History Literature / TalesOfTheFox

* AmbiguousDisorder: Gerin quite simply does not think like other people around him, which seems to be an inheritable trait if his sons are any indication. He also tends towards depression, often being remarked as finding reasons to beat himself up or sulk even in the face of good news.

* BloodBrothers: Gerin and Van.

* ForWantOfANail: The ''entire plot'' of ''Werenight'' happens because Gerin made a poor passer-by sleep in the stables due to having a keep full of vassals and peers one night.

* YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm: The gods may project themselves to mortals, but their true forms are incomprehensible, existing across physically-impossible expanses, embodying multiple forms simultaneously, and other such things.

* WhipItGood: Dagref earns his ekename, Dagref the Whip, from using a whip in combat - which makes sense, as he first sees combat driving a chariot for Gerin and Van and naturally would be holding a whip rather than a sword, spear, or bow. He uses it to great effect to scare the horses of enemy chariots or [[EyeScream whipping the eyes of enemy charioteers.]]

* AnAxeToGrind: A very common weapon in the northlands, especially for the Gradi.

* TheLostWoods: The forest around Ikos, where strange things live, which has a mind (or minds) of its own, which doesn't necessarily care for people, and roads only exist at the forest's sufferance. It can also make unwanted travelers vanish in unexplained but silently ominous ways. It's implied that the forest exists to protect the Oracle of Ikos, placed by the all-seeing god Biton.

** The Gradi are this UpToEleven. When they lose in battle, they commit ''mass suicide'' because it's less shameful than being captured in battle.

* JerkassGod: It'd be faster to list the exceptions, really. Mavrix is insane and so are his followers. Biton delivers accurate prophecies in riddle for no real reason. Dyaus utterly ignores the mortal realm and everything in it. Even Baivers, the most down-to-earth god, has to be goaded into being helpful.

* YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm: The gods may project themselves to mortals, but their true forms are incomprehensible, existing across physically-impossible expanses, embodying multiple forms simultaneously, and other such things.
* YourCheatingHeart: [[spoiler:Elise.]]
** Van and Fand both routinely cheat on each other. [[{{Hypocrite}} They both get offended when the other does it.]]

* TheSouthpaw: Fox is left-handed, and he remarks that it makes it easier to get around enemy shields for a couple of reasons.

* BadDreams: Foretells the invasion by the monsters in the second book. No explanation is given even though nearly every major character shares them.