The Dark Tide
The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska, published by Sourcebooks Fire in 2020, is a young adult fantasy novel that explores themes of sacrifice and love against a backdrop of dark magic. Set on the island city of Caldella, the story follows Lina Kirk as she races against time to save her brother from the Witch Queen’s annual sacrifice. With a page count of 336, this edition presents a gripping narrative that intertwines elements of fairy tales and folklore with a contemporary LGBTQ+ romance.
Readers will find a tale that delves into the complexities of relationships and the choices individuals must make in dire circumstances. As Lina offers herself to the queen in exchange for her brother’s freedom, unexpected feelings develop between her and Queen Eva, challenging their initial perceptions of each other. The narrative weaves together themes of family, sacrifice, and dark fantasy, inviting readers into a world where love and survival are intricately linked as the dark tide threatens to engulf them.
Official synopsis Publisher
A gripping, dark enemies to lovers LGBTQ+ YA fantasy about two girls who must choose between saving themselves, each other, or their sinking island home.
Every year on St. Walpurga’s Eve, Caldella’s Witch Queen lures a boy back to her palace. An innocent life to be sacrificed on the full moon to keep the island city from sinking.
Lina Kirk is convinced her brother is going to be taken this year. To save him, she enlists the help of Thomas Lin, the boy she secretly loves, and the only person to ever escape from the palace. But they draw the queen’s attention, and Thomas is chosen as the sacrifice.
Queen Eva watched her sister die to save the boy she loved. Now as queen, she won’t make the same mistake. She’s willing to sacrifice anyone if it means saving herself and her city.
When Lina offers herself to the queen in exchange for Thomas’s freedom, the two girls await the full moon together. But Lina is not at all what Eva expected, and the queen is nothing like Lina envisioned. Against their will, they find themselves falling for each other as water floods Caldella’s streets and the dark tide demands its sacrifice.
Perfect for fans of:
- The Wicked Deep and A Curse So Dark and Lonely
- Witchy tales
- Dark fantasy fiction
- LGBTQ books
- Enemies to lovers romance
Praise for The Dark Tide:
“Striking the perfect balance, The Dark Tide demands to be read in one held breath as its tide bears down on all.”–Foreword, Starred Review
“A dark scenic adventure, sensitively written for romantics, Jasinska’s debut novel is a fantasy of promises, betrayal, unrequited love, and black magic.”–School Library Journal, Starred Review
“The Dark Tide is the dark, queer fantasy of your dreams that’s part beauty and the beast, part something entirely new and original… a lush world that begs to be lived in… It’s beautiful, and fast paced, and everything I ever want from a fairy tale.”–Cat VanOrder, Bookmarks (Winston-Salem, NC)
“Fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope will be ecstatic with this book…The Dark Tide offers an exciting and immersive story with a strong feminist slant that subverts common YA tropes and forges its own original path.”–The Nerd Daily
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