Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire

by Don Martin

Witch apprentice Verity Vox has never encountered a problem magic can’t solve. So when a cryptic note invites her to Foxfire, she goes.

With her apprenticeship limiting her services to a year, Foxfire will be her biggest challenge yet. The town has already lost its only bridge, and many loved ones have disappeared in dealings with a shady magic peddler named Earl—leaving the whole town wary of magic.

Even as Verity wins the townsfolk over, she realizes she may not be able to save them. Going after Earl only returns Tacita, the missing girl who summoned Verity, but no one else. And the fight costs Verity the ability to fly and draws her to the old dark magic beneath the mountain.

As Verity hones her powers and grows to care for Tacita, she must learn that not everything can be solved with strength alone.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade, LGBT, Witches, Queer, Audiobook

336 pages, Hardcover

First published August 5, 2025

Reviews

[Quirine · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up. If I’m honest I had no idea what was going on for half of this book. I loved the atmosphere but the descriptions of magic spells and the magical fights felt so convoluted I sort of found myself glazing over it all. All the chapters in which Earl appeared I was completely lost and uninterested (all the rules got SO complicated that I could not tell you if the plot was awfully convenient or not). I’m really sad to say I did not really enjoy this one because of that, even though it had many wonderful and unique elements!
Because the atmosphere and quirkiness was so similar to Kiki's Delivery Service, I was constantly picturing this as a Ghibli movie in my mind and totally see that happening in the future.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking to recapture that nostalgic feeling you got from the first glimpse of Number Four Privet Drive, this is the book you want. It feels like a homecoming and an adventure at the same time. The audiobook is delightfully narrated as well. I restarted as soon as I finished, to revel in the careful foreshadowing and the sweet little details. Don Martin has a mastery of descriptive skill that makes you feel you're fully in the world he's creating, without being too verbose- you can tell he's also a poet. The characters are fully realized, with histories that inform their actions and the way they interact with Verity. They aren't cookie cutters and sometimes they aren't very nice, but it always makes sense why that happens. They're allowed to grow, and sometimes they don't want to, which was a nice surprise, since growth isn't always easy. What a refreshing thing to find an author who doesn't force his characters into neatly tied up perfect little endings. I loved every minute of my time in Foxfire and I sincerely hope there will be more of Verity and Jack in the future!!

[Cassie C · Rating 5 out of 5]

“What was magic after all, but having the gall to believe you could tell the world around you how it ought to be, and then watching as it did as it was told.” I would have absolutely loved this book when I was a kid, and imagining my younger self reading it brought my adult self a great deal of joy. It is very clear that Martin is a poet at heart with his way with words in this novel, and I appreciate that he does not “dumb down” the descriptive language for his young adult audience, instead keeping those high expectations for them to have the chance to grow. I loved all the characters, especially Verity, but also Tacita, and of course Jack (I’m always going to be a sucker for a cat in a book). The trials Verity faces are fitting for a YA novel, as is the message of the book. The setting of the town of Foxfire is brought beautifully to life. Mayhaps we could have a sequel, pretty please?

[AshleysReadingRoom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun and witty pick me up book. it did take me awhile to get through it because for some reason when the chapters are long I read slow as all get out. This one clocked in at 13 chapters which I totally got the vibe of it. When we were introduced to a certain character I said well they better fall in love and if you read the book then you know. Thanks for not disappointing me and making that happen!

Verity Vox is an apprentice witch and in this world that means from a set age young witches travel from town to town where they are needed to stay for a year and make life better. To hone their magic learn and grow. The downside to this is when you leave everyone forgets you which to me is the saddest thing of all. Building friendships and helping people out only to no longer be apart of their memories but you are left to carry on. That made Verity strong immediately in my world. The knowledge of this being what she has to endure time and time again and yet still continues is amazing.

In this story verity is called to Foxfire a town that has been cursed for...well quite sometime. There's an evil man who was chased out of the town and now resides in the mountains calling himself king. He's not just any man either he has magic and he has used it to turn deals against the people of the town and prevent them from leaving and others from entering.

I really adored this story. I did find it to be one of those books where I need to shut my brain off or I would overthink and then get myself confused because sometimes the narration was unreliable or didn't make the most sense. There are some darker aspects to this book so if you like a sprinkle of horror in your cozy fantasy you might enjoy this!

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

•┈••✦𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘✦••┈•
"Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire" by: Don Martin
3⭐️

｡･:*˚:✧｡𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕: An abandoned town called Foxfire is cursed and the only person who can help them is a young witch named Verity Vox. With her cat/shapeshifting companion, she's off to break the curse all while learning new abilities and making friends along the way.

｡･:*˚:✧｡𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔: This book gave me Kiki's Delivery Service vibes! It has a young witch, still learning the ropes, she flies around on her broom and she has a black cat familiar. There were a lot of fun and unique side characters who really grow on you. I will say this book was a bit slow paced for me, however I think it really added a lot of charm to the book! You got a sense of the town, the settings, the characters and how the town came to be cursed. This was definitely a cozy read.

•••
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[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me back to childhood, so if anything, this is a 5 ⭐️ on nostalgia. Sort of like that one scene in Ratatouille with the food critic. 😂 Others may have different results.

The creepy woods with an evil force making these isolated townspeople weary of magic + the witch that reminded me of Kiki’s Delivery Service. The premise and the beautiful writing made it for me. I could see this being made into an animated movie.

[Logan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The way the author wove Appalachian folklore and folk songs into the world and its magic had me hooked from the start, and I really enjoyed the care he took in writing each character from the titular small town. Also, the sapphic subplot was adorable. 10/10 regarding these things.

That said, imo, the plot unraveled in the second half of the book, and the ending felt random and nonsensical. I think that in part, this could be due to the MC withholding info from the reader. Verity, the MC, learns something about the villain (which isn’t shared with the reader on page) that could help her defeat them, and then never shares that info with the reader despite implying that she will later on. Besides this, I had issues with the prose itself. It often felt bloated and redundant (I lost track of how many times the narrator tells us that a character’s wooden mask is on their face, despite, ya know, all the other body parts people put masks on).

I would’ve recommended this book to young readers and have given it a higher score if not for one thing: the author often talks down to the reader. Kids and teens aren’t stupid. They often have a wealth of life experiences by the time they enter high school, and so the author’s condescension in certain fourth-wall-breaking narrative moments felt disrespectful toward young readers, imo. The worst instance of this being around the 60% mark, where the MC offers to give an unconscious side character a peaceful end, and that side character’s spouse quietly considers the offer. Here, the narration reads: “You might expect a person in [character name]’s position to balk at this kind of offer. You might expect [them] . . . to throw things, to throw the witch out of [their] house . . . That is because you haven’t had to be the one to sit beside the bed of the person you love most in the world and watch them slowly slip away into a gray state of non-life.” The author then goes on for like 3 more sentences about how the reader hasn’t known suffering. A lot of kids experience all sorts of difficult situations before they even hit their teen years, so I would love it if YA and MG authors would stop talking down to them.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is delightful. Not only the characters but how they interact. The town, the curse, how people are suspicious of her in the beginning. I love the writing, flows very well, and it's magical and cozy, filled with a sense of kindness, community, and helping others without attatchments.

[Jayne K. (Fyrefli Fictionary) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Verity Vox is an apprentice witch. Travelling to a new town every year she sings her spells helping however she can along with her familiar, a most-of-the-time cat, Jack. When she’s summoned to a town cursed by a peculiar man with magic deals that always go wrong, she knows she will truly be tested. But the hills have eyes (and other things) and there’s something powerful under the mountain. Can Verity solve all the mysteries of Foxfire and save her friends before her time is done?

Oh, my heart. As a West Virginia girl who grew up with magic in her soul, a song ringing through the trees, and creek mud… well, everywhere, this one is a special delight.

Foxfire is a forgotten town with woes of all sorts, the fantastically magical deals and the mundane trials that aren’t so singular in a state full of forgotten towns. Verity is here to help, but it’s hard to help people who were abused and abandoned by the people promising the good life. For the first time she experiences the feeling of being unwanted and it’s in a place that needs the most help. Trust is the rarest commodity. Her journey is hard but worth it.

This cozy story is packed with magic, yes, we have flying brooms and singing spells, cryptids and folklore galore, but it also dives deep into the magic of the heart. Through understanding and connection, we see the power of people working together and the deep pull of home and family that no curse can twist or break.

Y'all! This is oh so fun. If you're looking for a middle grade adventure packed with heart, folklore, and 'there's magic in them there hills' vibes then look no further.

Verity and Jack are sublime, they can visit my house and help out anytime!

I love Foxfire and the history that's rooted in a real story of a forgotten town. The people are so real, I felt right at home with the side eyes and begrudging acceptance and never fail hospitality to boot! I loved watching the characters embrace who they are and what they can do together. Nothing beats the magic of love and understanding.

Figuring out the local cryptids was a special bonus while reading. And the songs, obviously! I can't wait for the audiobook!

Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street Press for a copy of this book for review.

[Lexi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another early copy that I got for free from work.

This was charming, just not entirely sure that it’ll stick with me for that long. Had similar energy to Kiki’s Delivery Service for a slightly older audience.

[Mary Anne]

3 STARS

How this book ended up on my TBR: I follow Don Martin on instagram and have been excited to read his first fiction book. (I also think he's pretty great.) He hyped up this book and I was thrilled to get it through my library. This book checks a lot of boxes for me: YA literature, fantasy fiction, mention of witches.

So my rating is based solely on the level of enjoyment that I felt while reading the book. And it does make me a little sad, because there is a lot that I liked about this book (both in terms of concept and writing style), but the reading experience was for me at times a little more tedious than I would have liked. Let's start with the good stuff. First off, we start with a witch named Verity Vox. When she turned 13 years old, she became a witch in training and would need to visit a new community every year until she became a full-blown witch. Verity mentions at least two previous settings, so she is, at a minimum, 15 years old. She may seem a little wise for her 15 years, but you also have to take into account that she has been on her own for at least two of those years. She also has a familiar, Jack-Be-Nimble, who often takes the form of a black cat. But aside from Jack, Verity doesn't have consistent relationships, as the people in a community forget about her when she leaves, and she does not come back.

Verity is summoned to Foxfire, a small mountain community that is cut off from the rest of the world. Foxfire is cursed, and the people are wary of a witch who promises to help. They have, after all, had a less than positive experience with a magical grifter who made bad deals. The people of Foxfire go back and forth in their feeling for Verity as she approaches a problem that shows more of its complexity the more she attempts to fix it.

I love the idea Martin has about magic in this book. He mentioned this in one of his reels. My recollection (if there are errors, they are all mine) is that the magic here doesn't have the kinds of rules that we've seen in other books involving magic. The magic is more inherent. In fact, Martin establishes that there really isn't something purely magical about witches, despite their being able to traverse dimensions or cast spells or dispell curses. Instead, they are bridges to the spirituality that is inherent in all things. It's a truly lovely sensation.

I also really enjoyed the writing of this book (with one caveat). The writing is as lyrical as Verity is meant to be (she sings her spells), and it's engaging and delightful to read. While the style is fantastic, the overall length of said writing is less engaging. Some reviewers have mentioned that there are some pacing issues. I think that's true, but in this case, I just think that the writing styles makes it more difficult to understand what's happening. I understand not wanting to be so blatant about "this is what's happening", but there must be some sort of happy medium. I would imagine any writer would say "well yes, that's the goal", and I'm not saying it's not hard work. I'm just saying that I guess at times I felt some passages (especially action passages) were made more complicated with the style.

Finally, I love the idea behind this book. Martin explains that this book was based on a real place: Vulcan, West Virginia. One of those small towns that gains notoriety when the mining is good and falls off the map when the mining is done. Thus, he bases some of the people on real people in his life. I think he's trying to honor that town, those people, while also highlighting people who may have been considered outsiders. It's a wonderful sentiment.

So why three stars? Well, aside from the little bit I mentioned about the writing, there are indeed pacing issues, and I think the combination made it very easy for me to put down this book. The book spans an entire year in Foxfire (which makes sense, both for Verity and for the complicated problem she's trying to address). When Verity's not actively addressing the problem, there are passages telling us what's happening with her in town. There are growing friendships and relationships that we honestly don't see. I think this is why some folks are saying they can't identify with the characters. We see them, but we don't often see them interacting. We're just told that they are close. That might be why I feel bad saying that I don't care much for Tacita. I do like Gilly. But at times it feels like Martin is telling us how to feel about characters (especially Mae), and I could have done without that. Clearly Verity was very insightful (and the novel is in third person, so we see everything), but that can make the story less personable. I wish we saw more of Verity's internal process. We do see some moment of frustration, after she's made a deal and is mourning the price she paid, thus reconnecting with her spirit and with all life. But as a reader, I felt more removed than I generally like. I also didn't love the romance, in part because I just don't see a ton of chemistry between the two characters. It does make sense that Tacita wants to leave, even though she was willing to stay once she'd made some decisions on her own. And I also like that Tacita is helping Verity navigate the nebulous expectations for witches (why shouldn't Verity choose where she goes next?) But the relationship still felt sort of flat for me.

I do love that Verity gained a lot of agency in this book. She was already pretty independent. As someone who has to think on their feet all of the time, she was already pretty smart, but addressing the curse and situation clearly humbled her and gave her a sense of accomplishment. She's also learning that she can make her own decisions, even when she's not provided with guidance. It's not as empowering a message as I'd like it to be, but maybe that comes across clearer for other people (especially middle-grade readers, the target audience) than for me.

I'm still eager to read more of Martin's work (including his nonfiction work) and would also still love to read more fiction.

--

PS. My days on GoodReads are likely numbered. If you all ever go to The StoryGraph, let's be friends there! Here's my profile.

[Chelsylynn91 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

I really, really enjoyed this! It was super cute and had dark fairytale vibes. The first 75% was perfect but the end got away a bit for me. That being said, it was still a great ending and a great vibe. I encourage you to read it! I’m keeping Don Martin on my list of authors to watch.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The comparison to Kiki’s Delivery Service is definitely accurate though it’s a more mature and harrowing tale that Verity has to go through for sure. I adored the queer and Appalachian themes so much. And we all must love Jack Be Nimble of course. Best witch familiar ever.

[Julie Houlim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give it more than 5 stars! Maybe my favorite read of the year. The story is so fun and captures the reader right away. The characters are wonderful and well developed. You will fall in love with them! The writing is among the best I’ve read in a long time. Don Martin perfectly captures the heart of Appalachia. His love for his home comes through in every description from a musty old store to a biscuit. I felt like I was in my grandparents home or with my relatives long ago. Nostalgic, beautiful, fun, and modern. A masterpiece debut and I can’t wait for more from Don Martin and hopefully more Verity Vox!

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok. Not a must read. I liked it till the last quarter and then it waxed and waned and was too drawn out and should have all ended at the first battle. The end romance was a surprise I never picked up any whiff of it in the whole story.

[Weronika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book - it was wholesome, cute and atmospheric. Verity Vox is a fun witch (in training), all the characters, her familiar, Jack-Be-Nimble, and the messaging were great. I liked the plot progression along with the Appalachian setting, and the magical world building was very fun.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Verity Vox is a witch in training, spending a year in one town before receiving a magical calling to her next temporary home where she can further hone her skills. Traveling with her familiar, the black cat Jack-be-Nimble, Verity sings charms and spells into the lives of the people she meets to help them with their problems, big and small. When a leaf comes into her life with her next assignment, she follows its embers to the tiny Appalachian mountain town of Foxfire. The town is undeniably cursed with magic that seems deeper than the earth and older than time, and Verity finds herself wondering if her own considerable power will be enough to save them.

There is so much to love about this book. It has the feeling of “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” with a touch of Appalachian spookies… okay, a lot of Appalachian spookies. Verity Vox is a great main character, both objectively powerful enough to handle most of the problems sent her way and weak enough that she seeks help when she needs it (and, really, who wants a character that can’t grow because they’re just all powerful from the get go?). The supporting cast—Jack-be-Nimble (her cat-but-not-a-cat familiar), Gilly (her supportive best friend who trusts her with everything… once she’s proven herself, that is), Tacita (the town runaway who needs a fair bit of rescuing), and the villain Earl (whose magic works through the careful language of deal making)—play well with Verity and add their own color and fun to the story.

And delightfully, the setting itself serves as a character as well, which is fair for any story set in Appalachia. The characters warn Verity, who is new to the area, not to whistle at night, not to answer if she hears her name called, not to look at the trees, all those rules that any of us who’ve been in Appalachia or know friends in Appalachia have heard often. Though the town is obviously suffering, it’s also described with great love and beauty, painted as a place that feels very real and obviously is real to the author. The mountain that sleeps beside the town is also quite real, and its personhood and origins are as critical to the story as the actions of the titular witch… and honestly, I wouldn’t expect a story in Appalachia to work any other way.

My only real criticism might stem from me missing a page or something, but it sometimes felt like the mystery solving conclusions came out of nowhere, like a supporting character would say something random, and then the solution would just appear as if it were the missing number in the equation… except we never saw the rest of the equation either until well after the fact, which meant the climactic action often left me reeling and confused when it happened. Like hey, I’m sure there’s a very good reason you’re playing the trombone while riding the unicycle in your underwear, and I know you’ll explain later, but it would’ve been cool if we knew your motivation even a second before to spare the whiplash a little.

(pls note that nobody plays trombones while riding unicycles in their underwear in this book)

Anyway, it’s a fun read and I definitely recommend it. It’s got a nice autumnal feel to it and probably pairs nicely with an apple cider donut and an amber sunset through trees with changed leaves.

[Brecht Reintsema · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much fun! So many books are compared to studio Ghibli films these days (which I do as well, oops) but this one really hits the mark for me. The set-up of the story is really similar to Kiki's Delivery Service: we follow a young witch of about 16/17 who has to do an apprenticeship every year untill she is fully trained. Her latest apprenticeship sends her to a small Appalachian village that has been mysteriously cut off from the world because of dealings with a malevolent spirit.

And that's where, surprisingly, a good amount of Princess Mononoké vibes come in, which I think is best described as "forest-gore". Verity has to deal with a creepy, self-proclaimed king of the forest and mountain and all the darkness that crawls between the trees. I had really just expected this to be a cosy magical fantasy but I absolutely loved the slightly creepy, darker vibes it has.

I also thought this was a middle grade book, but I think it's more of a YA, with a bit more depth in the writing. The descriptions of the magic and the interconnectedness of all things were absolutely beautiful. The characters were also believable and interesting, and especially Verity's character and development were really quite memorable. And of course, her familiar Jack, who is an amazing shape-shifting otherworldly creature that happens to prefer taking the shape of a fluffy black cat.

Despite the set-up being so obviously reminiscent of Kiki's Delivery Service, I think this book has a lot of unique elements in terms of the magic and the setting. I wasn't too sure about the American Appalachian atmosphere at first, but the author clearly knows how to write the porch gossip and small town magic of such a place to life.

I guess in a true studio Ghibli way, there are a few moments in which I was not entirely sure what was going on. Especially in terms of how the magic works exactly, but those are just not the questions you need to ask for such a story.

Would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, slightly spooky story crawling with magic, found family and the eeriness of both a small-town community and a forest after dark.

[Bbecca_marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review 📖 🌙🍂
thank you so much partner @storygramtours @pagestreetya for the gifted ARC

Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire
by Don Martin

About the book 👇🏽

Verity Vox is a witch-in-training who has never met a problem her spells can’t solve. But when a cryptic plea for help sends her to the forgotten coal mining town of Foxfire, she soon learns even magic has its limits.

Verity discovers a curse was laid years ago by a traveling magician who vanished into the ancient Appalachian hills to seek greater power. Crops won’t grow. Bellies go hungry. Even treasured possessions fall apart. What’s worse, people have gone missing amidst rumors that they’ve sought out the magician who is lying in wait for those foolish or desperate enough to strike a deal with him.
 
🍂 My thoughts:

I loved Verity Vox! This book brought back some nostalgia for me from past books and the younger me I’d like to revisit. More so the feelings and comfort I’d like to revisit. So to say this book was heartwarming would be an understatement. And although I’d say this was a cozy read it also had some added darker elements which I really appreciated! It’s not a fast paced book per se, however the pacing makes it much more evocative and in my opinion that much more enjoyable. If you enjoy adventurous witchy middle grade stories that make you FEEL, you should definitely pick this one up!

Happy reading 📖 🌙🍂

[Christiana Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, though it’s written a bit young for me. (And I do read a lot of YA, but this felt younger than that to me.)

That being said it is a heartfelt love letter to small town America, with uncannily accurate witchcraft worked in. I loved the Appalachian atmosphere which also felt very natural and authentic. I will be recommending this to anyone looking for witchy books for teens this spooky season.

[MFF · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am probably several decades over the intended demographic of this book (YA) but I enjoyed it. Especially appreciated it more after the author explained that the town of Foxfire was based on the small town in rural West Virginia. (Vulcan, WV)

Verity is an old school witch with a broom and a cat. Or correctly a “witch in training”. And she gets sent to a town that she will help once a year until she completes her training. Somehow she got sent to Foxfire, a town that is cursed. The whole story revolves on how she helps the cursed town. It was fun. It was recommend by our 10 yr niece and Im glad I borrowed it.

[Emily Maybee · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was so good! it definitely gave Over the Garden Wall vibes which was really fun. the writing style was a bit different than what i typically read so it took me a little to get into but overall, it was great! def recommend if you want a short and spooky novel for the fall

[Staci · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminded me of what it was like as a kid/ young adult to read my first few fantasy books. This is the type of book that got me interested in reading for fun in my youth. I can’t wait to share this with my kid when they are older.

[Jessica McSweeney · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for one of those books that feels cozy (but not written like a cozy book, if you feel me) and warm and witchy for fall, this book is your girl. I also did cry in the car hearing Don Martin read his acknowledgements on the audiobook, so 10/10 for that and a little magic in all our lives right now.

[Rachel Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my new favorite books! The writing is amazing, brings literary writing to fantasy beautifully. Reads as a fairy tale, cozy yet with depth and mystery, about a relatable, likeable, sweet witch. It’s touching to learn that the town’s history is true and real. I can’t wait to read more of his books!

[Keelin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kiki’s Delivery Service meets Simon and Garfunkel meets Lemon Snicket

[Morgan Honickel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good, fun read about a witch’s growth. Steeped in Appalachian history, the chapters go quickly. Just the right touch of suspense and spooky!

[Faye 🫀]

DNF 20% in…


I wanted to love this & the whimsy was impeccable but I found this writing style so hard to follow along with a little bit?

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

This was really charming! I’ll post a full review later✨

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars.

See, this is what I wanted the Kiki's Delivery Service book to read like.