Review - Fox of Fox Hall by R. Cooper

Fox was orphaned at a young age. Neighboring farmers took him in for a while, but his youth and small size meant he wasn’t much good for farm work, and sooner or later, Fox was just another mouth to feed. So, the youth found himself on his own, but he was clever, had a good ear for music, and an excellent memory for all the popular ballads of the day. He manages to earn enough as a musician to eat most days, and traveled from town to town as an entertainer until he reached the capital. One of the nobles notices the young musician and brings him to court, where the beautiful man with the pure voice and clever wit captivates everyone. Fox becomes a favorite of the king, both at court and in bed. The king is known for his fickleness in lovers, so while Fox lasts longer than most, he eventually finds himself banned from the royal bedchamber, but not from court. The king seems to like having Fox around but the musician can’t figure out whether the crown enjoys his wit, or just enjoys humiliating the outsider.

When the king announces his attention to find a consort who will give him an heir, Fox is sure his days at court must be numbered. Kings don’t take commoners as consorts in real life. That only happens in the romantic ballads Fox sings. With the palace filling up with potential consorts, their entourages, and nobles coming to see the knights compete in a royal tournament, Fox decides to be proactive and vacate his rooms in the palace before he’s asked to leave. With no better option, Fox seeks a room in the hall where the knights are staying. One knight in particular takes an interest in Fox: the most famous knight of all, the Dragonslayer. Is his interest ‘recreational’ or is there more to it?

If you’ve read some of this author’s other works, especially the Suitable series, then you’re familiar with some of their favorite themes. As a protagonist, we have a young man who severely undervalues himself and is completely unaware of the effect he has on some of the men around him. Coming to his aid is a bigger, older man who tries to convince the young man of his own worth. In this case, it’s literally a knight in shining armor called Conall.

The elements may be familiar, but “Fox of Fox Hall” mixes them up in a fresh story that engages. There’s a bit of a love triangle to the plot, as it suggests the king still has feelings for Fox, even if he isn’t able to express them. Conall leaves little doubt as to his desire for Fox, but the young musician doesn’t trust himself to fall for the man and get hurt when Conall grows tired of him, not to mention that Conall is a noble. Again, such pairings only happen in romantic fiction, not real life.

The story is related mostly from Fox’s point of view. We get a rich and complex picture of a young man that has cultivated, with the king’s help, a courtly persona that is far different from who he really is. Fox is a very empathetic character. We may not always agree with the choices he makes, but it’s very easy to understand why he makes them.

“Fox of Fox Hall” is available from Smashwords or Amazon (commissionable link).