I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

In a magical fantasy world in which animals, witches and mankind live together, a group of evil witches seek to use a young fox in a ritual, and in order to break a curse placed on the young fox, he and his allies must return to Foxham to find a good witch to lift the curse in author Matteo Sedazzari’s “Tales from the Foxes of Foxham”. 

The Synopsis

It is the late fifties and the Witches of Benevento are determined to plunge the world into darkness by kidnapping and sacrificing the jolly and young Neapolitan fox, Alberto Bandito, in a sinister ritual.

Yet, fortunately for Alberto, he is rescued, then guarded, by his loving mother Silvia and mob boss father Mario with his troops, a good witch Carlotta with an uncanny resemblance to Marilyn Monroe, the Bears of Campania, the boxing wolves’ brothers Francesco and Leonardo, and other good folks of Naples and beyond.

However, their protection is not enough, for Alberto has been cursed. So, the young fox, along with his family, has to travel to the village of Foxham in Norfolk, the spiritual home of foxes across the world, to rid himself of this spell. The ritual has to be performed by a good fox witch, Trudi Milanese, but there is a problem, Trudi doesn’t know she is a witch….

Tales from The Foxes of Foxham is a magical adventure story, packed with colorful characters and exciting situations, in a battle of good versus evil.

The Review

This fantasy-driven, action, and adventure novel was truly remarkable. What immediately drew me into the narrative was the balance the author found between history and the various cultural points established for the characters and their settings, and the more fantastic, magical storytelling devices that allowed foxes, bears, badgers, and other animals to be interacting on a social level with humanity. The book also does a great job of incorporating themes of tolerance and acceptance, including showing off the cruelty and heartbreaking nature of hunting for sport and adorning animal skins as fashion pieces. 

Yet it was the wide assortment of characters and their character arcs that really drew me into the narrative. From the novel’s beginning, introducing us to Charles, a prominent leader, and figurehead for foxes in Europe, and his partnership with historical figures like Winston Churchill, or even the heroic friendship and trio of protagonists Alberto, Trudi, and Carotta, who must band together and bring all of their allies to face the threat of the evil witches of Benevento, the author really did a great job of making this world feel both fantastic and yet grounded at the same time.

The Verdict

A creative, original, and entertaining fantasy novel, author Matteo Sedazzari’s “Tales from the Foxes of Foxham” is a must-read novel, and a major contender for original fantasy action and adventure read of 2021. Bringing to mind the imagery and storytelling of iconic author Roald Dahl, the author manages to capture that classic battle of good vs evil in a unique setting and time period, all while balancing history, culture, and mythology all at once. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Matteo Sedazzari developed the zest for writing when he produced a fanzine entitled Positive Energy of Madness during the height of Acid House, in 1989.

Positive Energy of Madness dissolved as a fanzine in 1994 and resurfaced as an ezine in 2003, which became ZANI, the ezine for counter and pop culture in 2009, promoting online optimism, along with articles, reviews, and interviews with the likes of crime author Martina Cole, former pop star and actor Luke Goss, soul legend Bobby Womack, Clem Burke of Blondie, Chas Smash of Madness, Shaun Ryder of Black Grape/ Happy Mondays and many more.

After producing and writing for his own publication, Matteo’s next step was to pen a novel, A Crafty Cigarette – Tales of a Teenage Mod. Matteo is influenced by Hunter S Thompson, Harlan Ellison, Kenneth Grahame, Arthur Conan Doyle, Mark Twain, Irvine Welsh, DH Lawrence, Alan Sillitoe, Frank Norman, Joyce Carol Oates, Mario Puzo, Iceberg Slim, Patricia Highsmith, Joe R. Lansdale, Daphne du Maurier, Robert Bloch, George Orwell, Harry Grey and many more. American comics like Batman, Superman, and Spiderman, along with Herge’s Tintin, also provide Matteo with inspiration.

Matteo also finds stimulus from many films like Twelve Angry Men, A Kind of Loving, Blackboard Jungle, Z, Babylon, This Sporting Life, Kes, Midnight Cowboy, Scum, Wild Tales, The Boys, Midnight Express, La Commare Secca, Dr Terror’s House of Horrors, so on and so forth. As for music, anything that is passionate, vibrant, and with heart is always on Matteo’s playlist.

Matteo Sedazzari resides in Surrey, which he explores fanatically on his mountain bike. Matteo supports Juventus, travels to Italy and Spain, eats and dress well, as he enjoys life in the process.

https://www.zani.co.uk/

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