lies; a case involving a woman found dead leads him to tales about another woman who seems to be tracking a related suspect. The book is heavily steeped in the realities of cusp-of-the-20th-century northern China and Japan, with industrialization and potential revolution very present. A trigger warning is necessary as well: Snow endures near-constant threats of sexual violence because of her tenuous position in society, but it never is graphic or gratuitous or titillating.

I found this to be a quick, enthralling read, as both perspectives were relatable and immersive. I think my only real complaint is that the way everything came together felt convenient and inevitable. The book uses the intervention of fate as an excuse several times, but that doesn't adequately excuse the tidiness. Still, highly recommended for anyone interested in fox spirits and a setting of history that isn't often explored in western lit. ( )