Book Review: A Skulk of Foxes

 Hey, Folks, just a little review to tide you over on Friday.  Today we’re bouncing around and landed on A Skulk of Foxes by Jason Hansa.  This is part 3 of the Fortunes of War series (Focusing on Mercenary units in the Inner Sphere).  This has a little of everything.  Spies! Intrigue! Mercs! Sea Foxes! WINTER!!  Let’s dive in a little bit for a spoiler free review of A Skulk of Foxes.

So, we start our story with a sad and lonely Sea Fox Watch officer trying to figure out what life is like as a Watch Officer on a little planet in the middle of nowhere.  However, despite this place being in the middle of nowhere, it has the greatest resource that most people can aspire to in BattleTech: A Battlemech Factory.  Through the power of a found family narrative, our dear friend the Watch Officer makes allies and they start to unravel a conspiracy on Son Hoa.  

At the same time, a Sea Fox Merchant Warrior is making her appointed rounds and taking care of her  customers, including the Screaming Eagles Mercenary Command.  The Eagles have a long history in BattleTech, and are tied to one of the most famous wars of the previous century (not in a good way).  Because the Sea Fox took the time to make personal connections with the Eagles,  an opportunity arises for every to rise.  

However, there is foul treachery afoot?  Mercenaries pretending to be bandits.  Mercenaries fighting Mercenaries across one of the more interesting battlefields I’ve seen in a while, and an excellent depiction of combined arms.  This story combines intrigue and battlemech combat in equally fun measures that I honestly think are a lot of fun.  Oh ,and there’s basically a terminator running around.  (It’s a spy terminator, but good God is it a Terminator).  

If you’re up for Foxes at mischief, or have an abiding affection for underdogs and folks who need a little help and a second chance, this is an excellent story (with giant robots and laser cannons).  

4.5 stars.  

You can get a copy here from Catalyst Game Labs Online Store, or you can get a paper copy from Amazon here