The Devil Knows Her Name

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

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 25, 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

[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."

[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.

[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.

[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

[Olivia Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can see myself coming back to this book every time the summer swells with the kind of heat that comes before the cold drop—because that’s how this book felt.

At no point did I wish this book went in a different direction. Every choice felt purposeful and careful, and though I can see this not being a read everyone is comfortable with (namely some of the treatment of animals), I found it absolutely incredible.

I appreciate that the devil was hot, obviously, but there was nothing cheesy about it. He was almost just some normal dude, and it was the inherently “normal dude” that was really evil and disgusting (can’t say I’m shocked).

I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy and keep it in my bag to read any time I miss the feeling it gave me.

[Hannah Jung · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️
A deal with a devil, witchy herby spells, and a feral fawn.

This wasn’t as dark as I expected. It was set in a small town (billed as an Appalachian horror, but could have been anywhere), and mainly focused on Tess’s animal sanctuary. She’s been living trapped in that town for 82 years after selling her soul to the devil in order to stay alive, but I’m not sure how she was happy to rescue baby squirrels and raccoons all that time without going crazy.

It built to a dramatic finale, with a bit of murder and sacrifice, but it was a slow process. I needed more drama, more of the devil character (where was he most of the story?), and generally more to get my teeth into (like the deer).

You’d enjoy this if you like animal rescue stories, small town politics, and a bit of plant-lore.

[Morgan Dante · Rating 5 out of 5]

The biggest flaw of C.N. Vair’s Soutbern horror book The Devil Knows Her Name is that it ends. That’s it, really. As a Southerner, and as someone who lived in the mountains for many years, I was enthralled by the dark Appalachian world shown here. I am a big fan of the entity in fiction known as the “messed up deer.” The scary deer. So, this was the perfect book for me. Also, I loved Tess as a protagonist. There is both a sharpness and a gentleness in the book. It isn’t afraid to be tender and then cruel. It’s dark, biting, moody, atmospheric. It has a strong Faustian element, and yet it subverts even that. I cannot recommend it enough.

[Bryony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark fantasy horror about a fawn and a woman who finds herself, her animals and her way of life under threat. From the start we know there is something not quite right about our protagonist Tess, she is mysterious with witchcraft being her art. This has small town vibes but with this dark undertone, by the end there is still this air of mystery around her and how she came to be. This story is atmospheric, spooky and cruel. However with this cruel element there is a tenderness around how the animals are woven into this story, and their role within it.

[Sarah Faichney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not my usual type of read. I chose it because of Bantam Books brilliant teaser campaign (complete with playlist!) via Instagram. And boy, am I so glad that I did! ‘Fawn’ captivated me from that iconic opening line. It's a beautifully written book, brimming with atmosphere. C.N. Vair has shot straight to the top of my list of instant-read authors. No spoilers but I loved the setting, supporting cast of characters and the thread of feminism and opposition to patriarchy running through each page. Wonderful!

[Gregor Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This slow burn, Appalachian folk horror is a wonderful story that explores the fears of being yourself and standing out from the crowd. Do you blend in and avoid hassle or stand up for yourself and bring the potential for bigger drama?

Its atmospheric style is perfect for its natural setting, with just enough peril and danger to mimic the cruelty of nature.

A wonderful story and thanks to NetGalley and Random house for letting me read it!

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this one surprised me! I really enjoyed this book. It’s very unique, and super atmospheric. A spooky eco-horror swamp gothic modern small town (green) witch story, with a bit of devil seduction on the side. Very well written, no critiques, this novel really hits the spot!

[Cassidy]

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC! The Devil Knows Her Name by C.N. Vair comes out on August 25, 2026.

[Robyn]

Reading List 2026 #30

[★ molly ★]

e-arc received