The Devil Knows Her Name by C.N. Vair

I was so excited to get the opportunity to read an ARC of The Devil Knows Her Name by C.N. Vair. Folk horror is one of my favorite subgenres of horror, and the premise of a witch who sold her soul to the devil, a fawn with a unique appetite, and an Appalachian setting was more than enough to pique my interest. 

In this debut novel, we follow Tess, a witch who lives in a small Appalachian town on a remote property where she runs a wildlife sanctuary. Having sold her soul to the devil years ago to save herself from a violent experience with a man, she remains on the very land that she grew up on. Though descended from a line of cautious witches who advised Tess to be as small and unobtrusive as possible, she finds herself speaking her mind and using her long history with the town for its betterment. Until one day, a new pastor and his family show up, threatening to upend everything she has worked for lifetimes to build. Around this same time, Tess, also animal control officer of Burrsville, gets a call about an orphaned fawn. The more time she spends with the animal, the more unusual she realizes it is.

Tess is such a cathartic character to read, with her strong backbone, sharp tongue, her allegiance to justice and unyielding love for creatures smaller than her. She holds her own and takes no shit, and I was continuously in awe of her as I read this book. Tess is a woman who doesn’t shy away from darker emotions that could be perceived as ugly or unbecoming, whose inheritance could easily have been fear.

The setting is so well described and visceral, the sanctuary and the town of Burrsville easily coming to life in my mind. Tess’s home and wildlife sanctuary, filled with a variety of animals and native fauna, feels like such a respite from the rest of the world. I loved how entwined Tess’s magic was with the nature around her. Her witchcraft, rituals, and knowledge of the land she lives on is so absorbing to read about.

There’s a lot of symbolism throughout the book, with the fawn and the landscape mirroring so much of Tess’s own experiences and internal world. There are so many layers to wade through, and I’m still lingering in the deep waters of this story. The writing is atmospheric and beautiful, making this slow burn so compulsive and readable. The second half of this book is very tense, barely giving the reader room to breathe in anticipation of what will happen. I really appreciated how unique and unpredictable it was; any time I had an idea of what might happen, the plot took a turn and truly surprised me, keeping me continuously on my toes. The rage and dread builds throughout the book, and I loved the ending so much.

Breaking cycles, feminine rage, the nature of power, and the importance of respecting and loving the natural world around us are themes that I’m left contemplating after reading The Devil Knows Her Name. Tess, and her story, contain a powerful mixture of dagger-like sharpness and the gentleness of a fawn’s dappled coat that is so effective, and oh so hard to shake.