Review by glubglub200 -- The Fox by M. N. J. Butler

[glubglub200]

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

---

3 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

The Fox by M. N. J. Butler is one of the best historical novels set in the 4th century BC. Leotychides, a Spartan soldier, recounts his life young to old in this intriguing book. Leotychides is assumed to be the son of one of the two kings of Sparta, Agis II, but Leotychides knows that his actual lineage is quite different. After his supposed father’s untimely death, he is challenged for the throne by his uncle, Agisilaos, and works hard to become an honorable Spartan. You will become immersed in both his life and the Spartan culture. If you’re a history buff, there’s no way you won’t be drawn to The Fox.

There was so much to appreciate about this book, but what I couldn’t help but like the most was the number of historical events written realistically. The author pulled out all the stops to help the reader feel like they were reading an actual memoir written by Leotychides. At times, I thought I was reading a history book. Many characters were unbelievably interesting such as Leotychides and Agesilaus. Reading about Leotychides as he went through life was an enthralling ride, and it was hard to stop reading at times. If you need action, there’s a bunch of it in this book, and it will keep you insanely entertained. It’s best if lovers of history read this book as others might become confused with the vast amount of knowledge.

While the book was great, I disliked the fact that it was super long and held more history than my brain could take. There are things included to help understand the information in the book, such as the glossary, but even with that, it could still be difficult for the reader to remember all the details. With this type of story, it would be better if the reader had a good memory or already knew about the topic. It was hard to recall most of the names, but the detailed storyline made up for that negative. Even though there were some problems, the book was still fascinating, and if the reader is willing to take the time to read it, they will not regret it.

I would suggest the book to adult history lovers because this specific audience will appreciate the book to its full potential.

The book gets 3 out of 4 stars from me because while it was an amazing read, it was pretty long, and there were many things to keep track of to understand the book. It was an amazingly well-written book that didn’t have any noticeable errors. There’s a lot to like about the story, and I recommend reading it.

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

[Sanju Lali]

looks like an engaging historical novel, which is set in the 4th century BC and focuses on entire life of Leotychides, a Spartan soldier. Thanks for your honest review.