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The Fox and the Devil
An 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.
12 pages, Audiobook
First published March 10, 2026
144 people are currently reading
22340 people want to read
About the author
Kiersten White
66 books13.9k 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 543 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5 ★
”She’s the woman of my nightmares and dreams, my torment and my joy. My own personal demon.”
i really thought i would love this book, but the joke was on me cause it leaned way too much into the historical/detective side of things. all the characters were flat, especially the main two Anneke and Diavola. you’d think the idea of this cat and mouse type of dynamic they had going on would’ve been exciting, but it really wasn’t. Anneke and Diavola were also very randomly obsessed with each other and their reasoning made no sense. i spent most of my time reading this kind of bored tbh.
”You’re carved into my very bones, I’ll carry you with me into eternity.”
i usually love anything to do with the Dracula and Van Helsing lore.. that was not the case here though. i think the reveal of why Diavola was doing the things she did was pretty obvious too. the romance could’ve been completely left out and it wouldn’t have made a difference. this is petty, but i really didn’t like that Diavola’s nickname for Anneke was “little fox”.. i only accept that nickname from a certain apple eating scoundrel. i’m disappointed cause i always want to root for sapphic books so bad but this just wasn’t for me.
➳ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Del Rey for the arc, all opinions are my own.
”She’s the woman of my nightmares and dreams, my torment and my joy. My own personal demon.”
i really thought i would love this book, but the joke was on me cause it leaned way too much into the historical/detective side of things. all the characters were flat, especially the main two Anneke and Diavola. you’d think the idea of this cat and mouse type of dynamic they had going on would’ve been exciting, but it really wasn’t. Anneke and Diavola were also very randomly obsessed with each other and their reasoning made no sense. i spent most of my time reading this kind of bored tbh.
”You’re carved into my very bones, I’ll carry you with me into eternity.”
i usually love anything to do with the Dracula and Van Helsing lore.. that was not the case here though. i think the reveal of why Diavola was doing the things she did was pretty obvious too. the romance could’ve been completely left out and it wouldn’t have made a difference. this is petty, but i really didn’t like that Diavola’s nickname for Anneke was “little fox”.. i only accept that nickname from a certain apple eating scoundrel. i’m disappointed cause i always want to root for sapphic books so bad but this just wasn’t for me.
➳ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Del Rey for the arc, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Huge thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this arc!!
I don’t know what I was expecting with the summary but it definitely wasn’t what was delivered. The concept was intriguing but the execution ultimately fell flat.
Let’s start with the positives. The late 1890s dark Victorian setting was well depicted. I think this would be a very nice Autumn read.
Now onto my thoughts about the characters. The fmc’s in this book are described as strong & independent women. What we are told isn’t what we see… Anneke is very impulsive and behaves like a 15yo rather than her 25 years. She’s very obsessive, acted brashly and was fickle. The side characters were sadly indistinguishable. It didn’t help that the writing made me feel very disconnected from the story and its characters and I found I didn’t particularly care for the tale.
With the blurb - I thought the fantastical elements would be prevalent… but this read more like a thriller than a fantasy. The ending was really rushed for a plot that was unnecessarily drawn out.
There’s a few sequences that felt out of place with the story and the letters came a little bit out no where. The string of murders became repetitive fast and I think it would’ve benefitted having multiple plots. The writing style sadly never made me curious about what was going on - which hindered my experience.
I was underwhelmed by this novel and I believe my expectations were too high. I would still recommend this if you’re in for a slower read.
I don’t know what I was expecting with the summary but it definitely wasn’t what was delivered. The concept was intriguing but the execution ultimately fell flat.
Let’s start with the positives. The late 1890s dark Victorian setting was well depicted. I think this would be a very nice Autumn read.
Now onto my thoughts about the characters. The fmc’s in this book are described as strong & independent women. What we are told isn’t what we see… Anneke is very impulsive and behaves like a 15yo rather than her 25 years. She’s very obsessive, acted brashly and was fickle. The side characters were sadly indistinguishable. It didn’t help that the writing made me feel very disconnected from the story and its characters and I found I didn’t particularly care for the tale.
With the blurb - I thought the fantastical elements would be prevalent… but this read more like a thriller than a fantasy. The ending was really rushed for a plot that was unnecessarily drawn out.
There’s a few sequences that felt out of place with the story and the letters came a little bit out no where. The string of murders became repetitive fast and I think it would’ve benefitted having multiple plots. The writing style sadly never made me curious about what was going on - which hindered my experience.
I was underwhelmed by this novel and I believe my expectations were too high. I would still recommend this if you’re in for a slower read.
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 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.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
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
March 10, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this eARC! All thoughts are my own.
____________
I was excited to see that this is from the same author as Lucy Undying (even if it is still just sitting on my shelf, unread) and The Fox and the Devil has made me even more excited to read LU.
This was a great twist on 'vampire' stories, and felt very fresh. The characters were great, including our MC whose head we spend most of our time in, so reading never felt like a chore. The plot all comes together well by the end, even if the 'battle' type moment at the end is over really quite quickly.
The emotional stakes worked well and I was never bored, which makes this a great read in my eyes.
PUB DATE: MARCH 10 2026
____________
I was excited to see that this is from the same author as Lucy Undying (even if it is still just sitting on my shelf, unread) and The Fox and the Devil has made me even more excited to read LU.
This was a great twist on 'vampire' stories, and felt very fresh. The characters were great, including our MC whose head we spend most of our time in, so reading never felt like a chore. The plot all comes together well by the end, even if the 'battle' type moment at the end is over really quite quickly.
The emotional stakes worked well and I was never bored, which makes this a great read in my eyes.
PUB DATE: MARCH 10 2026
March 10, 2026
THE FOX AND THE DEVIL is a deliciously mysterious gothic vampire story that I absolutely devoured (duh 🧛🏻♀️) it felt like Killing Eve but make it *gothic and vampires* ADORED IT
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.
March 8, 2026
3.5/5 rtc
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. 🔪🩸✨
March 5, 2026
4.5/5 ⭐️
I absolutely loved The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White. It felt like the perfect blend of Killing Eve and Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil—a true enemies-to-lovers story wrapped in a dark, gothic mystery.
From the moment Anneke discovers her father’s murder, the story pulls you into a haunting cat-and-mouse game across Europe. Determined to track down the killer, she builds a team of investigators and follows a trail of inexplicable deaths. But the closer she gets to the mysterious Diavola—the beautiful, blood-stained figure who sends her taunting letters—the more the world begins to unravel.
What starts as a hunt for vengeance slowly becomes something stranger, darker, and far more intimate.
The atmosphere in this book is incredible: lush, eerie, and soaked in gothic tension. The mystery unfolds alongside hints of magic and folklore, and the relationship at the center of the story is dangerous, obsessive, and strangely tender in all the best ways. Kiersten White perfectly balances suspense with emotional depth, and the result is a story that feels both haunting and addictive.
I loved every second of it. If you enjoy dark gothic settings, morally complicated characters, and enemies-to-lovers dynamics that are actually enemies, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
Thanks to the author, their publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.
I absolutely loved The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White. It felt like the perfect blend of Killing Eve and Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil—a true enemies-to-lovers story wrapped in a dark, gothic mystery.
From the moment Anneke discovers her father’s murder, the story pulls you into a haunting cat-and-mouse game across Europe. Determined to track down the killer, she builds a team of investigators and follows a trail of inexplicable deaths. But the closer she gets to the mysterious Diavola—the beautiful, blood-stained figure who sends her taunting letters—the more the world begins to unravel.
What starts as a hunt for vengeance slowly becomes something stranger, darker, and far more intimate.
The atmosphere in this book is incredible: lush, eerie, and soaked in gothic tension. The mystery unfolds alongside hints of magic and folklore, and the relationship at the center of the story is dangerous, obsessive, and strangely tender in all the best ways. Kiersten White perfectly balances suspense with emotional depth, and the result is a story that feels both haunting and addictive.
I loved every second of it. If you enjoy dark gothic settings, morally complicated characters, and enemies-to-lovers dynamics that are actually enemies, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
Thanks to the author, their publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.
March 1, 2026
This one started out so strong. The opening scene is a woman investigator at the scene of a grisly homicide. From there we are on a mad dash to solve murders and find a mysterious woman who may or may not be a vampire. Then we are lost to the details and a never ending cat and mouse game, just without the mouse. Halfway through the book and I’ve lost the desire to follow this weirdly immature group of late 20s crime experts to the end. I wanted to love this one. I adored the idea of making Anneke a Van Helsing right from the start. But this one loses steam in the chase so quickly I’m wondering where the fire went and why they are content to go from city to city and country to country solving crimes that never get closer to the mysterious vampiric woman. It’s billed as a slow burn and Ira definitely slow. Still waiting for the burn though. What a bummer.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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.
Read
January 7, 2026
Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:
I adored Kiersten White’s Dracula retelling Lucy Undying, so when I found out she was writing a story about the daughter of Van Helsing and her obsession with the serial killer who killed her father, I was over the moon. Vampires, forensic science, mutual obsession, and blood-soaked correspondence—that sounds like a supernatural story for the ages, and I absolutely can’t wait to read it! —Rachel Brittain
I adored Kiersten White’s Dracula retelling Lucy Undying, so when I found out she was writing a story about the daughter of Van Helsing and her obsession with the serial killer who killed her father, I was over the moon. Vampires, forensic science, mutual obsession, and blood-soaked correspondence—that sounds like a supernatural story for the ages, and I absolutely can’t wait to read it! —Rachel Brittain
March 17, 2026
If Dracula and Sherlock Holmes wrote a book together, this story would be their literary baby.
Very interesting at times, I really liked the letter writing as we saw time elapse and events occur in a more flowing format. The detective procedural format became a bit dry after a while for me.
Can’t say I loved or hated this one either way. The main characters didn’t even feel that deep or memorable, but the side/supporting cast were incredibly intriguing. Strange how that worked out!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Del Ray/ Random House Worlds/ Inklore for a copy!
Very interesting at times, I really liked the letter writing as we saw time elapse and events occur in a more flowing format. The detective procedural format became a bit dry after a while for me.
Can’t say I loved or hated this one either way. The main characters didn’t even feel that deep or memorable, but the side/supporting cast were incredibly intriguing. Strange how that worked out!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Del Ray/ Random House Worlds/ Inklore for a copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🎉 Happy pub day!
☠ Nineteenth century Europe
☠ Van Helsing's daughter
☠ Murder investigations
☠ Found family
☠ Sapphic yearning
☠ Vampires!
In late nineteenth century Amsterdam, a young Anneke Van Helsing spies a creature of unnatural beauty standing over the prone and bleeding form of her father. The rest of the world believes Abraham Van Helsing took his own life, but Anneke knows better. She devotes the next several years of her life to training in forensic detective work. When a spree of bizarre deaths begin cropping up all over Europe, she alone makes the connection with her own father's end. Finally she has caught scent of the mysterious woman, and the hunt she has long fixated on begins in earnest.
Our main character teams up with a lovely crew who together investigate the trail of bodies, becoming like family to one another as they devote themselves to Anneke's search for her Diavola and vengeance for her father. Anneke spends just as much time pining for the beautiful woman she is pursuing across the continent as she does fantasizing about killing her. When Diavola begins sending her taunting letters, one wonders who is tracking whom? And as she learns more about her quarry, the question arises: have they been hunting the wrong monster all along?
The setting in this book is quite fetching--canal houses in Amsterdam, cafes in Budapest, an abandoned village of the Greek islands, and finally to the Paris world's fair, l'Exposition Universelle, for ultimate added flavor. Cinematographs, magnetic audio recorders, and the advent of the use of fingerprints in crime scene analysis further cement the reader in Anneke's world.
The characters are easy to root for. Anneke is a competent (albeit obsessed) woman in a male-dominated field, and her companions, though we don't dive too deep beneath the surface with them (the story is told almost entirely from Anneke's first person POV), are quite likable. There is romance, but mostly consisting of yearning and with no explicit spicy scenes. On the other hand, LOTS of horrifying murder and corpse examination scenes (the deaths are mostly relayed after the fact during the investigation phase rather than on the page).
There was a little while in the middle of this book when I wondered if it really needed to be as long as it is, but that isn't to say the plot dragged for me at any point. In the end, I was most definitely satisfied with the story that had unfolded. 4.5 stars!
Each of Kiersten White's books that I read I enjoy even more than the one before, but I'm not sure how long that trend can continue as her work at this point is pretty fantastic! I am intrigued to see where she'll go from here.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Del Rey for the eARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
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☠ Nineteenth century Europe
☠ Van Helsing's daughter
☠ Murder investigations
☠ Found family
☠ Sapphic yearning
☠ Vampires!
It's so easy to think yourself hunter only to discover you've always been prey.
In late nineteenth century Amsterdam, a young Anneke Van Helsing spies a creature of unnatural beauty standing over the prone and bleeding form of her father. The rest of the world believes Abraham Van Helsing took his own life, but Anneke knows better. She devotes the next several years of her life to training in forensic detective work. When a spree of bizarre deaths begin cropping up all over Europe, she alone makes the connection with her own father's end. Finally she has caught scent of the mysterious woman, and the hunt she has long fixated on begins in earnest.
Have you been hunting me all this time? That makes me sad. He doesn't deserve your devotion.
Our main character teams up with a lovely crew who together investigate the trail of bodies, becoming like family to one another as they devote themselves to Anneke's search for her Diavola and vengeance for her father. Anneke spends just as much time pining for the beautiful woman she is pursuing across the continent as she does fantasizing about killing her. When Diavola begins sending her taunting letters, one wonders who is tracking whom? And as she learns more about her quarry, the question arises: have they been hunting the wrong monster all along?
"I thought I was doing the right thing," he whispered.
"Men always do."
The setting in this book is quite fetching--canal houses in Amsterdam, cafes in Budapest, an abandoned village of the Greek islands, and finally to the Paris world's fair, l'Exposition Universelle, for ultimate added flavor. Cinematographs, magnetic audio recorders, and the advent of the use of fingerprints in crime scene analysis further cement the reader in Anneke's world.
The characters are easy to root for. Anneke is a competent (albeit obsessed) woman in a male-dominated field, and her companions, though we don't dive too deep beneath the surface with them (the story is told almost entirely from Anneke's first person POV), are quite likable. There is romance, but mostly consisting of yearning and with no explicit spicy scenes. On the other hand, LOTS of horrifying murder and corpse examination scenes (the deaths are mostly relayed after the fact during the investigation phase rather than on the page).
There was a little while in the middle of this book when I wondered if it really needed to be as long as it is, but that isn't to say the plot dragged for me at any point. In the end, I was most definitely satisfied with the story that had unfolded. 4.5 stars!
Each of Kiersten White's books that I read I enjoy even more than the one before, but I'm not sure how long that trend can continue as her work at this point is pretty fantastic! I am intrigued to see where she'll go from here.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Del Rey for the eARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
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Bookstagram
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.
January 26, 2026
༄˖°.🦊📜.ೃ࿔*:･
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an advance copy of The Fox and the Devil in exchange for an honest review!💖
I went into this expecting something far darker and more horrifying than what I got — and I mean that in the best possible way. I loved it. For a story involving vampire hunters, serial killings, blood-soaked letters, and immortal obsession, the horror elements are restrained, purposeful, and atmospheric rather than gratuitous. As someone who’s sensitive to gore and anything scary, I found the balance incredibly effective.
This is a gothic fantasy that prioritizes obsession, grief, intellect, and longing over shock value — and it works beautifully. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)
🕵🏼♀️˖⌕ ۫ Anneke Van Helsing
Anneke is an immediately compelling protagonist — brilliant, driven, emotionally guarded, and haunted.
Her life fractures in a single moment. She’s on her way to tell her father, Abraham van Helsing, about her acceptance to college — hoping, finally, for his approval — when she finds him murdered, a beautiful woman standing over his body. That chance at acceptance is ripped away from her, creating some kind of idolized version of him in her head that makes the loss sharper, crueler, and deeply personal.
Anneke’s grief manifests as obsession, but not in a way that feels unhinged or romanticized. Her fixation on her father’s killer is methodical, intellectual, and fueled by a need for validation of the truth more than revenge. She is a detective at heart — one who believes in evidence, patterns, science and reason — and watching her try to reconcile logic with the increasingly supernatural reality around her is one of the book’s strongest threads.
She is also refreshingly human: stubborn, arrogant at times, emotionally closed off, and deeply lonely. Her need to understand Diavola is as much about understanding herself as it is about solving a crime.
༘⋆♡⸝⸝💌⊹ Diavola
Diavola is one of the most fascinating immortal figures I’ve read in a long time.
She is terrifying and alluring in equal measure — a suspected serial killer who leaves no physical trace, communicates through conveniently timed letters, and plagues Anneke’s dreams like a living myth. But what makes Diavola SO compelling isn’t just her danger — it’s her restraint.
Her obsession with Anneke is patient, deliberate, and deeply intimate. She doesn’t chase. She waits. She watches. She writes. And through those letters, a strange, unspoken relationship begins to form — one rooted in curiosity, challenge, and recognition rather than immediate desire.
As Anneke uncovers more of Diavola’s past, it becomes increasingly clear that she is far more than a serial killer. She is ancient and cursed, making her existence tragic rather than monstrous. The question slowly shifts from “How do I kill her?” to “Should I?” — and eventually to “Can I?”
The slow burn between them is exquisite and agonizing. This is yearning in its purest form. There was no spice, no physical intimacy, just relentless emotional gravity.
⋆.˚🫂༘⋆🧠 The Found Detective Family
Anneke does not work alone, and her investigative team adds depth and warmth to an otherwise cold pursuit.
Davíd, her former lover, challenges Anneke intellectually and emotionally. Their history is complicated, unfinished, and never overshadows the central story but adds texture to Anneke’s emotional world.
Maher, the photographer, brings both technical skill and moral grounding, helping bridge the gap between art, evidence, and interpretation.
Inge, daughter of Anneke’s mentor Joren, adds a generational contrast — someone still learning the costs of devotion. At first they sheild her from the actual crime scenes, but she ultimately grows into a mind that can rival Anneke's
This group doesn’t just chase a killer; they represent the life Anneke dreams she could have— collaboration, connection, respect, admiration and shared purpose.
｡°🚂༄｡° Setting & Plot
The late-1800s European setting is exceptionally well done. The forensic science, investigative methods, academic ambition, and societal limitations placed on women all feel period-accurate without being suffocating.
The worldbuilding unfolds slowly and deliberately, mirroring Anneke’s understanding of the supernatural. The vampire mythology is layered, restrained, and grounded in folklore rather than spectacle.
One structural choice that didn’t fully land for me was the inclusion of intermittent chapters featuring various individuals at the Paris Exposition Universelle. While some eventually connect to the central conflict, others felt more atmospheric than necessary. I kept expecting these threads to converge more meaningfully, and while a few do, several felt like missed opportunities rather than essential pieces.
✎ᝰ. Final Thoughts
The Fox and the Devil is a slow, cerebral, emotionally rich gothic fantasy that thrives on obsession, restraint, and intellectual intimacy.
It won’t work for readers looking for fast pacing, high spice, or straightforward answers. But for those who love:
morally complex women, sapphic gothic tension, slow-burn immortal romances, letters soaked in blood and longing, detectives chasing monsters who may not deserve to die
this book is absolutely worth the journey.
Tropes / What to Expect
🦊 Gothic Sapphic Fantasy
🩸 Obsessive Cat-and-Mouse Dynamic
📜 Epistolary Elements (letters, puzzles, challenges)
🕯️ Slow-Burn Immortal Romance
🕰️ Historical Setting (late 1800s Europe)
💔 Grief, Obsession & Longing
❌ No Spice (emotional intensity instead)
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an advance copy of The Fox and the Devil in exchange for an honest review!💖
I went into this expecting something far darker and more horrifying than what I got — and I mean that in the best possible way. I loved it. For a story involving vampire hunters, serial killings, blood-soaked letters, and immortal obsession, the horror elements are restrained, purposeful, and atmospheric rather than gratuitous. As someone who’s sensitive to gore and anything scary, I found the balance incredibly effective.
This is a gothic fantasy that prioritizes obsession, grief, intellect, and longing over shock value — and it works beautifully. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)
🕵🏼♀️˖⌕ ۫ Anneke Van Helsing
Anneke is an immediately compelling protagonist — brilliant, driven, emotionally guarded, and haunted.
Her life fractures in a single moment. She’s on her way to tell her father, Abraham van Helsing, about her acceptance to college — hoping, finally, for his approval — when she finds him murdered, a beautiful woman standing over his body. That chance at acceptance is ripped away from her, creating some kind of idolized version of him in her head that makes the loss sharper, crueler, and deeply personal.
Anneke’s grief manifests as obsession, but not in a way that feels unhinged or romanticized. Her fixation on her father’s killer is methodical, intellectual, and fueled by a need for validation of the truth more than revenge. She is a detective at heart — one who believes in evidence, patterns, science and reason — and watching her try to reconcile logic with the increasingly supernatural reality around her is one of the book’s strongest threads.
She is also refreshingly human: stubborn, arrogant at times, emotionally closed off, and deeply lonely. Her need to understand Diavola is as much about understanding herself as it is about solving a crime.
༘⋆♡⸝⸝💌⊹ Diavola
Diavola is one of the most fascinating immortal figures I’ve read in a long time.
She is terrifying and alluring in equal measure — a suspected serial killer who leaves no physical trace, communicates through conveniently timed letters, and plagues Anneke’s dreams like a living myth. But what makes Diavola SO compelling isn’t just her danger — it’s her restraint.
Her obsession with Anneke is patient, deliberate, and deeply intimate. She doesn’t chase. She waits. She watches. She writes. And through those letters, a strange, unspoken relationship begins to form — one rooted in curiosity, challenge, and recognition rather than immediate desire.
As Anneke uncovers more of Diavola’s past, it becomes increasingly clear that she is far more than a serial killer. She is ancient and cursed, making her existence tragic rather than monstrous. The question slowly shifts from “How do I kill her?” to “Should I?” — and eventually to “Can I?”
The slow burn between them is exquisite and agonizing. This is yearning in its purest form. There was no spice, no physical intimacy, just relentless emotional gravity.
⋆.˚🫂༘⋆🧠 The Found Detective Family
Anneke does not work alone, and her investigative team adds depth and warmth to an otherwise cold pursuit.
Davíd, her former lover, challenges Anneke intellectually and emotionally. Their history is complicated, unfinished, and never overshadows the central story but adds texture to Anneke’s emotional world.
Maher, the photographer, brings both technical skill and moral grounding, helping bridge the gap between art, evidence, and interpretation.
Inge, daughter of Anneke’s mentor Joren, adds a generational contrast — someone still learning the costs of devotion. At first they sheild her from the actual crime scenes, but she ultimately grows into a mind that can rival Anneke's
This group doesn’t just chase a killer; they represent the life Anneke dreams she could have— collaboration, connection, respect, admiration and shared purpose.
｡°🚂༄｡° Setting & Plot
The late-1800s European setting is exceptionally well done. The forensic science, investigative methods, academic ambition, and societal limitations placed on women all feel period-accurate without being suffocating.
The worldbuilding unfolds slowly and deliberately, mirroring Anneke’s understanding of the supernatural. The vampire mythology is layered, restrained, and grounded in folklore rather than spectacle.
One structural choice that didn’t fully land for me was the inclusion of intermittent chapters featuring various individuals at the Paris Exposition Universelle. While some eventually connect to the central conflict, others felt more atmospheric than necessary. I kept expecting these threads to converge more meaningfully, and while a few do, several felt like missed opportunities rather than essential pieces.
✎ᝰ. Final Thoughts
The Fox and the Devil is a slow, cerebral, emotionally rich gothic fantasy that thrives on obsession, restraint, and intellectual intimacy.
It won’t work for readers looking for fast pacing, high spice, or straightforward answers. But for those who love:
morally complex women, sapphic gothic tension, slow-burn immortal romances, letters soaked in blood and longing, detectives chasing monsters who may not deserve to die
this book is absolutely worth the journey.
Tropes / What to Expect
🦊 Gothic Sapphic Fantasy
🩸 Obsessive Cat-and-Mouse Dynamic
📜 Epistolary Elements (letters, puzzles, challenges)
🕯️ Slow-Burn Immortal Romance
🕰️ Historical Setting (late 1800s Europe)
💔 Grief, Obsession & Longing
❌ No Spice (emotional intensity instead)
March 11, 2026
| rating: 3.75 stars
Ten years ago, Anneke’s father was murdered by a mysterious woman. A woman that only Anneke has seen and who she believes is the cause of a string of violent, gruesome, and strange murders throughout Europe. For years, no one believes that the woman is real until a photograph from an apparent suicide captures the proof of her existence. Bolstered by the new evidence and her determination to avenge her father, Anneke follows her from murder to murder, only to realize that perhaps this isn’t a simple hunt for a murderer, but a sinister supernatural entanglement, all leading back to her father’s death.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I found the premise to be incredibly engaging and the characters to be loveable. I really liked Anneke and Diavola, their dynamic, and how they continuously meet and understand each other despite their circumstances. I got ridiculously attached to David, Maher, and Inge and how the group’s dynamics and relationship developed. I loved the incorporation of the supernatural and, after reading the acknowledgements, how well researched everything was.
However, I did have a hard time really getting into the plot and understanding how everything connects, especially once we started introducing the Paris 1990 chapters. While I do think that the different investigations were necessary to establish the characters and their relationships, I think that we took a little too long to find out what Diavola’s actual deal is. I was also a little disappointed that we didn’t really get more of Anneke’s hunt for Diavola. I thought that the letters from Diavola to Anneke were insufficient for establishing their relationship. The last 80% does make up for it, but I had a hard time understanding why Diavola was interested in/obsessed with Anneke until that point because they didn’t interact with each other much before that.
Despite that, I still enjoyed the book! I’ve read other Kiersten White books before, so I knew that I would really like this one as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey/Penguin Random House for the e-ARC!
Ten years ago, Anneke’s father was murdered by a mysterious woman. A woman that only Anneke has seen and who she believes is the cause of a string of violent, gruesome, and strange murders throughout Europe. For years, no one believes that the woman is real until a photograph from an apparent suicide captures the proof of her existence. Bolstered by the new evidence and her determination to avenge her father, Anneke follows her from murder to murder, only to realize that perhaps this isn’t a simple hunt for a murderer, but a sinister supernatural entanglement, all leading back to her father’s death.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I found the premise to be incredibly engaging and the characters to be loveable. I really liked Anneke and Diavola, their dynamic, and how they continuously meet and understand each other despite their circumstances. I got ridiculously attached to David, Maher, and Inge and how the group’s dynamics and relationship developed. I loved the incorporation of the supernatural and, after reading the acknowledgements, how well researched everything was.
However, I did have a hard time really getting into the plot and understanding how everything connects, especially once we started introducing the Paris 1990 chapters. While I do think that the different investigations were necessary to establish the characters and their relationships, I think that we took a little too long to find out what Diavola’s actual deal is. I was also a little disappointed that we didn’t really get more of Anneke’s hunt for Diavola. I thought that the letters from Diavola to Anneke were insufficient for establishing their relationship. The last 80% does make up for it, but I had a hard time understanding why Diavola was interested in/obsessed with Anneke until that point because they didn’t interact with each other much before that.
Despite that, I still enjoyed the book! I’ve read other Kiersten White books before, so I knew that I would really like this one as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey/Penguin Random House for the e-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.
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**
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.
March 14, 2026
5 stars
The Fox and the Devil was a very gripping and mysterious story. It is a dark fantasy sapphic romance that takes place over a long period of time. It had intrigue and a new take on the legendary Van Helsing family mainly focusing on Anneke, the daughter of the famous monster hunter, she is brilliant with a very traumatic past with a very complicated relationship with her father.
There were so many components in this book that really grabbed and kept my attention, first and for most, I love a good “who done it story” and this had that, following the clues in the case and piecing it together with the added supernatural aspects, was great.
Second was the writing style in this book, it did a great job of having that dark and ominous feeling as you're reading and trying to see where this story is going and I really felt the heart pounding dread waiting to find out what happens. The setting and events were very creative and unique, and I loved how unpredictable some of the events are.
Third is romance! It was fascinating in the development, how it changed from a one-sided obsession to a mutual back and forth chase, to finally more. I highly recommend reading this book, it was a slow build up and totally worth it.
I received an advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.
The Fox and the Devil was a very gripping and mysterious story. It is a dark fantasy sapphic romance that takes place over a long period of time. It had intrigue and a new take on the legendary Van Helsing family mainly focusing on Anneke, the daughter of the famous monster hunter, she is brilliant with a very traumatic past with a very complicated relationship with her father.
There were so many components in this book that really grabbed and kept my attention, first and for most, I love a good “who done it story” and this had that, following the clues in the case and piecing it together with the added supernatural aspects, was great.
Second was the writing style in this book, it did a great job of having that dark and ominous feeling as you're reading and trying to see where this story is going and I really felt the heart pounding dread waiting to find out what happens. The setting and events were very creative and unique, and I loved how unpredictable some of the events are.
Third is romance! It was fascinating in the development, how it changed from a one-sided obsession to a mutual back and forth chase, to finally more. I highly recommend reading this book, it was a slow build up and totally worth it.
I received an advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.
March 21, 2026
Word perfect. I suspect that in another author's instance, this would be their magnum opus, but after Hide, Mister Magic, and most obviously comparative, Lucy Undying, we know that that's not the case with Kiersten White.
I lost count of how many plots/novels/stories White switches up in 'The Fox and the Devil'. Like 'Lucy Undying', she continually pulls between expectations and unpredictability.
Transporting in ways I can't begin to articulate.
I'll be happy to say that I'm going to use this as my high-water mark for 2026 novels. (How can I say that after Wolf Worm, you ask? You'll just have to read both and decide!)
I lost count of how many plots/novels/stories White switches up in 'The Fox and the Devil'. Like 'Lucy Undying', she continually pulls between expectations and unpredictability.
Transporting in ways I can't begin to articulate.
I'll be happy to say that I'm going to use this as my high-water mark for 2026 novels. (How can I say that after Wolf Worm, you ask? You'll just have to read both and decide!)
March 14, 2026
I've been craving a book with some intense Female Rage lately, and The Fox and the Devil sunk its teeth in and didn't let go.
Anneke Van Helsing, daughter of the superstitious madman Abraham Van Helsing, has no love for her neglectful father, but has dedicated her life and career to solving his baffling murder. Though she witnessed the icy, ethereal woman dressed in white standing over his dead body, the evidence suggests the only perpetrator was himself. Years later and now an official detective, Anneke stumbles across a string of identical murders, gruesome self injuries with a suspiciously tidy crime scene. Realizing the devil from her past is still out there, her dedicated search for the elusive serial killer turns into a relentless obsession, but the fascination goes both ways. Diavola has been watching Anneke in return, shifting the dynamic of hunter and hunted, blurring the line between obsession and attraction.
This was like a perfect cocktail of so many things I love in a book: murder-mystery, folklore, vampires, hyper-intelligent detectives solving the unsolvable, revenge, love as obsession, love as vengeance, and so much more. Seeing the average rating, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, some change in the story that ruins everything, but that wasn’t the case for me! I ended up loving this from front to back, thoroughly enjoying the game of cat and mouse.
Unsurprisingly for a murder-mystery, the plot is the biggest strength here. My favorite portions were the crime scene analyses and general sleuthing, though at times the focus can get a little sidetracked to where the setting will rapidly change or characters will vanish for a few chapters. The pacing kept me engaged and invested the entire time, with mysteries upon mysteries and the author expertly drip-feeding discoveries and reveals to always keep things feeling fresh. Where the book stumbles slightly is the world-building. Since it switches settings so often it wasn't able to fully capitalize on a strong vibe or aesthetic like I had hoped, though the descriptions of the bustling and blossoming European cities of the late 1800s and early 1900s captured the image of a turning century beautifully.
The characters are probably the second-best strength after the plot. I really liked Anneke and her uncompromising intelligence and overall inability to let things go. The wide range of emotions she feels about her father's shortcomings are so well explored, making those big moments and reveals very compelling. Diavola is perhaps more concept than character, and I found myself wanting more of her the entire time, though honestly that's quite fitting given her dynamic with Anneke. The side characters were mostly enjoyable, I adored the found family aspects and thought they were done very well, and Inge was a particular favorite of mine. I will add that the book has a bad habit of introducing key characters late into the story and expecting the reader to care about them just as much as the core cast from the beginning, which can rarely ever be the case. I would have preferred to stick with the main detective group throughout, but I digress.
I do have a lot of thoughts about the romantic side of the story. I think it’s important you don’t go in expecting a romantasy type romance, because this is nothing like that. Rather, the romance is a plot point, and their complex obsessions with vengeance muddy the waters of what are real feelings and when they are just using each other as a means to an end. Expect love letters so passionate they border on violent, stalking as a means of caretaking, and pining for someone so impossible you aren’t sure they even exist. Even though it’s a ~350 page standalone, this book pulls off a well-done, angsty slow-burn.
Not everything landed for me, though. I think the book does a good job establishing why Anneke has this feverish obsession with Diavola, but there is not enough explanation or build-up for Diavola’s returned obsession. Anneke has spent so many years fixated on her father's killer that it makes sense she'd develop this all-consuming devotion to Diavola. But suddenly, after one passing encounter early on, Diavola is essentially writing love letters to Anneke, waxing poetic about how she wants to be ‘the only one Anneke loves’ and describing Anneke as ‘her Little Fox.’ But at the time, there's no reason established on why she'd feel this way. We’re eventually given the explanation that she loves the idea of finally being seen after centuries spent being unrecognizable, but I didn’t quite buy it. It’s just too sudden, too convenient. I really wish Diavola’s letters had been spread out across the book, instead of being mostly back-to-back at the beginning. It felt like a sudden rush of relationship development that should have happened more naturally. I really enjoyed the letters too, so I can only imagine how tantalizing and effective they would have been if sprinkled in throughout the story instead.
This was an incredibly unique take on the good old historical-fiction detective murder-mystery, adding some supernatural and sapphic elements that I thoroughly enjoyed. As I mentioned above, if you’re like me and love anything with vampires, Sherlock-esque brilliant detectives, or a twisted love story, I think this would be a great fit for you. This was a welcome reminder that I adore Kiersten White’s portrayal of female rage, and I may need to revisit her works!
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Anneke Van Helsing, daughter of the superstitious madman Abraham Van Helsing, has no love for her neglectful father, but has dedicated her life and career to solving his baffling murder. Though she witnessed the icy, ethereal woman dressed in white standing over his dead body, the evidence suggests the only perpetrator was himself. Years later and now an official detective, Anneke stumbles across a string of identical murders, gruesome self injuries with a suspiciously tidy crime scene. Realizing the devil from her past is still out there, her dedicated search for the elusive serial killer turns into a relentless obsession, but the fascination goes both ways. Diavola has been watching Anneke in return, shifting the dynamic of hunter and hunted, blurring the line between obsession and attraction.
This was like a perfect cocktail of so many things I love in a book: murder-mystery, folklore, vampires, hyper-intelligent detectives solving the unsolvable, revenge, love as obsession, love as vengeance, and so much more. Seeing the average rating, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, some change in the story that ruins everything, but that wasn’t the case for me! I ended up loving this from front to back, thoroughly enjoying the game of cat and mouse.
Unsurprisingly for a murder-mystery, the plot is the biggest strength here. My favorite portions were the crime scene analyses and general sleuthing, though at times the focus can get a little sidetracked to where the setting will rapidly change or characters will vanish for a few chapters. The pacing kept me engaged and invested the entire time, with mysteries upon mysteries and the author expertly drip-feeding discoveries and reveals to always keep things feeling fresh. Where the book stumbles slightly is the world-building. Since it switches settings so often it wasn't able to fully capitalize on a strong vibe or aesthetic like I had hoped, though the descriptions of the bustling and blossoming European cities of the late 1800s and early 1900s captured the image of a turning century beautifully.
The characters are probably the second-best strength after the plot. I really liked Anneke and her uncompromising intelligence and overall inability to let things go. The wide range of emotions she feels about her father's shortcomings are so well explored, making those big moments and reveals very compelling. Diavola is perhaps more concept than character, and I found myself wanting more of her the entire time, though honestly that's quite fitting given her dynamic with Anneke. The side characters were mostly enjoyable, I adored the found family aspects and thought they were done very well, and Inge was a particular favorite of mine. I will add that the book has a bad habit of introducing key characters late into the story and expecting the reader to care about them just as much as the core cast from the beginning, which can rarely ever be the case. I would have preferred to stick with the main detective group throughout, but I digress.
I do have a lot of thoughts about the romantic side of the story. I think it’s important you don’t go in expecting a romantasy type romance, because this is nothing like that. Rather, the romance is a plot point, and their complex obsessions with vengeance muddy the waters of what are real feelings and when they are just using each other as a means to an end. Expect love letters so passionate they border on violent, stalking as a means of caretaking, and pining for someone so impossible you aren’t sure they even exist. Even though it’s a ~350 page standalone, this book pulls off a well-done, angsty slow-burn.
Not everything landed for me, though. I think the book does a good job establishing why Anneke has this feverish obsession with Diavola, but there is not enough explanation or build-up for Diavola’s returned obsession. Anneke has spent so many years fixated on her father's killer that it makes sense she'd develop this all-consuming devotion to Diavola. But suddenly, after one passing encounter early on, Diavola is essentially writing love letters to Anneke, waxing poetic about how she wants to be ‘the only one Anneke loves’ and describing Anneke as ‘her Little Fox.’ But at the time, there's no reason established on why she'd feel this way. We’re eventually given the explanation that she loves the idea of finally being seen after centuries spent being unrecognizable, but I didn’t quite buy it. It’s just too sudden, too convenient. I really wish Diavola’s letters had been spread out across the book, instead of being mostly back-to-back at the beginning. It felt like a sudden rush of relationship development that should have happened more naturally. I really enjoyed the letters too, so I can only imagine how tantalizing and effective they would have been if sprinkled in throughout the story instead.
This was an incredibly unique take on the good old historical-fiction detective murder-mystery, adding some supernatural and sapphic elements that I thoroughly enjoyed. As I mentioned above, if you’re like me and love anything with vampires, Sherlock-esque brilliant detectives, or a twisted love story, I think this would be a great fit for you. This was a welcome reminder that I adore Kiersten White’s portrayal of female rage, and I may need to revisit her works!
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 20, 2026
I loved the idea of Van Helsing's daughter becoming a monster hunter and falling in love with the monster she was chasing, but sadly this one was not for me.
Anneke has always been desperate for her controlling, misogynistic father's approval. Towards the end of his life he was obsessed with the supernatural and she thought him mad. She saw a woman at the crime scene of his death whom no one else can see and has spent a decade chasing her and obsessed with her.
Along the way she starts a detective agency dedicated to solving strange deaths. I enjoyed her motley crew and how she used modern scientific principles in forensic investigations. I liked how the book captured the changing attitudes and technologies of the time. She starts to believe in monsters but learns what she's really hunting.
But ultimately I felt the romance was squished out by the interminable cat and mouse game and buried in boring police procedural, my least favorite genre. Diavola sends her teasing, flirtatious letters which I found annoyingly cheesy, and I couldn't understand the monster's instant obsession with her. The romance didn't really develop until 85% but by that time I had stopped caring about those two and their desperate obsession. If the whole book had been like the last 15% I would have given it a higher rating, or if it had skipped the romance entirely.
The end I also found kind of rushed, mostly with the love story. Diavola spends the whole book flirting with her and then when she wants her she pushes her away. I just wanted to slap those two. Ugh, grow up. I really do love sapphic yearning but you have to get the tension just right and this missed the mark on that for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Anneke has always been desperate for her controlling, misogynistic father's approval. Towards the end of his life he was obsessed with the supernatural and she thought him mad. She saw a woman at the crime scene of his death whom no one else can see and has spent a decade chasing her and obsessed with her.
Along the way she starts a detective agency dedicated to solving strange deaths. I enjoyed her motley crew and how she used modern scientific principles in forensic investigations. I liked how the book captured the changing attitudes and technologies of the time. She starts to believe in monsters but learns what she's really hunting.
But ultimately I felt the romance was squished out by the interminable cat and mouse game and buried in boring police procedural, my least favorite genre. Diavola sends her teasing, flirtatious letters which I found annoyingly cheesy, and I couldn't understand the monster's instant obsession with her. The romance didn't really develop until 85% but by that time I had stopped caring about those two and their desperate obsession. If the whole book had been like the last 15% I would have given it a higher rating, or if it had skipped the romance entirely.
The end I also found kind of rushed, mostly with the love story. Diavola spends the whole book flirting with her and then when she wants her she pushes her away. I just wanted to slap those two. Ugh, grow up. I really do love sapphic yearning but you have to get the tension just right and this missed the mark on that for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 10, 2026
Happy Happy Release Day to this thrilling novel. This book felt like a sapphic gothic episode of Supernatural and I was HERE for it. ☺️
I love a good thriller occasionally and I loved that aspect of this book. Anneke is a brilliant investigator trying to solve the one case that has haunted her endlessly…her father’s. On the night of his death, she meets a strange woman who may have been responsible for it and many more. A glorious sapphic cat and mouse game ensues.
I’m a girlie obsessed with books that give all the yearning vibes, and the sheer depth of yearning between Anneke and Diavola was everything I could have wanted. It was complicated and layered. The letters that Diavola wrote to her added such a unique spin, and I loved how their relationship progressed through the story. It didn’t feel rushed at all.
The found family aspect of this book was another component that I just adored. Maher, Inge, and David were the perfect team, and I loved seeing how their dynamic developed through the story, though there were a few shocking plot twists.
This was a solid four star read for me and I’m excited to check out more books from this author. You should read this if you love any of the following tropes:
🦊Sapphic Cat and Mouse Dynamic
🖤Gothic Fantasy
🦊Thriller Vibes
🖤Found Family
🦊Supernatural Creatures
🖤Strong Intelligent Female Characters
🦊Complex Family Dynamics
Thank you so very much Del Rey for the gifted copy!!
I love a good thriller occasionally and I loved that aspect of this book. Anneke is a brilliant investigator trying to solve the one case that has haunted her endlessly…her father’s. On the night of his death, she meets a strange woman who may have been responsible for it and many more. A glorious sapphic cat and mouse game ensues.
I’m a girlie obsessed with books that give all the yearning vibes, and the sheer depth of yearning between Anneke and Diavola was everything I could have wanted. It was complicated and layered. The letters that Diavola wrote to her added such a unique spin, and I loved how their relationship progressed through the story. It didn’t feel rushed at all.
The found family aspect of this book was another component that I just adored. Maher, Inge, and David were the perfect team, and I loved seeing how their dynamic developed through the story, though there were a few shocking plot twists.
This was a solid four star read for me and I’m excited to check out more books from this author. You should read this if you love any of the following tropes:
🦊Sapphic Cat and Mouse Dynamic
🖤Gothic Fantasy
🦊Thriller Vibes
🖤Found Family
🦊Supernatural Creatures
🖤Strong Intelligent Female Characters
🦊Complex Family Dynamics
Thank you so very much Del Rey for the gifted copy!!
March 4, 2026
having not read many stories set in this time period, i had a ton of fun with this one. this is basically a found family of detectives solving a string of murders across europe but make it sapphic longing/obsession and full of vampire-esque creature folklore. writing was elegant and immersive, and really set a perfect gothic atmosphere while also highlighting the innovative and lively nature of the time. characters were multi-dimensional, and i love the whole ragtag team of criminal detectives dynamic, as i thought all of their vastly different personality types and skills balanced each other out well (which im sure was the point). the midbook reveal did read slightly like addie larue which kind of threw me off at first, but since i did really enjoy that book conceptually, this one also did end up landing for me for the same reason.
one of the big misses for me in this story was the timeline jumping as it made the plot super hard to follow at times. since this book had multiple parts, i feel like the timeline jump could have been placed as the intro chapter in each part instead of randomly throughout so as not to confuse the readers. i understand why the timeline jumps were necessary so it is less about the fact that they existed and more so that i think their was a more clever layout possibility that was not explored that could have made these reveals hit a lot harder while also keeping the reader fully engaged.
i was also hoping for a bit more on screen romance instead of the whole sweet stolen glances and unspoken feelings thing. i LOVE yearning, don’t get me wrong, but i was missing the satisfaction of the them being together as a couple in the end (though it was obviously implied given the way everything ended up).
in all, would totally read more by this author! lucy undying has been on my tbr for quite a while now, so not that i know what to expect from kiersten white, i definitely will give myself the go ahead 👍
one of the big misses for me in this story was the timeline jumping as it made the plot super hard to follow at times. since this book had multiple parts, i feel like the timeline jump could have been placed as the intro chapter in each part instead of randomly throughout so as not to confuse the readers. i understand why the timeline jumps were necessary so it is less about the fact that they existed and more so that i think their was a more clever layout possibility that was not explored that could have made these reveals hit a lot harder while also keeping the reader fully engaged.
i was also hoping for a bit more on screen romance instead of the whole sweet stolen glances and unspoken feelings thing. i LOVE yearning, don’t get me wrong, but i was missing the satisfaction of the them being together as a couple in the end (though it was obviously implied given the way everything ended up).
in all, would totally read more by this author! lucy undying has been on my tbr for quite a while now, so not that i know what to expect from kiersten white, i definitely will give myself the go ahead 👍
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