
The Fox and the Devil
An obsession with a beautiful serial killer entangles a vampire hunter's daughter in an immortal sapphic romance in this mesmerising new gothic fantasy from the bestselling author of Lucy Undying. Anneke has a complicated relationship with her father, Abraham Van Helsing - doctor, scientist, and madman devoted to studying vampires - up until the night she comes home to find him murdered, with a surreally beautiful woman looming over his body. It soon becomes clear that her father isn't the only inexplicably dead body. So, obsessed with vengeance, and armed with the latest in forensic and investigatory techniques, Anneke puts together a team of detectives to catch her mysterious serial killer. But, for reasons even she can't explain, Anneke keeps some crucial evidence to herself: infuriatingly coy letters, addressed only to her, occasionally soaked in blood, and always signed Diavola. Devil. The obsession is mutual, and all the more dangerous for it. And the closer Anneke gets to her devil, the less sense the world makes. Could her father have been right all along? Could Diavola be something even more deadly than a serial killer? Because as Anneke unearths more of Diavola's tragic past, she suspects there's still a heart somewhere in that undead body. A heart that beats for Anneke alone.
About This Book
The Fox and the Devil is a fantasy romance novel by Kiersten White, first published in 2025 by Penguin Random House NZ. It runs 358 pages. Readers can expect enemies to lovers, forbidden romance; sweet heat; a slow burn and emotional tone.
At a glance
- Genre
- Fantasy
- Trope
- Enemies to Lovers
- Heat
- Sweet
- Mood
- Slow Burn
- Published
- 2025
- Length
- 358 pages
Where to read or listen
Get The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- The daughter of Abraham Van Helsing embarks on a dark, obsessive game of cat and mouse with the beautiful vampire who murdered her father.
- Fans of gothic horror
- Readers who enjoy dark sapphic romance
- Intense
- Features Enemies to Lovers
This may not be ideal if…
- Readers seeking lighthearted romance
- Readers sensitive to parental death
- Readers who prefer high-heat contemporary romance
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Tropes
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: Gothic Romance
Pairing: F/F
Power balance: Imbalanced (Immortal Vampire vs. Mortal Human)
Age gap: Centuries (Immortal/Vampire vs. Young Adult)
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
High tension, high angst.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
May not suit
Recommended audience: Adult
Content Guidance
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Anneke has spent her life in the shadow of her father’s madness and his obsession with vampires. When she finds him dead at the hands of a hauntingly beautiful woman, Anneke assembles a team of detectives to bring the killer to justice. However, a secret correspondence between Anneke and the mysterious 'Diavola' suggests that the hunter and the hunted are becoming inextricably linked. In this gothic fantasy, the line between scientist and monster blurs as Anneke discovers the beating heart within her father’s greatest enemy.
Central Conflict
Anneke's internal struggle between her duty to avenge her father and her growing, inexplicable obsession with his killer, Diavola.
Setting
A gothic, historical fantasy setting, likely Victorian-era inspired given the Van Helsing lineage.
Themes
Strengths
- High-stakes psychological tension
- Atmospheric gothic prose
- Unique subversion of the Van Helsing mythos
- Compelling cat-and-mouse dynamic
Consider before reading
- Potential for a tragic or ambiguous ending
- High angst levels may be heavy for some readers
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Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
Which theme — Lucy Undying — resonated most strongly with you, and why?
- 3
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 4
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 5
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 6
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 7
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- August 30, 2026
- Confidence:
- Moderate confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
What Readers Say
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- Penguin Random House NZ
- Published
- 2025
- Length
- 358 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9781529917710
- ISBN-10
- 1529917719
The Fox and the Devil: quick answers
- Who wrote The Fox and the Devil?
- The Fox and the Devil was written by Kiersten White.
- When was The Fox and the Devil published?
- The Fox and the Devil was first published in 2025 by Penguin Random House NZ.
- What genre is The Fox and the Devil?
- The Fox and the Devil is a fantasy romance novel, with enemies to lovers, forbidden romance.
- How many pages is The Fox and the Devil?
- The Fox and the Devil is 358 pages long.
- How spicy is The Fox and the Devil?
- EIKNA rates The Fox and the Devil as sweet heat.
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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