MY REVIEW
I love the title, The Devil Knows Her Name by C N Vair. It definitely caught my attention, so I had to grab a copy and find out for myself what it means. It is an appropriate title and it is true. The devil does know Tess Wynne. When she died, she made a deal with the devil, and once a year he returns and offers her more power so he can get a foothold in the human world. So far, she has not succumbed to his pleas.
“I would do anything to live, I thought. I was desperate and the devil heard me.”
Tess runs a wildlife sanctuary and uses her magic to protect it from human influence.
A new pastor comes to town and wants the land her sanctuary stands on.
C N Vair is a new author for me, and she did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Tess Wynne. The story was suitably dark and gruesome, as any battle with a demon would be. The good versus evil scenario plays out and…you will need to find out for yourself.
GOODREADS BLURB
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 locals’ attention. Freshly arrived Zeke Abdee, the town’s new pastor, begins to sinisterly mold 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…
- Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Gothic, Horror, Mystery, Witches
- 360 pages, Hardcover
- Published August 25, 2026 by Berkley
ABOUT C N VAIR
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.
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