Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire coming August 5th, 2025 from Page Street YA; 336 pages
Content Warning: Violence
About the Author: “Don Martin is the author of Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire, The Dabbler’s Guide to Witchcraft, while I wait to be a god again, and The Playground with more books on the way. He is also the host of the podcast Head On Fire, which speaks to experts in overlooked or misunderstood fields. He lives on a horse ranch just outside Chicago with his husband and their many, many pets. His literary agent is Kate Davids of ARC Literary Management” (Bio from author’s website).
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When apprentice witch Verity Vox and her cat-familiar Jack discover a mysterious leaf that reads “We are cursed. Help us,” they’re pulled into a mystery that leads them to the forgotten town of Foxfire. There, Verity is welcomed by Gilly, a young woman who offers her shelter—and a glimpse into the town’s troubles. People are vanishing in the mountains, the town’s only bridge has collapsed, and all signs point to a shady, mysterious, and magical man named Earl. Determined to break the curse and uncover the truth, Verity digs deeper only to find Tacita—the girl who summoned her to Foxfire. As Verity’s power grows stronger, so do her feelings for Tacita. With the fate of Foxfire in Verity’s hands, she must stay focused, but her heart strays and longs for connection, knowing that once she saves the people of the town, she must leave and continue her journey as an apprentice.
This middle-grade fantasy has an irresistible cozy vibe that’s perfect for a rainy day. With flying brooms, rich folklore, and a cast of unique characters, it offers an appealing atmosphere. I especially loved Jack as Verity’s cat-familiar, and my favorite whimsical element was that Verity sings her spells, which made the magic even more enchanting. I appreciated the cast of strong female characters, especially Verity. I also fell in love with the setting of Foxfire—gloomy, eerie, and cozy—which evoked the nostalgia of a supernatural show taking place in the 1900s. The sapphic romance between Verity and Tacita was another highlight. It was slow-burn, subtle, and sweet. That said, the pacing felt slower than I anticipated. It took a while for Verity to confront the curse, which made it harder to stay engaged. The writing also felt flat at times. I’m not sure if that’s due to the third-person narration or the middle-grade tone, but I did find myself wishing for more emotional depth. Overall, I felt it was a magical story and great for younger audiences. If you’re looking for something adventurous, sapphic, and similar to Studio Ghibli’s Kiki’s Delivery Service, this is the perfect book for you!
Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire releases on August 5th, 2025.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Page Street YA for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Anasofia Alejandro, Pine Reads Review Writer