Review of The Fox

[Theana De lima Araujo]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Fox" by M. N. J. Butler.]

---

3 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Leotychides recalls his youth and through it, the story of Sparta as he knows it. As the son of a Spartan king, he elects to be sent off and raised amongst other children in a custom that turns boys into warriors. Camaraderie and competition fill his days and drive his decisions. From childhood to the battlefield, he abides by the unwritten laws of Sparta and aims to achieve victory to honour his family. Leotychide's life is not as simple as it may seem. It is a story wrought with war, politics, and secrecy.

The novel has several positive aspects. The Fox positions itself as a story within a story as told by Leotychides. I find it easy to grow an attachment to the characters as the reader is placed in the position of Leotychides. Despite the ancient setting, the tale is relatable. M. N. J. Butler provides a human side to a race that is often regarded as brutal. Perhaps this results from the perseverance of the characters or the friendship that blossoms through trying situations. Further, I enjoyed the detail into the mindset of a Spartan. Spartans endeavour to be great. Their collective moral code is to be strong through all and never give in. Additionally, the author consistently weaves new words into his text. Butler incorporates archaic English and Greek vocabulary into his writing, lending freshness to each chapter. Foreshadowing in the book creates anticipation. Alluding to the future makes the story comparable to a personal journal. Although there is foreshadowing, one cannot predict when or how an event will take place.

Admittedly, the style of writing did make it difficult to fall into this world of Sparta. It is not the kind of book I would immediately buy after reading the first page in a bookstore. It takes time to engage with the characters and get acquainted with the manner of speaking. Even after you are familiar with the author’s voice, this is not a book that you can absentmindedly read. I found the dialogue hard to follow at times as the speakers' names are not always indicated. Consequently, I sometimes guessed which character said the particular words. The glossary is quite helpful to clear up confusion about characters who have similar names.

I rate it 3 out of 4. The Fox has many positive aspects and ends up being a remarkable effort to tell a story often ignored. M. N. J. Butler uses history as the basis for the story. Crafted with vigour and care, one can imagine themselves in the position of Leotychides. On the other hand, it is sometimes difficult to follow the dialogue with the omission of speakers' names. Despite the mistakes, this is an engaging and well-written book. The novel is deserving of the rating as there are not many mistakes for a book of roughly 230 000 words. Professional editing is apparent. Publishing credit goes to CNPosner Books. Overall, I highly recommend this novel.

This historical fiction will appeal to those who like adventure tinged with bloody glory, archaic politics and an unpredictable plot. It is suitable for young adults and mature audiences. Sexual content is negligible and conveyed in abstract terms or limited to single phrases. Fight scenes are not rendered in gory detail, though some descriptions may make readers uncomfortable. Although The Fox is historically based, the author artfully uses creative license to fill in the gaps of history lost to the ages.

******
The Fox
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[markodim721]

The author has shown a decent knowledge of Hellenic culture and history but, in my humble opinion, the novel is too long for no particular reason. Still, this is one of the better books I’ve had a chance to read.

[Muna Chizzy]

I love stories that is connected to sparta or Greece. The book sounds interesting. Thanks for the great review.

[Clare Jose]

"The Fox has many positive aspects and ends up being a remarkable effort to tell a story often ignored."

This is the first time I've ever come a across a book that tries to explain the mindset of a Spartan.
Thank you for your detailed review.

[PeterRabitt20]

The genre and plot seem like something I would be interested in reading. I am weary about the difficult dialogue; I like to read a book without thinking too hard about what the author is trying to say. You still are able to encourage me to pick it up. Thanks for the wonderful review!

[Raluca_Mihaila]

Thank you for your thorough review! It seems like an intriguing read, which is quite a feat considering the lengths of the book.

[Theana De lima Araujo]

The author has shown a decent knowledge of Hellenic culture and history but, in my humble opinion, the novel is too long for no particular reason. Still, this is one of the better books I’ve had a chance to read.

Hi, Thank you for the comment. I suppose it can be lengthy, though it kept my attention with the history and turmoil. Since reviewing this book I have seen others noting that it can be boring in places, but I wouldn't be able to think of a way to cut it down without losing the story as the character seems to recall memories throughout the novel. Those are just my thoughts on it.

[Theana De lima Araujo]

I love stories that is connected to sparta or Greece. The book sounds interesting. Thanks for the great review.

Hi, thank you for the comment and the compliment. If you do decide to read it, I hope you enjoy it too.

[Theana De lima Araujo]

"The Fox has many positive aspects and ends up being a remarkable effort to tell a story often ignored."

This is the first time I've ever come a across a book that tries to explain the mindset of a Spartan.
Thank you for your detailed review.

Hi, thank you for your comment and the compliment. It was a first for me too.

[Theana De lima Araujo]

The genre and plot seem like something I would be interested in reading. I am weary about the difficult dialogue; I like to read a book without thinking too hard about what the author is trying to say. You still are able to encourage me to pick it up. Thanks for the wonderful review!

Hi, Thank you for the comment and the compliment on my writing. Yes, it does take some getting used to, but I'd say it's well worth it to read this book. I hope you do enjoy it if you decide to read it.

[Theana De lima Araujo]

Thank you for your thorough review! It seems like an intriguing read, which is quite a feat considering the lengths of the book.

Hi, thank you for the compliment and the comment. It definitely is a gripping story, and yes the length of it can be a little daunting, but when you get into the story you won't be able to put the book down.

[Brandy_Nyongesa]

War, politics and secrecy is something that I wouldn't want to read about. I enjoyed reading the review.

[Saint Bruno]

This book reminds me of the movie, Troy. Thanks for the detailed review and recommendation.

[Theana De lima Araujo]

War, politics and secrecy is something that I wouldn't want to read about. I enjoyed reading the review.

Hi, thank you for the compliment and the comment. Yes, I suppose not every book appeals to every reader, but such is the beauty of reading. Have a lovely evening/ day.

[NetMassimo]

This seems like an interesting novel for people interested in Greek history and Spartan history in particular. Thank you for your great review!