Note: I received a copy of the book from the author through Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.

Tobias is both a fox shapeshifter and a rifter - someone who crosses the rifts between worlds. He works as a field agent for a covert organisation that tries to control rift traffic, but he's of an independent mind even if he's loyal to the organisation. He needs a partner agent suited to him, not one chosen for him to suit others' views.

Etty's from the slums, barely earning a living by disguising herself as a boy and driving her dad's hackney carriage after he was injured. She's driving the nearest cab when Tobias needs a quick getaway one night, and her world will never be the same again.

Tobias may have stumbled upon the perfect sidekick, but first he'll have to convince the people who pay his wages. And even if he does, there's a baptism of fire waiting for the new partnership. There's a whisper of new technology that could change the rift worlds forever -- and it's in the hands of a vicious criminal.

This is an excellent fantasy thriller with a strong romance subplot. The lead characters are engaging and well drawn, and I finished the book wanting to spend more time with them. There's some good world-building, with the main setting being roughly Victorian with low key magic, but references and scenes that make it clear the rift links to worlds at different levels of social and technological development.

This is the first book in a series, and sets up the universe and series arc. It does an excellent job of wrapping up its own story without an annoying cliffhanger while still pointing the way to the next book. I've been annoyed of late by too many books that tried to force me to buy the next by not giving me the resolution to the story - this book does it the better way, by making me want to spend more time in this world.

I've only two minor criticisms; there's a scene that's flat out "beautiful blue-eyed blonde girl awes the primitive natives", and there are some formatting glitches in my copy that made two chapters very difficult to read. It's a measure of how much I was enjoying the book that I persisted through the section with scrambled formatting.

Overall a very enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to the next in the series. ( )

This was my first introduction to shape shifters and the rifting world and I couldn't have picked a better read as I had company with the delightful character Etty.

Etty lives a hard underprivileged life, until she meets Tobias, she doesn't know it yet but he is a highly regarded shape shifter. Not only is Tobias handsome, caring and completely well mannered, he lives an exciting and dangerous life and sees so much potential in Etty that he wants her as his assistant. With the thought of more money than she could ever imagine, her ill father being cured and the excitement she has only ever dreamed of, how can she refuse. Yet the decision also lays in the hands of the rifting council, as Etty is from the streets, another class entirely from them, will they welcome her and put the rifting world's safety in her hands?

Whether they do or not (you will have to read it to find out) Etty and I begin our travels into an unknown world together, as she learns I learn, and it's a brilliant read. They begin their first mission together in pursue of the children's slave trade gang, passing through unknown portals into different worlds as they go. In the path of these hunters dangers arise in every corner.

Of course as handsome as Tobias is, there is a special connection between the two, more than being on a mission together, but would that compromise their working together and being successful or do they ignore their hearts for the welfare of their country and the rifting world? All will be revealed!

A wonderful story that has charm, excitement, some romance and two characters that you cannot fail to love. I loved Etty and Tobias's relationship and their difference in class, working together to succeed on their very first mission, it had me turning page after page to see what happens next.
Whether your an avid fantasy fan or like me this is your first read of this type of story, I think you will love it. ( )

This was a lovely change of pace! I've been reading mostly romance lately. Bronze Fox was just what I needed right now. I get into a reading rut every now and then. Along comes the perfect fantasy book: Shape shifters, magic wielding women, and the fight for the greater good.

Every time I pick up a good fantasy novel (like this one) I remember how much I love reading this genre. It brings me back to high school, where all I read was fantasy. Diana Green has masterfully created a world that I want to return to over and over again. I am eagerly looking forward to book 2 in this series (hopefully it comes out soon!).

I love this story, and can hardly wait to get my hands on the next one in the series! Tobias and Etty make a great team, and their adventures are compelling. There is romance involved, but in this book, at least, it didn't overpower the adventure and suspense. I can only hope that will continue to be true in the rest of the series as well.

There is so much to recommend about this book. If you like steampunk, suspense, fantasy, magic, or sci-fi, you'll find a little of all of it here. The two main characters have amazing backstories which I hope will continue to be fleshed out as the series continues. With the idea of portal travel to other worlds, there are infinite possibilities for the types of adventures and the supporting characters to come.

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own. ( )