Review of The Fox
Posted: 27 Jul 2021, 03:28
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Fox" by M. N. J. Butler.]
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
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