Rating: 
Summary: Astounding
Review: A hauntingly beautiful love story... A must for any lover of prose. Kitsune's love for a human leading her to become human herself is a wonderful and at some times heartbreaking fairy tale...
Rating: 
Summary: Remainder bait
Review: Coming soon to a remainder table near you, "The Fox Woman" by Kij Johnson.What puerile and pretentious writing! Never say in three words when 10 will do. As Dorothy Parker once said, "this is not a book to be set aside; it a book to be thrown with great force." I wasted my money, don't waste yours.
Rating:
Summary: Magickal Fox Woman
Review: Evocative, maddening, poetical, wildly funny... this is a wonderful book. I loved it so much I have now given it to seven people, all of whom have shared my enthusiasm. Johnson is a remarkable writer, able to draw us into a magickal reality that sings and is, ultimately, touching. I found myself in love with some (probably) stinky foxes and caring deeply about their souls, as well as full of compassion for the humans caught in their day-to-day angst. Wonderful writer. Can't wait for the next one. And I'll bet Kij Johnson will surprise us.
Rating:
Summary: Breathtaking
Review: I had given up on reading most things labeled fantasy until a friend recommended to me Kij Johnson's The Fox Woman.
Kij gives us the best of literary fiction without the self-indulgent drivel, and the best of fantasy without inflicting upon us the constant repetition that is the staple of lesser authors.
Set in a fantastical medieval Japan, The Fox Woman tells a tale of self-transformation, of dream-chasing, of love both romantic and unconditional, of falls from grace and redemption, of sacrifice, and above all of human emotion and interaction, on a level that hits us deep in the gut and makes us shout, "Yes! I know that feeling!"
Although a fantasy, few stories are more true or more real than this.
Rating: 
Summary: A beautiful book...
Review: I have to admit I wasn't expecting much of this book. Being an avid fan of Japanese culture, I've read too many books set in Japan that are too modern and/or too Western. This one, however, pleasantly surprised me. While you can tell that it was definitely written with a Western audience in mind, beautifully captures the feeling of Japan during the Heian era. And more importantly, it beautifully captures the experiences of the three main characters and the other people (and foxes) who get caught up in the paths of their destiny with the perfect mix of casual observation, high drama, simplicity and beautiful poetry. I also have to admit, though, that the ending didn't quite sit well with me. It was the perfect ending for this book, but that doesn't mean I can't wish it all ended differently. I was hoping for a little bit of a less poetic and more Western ending, but that's all right. And if Kij Johnson's next book is anything like this one, you can be sure I'll be picking it up.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Book, Must Read for Furry Fans and Everyone Else
Review: I love this book. I really do. To the point of it possibly being unhealthy. When I first read this book, I ended up reading it four times in a row over the next two days. It really is that good. Now, you may disagree with my stunning praise of it, but you will still enjoy reading this uniquely written tale of a young fox who wants to be... more. -AF
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Book, Must Read for Furry Fans and Everyone Else
Review: I love this book. I really do. To the point of it possibly being unhealthy. When I first read this book, I ended up reading it four times in a row over the next two days. It really is that good. Now, you may disagree with my stunning praise of it, but you will still enjoy reading this uniquely written tale of a young fox who wants to be... more. -AF
Rating:
Summary: A Poetic Novel, a Novel of Poetry
Review: In Kij Johnson's fantasy novel, The Fox Woman, she blends Japanese folklore with a style of poetry that is both traditional and clearly her own. The story, one of a nobleman and his family who move to the country, is told in three voices: Yoshifuji (the husband), Shikujo (the wife), and Kitsune (a fox). Making these voices more intimate is the fact that they are from three diaries, making them honest, strong, and beautiful. When Kaya No Yoshifuji and his family move to the capital, it upsets two sets of lives, those of his family and those of the family of foxes that have been living underneath the unused country house. Kitsune, the fox, looks on these strangers with a sense of longing and wonder, unable to understand their human ways. Soon her obsession reflects in Yoshifuji, who becomes obsessed with the foxes living near his home. As Kitsune's obsession grows, she falls in love with Yoshifuji and seeks to use fox-magic to transform herself into a woman to obtain his love. Woven into the story is a wonderful collection of poetry. Yoshifuji and his wife trade poems in a custom that is difficult for Kitsune to understand. So it may also be for the readers of fantasy who are not well-versed in reading poetry. Yet, readers should neither ignore nor underestimate these lines. The simple words are beautiful, as the poem that Yoshifuji writes on the surface of a fan his wife left behind: "The spider's web can catch the moonlight, / but cannot keep it." The poetry is an intricate part of the novel, not only for its beauty but also for its importance within the story. Yet, it is not only the poetry within the novel that keeps the reader entranced, but the poetry of the novel. The lives of the characters are reflected in the seasons, their surroundings, and even in the spider web that Yoshifuji refuses to have swept away from his room. The novel reminds the reader of the poetry of life, and the beauty that exists in all things. Kij Johnson does a masterful job of writing a fantasy story that is a love story, a fable, and a poem. As her first novel, it is a wonderful promise of things to come.
Rating:
Summary: The Fox Woman
Review: Kij Johnson's The Fox Woman transports you into the heart of Heian Japan, and the hearts of some of the most engaging characters ever written. It tells the story of a man, a woman, and a young fox discovering their intertwined destinies in the real world, and in a magical world of wonderful illusion where a den in the earth can be a lovely country estate, and a fox transfixed by love can be a beautiful woman. The settings are historically accurate and (more important) so real you can reach out and touch them. The prose is exquisite -- there's no better word, and the author's masterful sense of story will immerse you in her world as few writers are able to do. This book will break your heart, and you'll be glad for it, I promise you.
Rating:
Summary: Enchanting
Review: Simply exquisite. This book redefines what a fantasy tale should be.
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