First published 2026
August carries three years of guilt after his boyfriend died in a tragic accident. The eighteen-year-old drifts through his gray existence until he accidentally crosses into the Underworld. This realm sparkles with luxury and mystery, populated by charismatic gods who wonder why a mortal has appeared among them. August sees his chance and begins hunting for his lost love. Cary becomes his guide, a brooding ferryman who transports souls through the underworld's territories. But as August spends more time in this seductive realm, his mission grows complicated. The pull he feels toward Cary intensifies with each encounter. August faces an impossible choice between two kinds of love. He can continue grieving in his broken world above, or he can embrace this dangerous new attraction that promises to remake him entirely. The cost of staying in the Underworld runs deeper than August first understood.
Genres: fantasy, contemporary, young-adult, dark-fantasy, fantasy-romance
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional, introspective, lyrical, seductive
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water, found-family, slow-burn-romance
Setting: Underworld
384 pages · Paperback · Viking Books for Young Readers
Content warnings: death