The Fox and the Devil Book Review

There’s something about a good sapphic romance that pulls me in. Add in vampires and a Victorian setting, and the draw is nearly irresistible. So when I had the chance to read “The Fox and the Devil,” by Kiersten White, I was pumped. But how did I like it? Let’s jump into this review.

A Lady Detective in a Man’s World

We start by meeting our main character, Anneke. She’s a smart young 20-something who investigates murders in her free time in late 19th-century Amsterdam. Pretty cool, right? Don’t worry, she’ll go on to tell you numerous times how tough it is to have this career as a woman, and how she’s not respected by the men in her field.

But we never see anything but cordial respect from her male colleagues. In fact, I don’t think there’s ever a time when they even doubt her prowess, let alone disagree with her. This does not match at all with what we are told. The dichotomy was a bit tough to witness and gave the novel a sense of faux feminism.

We also learn that Anneke’s had numerous lovers – of both sexes. Disregarding how completely inappropriate all of this (homosexuality, sexual promiscuity, etc.) would be for the time, the way it is announced to the reader is clunky and a prime example of how to tell, not show. I would have loved to have been able to infer Anneke’s orientation based on her interactions with Diavola (more on that later), or even her admiring a random man or woman in a crowd.

I think these are a few examples of how the writing here is weak. Much of the story feels watered down and spoon-fed to us instead of letting the reader come to conclusions on their own.

I also thought the characters were flat and hollow. I’m writing this review a few weeks after finishing the book, and to be honest, I can’t remember any of the side characters’ names or a single personality trait they had. None of them stood out – they were all simply there to support Anneke in her journey and be there to push the plot forward. Remove or replace them, and it really wouldn’t change anything.

Diavola the Devil, Not the Pizza

It isn’t long before we’re introduced to Diavola – or at least, the idea of her. The woman in white who lurks in the shadows is an ethereal being Anneke believes is responsible for her father’s death. As the story unwinds, the two catch each other’s eyes, and Diavola haunts Anneke with letters written just for her. Anneke chases her across Europe, but always seems to be one step behind.

Their connection – however unwarranted – was the thing I liked most about this novel. I could feel the passion between the two, the lust seeping across the years. I won’t spoil the ultimate outcome, but know that there’s no 🔥spice 🔥here, if that’s what you’re seeking.

Diavola was by far the most interesting character in this novel, and I would almost have preferred that the tale took place from her eyes. We do eventually learn more about who she is and her past, but I’d love to see even beyond that.

Will You Like “The Fox and the Devil”?

Overall, I think “The Fox and the Devil” definitely drags a bit until you get past the murder investigations and into the more paranormal action. Once that happened, it was hard to put the book down. While it’s clear the author did put a lot of thought and research into mapping out how a turn-of-the-century Europe would be, I still felt the characters didn’t feel like they really belonged in that time. Still, the action was entertaining, the atmosphere good, and the plot sustaining (eventually). If you’re a fan of other sapphic vampire novels like “An Education in Malice,” I think this will be exactly your speed.