What do you think?
Rate this book
A Fate Worse Than Drowning
Not yet published
Expected 21 Jul 26One deal with the devil makes a fool. Two? A villain...
A year ago, Elle made a deal with the devil to save her sister. Now, they live on a desolate spit of land beyond Halifax harbor. Elle, as lighthouse keeper, steers unsuspecting sailors to their destruction; those are the terms of her bargain. Liney need never know the cost. Her safety is worth every drop of blood.
But a sinner’s pact is not so simple. When the devil returns, demanding more – more shipwrecks, no survivors – Elle knows what she must do to keep Liney safe...
Another ship. Another crew killed in the devil’s name.
Then a woman washes ashore. Is she a soul to be sacrificed, or part of a darker design? As Liney and the stranger grow closer, Elle faces an impossible choice: kill, and break Liney’s heart, or forfeit her own soul.
Danger arises from all sides: the merciless sea, ruthless men on the mainland, and the infernal bargain itself…
Souls and sisterhood, fate and fire – what must be sacrificed for the devil to get his due?
A year ago, Elle made a deal with the devil to save her sister. Now, they live on a desolate spit of land beyond Halifax harbor. Elle, as lighthouse keeper, steers unsuspecting sailors to their destruction; those are the terms of her bargain. Liney need never know the cost. Her safety is worth every drop of blood.
But a sinner’s pact is not so simple. When the devil returns, demanding more – more shipwrecks, no survivors – Elle knows what she must do to keep Liney safe...
Another ship. Another crew killed in the devil’s name.
Then a woman washes ashore. Is she a soul to be sacrificed, or part of a darker design? As Liney and the stranger grow closer, Elle faces an impossible choice: kill, and break Liney’s heart, or forfeit her own soul.
Danger arises from all sides: the merciless sea, ruthless men on the mainland, and the infernal bargain itself…
Souls and sisterhood, fate and fire – what must be sacrificed for the devil to get his due?
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication July 21, 2026
27 people are currently reading
11197 people want to read
About the author
Sarah L. Hawthorn
4 books54 followersSarah L. Hawthorn is a Canadian horror and speculative fiction writer. Her debut novel, A FATE WORSE THAN DROWNING, will be published by Sourcebooks in 2026.
She holds a bachelor’s in public relations from Mount Saint Vincent University and has worked across federal, healthcare, secondary education, and tech fields. Their short fiction has been featured in The Arcanist and the Queer Blades anthology by From the Farther Trees Press.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys watercolour painting, video games, and swimming. Sarah lives in Halifax/Kjipuktuk, Nova Scotia, a maritime locale full of spooky folklore they've been devouring since elementary school.
She holds a bachelor’s in public relations from Mount Saint Vincent University and has worked across federal, healthcare, secondary education, and tech fields. Their short fiction has been featured in The Arcanist and the Queer Blades anthology by From the Farther Trees Press.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys watercolour painting, video games, and swimming. Sarah lives in Halifax/Kjipuktuk, Nova Scotia, a maritime locale full of spooky folklore they've been devouring since elementary school.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
May 29, 2025
"Everyone has read A FATE WORSE THAN DROWNING" a statistical anomaly. Average person hasn't yet read A FATE WORSE THAN DROWNING because it doesn't come out until 2026. Spooky Author Sarah, who lives in a haunted island lighthouse owned by the Devil and has read the book 10,000 times, is an outlier and should not have been counted.
Want to read
January 22, 2026: ̗̀➛ Pre-read: I got an arc??? 🫢
My very first one!! Super duper surprised honestly, but soooo excited to dive into this horror gothic fantasy! 😍
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
My very first one!! Super duper surprised honestly, but soooo excited to dive into this horror gothic fantasy! 😍
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
January 7, 2026Loading more horror and sci-fi/fantasy
Many thanks to NetGalley, Poisoner Pen Press and the author, Sarah L. Hawthorn for the early eARC!
Publication date: July 21, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley, Poisoner Pen Press and the author, Sarah L. Hawthorn for the early eARC!
Publication date: July 21, 2026
Want to read
December 21, 2025omg I love this cover so much
going on the TBR right now
going on the TBR right now
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.
Sarah L. Hawthorn’s A Fate Worse Than Drowning is effective Canadian lighthouse horror that centers the complicated relationship between two sisters. I love how Elle and Liney are juxtaposed and act as foils, although I was admittedly most intrigued by Elle and her contending with her inner darkness and her dealings with the Devil—I know, big surprise! What can I say? Faustian stories are great but often center men and their ambitions for knowledge, fulfillment, or power; we focus on Faust and not Gretchen, who is similar to him, but because of her stated place in society where she's made to be the caretaker for her family and then scorned when she becomes pregnant, she doesn’t get the same opportunities. She never got to be a renowned professor or travel the world and therefore be tired from learning all she can know. So, in this Faustian story, I’m happy to have a book that centers Elle and her relationship with her sister, especially Elle’s codependence on Liney because she needs to be her sister’s protector after all she lost and thinks that Liney cannot exist without her.
I have complicated feelings on this topic of Faustian stories and power. On one hand, I think because of social barriers, a woman’s search for knowledge and power, often derided in stories of witchcraft, is frowned upon because a patriarchal society benefits from shaking its finger and saying she should not grasp too much or shouldn’t corrupt her “gentler nature.” So, a part of me always roots for the woman choosing darkness and monstrosity and becoming powerful. However, on the other hand, especially with the Devil, we have to ask ourselves whether agency is ever really allowed. Is Elle really valued by “the Devil” or is she just a “hound dog” and therefore still subservient?
It was so telling that with all Elle and Liney endured at the hands of their parents and men in society, speaking to the Devil himself was a relief to Elle, despite him also being a force of control and, of course, supernatural darkness. I was interested in the theme of personas and artifices, the faces we show to the world or what we show to preserve a status quo. For example, what Elle hides from Liney to protect her and make her stay or how she dresses as a man to navigate the “real world” or how the Devil, AKA Mr. Pratterman, stops with the nice hibiscus tea and the pleasantries, but he still wears something to conceal his true face. There's the theme of control, of autonomy and ownership, how a woman still has to contend with a male figure, the Devil, and his deals to get some semblance of “freedom” at greater and greater costs. Either way, Elle or Liney would have been sacrifices, women made by their parents to become the wife and second mother to Thomas Seymour. The Devil’s promises, at least, are more literal and therefore tempting. And then, there is the way Elle controls Liney to keep the relationship of the protective big sister who went to great lengths to save her sister. It’s a cycle, and Hawthorn navigates this theme well because despite all the horrors Elle was capable of, I have to admit I was rooting for her.
While there is romance when it comes to Liney and her feelings for women, particularly Bridget, which I enjoyed and loved, the core of the story is what hits the hardest: an older sister willing to go to great, scary lengths to protect her little sister, who is lonely and therefore wants to leave and explore the world and fall in love despite her sister’s great sacrifices. While it’s easy to understand and sympathize with Liney’s motivations, I also sympathized for Elle, despite her increasing darkness. Great stuff. And of course, I couldn't get enough of the ocean atmosphere.
Sarah L. Hawthorn’s A Fate Worse Than Drowning is effective Canadian lighthouse horror that centers the complicated relationship between two sisters. I love how Elle and Liney are juxtaposed and act as foils, although I was admittedly most intrigued by Elle and her contending with her inner darkness and her dealings with the Devil—I know, big surprise! What can I say? Faustian stories are great but often center men and their ambitions for knowledge, fulfillment, or power; we focus on Faust and not Gretchen, who is similar to him, but because of her stated place in society where she's made to be the caretaker for her family and then scorned when she becomes pregnant, she doesn’t get the same opportunities. She never got to be a renowned professor or travel the world and therefore be tired from learning all she can know. So, in this Faustian story, I’m happy to have a book that centers Elle and her relationship with her sister, especially Elle’s codependence on Liney because she needs to be her sister’s protector after all she lost and thinks that Liney cannot exist without her.
I have complicated feelings on this topic of Faustian stories and power. On one hand, I think because of social barriers, a woman’s search for knowledge and power, often derided in stories of witchcraft, is frowned upon because a patriarchal society benefits from shaking its finger and saying she should not grasp too much or shouldn’t corrupt her “gentler nature.” So, a part of me always roots for the woman choosing darkness and monstrosity and becoming powerful. However, on the other hand, especially with the Devil, we have to ask ourselves whether agency is ever really allowed. Is Elle really valued by “the Devil” or is she just a “hound dog” and therefore still subservient?
It was so telling that with all Elle and Liney endured at the hands of their parents and men in society, speaking to the Devil himself was a relief to Elle, despite him also being a force of control and, of course, supernatural darkness. I was interested in the theme of personas and artifices, the faces we show to the world or what we show to preserve a status quo. For example, what Elle hides from Liney to protect her and make her stay or how she dresses as a man to navigate the “real world” or how the Devil, AKA Mr. Pratterman, stops with the nice hibiscus tea and the pleasantries, but he still wears something to conceal his true face. There's the theme of control, of autonomy and ownership, how a woman still has to contend with a male figure, the Devil, and his deals to get some semblance of “freedom” at greater and greater costs. Either way, Elle or Liney would have been sacrifices, women made by their parents to become the wife and second mother to Thomas Seymour. The Devil’s promises, at least, are more literal and therefore tempting. And then, there is the way Elle controls Liney to keep the relationship of the protective big sister who went to great lengths to save her sister. It’s a cycle, and Hawthorn navigates this theme well because despite all the horrors Elle was capable of, I have to admit I was rooting for her.
While there is romance when it comes to Liney and her feelings for women, particularly Bridget, which I enjoyed and loved, the core of the story is what hits the hardest: an older sister willing to go to great, scary lengths to protect her little sister, who is lonely and therefore wants to leave and explore the world and fall in love despite her sister’s great sacrifices. While it’s easy to understand and sympathize with Liney’s motivations, I also sympathized for Elle, despite her increasing darkness. Great stuff. And of course, I couldn't get enough of the ocean atmosphere.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2026
Is there a fate worse than drowning? The year is 1861 and Mary Eleanor “Elle” and her sister Caroline “Liney” have fled to live in the lighthouse on Devil’s Island - a small uninhabited island in the Halifax harbour.
Elle has made a deal with the Devil to save her and her sister’s lives. In return, Elle must sacrifice the lives of those on incoming ships and boats to the hellscape that is beneath the island.
Told from both Elle and Liney’s perspectives, it is a tale of sacrifice, sisterhood, love, smothering, pain, and debt.
I loved this book. It’s not my typical genre (historical fantasy vs the thrillers and mysteries I’m partial to), but having followed the author on her journey to creating her debut novel, I knew I needed to read it. Thank you Sarah for an advanced copy of your book. What an honour to read it.
This isn’t a book you can mindlessly read, skimming the paragraphs to get the gist. Its prose is intentional and beautifully written, and each paragraph helps shape the atmospheric, isolated world the author has created.
The dynamic between Elle and Liney is tense and often times at odds with one another. Elle’s resolve to protect her sister infringes on Liney’s freedom; and Liney’s desire for something more directly threatens Elle’s sacrifice. Their dual perspectives provide contrast - a light to the darkness.
The book has smart twists which don’t feel forced, but instead we are uncovering details alongside the protagonists.
Is there a fate worse than drowning? You’ll have to read to find out.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Sarah L. Hawthorn, and Net Galley for an e arc in exchange for an honest review. I will be pre ordering a physical copy and I recommend others do the same!
Elle has made a deal with the Devil to save her and her sister’s lives. In return, Elle must sacrifice the lives of those on incoming ships and boats to the hellscape that is beneath the island.
Told from both Elle and Liney’s perspectives, it is a tale of sacrifice, sisterhood, love, smothering, pain, and debt.
I loved this book. It’s not my typical genre (historical fantasy vs the thrillers and mysteries I’m partial to), but having followed the author on her journey to creating her debut novel, I knew I needed to read it. Thank you Sarah for an advanced copy of your book. What an honour to read it.
This isn’t a book you can mindlessly read, skimming the paragraphs to get the gist. Its prose is intentional and beautifully written, and each paragraph helps shape the atmospheric, isolated world the author has created.
The dynamic between Elle and Liney is tense and often times at odds with one another. Elle’s resolve to protect her sister infringes on Liney’s freedom; and Liney’s desire for something more directly threatens Elle’s sacrifice. Their dual perspectives provide contrast - a light to the darkness.
The book has smart twists which don’t feel forced, but instead we are uncovering details alongside the protagonists.
Is there a fate worse than drowning? You’ll have to read to find out.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Sarah L. Hawthorn, and Net Galley for an e arc in exchange for an honest review. I will be pre ordering a physical copy and I recommend others do the same!
February 4, 2026
3.25/5 stars.
I was pretty excited for this book when I went into it. A deal with the devil? Luring sailors to their demise? Secluded lighthouse? I was locked in! I would say the first 20% of this book, I was highly intrigued but it started to become hit or miss for me from there on. I was really hoping for more atmosphere in this book, more suspense, and more horror. I found that my level of investment into this story kept coming and going in waves. Something interesting would happen that would draw me back in, and then it would lose momentum for me again.
I thought there were some strong components to this book such as the setting, the intriguing backstory with the FMCs' family, and I'm always drawn in when I see that a story is LGBTQ+. The plot was enjoyable, but not as much as I was hoping for. I struggled a bit with the characters too. I felt a slight disconnect from them but I did enjoy the tension between the two sisters. I thought this was very well crafted. The author also had a great air of mystery in this story. I still thought this was a worthy read even though it ended up being different than my expectations.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
I was pretty excited for this book when I went into it. A deal with the devil? Luring sailors to their demise? Secluded lighthouse? I was locked in! I would say the first 20% of this book, I was highly intrigued but it started to become hit or miss for me from there on. I was really hoping for more atmosphere in this book, more suspense, and more horror. I found that my level of investment into this story kept coming and going in waves. Something interesting would happen that would draw me back in, and then it would lose momentum for me again.
I thought there were some strong components to this book such as the setting, the intriguing backstory with the FMCs' family, and I'm always drawn in when I see that a story is LGBTQ+. The plot was enjoyable, but not as much as I was hoping for. I struggled a bit with the characters too. I felt a slight disconnect from them but I did enjoy the tension between the two sisters. I thought this was very well crafted. The author also had a great air of mystery in this story. I still thought this was a worthy read even though it ended up being different than my expectations.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
February 23, 2026
”I've been living with a murderer wearing the skin of my sister.”
Wow. Wow wow wow this book! A Fate Worse Than Drowning is a visceral slow burn experience where the terror creeps up your spine and you only realize it once it's dragged you to Hell.
This book follows two sisters, Elle and Liney, who have run away to Devil's Island to escape an abusive man and a controlling family. The dynamic between Elle and Liney is an interesting one, Elle is protective to a fault and Liney doesn't believe herself capable and asks Elle no questions. Throughout the story their relationship begins to fracture as Liney starts to realize the secrets that lurk beneath the lighthouse Elle tends and demands answers.
This book had so many fascinating plots happening at the same time but they all wove together in a eerily beautiful tale between sisters, a ghost, a woman washed ashore and the Devil himself. After reading the last page I felt a range of emotions pulling deeply at my heart and I feel both sad, happy, relieved and emotionally drained from the third act of the story. Just when you think things on Devil's Island can't get more tense the story takes it up a notch again and again. A Fate Worse Than Drowning was an incredible debut and I cannot wait to see what horrors this author will bring us next.
Huge thank you to netgalley and the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
January 18, 2026
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Sarah L Hawthorn for the ARC on NetGalley this one!
I was drawn in by the setting of the Devil Island Lighthouse and stayed for the emotional storylines of our two characters Elle and Liney. Although the book didn't end up going where I thought it might have, I was still pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed this. I'm a big fan of emotionally-driven stories and this one definitely ticks that box.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning has undercurrents of dread and tragedy that definitely pulled me under and left me in its wake! Thoroughly enjoyed my time with this and felt like it's easily going to be a book I recommend to others around me that I know will really love this as well!
Definitely a 4.5 star but Goodreads doesn’t offer half stars 😫
I was drawn in by the setting of the Devil Island Lighthouse and stayed for the emotional storylines of our two characters Elle and Liney. Although the book didn't end up going where I thought it might have, I was still pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed this. I'm a big fan of emotionally-driven stories and this one definitely ticks that box.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning has undercurrents of dread and tragedy that definitely pulled me under and left me in its wake! Thoroughly enjoyed my time with this and felt like it's easily going to be a book I recommend to others around me that I know will really love this as well!
Definitely a 4.5 star but Goodreads doesn’t offer half stars 😫
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
review to come once I can gather words fitting enough. I devoured this book. It evoked emotions and was very well written.
January 5, 2026
Wonderful world building, love the twist and turns within the story. Absolutely love the concept behind this book as well, thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this before it comes out. I definitely will be adding it to my bookshelves when it comes out
Want to read
January 6, 2026LET ME IN
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The synopsis and premise for this novel really appealed to my love of the gothic. There was so much promise and potential with this story, which I was extremely excited to start.
The opening lines immediately grabbed my attention and I was certain that I'd be experiencing a narrative told through rich prose. Unfortunately, I didn't find this to be the case. The writing was very reportive in style, lacking in any emotion. I was yearning for a dark, brooding atmosphere, with a sense of foreboding; there was a hugely missed opportunity here to deliver this effect. Likewise, there were no occasions where I felt any emotional connection to either of the protagonists or their experiences. For example, the flashbacks should have been an opportunity to create empathy for Elle, shedding light and understanding on her desperate choices and rash decision making. However, the lack of tension and suspense stripped away any opportunity for me to forge these emotional connections and I just wasn't invested in the story or the characters.
The idea has great potential, but the writing style did not suit my personal reading tastes; I felt too detached from the characters and therefore wasn't emotionally invested.
The opening lines immediately grabbed my attention and I was certain that I'd be experiencing a narrative told through rich prose. Unfortunately, I didn't find this to be the case. The writing was very reportive in style, lacking in any emotion. I was yearning for a dark, brooding atmosphere, with a sense of foreboding; there was a hugely missed opportunity here to deliver this effect. Likewise, there were no occasions where I felt any emotional connection to either of the protagonists or their experiences. For example, the flashbacks should have been an opportunity to create empathy for Elle, shedding light and understanding on her desperate choices and rash decision making. However, the lack of tension and suspense stripped away any opportunity for me to forge these emotional connections and I just wasn't invested in the story or the characters.
The idea has great potential, but the writing style did not suit my personal reading tastes; I felt too detached from the characters and therefore wasn't emotionally invested.
February 27, 2026
This was a really interesting combo of historical fiction (1860’s Nova Scotia), folklore (Devil’s Island Lighthouse), and horror/ fantasy elements. The premise is extremely fascinating: a deal with the devil, wherein Elle assumes responsibility of a lighthouse that connects to a supernatural source of the devil’s power located below it. I found the horror elements to be a bit of a slow burn, and the supernatural fantasy elements to be more of a backdrop to the drama unfolding between Elle and her sister, Liney. Overall I enjoyed the bits of history and folklore, as well as the queer representation, but I do feel that the pacing made it a bit difficult to read larger portions in one sitting. Because of this, I feel that there wasn’t as much momentum leading up to the ending. I did appreciate how the author chose to bring it all together, and satisfied with the way that everything ended.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning releases on July 21, 2026. Thank you Poisoned Pen Press (via Netgalley widget) for gifting me with an eARC, all thoughts express are my own.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning releases on July 21, 2026. Thank you Poisoned Pen Press (via Netgalley widget) for gifting me with an eARC, all thoughts express are my own.
December 24, 2025
A great premise and solid writing, though I thought the structure could have used some work. I won’t go as far as to say it was an inherent flaw, but I think the dual POV undercut a lot of the tension. While I did find Elle a compelling character, I think the story would have worked better overall if it had only been told from Liney’s perspective. Through Elle’s chapters, we learn all of the secrets, and so when Liney later unearths them herself it tends to feel redundant and underwhelming. That being said, I enjoyed the plot and the character work, so I’d be interested in reading what this author does next.
January 16, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, apparently I’ve stumbled into a very niche reading streak: two books back-to-back where someone goes delightfully murder-y for their sister in a dark, isolated setting. It’s… specific. But if the rest of my year meets this kind of quality? I’m not complaining.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning has the salt-stung dread and gothic unease of The Lighthouse (2019), fused with the beautifully reckless “deal with the devil” energy of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. It’s soaked in murderous intent and sapphic yearning, then laced through with genuinely spectacular paranormal touches; without ever dropping the racing tension of a psychological thriller.
Okay, apparently I’ve stumbled into a very niche reading streak: two books back-to-back where someone goes delightfully murder-y for their sister in a dark, isolated setting. It’s… specific. But if the rest of my year meets this kind of quality? I’m not complaining.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning has the salt-stung dread and gothic unease of The Lighthouse (2019), fused with the beautifully reckless “deal with the devil” energy of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. It’s soaked in murderous intent and sapphic yearning, then laced through with genuinely spectacular paranormal touches; without ever dropping the racing tension of a psychological thriller.
There’s so much that works here. The setting is properly isolating, not just in a scenic way, but in a claustrophobic way, like the world has narrowed to a few rooms and a handful of choices, and every option is the wrong one. Even when we eventually escape the isolation of the island onto the mainland, Hawthorn does such a spectacular job of setting up the intrigue that nothing feels safe. Even outside of the paranormal core to this book we’re left watching every shadow. Waiting for the next danger, I loved it.
The mood is consistently eerie without relying on cheap shocks, and the spookiness feels earned rather than ornamental. Hawthorn also sets a brutal tempo: the book moves with intent, and it’s difficult to put down because it keeps you in that anxious, half-hypnotised “just one more chapter” state.
The dual points of view from Liney and Elle are a big part of that momentum, even though I wasn’t convinced at first. Up until around the halfway mark, I kept thinking the story would be cleaner and sharper as a single POV. But once the book settles into its rhythm, the split narration starts to feel like a pressure system: two angles tightening around the same dread, two versions of reality rubbing up against each other, and you can feel the story accelerating because you’re constantly bracing for where those perspectives will collide. It ends up adding urgency rather than diluting it. Especially as other characters begin taking more of a forefront, especially Mr Pratterman and Mr Douglas.
For a quite limited cast especially for the first chunk of novel, everyone is distinctive and compelling. Elle is the definition of protective older sister and watching the lengths and sacrifices she’s willing to make to keep Liney safe was so devastating and brilliant to read.
Elle was surprisingly delightful to follow, she’s naive and overly sweet which could have easily become bothersome. But in the setting it works brilliantly and how she works out the truth is really fun to read. Watching her come to terms with the bloodshed caused to keep her safe was just top notch.
As a villain Mr Pratterman (/our devil) wasn’t on page for a tonne of the book but his impact was tangible on the richter scale. Untangling the web of lies around him and his island was so satisfying, and he’s got plenty of spook to make him a standout in this genre.
My only real issue with this book was the number of red herrings. I absolutely get they have their place in a thriller of this sort, but this was bursting at the seams with them in places particularly at the 60% mark or so. We drop one character, Chamomile to be replaced by a functionally quite similar Bridget. To begin with it felt like this was going somewhere quite interesting, as the former is a ghost and the latter a survivor of a suspicious event. It feels like Hawthorn is going to lead us down a twisty path… but it goes kind of nowhere? There’s a few examples of this and enough threads untied to feel a bit… odd in the end? I’d have loved to see these more developed but given the book’s quite short length I can see why they weren’t really.
I genuinely loved this story and would love to see more from Hawthorn.
Okay, apparently I’ve stumbled into a very niche reading streak: two books back-to-back where someone goes delightfully murder-y for their sister in a dark, isolated setting. It’s… specific. But if the rest of my year meets this kind of quality? I’m not complaining.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning has the salt-stung dread and gothic unease of The Lighthouse (2019), fused with the beautifully reckless “deal with the devil” energy of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. It’s soaked in murderous intent and sapphic yearning, then laced through with genuinely spectacular paranormal touches; without ever dropping the racing tension of a psychological thriller.
Okay, apparently I’ve stumbled into a very niche reading streak: two books back-to-back where someone goes delightfully murder-y for their sister in a dark, isolated setting. It’s… specific. But if the rest of my year meets this kind of quality? I’m not complaining.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning has the salt-stung dread and gothic unease of The Lighthouse (2019), fused with the beautifully reckless “deal with the devil” energy of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. It’s soaked in murderous intent and sapphic yearning, then laced through with genuinely spectacular paranormal touches; without ever dropping the racing tension of a psychological thriller.
There’s so much that works here. The setting is properly isolating, not just in a scenic way, but in a claustrophobic way, like the world has narrowed to a few rooms and a handful of choices, and every option is the wrong one. Even when we eventually escape the isolation of the island onto the mainland, Hawthorn does such a spectacular job of setting up the intrigue that nothing feels safe. Even outside of the paranormal core to this book we’re left watching every shadow. Waiting for the next danger, I loved it.
The mood is consistently eerie without relying on cheap shocks, and the spookiness feels earned rather than ornamental. Hawthorn also sets a brutal tempo: the book moves with intent, and it’s difficult to put down because it keeps you in that anxious, half-hypnotised “just one more chapter” state.
The dual points of view from Liney and Elle are a big part of that momentum, even though I wasn’t convinced at first. Up until around the halfway mark, I kept thinking the story would be cleaner and sharper as a single POV. But once the book settles into its rhythm, the split narration starts to feel like a pressure system: two angles tightening around the same dread, two versions of reality rubbing up against each other, and you can feel the story accelerating because you’re constantly bracing for where those perspectives will collide. It ends up adding urgency rather than diluting it. Especially as other characters begin taking more of a forefront, especially Mr Pratterman and Mr Douglas.
For a quite limited cast especially for the first chunk of novel, everyone is distinctive and compelling. Elle is the definition of protective older sister and watching the lengths and sacrifices she’s willing to make to keep Liney safe was so devastating and brilliant to read.
Elle was surprisingly delightful to follow, she’s naive and overly sweet which could have easily become bothersome. But in the setting it works brilliantly and how she works out the truth is really fun to read. Watching her come to terms with the bloodshed caused to keep her safe was just top notch.
As a villain Mr Pratterman (/our devil) wasn’t on page for a tonne of the book but his impact was tangible on the richter scale. Untangling the web of lies around him and his island was so satisfying, and he’s got plenty of spook to make him a standout in this genre.
My only real issue with this book was the number of red herrings. I absolutely get they have their place in a thriller of this sort, but this was bursting at the seams with them in places particularly at the 60% mark or so. We drop one character, Chamomile to be replaced by a functionally quite similar Bridget. To begin with it felt like this was going somewhere quite interesting, as the former is a ghost and the latter a survivor of a suspicious event. It feels like Hawthorn is going to lead us down a twisty path… but it goes kind of nowhere? There’s a few examples of this and enough threads untied to feel a bit… odd in the end? I’d have loved to see these more developed but given the book’s quite short length I can see why they weren’t really.
I genuinely loved this story and would love to see more from Hawthorn.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
TW: torture (on page), sexual assault (on page), murder (on page), misogyny (both period typical and modern), death, spousal abuse, gore, mention of slavery (allusion to)
Give me a book with either: sacred cannibalism, deals/living with an extra-planar entity , tea and queerness. This book has two of the three, and I predictably wanted to drown in this book. What a gripping reading experience.
But first, the plot. in 1809, Elle (Mary Eleanor) and her sister Liney (Caroline) live alone on a desolate bit of land called the Devil's Island, in the Halifax harbor. New arrivals, they've run from two dead parents and a man who is after their fortune. On the island, after killing the previous lighthouse keeper, Elle tends to the lighthouse, which guides sailors away from their watery graves. Or, at least that's what she tells her sister she's doing. In reality, instead of saving sailors, Elle is tasked with using the demonic powers given to her from a deal with the devil to sacrifice souls. Which, is rather easy, when there are choppy seas and deep caverns. Elle must do this, to keep her sister and herself safe, or the devil may come after her sister next. Liney dreams of a wider world. Sickly her whole life from childhood asthma, she sits caged; first with her family (forced to marry a man when she loves women), and then with her beloved sister. Elle will do anything to protect her, except let her go. The fragile peace of this island is interrupted when the devil demands an increase in souls, and a beautiful woman washes up on shore. Now, will Elle sacrifice this girl, and take away the only person that Liney truly loves?
The characters are one thing that made this story for me. Elle and Liney are such realistic siblings, and their bond is a major motivator and draw. I believed that they were siblings. You also get to see both of their POVs, as this book is first person with dual perspectives, and their personalities really shine through. Elle is intense and driven, but also suffocating, whereas Liney is at first, relatively passive, but extremely curious and capable when she allows herself to be. I also love the side characters; Douglas and Bridget especially, but due to spoiler reasons, I'll not mention them further.
The characters are amazing, but what really made this book for me was it's tight prose and plotting. Every twist and caveat was foreshadowed, and make me go 'oh, that's clever' multiple times. Expository dialog and prose was natural and easy to read. The prose is also vivid enough, especially with sensory descriptions, that I could taste things like the hibiscus tea and smell the dying fish. I also appreciate American slavery being mentioned as a terrible force of supernatural evil, but I wish there was POC rep, but I understand why this isn't the case.
There is a romance in this book, but the scenes stop at kissing and fade to black; the romantic relationships add to the story and the characters, but romance isn't the end all be all. This book is about queerness and sisterly love and the urge to destroy those who've wronged you; about the seductive temptation of power and the suffering it brings. Mind the trigger warnings; and you'll have a wonderful read with a bittersweet ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Final Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Check out my blog for more reviews and tea parings: https://theredreaderreviews.blogspot....
Give me a book with either: sacred cannibalism, deals/living with an extra-planar entity , tea and queerness. This book has two of the three, and I predictably wanted to drown in this book. What a gripping reading experience.
But first, the plot. in 1809, Elle (Mary Eleanor) and her sister Liney (Caroline) live alone on a desolate bit of land called the Devil's Island, in the Halifax harbor. New arrivals, they've run from two dead parents and a man who is after their fortune. On the island, after killing the previous lighthouse keeper, Elle tends to the lighthouse, which guides sailors away from their watery graves. Or, at least that's what she tells her sister she's doing. In reality, instead of saving sailors, Elle is tasked with using the demonic powers given to her from a deal with the devil to sacrifice souls. Which, is rather easy, when there are choppy seas and deep caverns. Elle must do this, to keep her sister and herself safe, or the devil may come after her sister next. Liney dreams of a wider world. Sickly her whole life from childhood asthma, she sits caged; first with her family (forced to marry a man when she loves women), and then with her beloved sister. Elle will do anything to protect her, except let her go. The fragile peace of this island is interrupted when the devil demands an increase in souls, and a beautiful woman washes up on shore. Now, will Elle sacrifice this girl, and take away the only person that Liney truly loves?
The characters are one thing that made this story for me. Elle and Liney are such realistic siblings, and their bond is a major motivator and draw. I believed that they were siblings. You also get to see both of their POVs, as this book is first person with dual perspectives, and their personalities really shine through. Elle is intense and driven, but also suffocating, whereas Liney is at first, relatively passive, but extremely curious and capable when she allows herself to be. I also love the side characters; Douglas and Bridget especially, but due to spoiler reasons, I'll not mention them further.
The characters are amazing, but what really made this book for me was it's tight prose and plotting. Every twist and caveat was foreshadowed, and make me go 'oh, that's clever' multiple times. Expository dialog and prose was natural and easy to read. The prose is also vivid enough, especially with sensory descriptions, that I could taste things like the hibiscus tea and smell the dying fish. I also appreciate American slavery being mentioned as a terrible force of supernatural evil, but I wish there was POC rep, but I understand why this isn't the case.
There is a romance in this book, but the scenes stop at kissing and fade to black; the romantic relationships add to the story and the characters, but romance isn't the end all be all. This book is about queerness and sisterly love and the urge to destroy those who've wronged you; about the seductive temptation of power and the suffering it brings. Mind the trigger warnings; and you'll have a wonderful read with a bittersweet ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Final Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Check out my blog for more reviews and tea parings: https://theredreaderreviews.blogspot....
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Elle has made it her mission in life to protect her younger sister Liney from harm, especially since she's already weakened by her medical condition. To save her, Elle does anything and everything - including making a deal or two with the devil, and running away with Liney to live on an abandoned island, becoming the new lighthouse keeper. But there's also the dark side of the deal, sacrificing sailors, killing strangers.. All in secret, so Liney can be safe and happy. Just how happy and free are you, if you're never allowed to leave?
Straight up, I had a great time with this book. The story was set up so well, and especially the atmosphere of that tiny island with pretty much nothing but a few trees and a lighthouse on it was captured so perfectly, it just felt real. It's depressing and tiny, the work is hard, the secrets both have keep them apart, the things that sent them there are always lingering in the background.. The whole situation is dreary and it's so well described. And then there's the part about what Elle does for the devil.. I loved how we're not just handed all the details there, it takes time to find out exactly what's going on and that wait is just worth it. The way especially that part was written drew me in immediately, but I also really enjoyed the writing style and the pacing of the story.
You get two points of view, Elle and her sister Liney, and wow, they really work. They're so different from each other, you know exactly who you're following at any moment and both are interesting in their own ways. This is the first book I read that had one woman be a lesbian and it actually mattered! It was done so well, i didn't only believe it, it was also a real part of the plot and I honestly appreciate the way it was done - not just a quirky trope that could be added but an actual part of the story. I really appreciate how well this was done.
Plotwise I liked the book - there's the deal, the secrets, the love between the sisters, that needs to find its natural borders in order to not suffocate, the girl who ends up stranded on their island.. The one thing I wasn't the biggest fan of had to do with the men in the story. Can't give away too much but I don't know, it just felt like it wasn't done as well as the rest or maybe it was just too simple of an explanation. The story didn't seem to flow as well at that point, although even that part got better at the end. I also wish we'd have done a little bit more with the Chamomile plot line, especially because of what happens there and then the ending of the book, that story just felt a little disconnected.
One last thing - so cliché but even though we know this end is coming, it's the one it needs to be, it's exactly as it should be.. It still made me cry. Beautifully written, well done.
Overall, a very good book that I really enjoyed reading, showing how even love needs borders to not suffocate.. A very dark and atmospheric read.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Straight up, I had a great time with this book. The story was set up so well, and especially the atmosphere of that tiny island with pretty much nothing but a few trees and a lighthouse on it was captured so perfectly, it just felt real. It's depressing and tiny, the work is hard, the secrets both have keep them apart, the things that sent them there are always lingering in the background.. The whole situation is dreary and it's so well described. And then there's the part about what Elle does for the devil.. I loved how we're not just handed all the details there, it takes time to find out exactly what's going on and that wait is just worth it. The way especially that part was written drew me in immediately, but I also really enjoyed the writing style and the pacing of the story.
You get two points of view, Elle and her sister Liney, and wow, they really work. They're so different from each other, you know exactly who you're following at any moment and both are interesting in their own ways. This is the first book I read that had one woman be a lesbian and it actually mattered! It was done so well, i didn't only believe it, it was also a real part of the plot and I honestly appreciate the way it was done - not just a quirky trope that could be added but an actual part of the story. I really appreciate how well this was done.
Plotwise I liked the book - there's the deal, the secrets, the love between the sisters, that needs to find its natural borders in order to not suffocate, the girl who ends up stranded on their island.. The one thing I wasn't the biggest fan of had to do with the men in the story. Can't give away too much but I don't know, it just felt like it wasn't done as well as the rest or maybe it was just too simple of an explanation. The story didn't seem to flow as well at that point, although even that part got better at the end. I also wish we'd have done a little bit more with the Chamomile plot line, especially because of what happens there and then the ending of the book, that story just felt a little disconnected.
One last thing - so cliché but even though we know this end is coming, it's the one it needs to be, it's exactly as it should be.. It still made me cry. Beautifully written, well done.
Overall, a very good book that I really enjoyed reading, showing how even love needs borders to not suffocate.. A very dark and atmospheric read.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a copy of this ARC for free in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 ⭐
A Fate Worse Than Drowning asked the perfect question: how far would you go and who would you become to save someone you loved?
This was a fantastic book, that explored the themes of love, loss, and understanding in a horror format. The writing style was the perfect blend of blunt and descriptive - it makes everything the characters experience feel tangible and real, and it was easy to immerse myself in every scene. Every instance of foreshadowing and writing choice that was made felt purposeful. I loved how it felt like we the reader were always capable of being a step or two ahead - never enough that we knew it all, but always enough that we were rooting for our characters to figure out what we already had a hunch about.
This is probably my own bias, but I much preferred Elle as both a character and a narrator, and Liney felt like an aside compared to her. Elle was fantastically morally grey, the main catalyst of every conflict, and the character that spoke to us, the audience, the most, because she forced us to confront the part of ourselves that would sacrifice anything and everything for someone we loved, losing parts of ourself in the process. She spoke to all of us older siblings, caregivers, protectors. Apart from some minor character building and getting to see the story from a second perspective, Liney's POV chapters didn't feel like they drove the plot as much as Elle's did, and I found her to be a much less compelling character. Her chapters also dragged the pacing a bit, making the book feel slower than I think it was. That being said, there were some moments in Liney's chapters that were really important, and I don't think the story would have been the same without them.
What I really appreciated about the story as a whole was the depth of layers that we got to explore. It wasn't just one conflict, or one thing happening, there were always at least three different threats or plot points that all wove together in vastly different ways. It meant that even when we were dealing with the same characters or the same broad dispute, it didn't feel repetitive or boring. Something or someone was always growing, and nothing was ever just happenstance or coincidence. Everything that was mentioned once eventually came back around to rear its head later.
This story struck the perfect balance between horror, tension, and love, an undertone that clung to you and refused to leave. Despite always having a sinking feeling in my chest about where this was going and what would happen, I refused to lose hope, even after I closed the book on the last page. I immensely enjoyed my time with this story, and would recommend it to anyone in the mood for a horror-spec fiction story about love, in all forms.
4.5 ⭐
I'll do anything for my sister. Anything but tell her the truth.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning asked the perfect question: how far would you go and who would you become to save someone you loved?
This was a fantastic book, that explored the themes of love, loss, and understanding in a horror format. The writing style was the perfect blend of blunt and descriptive - it makes everything the characters experience feel tangible and real, and it was easy to immerse myself in every scene. Every instance of foreshadowing and writing choice that was made felt purposeful. I loved how it felt like we the reader were always capable of being a step or two ahead - never enough that we knew it all, but always enough that we were rooting for our characters to figure out what we already had a hunch about.
This is probably my own bias, but I much preferred Elle as both a character and a narrator, and Liney felt like an aside compared to her. Elle was fantastically morally grey, the main catalyst of every conflict, and the character that spoke to us, the audience, the most, because she forced us to confront the part of ourselves that would sacrifice anything and everything for someone we loved, losing parts of ourself in the process. She spoke to all of us older siblings, caregivers, protectors. Apart from some minor character building and getting to see the story from a second perspective, Liney's POV chapters didn't feel like they drove the plot as much as Elle's did, and I found her to be a much less compelling character. Her chapters also dragged the pacing a bit, making the book feel slower than I think it was. That being said, there were some moments in Liney's chapters that were really important, and I don't think the story would have been the same without them.
What I really appreciated about the story as a whole was the depth of layers that we got to explore. It wasn't just one conflict, or one thing happening, there were always at least three different threats or plot points that all wove together in vastly different ways. It meant that even when we were dealing with the same characters or the same broad dispute, it didn't feel repetitive or boring. Something or someone was always growing, and nothing was ever just happenstance or coincidence. Everything that was mentioned once eventually came back around to rear its head later.
This story struck the perfect balance between horror, tension, and love, an undertone that clung to you and refused to leave. Despite always having a sinking feeling in my chest about where this was going and what would happen, I refused to lose hope, even after I closed the book on the last page. I immensely enjoyed my time with this story, and would recommend it to anyone in the mood for a horror-spec fiction story about love, in all forms.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and the Author for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: 4.25 stars
A Fate Worse Than Drowning is one of those books that pulled me in immediately with its atmospheric dark and moody setting. It was a very immersive experience. The premise was an amazing starting point!
This book asks and explores the questions: “How far are you willing to go in order to protect those you love?” and “At what point does protecting someone turn into imprisoning them?”
The main character, Elle, is a great morally gray character. Her internal conflict speaks directly to all caregivers and protectors, no matter if they’re the oldest siblings or not. She’s willing to do anything to save her sister, Liney, but at what cost? She ends up sacrificing too much of herself, and making her sister feel stuck, like her own life doesn’t have as much value just because she suffers from a chronic illness.
I absolutely loved the dual POV between the two sisters. It showed well the effects of not really trusting the people you love, of “protecting too much”, imprisoning someone for the sake of keeping them safe, keeping them under the control of the circumstances around them. And it also represented well the fear of letting someone go, and how the lack of communication can drive people apart.
Other than themes of love and loss, this book also works with feminist themes. Going against a patriarchal society’s expectations as a woman and the challenges LGBTQ+ people face in such environments. Fighting abusive cycles, mainly of relationship violence / domestic violence. Not only that, this book deals with greed – how the villain is capitalism and patriarchy, driven by men’s greed. How they use women as stepping stones to dominate everything and everyone. This book made me reflect a lot on this all.
I feel like the slower style of narration in this pretty fast paced book worked amazingly to the setting’s eerie feeling.
However, I would have loved to see the Devil more fleshed out. Another thing that bothered me a bit was the romance between Elle and James; I found it somewhat weird seeing a ghost who Elle murdered progressing from hating her and everything she does to falling in love with her. It felt a bit forced. But I loved seeing him going from pitying her and her situation, to starting to understand her and rooting for her to be free from the Devil, those dynamics were so enjoyable!
The last 100 pages picked up a lot! The book really came alive and ended in a satisfying way.
I recommend this book for people who are in the mood for a horror book that is character driven and atmospheric, that deals with complex character dynamics and can tolerate lack of communication. The vibes were immaculate!
Rating: 4.25 stars
A Fate Worse Than Drowning is one of those books that pulled me in immediately with its atmospheric dark and moody setting. It was a very immersive experience. The premise was an amazing starting point!
This book asks and explores the questions: “How far are you willing to go in order to protect those you love?” and “At what point does protecting someone turn into imprisoning them?”
The main character, Elle, is a great morally gray character. Her internal conflict speaks directly to all caregivers and protectors, no matter if they’re the oldest siblings or not. She’s willing to do anything to save her sister, Liney, but at what cost? She ends up sacrificing too much of herself, and making her sister feel stuck, like her own life doesn’t have as much value just because she suffers from a chronic illness.
I absolutely loved the dual POV between the two sisters. It showed well the effects of not really trusting the people you love, of “protecting too much”, imprisoning someone for the sake of keeping them safe, keeping them under the control of the circumstances around them. And it also represented well the fear of letting someone go, and how the lack of communication can drive people apart.
Other than themes of love and loss, this book also works with feminist themes. Going against a patriarchal society’s expectations as a woman and the challenges LGBTQ+ people face in such environments. Fighting abusive cycles, mainly of relationship violence / domestic violence. Not only that, this book deals with greed – how the villain is capitalism and patriarchy, driven by men’s greed. How they use women as stepping stones to dominate everything and everyone. This book made me reflect a lot on this all.
I feel like the slower style of narration in this pretty fast paced book worked amazingly to the setting’s eerie feeling.
However, I would have loved to see the Devil more fleshed out. Another thing that bothered me a bit was the romance between Elle and James; I found it somewhat weird seeing a ghost who Elle murdered progressing from hating her and everything she does to falling in love with her. It felt a bit forced. But I loved seeing him going from pitying her and her situation, to starting to understand her and rooting for her to be free from the Devil, those dynamics were so enjoyable!
The last 100 pages picked up a lot! The book really came alive and ended in a satisfying way.
I recommend this book for people who are in the mood for a horror book that is character driven and atmospheric, that deals with complex character dynamics and can tolerate lack of communication. The vibes were immaculate!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
I loved this! I went into this expecting a spooky time with a morally grey main character and a complicated relationship between sisters. I got all that and more. Right off the bat Sarah L. Hawthorn creates such a great atmosphere - very uncomfortable, cold, and moist. A creaky old ligthouse? A ghost haunting the main character? A devil pulling all the strings? That, plus the paranoia that permeates off both sisters makes the sense of dread jump off the page.
The characters were really well done. Liney is such a lovely character. Like Elle, you just want her to be happy. She’s been pulled around from one unfortunate circumstance to another, and the journey she goes on throughout the book is so satisfying. Elle was a wild POV, but I really did like looking through her eyes, because despite everything she’s done I still found a lot of empathy for her. She is constantly filled with so much fear, desperation and hunger for power. I just kept reading and wondering, how far is she going to go?
I also really liked our supporting characters. Bridget and Douglas were a really nice addition, that actually made some of the chapters quite happy. It was a nice reprieve from the eerie atmosphere that is most of the book, but I was also constantly in fear that something bad would happen to them. Blakeny Pratterman is our devil antagonist, and his backstory was a treat to unravel. At first I wasn’t sure about him, since he seemed like just a guy, but I ended up really liking how his antagonistic nature grew through the book.
Considering the sisters are living in seclusion on an island, I wasn’t expecting a lot of social commentary, but I actually was pleasantly surprised at how much the author was able to address about 19th century social norms, most notably queer representation and female hysteria. I think addressing both of those things made Liney and Elle’s backstory much heavier and made Elle’s motivations a lot more sensible.
I will say, the one thing I wasn’t fully onboard for was the romance between Douglas and Elle. I think I would’ve preferred it if their relationship stayed platonic, and it could have been just as impactful. I did like Liney and Bridget’s relationship - it was bordering on instalove but their moments of bonding over sea creatures was really sweet, and I can 100% believe how they could fall in love so easily.
All in all, I really enjoyed this and can’t wait to read more from this author!
I loved this! I went into this expecting a spooky time with a morally grey main character and a complicated relationship between sisters. I got all that and more. Right off the bat Sarah L. Hawthorn creates such a great atmosphere - very uncomfortable, cold, and moist. A creaky old ligthouse? A ghost haunting the main character? A devil pulling all the strings? That, plus the paranoia that permeates off both sisters makes the sense of dread jump off the page.
The characters were really well done. Liney is such a lovely character. Like Elle, you just want her to be happy. She’s been pulled around from one unfortunate circumstance to another, and the journey she goes on throughout the book is so satisfying. Elle was a wild POV, but I really did like looking through her eyes, because despite everything she’s done I still found a lot of empathy for her. She is constantly filled with so much fear, desperation and hunger for power. I just kept reading and wondering, how far is she going to go?
I also really liked our supporting characters. Bridget and Douglas were a really nice addition, that actually made some of the chapters quite happy. It was a nice reprieve from the eerie atmosphere that is most of the book, but I was also constantly in fear that something bad would happen to them. Blakeny Pratterman is our devil antagonist, and his backstory was a treat to unravel. At first I wasn’t sure about him, since he seemed like just a guy, but I ended up really liking how his antagonistic nature grew through the book.
Considering the sisters are living in seclusion on an island, I wasn’t expecting a lot of social commentary, but I actually was pleasantly surprised at how much the author was able to address about 19th century social norms, most notably queer representation and female hysteria. I think addressing both of those things made Liney and Elle’s backstory much heavier and made Elle’s motivations a lot more sensible.
I will say, the one thing I wasn’t fully onboard for was the romance between Douglas and Elle. I think I would’ve preferred it if their relationship stayed platonic, and it could have been just as impactful. I did like Liney and Bridget’s relationship - it was bordering on instalove but their moments of bonding over sea creatures was really sweet, and I can 100% believe how they could fall in love so easily.
All in all, I really enjoyed this and can’t wait to read more from this author!
January 25, 2026
A Fate Worse than Drowning, unfortunately, didn't quite do it for me, despite the cool premise.
We spend the first section of the book (as it is split into three) with just Elle and Liney, getting a sense of what life is like on this island, getting backstory, getting to know the characters. Only at the second part of the book, do we finally meet Bridget, the potential sacrifice and love interest for Liney. I wasn't not the biggest fan of Liney, and I found Elle compelling and really enjoyed her POVs, until the second/third part of the book. I did enjoy the conflict of Elle's protection vs Liney's need for freedom. I think that the dual POV arguably worked for this book, but potentially slowed everything down, as so many secrets get revealed that we're getting information about things that we already know as Liney learns them. Which is then rehashed in Elle's POV.
The romance between Bridget and Liney was fine, I guess? It was fast, which was partially understandable given Liney’s isolation growing up. But it was too fast for me to be able to buy into it and have any type of emotional response to what was happening.
The climax of the book I wasn’t fully there for — I was fighting really hard to finish the book, so I was doing perhaps more skimming than reading, was partially good? I enjoyed the but otherwise, I felt too detached from these characters that I really didn’t care.
This falls however, into my list of books that have great closing lines, I loved that a lot. But was generally underwhelmed by it all. I had a feeling that
Overall, I think this book was solid, but not for me. I’m not generally a horror reader, and this definitely leaned more horror than I expected it to. I did love the historical inclusions at the end of the book, though. But because of it all, I can’t give any score higher than a three, which given how I had to force myself to continue reading it, might lean slightly high.
Many thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing the e-ARC for honest review!
We spend the first section of the book (as it is split into three) with just Elle and Liney, getting a sense of what life is like on this island, getting backstory, getting to know the characters. Only at the second part of the book, do we finally meet Bridget, the potential sacrifice and love interest for Liney. I wasn't not the biggest fan of Liney, and I found Elle compelling and really enjoyed her POVs, until the second/third part of the book. I did enjoy the conflict of Elle's protection vs Liney's need for freedom. I think that the dual POV arguably worked for this book, but potentially slowed everything down, as so many secrets get revealed that we're getting information about things that we already know as Liney learns them. Which is then rehashed in Elle's POV.
The romance between Bridget and Liney was fine, I guess? It was fast, which was partially understandable given Liney’s isolation growing up. But it was too fast for me to be able to buy into it and have any type of emotional response to what was happening.
The climax of the book I wasn’t fully there for — I was fighting really hard to finish the book, so I was doing perhaps more skimming than reading, was partially good? I enjoyed the but otherwise, I felt too detached from these characters that I really didn’t care.
This falls however, into my list of books that have great closing lines, I loved that a lot. But was generally underwhelmed by it all. I had a feeling that
Overall, I think this book was solid, but not for me. I’m not generally a horror reader, and this definitely leaned more horror than I expected it to. I did love the historical inclusions at the end of the book, though. But because of it all, I can’t give any score higher than a three, which given how I had to force myself to continue reading it, might lean slightly high.
Many thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing the e-ARC for honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC of A Fate Worse Than Drowning in exchange for an honest review.
This book immediately hooked me with its premise: a lighthouse keeper who makes a deal with the devil to save her sister, only to spend her life guiding ships to their destruction. The atmosphere is thick with salt, isolation, guilt, and dread — the kind of story that feels steeped in fog and moral rot from the very first page. The lighthouse setting, the sea, and the sense of confinement work beautifully together to create a bleak, gothic tone that never really lets up.
At its heart, this is a story about sisterhood, sacrifice, and the terrible cost of love. Elle is a sharp, guarded protagonist whose choices are often frustrating but understandable, and I appreciated the way her protectiveness toward Liney blurred into something morally dangerous. Liney, by contrast, is softer and more trusting, and while she sometimes felt a bit young for her age, the contrast between the sisters was effective and emotionally resonant.
The dual POV was a mixed bag for me. While I enjoyed seeing inside both sisters’ heads, I do think it occasionally undercut the tension — especially when secrets were revealed to the reader long before they were revealed to the characters. Some moments that should have landed with more impact felt slightly muted because of this.
Where the book ultimately lost me a bit was the ending. I fully expected Elle’s fate and wasn’t surprised by how it played out… but I was disappointed. After everything she endured, I desperately wanted some version of a HEA … or at least a HEA-adjacent ghost situation. I’ll admit I was kind of pissed that she and her man didn’t get to haunt the lighthouse together in doomed, romantic misery. Let tragic women have tragic love, too.
That said, this is still a haunting, emotionally charged novel with a strong sense of place and some genuinely compelling ideas about love, guilt, and what we owe the people we’re trying to protect. Readers who enjoy dark, atmospheric speculative fiction with queer representation and morally messy characters will likely find a lot to appreciate here.
This book immediately hooked me with its premise: a lighthouse keeper who makes a deal with the devil to save her sister, only to spend her life guiding ships to their destruction. The atmosphere is thick with salt, isolation, guilt, and dread — the kind of story that feels steeped in fog and moral rot from the very first page. The lighthouse setting, the sea, and the sense of confinement work beautifully together to create a bleak, gothic tone that never really lets up.
At its heart, this is a story about sisterhood, sacrifice, and the terrible cost of love. Elle is a sharp, guarded protagonist whose choices are often frustrating but understandable, and I appreciated the way her protectiveness toward Liney blurred into something morally dangerous. Liney, by contrast, is softer and more trusting, and while she sometimes felt a bit young for her age, the contrast between the sisters was effective and emotionally resonant.
The dual POV was a mixed bag for me. While I enjoyed seeing inside both sisters’ heads, I do think it occasionally undercut the tension — especially when secrets were revealed to the reader long before they were revealed to the characters. Some moments that should have landed with more impact felt slightly muted because of this.
Where the book ultimately lost me a bit was the ending. I fully expected Elle’s fate and wasn’t surprised by how it played out… but I was disappointed. After everything she endured, I desperately wanted some version of a HEA … or at least a HEA-adjacent ghost situation. I’ll admit I was kind of pissed that she and her man didn’t get to haunt the lighthouse together in doomed, romantic misery. Let tragic women have tragic love, too.
That said, this is still a haunting, emotionally charged novel with a strong sense of place and some genuinely compelling ideas about love, guilt, and what we owe the people we’re trying to protect. Readers who enjoy dark, atmospheric speculative fiction with queer representation and morally messy characters will likely find a lot to appreciate here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I want to start by saying I´m usually not into horror, but this worked beautifully (probably because it was more of the phsycological kind of horror, not so much the gory one).
The story begins with Elle, a woman in the 19th century who manages to escape with Liney, her sister, to an island after having to deal with an abusive relationship. But escape isn´t as easy as it seems and, to gain their freedom, Elle ended up making a deal with a demon (not your usual Tuesday afternoon, I guess).
This deal requires that Elle, more often than not, sacrifizes people for the island... Including the last lightkeeper, who unfortunately perished quite soon in the story (and how could you, Elle, that was my favorite character!).
There are things here that worked so well, and others that didn´t so much. Although, then again, I loved the narration and tale in general, so I´m more inclined to think it´s a me thing, rather than the book´s fault.
For things I liked, all the redemption arc of Elle was so well done. She didn´t strike me as a particularly likeable character, but she had her moments and despite being the archetype of an overly protective sister, you understood her motives. Liney is the other character who stood out the most; where Elle is sharp and aloof, Liney is naive and trusts too easily. The constrast works, to say the least.
Liked all the plot surrounding the deal, all the magic and murder put into it for the sake of power and evil. Douglas is, again, best character (though I still struggle to understand why he forgave Elle so readily. I would never lol)
Funny thing, what I didn´t like so much about this book was... the romance.
Liney and Bridget´s romance felt too insta love for my taste. We can probably say that´s exactly what the author intended, given Liney´s personality, and I´ll buy it (again, a me thing).
And Elle and Douglas´ romance felt more deserved (if slightly weird still, given the circumstances). But it ended like it ended, so I didn´t get get any satisfaction from that either.
My conclussion therefore: Don´t read this for romance. But, for historical supernatural plots with light horror is a 10 out of 10.
The story begins with Elle, a woman in the 19th century who manages to escape with Liney, her sister, to an island after having to deal with an abusive relationship. But escape isn´t as easy as it seems and, to gain their freedom, Elle ended up making a deal with a demon (not your usual Tuesday afternoon, I guess).
This deal requires that Elle, more often than not, sacrifizes people for the island... Including the last lightkeeper, who unfortunately perished quite soon in the story (and how could you, Elle, that was my favorite character!).
There are things here that worked so well, and others that didn´t so much. Although, then again, I loved the narration and tale in general, so I´m more inclined to think it´s a me thing, rather than the book´s fault.
For things I liked, all the redemption arc of Elle was so well done. She didn´t strike me as a particularly likeable character, but she had her moments and despite being the archetype of an overly protective sister, you understood her motives. Liney is the other character who stood out the most; where Elle is sharp and aloof, Liney is naive and trusts too easily. The constrast works, to say the least.
Liked all the plot surrounding the deal, all the magic and murder put into it for the sake of power and evil. Douglas is, again, best character (though I still struggle to understand why he forgave Elle so readily. I would never lol)
Funny thing, what I didn´t like so much about this book was... the romance.
Liney and Bridget´s romance felt too insta love for my taste. We can probably say that´s exactly what the author intended, given Liney´s personality, and I´ll buy it (again, a me thing).
And Elle and Douglas´ romance felt more deserved (if slightly weird still, given the circumstances). But it ended like it ended, so I didn´t get get any satisfaction from that either.
My conclussion therefore: Don´t read this for romance. But, for historical supernatural plots with light horror is a 10 out of 10.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Poison Pen Press for this ARC in return for an honest review.
The premise of this book is really strong - 'lighthouse keeper has to sacrifice boats because she made a deal with the devil' is a FANTASTIC starting point.
The problem came with all the extra convoluted details that bogged it all down. Elle is a lightkeeper, living an isolated existence on Devil's Island with her younger sister, Liney. Elle's presence on the island is the price she agreed to pay to save Liney from Thomas, originally Elle's fiancé who then set his sights on Liney. Elle's deal with the devil sees her having to sacrifice souls that the lighthouse was supposed to save, sending dozens of sailors to a watery grave. Due to a contrivance that means Elle needs to renegotiate her deal, she is given a new task. To kill the next non-kin she sees... but that might be the very thing that would mean her sister is finally lost to her forever...
The description of this book becomes a little hard to do with all the caveats and unnecessary details that don't really add much other than an making things more muddy. There are lots of elements that don't matter and could easily be disregarded which would have made the narrative a lot more streamlined. If these extra hiccups and caveats were done well, I wouldn't mind them, but they aren't. For example, the angle of clarity in the wording of the deals is such a fun and engaging concept but the way it is used just slows the narrative and is not nearly clever enough to leave the desired impact. Similarly, despite the premises of the characters being great, in practice they are very shallow and didn't engage me, with them having the same internal spirals in every single chapter which grinds any sense of suspense or tension to a halt.
That being said, I did really enjoy some of the moments between Elle and James. There were parts where their chemistry was really effective, unfortunately these moments were rare though. I also do want to commend the ending where the threads get all woven together. While I don't think it was done well, I appreciated what she was trying to do and thought it was a good direction to go in. Just, again, it didn't go far enough. When the characters were so thin, I just couldn't enjoy it.
The premise of this book is really strong - 'lighthouse keeper has to sacrifice boats because she made a deal with the devil' is a FANTASTIC starting point.
The problem came with all the extra convoluted details that bogged it all down. Elle is a lightkeeper, living an isolated existence on Devil's Island with her younger sister, Liney. Elle's presence on the island is the price she agreed to pay to save Liney from Thomas, originally Elle's fiancé who then set his sights on Liney. Elle's deal with the devil sees her having to sacrifice souls that the lighthouse was supposed to save, sending dozens of sailors to a watery grave. Due to a contrivance that means Elle needs to renegotiate her deal, she is given a new task. To kill the next non-kin she sees... but that might be the very thing that would mean her sister is finally lost to her forever...
The description of this book becomes a little hard to do with all the caveats and unnecessary details that don't really add much other than an making things more muddy. There are lots of elements that don't matter and could easily be disregarded which would have made the narrative a lot more streamlined. If these extra hiccups and caveats were done well, I wouldn't mind them, but they aren't. For example, the angle of clarity in the wording of the deals is such a fun and engaging concept but the way it is used just slows the narrative and is not nearly clever enough to leave the desired impact. Similarly, despite the premises of the characters being great, in practice they are very shallow and didn't engage me, with them having the same internal spirals in every single chapter which grinds any sense of suspense or tension to a halt.
That being said, I did really enjoy some of the moments between Elle and James. There were parts where their chemistry was really effective, unfortunately these moments were rare though. I also do want to commend the ending where the threads get all woven together. While I don't think it was done well, I appreciated what she was trying to do and thought it was a good direction to go in. Just, again, it didn't go far enough. When the characters were so thin, I just couldn't enjoy it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
One deal with the devil makes a fool.
Two... makes a villain.
Elle made a deal with the devil to save her sister.
A deal that she made to keep both of them safe. Now they live on a desolate slip of Halifax, where Elle now has the grim duty of drawing unsuspecting sailors to their doom, all in the name of the devil. But her sister doesn't need to know... right? She just needs to understand that they're safe....
But a pact with the devil is never so simple.
The devil returns, demanding more souls.
More sacrifice.
More shipwrecks.
More death.
Elle believes she knows what she must do in order to keep Liney, her sister, safe. More ships sacrificed in the devil's name... until a woman washes up on the shore of the grim coast that Elle and her sister call home.
Is she a soul to be sacrificed? Or is she something more? Part of a darker, more sinister pot brewing?
Or perhaps even something else? Now Elle is faced with the impossible choice of whether she kills the woman and risks breaking her sister's heart, or to break her deal with the devil ... and give up her soul instead.
Dark, twisty, and yet emotionally deep... A Fate Worse Than Drowning is a flawless combination of the historical, mixed with horror, a tinge of mystery, and just a dash of beautiful romance to finish things off. The lighthouse was such a beautiful way to blend that true element of horror into this novel, and I found myself falling more and more with not just the story, but the tale woven within, of the bond shared between sisters... and let's not even go into the ending... because that absolutely shattered me in the best of ways, and I cannot wait to find out what's happening next...
Thank you so much again to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this copy in advanced! I am voluntarily leaving this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and the rest of my reviews may be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....
Two... makes a villain.
Elle made a deal with the devil to save her sister.
A deal that she made to keep both of them safe. Now they live on a desolate slip of Halifax, where Elle now has the grim duty of drawing unsuspecting sailors to their doom, all in the name of the devil. But her sister doesn't need to know... right? She just needs to understand that they're safe....
But a pact with the devil is never so simple.
The devil returns, demanding more souls.
More sacrifice.
More shipwrecks.
More death.
Elle believes she knows what she must do in order to keep Liney, her sister, safe. More ships sacrificed in the devil's name... until a woman washes up on the shore of the grim coast that Elle and her sister call home.
Is she a soul to be sacrificed? Or is she something more? Part of a darker, more sinister pot brewing?
Or perhaps even something else? Now Elle is faced with the impossible choice of whether she kills the woman and risks breaking her sister's heart, or to break her deal with the devil ... and give up her soul instead.
Dark, twisty, and yet emotionally deep... A Fate Worse Than Drowning is a flawless combination of the historical, mixed with horror, a tinge of mystery, and just a dash of beautiful romance to finish things off. The lighthouse was such a beautiful way to blend that true element of horror into this novel, and I found myself falling more and more with not just the story, but the tale woven within, of the bond shared between sisters... and let's not even go into the ending... because that absolutely shattered me in the best of ways, and I cannot wait to find out what's happening next...
Thank you so much again to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this copy in advanced! I am voluntarily leaving this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and the rest of my reviews may be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
✨
There were three things that made me excited for this book: the cover, the LGBTQ+ rep, and the blurb. A lighthouse keeper who makes a deal with the devil to keep her sister safe? Sign me up. I love lighthouse horror. (Also, if you liked this book, check out the game “Static Dread.” The two are so similar it’s crazy). There were so many cool elements, too. A ghost haunting one of the MCs, a tiny town in eastern Canada, Victorian gothic dread, a creepy lighthouse, sapphic and bi+ and nonbinary/gnc rep to name a few.
However, I feel like it just fell…flat.
Told in a dual POV of the two sisters, I felt as though the entire book just hinged on the miscommunication trope. Like… Elle. Just TALK to your sister. Tell her you were trying to protect her. Clearly she didn’t want to marry a man and you KNEW that. Elle was just annoying and overbearing and relied too much on lies. Liney on the other hand felt so whiny and childish. I get it. She grew up in her sister’s shadow and lived a very isolated life. But if you told me she was 15 instead of 18 I would’ve believed it.
So much just felt rushed, too. Like the whole devil thing just wrapped up in like a single page with an “oh, he’s not actually the devil btw!” Then there was Liney’s “imaginary friend” Chamomile. I’m still not even sure who or what she was.
There was no chemistry between Liney and her mysterious love interest. They kissed twice, declared love, then ran off to explore the world together. Elle decided she loved her ghost but died before that could be expanded on.
I really wanted to love this. It just felt so flat. The horror elements were barely even there. The characters annoyed me. I really didn’t like the miscommunication trope.
If you like creepy lighthouses, there are plenty of other books out there that do it slightly better in my opinion.
✨
There were three things that made me excited for this book: the cover, the LGBTQ+ rep, and the blurb. A lighthouse keeper who makes a deal with the devil to keep her sister safe? Sign me up. I love lighthouse horror. (Also, if you liked this book, check out the game “Static Dread.” The two are so similar it’s crazy). There were so many cool elements, too. A ghost haunting one of the MCs, a tiny town in eastern Canada, Victorian gothic dread, a creepy lighthouse, sapphic and bi+ and nonbinary/gnc rep to name a few.
However, I feel like it just fell…flat.
Told in a dual POV of the two sisters, I felt as though the entire book just hinged on the miscommunication trope. Like… Elle. Just TALK to your sister. Tell her you were trying to protect her. Clearly she didn’t want to marry a man and you KNEW that. Elle was just annoying and overbearing and relied too much on lies. Liney on the other hand felt so whiny and childish. I get it. She grew up in her sister’s shadow and lived a very isolated life. But if you told me she was 15 instead of 18 I would’ve believed it.
So much just felt rushed, too. Like the whole devil thing just wrapped up in like a single page with an “oh, he’s not actually the devil btw!” Then there was Liney’s “imaginary friend” Chamomile. I’m still not even sure who or what she was.
There was no chemistry between Liney and her mysterious love interest. They kissed twice, declared love, then ran off to explore the world together. Elle decided she loved her ghost but died before that could be expanded on.
I really wanted to love this. It just felt so flat. The horror elements were barely even there. The characters annoyed me. I really didn’t like the miscommunication trope.
If you like creepy lighthouses, there are plenty of other books out there that do it slightly better in my opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This hurts to write because on paper this book should have been everything I love
A lighthouse. A devil’s bargain
A sister you’d drown the world for
It sounds gothic and obsessive and morally ruinous in the best way
But I felt…
nothing
Not in the cool, hollow way horror sometimes aims for, Just genuinely detached
The prose reads very straightforward and reportive, which might work for some readers, but I was craving atmosphere (salt-thick air, dread sitting heavy in the lungs, guilt that stains every sentence).
Instead, big emotional moments were delivered plainly and I never felt submerged in them
Elle’s moral conflict had so much potential. Sacrificing sailors to save your sister? That’s devastating
That’s monstrous and tender all at once
But her internal spirals often felt repetitive rather than escalating. I kept waiting for her guilt to evolve into something sharper, something uglier, something transformative, but it never quite did
The same thoughts resurfaced without deepening, which flattened the tensio
The devil’s deal itself is such a strong concept, but the added caveats and renegotiations muddied the impact.
Instead of feeling clever or sinister, the mechanics slowed the pacing and drained urgency from scenes that should have felt suffocating
I found myself zoning out during sections that should have been unbearable
There were moments I genuinely liked: flashes of chemistry, hints of something darker beneath the surface and an ending that aimed high
I respect what the story was trying to do. I just never felt it in my chest the way I wanted to
This absolutely might work for readers who prefer a more restrained, blunt style. For me, though, a premise this gothic demands prose that bleeds. And I kept waiting for it to
A lighthouse. A devil’s bargain
A sister you’d drown the world for
It sounds gothic and obsessive and morally ruinous in the best way
But I felt…
nothing
Not in the cool, hollow way horror sometimes aims for, Just genuinely detached
The prose reads very straightforward and reportive, which might work for some readers, but I was craving atmosphere (salt-thick air, dread sitting heavy in the lungs, guilt that stains every sentence).
Instead, big emotional moments were delivered plainly and I never felt submerged in them
Elle’s moral conflict had so much potential. Sacrificing sailors to save your sister? That’s devastating
That’s monstrous and tender all at once
But her internal spirals often felt repetitive rather than escalating. I kept waiting for her guilt to evolve into something sharper, something uglier, something transformative, but it never quite did
The same thoughts resurfaced without deepening, which flattened the tensio
The devil’s deal itself is such a strong concept, but the added caveats and renegotiations muddied the impact.
Instead of feeling clever or sinister, the mechanics slowed the pacing and drained urgency from scenes that should have felt suffocating
I found myself zoning out during sections that should have been unbearable
There were moments I genuinely liked: flashes of chemistry, hints of something darker beneath the surface and an ending that aimed high
I respect what the story was trying to do. I just never felt it in my chest the way I wanted to
This absolutely might work for readers who prefer a more restrained, blunt style. For me, though, a premise this gothic demands prose that bleeds. And I kept waiting for it to
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5!
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Sarah L. Hawthorn, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly, this one took me a while to get through. The beginning seemed to drag a bit, and I was struggling to sympathize with Elle as a character. I did really like Liney and I enjoyed her chapters the most, but it seemed like the dual POV might have undercut some of the potential tension/info reveal moments as we as the reader were learning all the secrets from Elle way before Liney was discovering them.
I was a bit offput by the
I struggled to fully understand the magical/supernatural elements, but I don't think that's entirely the point so I'm okay with just suspending my disbelief. I really enjoyed Liney and Bridget's relationship, they were really sweet together. I enjoyed seeing Liney come out of her shell and find her confidence throughout the story. With that being said, I'm not sure this one was for me. It took until the last part for me to really start enjoying it.
BUT I will say I did end up really enjoying the ending, I think it wrapped up in a very satisfying way and I was happy to see a certain someone get their due. I think if you're someone who likes a tense story between sisters, an island with a dark secret, and/or the love of your life washing up onto shore, then this one might be the story for you!
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Sarah L. Hawthorn, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly, this one took me a while to get through. The beginning seemed to drag a bit, and I was struggling to sympathize with Elle as a character. I did really like Liney and I enjoyed her chapters the most, but it seemed like the dual POV might have undercut some of the potential tension/info reveal moments as we as the reader were learning all the secrets from Elle way before Liney was discovering them.
I was a bit offput by the
I struggled to fully understand the magical/supernatural elements, but I don't think that's entirely the point so I'm okay with just suspending my disbelief. I really enjoyed Liney and Bridget's relationship, they were really sweet together. I enjoyed seeing Liney come out of her shell and find her confidence throughout the story. With that being said, I'm not sure this one was for me. It took until the last part for me to really start enjoying it.
BUT I will say I did end up really enjoying the ending, I think it wrapped up in a very satisfying way and I was happy to see a certain someone get their due. I think if you're someone who likes a tense story between sisters, an island with a dark secret, and/or the love of your life washing up onto shore, then this one might be the story for you!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of A Fate Worse Than Drowning.
This book immediately caught my attention with its eerie premise.
A lighthouse keeper who made a deal with the devil to save her sister, only to spend her days guiding ships to their destruction. The atmosphere is heavy and unsettling in the best way, with the sea, the lighthouse, and the isolation all working together to create a constant sense of unease. It’s the kind of story that feels soaked in salt and guilt from the very first page.
The heart of the novel is the relationship between Elle and her sister, Liney. Their bond, and the lengths Elle is willing to go to protect Liney, raises some really compelling questions about love, sacrifice, and morality. The introduction of the shipwrecked stranger adds another layer of tension and forces Elle to confront whether there are any limits to what she’s willing to give up ... including her own soul.
That said, I found the pacing a bit uneven. Some sections lingered longer than necessary, while moments with high emotional or narrative impact could have been given more room to breathe. I also struggled at times to fully connect with the characters on a deeper emotional level, which made parts of the story feel more distant than I would have liked.
Overall, A Fate Worse Than Drowning is a haunting, thought-provoking read with strong themes and a beautifully bleak setting. While it didn’t completely pull me in from start to finish, it’s a solid choice for readers who enjoy dark, atmospheric speculative fiction with queer representation and morally complex choices.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of A Fate Worse Than Drowning.
This book immediately caught my attention with its eerie premise.
A lighthouse keeper who made a deal with the devil to save her sister, only to spend her days guiding ships to their destruction. The atmosphere is heavy and unsettling in the best way, with the sea, the lighthouse, and the isolation all working together to create a constant sense of unease. It’s the kind of story that feels soaked in salt and guilt from the very first page.
The heart of the novel is the relationship between Elle and her sister, Liney. Their bond, and the lengths Elle is willing to go to protect Liney, raises some really compelling questions about love, sacrifice, and morality. The introduction of the shipwrecked stranger adds another layer of tension and forces Elle to confront whether there are any limits to what she’s willing to give up ... including her own soul.
That said, I found the pacing a bit uneven. Some sections lingered longer than necessary, while moments with high emotional or narrative impact could have been given more room to breathe. I also struggled at times to fully connect with the characters on a deeper emotional level, which made parts of the story feel more distant than I would have liked.
Overall, A Fate Worse Than Drowning is a haunting, thought-provoking read with strong themes and a beautifully bleak setting. While it didn’t completely pull me in from start to finish, it’s a solid choice for readers who enjoy dark, atmospheric speculative fiction with queer representation and morally complex choices.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews