Night of the Dragon (Shadow of the Fox, #3) by Julie Kagawa

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Master storyteller Julie Kagawa concludes the enthralling journey into the heart of the fantastical Empire of Iwagoto in the third book of the Shadow of the Fox trilogy. As darkness rises and chaos reigns, a fierce kitsune and her shadowy protector will face down the greatest evil of all. A captivating fantasy for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Sarah J. Maas and Marie Lu.

Kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko has given up the final piece of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers in order to save everyone she loves from imminent death. Now she and her ragtag band of companions must journey to the wild sea cliffs of Iwagoto in a desperate last-chance effort to stop the Master of Demons from calling upon the Great Kami dragon and making the wish that will plunge the empire into destruction and darkness.

Shadow clan assassin Kage Tatsumi has regained control of his body and agreed to a true deal with the devil—the demon inside him, Hakaimono. They will share his body and work with Yumeko and their companions to stop a madman and separate Hakaimono from Tatsumi and the cursed sword that had trapped the demon for nearly a millennium.

But even with their combined skills and powers, this most unlikely team of heroes knows the forces of evil may be impossible to overcome. And there is another player in the battle for the scroll, a player who has been watching, waiting for the right moment to pull strings that no one even realized existed…until now.

"I hoped they would not interfere; I wasn’t afraid of what they would do to me, but if Yumeko was hurt or killed because of it, this forest would burn to ash before I was done."

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

I finished reading Night of the Dragon late last night, and I'm still crying! Seriously, I had tears in my eyes the last 30% of this book. My husband thought someone IRL had died, but then saw me cradling my Kindle Fire like it was a package of toilet paper. I'm pretty sure he rolled his eyes, but who cares about him! (Me! I totally care about him, but he does not get my attachment to fictional characters.)

Kagawa knows how to make you really care for the people in her books, and this one was no exception. I loved Yumeko and her youthful innocence. She didn't know the world could be cold and cruel, her life lived with monks mostly uneventful, until she suddenly lost everything that was important to her. She was always willing to take a chance on people, even when others said they weren't worth her time or energy (some of those people became her very best friends). Yumeko conversed with creatures that others had written off as evil or irredeemable, and always managed to see past the exterior and into the heart of everything. She was an incredible person and a kitsune that I will miss going on adventures with.

Tatsumi started this story a little worse for wear, and thinking about his upbringing still makes me cringe. No child should have to endure what he did, and I hate what was done to him. I'm happy it brought him to Yumeko, but their journey was difficult and filled with strife. They lost and found each other over and over again, and had to learn to accept the changes that happened along the way. He was the Kage Demonslayer, but he was also Tatsumi. A boy that fell in love with a kitsune girl.

Okame was the snarky one in their group, and I love the comic relief he provided. He teased Reika and called Daisuke a peacock. His banter with the group always made me smile, and I was so happy when he finally found his people. He'd thought so little of himself for so long, it was wonderful to see him appreciated and accepted for who he was. I especially loved his relationship with the Taiyo.

Daisuke was an incredible swordsman that was always looking for the next challenge. He was constantly trying to improve himself by fighting the best fighters in the world. He was happiest when he was in the midst of a battle and evenly matched. His goal was to eventually fight the Kage Demonslayer, but the two fought together and earned the other's respect on the battlefield. Daisuke was also a noble and samurai, but he didn't adhere to the rules quite so strictly. He took pride in himself, and always wanted to do the honorable thing, but he also followed his heart. His big, beautiful heart that shined brightly for one ronin in particular.

Reika was a miko, or shrine maiden, and somewhat of a mother figure to Yumeko. The kitsune grew up with monks, so Reika was the first female to really play a role in her life. She was often frustrated by the antics of the others, but she cared deeply about them all. She kept Okame from being inappropriate (most of the time), reminded Tatsumi not to let Hakaimono take control, and supported Yumeko while reprimanding her for doing something foolish. She was a solid part of their group, and a fierce fighter that never faltered.

Hakaimono was the demon in Tatsumi's sword, and why he's called the Kage Demonslayer. Tatsumi's always kept a tight leash on his emotions, and kept the demon from taking over his body. It's a constant struggle, and one new friendships threatened to tip in the demon's favor. I understood Hakaimono and why he was the way he was, but I also felt like he had some redeemable qualities as well. I had a grim appreciation for him at the end, which is why he's claimed a small spot in my heart. Without him, I don't think our group of heroes would have made it as far as they did. He played a large role from the start, and went from an unwilling participant to a willing player in the unfolding events.

There are so many threads woven into this story, and the author expertly reveals information that completely changes what you thought you knew. I was constantly making assumptions based on the facts I had, but new information would have my head spinning in an entirely different direction.

I don't like to talk about the story too much at the end of a series, because I think it's something you need to experience for yourself! I don't want to spoil anything! Night of the Dragon is something you want to experience without any previous knowledge. It's a fantastic world with amazing characters, and one I know I will revisit in the future. Kagawa has completely destroyed my heart, but also given me hope. If this series wasn't on your radar before, it needs to be now! (★★★★★)