Review by DominicVenditti -- The Fox by M. N. J. Butler
Posted: 01 Jun 2020, 05:41
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Fox" by M. N. J. Butler.]
I’m not sure about the average person, but I tend to get enraptured by the romanticism and stereotypical, even if its unwarranted, air about certain periods of time. This was especially evident in M.N.J Butler’s The Fox, a story that encapsulates just that kind of romanticism about the long gone ancient Greek era and all of its trials and travails.
The story centers around Leothychides, a young man born to the Eurypontid house of Sparta in the Fourth Century B.C. However, he is not considered to be a rightful air by most of the City-State of Sparta and therefore has no legal binding to the throne. Things get even worse when his uncle tries to usurp the throne and come into command as one of Sparta’s new kings. The story then unfolds into a harrowing tale about how Leothychides must use diplomacy, cunning, and tactfulness to not only achieve his birthright, but also survive in a hostile world that he was born into.
Overall, the story is gripping and makes one want to keep reading. It masterfully uses its setting and air about the era and geographic location to add to its tone and themes rather nicely. There was never a time when I felt the story was too slow or too fast, or even too out of the bounds of what one would reasonably expect from the era and setting. With regards to who would most like this book in particular, I would say that is reserved for those who have an avid interest in the time period and region. However, I would also go as far as to say that those who enjoy a good political and military power dynamic in a story would find this book enjoyable as well.
On a less positive note however, the story’s gripping conflict and resolutions are of a rather serious and intense nature. It is for this reason that the book’s greatest strength and potential can also be its greatest drawback with regards to readers who simply read for a simpler plot and something of a lighter tone. Perhaps somebody who reads more for the eloquence and grace of the written word and not for an intense story would be turned off by this book.
In general, the book was an enjoyable and rewarding experience that had its historical setting and world building being the most enjoyed part and aspect of it. Overall, I would give the story a four out of four, or a 95 out of 100 to be more precise. This is because the book was very well edited and excelled in so many possible ways. I would definitely recommend reading it.
******
The Fox
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
I’m not sure about the average person, but I tend to get enraptured by the romanticism and stereotypical, even if its unwarranted, air about certain periods of time. This was especially evident in M.N.J Butler’s The Fox, a story that encapsulates just that kind of romanticism about the long gone ancient Greek era and all of its trials and travails.
The story centers around Leothychides, a young man born to the Eurypontid house of Sparta in the Fourth Century B.C. However, he is not considered to be a rightful air by most of the City-State of Sparta and therefore has no legal binding to the throne. Things get even worse when his uncle tries to usurp the throne and come into command as one of Sparta’s new kings. The story then unfolds into a harrowing tale about how Leothychides must use diplomacy, cunning, and tactfulness to not only achieve his birthright, but also survive in a hostile world that he was born into.
Overall, the story is gripping and makes one want to keep reading. It masterfully uses its setting and air about the era and geographic location to add to its tone and themes rather nicely. There was never a time when I felt the story was too slow or too fast, or even too out of the bounds of what one would reasonably expect from the era and setting. With regards to who would most like this book in particular, I would say that is reserved for those who have an avid interest in the time period and region. However, I would also go as far as to say that those who enjoy a good political and military power dynamic in a story would find this book enjoyable as well.
On a less positive note however, the story’s gripping conflict and resolutions are of a rather serious and intense nature. It is for this reason that the book’s greatest strength and potential can also be its greatest drawback with regards to readers who simply read for a simpler plot and something of a lighter tone. Perhaps somebody who reads more for the eloquence and grace of the written word and not for an intense story would be turned off by this book.
In general, the book was an enjoyable and rewarding experience that had its historical setting and world building being the most enjoyed part and aspect of it. Overall, I would give the story a four out of four, or a 95 out of 100 to be more precise. This is because the book was very well edited and excelled in so many possible ways. I would definitely recommend reading it.
******
The Fox
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon