The Fox Woman by Kij Johnson (2000, Hardcover)

This story of Yoshifuji a man fascinated by foxes explores the magic and love of several characters both fox and human. A real sexual adventure...... Written in diaries and notebooks from the main characters which allows for several points of view.
This novel has a universal theme of love and loss. I realized that I was visiting a place in this novel that I would only see once in my lifetime. When and if the reader should read it a second time, you will find a totally different place and the message would be different. That is how powerful this story can be. Jealousy,lust,solitude and confusion are just some of the emotions this story evokes. Set in ancient Japan, you never know what is real and what is fantasy. The Fox Woman, Kitsune creates a magical fantasy world for Yoshifuji the man she loves and herself. She will do anything to become human and have him to herself. After all her efforts, Kitusune may not be happy with the outcome as lies become truth and illusions becomes reality. This story and it's countryside setting are beautiful, haunting and shrouded in mystery. An old lesson returns- be careful what you wish for.....