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White Fox
After their world-famous actor mother disappeared under mysterious circumstances, Manon and Thaïs left their remote Mediterranean island home—sent away by their pharma-tech tycoon father. Opposites in every way, the sisters drifted apart in their grief. Yet their mother's unfinished story still haunts them both, and they can't put to rest the possibility that she is still alive.
Lured home a decade later, Manon and Thaïs discover their mother’s legendary last work, long thought lost: White Fox, a screenplay filled with enigmatic metaphors. The clues in this dark fairytale draw them deep into the island's surreal society, into the twisted secrets hidden by their glittering family, to reveal the truth about their mother—and themselves.
Lured home a decade later, Manon and Thaïs discover their mother’s legendary last work, long thought lost: White Fox, a screenplay filled with enigmatic metaphors. The clues in this dark fairytale draw them deep into the island's surreal society, into the twisted secrets hidden by their glittering family, to reveal the truth about their mother—and themselves.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published September 22, 2020
About the author
Sara Faring
4 books388 followersBorn in Los Angeles, Sara Faring is a multi-lingual Argentine-American fascinated by literary puzzles.
After working in investment banking at J.P. Morgan, she worked at Penguin Random House. She holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania in International Studies and from the Wharton School in Business.
She currently resides in New York City.
After working in investment banking at J.P. Morgan, she worked at Penguin Random House. She holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania in International Studies and from the Wharton School in Business.
She currently resides in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 240 reviews
September 5, 2020
Thank you to Fierce Reads and the author for an eARC for being on the street team!
White Fox is my first book from the author, and it was definitely different from anything I have read. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this intriguing mysterious book. It was not as scary and creepy as I thought, but much deeper and more atmospheric.
White Fox follows two sisters who return to their home which is on a very strange island because their father passed away, and they think they can find their mother who mysteriously vanished ten years ago. It was super intriguing and the writing was so lyrical and mesmerizing I felt like I could picture everything that was happening.
The two main characters who we get alternating perspectives of, were the one part I wanted a lot more from. They are both sisters, but the way they thought and talked you couldn’t really tell them apart. I kept thinking which one am I reading right now? I wanted more character depth and development. Also, it wasn’t as fast paced as I was anticipating, it didn’t really captivate me until about 60% of the way through.
I did not see that ending coming and it really blew me away. I think the way that this book is written is what I really loved, we get to see parts of this script that the mysterious Mirella wrote, who disappeared and was never seen again. Her daughters have never given up their hope that she is out there waiting for them. Not to mention I feel as though both of the main characters are unreliable, so I didn’t know who to really believe. I don’t think everyone will like this because it is weird and somewhat slow, but by the end you are captivated. I can’t wait to read the author’s other book!
White Fox is my first book from the author, and it was definitely different from anything I have read. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this intriguing mysterious book. It was not as scary and creepy as I thought, but much deeper and more atmospheric.
White Fox follows two sisters who return to their home which is on a very strange island because their father passed away, and they think they can find their mother who mysteriously vanished ten years ago. It was super intriguing and the writing was so lyrical and mesmerizing I felt like I could picture everything that was happening.
The two main characters who we get alternating perspectives of, were the one part I wanted a lot more from. They are both sisters, but the way they thought and talked you couldn’t really tell them apart. I kept thinking which one am I reading right now? I wanted more character depth and development. Also, it wasn’t as fast paced as I was anticipating, it didn’t really captivate me until about 60% of the way through.
I did not see that ending coming and it really blew me away. I think the way that this book is written is what I really loved, we get to see parts of this script that the mysterious Mirella wrote, who disappeared and was never seen again. Her daughters have never given up their hope that she is out there waiting for them. Not to mention I feel as though both of the main characters are unreliable, so I didn’t know who to really believe. I don’t think everyone will like this because it is weird and somewhat slow, but by the end you are captivated. I can’t wait to read the author’s other book!
October 13, 2020
“I guess grief is like that: the banshee patiently waiting in the many-halled house of your mind, so quiet in certain moments, until you turn a corner and see how it takes up rooms and rooms, cracking their floors and windows with its volume, its weight.”
White Fox is a novel that started out very intriguing and promising for me but eventually lost me along the way of unraveling the mystery.
To be fair I think there was a problem with me expecting a Thriller more so than a Mystery so I kept waiting for the story to pick up but that just wasn't really the case.
This story is a slow unraveling of the mystery about the main characters mother and her disappearance more so than it is a novel that keeps you on edge and that was kinda what I had expected going into this.
“Everyone stares at her when she arrives, then softens into the space around them, like watching her hasn’t made them jealous, competitive, or wary. Watching her has taken them out of themselves for a minute, transported them into her world, where she pads around, full of verve and viv, and utterly carefree. It’s a lie, but it’s more beautiful than many truths.”
I also think that it was incredibly hard to distinguish between the point of views of the two sisters and that was even the case when I switched to the audiobook halfway through the novel, even though the characters had different narrators.
I had hoped that it would become easier to tell them apart as the story progressed, just by learning more about them, especially because they had very different, easy to distinguish personalities. But sadly you could not really tell that from their inner monologue and I think that both of these characters could've been very intriguing to read about, if only they hadn't read so similarly.
“I’d only ever depended on journals to hold my deepest, darkest secrets (and depended on Tai to read them without permission). I’d only ever depended on myself to write through my thoughts. Imagine a friend—who wasn’t blood bound to you—who knew them all and still loved you. Imagine a significant other, who would only want you all the more.”
There is really not much more that I can say about this novel. I enjoyed the first third but eventually realized that I wouldn't really get much out of this and I had issues focusing and paying attention because I simply lost interest about halfway through.
I don't think that this is a bad novel by any means, it just wasn't for me. I think that the way the story is told and the inclusion of actual parts of the script of "White Fox" make this story a lot more fascinating, and there is a lot of really interesting elements in this but I just never really got invested in the characters and because of that, had trouble staying invested in this story in general.
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I received an ARC through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review!
Want to read
September 16, 2020Even though I wasn't a fan of this author's other book so much, this one sounds amazing and I'm honestly impressed that she could come up with two such drastically different premises so soon! I can't wait to read this one <3
September 22, 2020
”Beauty isn’t that which is beautiful, it is that which pleases us.”
White Fox is a beautifully layered YA psychological mystery about sisters, family, and secrets. I loved how this story is told from multiple POVs, but also how the author explores storytelling within the story, which adds a magical dark fairy tale aspect to the already mysterious island setting of Viloxin.
At its simplest this story is about two distant sisters, Manon and Thaïs, wanting to find the mother that abruptly disappeared from their lives 10 years ago. These sisters use her last work, “White Fox” to try to figure out what happened to her. They are piecing together clues, and learning hard truths about people and things they once saw through a mulberry tinted filter. It’s just a great mystery read that is equal parts spooky and magical.
White Fox is just a great read. The mystery is intriguing, and the girls take you on a journey that’s both unexpected and exciting. They turn over so many stones, but you really have no idea what’s valid and what isn’t. It’s an extremely well written mystery, and the setting and the visuals that the author creates with her words is pure magic. I truly loved how this story explores themes of sister relationships and mental illness, but in such a unique ways. I also loved that these sisters are both on their own journey, but also on one together and of learning and building their relationship. It’s like their grief tore them apart originally, but a new form of grief brings them together. A sort of loss of what they thought they knew and who they thought they were. For me it felt like that grief of becoming an adult and losing that wonder of childhood. Maybe we don’t recognize it immediately, but I think many of us think back like “wow things felt so simple and special then.”
It’s just an overall great read. I expected to enjoy it, but I didn’t expect to fall in love.
”She was a complex prism of a woman working her whole life to crush this paper doll vision people had of her. And she mostly failed.”
AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC provided by Fierce Reads through NetGalley
White Fox is a beautifully layered YA psychological mystery about sisters, family, and secrets. I loved how this story is told from multiple POVs, but also how the author explores storytelling within the story, which adds a magical dark fairy tale aspect to the already mysterious island setting of Viloxin.
At its simplest this story is about two distant sisters, Manon and Thaïs, wanting to find the mother that abruptly disappeared from their lives 10 years ago. These sisters use her last work, “White Fox” to try to figure out what happened to her. They are piecing together clues, and learning hard truths about people and things they once saw through a mulberry tinted filter. It’s just a great mystery read that is equal parts spooky and magical.
White Fox is just a great read. The mystery is intriguing, and the girls take you on a journey that’s both unexpected and exciting. They turn over so many stones, but you really have no idea what’s valid and what isn’t. It’s an extremely well written mystery, and the setting and the visuals that the author creates with her words is pure magic. I truly loved how this story explores themes of sister relationships and mental illness, but in such a unique ways. I also loved that these sisters are both on their own journey, but also on one together and of learning and building their relationship. It’s like their grief tore them apart originally, but a new form of grief brings them together. A sort of loss of what they thought they knew and who they thought they were. For me it felt like that grief of becoming an adult and losing that wonder of childhood. Maybe we don’t recognize it immediately, but I think many of us think back like “wow things felt so simple and special then.”
It’s just an overall great read. I expected to enjoy it, but I didn’t expect to fall in love.
”She was a complex prism of a woman working her whole life to crush this paper doll vision people had of her. And she mostly failed.”
AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC provided by Fierce Reads through NetGalley
September 8, 2020
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
White Fox is the sort of book that creeps up on you, digs in its claws, and makes you wonder what just happened. Isolated estates, dark secrets, rotting glamour, and a fraught sister relationship combine to unpack the misogyny of celebrity, toxic family relationships, and the ways in which a veneer of wealth and privilege can cover up a blighted reality.
With a mixed media format, unlikeable characters, and a great many unanswered questions, this book walks the line of weird, creepy, and disturbing without becoming outright horror. It's difficult to talk about without spoilers, but I'll offer a brief introduction. I will also say, this is a book that left me uncertain of how much I liked it until I was well into it. It's not going to work for everyone, but I do think this will have a wider appeal than the author's debut The Tenth Girl (which I loved, but it was a much more polarizing book. Also there are a couple of easter eggs placing this in the same larger world as Tenth Girl, which was fun!)
Manon and Thais are the daughters of a world-famous actress who disappeared under mysterious circumstances when they were young. A decade later they return to the isolated island of their youth for a retrospective of their mother's life and the determination to uncover what really happened to her, and perhaps find the elusive script entitled White Fox that she was working on before disappearing. They enter a dark web of secrets, and each are battling their own demons along the way. Manon suffers from extreme anxiety and never feels enough like her mother. Thais is a social media celebrity who lives with a bubbly, glamorous mask that hides fear and grief underneath. And the sisters couldn't be more different.
This is a strange and complex book that takes unexpected twists and explores the hidden darkness within people. It crept up on me and then didn't let go. It's not light and there are plenty of content warnings to be aware of, but I hope this one finds its audience. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Content warnings include (but are not limited to): graphic anxiety episodes, stalking, drugging, loss of a parent, death, gore, disturbing scenes, murder.
White Fox is the sort of book that creeps up on you, digs in its claws, and makes you wonder what just happened. Isolated estates, dark secrets, rotting glamour, and a fraught sister relationship combine to unpack the misogyny of celebrity, toxic family relationships, and the ways in which a veneer of wealth and privilege can cover up a blighted reality.
With a mixed media format, unlikeable characters, and a great many unanswered questions, this book walks the line of weird, creepy, and disturbing without becoming outright horror. It's difficult to talk about without spoilers, but I'll offer a brief introduction. I will also say, this is a book that left me uncertain of how much I liked it until I was well into it. It's not going to work for everyone, but I do think this will have a wider appeal than the author's debut The Tenth Girl (which I loved, but it was a much more polarizing book. Also there are a couple of easter eggs placing this in the same larger world as Tenth Girl, which was fun!)
Manon and Thais are the daughters of a world-famous actress who disappeared under mysterious circumstances when they were young. A decade later they return to the isolated island of their youth for a retrospective of their mother's life and the determination to uncover what really happened to her, and perhaps find the elusive script entitled White Fox that she was working on before disappearing. They enter a dark web of secrets, and each are battling their own demons along the way. Manon suffers from extreme anxiety and never feels enough like her mother. Thais is a social media celebrity who lives with a bubbly, glamorous mask that hides fear and grief underneath. And the sisters couldn't be more different.
This is a strange and complex book that takes unexpected twists and explores the hidden darkness within people. It crept up on me and then didn't let go. It's not light and there are plenty of content warnings to be aware of, but I hope this one finds its audience. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Content warnings include (but are not limited to): graphic anxiety episodes, stalking, drugging, loss of a parent, death, gore, disturbing scenes, murder.
November 22, 2020
I hate what I'm about to say... I don't want to hurt the author's feelings at all! I'm so sorry, Sara!
Let me preface this by saying that this was a thick book. I have so many books I want to read that if a book is over 360 pages, I tend to shy away from it. But this one sounded SO GOOD. And, I'm a teen librarian, so I thought, "Oh, I MUST read this!" And, I was the first on the wait list at the library. I just saw all of that to say, I was in anticipation waiting to get this book. I went into it so hopeful!
I genuinely liked all the characters, especially Tai. The writing itself was great. The imagery was a little thick at first, but I grew accustomed to it as the novel progressed. The building up to the climax was slow burning but really great. I had a little difficulty caring about what happened to their mother during the first 60% of the novel, but then once the novel started picking up, I really did want to figure out the mystery. Also, I thought it was cool how the novel has almost sci-fi tendencies to it with the Pocket Girlfriend and Mina.
Now, why did I give this 1 star? First of all, there were so many characters. I had to make a list. But I would have only knocked off one star for that.
But, I spent HOURS reading this book. Which would have been fine if it had been awesome.
SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But I read lead after lead after lead. (Is it the pharm company? Their dad's evil right-hand man? His nephew? Their dad? Baba? Daria? Linos and his mom? Mina? At one point, I even though Manon knew something? The Deli? Brando? Mitso?) We were taken down so many paths.... and when the book finished, not only were there so many loose ends, but we find out their mother had fallen down a freaking sinkhole.... which OK, I'm not even mad she died by falling down the sinkhole. I am mad, though, that there were 20 other possibilities that the author set up (and never had clarity of at the end!!!!!) but we find she died by sinkhole. What a cop out! It's like when I read a thriller, and at the end, we find out it was "all a dream" or "the protagonist actually made it all up in their head." There could have been so many cool ways the author could have tied together all the story lines to their mother's disappearance. I'm just so disappointed!!!!!
Let me preface this by saying that this was a thick book. I have so many books I want to read that if a book is over 360 pages, I tend to shy away from it. But this one sounded SO GOOD. And, I'm a teen librarian, so I thought, "Oh, I MUST read this!" And, I was the first on the wait list at the library. I just saw all of that to say, I was in anticipation waiting to get this book. I went into it so hopeful!
I genuinely liked all the characters, especially Tai. The writing itself was great. The imagery was a little thick at first, but I grew accustomed to it as the novel progressed. The building up to the climax was slow burning but really great. I had a little difficulty caring about what happened to their mother during the first 60% of the novel, but then once the novel started picking up, I really did want to figure out the mystery. Also, I thought it was cool how the novel has almost sci-fi tendencies to it with the Pocket Girlfriend and Mina.
Now, why did I give this 1 star? First of all, there were so many characters. I had to make a list. But I would have only knocked off one star for that.
But, I spent HOURS reading this book. Which would have been fine if it had been awesome.
SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But I read lead after lead after lead. (Is it the pharm company? Their dad's evil right-hand man? His nephew? Their dad? Baba? Daria? Linos and his mom? Mina? At one point, I even though Manon knew something? The Deli? Brando? Mitso?) We were taken down so many paths.... and when the book finished, not only were there so many loose ends, but we find out their mother had fallen down a freaking sinkhole.... which OK, I'm not even mad she died by falling down the sinkhole. I am mad, though, that there were 20 other possibilities that the author set up (and never had clarity of at the end!!!!!) but we find she died by sinkhole. What a cop out! It's like when I read a thriller, and at the end, we find out it was "all a dream" or "the protagonist actually made it all up in their head." There could have been so many cool ways the author could have tied together all the story lines to their mother's disappearance. I'm just so disappointed!!!!!
June 27, 2020
Edit: my official blurb was released a little bit ago!!!
"An atmospheric masterpiece...White Fox is sure to be beloved by all who get their hands on this golden work."
Initial thoughts:
Spectacular. Very reminiscent of a more sinister OVER THE GARDEN WALL mixed with the background of a high class family. Adored every thrilling second.
"An atmospheric masterpiece...White Fox is sure to be beloved by all who get their hands on this golden work."
Initial thoughts:
Spectacular. Very reminiscent of a more sinister OVER THE GARDEN WALL mixed with the background of a high class family. Adored every thrilling second.
August 7, 2021
“I guess grief is like that: the banshee patiently waiting in the many-halled house of your mind, so quiet in certain moments, until you turn a corner and see how it takes up rooms and rooms, cracking their floors and windows with its volume, its weight.”
This book had me trying to figure out what was going on for a large part of the book, which I appreciate, I like when the book makes me work a bit, still it's that kind of book where you have to focus enough to not miss any important details, which doesn't exactly make it a smooth read. The atmosphere is beautiful, it's one of my favorite things about this read, on the other hand, the characters seemed a bit flat, the construction of the plot itself wasn't my cup of tea and finally, I had some conflicts with the writing style. Still, on the bright side, I like that it has a dark tone and focuses on the mystery as such.
3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
You can find more of my reviews & fun content on my blog A Book. A Thought.
The plot follows two very different sisters, Manon and Thaïs, who have always been best known for their mother, a world-famous actress who has disappeared under strange circumstances. Now, both return to the Meditarranean island where they grew up and spent most of their childhood with their family, where the sisters will find the mysterious and incomplete work of their mother: White Fox, which was thought to be long lost. The words they find there, twisted into a dark fairy tale, will lead them to delve into the island's society, uncovering twisted secrets, hopefully leading them to discover the truth behind their mother's disappearance and even more about themselves.
You know, I love plots that focus on sisters and their relationship, so that's a big factor that made me want to read it in the first place. This factor in general was one of the ones I enjoyed the most, even though the girls' personalities need more work in my opinion, I managed to get involved in their stories and especially the conflicts in between their relationship. They had a really complicated relationship not only because of their very different personalities, but also because of how their parents have raised them and obviously how things have been going after their mother's disappearance, and the depression and death of their father. Obviously all this emotional baggage falls on their relationship making it more and more distant. This was very interesting to explore and I also like how the author handled it, in general, it's very unusual to see this type of polarized personalities in this type of character, but in this case I think they're both flawed and have somewhat right in their conflicts.
Still, both Manon and Thaïs, could have had stronger personalities, especially because I felt their voices were very similar at times and that makes it difficult to differentiate, obviously we have chapters for each one which it's great, but I'd have needed something more to end up falling in love with these characters, it doesn't always have to happen, but sometimes I like to have strong feelings for the characters I'm reading and when their personalities are a bit flat it doesn't usually happen. This is just my perception obviously. I actually ended up enjoying the secondary characters much more, as I think they're the ones that really bring this story to life, especially those mysterious characters that inhabit the Island .
The idea of the plot as such is very good, I really like the fact that it's a mystery book, and that it focuses on solving a disappearance, but also that along the way we explore this beautiful island and get to know a little more about the girls and their powerful family. I think it has a lot of ingredients to be a great book, and even though I didn't totally like the execution, I would still recommend it if you want to read something different, atmospheric and with a plot focused on a rather dysfunctional family; also if you like mysteries and slow paced plots.
I'd have to read another of the author's works to be sure how I feel about her writing style because, on one hand, I really like her dark and atmospheric style, but on the other hand, I'm not sure about the way she structures this story, so I would like to see if this is something she usually does or maybe it's just this time, if so, I think I could easily enjoy another of her books . The way this one is structured I found it a bit hard to follow at times, as I said before the voices of the characters are similar for me, so that combined with her super descriptive style and some moments when there are internal monologues and then we jump to memories of the past and then to notes of her mother's work, it's a bit much at times, you know? I still want to point out that the parts that I ended up enjoying the most were the ones where we read a little bit of White Fox (the girls' mother's work), I think it was pretty creepy but atmospheric and a little bit magical, I liked that.
This isn't a fast paced book, it took me quite a while to read it because again, I repeat, it requires a lot of attention and it has a lot of descriptions, which is fine because I know most of you might like this detail, but I always like to mention it in case you're like me and prefer less descriptions in your reading. I mostly enjoyed the first part and the ending, but there's a lot that happens in between that I don't think is indispensable to the plot movement as such, still .it's not a bad book and I think there's a lot of magic about it and it has a dark vibe to it that feels super intriguing
Although I'd heard the ending isn't very popular within the community, I personally enjoyed it a lot, I didn't see it coming, maybe because I'm always thinking of the craziest possibilities lol, and I liked that. Also I think it's not only very realistic in a way, but it also has sci-fi aspects which are a very good surprise for me in this read, it gives something unexpected but very necessary to keep the reader expectant and it really worked. The ending as such gave a good closure to the story in general, but especially to the sisters, I think what happened was something that no one but them needed in some way. It was a very appropriate solid ending for me.
To conclude, I can say that it was a good read, it wasn't everything I expected and it may have influenced a little that my expectations were very high, in fact, I thought it was going to be a 5 stars for me which obviously didn't happen. But still a read that I would recommend, above all for the atmosphere, the idea of the plot and if you like descriptions and dark but beautiful settings. It's a read that I know will have very polarized opinions, because that's what it provokes just by reading it, I was like "omg, I love it" and then I was like "omg, I'm bored" you know? So I know it will take you through a particular journey. I wished for stronger and more defined characters, but I'm left mostly with the secondary characters that are even better elaborated. But all in all, a very positive reading at the end with a closure that left me satisfied and wanting to give the author another chance.
First Thoughts 07/16/21
I completely forgot to update here that I already finished this book a couple of days ago and liked it quite a bit! It was certainly not what I expected, I had high expectations and I think the author's style may not be for me, which is a shame because I have The Tenth Girl on my TBR, but I still plan to give her another chance, as I quite liked the atmosphere she was able to create here, as well as the main plot idea is very catching and unique.
Overall, I think it's a good book, and I liked it. My full review coming soon!
December 27, 2020
Thank you to Macmillian audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I haven't read Sara Faring before, but this was such a cool story. When their world-famous mother disappears, Manon and Thaïs are sent away from their Mediterranean island home by their father. In their grief, their sisters drift apart, but they haven't forgotten the mystery of their mother. Ten years later, they're lured back home with the promise of finding White Fox, their mother's last work which was thought lost. Through White Fox they'll learn more about each other and their mother than ever before.
I really enjoyed how this story was put together. The mystery of their mother's disappearance and her last screenplay was enticing and I kept wanting to know more. The sisters themselves were each their own character. I loved Tai for her effervescence and Noni for her logical approach. For me, Noni was a bit easier to relate to, but I really loved Tai for how fun her character was. For the most part, this book is more about the sisters' bond than romance, but there is a bit of that going on.
Overall, this was a slow moving mystery, but I enjoyed its hidden depths and family bonds.
I haven't read Sara Faring before, but this was such a cool story. When their world-famous mother disappears, Manon and Thaïs are sent away from their Mediterranean island home by their father. In their grief, their sisters drift apart, but they haven't forgotten the mystery of their mother. Ten years later, they're lured back home with the promise of finding White Fox, their mother's last work which was thought lost. Through White Fox they'll learn more about each other and their mother than ever before.
I really enjoyed how this story was put together. The mystery of their mother's disappearance and her last screenplay was enticing and I kept wanting to know more. The sisters themselves were each their own character. I loved Tai for her effervescence and Noni for her logical approach. For me, Noni was a bit easier to relate to, but I really loved Tai for how fun her character was. For the most part, this book is more about the sisters' bond than romance, but there is a bit of that going on.
Overall, this was a slow moving mystery, but I enjoyed its hidden depths and family bonds.
September 29, 2020
I feel like I would have enjoyed this book more if I was also given some special tea.
“White Fox” follows two sisters, the bright influencer Tai and the more reserved and bookish Manon as they return home to uncover the truth behind their mother’s disappearance ten years ago.
I’ve been seeing this book around since the cover reveal and it was one I couldn’t wait to read so maybe part of the disappointment stems from the high hopes I had when opening it for the first time but they were quickly dashed. I was expecting a simple mystery/thriller with maybe a bit of paranormal with the set up of unreliable narrators so the sci fi elements were a bit of a surprise and for me that only further fractured an already week story.
I wasn’t able to connect with either sister which was a shame as you have to be invested in them just enough so the emotional beats land but here it was like they would have moments of being fleshed out before reverting back to a kind of caricature and I couldn’t keep up and soon I no longer wished to.
There’s plenty of red herrings which is fine when weaving together a story such as this but some of them were just so poorly written that I couldn’t help but wonder who went over this in the early drafts and didn’t bother trying to fix it. I’m glad we were given the information that the script itself was bad but my god every time we went back to it I felt my brain melting and I was left wondering how much was intentional or if the style really was that poor in its attempt to be profound with carefully placed symbolism and foreshadowing for an event our own White Fox could not have seen coming.
This was such a disappointment and I’m forever grateful that I found a book of similar nature a few weeks back which managed to cover a workaholic father, stunningly beautiful yet missing mother and a traumatized daughter with ten times better skill because this book, with all its holograms, was just not it.
“White Fox” follows two sisters, the bright influencer Tai and the more reserved and bookish Manon as they return home to uncover the truth behind their mother’s disappearance ten years ago.
I’ve been seeing this book around since the cover reveal and it was one I couldn’t wait to read so maybe part of the disappointment stems from the high hopes I had when opening it for the first time but they were quickly dashed. I was expecting a simple mystery/thriller with maybe a bit of paranormal with the set up of unreliable narrators so the sci fi elements were a bit of a surprise and for me that only further fractured an already week story.
I wasn’t able to connect with either sister which was a shame as you have to be invested in them just enough so the emotional beats land but here it was like they would have moments of being fleshed out before reverting back to a kind of caricature and I couldn’t keep up and soon I no longer wished to.
There’s plenty of red herrings which is fine when weaving together a story such as this but some of them were just so poorly written that I couldn’t help but wonder who went over this in the early drafts and didn’t bother trying to fix it. I’m glad we were given the information that the script itself was bad but my god every time we went back to it I felt my brain melting and I was left wondering how much was intentional or if the style really was that poor in its attempt to be profound with carefully placed symbolism and foreshadowing for an event our own White Fox could not have seen coming.
This was such a disappointment and I’m forever grateful that I found a book of similar nature a few weeks back which managed to cover a workaholic father, stunningly beautiful yet missing mother and a traumatized daughter with ten times better skill because this book, with all its holograms, was just not it.
June 14, 2020
*Spoiler free*
After the whirlwind that was The Tenth Girl, I was beyond eager to read Sara Faring's new book, White Fox. Two sisters find the lost script of their missing mother. A house that's strange and holds many secrets. It's Sara Faring: I was ready to get my mind warped once again.
White Fox is very different than The Tenth Girl. The Tenth Girl is all ice and blood, while White Fox is earth and life. It wasn't what I was expecting, but that doesn't mean I didn't love it any less.
First off, Faring knows how to WRITE. I had trouble getting into The Tenth Girl and I had the same problem here. Her books read like the classics. I know that means she's incredibly talented and that's probably a huge compliment coming from anybody but me haha. I am, not a fan of classics. Anyway, I think just before the halfway point, I started easing into the writing style and things really picked up for me. That's WAY sooner than The Tenth Girl, so I'm taking it as a huge win!
Plus, her writing just creates this feel. This feel that makes the book seem like more than words on a page. I feel like the feeling this book evokes IS the book. I know that's kind of weird, but this feeling has stuck with me since I've finished it. It's the way this book blew my mind this time. It's the way my brain keeps coming back to it over and over again. Her writing just has this beauty to it, the way she describes things and strings words together, it seems to create something new and unexplored. In short, Faring is incredibly talented and dang does she know how to write.
This book didn't have the twist that The Tenth Girl did. While I was a bit disappointed, this book had so much more to it too. It got under my skin.
I'm trying to figure out what I can say and what I should keep hidden to make sure spoilers are kept to a minimum. Really, this book is earthy. It's dirt getting underneath your fingernails, it's planets growing when and where they shouldn't, it two sisters trying to find out where their mother went. It's a mother trying to make sense of the world around her.
This book doesn't rely on one big twist to knock you off your sit. This book applies little disturbances, little horrifying bits, to create an air of uncomfortableness, to throw you off your guard. It's brilliantly done. There were parts where weird, strange things would happen and it would make me feel uncomfortable, but in a way where I wanted to keep reading and I wanted to know why these things were happening.
The level of emotion in this book was brilliant. Noni has anxiety and she describes it as fizzing pennies, which I thought was such a great anaolgy. Tai has a hard time coping with her mom's disappearance and delves into the digital world to try and cope. The sister's struggle with their relationship, with all their relationships really, but it's these twining lines that really help pull the book together. Feelings seem to just pour out of this book, in a way that just packs this book with emotion.
Also, THE TENTH GIRL EASTER EGGS. There were multiple and I wanted to scream at every single one; so clever and so cool!
The fact of the matter is, I will read anything that Sara Faring writes. This book might've been different than her debut, but it was no less incredible. If you're looking for something with small bits of uncomfortable, strange things, sisters struggling with themselves, each other, and the outside world, and a lost woman along with a lost script, then this is definitely the book for. Get ready to be immersed in something earthy and something that seeps with emotion.
After the whirlwind that was The Tenth Girl, I was beyond eager to read Sara Faring's new book, White Fox. Two sisters find the lost script of their missing mother. A house that's strange and holds many secrets. It's Sara Faring: I was ready to get my mind warped once again.
White Fox is very different than The Tenth Girl. The Tenth Girl is all ice and blood, while White Fox is earth and life. It wasn't what I was expecting, but that doesn't mean I didn't love it any less.
First off, Faring knows how to WRITE. I had trouble getting into The Tenth Girl and I had the same problem here. Her books read like the classics. I know that means she's incredibly talented and that's probably a huge compliment coming from anybody but me haha. I am, not a fan of classics. Anyway, I think just before the halfway point, I started easing into the writing style and things really picked up for me. That's WAY sooner than The Tenth Girl, so I'm taking it as a huge win!
Plus, her writing just creates this feel. This feel that makes the book seem like more than words on a page. I feel like the feeling this book evokes IS the book. I know that's kind of weird, but this feeling has stuck with me since I've finished it. It's the way this book blew my mind this time. It's the way my brain keeps coming back to it over and over again. Her writing just has this beauty to it, the way she describes things and strings words together, it seems to create something new and unexplored. In short, Faring is incredibly talented and dang does she know how to write.
This book didn't have the twist that The Tenth Girl did. While I was a bit disappointed, this book had so much more to it too. It got under my skin.
I'm trying to figure out what I can say and what I should keep hidden to make sure spoilers are kept to a minimum. Really, this book is earthy. It's dirt getting underneath your fingernails, it's planets growing when and where they shouldn't, it two sisters trying to find out where their mother went. It's a mother trying to make sense of the world around her.
This book doesn't rely on one big twist to knock you off your sit. This book applies little disturbances, little horrifying bits, to create an air of uncomfortableness, to throw you off your guard. It's brilliantly done. There were parts where weird, strange things would happen and it would make me feel uncomfortable, but in a way where I wanted to keep reading and I wanted to know why these things were happening.
The level of emotion in this book was brilliant. Noni has anxiety and she describes it as fizzing pennies, which I thought was such a great anaolgy. Tai has a hard time coping with her mom's disappearance and delves into the digital world to try and cope. The sister's struggle with their relationship, with all their relationships really, but it's these twining lines that really help pull the book together. Feelings seem to just pour out of this book, in a way that just packs this book with emotion.
Also, THE TENTH GIRL EASTER EGGS. There were multiple and I wanted to scream at every single one; so clever and so cool!
The fact of the matter is, I will read anything that Sara Faring writes. This book might've been different than her debut, but it was no less incredible. If you're looking for something with small bits of uncomfortable, strange things, sisters struggling with themselves, each other, and the outside world, and a lost woman along with a lost script, then this is definitely the book for. Get ready to be immersed in something earthy and something that seeps with emotion.
September 22, 2020
This was a bit not what I had expected. I can't tell if it exceeded my expectations (or if it didn't). I wasn't surprised nor was I let down. I did like the book, but at the same time it didn't really blew me away (hence the 4 star rating). I think the aesthetic, writing style, and the images depicted throughout the book made me want to keep reading.
It reminded me of the French film, "Last Year at Marienbad". What it had in common were the subtle changes (from present time to film/script). I imagined it as if it were like a camera, panning to the past (either the manuscript of White Fox or the films that stars Mireille). The change is obvious and I didn't find it jarring. Also, I wasn't connected to any of the characters. I didn't think this was a bad thing.
I enjoyed White Fox as it is. However, I think this book is an acquired taste. Not everyone will enjoy this type of storytelling. While it does follow a linear plot, it gets interrupted with a film or script related to the mother's disappearance. It's up to the reader to decipher what everything means.
I would recommend this book to those who are looking for something unique, or someone looking for a different reading experience.
Note: an ARC copy was provided in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It reminded me of the French film, "Last Year at Marienbad". What it had in common were the subtle changes (from present time to film/script). I imagined it as if it were like a camera, panning to the past (either the manuscript of White Fox or the films that stars Mireille). The change is obvious and I didn't find it jarring. Also, I wasn't connected to any of the characters. I didn't think this was a bad thing.
I enjoyed White Fox as it is. However, I think this book is an acquired taste. Not everyone will enjoy this type of storytelling. While it does follow a linear plot, it gets interrupted with a film or script related to the mother's disappearance. It's up to the reader to decipher what everything means.
I would recommend this book to those who are looking for something unique, or someone looking for a different reading experience.
Note: an ARC copy was provided in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 16, 2020
"SISTERS BOND WHILE TRYING TO SOLVE THEIR TWISTED FAMILY'S DARK SECRETS!"
IMPORTANT WARNING: This book totally spoils the twist of Sara's first novel "The Tenth Girl". If you're interested in reading that book, DO NOT read "White Fox" first, YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!
It was hard for me to decide what to rate this book. On the one hand, this book may appeal to a larger audience than Sara's debut novel "The Tenth Girl" because: first, it's a more standard-ish mystery suspense novel aimed to YA readers mainly with no strange end twist that might get readers upset. But for me, it lacked exactly what I was expecting to find that had her first novel: a darker Gothic atmosphere, some over the top crazy twists and more adult content. So, it may work better than "The Tenth Girl" as successful marketing, but did not turn out to be a five star for me & I had very high expectations.
Ten years ago, enigmatic film star Mireille Foix disappeared from Viloxin, her Mediterranean island home, leaving her pharma tycoon husband and two young daughters bereft. Eighteen-year-old Manon and 17-year-old Thaïs have lived with their aunt in New York City ever since, and their father’s death the previous summer still stings. Tai is puckish and effervescent, with “beautiful gemstones of stories that she’s sharpened to points” and musical laughter that hides deep insecurity. Noni, on the other hand, is a bookish and unabashedly melancholy young woman. When they get an invitation to return to Viloxin, the “Eden” of their childhood, as guests of honor at a retrospective of their mother’s work, they can’t pass it up. Soon after their arrival, Tai discovers White Fox, a legendary unfinished script penned by her mother. The screenplay, which is nestled in between Tai’s and Manon’s narratives as well as that of Boy, a darkly mysterious third narrator, may hold the key to Mireille’s fate. Desperate for the truth, Tai and Noni are enticed into an eerie and darkly seductive puzzle box of enigmatic clues, revelations, and danger - summary I just copy and paste from the web.
What I liked and what I was dissatisfied with:
The sisters: having been estranged for years, bond over the course of a week and build a more stable and stronger relationship. If you're looking for books about sisterly bonding, this one works perfectly. The setting: it's intriguing as it says the summary, but it could have been much eerier and Gothic if the content would have allowed it to be. The plot: the structure is mixed media, inserting the pages of the script left by their mom between chapters. However; the mystery itself is quite simple to solve, there aren't many suspects around, and 420 pages dragged on. The characters: the sisters are better developed characters, but the villain(s)/antihero turned out to be very one dimensional which is very common in YA books. On the praise, someone compared it to Marisha Pessl's "Night Film". I can see that because of the mixed media format and the intriguing setting, but Pessl's book is richer in all those aspects, perhaps because it's aimed to adults. So, while the rating for Sara Faring's two books remain the same: four stars, this one is 3.5 rounded up and "The Tenth Girl" is 4.5 rounded down, remaining her debut novel my favorite one.
IMPORTANT WARNING: This book totally spoils the twist of Sara's first novel "The Tenth Girl". If you're interested in reading that book, DO NOT read "White Fox" first, YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!
It was hard for me to decide what to rate this book. On the one hand, this book may appeal to a larger audience than Sara's debut novel "The Tenth Girl" because: first, it's a more standard-ish mystery suspense novel aimed to YA readers mainly with no strange end twist that might get readers upset. But for me, it lacked exactly what I was expecting to find that had her first novel: a darker Gothic atmosphere, some over the top crazy twists and more adult content. So, it may work better than "The Tenth Girl" as successful marketing, but did not turn out to be a five star for me & I had very high expectations.
Ten years ago, enigmatic film star Mireille Foix disappeared from Viloxin, her Mediterranean island home, leaving her pharma tycoon husband and two young daughters bereft. Eighteen-year-old Manon and 17-year-old Thaïs have lived with their aunt in New York City ever since, and their father’s death the previous summer still stings. Tai is puckish and effervescent, with “beautiful gemstones of stories that she’s sharpened to points” and musical laughter that hides deep insecurity. Noni, on the other hand, is a bookish and unabashedly melancholy young woman. When they get an invitation to return to Viloxin, the “Eden” of their childhood, as guests of honor at a retrospective of their mother’s work, they can’t pass it up. Soon after their arrival, Tai discovers White Fox, a legendary unfinished script penned by her mother. The screenplay, which is nestled in between Tai’s and Manon’s narratives as well as that of Boy, a darkly mysterious third narrator, may hold the key to Mireille’s fate. Desperate for the truth, Tai and Noni are enticed into an eerie and darkly seductive puzzle box of enigmatic clues, revelations, and danger - summary I just copy and paste from the web.
What I liked and what I was dissatisfied with:
The sisters: having been estranged for years, bond over the course of a week and build a more stable and stronger relationship. If you're looking for books about sisterly bonding, this one works perfectly. The setting: it's intriguing as it says the summary, but it could have been much eerier and Gothic if the content would have allowed it to be. The plot: the structure is mixed media, inserting the pages of the script left by their mom between chapters. However; the mystery itself is quite simple to solve, there aren't many suspects around, and 420 pages dragged on. The characters: the sisters are better developed characters, but the villain(s)/antihero turned out to be very one dimensional which is very common in YA books. On the praise, someone compared it to Marisha Pessl's "Night Film". I can see that because of the mixed media format and the intriguing setting, but Pessl's book is richer in all those aspects, perhaps because it's aimed to adults. So, while the rating for Sara Faring's two books remain the same: four stars, this one is 3.5 rounded up and "The Tenth Girl" is 4.5 rounded down, remaining her debut novel my favorite one.
October 2, 2020
5 Stars
“Beauty isn’t that which is beautiful... It is that which pleases us.” - White Fox.
See more on my Bookstagram: Shelf.Inspiration Instagram
REVIEW: This book follows sisters Manon and Thaïs who left their Mediterranean home after their famous actress mother disappeared under mysterious circumstances. During these years, the sisters ended up drifting apart due to their differences and their grief. However, their mother’s unfinished story still haunts them, and they can’t stop thinking about the possibility that she may be still alive. Lured back to their home island ten years later, the sisters find their mothers legendary last screenplay: White Fox, a screenplay filled with enigmatic metaphors. The clues within this dark fairytale lead the sisters into the islands surreal society, and to the twisted secrets of their family that reveal the truth about their mother and themselves.
Wow, this book blew me away. It is a mystery / thriller for sure, but is written so magically and is a beautiful story. The story is so expansive and the way that the main plot of the story is interwoven with this found screenplay script is perfect. I also loved the focus on both the sisters of the story, their emotional states, and their relationships with each other. It added another layer of depth to the story that I often miss in most thrillers. Another excellent element to this book is the setting, it is imaginative, but surreal and overall magical. The images were very vivid and I am already missing the island of Viloxin. I am not going to say much more because this is a story you want to go into blind and just let it consume you. Pick this one up!
SYNOPSIS: After their world-famous actor mother disappeared under mysterious circumstances, Manon and Thaïs left their remote Mediterranean island home—sent away by their pharma-tech tycoon father. Opposites in every way, the sisters drifted apart in their grief. Yet their mother's unfinished story still haunts them both, and they can't put to rest the possibility that she is still alive.
Lured home a decade later, Manon and Thaïs discover their mother’s legendary last work, long thought lost: White Fox, a screenplay filled with enigmatic metaphors. The clues in this dark fairytale draw them deep into the island's surreal society, into the twisted secrets hidden by their glittering family, to reveal the truth about their mother—and themselves.
“Beauty isn’t that which is beautiful... It is that which pleases us.” - White Fox.
See more on my Bookstagram: Shelf.Inspiration Instagram
REVIEW: This book follows sisters Manon and Thaïs who left their Mediterranean home after their famous actress mother disappeared under mysterious circumstances. During these years, the sisters ended up drifting apart due to their differences and their grief. However, their mother’s unfinished story still haunts them, and they can’t stop thinking about the possibility that she may be still alive. Lured back to their home island ten years later, the sisters find their mothers legendary last screenplay: White Fox, a screenplay filled with enigmatic metaphors. The clues within this dark fairytale lead the sisters into the islands surreal society, and to the twisted secrets of their family that reveal the truth about their mother and themselves.
Wow, this book blew me away. It is a mystery / thriller for sure, but is written so magically and is a beautiful story. The story is so expansive and the way that the main plot of the story is interwoven with this found screenplay script is perfect. I also loved the focus on both the sisters of the story, their emotional states, and their relationships with each other. It added another layer of depth to the story that I often miss in most thrillers. Another excellent element to this book is the setting, it is imaginative, but surreal and overall magical. The images were very vivid and I am already missing the island of Viloxin. I am not going to say much more because this is a story you want to go into blind and just let it consume you. Pick this one up!
SYNOPSIS: After their world-famous actor mother disappeared under mysterious circumstances, Manon and Thaïs left their remote Mediterranean island home—sent away by their pharma-tech tycoon father. Opposites in every way, the sisters drifted apart in their grief. Yet their mother's unfinished story still haunts them both, and they can't put to rest the possibility that she is still alive.
Lured home a decade later, Manon and Thaïs discover their mother’s legendary last work, long thought lost: White Fox, a screenplay filled with enigmatic metaphors. The clues in this dark fairytale draw them deep into the island's surreal society, into the twisted secrets hidden by their glittering family, to reveal the truth about their mother—and themselves.
March 23, 2021
I enjoyed this book. Although I was hoping the screenplay would be more involved in the story, I also appreciated how little it was incorporated into the entire plot, making me that more excited when we did get to a new part of the screenplay. I also loved the messages and the creepiness/twisted nature of the novel. Full review to come soon 😌🤍
September 23, 2020
3.5 stars
This book had so much potential, but it fell a little short for me. At times there was so much description to set the creepy tone of the book that I got bored and drawn out of the story. I felt like I got 50% into the story and there was still nothing happening.
I loved the scenes with Manon and Hérrakí because of the tension between their characters and how opposite they thought. I also really loved the White Fox script. It felt like a giant riddle, and I liked getting a glimpse into Mireille's mind and how she was feeling before her disappearance. One of the themes I liked best was Mireille's desire to not be possessed by anyone yet that was all the men in her life wanted to do with her. It affected the way she navigated the world and she passed some of those behaviors and stories on to her daughters.
Although Noni and Tai had a very strenuous relationship in this story, I like reading about sibling bonds especially when the siblings are complete opposites. Each sister still had a need to protect the other sister even when she didn't approve of the other's actions. It made their discoveries take that much longer as they were working separate so much trying to do things their own ways. I also liked seeing the glimpses into Manon's mind and how poetically she would describe herself and her loneliness.
The ending of the portion of the book redeemed the story for me as it was scary and suspenseful. I was entirely immersed and on edge. I didn't entirely understand everything that was revealed, but I thought there was a lot of cool elements at play, and I liked how most things were wrapped up by the end. I still have questions about Linos, Antella, and Saxim and how all of their relationships were affected by the end of this story.
Although this story didn't completely capture my attention, there were some good themes and plot points in it that I think others will find entirely enjoyable.
*Thank you to Fierce Reads and Net Galley for the ARC. All opinions are my own*
This book had so much potential, but it fell a little short for me. At times there was so much description to set the creepy tone of the book that I got bored and drawn out of the story. I felt like I got 50% into the story and there was still nothing happening.
I loved the scenes with Manon and Hérrakí because of the tension between their characters and how opposite they thought. I also really loved the White Fox script. It felt like a giant riddle, and I liked getting a glimpse into Mireille's mind and how she was feeling before her disappearance. One of the themes I liked best was Mireille's desire to not be possessed by anyone yet that was all the men in her life wanted to do with her. It affected the way she navigated the world and she passed some of those behaviors and stories on to her daughters.
Although Noni and Tai had a very strenuous relationship in this story, I like reading about sibling bonds especially when the siblings are complete opposites. Each sister still had a need to protect the other sister even when she didn't approve of the other's actions. It made their discoveries take that much longer as they were working separate so much trying to do things their own ways. I also liked seeing the glimpses into Manon's mind and how poetically she would describe herself and her loneliness.
The ending of the portion of the book redeemed the story for me as it was scary and suspenseful. I was entirely immersed and on edge. I didn't entirely understand everything that was revealed, but I thought there was a lot of cool elements at play, and I liked how most things were wrapped up by the end. I still have questions about Linos, Antella, and Saxim and how all of their relationships were affected by the end of this story.
Although this story didn't completely capture my attention, there were some good themes and plot points in it that I think others will find entirely enjoyable.
*Thank you to Fierce Reads and Net Galley for the ARC. All opinions are my own*
September 11, 2020
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
I was utterly blown away by The Tenth Girl by Sara Faring, so you know that White Fox is one of my most highly anticipated releases this year. And the core of what I love about Faring's books - thrilling and detailed atmospheres and elegant writing - were brought into White Fox. From the very beginning, White Fox begins bewitching readers from page one. I can't put my finger on what it is. The combination of sentences that chill your bones. Or the fact that, from the descriptions, you can practically feel the fog seeping through your windows. The stares when you aren't looking, and the fear thrumming through your veins.
Or if it's the newspaper articles and mysterious chapters scattered throughout White Fox, Faring is a genius at creating an atmosphere which swallows you whole. Combined with atmosphere, Faring has these two entrancing characters, Manon and Thaïs. I am a sucker for siblings, especially sisters, and so their sibling relationship resonated deeply with me. The bonds between them as sisters, the tugs and rough patches. How we can feel like we are the side character in our own life, the orbiting side show, and how this fundamentally changes our lives. The way the power of perception spells out promises and possibilities.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
I was utterly blown away by The Tenth Girl by Sara Faring, so you know that White Fox is one of my most highly anticipated releases this year. And the core of what I love about Faring's books - thrilling and detailed atmospheres and elegant writing - were brought into White Fox. From the very beginning, White Fox begins bewitching readers from page one. I can't put my finger on what it is. The combination of sentences that chill your bones. Or the fact that, from the descriptions, you can practically feel the fog seeping through your windows. The stares when you aren't looking, and the fear thrumming through your veins.
Or if it's the newspaper articles and mysterious chapters scattered throughout White Fox, Faring is a genius at creating an atmosphere which swallows you whole. Combined with atmosphere, Faring has these two entrancing characters, Manon and Thaïs. I am a sucker for siblings, especially sisters, and so their sibling relationship resonated deeply with me. The bonds between them as sisters, the tugs and rough patches. How we can feel like we are the side character in our own life, the orbiting side show, and how this fundamentally changes our lives. The way the power of perception spells out promises and possibilities.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
October 2, 2020
I'm DNFing this one...
The writing is choppy and the transitions from Noni/Manon to Tia/Thias or whatever her other name was just didn't work for me. I was also getting frustrated with the completely made up setting of the book. I haven't read many realistic/contemporary fiction novels that take place on a made up island with a made up history and made up language. It all came off as very cheesy. I feel like setting this in some notoriously secluded Mediterranean island or something else could have worked much better. (Here we go, a quick Google search showed me a place called Pantelleria off the Italian coast...)
I just felt like this couldn't make up its mind between being some dystopian fantasy novel or contemporary thriller and by the fourth or fifth time I read Manon's feelings of dread being described as a type of "glue" (thick glue, choking glue, boiling glue...), I was just done.
The writing is choppy and the transitions from Noni/Manon to Tia/Thias or whatever her other name was just didn't work for me. I was also getting frustrated with the completely made up setting of the book. I haven't read many realistic/contemporary fiction novels that take place on a made up island with a made up history and made up language. It all came off as very cheesy. I feel like setting this in some notoriously secluded Mediterranean island or something else could have worked much better. (Here we go, a quick Google search showed me a place called Pantelleria off the Italian coast...)
I just felt like this couldn't make up its mind between being some dystopian fantasy novel or contemporary thriller and by the fourth or fifth time I read Manon's feelings of dread being described as a type of "glue" (thick glue, choking glue, boiling glue...), I was just done.
August 21, 2020
(I received an e-arc of White Fox from Fierce Reads as part of The Faring Society! Thank you Fierce Reads!)
I didn't entirely connect with the characters (and I have strong feelings about them), however, the plot was something else. It was strange and puzzling. Plus the way the story was told—with parts of a movie script, newspaper articles, and interviews interwoven into the book—made it both unnerving and atmospheric in the right moments.
Full review soon!
Find me elsewhere: Instagram | Twitter | Blog
I didn't entirely connect with the characters (and I have strong feelings about them), however, the plot was something else. It was strange and puzzling. Plus the way the story was told—with parts of a movie script, newspaper articles, and interviews interwoven into the book—made it both unnerving and atmospheric in the right moments.
Full review soon!
Find me elsewhere: Instagram | Twitter | Blog
October 29, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest reiew. Manon and Thais are the daughters of a famous actress who went missing a decade ago. After their father dies and they return the the island where they grew up, they start investigating her disappearance. Mireille was well=loved. Maybe too much so. And the family had lots of secrets that keep you guessing all the way to the end. I love it when an author introduces twists into the storyline, and Sara Faring has done a remarkable job of that. I whole-heartedly recommend this book!
September 24, 2020
Thanks to Fierce reads for an eARC of the book in exchange of an honest review.All opinions expressed are my own and are not compensated in any way
White Fox is a curtain raiser for my spooky reads season aka Autumn, it is certainly a book with unique premise and format that has bits of screen play which acts as bread crumbs for the mystery that is to be resolved. The dark twisted tale revolves around hidden family secrets and broken relationships, it has all the ingredients to make a creepy thriller like mansion in the woods, creepy robots and tech obsessed geeks.It is certainly eerie and chilling at times and I enjoyed the thrill of "I have no clue what is happening" feeling
However, the very thing had been drawn out way too much, I do understand that any atmospheric book needs the plot to be drawn out for the grand effect in the climax but it is a very risky line to tread because when you draw out the plot beyond certain extent, the reader will lose the interest and it will no longer be gripping.This is exactly what happened with me to the point I had to skim a lot of pages in the last 30% of the book, the treasure hunt stops are way too long and overtly descriptive
We follow POV's of both Tai and Manon, while I really enjoyed this aspect in the first 50% of the book,I felt the story started to be redundant because of the switching POV's as we have to keep up with mental dialogues of either siblings.There are other things in the story I couldn't relate to because they weren't convincing(lets start with- sending away two teenagers to a different country and letting them live in this huge mansion just by themselves??) and as well as the loose ends that were left unexplained but again that might be for the mysterious impact but I didn't enjoy it.
If you ever watched pretty little liars, this book has the very same vibe. I would have enjoyed it much better if it isn't unnecessarily lengthy
White Fox is a curtain raiser for my spooky reads season aka Autumn, it is certainly a book with unique premise and format that has bits of screen play which acts as bread crumbs for the mystery that is to be resolved. The dark twisted tale revolves around hidden family secrets and broken relationships, it has all the ingredients to make a creepy thriller like mansion in the woods, creepy robots and tech obsessed geeks.It is certainly eerie and chilling at times and I enjoyed the thrill of "I have no clue what is happening" feeling
However, the very thing had been drawn out way too much, I do understand that any atmospheric book needs the plot to be drawn out for the grand effect in the climax but it is a very risky line to tread because when you draw out the plot beyond certain extent, the reader will lose the interest and it will no longer be gripping.This is exactly what happened with me to the point I had to skim a lot of pages in the last 30% of the book, the treasure hunt stops are way too long and overtly descriptive
We follow POV's of both Tai and Manon, while I really enjoyed this aspect in the first 50% of the book,I felt the story started to be redundant because of the switching POV's as we have to keep up with mental dialogues of either siblings.There are other things in the story I couldn't relate to because they weren't convincing(lets start with- sending away two teenagers to a different country and letting them live in this huge mansion just by themselves??) and as well as the loose ends that were left unexplained but again that might be for the mysterious impact but I didn't enjoy it.
If you ever watched pretty little liars, this book has the very same vibe. I would have enjoyed it much better if it isn't unnecessarily lengthy
September 28, 2020
Absolutely atmospheric. This novel is told from the POV of two sisters and alternating news articles, movie scripts, letters and the like. Manon and Thais’ mother disappeared a decade ago under mysterious circumstances. Lured home, they soon find themselves deep in societal secrets and family lies rushing to uncover a truth that someone wants to keep buried.
I want to give props to Heidi Rew and Stephanie Willis for bringing to life the creepy undertone and gothic eerie feeling of this novel through their narrations. I have to be honest that the first half was really slow for me but the narration kept me listening. Their tones lull you into the feelings of the characters and build on the surrounding scenery of this remote island. Some narrations were a little gruff and gritty for the male characters and I wasn’t a huge fan of the inclusion of the articles and letters. I know they lent extra insight into the mystery surrounding the mother’s disappearance but I also feel the book could’ve flowed faster without it. That is just a personal preference though.
I wish I could bottle the vibe Faring’s writing elicits and sprinkle that around for Halloween. The buildup of dread, the addition of spectral apparitions and the downright weird locals was excellent. Like I mentioned though, it did take a good bit before I got to this point. I hope readers push through the overly descriptive and lengthy beginning and embrace the beautiful prose and feel the atmosphere of this one. True rating 3.5/5, rounded for Goodreads.
I want to give props to Heidi Rew and Stephanie Willis for bringing to life the creepy undertone and gothic eerie feeling of this novel through their narrations. I have to be honest that the first half was really slow for me but the narration kept me listening. Their tones lull you into the feelings of the characters and build on the surrounding scenery of this remote island. Some narrations were a little gruff and gritty for the male characters and I wasn’t a huge fan of the inclusion of the articles and letters. I know they lent extra insight into the mystery surrounding the mother’s disappearance but I also feel the book could’ve flowed faster without it. That is just a personal preference though.
I wish I could bottle the vibe Faring’s writing elicits and sprinkle that around for Halloween. The buildup of dread, the addition of spectral apparitions and the downright weird locals was excellent. Like I mentioned though, it did take a good bit before I got to this point. I hope readers push through the overly descriptive and lengthy beginning and embrace the beautiful prose and feel the atmosphere of this one. True rating 3.5/5, rounded for Goodreads.
September 17, 2023
DNF at 25% this book almost put me in a reading slump, I just couldn't get into it or care at all.
November 19, 2020
Intriguing premise and some lyrically interesting prose, bogged down by the two primary characters - one morose, awkward and envious, the other frivolous and self-centred (both stereotypical YA tropes, though this isn’t being marketed as a YA book). Like other reviewers I started losing interest in the slow resolution of the “mystery” of their missing mother: I had to force myself to finish this novel.
September 8, 2020
*incoherent yelling*
EDIT: okay, proper review time.
Manon and Thaïs's mother disappeared over a decade ago. She was a famous actress, an it-girl, an enigma, the wife of a Big Pharma tycoon. And when she left, she took with her everything that held Noni and Tai together.
Ten years later, an invitation to a high-fashion retrospective honoring the elusive Mireille Foix will be what summons them home from New York City, to the island of Viloxin that is as insular and mysterious as Mireille was. There, they'll pursue the truth about what their father's pharmaceutical company was really up to in the time before his death and hunt for White Fox, their mother's last script and the stuff of film legend.
White Fox is a story inside a story, the search for the relics of a life left behind and souvenirs of the lost-- and the search for loved ones, as real people.
EDIT: okay, proper review time.
Manon and Thaïs's mother disappeared over a decade ago. She was a famous actress, an it-girl, an enigma, the wife of a Big Pharma tycoon. And when she left, she took with her everything that held Noni and Tai together.
Ten years later, an invitation to a high-fashion retrospective honoring the elusive Mireille Foix will be what summons them home from New York City, to the island of Viloxin that is as insular and mysterious as Mireille was. There, they'll pursue the truth about what their father's pharmaceutical company was really up to in the time before his death and hunt for White Fox, their mother's last script and the stuff of film legend.
White Fox is a story inside a story, the search for the relics of a life left behind and souvenirs of the lost-- and the search for loved ones, as real people.
September 21, 2020
OK, so I read a manuscript of this pre-COVID to blurb, and I loved it, I happily gave it a blurb. I always feel the need to reread books I read in manuscript form, because who knows what could have changed, right? And this one especially... pre-COVID feels like another lifetime, and the amount I remember of what I read during early 2020 is quite minimal. So glad I reread it.
It was INCREDIBLE. I think it's 10x better than The Tenth Girl, which I really liked. I do think this one has more commercial appeal though in that it won't be as polarizing, and you don't need to have a certain exposure/familiarity/understanding of a very specific subject matter to understand the twist, as was the case with TTG. There isn't a huge, singular reveal/twist here, but there are so many shocking reveals that are splayed throughout the text, and the ending is still unpredictable.
I absolutely loved the old Hollywood feel to this, and I do think fans of Night Film will particularly enjoy this. I loved that the entirety of the White Fox script was in the book, though you don't get the whole script all at once. There are also news articles and magazine excerpts, so it's got a mixed-media format. It's just SO GOOD.
If you need a page-turner, a book that you're actually really excited to pick up every day, a book you look forward to curling up with after work and you think about throughout the day how excited you are to sit down and read it once you get everything you need to get done done, look no farther.
It was INCREDIBLE. I think it's 10x better than The Tenth Girl, which I really liked. I do think this one has more commercial appeal though in that it won't be as polarizing, and you don't need to have a certain exposure/familiarity/understanding of a very specific subject matter to understand the twist, as was the case with TTG. There isn't a huge, singular reveal/twist here, but there are so many shocking reveals that are splayed throughout the text, and the ending is still unpredictable.
I absolutely loved the old Hollywood feel to this, and I do think fans of Night Film will particularly enjoy this. I loved that the entirety of the White Fox script was in the book, though you don't get the whole script all at once. There are also news articles and magazine excerpts, so it's got a mixed-media format. It's just SO GOOD.
If you need a page-turner, a book that you're actually really excited to pick up every day, a book you look forward to curling up with after work and you think about throughout the day how excited you are to sit down and read it once you get everything you need to get done done, look no farther.
September 25, 2020
[3.75/5] White Fox centers around two sisters who return to the lush Mediterranean-esque island and ancestral mansion where they grew up. Manon (Noni) is the oldest, a quiet aspiring writer. Thais (Tai), the youngest, is stunningly beautiful and social media-obsessed.
They’re called back to attend a gala honoring their mother, a world-famous movie star who disappeared a decade earlier. The girls are determined to figure out what really happened to her.
I really enjoyed the feeling I got while reading this story – it was an absorbing experience. It drips with ethereal atmosphere, between the ominous forest, the luxurious city center, and the dilapidated mansion. (Though sometimes I felt there was a little too much description, which could be distracting at times).
The ‘White Fox’ manuscript, written by the girls’ mother before she mysteriously vanished, was a fascinating parallel to the story (and the mystery at its core). I really liked how the island’s folklore was woven into the story, too.
I do think this could have been stronger if it was a bit shorter. It took a while to get to the meat of the story, and there were a lot of side characters/storylines to keep track of. But overall, I enjoyed it! So unique and imaginative, especially that setting.
**Thank you Macmillan/Fierce Reads for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
They’re called back to attend a gala honoring their mother, a world-famous movie star who disappeared a decade earlier. The girls are determined to figure out what really happened to her.
I really enjoyed the feeling I got while reading this story – it was an absorbing experience. It drips with ethereal atmosphere, between the ominous forest, the luxurious city center, and the dilapidated mansion. (Though sometimes I felt there was a little too much description, which could be distracting at times).
The ‘White Fox’ manuscript, written by the girls’ mother before she mysteriously vanished, was a fascinating parallel to the story (and the mystery at its core). I really liked how the island’s folklore was woven into the story, too.
I do think this could have been stronger if it was a bit shorter. It took a while to get to the meat of the story, and there were a lot of side characters/storylines to keep track of. But overall, I enjoyed it! So unique and imaginative, especially that setting.
**Thank you Macmillan/Fierce Reads for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Shelved as 'abandoned'
January 3, 2021I’m not a big New Year’s Resolutions person, but I did vow to be a lot more ruthless about DNFing books that are just plain bad or that I just don’t like.
This one, unfortunately meets both of those criteria.
This book was marketed as comparable to The Hazel Wood, which is, to put it kindly, quite a reach.
I gave it 100 pages, which is what I’m trying to give every book before DNFing, and it didn’t pass muster.
This one, unfortunately meets both of those criteria.
This book was marketed as comparable to The Hazel Wood, which is, to put it kindly, quite a reach.
I gave it 100 pages, which is what I’m trying to give every book before DNFing, and it didn’t pass muster.
September 23, 2021
I couldn't connect with the characters, setting or plot. After a while, I didn't care to find out what happened to the mother any more.
The sisters have the same voice, especially during monologue, that I kept looking at the chapter name to remind myself whose POV it is.
The sisters have the same voice, especially during monologue, that I kept looking at the chapter name to remind myself whose POV it is.
August 25, 2020
Dreamy, eerie perfection!
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