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The Fox and the Devil
Not yet published
Expected 10 Mar 26An obsession with a beautiful serial killer entangles a vampire hunter’s daughter in an immortal sapphic romance in this enthralling gothic fantasy from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lucy Undying.
Anneke has a complicated relationship with her father, Abraham Van Helsing—doctor, scientist, and madman devoted to studying vampires—up until the night she comes home to find him murdered, with a surreally beautiful woman looming over his body. A woman who leaves no trace behind, other than the dreams and nightmares that plague Anneke every night.
Spurred by her desire for vengeance and armed with the latest in forensic and investigatory techniques, Anneke puts together a team of detectives to catch her mysterious serial killer. Because her father isn’t the only inexplicably dead body. There’s a trail of victims across Europe and Anneke is certain they’re all connected.
But during the years spent relentlessly hunting the killer, Anneke keeps some crucial evidence to infuriatingly coy letters, addressed only to Anneke, occasionally soaked in blood, and always signed Diavola. Devil. The obsession is mutual, and all the more dangerous for it.
The closer Anneke gets to her devil, though, the less sense the world makes. Maybe her father wasn’t a madman, after all. Diavola might be something much worse than a serial killer . . . and much harder to destroy. Because as Anneke unearths more of Diavola’s tragic past, she suspects there’s still a heart somewhere in that undead body.
A heart that beats for Anneke alone.
Anneke has a complicated relationship with her father, Abraham Van Helsing—doctor, scientist, and madman devoted to studying vampires—up until the night she comes home to find him murdered, with a surreally beautiful woman looming over his body. A woman who leaves no trace behind, other than the dreams and nightmares that plague Anneke every night.
Spurred by her desire for vengeance and armed with the latest in forensic and investigatory techniques, Anneke puts together a team of detectives to catch her mysterious serial killer. Because her father isn’t the only inexplicably dead body. There’s a trail of victims across Europe and Anneke is certain they’re all connected.
But during the years spent relentlessly hunting the killer, Anneke keeps some crucial evidence to infuriatingly coy letters, addressed only to Anneke, occasionally soaked in blood, and always signed Diavola. Devil. The obsession is mutual, and all the more dangerous for it.
The closer Anneke gets to her devil, though, the less sense the world makes. Maybe her father wasn’t a madman, after all. Diavola might be something much worse than a serial killer . . . and much harder to destroy. Because as Anneke unearths more of Diavola’s tragic past, she suspects there’s still a heart somewhere in that undead body.
A heart that beats for Anneke alone.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 10, 2026
45 people are currently reading
13451 people want to read
About the author
Kiersten White
64 books13.8k followersKiersten White is the #1 New York Times bestselling, Bram Stoker Award-winning, and critically acclaimed author of many books for readers of all ages, including the And I Darken trilogy, the Sinister Summer series, the Camelot Rising trilogy, Star Wars: Padawan, Hide, Mister Magic, and Lucy Undying. She also has a very large tortoise named Kimberly, which isn't relevant, but she wanted you to know.
Visit her online at kierstenwhite.com.
Visit her online at kierstenwhite.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
November 18, 2025
Amsterdam, 1895. The daughter of Abraham Van Helsing (Dracula fans…) is tracking down her father’s murderer, a woman, a devil, haunting her dreams and waking hours.
When a string of murders have a grisly connection, Anneke pursues crime scene and forensic detective work to track down the woman taunting her.
I started off adoring this, and then found more and more things niggling at me.
This is a combination of narrative and letters and changes in perspective. I think it was too ambitious and created this friction between Anneke and the reader.
This lacked the historical ambience of Europe despite being clearly well-researched with inventions and famous figures.
The sapphic romance is filled with yearning and tragedy. Everyone is very accepting of queerness in Anneke’s circles which was a nice change for historical fiction.
“You’re a delicate leaf, spinning down the surface of the river of time. You might swirl and eddy occasionally, but you’re always moving in the natural direction: from beginning to end. Birth to death. I’m a rock, sunk to the bottom. Time passes over and around me. I don’t move, but I do change. The current chips bits and pieces off me, reshaping me. If I had a reflection, would I know myself still? Or would everything that made me me be worn away?”
It was a compelling tale and I always enjoy White’s writing. Her female characters are always independent and ambitious.
I flew through it, but I think this had the potential to be a favourite, but fell apart.
If you are familiar with Lucy Undying, there is a cameo of The Lover. You truly do not have to have read that to read this.
Arc gifted by Del Rey.
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When a string of murders have a grisly connection, Anneke pursues crime scene and forensic detective work to track down the woman taunting her.
I started off adoring this, and then found more and more things niggling at me.
This is a combination of narrative and letters and changes in perspective. I think it was too ambitious and created this friction between Anneke and the reader.
This lacked the historical ambience of Europe despite being clearly well-researched with inventions and famous figures.
The sapphic romance is filled with yearning and tragedy. Everyone is very accepting of queerness in Anneke’s circles which was a nice change for historical fiction.
“You’re a delicate leaf, spinning down the surface of the river of time. You might swirl and eddy occasionally, but you’re always moving in the natural direction: from beginning to end. Birth to death. I’m a rock, sunk to the bottom. Time passes over and around me. I don’t move, but I do change. The current chips bits and pieces off me, reshaping me. If I had a reflection, would I know myself still? Or would everything that made me me be worn away?”
It was a compelling tale and I always enjoy White’s writing. Her female characters are always independent and ambitious.
I flew through it, but I think this had the potential to be a favourite, but fell apart.
If you are familiar with Lucy Undying, there is a cameo of The Lover. You truly do not have to have read that to read this.
Arc gifted by Del Rey.
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November 17, 2025
The Fox and the Devil
by Kiersten White
Wow, what a gem! Monsters of various types. A tenacious female detective who is tracking the devil in white that killed her father. This path takes her on a long gory hunt and she builds a team of friends. Non-stop action, suspense, and surprises along the way. Never a dull moment. Set in the 1880s to 1900s. Supernatural elements. LGBTQ hints of romance.
by Kiersten White
Wow, what a gem! Monsters of various types. A tenacious female detective who is tracking the devil in white that killed her father. This path takes her on a long gory hunt and she builds a team of friends. Non-stop action, suspense, and surprises along the way. Never a dull moment. Set in the 1880s to 1900s. Supernatural elements. LGBTQ hints of romance.
November 16, 2025
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
The plot was dragging a lot. It wasn't as interesting as I initially thought and characters were flat and didn't develop throughout the story. I didn't feel connected to the plot or characters. I had to constantly remind myself that Anneke (but also other characters) were adults and not teenagers as their speaking patterns and general way how they dealt with their emotions and thoughts reminded me more of a teenager than an actual adult. Lastly, I also noticed that the writing style is probably not for me as there were details included that were unnecessary (and not relevant).
There was something interesting to discover, but the curiosity was killed by a dragging plot (and perhaps even pacing).
Final thoughts
I originally wanted to read Mister Magic by the same author next if I liked this one, but I no longer have the interest in reading this or any other works by this author.
I tried my best to enjoy The Fox and the Devil as much as possible, but in the end it just wasn't for me. The whole crime scenes, forensic work and investigations were really good, but everything else was lacking.
Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the advanced reader copy of The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White.
StoryGraph review
Started the book: 16. November 2025
Finished the book: 16. November 2025
Wrote the review: 16. November 2025
The plot was dragging a lot. It wasn't as interesting as I initially thought and characters were flat and didn't develop throughout the story. I didn't feel connected to the plot or characters. I had to constantly remind myself that Anneke (but also other characters) were adults and not teenagers as their speaking patterns and general way how they dealt with their emotions and thoughts reminded me more of a teenager than an actual adult. Lastly, I also noticed that the writing style is probably not for me as there were details included that were unnecessary (and not relevant).
There was something interesting to discover, but the curiosity was killed by a dragging plot (and perhaps even pacing).
Final thoughts
I originally wanted to read Mister Magic by the same author next if I liked this one, but I no longer have the interest in reading this or any other works by this author.
I tried my best to enjoy The Fox and the Devil as much as possible, but in the end it just wasn't for me. The whole crime scenes, forensic work and investigations were really good, but everything else was lacking.
Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the advanced reader copy of The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White.
StoryGraph review
Started the book: 16. November 2025
Finished the book: 16. November 2025
Wrote the review: 16. November 2025
December 1, 2025
I jumped into this and hoped for some vampire horror mystery novel with some relatable characters. It started off strong, very well, the dark Victorian setting is visually pleasant and genuinely immersive. I was immediately enthralled by the atmosphere; the author does a fantastic job of creating that brooding, gothic mood, and the setup of a supernatural murder mystery leaving behind a trail of gory, confusing and yet delicious horror crumbs.
Unfortunately, that momentum didn't last.
After the strong start, the plot just kept going on and on. It felt like it was dragging, and I found myself waiting for something else to happen beyond the murder mystery loop, which got repetitive fast. The story also jumps around in time a bit, which disrupted the flow for me.
But my biggest issue with this? The characters. Aside from the plot (which eventually started to drag anyway), there wasn't much holding this together because the characters felt underdeveloped. I honestly didn't feel much connection to them.
Specifically, Anneke, our FMC. She is introduced as this clever, determined detective in her thirties (therefore an adult woman), yet she behaves and talks sometimes like a reckless teenager with no perspective, no plan, no idea what to do and how to do it. Her actions were erratic and inconsistent for a woman in her position, just saying.
As for the romance, if you are here for the spice, this isn't it, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s not a selling point either even though the label is there. There is a sapphic romance, but it’s mostly in the background, this sort of silent, tense desire. It’s not the focal point.
Many, many thanks to Kiersten White, Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.
Unfortunately, that momentum didn't last.
After the strong start, the plot just kept going on and on. It felt like it was dragging, and I found myself waiting for something else to happen beyond the murder mystery loop, which got repetitive fast. The story also jumps around in time a bit, which disrupted the flow for me.
But my biggest issue with this? The characters. Aside from the plot (which eventually started to drag anyway), there wasn't much holding this together because the characters felt underdeveloped. I honestly didn't feel much connection to them.
Specifically, Anneke, our FMC. She is introduced as this clever, determined detective in her thirties (therefore an adult woman), yet she behaves and talks sometimes like a reckless teenager with no perspective, no plan, no idea what to do and how to do it. Her actions were erratic and inconsistent for a woman in her position, just saying.
As for the romance, if you are here for the spice, this isn't it, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s not a selling point either even though the label is there. There is a sapphic romance, but it’s mostly in the background, this sort of silent, tense desire. It’s not the focal point.
Many, many thanks to Kiersten White, Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5⭐️
"The Fox and the Devil" is a story of Anneke. After her father was murdered, she's promised herself that she'll find the one who did this to him. She follows a lead of a beautiful woman with no traces. However, it seems nobody else can see what Anneke sees. Will she be able to discover the monster that is behind the crime scene in Europe?
I did enjoy a lot the setting in which the book took place. We could see quite a few corners of XX'th century Europe through the eyes of a young detective. We could also collect lots of clues and solve yet another crime.
The whole book was also interwining the topic of technology, especially progress in the photograpy and film industry. I think the author did a great job showing how the world was changing along with the new inventions of modern engineering.
The thing that didn't grab me this time were characters. It felt a bit like Anneke was a modern woman and not a one from XX'th century. I also didn't feel the tension in the romance itself and some of its plot twists were too obvious for me. Basically the whole romantic part was not as original as the rest of the book.
However, I really liked the historical context and all the references to other literary work and some myths or legends.
Overall "The Fox and the Devil" was a pleasant and very atmospheric read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
"The Fox and the Devil" is a story of Anneke. After her father was murdered, she's promised herself that she'll find the one who did this to him. She follows a lead of a beautiful woman with no traces. However, it seems nobody else can see what Anneke sees. Will she be able to discover the monster that is behind the crime scene in Europe?
I did enjoy a lot the setting in which the book took place. We could see quite a few corners of XX'th century Europe through the eyes of a young detective. We could also collect lots of clues and solve yet another crime.
The whole book was also interwining the topic of technology, especially progress in the photograpy and film industry. I think the author did a great job showing how the world was changing along with the new inventions of modern engineering.
The thing that didn't grab me this time were characters. It felt a bit like Anneke was a modern woman and not a one from XX'th century. I also didn't feel the tension in the romance itself and some of its plot twists were too obvious for me. Basically the whole romantic part was not as original as the rest of the book.
However, I really liked the historical context and all the references to other literary work and some myths or legends.
Overall "The Fox and the Devil" was a pleasant and very atmospheric read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Want to read
July 10, 2025After the phenomenal Lucy Undying, Kiersten White could keep writing only sapphic vamp novels for the entire rest of her career and I would eat every single one up. 🔪🩸✨
December 3, 2025
The Fox and the Devil is a gothic fantasy with horror elements, sapphic tension, and a cat and mouse dynamic that leans into obsession in a really compelling way.
It reminded me a little of Hannibal (the show), especially with the tense intensity between the characters.
The story follows Van Helsing's daughter Anneke as she hunts down her father's murderer. From there, it turns into this long chase across Europe (part historical detective fiction, part supernatural mystery) centred on a woman (Diavola) who might not be entirely human and who keeps sending Anneke unsettling, sometimes blood-soaked letters
The atmosphere is incredible right from the start, and the writing is so lyrical that I ended up highlighting so many lines.
I also liked the descriptions of the murder scenes and the brutality some of them came with.
At the heart of the story is the relationship between Anneke and Diavola. It's unsettling and eerie yet tender at the same time. Their dynamic is filled with obsession and a slowburn push and pull, which I liked reading about.
There's also some notable side characters, great found family moments, and an unexpectedly touching mother daughter relationship that added warmth to all the darkness.
My only complaint is that there seemed to be some pacing issues, as the ending felt rushed compared to the careful buildup, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment too much.
Overall, this was an addictive read with gorgeous atmosphere and complex characters. Definitely recommend if you like supernatural creatures and morally messy dynamics.
It reminded me a little of Hannibal (the show), especially with the tense intensity between the characters.
The story follows Van Helsing's daughter Anneke as she hunts down her father's murderer. From there, it turns into this long chase across Europe (part historical detective fiction, part supernatural mystery) centred on a woman (Diavola) who might not be entirely human and who keeps sending Anneke unsettling, sometimes blood-soaked letters
The atmosphere is incredible right from the start, and the writing is so lyrical that I ended up highlighting so many lines.
I also liked the descriptions of the murder scenes and the brutality some of them came with.
At the heart of the story is the relationship between Anneke and Diavola. It's unsettling and eerie yet tender at the same time. Their dynamic is filled with obsession and a slowburn push and pull, which I liked reading about.
There's also some notable side characters, great found family moments, and an unexpectedly touching mother daughter relationship that added warmth to all the darkness.
My only complaint is that there seemed to be some pacing issues, as the ending felt rushed compared to the careful buildup, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment too much.
Overall, this was an addictive read with gorgeous atmosphere and complex characters. Definitely recommend if you like supernatural creatures and morally messy dynamics.
December 15, 2025
There’s something deeply romantic about the relationship between a woman and the supernatural entity that killed her father.
We’re following Anneke, daughter of Abraham Van Helsing, as she attempts to find and destroy her father’s killer, a woman who calls herself Diavola. She had been haunting her dreams for some time at that point.
This book was so eerie, in a good way. The yearning!! The conflicting feelings of hate v. adoration!! There’s so much folklore involved, it’s very ghosty, bloody with all the killing they were investigating. I LOVED the characters, Anneke in particular, she’s so determined. Her story tore me apart and pieced me back together by the end. And Diavola’s as well.
I’m also a sucker for nicknames and written letters in books and both were executed well in this one.
This might be my favorite Kiersten White book I’ve read. 4.5/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
We’re following Anneke, daughter of Abraham Van Helsing, as she attempts to find and destroy her father’s killer, a woman who calls herself Diavola. She had been haunting her dreams for some time at that point.
This book was so eerie, in a good way. The yearning!! The conflicting feelings of hate v. adoration!! There’s so much folklore involved, it’s very ghosty, bloody with all the killing they were investigating. I LOVED the characters, Anneke in particular, she’s so determined. Her story tore me apart and pieced me back together by the end. And Diavola’s as well.
I’m also a sucker for nicknames and written letters in books and both were executed well in this one.
This might be my favorite Kiersten White book I’ve read. 4.5/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2025
this book started off really strong, i loved the setting and the string of unknown murders popping up with strange outcomes. but then it just kept on going and whenever i felt like we’d find any kind of an answer we seemed to diverge and it ended up dragging. i felt the writing to not be as alluring as it was in lucy undying which is why i was interested in this book and wanted to give the author another chance. but i didn’t feel any connection to the characters and the plot really didn’t interest me enough, i think the pacing maybe was at fault and the plot not gripping me as much as i thought it would.
thank you to netgalley for providing me with this arc.
thank you to netgalley for providing me with this arc.
November 29, 2025
2.6/5
The GORGEOUS cover and intriguing premise are what pulled me in immediately.
At first glance, this felt like a supernatural twist on “Catch Me If You Can”or “Finding Eve”. A brilliant detective hunting an elusive, murderous monster with hypnotic powers.
The opening chapter delivered exactly what I hoped for, a chilling, brutal crime scene that hooked me immediately.
Unfortunately, everything after that was a letdown.
My biggest issue is the main character, Anneke. She’s introduced as this clever, determined detective in her thirties, but she behaves like a reckless teenager with no plan. The killer murdered her father, stages suicides through hypnosis, and is terrifyingly powerful; yet Anneke charges after them without once trying to understand or counter that ability. Her “investigation” repeatedly endangers herself and everyone around her. I struggled to believe she was as brilliant as the book kept insisting, especially when teenage Inge consistently acted more mature and intelligent.
Anneke’s constant flip flopping also drives me crazy. One minute she’s hiding Diavola’s letters because they feel private and special, the next she’s handing the latest one to all her colleagues. One chapter she cuts ties with everyone to “protect” them, the next she’s dragging them all back into her dangerous scheme. None of these abrupt changes are explained; they just happen.
The side characters didn’t do it for me as well. Almost every character felt flat and forgettable. The only one with any real layers was Diavola herself, until the big reveal around the 70% mark, anyway. When her full agenda finally came out, I was baffled.
Doesn’t the reveal completely undermine her own plan? Yet she carries on with it anyway? The inconsistency made no sense and pulled me out of the story.
I really wanted to love this book. A hypnotic supernatural serial killer, a determined detective, atmospheric murder cases etc. These are all tropes I usually love. Instead I found it surprisingly boring, dragged down by an unlikable protagonist, forgettable side characters, and shaky execution that the strong premise and beautiful cover couldn’t save.
This one sadly didn’t work for me (though that cover really is stunning).
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The GORGEOUS cover and intriguing premise are what pulled me in immediately.
At first glance, this felt like a supernatural twist on “Catch Me If You Can”or “Finding Eve”. A brilliant detective hunting an elusive, murderous monster with hypnotic powers.
The opening chapter delivered exactly what I hoped for, a chilling, brutal crime scene that hooked me immediately.
Unfortunately, everything after that was a letdown.
My biggest issue is the main character, Anneke. She’s introduced as this clever, determined detective in her thirties, but she behaves like a reckless teenager with no plan. The killer murdered her father, stages suicides through hypnosis, and is terrifyingly powerful; yet Anneke charges after them without once trying to understand or counter that ability. Her “investigation” repeatedly endangers herself and everyone around her. I struggled to believe she was as brilliant as the book kept insisting, especially when teenage Inge consistently acted more mature and intelligent.
Anneke’s constant flip flopping also drives me crazy. One minute she’s hiding Diavola’s letters because they feel private and special, the next she’s handing the latest one to all her colleagues. One chapter she cuts ties with everyone to “protect” them, the next she’s dragging them all back into her dangerous scheme. None of these abrupt changes are explained; they just happen.
The side characters didn’t do it for me as well. Almost every character felt flat and forgettable. The only one with any real layers was Diavola herself, until the big reveal around the 70% mark, anyway. When her full agenda finally came out, I was baffled.
Doesn’t the reveal completely undermine her own plan? Yet she carries on with it anyway? The inconsistency made no sense and pulled me out of the story.
I really wanted to love this book. A hypnotic supernatural serial killer, a determined detective, atmospheric murder cases etc. These are all tropes I usually love. Instead I found it surprisingly boring, dragged down by an unlikable protagonist, forgettable side characters, and shaky execution that the strong premise and beautiful cover couldn’t save.
This one sadly didn’t work for me (though that cover really is stunning).
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
October 17, 2025YES YES YES! I'm IN!
I love this author!
*** EEE! ARC REC'D THANK YOU! I'M SO EXCITED TO READ THIS! ***
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
I love this author!
*** EEE! ARC REC'D THANK YOU! I'M SO EXCITED TO READ THIS! ***
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
October 17, 2025
Hands down my favorite book of the year.
“The Fox and the Devil” gives us a thrilling chase worthy of Villanelle and Eve as investigator Anneke Van Helsing finds herself at crime scenes where the victims seemed to have brought the harm on themselves. Curious at what could possess someone to enact such cruelty to their own detriment she finds herself face to face with the devil that killed her father and is only more intrigued that with every new crime scene a letter is left behind begging her to follow.
Usually within the first few chapters of a book I know where the book falls in my rating scale and this one blew me away so quickly with how it sucked me in I couldn’t put it down! Every bit of the storytelling here is so purposeful and incredible in how it teases the reader just as much as our heroine is beckoned by her devil. There is absolutely gore and horror elements but the way it is presented to us was one of my favorite elements and damn if I wouldn’t find myself obsessed if letters like that were left behind for me.
The mythology here isn’t really brought in until just before the halfway mark which worked as you have this natural progression of unease and fear over what seems to be a typical murder investigation where the killer is so sadistic the crimes are horrendous but so charming the victims are compliant. As we slowly peel back these layers and look into the darkness we find that something has been waiting for us all along and is simply delighted to have company to play with. I loved every moment with these characters I loved how much they loved and worked together and how eager they were to bring justice to those who suffered and yes I too was waiting for the tension to snap!
The world building was so much fun and the bounces through time was done very well. We get glimpses into a future where things are all falling apart (or perhaps coming together) within a backdrop that leans into the gothic and science fiction of this great character and I wish I could read this again for the first time because it all worked so perfectly.
Absolutely cannot sing enough praises for this book and I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on it!
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
“The Fox and the Devil” gives us a thrilling chase worthy of Villanelle and Eve as investigator Anneke Van Helsing finds herself at crime scenes where the victims seemed to have brought the harm on themselves. Curious at what could possess someone to enact such cruelty to their own detriment she finds herself face to face with the devil that killed her father and is only more intrigued that with every new crime scene a letter is left behind begging her to follow.
Usually within the first few chapters of a book I know where the book falls in my rating scale and this one blew me away so quickly with how it sucked me in I couldn’t put it down! Every bit of the storytelling here is so purposeful and incredible in how it teases the reader just as much as our heroine is beckoned by her devil. There is absolutely gore and horror elements but the way it is presented to us was one of my favorite elements and damn if I wouldn’t find myself obsessed if letters like that were left behind for me.
The mythology here isn’t really brought in until just before the halfway mark which worked as you have this natural progression of unease and fear over what seems to be a typical murder investigation where the killer is so sadistic the crimes are horrendous but so charming the victims are compliant. As we slowly peel back these layers and look into the darkness we find that something has been waiting for us all along and is simply delighted to have company to play with. I loved every moment with these characters I loved how much they loved and worked together and how eager they were to bring justice to those who suffered and yes I too was waiting for the tension to snap!
The world building was so much fun and the bounces through time was done very well. We get glimpses into a future where things are all falling apart (or perhaps coming together) within a backdrop that leans into the gothic and science fiction of this great character and I wish I could read this again for the first time because it all worked so perfectly.
Absolutely cannot sing enough praises for this book and I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on it!
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
October 7, 2025
Bloody, cinematic, reflective, and rendered with moody ardor, The Fox and the Devil is another charming entry into White's vampire canon.
Anneke's yearning for (and guilt over yearning for) her father's killer made for a deliciously torturous cocktail of longing and self-recrimination. Diavola's growth (or unveiling perhaps) throughout the novel was slow and ultimately satisfying. I adored the luridly dramatic dialogue between our leads. They are well and truly obsessed with each other and make it everyone else's problem—and occasionally, solution. I was so caught up in how obsessed they are with each other that I barely noticed that there isn't any spice.
I found the disjointed structure occasionally confusing, but felt like it generally added to the story's cinematic pacing and overall tone. This book reads a bit like a campy Victorian vampire movie from the early 2000s.
If you enjoy daddy issues, late 19th century forensic investigation, being literally haunted by the specter of your own sapphic yearning, and of course, vampire stories, this may be the book for you.
Anneke's yearning for (and guilt over yearning for) her father's killer made for a deliciously torturous cocktail of longing and self-recrimination. Diavola's growth (or unveiling perhaps) throughout the novel was slow and ultimately satisfying. I adored the luridly dramatic dialogue between our leads. They are well and truly obsessed with each other and make it everyone else's problem—and occasionally, solution. I was so caught up in how obsessed they are with each other that I barely noticed that there isn't any spice.
I found the disjointed structure occasionally confusing, but felt like it generally added to the story's cinematic pacing and overall tone. This book reads a bit like a campy Victorian vampire movie from the early 2000s.
If you enjoy daddy issues, late 19th century forensic investigation, being literally haunted by the specter of your own sapphic yearning, and of course, vampire stories, this may be the book for you.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5. rounded up.
Like other reviewers have said, this book started really strong, like it had so much potential. I was into the story from the very beginning, but as it went on, it just got weaker and weaker.
The book begins with Anneke at a crime scene, trying to solve the mystery of a dead man. This part was really good and immediately caught my attention, since I love mystery and thrillers. There's also some part where Anneke is conflicted and consumed by her hatred toward the woman who killed her father. She wants vengeance and all that.
I'll try not to spoil anything here, but this book drags a lot. Maybe around 60% in (iirc), Anneke finally comes face to face with the mysterious woman. Before that? She's chasing this woman while another murder happens. Sure, she and her new team want to solve it too while still looking for the woman, but that's the part where it starts to feel exhausting. Because come on, this isn't a legal mystery/thriller with heavy investigation.
Another thing, I got bored with Anneke's inner monologue about that woman. It felt very repetitive and nothing new, just basic hatred of one person toward another. I didn't find the hunt thrilling, didn't find their dynamic exciting, and I saw zero chemistry between them. I also didn't really see where the sapphic part is??? Or is that just me?
Nonetheless, I did like the idea and how her team bonded with each other. I think that's all for me. 3 stars is enough for now.
Like other reviewers have said, this book started really strong, like it had so much potential. I was into the story from the very beginning, but as it went on, it just got weaker and weaker.
The book begins with Anneke at a crime scene, trying to solve the mystery of a dead man. This part was really good and immediately caught my attention, since I love mystery and thrillers. There's also some part where Anneke is conflicted and consumed by her hatred toward the woman who killed her father. She wants vengeance and all that.
I'll try not to spoil anything here, but this book drags a lot. Maybe around 60% in (iirc), Anneke finally comes face to face with the mysterious woman. Before that? She's chasing this woman while another murder happens. Sure, she and her new team want to solve it too while still looking for the woman, but that's the part where it starts to feel exhausting. Because come on, this isn't a legal mystery/thriller with heavy investigation.
Another thing, I got bored with Anneke's inner monologue about that woman. It felt very repetitive and nothing new, just basic hatred of one person toward another. I didn't find the hunt thrilling, didn't find their dynamic exciting, and I saw zero chemistry between them. I also didn't really see where the sapphic part is??? Or is that just me?
Nonetheless, I did like the idea and how her team bonded with each other. I think that's all for me. 3 stars is enough for now.
October 17, 2025
Quick very high level summary.
The Fox and the Devil is folklore style fantasy where spirits bargain with mortals. The fox spirit has lived for centuries by making deals with humans. The fox means no harm, just curious and a bit self centered. The Devil of course thrives on deception and corruption and bargains with the promise of power and the use of fear. Together they form an alliance that is destined to become so much more.
My take.
We have a supernatural murder mystery, gothic imagery, female oppression and sapphic romance. Though the romance part is more of a tense longing that stands in the background of a murder mystery. I was immediately inthralled and immersed in the story. The author does a great job of creating a dark and brooding atmosphere and providing the reader with relatable and likable characters. Really the emotion created is fantastic. This is definitely a complex story line but well worth it because the author does a good job of providing enough context and character grounding to keep the reader invested without feeling lost. This gave me “Strange Practice” by Vivian Shaw vibes and I adored that series. Overall well written, interesting plot, unpredictable mystery and sapphic representation made for a very fun read.
The Fox and the Devil is folklore style fantasy where spirits bargain with mortals. The fox spirit has lived for centuries by making deals with humans. The fox means no harm, just curious and a bit self centered. The Devil of course thrives on deception and corruption and bargains with the promise of power and the use of fear. Together they form an alliance that is destined to become so much more.
My take.
We have a supernatural murder mystery, gothic imagery, female oppression and sapphic romance. Though the romance part is more of a tense longing that stands in the background of a murder mystery. I was immediately inthralled and immersed in the story. The author does a great job of creating a dark and brooding atmosphere and providing the reader with relatable and likable characters. Really the emotion created is fantastic. This is definitely a complex story line but well worth it because the author does a good job of providing enough context and character grounding to keep the reader invested without feeling lost. This gave me “Strange Practice” by Vivian Shaw vibes and I adored that series. Overall well written, interesting plot, unpredictable mystery and sapphic representation made for a very fun read.
December 6, 2025
What I liked best about "The Fox and the Devil" by Kiersten White is that I stuck with it consistently even though I didn't like the main character and the second tier characters were treated like filler words. It was the first book since "The Tainted Cup" that kept me reading at a good clip and that's a good feeling.
That said, there's a lot that I wasn't keen on in the book. Anneke's inner monologuing on her obsession about Diavola and her inferior complex about her father wore thin with its repetition. I understood that there was plot driven reason for her behavior but it slowed the pace down, in my opinion. As did the inserts about the Paris 1900 World's Fair. I loved the details of it but it did feel like it broke up the pacing. Then the midpoint of the trip to Greece was too obvious of a reveal and to be honest, I skipped a lot of that section, except the most crucial reveal, which was very, very good so I wouldn't say the Greece side-trip was unneeded, I just think it went too long and it was easy to see its point.
I do like that the main villain was semi-unexpected. Given Anneke's obsession and the obviousness that this was a 'Sapphic romance', it was kind of clear, early on, that the object of Anneke's obsession would not be the final villain. However, there were still viable mysteries to uncover like who killed Anneke's father, Van Helsing, or rather, the why of it, since Diavola seemed to return Anneke's obsession. (To that point, the best 'reveal' of the book, imho, concerns Anneke's father; I could have stopped reading at that point of the book and been satisfied, to be honest.)
So it was a mixed bag for me, but I will say it leaned towards positive. I loved that the plot kept my attention and my motivation up to keep going when Anneke was probably the most annoying character in the book and that the pacing could come to a near stand still at times. I thought the end was well done, it isn't surprising or have any real twists, but it gets the job done. I don't like that the other characters are so bland that a random character intro'd at the end of the book is added to the group.
I can't justify a 3-star. I think that would be too low especially since I finished the book in good time and I did not find it to an unreasonable challenge to do so. The issues that I had with Anneke's presentation also worked to the overall plot so I can't ding it there either. I just wish the pacing had been tighter and the secondary characters had been more rounded and less filler.
**ARC e-copy provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for unbiased review. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Del Rey for the opportunity. Much appreciated.**
That said, there's a lot that I wasn't keen on in the book. Anneke's inner monologuing on her obsession about Diavola and her inferior complex about her father wore thin with its repetition. I understood that there was plot driven reason for her behavior but it slowed the pace down, in my opinion. As did the inserts about the Paris 1900 World's Fair. I loved the details of it but it did feel like it broke up the pacing. Then the midpoint of the trip to Greece was too obvious of a reveal and to be honest, I skipped a lot of that section, except the most crucial reveal, which was very, very good so I wouldn't say the Greece side-trip was unneeded, I just think it went too long and it was easy to see its point.
I do like that the main villain was semi-unexpected. Given Anneke's obsession and the obviousness that this was a 'Sapphic romance', it was kind of clear, early on, that the object of Anneke's obsession would not be the final villain. However, there were still viable mysteries to uncover like who killed Anneke's father, Van Helsing, or rather, the why of it, since Diavola seemed to return Anneke's obsession. (To that point, the best 'reveal' of the book, imho, concerns Anneke's father; I could have stopped reading at that point of the book and been satisfied, to be honest.)
So it was a mixed bag for me, but I will say it leaned towards positive. I loved that the plot kept my attention and my motivation up to keep going when Anneke was probably the most annoying character in the book and that the pacing could come to a near stand still at times. I thought the end was well done, it isn't surprising or have any real twists, but it gets the job done. I don't like that the other characters are so bland that a random character intro'd at the end of the book is added to the group.
I can't justify a 3-star. I think that would be too low especially since I finished the book in good time and I did not find it to an unreasonable challenge to do so. The issues that I had with Anneke's presentation also worked to the overall plot so I can't ding it there either. I just wish the pacing had been tighter and the secondary characters had been more rounded and less filler.
**ARC e-copy provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for unbiased review. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Del Rey for the opportunity. Much appreciated.**
December 2, 2025
My thanks to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and Kiersten White for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review.
I read my first book by Kiersten White back in 2010. I had to look up the year because while I remembered the book, I could not remember what year it was that I'd read it. And then I stared in wonder at the amount of books on White's list of publications because wow, okay, I have some reading to catch up on.
I have consistently gone back to White again and again over the years. I always end up loving the worlds created, the consistently strong leads, the intriguing plots. I have a large amount of her works and have always enjoyed the new imaginings for characters seen in other works (And I Darken and The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein come immediately to mind). So when I got the chance to read The Fox and The Devil, I knew what I expected to see. And yet, this book stands out even more than usual because I LOVED this book. If I had written this review a couple of days ago, it would have been filled with exclamation points and heart-eyed emojis and so many entreaties to buy this book because I could not stop talking about it. As it stands, I'm still loving this book but I think I can logically explain exactly what impressed me so much about this story in a way that will hopefully get readers interested in reading it as well.
Fingers crossed.
The Fox and The Devil follows Anneke Van Helsing, and her obsession with catching the woman she found standing over her father the night that she found her father murdered in his study. Anneke has spent years studying and becoming a well-recognized detective, to the point that the police call her in to consult on cases that they can't explain. During her work, Anneke begins to make a connection between the victims of certain gruesome, horrifying deaths, recognizing a pattern that links these deaths across the map. She puts together a team of her own detectives, determined to find this serial killer, believing it to be the woman she has never been able to find. As the years pass with her team trying to find the killer before they strike again, Anneke starts to receive letters from her mysterious obsession, signed Diavola, or devil. The pair are playing a game of cat and mouse and Anneke is determined to win, no matter what the cost. Then Anneke begins to make connections between her investigations and her father's work, making Anneke start to question the world that she thought she knew and understood because the creature she is hunting may actually be a monster.
The overall plot of the book was enough to catch my attention and keep it focused, making me wish I could read faster because with the holiday, there was always something coming up to drag me away from this story. I was invested in the story about a young woman determined to find the woman she thought was responsible for her father's death. As the story developed, I was entranced with how the story expanded to include so many other victims, so many other ideas and revelations, that my mind was constantly trying to make its own guesses as each page turned. However, for the most part of this book, I was admittedly believing this would be a solid 4 star read because I could not see how the threads of the obsession were going to conclude. Then it happened, this one solid moment of WAIT, WHAT?, that made me stop in my tracks for a split second before my mind restarted and I started laughing because oh wow, she got me, I fell for it, and then the plot was so much more than I thought it would be and this book became an instant favorite. Seriously, that moment made my stomach drop, my heart skipped a beat, that kind of feeling just overtook my senses and then when it all came together, I could not stop CACKLING because when a book manages to make me stop in my tracks, I am instantly in love. The fact that it took the whole of the book for me to get to that point proves that White has become a force with her writing and now I'm determined to read more books of hers.
Anneke, sweet Anneke, I loved this young woman. For a while, I was a little dismayed at how she obsessed over the serial killer plotline because of her idea of vengeance but as the book continued, I loved how she became more, the way she fought back against the ideas that would keep her penned in and made people respect her. I loved how her worldviews were constantly forced to change and how yes, she fought it at first but then she would shift and evolve and I can respect a woman who takes the time to change her beliefs and transform herself into something more. I loved her team of detectives which included her best friend David, a fellow detective and former flame; Maher, a photographer, and Inge, the daughter of her mentor. Each of these people became dear to me through their actions and their devotion to Anneke. I loved how David had challenged Anneke to solve cases that seemed to stump other detectives. I adored how Maher respected the women in his life and trusted Anneke because she was intelligent. And words cannot express how much I loved Inge, the youngest member of the team, a tour de force that everyone was determined to protect because she was their little sister and they were all of them a FAMILY, and I wanted to keep all of these people safe. I even loved the glimpses we were given of Diavola, and the reveals that were given of her current existence and the life that led her there made her so intriguing, I just wanted to see more of her as the book went on. Even side characters were given enough to make me care about their stories, from the victims we were given glimpses of to coworkers at the police station that wanted to work with Anneke and her team. I don't know if there are plans to expand on this world but if there ever is a book focused on this team, I would be first in line to read that story.
Books that focus on obsessions sometimes have the tendency to become a little one note and I'm happy to report that this book becomes so much more than a story about one woman's quest for vengeance. It is also a story about believing in yourself, because while Anneke does have confidence in her abilities as a detective, she also has to believe in herself as a woman worthy of the connections she has made, the people she inspires with the cases she solves. It is a story about found family, and how important it is to surround yourself with people who will love all of you all of the time. The obsession is the focus for a while but it is everything else in this book that elevates it for me and I'm so happy with the end result. I want to delve into the cases and the details about the serial killer but a lot of my enjoyment of this book is all the little asides that White included to expand this world and I don't want to spoil the experience for future readers.
If you are a fan of Kiersten White's books, The Fox and The Devil is a very respectable read. I want to go back and read it again as soon as I get my copy next year. I want to read everything else I already have on my shelves by Kiersten White AND start collecting everything I don't already own. First up on the list is to start Lucy Undying. I'm hoping it is as brilliant as this book and might even be connected to this book. I can't wait to see any connections I missed while reading this release and here is me crossing my fingers that White has more plans in the making for this world. If this is your first time trying out White's work, I hope you are as enthralled as I was with this story.
Rating on my scale: 10 Stars!!! Seriously, that reveal still makes me giddy. I immediately went onto my group chat of fellow readers and told them how I fell for something that I logically knew wasn't right but it still got me. I hope so many readers come to this book and end up loving it like I did. And then I hope they read other books by White as well.
I read my first book by Kiersten White back in 2010. I had to look up the year because while I remembered the book, I could not remember what year it was that I'd read it. And then I stared in wonder at the amount of books on White's list of publications because wow, okay, I have some reading to catch up on.
I have consistently gone back to White again and again over the years. I always end up loving the worlds created, the consistently strong leads, the intriguing plots. I have a large amount of her works and have always enjoyed the new imaginings for characters seen in other works (And I Darken and The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein come immediately to mind). So when I got the chance to read The Fox and The Devil, I knew what I expected to see. And yet, this book stands out even more than usual because I LOVED this book. If I had written this review a couple of days ago, it would have been filled with exclamation points and heart-eyed emojis and so many entreaties to buy this book because I could not stop talking about it. As it stands, I'm still loving this book but I think I can logically explain exactly what impressed me so much about this story in a way that will hopefully get readers interested in reading it as well.
Fingers crossed.
The Fox and The Devil follows Anneke Van Helsing, and her obsession with catching the woman she found standing over her father the night that she found her father murdered in his study. Anneke has spent years studying and becoming a well-recognized detective, to the point that the police call her in to consult on cases that they can't explain. During her work, Anneke begins to make a connection between the victims of certain gruesome, horrifying deaths, recognizing a pattern that links these deaths across the map. She puts together a team of her own detectives, determined to find this serial killer, believing it to be the woman she has never been able to find. As the years pass with her team trying to find the killer before they strike again, Anneke starts to receive letters from her mysterious obsession, signed Diavola, or devil. The pair are playing a game of cat and mouse and Anneke is determined to win, no matter what the cost. Then Anneke begins to make connections between her investigations and her father's work, making Anneke start to question the world that she thought she knew and understood because the creature she is hunting may actually be a monster.
The overall plot of the book was enough to catch my attention and keep it focused, making me wish I could read faster because with the holiday, there was always something coming up to drag me away from this story. I was invested in the story about a young woman determined to find the woman she thought was responsible for her father's death. As the story developed, I was entranced with how the story expanded to include so many other victims, so many other ideas and revelations, that my mind was constantly trying to make its own guesses as each page turned. However, for the most part of this book, I was admittedly believing this would be a solid 4 star read because I could not see how the threads of the obsession were going to conclude. Then it happened, this one solid moment of WAIT, WHAT?, that made me stop in my tracks for a split second before my mind restarted and I started laughing because oh wow, she got me, I fell for it, and then the plot was so much more than I thought it would be and this book became an instant favorite. Seriously, that moment made my stomach drop, my heart skipped a beat, that kind of feeling just overtook my senses and then when it all came together, I could not stop CACKLING because when a book manages to make me stop in my tracks, I am instantly in love. The fact that it took the whole of the book for me to get to that point proves that White has become a force with her writing and now I'm determined to read more books of hers.
Anneke, sweet Anneke, I loved this young woman. For a while, I was a little dismayed at how she obsessed over the serial killer plotline because of her idea of vengeance but as the book continued, I loved how she became more, the way she fought back against the ideas that would keep her penned in and made people respect her. I loved how her worldviews were constantly forced to change and how yes, she fought it at first but then she would shift and evolve and I can respect a woman who takes the time to change her beliefs and transform herself into something more. I loved her team of detectives which included her best friend David, a fellow detective and former flame; Maher, a photographer, and Inge, the daughter of her mentor. Each of these people became dear to me through their actions and their devotion to Anneke. I loved how David had challenged Anneke to solve cases that seemed to stump other detectives. I adored how Maher respected the women in his life and trusted Anneke because she was intelligent. And words cannot express how much I loved Inge, the youngest member of the team, a tour de force that everyone was determined to protect because she was their little sister and they were all of them a FAMILY, and I wanted to keep all of these people safe. I even loved the glimpses we were given of Diavola, and the reveals that were given of her current existence and the life that led her there made her so intriguing, I just wanted to see more of her as the book went on. Even side characters were given enough to make me care about their stories, from the victims we were given glimpses of to coworkers at the police station that wanted to work with Anneke and her team. I don't know if there are plans to expand on this world but if there ever is a book focused on this team, I would be first in line to read that story.
Books that focus on obsessions sometimes have the tendency to become a little one note and I'm happy to report that this book becomes so much more than a story about one woman's quest for vengeance. It is also a story about believing in yourself, because while Anneke does have confidence in her abilities as a detective, she also has to believe in herself as a woman worthy of the connections she has made, the people she inspires with the cases she solves. It is a story about found family, and how important it is to surround yourself with people who will love all of you all of the time. The obsession is the focus for a while but it is everything else in this book that elevates it for me and I'm so happy with the end result. I want to delve into the cases and the details about the serial killer but a lot of my enjoyment of this book is all the little asides that White included to expand this world and I don't want to spoil the experience for future readers.
If you are a fan of Kiersten White's books, The Fox and The Devil is a very respectable read. I want to go back and read it again as soon as I get my copy next year. I want to read everything else I already have on my shelves by Kiersten White AND start collecting everything I don't already own. First up on the list is to start Lucy Undying. I'm hoping it is as brilliant as this book and might even be connected to this book. I can't wait to see any connections I missed while reading this release and here is me crossing my fingers that White has more plans in the making for this world. If this is your first time trying out White's work, I hope you are as enthralled as I was with this story.
Rating on my scale: 10 Stars!!! Seriously, that reveal still makes me giddy. I immediately went onto my group chat of fellow readers and told them how I fell for something that I logically knew wasn't right but it still got me. I hope so many readers come to this book and end up loving it like I did. And then I hope they read other books by White as well.
November 15, 2025
Kiersten White does. Not. Miss.
Want to read
September 21, 2025AHH I LOVED LUCY UNDYING SO MUCH I NEED THIS IMMEDIATELY
October 22, 2025
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this mystery, fantasy, adventure story set in Europe around 1900. The story is about a young woman , Anneke Van Helsing, who is investigating murders. Her father, who never seemed to care for her, had been murdered and Anneke is trying to find the woman responsible. There is definitely a supernatural element to the story which I really liked. Anneke and her friends , who are working together to try and solve various crimes, travel across Europe in search of the murderer. A very well written story that I would highly recommend!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in return for my honest opinions.
I really enjoyed this mystery, fantasy, adventure story set in Europe around 1900. The story is about a young woman , Anneke Van Helsing, who is investigating murders. Her father, who never seemed to care for her, had been murdered and Anneke is trying to find the woman responsible. There is definitely a supernatural element to the story which I really liked. Anneke and her friends , who are working together to try and solve various crimes, travel across Europe in search of the murderer. A very well written story that I would highly recommend!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in return for my honest opinions.
November 11, 2025
Anneke Van Helsing, reeling from her father’s brutal murder, finds herself haunted by a shadowy figure known only as Diavola. Anneke’s complicated past with her father never really lets her go. Instead, she pours her grief and relentless drive to hunt down a string of murders that just don’t add up. As the story picks up speed, the line between human and monster, justice and obsession, gets messier and messier. White doesn’t tip her hand, either. The darker twists stay hidden until the last possible moment.
At the center of it all, Anneke’s journey pulls you in. She starts out heavy with resentment, dragging around old doubts, but she doesn’t stay there. By the time you’re halfway through, she’s a force; resourceful, sharp, still haunted by secrets she won’t share, even with her closest allies. The team she assembles isn’t just background noise. Their relationships with Anneke, sometimes warm, sometimes tense, cut through the book’s creeping dread and give it some heartbeat. Then there are the letters from Diavola. Strange, intimate, even tragic at times, they push Anneke into deeper turmoil and keep you guessing about who’s really pulling the strings.
The themes hit close to home. Grief, the hunt for truth when lies seem easier, and those gray patches of morality we all stumble through, White weaves them in without preaching. The clash between science and superstition, especially, rings true in a world that keeps redefining what’s possible and what’s dangerous. Obsession comes with a cost here; it isolates, but it also fuels the chase. Justice and cruelty blur together, asking you to decide which side you’re on, or if there even is one.
White’s prose cuts sharply. She jumps from the cold detail of forensics to the eerie beauty of nightmares, never missing a beat. The mood shifts as the story darkens, drawing you down with Anneke into a world where nothing feels safe. The pacing works. Fast, tense investigations break up with quieter, more reflective moments, and that balance keeps the suspense tight without drowning out the emotion. Sure, some parts stay a little murky, maybe too murky if you like tidy resolutions, but that uncertainty gives the book its haunting edge.
In the end, The Fox and the Devil stands out because it refuses to be just one thing. It blends thriller, gothic, and the supernatural, setting itself apart from standard crime fare. Fans of White’s other work will recognize her signature: complicated women up against impossible odds. The atmosphere presses in, thick with unease, but Anneke’s pain and determination keep everything grounded. Some plot threads dangle, unresolved, but that’s part of the point. The novel invites you to live with discomfort, to sit with loss, and to wonder at the unknown. It lingers, making you question what evil really is and how, despite everything, the human heart keeps going.
At the center of it all, Anneke’s journey pulls you in. She starts out heavy with resentment, dragging around old doubts, but she doesn’t stay there. By the time you’re halfway through, she’s a force; resourceful, sharp, still haunted by secrets she won’t share, even with her closest allies. The team she assembles isn’t just background noise. Their relationships with Anneke, sometimes warm, sometimes tense, cut through the book’s creeping dread and give it some heartbeat. Then there are the letters from Diavola. Strange, intimate, even tragic at times, they push Anneke into deeper turmoil and keep you guessing about who’s really pulling the strings.
The themes hit close to home. Grief, the hunt for truth when lies seem easier, and those gray patches of morality we all stumble through, White weaves them in without preaching. The clash between science and superstition, especially, rings true in a world that keeps redefining what’s possible and what’s dangerous. Obsession comes with a cost here; it isolates, but it also fuels the chase. Justice and cruelty blur together, asking you to decide which side you’re on, or if there even is one.
White’s prose cuts sharply. She jumps from the cold detail of forensics to the eerie beauty of nightmares, never missing a beat. The mood shifts as the story darkens, drawing you down with Anneke into a world where nothing feels safe. The pacing works. Fast, tense investigations break up with quieter, more reflective moments, and that balance keeps the suspense tight without drowning out the emotion. Sure, some parts stay a little murky, maybe too murky if you like tidy resolutions, but that uncertainty gives the book its haunting edge.
In the end, The Fox and the Devil stands out because it refuses to be just one thing. It blends thriller, gothic, and the supernatural, setting itself apart from standard crime fare. Fans of White’s other work will recognize her signature: complicated women up against impossible odds. The atmosphere presses in, thick with unease, but Anneke’s pain and determination keep everything grounded. Some plot threads dangle, unresolved, but that’s part of the point. The novel invites you to live with discomfort, to sit with loss, and to wonder at the unknown. It lingers, making you question what evil really is and how, despite everything, the human heart keeps going.
November 21, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early access copy for an honest review - all opinions are my own
2.5 ⭐️
I was really hoping I would love this. It sounded right up my street modern-day Van Helsing heiress hunting a glamorous, murderous vampire across Europe and the first part of the book delivered exactly that promise. The atmosphere was moody and cinematic, the string of bizarre killings is genuinely intriguing, and Anneke’s obsess with Diavola had me kept melted to the pages.
But that feeling didn’t last long, the more I read the harder it became. It started as this tight thriller and just slipped into this slow introspective story, not to say I’m against that but I was expecting this horror fantasy romance. It felt like every time we were building toward a revelation, the plot would pivot or pause for another round of internal reflection ( she thinks so, so much) and I found myself struggling to keep reading. This was at the 30% mark, I unfortunately really had to push through the next 70%.
Anneke is a tricky mc to spend 400 pages with. She’s clearly shaped by her trauma along with an unusual, upbringing, and I did actually appreciate the glimpses into her family history and how their legacy weighs on her. That said, her inner monologue loops over the same handful of memories and anxieties so often that it started to feel repetitive rather than revealing. I found myself struggling to connect or care about any of the characters in the way I would have wanted and going back to her inner monologue her voice and emotional reactions felt so much younger than her almost-thirty years, which gave the book a YA feel to it, again no issue with that but I wasn’t expecting it.
And then we move onto the world building, or lack therefore, it’s very light on explanations, whilst I understand that some people enjoy that, if a book is marked as a fantasy I need a bit more world building. The explanation of the vampires and humans felt weak which is such a shame. The romance is very understated and felt more like flirting than yearning, it just never quite sparked for me, and several supporting characters felt like they were waiting for scenes that never arrived.
Again whilst this just may not have been for me, I do believe this will be for a lot of people will not from the European settings to the tension between hunter and hunted, and a protagonist who is messy in a way that feels honest.
If you love a slow burn, character study and if you donn’t mind lingering in someone’s head for long stretches. But for me it just didn’t hit quite right.
This was my introduction to Kiersten White, and while this particular book and I weren’t the best match, I’m not writing her off completely. The Fox and the Devil has an undeniably interesting and engaging premise and moments of real promise but it just wasn’t quite for.
2.5 ⭐️
I was really hoping I would love this. It sounded right up my street modern-day Van Helsing heiress hunting a glamorous, murderous vampire across Europe and the first part of the book delivered exactly that promise. The atmosphere was moody and cinematic, the string of bizarre killings is genuinely intriguing, and Anneke’s obsess with Diavola had me kept melted to the pages.
But that feeling didn’t last long, the more I read the harder it became. It started as this tight thriller and just slipped into this slow introspective story, not to say I’m against that but I was expecting this horror fantasy romance. It felt like every time we were building toward a revelation, the plot would pivot or pause for another round of internal reflection ( she thinks so, so much) and I found myself struggling to keep reading. This was at the 30% mark, I unfortunately really had to push through the next 70%.
Anneke is a tricky mc to spend 400 pages with. She’s clearly shaped by her trauma along with an unusual, upbringing, and I did actually appreciate the glimpses into her family history and how their legacy weighs on her. That said, her inner monologue loops over the same handful of memories and anxieties so often that it started to feel repetitive rather than revealing. I found myself struggling to connect or care about any of the characters in the way I would have wanted and going back to her inner monologue her voice and emotional reactions felt so much younger than her almost-thirty years, which gave the book a YA feel to it, again no issue with that but I wasn’t expecting it.
And then we move onto the world building, or lack therefore, it’s very light on explanations, whilst I understand that some people enjoy that, if a book is marked as a fantasy I need a bit more world building. The explanation of the vampires and humans felt weak which is such a shame. The romance is very understated and felt more like flirting than yearning, it just never quite sparked for me, and several supporting characters felt like they were waiting for scenes that never arrived.
Again whilst this just may not have been for me, I do believe this will be for a lot of people will not from the European settings to the tension between hunter and hunted, and a protagonist who is messy in a way that feels honest.
If you love a slow burn, character study and if you donn’t mind lingering in someone’s head for long stretches. But for me it just didn’t hit quite right.
This was my introduction to Kiersten White, and while this particular book and I weren’t the best match, I’m not writing her off completely. The Fox and the Devil has an undeniably interesting and engaging premise and moments of real promise but it just wasn’t quite for.
December 5, 2025
4.25 ⭐️
A gothic historical mystery that delivered slow burning obsessed, powerful bonds of friendship and a compelling story full of unveiled secrets, raw determination and hope against evil.
Detective Anneke is determined to find the mysterious alluring women who murdered her father. She has never forgotten her, nor her scent nor the feeling she elicits, not when she dreams of this killer every night. When she sees a murder scene that doesn’t make sense, carrying the same wintery scent as her killer, Anneke finally has the starting point she needs.
She eventually has enough support to truly dedicate herself and her friends to the cause of finding such an impossible killer. Cue a years long search for Diavola, letters left for Anneke that haunt her and drive her onward and a world of secrets to uncover.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I loved that it took place over a long time, that it was a true hunt and the dedication and fortitude needed to continue despite so many lost ends really permeated the story. Despite the horrific murders and that’s it’s a hunt for the worst serial killer there is, the friendships gave such beautiful heart to it all. They evolved through highs and lows and their connection was so beautifully pure. And throughout it all, is the obsession that Anneke and Diavola feel for one another. Anneke lives and breathes Diavola, the chase consuming her, a desperate desire to prove herself to the father she lost despite his cruelties. I wasn’t sure how this was going to play out considering they hunt Diavola for her brutal kills but i ended up really enjoying the way it was done. The ending was fantastic and intense, a culmination of years for them (and hours of uninterrupted reading for me!) resulting it a final chance at justice.
It’s the kind of story you soak into and let the setting and feelings come to life. It’s slower paced as historical and gothic genres are wont to be but it felt right for the story and the snippets of the Paris exposition fair were excellent; they kept the urgency and broadened the scope, Instead of only seeing the aftermath we meet people who are affected. It really brought the threads together.
Overall, it was a great read. The settings were rich, the hunt and mysteries slow moving but constantly evolving, the characters tangible and the threads between everything wonderfully tightening throughout. Also a unique story that I won’t be forgetting any time soon! A must for fans of a gothic historical read
A gothic historical mystery that delivered slow burning obsessed, powerful bonds of friendship and a compelling story full of unveiled secrets, raw determination and hope against evil.
Detective Anneke is determined to find the mysterious alluring women who murdered her father. She has never forgotten her, nor her scent nor the feeling she elicits, not when she dreams of this killer every night. When she sees a murder scene that doesn’t make sense, carrying the same wintery scent as her killer, Anneke finally has the starting point she needs.
She eventually has enough support to truly dedicate herself and her friends to the cause of finding such an impossible killer. Cue a years long search for Diavola, letters left for Anneke that haunt her and drive her onward and a world of secrets to uncover.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I loved that it took place over a long time, that it was a true hunt and the dedication and fortitude needed to continue despite so many lost ends really permeated the story. Despite the horrific murders and that’s it’s a hunt for the worst serial killer there is, the friendships gave such beautiful heart to it all. They evolved through highs and lows and their connection was so beautifully pure. And throughout it all, is the obsession that Anneke and Diavola feel for one another. Anneke lives and breathes Diavola, the chase consuming her, a desperate desire to prove herself to the father she lost despite his cruelties. I wasn’t sure how this was going to play out considering they hunt Diavola for her brutal kills but i ended up really enjoying the way it was done. The ending was fantastic and intense, a culmination of years for them (and hours of uninterrupted reading for me!) resulting it a final chance at justice.
It’s the kind of story you soak into and let the setting and feelings come to life. It’s slower paced as historical and gothic genres are wont to be but it felt right for the story and the snippets of the Paris exposition fair were excellent; they kept the urgency and broadened the scope, Instead of only seeing the aftermath we meet people who are affected. It really brought the threads together.
Overall, it was a great read. The settings were rich, the hunt and mysteries slow moving but constantly evolving, the characters tangible and the threads between everything wonderfully tightening throughout. Also a unique story that I won’t be forgetting any time soon! A must for fans of a gothic historical read
October 26, 2025
The Fox and the Devil is a masterclass in gothic obsession. This was my first encounter with Kiersten White’s writing, and I’ll be devouring her entire backlist immediately.
The premise alone hooked me: Anneke Van Helsing, daughter of the legendary vampire hunter, chasing the serial killer who killed said father. Don't worry, this isn’t just another murder mystery. it’s forensic, historical, and emotionally devastating. I found myself researching Dracula and other early vampire literature, forensic innovations of the late 1800s, and the Paris World Fair. The historical detail is rich but never overwhelming, it’s seamlessly integrated into the story.
The dual timeline structure kept me fully invested in the climax, and the historical references and name drops were seamlessly woven into the text. They grounded the story in real-world lore and science, which made the supernatural elements feel even more eerie and plausible.
But what truly wrecked me? The yearning. The aching, slow-burn, soul-deep yearning. Diavola’s letters absolutely destroyed me. The emotional intensity is off the charts. Romantic, obsessive, and beautifully tragic. I lost sleep over this book because I couldn’t stop reading.
Also, the twists were perfectly timed. Not overdone, not predictable, just enough to keep me me on my toes.
This is a phenomenally well-crafted novel. Sapphic, haunting, and intellectually rich. If you love gothic tension, forensic intrigue, and stories that make your heart ache in the best way, this one’s for you.
Thank you to Kiersten White, Penguin Random House, & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.
The premise alone hooked me: Anneke Van Helsing, daughter of the legendary vampire hunter, chasing the serial killer who killed said father. Don't worry, this isn’t just another murder mystery. it’s forensic, historical, and emotionally devastating. I found myself researching Dracula and other early vampire literature, forensic innovations of the late 1800s, and the Paris World Fair. The historical detail is rich but never overwhelming, it’s seamlessly integrated into the story.
The dual timeline structure kept me fully invested in the climax, and the historical references and name drops were seamlessly woven into the text. They grounded the story in real-world lore and science, which made the supernatural elements feel even more eerie and plausible.
But what truly wrecked me? The yearning. The aching, slow-burn, soul-deep yearning. Diavola’s letters absolutely destroyed me. The emotional intensity is off the charts. Romantic, obsessive, and beautifully tragic. I lost sleep over this book because I couldn’t stop reading.
Also, the twists were perfectly timed. Not overdone, not predictable, just enough to keep me me on my toes.
This is a phenomenally well-crafted novel. Sapphic, haunting, and intellectually rich. If you love gothic tension, forensic intrigue, and stories that make your heart ache in the best way, this one’s for you.
Thank you to Kiersten White, Penguin Random House, & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.
October 24, 2025
THIS. BOOK.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Del Rey, and Kirsten White for this review copy.
The Fox and the Devil follows investigator Anneke Van Helsing as she’s drawn into a string of strange crimes where every victim seems to have caused their own death. Trying to understand what could drive someone to such extremes, Anneke discovers a disturbing connection to her own past - the same devil responsible for her father’s murder. As she chases the truth, each new crime scene brings another message left just for her, urging her to keep following the trail no matter where it leads.
I absolutely devoured this book. I had to take a break about 20 pages in to do something else and the entire time I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and honestly I couldn’t predict a lot of what happened.
It’s a take on vampire mythology that I haven’t read before, and I really enjoyed the twist on the classic stories. The narrative was so wonderfully unique, and keeps you guessing throughout. It felt like a proper gothic novel but with a slightly more modern twist (although set 1890-1900!)
The yearning in this book - romantic and not - is so utterly heartbreaking but so beautiful, you will spend the entire book just willing for that clear communication. I also adored the interactions between Anneke, Maher, Inge, and wonderful David.
This was my first novel from Kiersten White and I will absolutely be going to buy her other works as I cannot get over how gorgeous her writing is!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Del Rey, and Kirsten White for this review copy.
The Fox and the Devil follows investigator Anneke Van Helsing as she’s drawn into a string of strange crimes where every victim seems to have caused their own death. Trying to understand what could drive someone to such extremes, Anneke discovers a disturbing connection to her own past - the same devil responsible for her father’s murder. As she chases the truth, each new crime scene brings another message left just for her, urging her to keep following the trail no matter where it leads.
I absolutely devoured this book. I had to take a break about 20 pages in to do something else and the entire time I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and honestly I couldn’t predict a lot of what happened.
It’s a take on vampire mythology that I haven’t read before, and I really enjoyed the twist on the classic stories. The narrative was so wonderfully unique, and keeps you guessing throughout. It felt like a proper gothic novel but with a slightly more modern twist (although set 1890-1900!)
The yearning in this book - romantic and not - is so utterly heartbreaking but so beautiful, you will spend the entire book just willing for that clear communication. I also adored the interactions between Anneke, Maher, Inge, and wonderful David.
This was my first novel from Kiersten White and I will absolutely be going to buy her other works as I cannot get over how gorgeous her writing is!
October 31, 2025
5 stars
The Fox and the Devil was everything I wanted this spooky season. Historical fiction, romance, horror, monsters, and found family. The story of Anneke Van Helsing, the daughter of the famous Dr. Van Helsing, hunter of Dracula, unfolds slowly and deliberately. The pacing reminded me very much of Kiersten White's last book, Lucy Undying, which I also loved.
The book begins with Anneke obsessed with hunting the woman she found crouching over her father's lifeless body years ago. Anneke is determined to avenge her father and finally earn the love he never showed her in life. Anneke is a successful detective, specializing in strange murders. She's helped by her former lover David, his former boyfriend, and her mentor's daughter. As the hunt for vengeance continues, Anneke realizes that the woman may not be human and while she hates this creature, Diavola, intensely, she also struggles with other feelings as well.
This is a sapphic slow burn romance with elements of vampires, folklore, turn of the century London in the late 1800's, and a few twists I definitely did not see coming.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoyed Lucy Undying, The Year of the Witching, or the Daughter of Doctor Moreau. If you enjoy gothic fiction light on the gore and graphic scenes, this is a must read.
Thank you to Del Rey Publishing and NetGalley for the eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Fox and the Devil was everything I wanted this spooky season. Historical fiction, romance, horror, monsters, and found family. The story of Anneke Van Helsing, the daughter of the famous Dr. Van Helsing, hunter of Dracula, unfolds slowly and deliberately. The pacing reminded me very much of Kiersten White's last book, Lucy Undying, which I also loved.
The book begins with Anneke obsessed with hunting the woman she found crouching over her father's lifeless body years ago. Anneke is determined to avenge her father and finally earn the love he never showed her in life. Anneke is a successful detective, specializing in strange murders. She's helped by her former lover David, his former boyfriend, and her mentor's daughter. As the hunt for vengeance continues, Anneke realizes that the woman may not be human and while she hates this creature, Diavola, intensely, she also struggles with other feelings as well.
This is a sapphic slow burn romance with elements of vampires, folklore, turn of the century London in the late 1800's, and a few twists I definitely did not see coming.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoyed Lucy Undying, The Year of the Witching, or the Daughter of Doctor Moreau. If you enjoy gothic fiction light on the gore and graphic scenes, this is a must read.
Thank you to Del Rey Publishing and NetGalley for the eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 23, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!
First of all, I have to give props to Kiersten White for how many Dracula-adjacent books she has sold. The Fox and the Devil promises more than it delivers, but contains some genuinely spine-chilling scenes and a more in-depth exploration of varied undead mythos than expected. My main issue with this book is that it is obvious from the get-go that Diavola is not, in fact, the killer Anneke is hunting (so obvious that I’m not bothering to tag it as a spoiler). It takes more than 60% of the book for that to be revealed, so to me it made the hunt for the first part of the book feel disingenuous and superfluous. The book feels very YA, even though all of the characters (bar Inge) are in their late 20s or beyond and should have fully developed frontal lobes. The ending was at least interesting, if not very satisfying from a mystery perspective. If you’re already a Kiersten White fan and in the mood for a short flawed historical mystery/fantasy, then the Fox and the Devil is a good read.
First of all, I have to give props to Kiersten White for how many Dracula-adjacent books she has sold. The Fox and the Devil promises more than it delivers, but contains some genuinely spine-chilling scenes and a more in-depth exploration of varied undead mythos than expected. My main issue with this book is that it is obvious from the get-go that Diavola is not, in fact, the killer Anneke is hunting (so obvious that I’m not bothering to tag it as a spoiler). It takes more than 60% of the book for that to be revealed, so to me it made the hunt for the first part of the book feel disingenuous and superfluous. The book feels very YA, even though all of the characters (bar Inge) are in their late 20s or beyond and should have fully developed frontal lobes. The ending was at least interesting, if not very satisfying from a mystery perspective. If you’re already a Kiersten White fan and in the mood for a short flawed historical mystery/fantasy, then the Fox and the Devil is a good read.
Want to read
October 29, 2025sapphic vamps... 🫡 🙂↕️ yes please
this better have Carmilla/ Hungerstone vibes.
this better have Carmilla/ Hungerstone vibes.
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November 20, 2025
Thank you to Del Rey publishing for the advanced copy of this book!
I absolutely loved this book! Kiersten White weaves such an incredible tapestry of murder, mystery, and sapphic obsession, and I could not get enough.
Though the switching timelines and perspectives were a touch confusing at times, they helped unravel the plot in such a unique way, and I found myself breaking out the red string along with Inge trying to put everything together. I also really loved the use of folklore from various cultures mixed with the scientific advancements of the time! I really enjoy when authors intersect history and fantasy in this way, it is always so intriguing to me.
This was such an enjoyable read, and I’d highly recommend it for anyone who appreciates folktales and a rag tag group of brilliant detectives solving murders around Europe!
I absolutely loved this book! Kiersten White weaves such an incredible tapestry of murder, mystery, and sapphic obsession, and I could not get enough.
Though the switching timelines and perspectives were a touch confusing at times, they helped unravel the plot in such a unique way, and I found myself breaking out the red string along with Inge trying to put everything together. I also really loved the use of folklore from various cultures mixed with the scientific advancements of the time! I really enjoy when authors intersect history and fantasy in this way, it is always so intriguing to me.
This was such an enjoyable read, and I’d highly recommend it for anyone who appreciates folktales and a rag tag group of brilliant detectives solving murders around Europe!
October 9, 2025
The start of this book was gripping, starting the story off with a gory murder investigation is guaranteed to get my attention. And it did for a little while. I found the pace of the story to slow down a bit and get a bit repetitive, mainly with the main character, who during this slower moments could irritate the life out of me. I lost count of how many times she looked back on her daddy issues, but as soon as someone said what she had thought herself she would throw a paddy and walk away.
However, once you get over the tantrums of our main gal, the story does pic up again. With twists and turns coming at you from all directions, leaving you never knowing which direction the story was going to take.
The mix of timelines was brilliant even though sometimes I could be like “what on earth is going on here”, but this is mainly because the jump in timelines is also a jump in Point of views, but it really helps build the plot and the story and build up the tension.
I loved the dark aspects of this story and all the folklore tales coming in, as well as a glimpse into the Classic vampire tale.
However, once you get over the tantrums of our main gal, the story does pic up again. With twists and turns coming at you from all directions, leaving you never knowing which direction the story was going to take.
The mix of timelines was brilliant even though sometimes I could be like “what on earth is going on here”, but this is mainly because the jump in timelines is also a jump in Point of views, but it really helps build the plot and the story and build up the tension.
I loved the dark aspects of this story and all the folklore tales coming in, as well as a glimpse into the Classic vampire tale.
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