The Fool and the Sparrow by Dana Fox: A Book Review
Genre: Fantasy/ Romance
Fox starts a dazzling series in her debut novel, The Fool and the Sparrow. Surrounding the tale of an assassin out to right their wrongs, Fox brings The Fool card to life in her character, Kit. As The Fool, Kit is entirely innocent – full of beginning and possibilities – just what the female main character needs. Fox focuses on the couple throughout the story and how they both balanced and helped the other – all the way to the end. Honestly, I loved the work, but I hope Fox learns a bit on this one.
My main problem with Fox’s work is that she dragged it out further than it needed to go. After the main conflict, which acted as the main climax as well, the story could have easily been snipped with enough loose-ends to give reason for a second book. Instead, Fox continued their story until a sequel wasn’t needed – until the epilogue where the Big Bad (pretty sure I took that term from Stranger Things) is shown and his thought process of everything. The problem? The ending she wrote wasn’t needed – and rather than adding to the story, diminished it.
To me, Chapter 24 is really where the story ended and should have ended (Fox went on for 5 more chapters). After Chapter 24 could have been an epilogue that wrapped everything up a little more – their life together in vague terms, bits and pieces of Chapter 25.
My second problem stemmed from the first. The Arcana realm should have been left to the next book. By adding the realm and giving answers to most of the main questions, Fox left the tension solely on the villain of the story. She tried to add some between Atlas and Thea – but it seemed short and under-cooked. If left to the second book, that tension could have been better developed as well as added to as Thea was brought before the Arcana council, perhaps a discussion of her given immortality could have been added. As it is, what happened in the Arcana realm was just too easy – too malleable – too calm – to make any sort of impact, connection, and draw to want to read the next book.
Who would most enjoy the work and who should stay clear (if necessary):
If you are a fan of fantasy, but also really into tarot readings, divination, and the mystics, you would really enjoy this novel. Those that are fans of fantasy, but feel awkward reading sex scenes or erotically phrased words, you might want to avoid this one. There are places in this story that the characters do have sex, which is talked about, and described in detail. I have read worse in terms of the amount of detail (as I am sure all romance readers can agree), but I would not call this book “clean”. It would lie in the middle of “clean” and “erotic” – perhaps it would be categorized best as “steamy”.
Other books like the one reviewed:
Kresley Cole has a similar series in which the Arcana are personified, hers being the Arcana Chronicles. The main difference is that rather than being a family (as in Fox), they are in essence at war in Cole’s. Fox also treats her Fool in a more respective manner. It is a very interesting read though if you enjoy tarot fantasy.
The first book in Cole’s Arcana Chronicles is Poison Princess.
| Plot: | 8 / 10 |
| Characters: | 10 / 10 |
| Writing: | 10 / 10 |
| Editor: | 8 / 10 |
| Total | 36 / 40 |
Title: The Fool and the Sparrow
Author: Dana Fox
Edition: eBook
Published: 2022
Publisher: Independent
ISBN: 9798813086236
If you want to get it: Amazon; Barnes&Noble
Rosey Reviews 