The Fox and the Devil

by Kiersten White

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.

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Vampires, Romance, Lesbian, Queer, Adult

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 10, 2026

About the author

Kiersten 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.

Reviews

[Maeghan 🦋 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

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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[Mika · Rating 1 out of 5]

*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

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Rhea · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Patrycja · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Sabiha Younus]

After 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. 🔪🩸✨

[lorenzodulac · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Book Riot Community]

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

[bee ⭑.ᐟ · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Hannah⸝*.☘︎ ́˖ · Rating 4 out of 5]

༄˖°.🦊📜.ೃ࿔*:･
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)

[Gie · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Trisha]

YES 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.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

☠ 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. 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.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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**

[Vmndetta ᛑᛗᛛ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5. rounded up.

Like other reviewers have said, this book started really strong, like it had so much potential. I was into the story from the very beginning, but as it went on, it just got weaker and weaker.

The book begins with Anneke at a crime scene, trying to solve the mystery of a dead man. This part was really good and immediately caught my attention, since I love mystery and thrillers. There's also some part where Anneke is conflicted and consumed by her hatred toward the woman who killed her father. She wants vengeance and all that.

I'll try not to spoil anything here, but this book drags a lot. Maybe around 60% in (iirc), Anneke finally comes face to face with the mysterious woman. Before that? She's chasing this woman while another murder happens. Sure, she and her new team want to solve it too while still looking for the woman, but that's the part where it starts to feel exhausting. Because come on, this isn't a legal mystery/thriller with heavy investigation.

Another thing, I got bored with Anneke's inner monologue about that woman. It felt very repetitive and nothing new, just basic hatred of one person toward another. I didn't find the hunt thrilling, didn't find their dynamic exciting, and I saw zero chemistry between them. I also didn't really see where the sapphic part is??? Or is that just me?

Nonetheless, I did like the idea and how her team bonded with each other. I think that's all for me. 3 stars is enough for now.

[Jensen McCorkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick very high level summary.
The Fox and the Devil is folklore style fantasy where spirits bargain with mortals. The fox spirit has lived for centuries by making deals with humans. The fox means no harm, just curious and a bit self centered. The Devil of course thrives on deception and corruption and bargains with the promise of power and the use of fear. Together they form an alliance that is destined to become so much more.

My take.
We have a supernatural murder mystery, gothic imagery, female oppression and sapphic romance. Though the romance part is more of a tense longing that stands in the background of a murder mystery. I was immediately inthralled and immersed in the story. The author does a great job of creating a dark and brooding atmosphere and providing the reader with relatable and likable characters. Really the emotion created is fantastic. This is definitely a complex story line but well worth it because the author does a good job of providing enough context and character grounding to keep the reader invested without feeling lost. This gave me “Strange Practice” by Vivian Shaw vibes and I adored that series. Overall well written, interesting plot, unpredictable mystery and sapphic representation made for a very fun read.

[Lucky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bloody, cinematic, reflective, and rendered with moody ardor, The Fox and the Devil is another charming entry into White's vampire canon.

Anneke's yearning for (and guilt over yearning for) her father's killer made for a deliciously torturous cocktail of longing and self-recrimination. Diavola's growth (or unveiling perhaps) throughout the novel was slow and ultimately satisfying. I adored the luridly dramatic dialogue between our leads. They are well and truly obsessed with each other and make it everyone else's problem—and occasionally, solution. I was so caught up in how obsessed they are with each other that I barely noticed that there isn't any spice.

I found the disjointed structure occasionally confusing, but felt like it generally added to the story's cinematic pacing and overall tone. This book reads a bit like a campy Victorian vampire movie from the early 2000s.

If you enjoy daddy issues, late 19th century forensic investigation, being literally haunted by the specter of your own sapphic yearning, and of course, vampire stories, this may be the book for you.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️’s

This was exhilarating! I love the premise of this book. A female detective in the late 1800’s investigating serial murders?!?? Oh, and she just happens to be a Van Helsing!!! I would like ten more books just like this please!!


The setting of this book feels rich and substantial. I took my time reading this one. I wanted to savour every word and plot point.

Somehow everything in this book just works. The time jumps and different POV’s really worked together and created this macabre anticipation. Chapters where the POV was from the victim, never to be heard from again. Wanting and waiting for things to merge for the explosive finale!

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC!

[brightredglow · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I liked best about "The Fox and the Devil" by Kiersten White is that I stuck with it consistently even though I didn't like the main character and the second tier characters were treated like filler words. It was the first book since "The Tainted Cup" that kept me reading at a good clip and that's a good feeling.

That said, there's a lot that I wasn't keen on in the book. Anneke's inner monologuing on her obsession about Diavola and her inferior complex about her father wore thin with its repetition. I understood that there was plot driven reason for her behavior but it slowed the pace down, in my opinion. As did the inserts about the Paris 1900 World's Fair. I loved the details of it but it did feel like it broke up the pacing. Then the midpoint of the trip to Greece was too obvious of a reveal and to be honest, I skipped a lot of that section, except the most crucial reveal, which was very, very good so I wouldn't say the Greece side-trip was unneeded, I just think it went too long and it was easy to see its point.

I do like that the main villain was semi-unexpected. Given Anneke's obsession and the obviousness that this was a 'Sapphic romance', it was kind of clear, early on, that the object of Anneke's obsession would not be the final villain. However, there were still viable mysteries to uncover like who killed Anneke's father, Van Helsing, or rather, the why of it, since Diavola seemed to return Anneke's obsession. (To that point, the best 'reveal' of the book, imho, concerns Anneke's father; I could have stopped reading at that point of the book and been satisfied, to be honest.)

So it was a mixed bag for me, but I will say it leaned towards positive. I loved that the plot kept my attention and my motivation up to keep going when Anneke was probably the most annoying character in the book and that the pacing could come to a near stand still at times. I thought the end was well done, it isn't surprising or have any real twists, but it gets the job done. I don't like that the other characters are so bland that a random character intro'd at the end of the book is added to the group.

I can't justify a 3-star. I think that would be too low especially since I finished the book in good time and I did not find it to an unreasonable challenge to do so. The issues that I had with Anneke's presentation also worked to the overall plot so I can't ding it there either. I just wish the pacing had been tighter and the secondary characters had been more rounded and less filler.

**ARC e-copy provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for unbiased review. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Del Rey for the opportunity. Much appreciated.**

[Evie Oliva · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and Kiersten White for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review.

I read my first book by Kiersten White back in 2010. I had to look up the year because while I remembered the book, I could not remember what year it was that I'd read it. And then I stared in wonder at the amount of books on White's list of publications because wow, okay, I have some reading to catch up on.

I have consistently gone back to White again and again over the years. I always end up loving the worlds created, the consistently strong leads, the intriguing plots. I have a large amount of her works and have always enjoyed the new imaginings for characters seen in other works (And I Darken and The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein come immediately to mind). So when I got the chance to read The Fox and The Devil, I knew what I expected to see. And yet, this book stands out even more than usual because I LOVED this book. If I had written this review a couple of days ago, it would have been filled with exclamation points and heart-eyed emojis and so many entreaties to buy this book because I could not stop talking about it. As it stands, I'm still loving this book but I think I can logically explain exactly what impressed me so much about this story in a way that will hopefully get readers interested in reading it as well.

Fingers crossed.

The Fox and The Devil follows Anneke Van Helsing, and her obsession with catching the woman she found standing over her father the night that she found her father murdered in his study. Anneke has spent years studying and becoming a well-recognized detective, to the point that the police call her in to consult on cases that they can't explain. During her work, Anneke begins to make a connection between the victims of certain gruesome, horrifying deaths, recognizing a pattern that links these deaths across the map. She puts together a team of her own detectives, determined to find this serial killer, believing it to be the woman she has never been able to find. As the years pass with her team trying to find the killer before they strike again, Anneke starts to receive letters from her mysterious obsession, signed Diavola, or devil. The pair are playing a game of cat and mouse and Anneke is determined to win, no matter what the cost. Then Anneke begins to make connections between her investigations and her father's work, making Anneke start to question the world that she thought she knew and understood because the creature she is hunting may actually be a monster.

The overall plot of the book was enough to catch my attention and keep it focused, making me wish I could read faster because with the holiday, there was always something coming up to drag me away from this story. I was invested in the story about a young woman determined to find the woman she thought was responsible for her father's death. As the story developed, I was entranced with how the story expanded to include so many other victims, so many other ideas and revelations, that my mind was constantly trying to make its own guesses as each page turned. However, for the most part of this book, I was admittedly believing this would be a solid 4 star read because I could not see how the threads of the obsession were going to conclude. Then it happened, this one solid moment of WAIT, WHAT?, that made me stop in my tracks for a split second before my mind restarted and I started laughing because oh wow, she got me, I fell for it, and then the plot was so much more than I thought it would be and this book became an instant favorite. Seriously, that moment made my stomach drop, my heart skipped a beat, that kind of feeling just overtook my senses and then when it all came together, I could not stop CACKLING because when a book manages to make me stop in my tracks, I am instantly in love. The fact that it took the whole of the book for me to get to that point proves that White has become a force with her writing and now I'm determined to read more books of hers.

Anneke, sweet Anneke, I loved this young woman. For a while, I was a little dismayed at how she obsessed over the serial killer plotline because of her idea of vengeance but as the book continued, I loved how she became more, the way she fought back against the ideas that would keep her penned in and made people respect her. I loved how her worldviews were constantly forced to change and how yes, she fought it at first but then she would shift and evolve and I can respect a woman who takes the time to change her beliefs and transform herself into something more. I loved her team of detectives which included her best friend David, a fellow detective and former flame; Maher, a photographer, and Inge, the daughter of her mentor. Each of these people became dear to me through their actions and their devotion to Anneke. I loved how David had challenged Anneke to solve cases that seemed to stump other detectives. I adored how Maher respected the women in his life and trusted Anneke because she was intelligent. And words cannot express how much I loved Inge, the youngest member of the team, a tour de force that everyone was determined to protect because she was their little sister and they were all of them a FAMILY, and I wanted to keep all of these people safe. I even loved the glimpses we were given of Diavola, and the reveals that were given of her current existence and the life that led her there made her so intriguing, I just wanted to see more of her as the book went on. Even side characters were given enough to make me care about their stories, from the victims we were given glimpses of to coworkers at the police station that wanted to work with Anneke and her team. I don't know if there are plans to expand on this world but if there ever is a book focused on this team, I would be first in line to read that story.

Books that focus on obsessions sometimes have the tendency to become a little one note and I'm happy to report that this book becomes so much more than a story about one woman's quest for vengeance. It is also a story about believing in yourself, because while Anneke does have confidence in her abilities as a detective, she also has to believe in herself as a woman worthy of the connections she has made, the people she inspires with the cases she solves. It is a story about found family, and how important it is to surround yourself with people who will love all of you all of the time. The obsession is the focus for a while but it is everything else in this book that elevates it for me and I'm so happy with the end result. I want to delve into the cases and the details about the serial killer but a lot of my enjoyment of this book is all the little asides that White included to expand this world and I don't want to spoil the experience for future readers.

If you are a fan of Kiersten White's books, The Fox and The Devil is a very respectable read. I want to go back and read it again as soon as I get my copy next year. I want to read everything else I already have on my shelves by Kiersten White AND start collecting everything I don't already own. First up on the list is to start Lucy Undying. I'm hoping it is as brilliant as this book and might even be connected to this book. I can't wait to see any connections I missed while reading this release and here is me crossing my fingers that White has more plans in the making for this world. If this is your first time trying out White's work, I hope you are as enthralled as I was with this story.



Rating on my scale: 10 Stars!!! Seriously, that reveal still makes me giddy. I immediately went onto my group chat of fellow readers and told them how I fell for something that I logically knew wasn't right but it still got me. I hope so many readers come to this book and end up loving it like I did. And then I hope they read other books by White as well.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kiersten White does. Not. Miss.

[Samy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a Victorian murder mystery that features a sensual supernatural being, this is the book for you.

The story follows Anneke, who is obsessed with finding her father’s murderer. She’s been on this trail for a long time, but when bodies start popping up all across Europe, all killed in the same gruesome way, she realises that the killer is back. This time, she’s not letting her escape, no matter the cost.

The first thing I liked about this book is its format. Each chapter starts with a date and a location, and the second part of the book is told entirely through letters, which adds such a cool layer to the storytelling. The plot is incredibly engaging and kept me hooked all the time. The author does a fantastic job of capturing the gothic Victorian vibes. Also, if you are a fan of the Found Family trope, this could be a good pick for you. We have these amazing and complex characters that would kill and die for each other. I especially appreciated the inclusion of strong female characters, each one unique in their own way.

P.S. The true crime is that Anneke can't visit all the beautiful cities where the crimes take place.

[Steph's_Creepy _Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lord have mercy, just pull my teeth out!
I hoped this would have been enthralling but it just...drags...on...and...on...
It's not poorly written, far from it. It's just tedious to get through. This could have been incredible.

[Erin Dunn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, for me this one the plot really dragged and I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters. I liked the overall idea of the story, it’s definitely up my alley! I just really struggled to stay interested in this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released March 10, 2026.

[Beckee❤️]

DNF at 30%.

[amity𖦹]

AHH I LOVED LUCY UNDYING SO MUCH I NEED THIS IMMEDIATELY

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this mystery, fantasy, adventure story set in Europe around 1900. The story is about a young woman , Anneke Van Helsing, who is investigating murders. Her father, who never seemed to care for her, had been murdered and Anneke is trying to find the woman responsible. There is definitely a supernatural element to the story which I really liked. Anneke and her friends , who are working together to try and solve various crimes, travel across Europe in search of the murderer. A very well written story that I would highly recommend!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in return for my honest opinions.

[Mana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anneke Van Helsing, reeling from her father’s brutal murder, finds herself haunted by a shadowy figure known only as Diavola. Anneke’s complicated past with her father never really lets her go. Instead, she pours her grief and relentless drive to hunt down a string of murders that just don’t add up. As the story picks up speed, the line between human and monster, justice and obsession, gets messier and messier. White doesn’t tip her hand, either. The darker twists stay hidden until the last possible moment.

At the center of it all, Anneke’s journey pulls you in. She starts out heavy with resentment, dragging around old doubts, but she doesn’t stay there. By the time you’re halfway through, she’s a force; resourceful, sharp, still haunted by secrets she won’t share, even with her closest allies. The team she assembles isn’t just background noise. Their relationships with Anneke, sometimes warm, sometimes tense, cut through the book’s creeping dread and give it some heartbeat. Then there are the letters from Diavola. Strange, intimate, even tragic at times, they push Anneke into deeper turmoil and keep you guessing about who’s really pulling the strings.

The themes hit close to home. Grief, the hunt for truth when lies seem easier, and those gray patches of morality we all stumble through, White weaves them in without preaching. The clash between science and superstition, especially, rings true in a world that keeps redefining what’s possible and what’s dangerous. Obsession comes with a cost here; it isolates, but it also fuels the chase. Justice and cruelty blur together, asking you to decide which side you’re on, or if there even is one.

White’s prose cuts sharply. She jumps from the cold detail of forensics to the eerie beauty of nightmares, never missing a beat. The mood shifts as the story darkens, drawing you down with Anneke into a world where nothing feels safe. The pacing works. Fast, tense investigations break up with quieter, more reflective moments, and that balance keeps the suspense tight without drowning out the emotion. Sure, some parts stay a little murky, maybe too murky if you like tidy resolutions, but that uncertainty gives the book its haunting edge.

In the end, The Fox and the Devil stands out because it refuses to be just one thing. It blends thriller, gothic, and the supernatural, setting itself apart from standard crime fare. Fans of White’s other work will recognize her signature: complicated women up against impossible odds. The atmosphere presses in, thick with unease, but Anneke’s pain and determination keep everything grounded. Some plot threads dangle, unresolved, but that’s part of the point. The novel invites you to live with discomfort, to sit with loss, and to wonder at the unknown. It lingers, making you question what evil really is and how, despite everything, the human heart keeps going.