The Dark Tide

by Alicia Jasinska

A gripping, dark LGBT YA fantasy about two girls who must choose between saving themselves, each other, or their sinking island home.

Every year on St. Walpurga's Eve, Caldella's Witch Queen lures a boy back to her palace. An innocent life to be sacrificed on the full moon to keep the island city from sinking.

Lina Kirk is convinced her brother is going to be taken this year. To save him, she enlists the help of Thomas Lin, the boy she secretly loves, and the only person to ever escape from the palace. But they draw the queen's attention, and Thomas is chosen as the sacrifice.

Queen Eva watched her sister die to save the boy she loved. Now as queen, she won't make the same mistake. She's willing to sacrifice anyone if it means saving herself and her city.

When Lina offers herself to the queen in exchange for Thomas's freedom, the two girls await the full moon together. But Lina is not at all what Eva expected, and the queen is nothing like Lina envisioned. Against their will, they find themselves falling for each other as water floods Caldella's streets and the dark tide demands its sacrifice.

Perfect for fans of:

• The Wicked Deep and A Curse So Dark and Lonely
• Witchcraft books
• Dark fantasy fiction
• LGBTQ books

• ISBN13: 9781728209982
• Publish Date: 2 June 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Sourcebooks, Inc
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[Berls]

This took me forever to get into and I considered quitting it a few times. I don't know if I'd say I'm happy I finished, but I don't regret finishing if that makes sense. There were some really good elements and perhaps I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to read it. Or maybe it just was only okay. I'm unsure.

I had a really hard time getting invested in the characters, which is sad because they had real potential. The representation, in particular, was great and was probably what carried me through. Lina, starts the book off in love with Thomas and it's her efforts to rescue him that land her as this year's sacrifice to the Dark Tide. And, as the sacrifice, Eva (The Witch Queen) needs to love Lina. And in the midst of anger and frustration and scheming, they start to care for each other. It's devoid of labels - no lesbian, straight, bisexual, etc... just love. And even by the end Lina is still figuring out what she feels and learning herself. I think this part of the book is what kept me interested and why I'm giving this a full 3 stars.

In fact, everything about this book can be summed up as POTENTIAL. The threat of the Dark Tide with the yearly sacrifice had potential. The magic had potential. The relationships had potential. The way music (playing instruments, singing, dance, etc) played a role in this community had potential. There was even potential for abuse within the family. But for me, it never fully delivered and I just wanted more.

All that being said, I do think this is this author's first book. Knowing that, I consider it a good first book and would definitely give her another chance (or two).

The narration by Lori Prince was quite good and fully delivered. I felt like I recognized her but I can't seem to find another book I've read that she's narrated. So either she uses another name or it's a first time for me. I felt like she also saw the potential in this book, particularly in the musical elements, and delivered on that potential. I would listen to her again, for sure.