Fawn

by C.N. Vair

In the isolated Appalachian town of Burrsville, Tess Wynne lives in precious quiet. Having been left for dead a century earlier, Tess made a deal with the devil to stay in the only home she’s known. Tending to her wildlife sanctuary, she keeps the land and its people safe – pulling on spidering threads of ancient magic, trying to preserve the balance of nature against the encroaching ravages of human influence. But, every autumn, the devil returns, offering Tess more power in exchange for a foothold into the human world. And, every autumn, Tess refuses.

As Tess prepares her wildlife sanctuary for the winter, an unexpected addition to Burrsville catches the local’s attention. Freshly arrived Zeke Abdee, the town’s new pastor, begins to sinisterly mould the townspeople to his will.

With everyone slowly turning on Tess, Pastor Zeke is determined to stake his claim on the very land where Tess keeps her sanctuary. Cornered, a desperate Tess pushes her magic to the darkest edges. All the while, the devil bides his time, waiting for Tess to decide if she will be prey - or predator...

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Thriller, Fiction, Witches, Mystery, Gothic

361 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 27, 2026

About the author

C.N. Vair (she/her) is a horror and dark fantasy author living in Western New York. A former journalist, she’s interested in the history and haunted corners of small towns, the magic and malice of the natural world, and power in all its forms. When she’s not writing, you can find her wandering in woods and cemeteries, growing poisonous plants in her garden, or spending time with her husband and dogs.

Reviews

[Nina The Wandering Reader]

“But my craft had teeth. And I would not hesitate to use them. I was not so eager to be harmless.”

This was such a perfect Fall read. A blend of witchy feminine rage, folk horror, fantasy, and nature fiction, all swaddled in beautiful writing and infused with lush imagery.

[2raccoonsinacoat]

4.5, rounding up to 5.

To no one’s surprise, I absolutely devoured this. I want to grind this book into dust and sprinkle it in my coffee. It’s feral.

I’ll say it again: I love stories about angry women, and Tess is Angry. I, too, would be angry if a power-hungry zealot was set on building a megachurch on my wildlife sanctuary. I, too, would go absolutely bananas on the whole village.

This book worked for me. The setting is vaguely Appalachian, small-town, and deeply rooted in the surrounding wilderness. Tess is a witch living on a wildlife sanctuary after giving her soul to the Devil (which, in this housing market, just seems like a smart financial decision). She just wants to live in peace, keep her sanctuary wild, and care for the creatures that live there. But of course, a man enters and ruins everything.

The nature writing was probably my favorite part. Vair has such a strong grasp of the flora, fauna, and ecology of this place, and it comes through beautifully. The ecosystem really becomes a character of its own. You can feel Vair’s reverence for the natural world and the understanding that anyone who spends significant time in the wild eventually develops: nature can be beautiful, spiritual, and completely unforgiving.

The characters were good overall, though I don’t think they were quite as strong as the setting. I especially wish the Devil had played a bigger role because I found myself genuinely curious about him. I can see how keeping him somewhat ambiguous may have been intentional, but he was intriguing and had some great lines. Tess herself isn’t an especially unique character on paper, but that didn’t bother me much because the way her story is told is unique. She’s a woman who just wants to exist in her little slice of paradise, but men and society simply will not leave her be. She reminded me a lot of Abitha in Slewfoot, and I rooted for her even (especially) when she started showing her teeth.

Speaking of teeth: the fawn.

Hands to the sky, I absolutely loved the relationship between Tess and the fawn. It’s symbolic, unnerving, tender, and deeply feminine. They are both creatures expected to be prey, and watching them take their power and embrace their wickedness was probably my favorite element of the entire book. More of that, all the time, in everything…please.

If you like eerie stories with angry women, ecohorror, a little gore, and nature that is equal parts sanctuary and threat, pick this up. Especially if you enjoy stories about women who realize that the most important power isn’t given, it’s taken.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenny Lawson]

Loved this one.

[Nikki Lee (Nikkileethrillseeker)]

Witchy Book Review

Tess Wayne made a deal with devil. She would remain ageless and stuck to the land she nearly died on. Her home and land is now a wildlife sanctuary, and the spells she weaves keeps the community safe.

When a new pastor arrives, the town of Burrsville is in awe. But he doesn’t like Tess and starts chipping away at what she’s worked so hard on.

Did I mention she rescues a fawn that is anything but normal? The pastor wants it gone. Unless, she pays the price the devil wants in order to protect her.

This is an Appalachian witchy tale and it was really atmospheric. I absolutely loved all talk of the animals and how she cared for them. The talk of the land and her spell concoctions were so immersive to read. I liked Tess as a strong female character and I was rooting for her the whole time.

This was a buddy read with @aarontoddreads. Aaron and I both highly enjoyed this cozy tale and a huge thanks to the author for the gifted copies.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[k.eela]

‘When I learned what had killed her, I tongued the stamp on the inside of my mouth and wondered if this was the memory of god working, punishing her for birthing me.’

Wow, I had such a great time reading Fawn. I loved the initial blurb, but I can be apprehensive about gimmicky stories involving cunning women and the devil-made-flesh. Fawn is anything but. It is a slowly creeping folktale about survival, perseverance and trust in your own inner strength. Bursting with green magic, animal rescue, Appalachian horror and of course, female rage.
Watching Tess and her Fawn tear a chunk out of a cruel and small minded rural town that desperately needed its morals reevaluated was tender and sharp all at once.

[Keila (speedreadstagram)]

This book was so captivating! I just ate it up. I devoured it over one afternoon it was just that good. Tess was amazing. The setting was perfect, a small town in the Appalachia. This alone conjures up certain thoughts, and the author definitely knew that and played on it. I appreciated Tess and her simple yet fulfilling life. The introduction of the Fawn was interesting to say the least. It wasn’t right, but it wasn’t wrong. Something about the fawn was just off. It really made me stop and ponder (after) what the meaning of the fawn was and I absolutely loved it. The devil was a great supporting character. I appreciated how he was written and the role he played throughout Tess’s life. There are so many small things about this book that all add up and make it a terrific read. Highly recommend.

Thank you to @berkleybooks and @cnvair for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Matt Milu]

The deer in this book is no kind of Disney Bambi! Animal lovers are going to love and hate this book all at the same time! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!

[bweadbun]

this book, a midnight mass rewatch, and a slewfoot reread just might ward off my seasonal depression 4.5

[thevampireslibrary]

A slow burn sinister folk horror simmering with female rage and dare I say, twas a bit sexy? Lemme explain..the writing feels like a soft caress but with nails digging in at the last second, beautiful prose but with a real sharp edge, atmopsheric and emotional this was a real slow punch to the gut

[Bar Fridman-Tell]

Absolutely incredible - I devoured The Devil Knows Her Name in 24 hours from the moment I got my hands on it, and now I can't stop thinking about it. This is truly the witch book of my dreams, and the way the tension slowly ratchets up until it felt like the book (and I) were humming with it is nothing short of masterful.

[Olesya Gilmore]

Read for a quote!: “On the surface, a tale about a woman who sells her life to the devil only to live to fight him for her ancestral land; at its core, a sleek, sure, thought-provoking meditation on our excessive use of natural resources and the eternally restorative power of nature that can still save us."

[Justine]

4.5 stars

A strange and wonderful book. Tess’s struggle to understand herself and to save what she loves is dark and relatable even as it becomes ever more dire and violent.

I have to say I do prefer the UK cover and alternative title to the book, Fawn. It puts the focus more squarely on the real journey here, one where Tess goes through a painful journey of acceptance rather than one where the Devil waits for her “give in.”

[Jasmine Shier]

Witchy, dark, feminine rage, animal rescuing, sticking it to the religious zealots... a recipe for success for me.

[Teabag.jpg ♡]

Honestly, this book exceeded my expectations, which were extremely high to begin with - what a ride!

Haunting,, sinister, and full of feminine rage, Fawn is a wonderfully well written gothic folklore horror, about a woman, the men who have wronged her, a love for her town and the animals, and an adorable yet wild (iykyk) faun.

Tess, albeit stubborn and very gung-go at times, was very relatable with her emotion and her drive, and I do completely understand where she was coming from.

The narrative and story was deep and very well developed - for a debut novel the author has really knocked it out the park, absolutely stunning.

I loved every part of this, thank you so much to c.n vair, 3ambooks and NetGalley for allowing me to read this as an ARC - I am so tremendously grateful, one of my top books of the year so far for sure!

[Shay]

I loved this book so much. I loved Tess and her strength and fight. She is vicious and honestly her vengeance is deserved. It was so unfair how she was judged and treated, and her lies upon lies to keep the peace were bound to be unraveled, especially if all it takes is someone cutting down a tree. 🤷‍♀️ She is a villain of the town’s story, but in her own story she is the savior of the forest and the keeper of balance, and I am honestly rooting so hard for her. The town was awful. And her “friends” were fake and surface level in-public-friends at best. Her only true friend who sees her for who she is, is the devil. She was taken advantage of and shunned for having fire and teeth, and he wanted to see her use them. I LOVED the devil’s character. The power dynamic between the two was intense and their chemistry and dialogue were everything. He is a trickster, but would do just about anything Tess tells him, and the ending was vicious and so justified. Her finding the fawn was very symbolic and I loved that creepy little abomination. They tried in the end to take everything from her, and instead of being given an answer, she took it for herself, even at great cost. When she needed help or kindness, she was abandoned, and the town and the pastor deserved what they got. She is no longer alone or hopeless, and the ending was very cathartic. I wish it was longer 🖤

[Sherry Fundin]

I love the title, The Devil Knows Her Name by C N Vair. It definitely caught my attention, so I had to grab a copy and find out for myself what it means. It is an appropriate title and it is true. The devil does know Tess Wynne. When she died, she made a deal with the devil, and once a year he returns and offers her more power so he can get a foothold in the human world. So far, she has not succumbed to his pleas.

"I would do anything to live, I thought. I was desperate and the devil heard me."

Tess runs a wildlife sanctuary and uses her magic to protect it from human influence.

A new pastor comes to town and wants the land her sanctuary stands on.

C N Vair is a new author for me, and she did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Tess Wynne. The story was suitably dark and gruesome, as any battle with a demon would be. The good versus evil scenario plays out and...you will need to find out for yourself.

See more at http://www.fundinmental.com

[Ashley Sawyer]

Such a strong debut!!

A slowburn feminist horror that knows exactly how to let the tension build. I loved that Tess is angry, messy, complicated, and unwilling to make herself smaller or more agreeable. She survives, but she also wants more than simply being grateful to have survived.

The setting is a huge part of what makes this work. The land, animals, and community all feel woven into the story, and the sanctuary is beautiful in a way that never feels entirely safe. The ecological horror adds another layer, reminding us that nature has its own rules, appetites, and teeth!

Thank you to NetGalley, CN Vair, and Berkley for this eARC!

[Stacey Markle]

My rating is 4.25
wow...the continual sense of dread I had while reading this totally had me on the edge of my seat.

A gentle witch, Tess, uses her powers for good - saving animals through rehab/sanctuary and ensuring the town around her is safe. She has a long history with the town, longer than anyone realizes due to a deal with the devil. Yes, you read that right, the devil. He arrives yearly in autumn to ask her for more...every year she refuses but this year, the journey changes.
A newcomer arrives in Burrsville and he begins to effect the town and it's inhabitants, much to Tess's dismay and fear. He KNOWS!
That knowing sets them all on a course of madness and destruction. Tess must make terrible decisions to keep all she loves safe.
This novel gets dark and dangerous and I loved it all. Everyone gets what they deserve.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this title. My thoughts are my own.

[Jordan]

Flat characters, stale writing, plot dragged out far beyond my patience.

Vair is obviously taking inspiration from Shirley Jackson and Stephen King, but the psychological acuity of the former and the small town Americana minutiae of the latter are nowhere to be found.

Relatively reductive re: gender (woman = nature = chaos = good/ man = society = order = bad) - yes it's a binary being 'reclaimed' but you're still keeping the binary!

The plethora of side characters of either gender are thin as paper and barely have any identity of their own, only acting as followers of Tess (the witch) or later Zeke (the pastor).

Very girl boss, very 'female rage', very daughter of the witches you could not burn. Which is to say that it isn't actually transgressive at all and reads like a book manufactured in a marketing meeting to go viral on tiktok.

[domsbookden]

The Devil Knows Her Name is a good debut that I liked more than I expected to. Its biggest strength for me was the writing. Vair strikes an effective balance between vivid, poetic description and a more direct, contemporary style, shifting between the two when the story calls for it.

Tess is a complicated protagonist, and I understand why her character may not work for everyone. She reads younger than she is, but I appreciated that aspect of her character because she never felt like someone who had all the answers. Tess is messy, disorganized, anxious, and somewhat of a control freak, but those qualities worked for me within the context of the story. I didn’t need to agree with every decision she made; what matters more is whether her actions made sense to me—and they did. So much of what Tess does comes from a emotionally charged place, with her primary concern being to preserve and protect the sanctuary. Through that lens, her increasingly reactionary decisions are understandable. She has limited time, limited resources, incomplete information, and a growing sense of fear everything she cares about is under threat.

Tess’s characterization connects to the use of the fawn—yet another aspect I can see some readers being frustrated by, as it doesn’t play as big of a role horror-wise as expect. Personally, I liked that its significance was more symbolic. Rather than being a simple creature insertion, the fawn is a physical manifestation of Tess’s fear and primal survival instincts.

Religion, both organized and pagan, is important component of the story. The novel draws on earth-based practices associated with pre-Christian cultures, emphasizing the natural world as being sacred and divine independent of rigid dogma and creating a counterpoint to organized religion, which is associates with dominance, hierarchy, and imposed order.

The novel also explores breaking generational cycles, and I liked that it focuses on the uncertainty involved in doing so. Tess navigates the consequences of her mother’s and grandmother’s experiences without having the benefit of their guidance, background knowledge, or generational wisdom. She takes a path that the women before her did not, and there is something inherently frightening about having no precedent to follow.

I do wish the novel had shown the relationship dynamics between Tess, her mother, and her grandmother; a prologue or interspersed flashback chapters could have added context to the generational themes for a better understanding of what Tess was inheriting and what she was trying to escape.

I didn’t like the personification of the devil at all. It was a missed opportunity to create a stranger, more uncanny depiction that would have made the devil’s presence more memorable. I also wanted more horror from the novel overall. The book has the ingredients for some genuinely unsettling and monstrous imagery, but it doesn’t capitalize on them. This was the biggest thing holding the novel back from a higher rating for me. The atmosphere and thematic material are there; I just wanted the novel to push further into the disturbing, frightening elements it hints at.

Still, I came away from The Devil Knows Her Name generally satisfied. It’s an ambitious debut with strong prose, an interesting protagonist, and thoughtful ideas about nature, power, and generational cycles. While it didn’t deliver on the horror front, there was enough to keep me interested in seeing what Vair does next.

I think readers who enjoyed The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson and They Fear Not Men in the Woods by Gretchen McNeil will have a good time with this read. For those looking for similar reads but with stronger horror elements, I recommend Rooted by Leopoldo Goût and The Brood by Rebecca Baum.

[hadesthehermit]

What a completely satiating novel. The Female Rage was a guttural growl that reverberated through my bones.



C.N. Vair has absolutely grabbed my attention with her lush, vivid, and graphic storytelling. Every scene felt so real and I was completely absorbed into this world.

There were maybe a few baby-fine-hair-critiques I had while reading. And there is the matter of the Fawn, for me, I am left with one, big unanswered question....however, I am unsure if that was intentional to remain open ended or maybe that the Author was just not clear enough for me to understand the picture.

Would I recommend this? A hundred percent yes.

Am I excited for what C.N. Vair will release next? HELL YEAH!

I also HAVE to mention, that I personally love any mention of the Devil (and/or Angels) in Fiction and when the author can successfully make me believe in their existence; that they are not and could never be considered Human. And that is exactly what Vair did. She gave me literal chills when reading the Devil in scenes. I thought that her representation of the Devil was everything I needed, to be equal parts seduced, intrigued, and fearful of him. That razor edge was masterfully and brilliantly executed.

This story is everything that I want in a Fictional 'Horror-Gothic-Supernatural' tale. The witchcraft, was really beautifully done as well. I was a big fan of it and loved the way that Vair captured Tess's character.

The book is published under two titles, Fawn and The Devil Knows Her Name. I personally think that Fawn, is the more fitting title and I own the UK print edition. But, I really enjoyed myself so much that I am thinking of purchasing the US print edition as well. Because this type of daring, authentic writing is such a gem in 2026 and I want to love this book as much as I can and supporting the author in all the ways that I am able.

[Aaron Todd Reads]

4.5 ⭐️ | 3 🔪 (animal violence, especially)

“I would’ve just given it to you,” he snarled, blood slicking the cracks between his teeth.

“Power can only be taken,” I (Tess) said. “You of all people should know that.”

GOOD 👏🏼 FOR 👏🏼 HER 👏🏼

I loved this. It’s patient and a slow unravel, but there’s a point around 60% where the stakes shift and the story just moves, without feeling jarring. Everything that came before had been building toward it, and suddenly everything felt SHARP AS A KNIFE. No words were left behind on any of these pages.

Tess was an incredible character, and I loved her arc. Her decisions made sense, even when I wasn’t sure if I agreed with them. Her internal struggle made even more sense and made me deeply care about her. She was real, flawed, angry, powerful, conflicted, and STRONG. C. N. Vair never reduced her to something as simple as good vs. evil. How could you? It’s so much more complex than that. And I think that was one of the main takeaways.

There is so much to unpack thematically. The religious symbolism, sacrifice, power, monstrosity, faith, and loving the abominable (heavy on this one) gave me so much to think about. It challenged me in ways I didn’t expect and even made me question my own perspective on right vs. wrong. How Tess navigated everything she was up against felt truly compelling and tickled my brain in the best way. This is exactly why I love folk horror.

I loved the atmosphere, I loved Tess, and where the story ultimately went. I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.

Also… that little fawn is the creepiest little folk horror icon I’ve read about in a LONG time. 🦌🩸

[Madame Strange]

“Fawn” - “Oh Dear. I really want that necklace tho.”

★★★★☆ (4,5)

Fawn doesn’t rush, it takes its time.
This novel has bewitched me, taken me on a journey through the sanctuary and shown me what sacrifices need to be made in order to survive. If you enjoy folk horror, witchcraft and women going through lengths to fight for what they deserve, “Fawn” has got you covered. C.N. Vair has put herself on my radar with this debut novel, this woman has teeth and they have sunk themselves into me, drawing blood.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, I leave this review voluntarily.

[Sophie Leigh]

A beautiful brutal debut book 📚
The unease and female rage grows throughout the story and it was a perfect autumnal read 👏

[Mara]

Hands down one of the best books I've read. The writing made it so easy to imerge oneself into the main character, her inner dialog and the world- and characterbuilding are impeccable. I didn't think it would make me that emotional but it did and it was worth every tear. This book feels like an ode to reclaiming power and staying true to who you really are, even though the process might get ugly and messy down the road. I loved it.

[Haley Rose Rose]

*4.5 rounding up.

This was exactly what i needed right now.
The perfect fall atmosphere, everything I needed

The only reason i’m knocking a half star is because I wanted more witchcraft work, and more of the devil himself!
I might have also liked more of the fawn but we were also just far enough removed that I didn’t cry when she was killed, and i’m a crier lol

Animal rehabilitation, family lore, overzealous religious leader.

[A N N A]

More 3.5, but a very strong witchy book that’s perfect for readers who prefer nature to humans.

[Nicola Pointer]

I really enjoyed this book. It was dark and macabre and I wasn’t sure where the story would lead. I was very happy with the ending. There were still some questions that I would’ve liked answered.
The writing was excellent. The imagery and storytelling excellent.
I’m not sure I would recommend it to everyone as I think some would find it a bit disturbing with the themes. It’s about women rights, nature, witch craft and religion and might not suit everyone.

[LJ]

Genuinely so boring.

While the writing had potential and the premise had potential, nothing can save a book from being boring. The narrative starts out with a flash bang: the devil arrives. And then? It fizzles. The introduction of the plot is slow, the rising action is slow, the climax hits like a wet firework, and the narrative fizzes to a pitiful end.

There's nothing about the setting that screams Appalachia, a huge draw for me--it really could've happened in any small town with a lake and the woods. There's no Appalachian folklore or magic or creatures or even Appalachian culture. It's simply a bland attempt at a unique setting.

To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. Reviews that tout the excitement of feminist rage are hardly better than viral TikTok reviews and cheap cursive signs that read "Daughters of the Witches They Didn't Burn."

Poorly paced, poorly set, poorly contrived all around. Two stars out of pity more than anything.

[Natalia]

2.5 stars
I really liked the premise of Fawn, but it didn't quite live up to it for me. It was marketed as Appalachian horror, but the setting never felt particularly Appalachian, it could've been almost any small town with a big forest. I also struggled with Tess as the story went on because her actions often didn't match what we were told about her, especially when it came to protecting the animals she cared so much about.

The police officer and pastor felt a bit too cartoonishly evil, there wasn't nearly enough of the devil, and the ending felt rushed and a little underwhelming. There were some good ideas here, but unfortunately, it just didn't fully come together for me.