by Sara Holland
First published 2025
Annie stands to inherit Kirkrell's largest whaling company at nineteen, but scales creep up her arms and claws sprout from her fingers. She hides this curse from everyone, including her fiancé August. The waters around Kirkrell teem with magic whales and finfolk, sea fae who destroy ships and hex entire family lines. When Annie discovers August plans to steal her company, their engagement crumbles. She turns to Silas Price, a young captain whispered to be half finfolk himself. Silas claims he can break her curse, but demands she abandon whaling forever. As their ship sails north into finfolk territory, Annie must choose between her family's legacy and her freedom. August schemes to seize control while Silas guards dangerous secrets. Annie's curse grows stronger as she navigates betrayal, her monstrous transformation, and an impossible decision that will determine her fate.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, adventure, fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, forbidden-love, found-family
Setting: Kirkrell, Finfolk Territory
Period: 19th-Century
324 pages · Hardcover · Wednesday Books
Content warnings: body-horror