The Navigating Fox is a fantastical fable of “knowledgeable creatures,” in the vein of Brian Jacques’s Redwall series but for adults, by Hugo and Nebula Award finalist Christopher Rowe
Quintus Shu’al, the world’s only navigating fox, is in disgrace after guiding an expedition to its doom, leaving no survivors. One year later, Quintus is offered the chance to redeem himself: he will need to lead a motley, fractious team—both human and animal—all the way to the gates of Hell.
The Navigating Fox is a literary fantasy adventure fable that combines mythology, political intrigue, and magical realism. In just 128 pages (and just over 3 hours on audio), readers get a big bang for their buck—epic fantasy elements, including talking animals, magical navigation, and mythical locations, alongside some very meaningful themes/questions about guilt, faith, and the path to redemption. The story is set in a quasi-Roman empire colony version of North America populated by sentient animals, which will draw readers in from the start.
The story follows Quintus Shu’al, a fox with the rare ability to navigate the strange metaphysical pathways between worlds—a skill that once made him a hero. After being blamed for a disastrous expedition that left many dead, Quintus finds himself disgraced and haunted by guilt. When he’s unexpectedly asked to lead a new journey, he’s forced to confront his past and the uncertain nature of the world. Alongside a mismatched group of companions, including a stoic badger, a wry crow, and a scholar, he embarks on a trek through lands that blend folklore and spirituality in search of redemption and truth.
Quintus is an introspective and complex protagonist. His many inner monologues show him to be highly intelligent, but the immense guilt he holds from past mistakes shows his vulnerability. His dynamic with his ragtag group of companions adds so much warmth and fun to the journey. They begin as a wary alliance, but as they face danger and upheaval together, they quietly grow into a found family. By the end of their journey, it not only feels like they’ve walked the world together but also as if they’ve all experienced something deeply transformative!
The story has a slow-burn start, getting readers acquainted with Quintus and his past and the world-building. The middle section has a lot of introspection, political intrigue, and more expansive (and sometimes surreal-like) worldbuilding, which may feel like it’s dragging for some readers, especially those that don’t read a lot of literary stories. The payoff definitely comes with the climax of the story, which is full of tension and adventure, followed by an unexpected (and perhaps inevitable??) ending! There are also some emotional scenes at the end—so be sure to have tissues ready if you’re one to easily tear up!
Overall, The Navigating Fox is a captivating fantasy adventure with powerful messages and a lot of heart. It’s perfect for readers who love lyrical fantasy, unique worldbuilding, sentient animal protagonists, and stories that linger long after the last page!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of The Navigating Fox is an atmospheric, lyrical listen narrated by seasoned narrator Austin Rising.
Rising portrays Quintus with a calm, intelligent-sounding voice with an undertone of weariness, fitting for a fox who’s both clever and haunted by past mistakes. During Quintus’s monologues, where he reflects on his mistakes or the weight he feels of guiding others, Rising slows the pacing and alters his tone to one of regret and introspection—making the character multidimensional & convincing. In contrast, when he’s navigating unknown metaphysical paths, Rising makes Quintus sound more confident and excited—helping to keep listeners engaged!
The human characters and Quintus’s animal companions are all given distinct voices—and while they’re not wildly animated, the differences in cadence, pitch, and inflection make them all distinguishable and come alive! Rising gives the narration a steady pacing, carrying listeners through the quest portions with enough momentum and enthusiasm so that the story never feels stagnant.
Overall, Austin Rising elevates this literary fantasy to a new level with dynamic character portrayals and expert pacing. This audiobook is an excellent choice for listeners who like literary fantasy, sentient animals, fable retellings, and immersive narrator performances that give care to voicing characters and pacing. If you haven’t listened to Austin’s narration before, this short listen is a great example of his expert timing and character work, and you’ll definitely want to check out his backlist of hundreds of titles spanning many genres, including many fantasy books!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of The Navigating Fox is an atmospheric, lyrical listen narrated by seasoned narrator Austin Rising.
Rising portrays Quintus with a calm, intelligent-sounding voice with an undertone of weariness, fitting for a fox who’s both clever and haunted by past mistakes. During Quintus’s monologues, where he reflects on his mistakes or the weight he feels of guiding others, Rising slows the pacing and alters his tone to one of regret and introspection—making the character multidimensional & convincing. In contrast, when he’s navigating unknown metaphysical paths, Rising makes Quintus sound more confident and excited—helping to keep listeners engaged!
The human characters and Quintus’s animal companions are all given distinct voices—and while they’re not wildly animated, the differences in cadence, pitch, and inflection make them all distinguishable and come alive! Rising gives the narration a steady pacing, carrying listeners through the quest portions with enough momentum and enthusiasm so that the story never feels stagnant.
Overall, Austin Rising elevates this literary fantasy to a new level with dynamic character portrayals and expert pacing. This audiobook is an excellent choice for listeners who like literary fantasy, sentient animals, fable retellings, and immersive narrator performances that give care to voicing characters and pacing. If you haven’t listened to Austin’s narration before, this short listen is a great example of his expert timing and character work, and you’ll definitely want to check out his backlist of hundreds of titles spanning many genres, including many fantasy books!
The audiobook of The Navigating Fox is an atmospheric, lyrical listen narrated by seasoned narrator Austin Rising.
Rising portrays Quintus with a calm, intelligent-sounding voice with an undertone of weariness, fitting for a fox who’s both clever and haunted by past mistakes. During Quintus’s monologues, where he reflects on his mistakes or the weight he feels of guiding others, Rising slows the pacing and alters his tone to one of regret and introspection—making the character multidimensional & convincing. In contrast, when he’s navigating unknown metaphysical paths, Rising makes Quintus sound more confident and excited—helping to keep listeners engaged!
The human characters and Quintus’s animal companions are all given distinct voices—and while they’re not wildly animated, the differences in cadence, pitch, and inflection make them all distinguishable and come alive! Rising gives the narration a steady pacing, carrying listeners through the quest portions with enough momentum and enthusiasm so that the story never feels stagnant.
Overall, Austin Rising elevates this literary fantasy to a new level with dynamic character portrayals and expert pacing. This audiobook is an excellent choice for listeners who like literary fantasy, sentient animals, fable retellings, and immersive narrator performances that give care to voicing characters and pacing. If you haven’t listened to Austin’s narration before, this short listen is a great example of his expert timing and character work, and you’ll definitely want to check out his backlist of hundreds of titles spanning many genres, including many fantasy books!
