The Fox’s Tower (Wolfstongue 2) by Sam Thompson

What worked:

You don’t need to have read the first book but there are connections between the two. The boy from the first book is now grown up and his daughter Willow is the main character this time. The grandchildren of the previous wolves assist her since her father’s past deeds now make the wolves consider Willow part of the family. Reynard is back as an antagonist and he’s still a crafty, manipulative fox now ruling the tower. A lion named Noble is added to the cast and first impressions will reveal he has a very similar personality to Reynard. The difference between the two is Noble is trying to rally the foxes to oust Reynard as their leader. Both characters are skillful at twisting words and emotions to control the minds of others but Noble is more violent than Reynard.

A theme of the book may be that we don’t need to follow the perceptions others have of us. We encounter other people in our everyday lives and they develop impressions about us that may or may not be based on reality. Reynard and Noble control other animals through their tales of superiority and by targeting the weak and timid. Other wolves and foxes won’t speak out against unfairness and abuse for fear that they will become targets too. Eventually, the animals believe they’re lesser creatures and succumb to the verbal power of Reynard and Noble. They must learn to tell their own stories and take control of their lives.

Reynard also has magical abilities that he uses to rule the tower. As the synopsis says, he uses the clay to create creatures he’s able to control but their formation is truly amazing. The tower was built to provide everything the foxes need to survive without worry but the magic cannot last forever. Reynard is able to change his appearance to fit the image he wants to project but his devious personality never goes away. He sends Willow into the Deep Forest where her imaginary experiences seem so real that they’re hard to resist. It will take some cunning plans by Willow and her allies to free all of the creatures trapped within the tower.

What didn’t work as well:

The transition from wild animals to human-like behavior within the tower requires readers to make the adjustment on their own. It takes some mental effort to rationalize foxes and wolves walking on four feet but then shopping at stalls in a market and cooking meals in their multi-room homes. The line between reality and the magical forest is hazy.

The Final Verdict:

Readers should expect more fantasy and magic than was found in “Wolfstongue”. The whole story stimulates readers to think about self-image, leadership, and grief as Willow tries to save her father and the innocent animals. Overall, it’s a creative, enjoyable story and I recommend you give it a shot.