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, Thriller, Fiction, Horror Thriller, Fantasy, Mystery

Kindle Edition

Expected publication 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

[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.

[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."

[finn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Teabag.jpg ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Cassey Forck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this! The imagery was simply perfection! Tess was so relatable and I just wanted her to get everything she wants, even with her flaws.

[Ash_reads24 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fawn - WOW 🤯 I said it before I will say it again no way this is a debut! It’s soooo good 😍👀🖤


🌲 Eerie Forest Setting
🕯️ Appalachian Folklore
😈 Devil In The Woods
🩸 Generational Fear & Inheritance
🔮 Ritual And Belief
🐾 Slow Descent Into Something Feral
🖤 Morally Grey Female Main Character
🔥 Feminine Rage
🌿 Nature Watching Back

I went in for moody forest vibes and got something darker and way more consuming

The writing is gorgeous but there’s a bite to it. It feels soft and brutal at the same time!

The story leans into Appalachian folklore and those old beliefs about the devil being something that lives in the land and in people rather than a clear figure. ieverything feels rooted in ritual, inheritance, and fear that gets passed down without question!

The folklore feels real and lived in,
Tess’s shift into something more instinctive and feral was my favourite part.Watching her get pulled further into it all felt inevitable in a way that was both unsettling and satisfying 😍

it’s a slow burn and the tension just keeps building, if you like eerie nature, quiet horror, and feminine rage with beautiful writing this one really works

still thinking about it and I don’t see that changing anytime soon! Absolutely incredible I actually think even if you don’t read horror you would eat this up!

[Maria J Castro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fawn took me into a forest filled with magic, an animal sanctuary hidden deep in the woods, a witch who literally sold her soul to the Devil, unsettling creatures, strange folklore, and an atmosphere that slowly crawls under your skin 🌲🖤

While preparing my review, I noticed SO many readers saying things like “I wanted more horror”, “more gore”, “more fear”, “more blood” and personally I think it’s important to clarify that this book feels MUCH closer to quiet horror and folkloric horror with heavy dark fantasy elements rather than extreme traditional horror.

And once I started looking at it from THAT perspective… everything clicked for me.

C.N. Vair created something atmospheric, eerie, immersive, emotional, strange, and deeply rooted in nature and folklore. I became SUPER invested in Tess, her connection to the forest, the mysterious fawn, the magic woven through the woods, and honestly??? the Devil himself 😭

Because WHY was every scene with him so tense and weirdly captivating 👀

And listen… this book actually had me reacting OUT LOUD.

Especially toward the end 😖 there were multiple moments where I literally stopped reading just to turn to my husband and tell him what had happened like I was sharing scandalous gossip LMAOOO. Every plot twist and unsettling reveal had me going “WAIT WHAT???”

To me, that’s the sign of a story that fully pulled me in.

This is not the kind of horror that depends on nonstop gore or brutal shock value every five pages. It’s quieter. Stranger. More atmospheric. More existential. The kind of story that slowly fills the forest with dread until something starts feeling deeply wrong.

And honestly… I had SUCH a good time with it.

Also, I think Fawn would make SUCH a good book club read 🦌

It’s the kind of story that makes you want to sit down with your friends and DISCUSS everything. Was Tess justified? Would you have done the same in her position? Who was actually in the wrong here? So many morally grey conversations, unsettling moments, and genuinely good thriller elements packed into this story.

Thank you so much to Insta Books Tours and 3AM Books for inviting me to Project Horror and for sending me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review 🖤

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

“They knew enough to run when they saw me.”
You’re a man, I almost said.

I need to start with this, pages 262–263 were the most satisfying in the entire book. Goddamn. Completely, undeniably satisfying.

C.N. Vair’s debut novel follows Tess, a woman who has been trapped in her town for years after making a deal with the devil, one that cost her more than she ever intended.

The story opens with an almost whimsical tone. It’s slow-burning, steeped in folklore, and deliberately patient. Tess is strong-willed to her core, the kind of character who refuses to bend, whether it’s to people, to circumstance, or to the town itself. Her fight, especially for her animal sanctuary, grounds the story in something real and worth rooting for.

The writing is effortless. It flows without friction, carrying you through scenes with clarity and control. It explains, narrates, and describes without ever feeling weighted. Honestly, I wouldn’t have guessed this was a debut.

Where it didn’t fully land for me was the horror. It’s unsettling, yes. Strange, absolutely. But horror? It walks a very fine line. The build takes its time, leaning more into that whimsical, (almost) at one small stage dark-romance atmosphere before it finally shifts. And then, in the last hundred pages, everything sharpens, the violence arrives, the stakes escalate, and it fully commits to the horror.

The fawn…
What a vicious little creature. No softness, no innocence, just something psycho underneath it all. Unsettling from the start. Completely untrustworthy. And yet, watching the bond between her and Tess grow? It made sense. Twisted, but needed.

“Stupid, stupid man. You don’t turn your back on a predator.”

I’d recommend this to fans of:
•The Blair Witch Project
•The Ruins
If you want to want the same creeping, folklore-laced unease. For those of you who love your stories dipped in myth, who want to feel unsettled, slightly on edge and with the kind of discomfort that hits you at 3am.

I read this in one sitting for the Dead of Night readathon with InstaBookTours, Bantam Books, and 3AM Books.

[Josh Talbot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Random House UK, 3AM Books, C.N Vair and NetGalley for this ARC. Spoilers ahead.

Thanks to a delayed Ryanair flight, the first time anyone has said that sentence, I read this book in one in sitting. For three and a bit hours, I didn’t move. I was that enraptured by this book, of its like we rarely see. 3AM Books begin their new imprint with a book that will, indeed, keep you reading until 3AM.

Vair has created a masterpiece here. The perfect protagonist in my opinion, someone who you can see struggling to fight everything dark about them. Resisting at every turn, and when that inevitably fails, we don’t feel sad about it. We understand and empathise with her. She strived to be good, she tried everything in her power and yet again and again she seems to come up against insurmountable odds against her.

This is my ideal sort of horror, whilst there were parts that were dark and mysterious, it never became too gory. Vair never tries to shock you with the easy tropes of blood and gore, instead it creeps up on you like the vine’s of the sanctuary she protects. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, the narrative has such gorgeous gothic cobwebs laced through it. It combines that feminine rage that is often so stifled and people are scared to speak of, or even think of. Then combined that with the folklore of the forest, we naturally link the feminine witch to the forest and the woods and this takes that fairytale idea, and completely reimagines it. There are layers here of sadness as well, this is a person we might laugh at on social media, someone trying to just protect the environment that day after day is dying in our modern world.

The use of language and description allows you to fully recreate the world she lives in, I can almost see the spider like threads she pulls on, and imagine those in my own town and how that would look to only the. She is a true puppet master in some ways, just like the author, we are entirely in their spell.

A masterpiece. By far one of the best books I have read this year. I didn’t know what to expect, and this left me thinking long after I’d put it down. I’ll be raving about this for a long time.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

C. N. Vair’s novel, The Devil Knows Her Name was my most recent read and this witchy novel completely captivated me. Thank you to @berkleypub for the gifted arc.

🍂”The Devil came on the autumn equinox, as he always did.”🍂
After being attacked by a man she thought she loved, Tess Wynne makes a deal with the devil for her life. This Faustian bargain means she will never age and will be tied to the land where she almost died. Fast forward and she has turned this land into a wildlife sanctuary on the edge of a small Appalachian town. Here she has flourished and the spells she casts have kept it all safe.

First Tess finds a fawn- a strange creature born with a full set of teeth and a hunger for things it should t have. Then a new preacher comes to town and he looks just like the man who attacked her and he has plans to take over the land that Tess calls home. And the Devil still lurks around trying to tempt her with his promises to protect her. Her charms that have always protected her begin to fail and she feels her magic waning, buy Tess is strong and is determined to protect what is hers no matter what it takes.

This book begins with a coziness as we are introduced to Tess and her friends and you are pulled into the lovely world she has created for herself. Its darker elements are introduced slowly and as an unsettling atmosphere gradually grows so does Tess’s anger over what she might lose until it reaches a crescendo of feminine rage.

This book starts out slowly and the tension gradually increases until it explodes. I loved the character of Tess. She goes to dark places to fight for herself and what she holds dear and I appreciated that she had no limits as to what she was capable of doing to defend herself and her land.

This book is being promoted as a horror novel and it is definitely walking a fine line. I think by the end it does definitely enter into horror territory but it took a while to get there. But when it did it was so satisfying. This is a debut novel and I can’t wait to see what Vair does

[Megan Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how deeply I love this book! There are so many undertones, but the main one being that glorious feminine rage in a beautiful folk horror!

“Stupid, Stupid man. You don’t turn your back on a predator”

I personally felt this was a “good for her” villain, but she’s not really a villain is she? ..

Tess dances with the devil all her life, and all she wants is her peaceful corner of the world and her animals and friends. Is that too much to ask?! Of course it is, where there is a woman living on her own, there is always blame, The power of greedy men who want to consume and destroy, hide away their sins and bury anything that gets in their way, by masking it all under the name of righteousness.

The amount of times my heart broke for Tess, she tried and tried to do the best thing, but in the end I guess desperation can make monsters of us all, but in Tess’s case, I really felt that her spiral into the darker side of her moral compass was forced by others, and they all deserved her wrath. I don’t know what that says about me as a person, but I feel like a lot of women will empathise with Tess too.

I loved how atmospheric C N Vair’s writing is, it really has you imagining every part of this book so vividly, and the emotions it evokes are so visceral.

This book has a lot to unpack, the feeling towards women who don’t conform to the idealistic vision, and not just women, but any creature that doesn’t act as it should, the use of religion for power over others, what people hide and the lengths they go to keep their secrets. How friendships are very fragile things and how we turn ourselves into what we never thought we would, to try and protect what we love. All of this is so beautifully beautifully written.

[Michaela (Journey into Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The devil came on the autumn equinox, as he always did”

To say I was hooked from that opening sentence is an understatement and the slow build-up of tension throughout had me on the edge of my seat until the very end.

Fawn is the story of Tess, who sold her soul to the Devil, and is now trapped in a small town in the Appalachian Mountains. Every year, the Devil comes around offering her more power in exchange for gaining a stronger foothold in the world, but Tess isn’t prepared to give up the home she has built for herself or her wildlife sanctuary. That is, until she gets an unusual call to take in a fawn months after the usual baby season. A fawn that feels wrong from the get-go and may just be a herald of danger, as a stranger to town forces Tess into a corner and she must decide how far she is willing to go to protect what is hers.

Tess was a great character to read from, you really feel the love that she has for her sanctuary and her determination to fight for it. She is such a strong willed character, who refuses to bend to anyone or anything and steadfast in her resolve to forge her own path.
Then we have our Fawn who was unsettling from the get go, you can tell there is something off about her from the moment we are introduced. But despite knowing that there is nothing innocent about this creature, you can’t help but get drawn in alongside Tess.

The writing in this is so immersive and really draws you into the story, it’s slower paced and leaves you feeling unsettled throughout but I would have liked a little more on the horror aspect because it’s really start to assert itself until the last 100 or so pages.

Overall, this was just a great read, I love the intertwining of horror and nature and I gave it 4 stars.

I would like to thank the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fawn by C.N Vair - Review

"It's me and you now, my little abomination."

💫 3.75 Stars 💫

#AD
I received this e-arc for Project Horror with @instabooktours and @3.ambooks for the imprint launch. I received this e-arc to help promote the release of Fawn with 3am books on 26 August 2026 (so mark your calendar 📅) and in exchange for a review.

Synopsis:

Fawn follows Tess, a young woman who has made a deal with the devil and a daughter of women who practice folk witchcraft. Tess' actions start to catch up with her when she finds a roadkill deer with her stomach chewed open. The deer had been pregnant when killed, and the fawn had chewed its way out of her mothers stomach.... gross. Love it.

This book is marketed as a folk horror, and it is that. However, I would also categorise this as having elements of an urban fantasy horror or thriller, too. There's something for everyone!
While there are clear elements of horror in there (fawn, I'm look at you), I was expecting more horror vibes but this could be because I'd got myself set for a thorough spooking with Project Horror.
C.N. Vair's writing and narrative style are brilliant, and I would love to read more books by this author. It was certainly a selling point for me.
The scenes that were overtly horror were indeed UNSETTLING AND ICKY in the best way possible. Without spoiling, I will say fawn, squirrel barn. Yuck!

Thank you again to the author, publisher, and InstaBookTours for gifting me this e-arc and including me in Project Horror 🖤

[A Pixie Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faun by C.N. Vair completely exceeded my expectations, and considering how high those expectations already were, that’s saying something. Haunting, sinister, and filled with feminine rage, this is a beautifully written gothic folkloric horror that blends dark fantasy, folklore, and creeping dread into something unforgettable.

From the very first line, “The devil came on the autumn equinox, as he always did,” I was hooked. The tension builds slowly but relentlessly, creating an atmosphere that feels heavy with magic, decay, and something deeply wrong lurking beneath the surface. Rather than relying on nonstop gore or shock value, Faun embraces quiet horror. It’s eerie, immersive, and emotionally charged, the kind of story that slowly crawls under your skin and stays there.

Tess Wynne was such a compelling protagonist. Stubborn, impulsive, and fiercely protective, she felt incredibly human throughout the story. I became deeply invested in her connection to the forest, her wildlife sanctuary, and the strange little fawn at the centre of it all. Watching her anger, grief, and protectiveness evolve into something increasingly feral was both fascinating and heartbreaking.

One of the strongest aspects of this novel is its atmosphere. C.N. Vair creates a world filled with old bargains, unsettling folklore, strange creatures, and woods that seem alive with secrets. The writing is stunning and every part of the story feels carefully woven together. I also appreciated that this leans far more into folkloric and psychological horror than extreme horror. Readers expecting constant gore may find it quieter than anticipated, but personally I thought the slow-burn dread made it even more effective. The horror here feels existential, primal, and deeply rooted in nature.

And that ending? Absolutely phenomenal.

This would make such an incredible book club read because there’s so much to discuss: morality, sacrifice, survival, inheritance, and whether Tess was ever truly wrong for the choices she made. Faun asks what a woman must become to protect what she loves, and the answer it gives is sharp-toothed, unsettling, and unforgettable.

Thank you to 3AM books and InstaBookTours for letting me take part in Project Horror, and for providing me an ARC of this book to read and review

[Sazerina Wilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fawn is a haunting, slow-burning descent into something far darker and more primal than it first appears. What initially feels almost whimsical quickly sheds that skin the moment the fawn arrives and from there, the story tightens its grip with quiet, creeping intensity until it becomes impossible to look away.

C. N. Vair crafts a narrative that feels deeply rooted in folklore and raw natural instinct, where every page carries a sense of inevitability. The horror here isn’t just for shock, it’s purposeful, unsettling, and at times genuinely heart-wrenching. As Tess’ world begins to shift, so too does the tone, revealing something feral, emotional, and unflinchingly bold.
There’s a powerful undercurrent of transformation running throughout the novel, of inheritance, of survival, and of what it truly means to belong to the land. It’s disturbing in the way it needs to be, never holding back from the darker truths it explores, and that’s exactly what makes it so compelling.

By the end, Fawn leaves you hollowed out in the best possible way, emotionally spent, yet already longing to return to its world. Tess and her fawn linger long after the final page, their story refusing to let go. A beautifully dark, unforgettable read, and a clear sign that this is an author worth following closely.

[Jess Twibey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tess Wynne is a lot of things, strong, independent, secretive, a witch, a woman who takes care of injured animals and runs an animal sanctuary. Tess also sold her soul to the devil. I can’t blame her, it was a very rational thing to do after her experience and every year the devil returns to offer her more, but tess knows the price to be paid and always turns him down. She keeps her magic strong with nature and uses it to protect the animals and to a lesser extent the town people. Two things happen that change her life forever, first she finds a fawn, a cute little thing born in the wrong season. Born may be the wrong word, but this fawn was coming into the world one way or another and like Tess it has its secrets. Secondly a new first arrives in town, hell bent on swaying the people and destroying her power. Worse still he’s the descendant of the man who hurt her so many years ago. Zeke may be a priest, but from the first time we meet him I already hate him and the way he runs his house, an odd wife living under his thumb and a caring son trying to escape from his parents hate and judgement. In my head this story could’ve gone a much bloodier and murderous way, the way Tess deals with it all is much more restraint but even she has her limits. But she knows to do what must be done for herself and her animals she must protect them at any costs, as the town people turn against her and the priest tries to take away her land she must decide just how far she’ll go, and just what it’ll take for her to take the power she needs. If I’m being honest Tess was too nice, she tried to play by the people’s rules as if she was one of them, but she never was, people always disappoint, I do wish Tess the witch and her abomination of a fawn had taught these town folk a lesson they’d never forget - maybe it’s a good job I never had Tess’s power

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that gets under your skin without really trying. From the very beginning there’s this uneasy feeling that something is off, like you’re being gently led into something that isn’t going to end well… but you keep turning the pages anyway.

Tess is a witch,. She’s also an animal control officer and has created this strange, almost comforting sanctuary for animals that don’t quite feel normal. That’s where things start to blur, especially when we meet the fawn. At first you almost want to dismiss it, small, fragile, awkward little thing with those spindly legs, but there’s an instant sense that it’s not what it appears to be. And that doubt just sits there in the back of your mind.

When the new pastor arrives with his family, everything tightens. He’s one of those characters you instantly dislike, and honestly, that reaction feels deliberate. He brings a heaviness into the story that shifts everything into darker territory, and from that point on it really leans into that creeping sense of dread.

If you like folklore style horror that doesn’t rush you, this is exactly that. It’s slow burn, but not in a boring way, it’s more like watching something rot slowly in real time while everyone insists everything is fine. You just know it isn’t.
It’s creepy, unsettling, and quietly addictive.

[East of Reality · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully horrible book. It skillfully builds up the tension, ratcheting up the stakes and the suspense, building and building the pressure as Tess faces a town slowly turning against her as friends, allies, even indifferent townsfolk suddenly seem to feel nothing but hatred for her. She has no allies, and worse, no power to stop the invasion into her life.

And then the book ends.

The first two thirds are so strong, so well written, and so good at what they’re doing … but the final third feels rushed and convenient. The sacrifices Tess makes aren’t given any weight because it’s an almost expected thing; she’ll do this and that and the other, and get her way and there you go. But it leaves me feeling flat because there’s no catharsis. I feel like so much of the final third of the book is missing and I’m unsatisfied, especially since it was so wonderfully unpleasant before. I wanted an on page conclusion, I wanted any confrontation, I wanted any resolution.

I didn’t get it. I got a shrug, and I can’t help but shrug in return. However, because of the first two thirds, I’m going to be keeping an eye on this author in the hopes that their next book will have the same effortless writing, the same exquisite sense of tension and character work, but hopefully a better ending. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

[caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to apply for a NetGalley ARC on a whim, and I’m very fortunate that I was approved. Fawn hooked me from the first few sentences and tightened its grip until the very last page. As a lover of the macabre, a story set in the Appalachian woods with a mix of folklore, a little gore, and all the raw emotion created a world I found myself wanting to protect as well.

Tess is such a compelling character. Watching her balance fear, responsibility, and this growing wildness inside her was honestly my favourite part. The horror isn’t just in the creature she finds (which, by the way, is very cute). It is in what the world demands of her and what she has to become to survive it. I was surprised by how deeply attached I became to this story. Beneath the folklore and horror, there is a raw exploration of belonging, grief, and the instinct to protect what one loves, even when the cost is high.

C. N. Vair’s writing is captivating and atmospheric without ever dragging. Each scene feels intentional, and the Appalachian setting is so vividly drawn that the magic and the land almost become characters in their own right. I am already looking forward to reading more of Vair’s work, and I know I will be thinking about Tess and her fawn for a long time.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

After finishing Fawn by C.N. Vair, I was a tad stunned to learn that this was a debut novel — it was certainly an impressive one.

This is a book that grabbed my attention from the opening sentence, and what a sentence it was. The first few chapters were a delightful world-building exercise as well as a warm introduction to the citizens of the dying town of Burrsville.

The vibe was, dare I say, gothically cosy with no little amount of whimsy thrown in for good measure. All of that, however, went flying out the window once two particular characters entered the fray. After that, the atmosphere soured and became oppressive — each page ratcheting up the tension and adding a creeping sense of dread as the story strolled toward its conclusion. And it did not go where I thought it would.

Fawn is not out-and-out horror, full of blood, guts, and gore. It's much quieter and more subtle than that. This is folk horror — full of symbolism, heavy in atmosphere, with some deeply unsettling imagery. Despite the magical and supernatural elements, the real horror lies in the nature of the characters themselves.

Looking forward to more works from Vair on the back of this.

With thanks to Random House for the ARC.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

An eerie and evocative folk horror debut that deserves a place on everyone’s TBRs right now!

C.N. Vair’s writing was so beautiful and really made the story come alive. It paired so well with the setting, and truly made the forest/sanctuary feel like its own entity; creating such an atmospheric and haunting read!

The fawn was such a powerful symbol, one that is so rich in interpretation and that I believe each reader will be able take something different from! (She was also really cute and can do no wrong in my eyes😭)

Tess’s magic was so unique and really added to the atmosphere of the novel. Her character arc was brilliant and I often found myself angry and frustrated on her behalf.

I found the middle of the story a little slow at times, however the last 25% fully made up for it. This was when the tone shifted from eerie to horrific, and it made all the difference! The way the storyline and elements came together was so creative and calculating, and I was so pleased with how this ended!

Overall, I absolutely loved Fawn, and will definitely be checking out more of C.N. Vair’s work in future!

Thank you so much to 3AM Books and NetGalley for this ARC <3

[Hollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and 3AM Books for the ARC copy of Fawn.

A 5‑star read.

Days have passed since I finished Fawn, and it hasn't let me go. Witchcraft, Appalachian folklore, and the silent, unsettling dread of a girl being moulded into something she never chose are all interwoven in Fawn. Tess's tale is bathed in a profound, painful sadness that settles into your ribcage and doesn't go away.

What intrigued me was how Vair portrays the ruthlessness of those who cannot tolerate what they are unable to control. Tess is not simply harmed, she is remade by that harm. Her witchcraft isn’t a gift or a destiny it’s a wound that grows teeth, a power born from the violence done to her. Watching her transformation felt both devastating and inevitable.

The grief of this book is quiet but relentless. I found myself mourning the version of Tess that might have existed if the world had been kinder to her. There’s a tenderness in the way Vair writes her a reminder that monstrousness is often something forced upon women long before they ever choose it.

Fawn is beautiful, brutal, and unforgettable. It’s the kind of story that doesn’t just end it settles into you.

[Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

With it being set in an Appalachian setting, I was expecting a bit more from what I've heard the Appalachian villages and such are like. Such as hearing skinwalkers outside, random screaming that sort of that thing. That didn't happen here, but I'm not disappointed. Tess was the perfect example of feminine rage, refusing to bow down to the whims of men. She makes a deal with the devil, and makes it known, repeatedly, that he has no power over her.

It was never fully understood if the fawn was one of the devil's creatures, but I think it probably likely that she was and perhaps that's why Tess was so drawn to her.

Zeke, I think, was just a normal man wanting what was his. He lived outside the realm of Tess' influence so it only makse sense that he was able to discover the secret she was so desperate so hide. I do ish the devil was a bit more devil-y though.

This is my honest opinion, I thank the publishers for granting me an arc.

[Izzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely, shockingly, brilliant.

I had no expectations going in other than excitement for a new sub-genre of horror. I’ve been in a folk horror mood, and this certainly whet my appetite.

The writing itself is flawless; I flew through this as Vair writes with such descriptive clarity, I was never confused or needed to re-read a section.

I loved the relationship between Tess and the Devil. No spoilers - but I loved that Tess defines the relationship to suit her, on her terms. Is it a relationship at all?

I have been waiting for a book where the FMC doesn’t pursue a redemption ARC. She is rooted firmly (pun intended) in her beliefs and her motives, and I absolutely loved that Tess was unrelenting in pursuing them.

This book has twists and turns and I could not put it down. It was utterly dark, delicious & expertly written. Immediately added to one of my favourite books of all time.

[Rosie Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fawn is an incredibly atmospheric, eerie folktale in an Appalachian setting. With simmering female rage that stays ready to erupt, it almost feels inspirational.

Okay, so it’s a horror and obviously there’s some pretty unpleasant darkness to the story. But I’m just saying. I love to see women (and fawns) in male dominated fields.

This is one of my favourite kinds of books: Unsettling women doing unsettling things.

Tess is fiercely protective of the vulnerable, and resentful of the small-town small-mindedness she lives within. The ritualistic magical realism is intense, the setting feels wild and cut off from the rest of the world. Tess and the fawn make an unexpected pair; seemingly gentle, but unsettlingly sharp.

Fawn is a slow, creeping horror that feels like an overgrown forest. It’s wild, tense and eerie, and I love it.

🌿 Feral female rage
🦴 Nature vs. Man
🦌 Folk horror
🌲 Eerie, slow-burn tension
🕯️ Rituals & green magic

[*✧･ﾟ:* leah *:･ﾟ✧* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this arc!

I really, really enjoyed this one. This is a gothic folktale horror with the slightest hint of fantasy and the barest crumb of romance.

The Appalachian setting mixed with the gothic nature of the story was unlike anything I have ever read, and the setting was so rich and captivating. I think this, paired with our main character Tess's green magic, created such vibrant imagery.

In terms of the story itself, this was a tale of female rage and survival. Tess has spent decades creating and caring for her sanctuary, and she will let nothing and no one take it away from her, even if it means making deals with the devil. Although some of her methods became a bit unorthadox i couldn't help but root for her.

I did expect the fawn to have a more sinister tie-in, but that's not to say I didn't also enjoy the journey that element of the story took.

All in all really enjoyed this one!!

[Lauren Book Witch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pub date: 8/25/26 “The Devil Knows Her Name,” is a witchy eco-horror all about tricking the devil and claiming what’s yours. Also, deer are freaky little creatures and you should respect your local wildlife. Tess has followed the footsteps of her witchy mother and grandmother before her. A long line of women who have come in contact with the Devil. But Tess has made herself a sanctuary in the woods. Trying to put that awful deal she made behind her. She runs her own wildlife sanctuary and tries to keep to herself. But when she discovers a faun with a full mouth of teeth things are about to get strange. Tess tries to protect the creature but mistrust is brewing in the small town of Burrsville and the Devil is always one step ahead. As tensions escalate Tess must harness her own magic and save what she holds dear. #appalachianhorror #ecohorror #arc

[Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars. What a phenomenal debut novel. A magical mix of whimsy, revenge, magic, horror verging on the uncomfortable and something that truly called to my soul. I was hooked from the first line and I could not put it down or stop thinking about it. I think Tess's story (and her fawn) is going to stay with me forever. I found the story haunting and somewhat whimsical to begin with but as the story progressed it descended into something deeper and more feral.

* forest setting
* the devil on the doorstep
* witchcraft that feels so real
* morally grey FMC
* a story which is rooted in nature and folklore
* feminine rage with revenge

Thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
--
"It's you and me now, my little abomination."

[Missy (myweereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The strangest thing about impending doom was that life had to go on despite it."

C.N. Vair's debut is about Tess, she has made a deal with the devil to stay in the only home she’s ever known. Tending to her wildlife sanctuary, she keeps the land and its people safe. However every winter the devil returns with an ask that Tess always refuses. Zeke Abdee is the new pastor to this town. A pastor who likes to mould people to his will, he begins to turn the townspeople against Tess to claim her land. She fights with her magic all the while the devil is biding his time watching...

I did not know what to expect when I picked this up but I was definitely entertained by how beautifully this story was written. The details with the characters and the setting truly made this a dark folk horror story.

Many thanks to @3.ambooks for the arc.

[Luke Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know what I was expecting but this was right up my street 🙌🏻
A tale of survival, witchery and deals with the devil.
Tess is a force to behold and all she wants is for her animal sanctuary to continue being a safe place and there’s hell to pay for anybody who tries to take it from her.
Cue a few new arrivals in town, one being a rather bloodthirsty little Fawn that has slightly too many teeth, and a pastor who has family ties back to Tess’s history.
As usual, we get a pig of a man in a position of power who will take what he wants and use God as his defence.
Tess ain’t having it.

So good! Incredibly easy to read, you feel that anxiety when things start to fall apart around Tess and the uncertainty of what this hungry Fawn will do next but y’know what? I loved that little Fawn and everything she represented.

Top marks for my first folk horror 🩸