Two women are cursed to be mortal enemies, despite their love for each other, in this queer, fantastical novel by Annie Mare.
About the Author: Annie Mare (she/they) writes queer contemporary young adult romance and cowrites queer romance and mysteries with her wife, Ruthie Knox.
352 Pages
Fiction, LGBTQ+
Description
Book Synopsis
Two women are cursed to be mortal enemies, despite their love for each other, in this queer, fantastical novel by Annie Mare. In the lead-up to the Salem witch trials, a desperate man made a deal with the devil--a deal that would drag two families down with him. Now, over 400 years later, the Steadfasts and the Prynnes remain caught in a curse that sentences both families to an existence of rigid rules, torturous consequences, and half-lives. Lucy Prynne and Ashes Steadfast are the latest to take on the mantle of this centuries-old deal: Lucy, born to try to reap the souls of the hopeful; and Ashes, born to stop Lucy, no matter the cost. But before they inherited their respective curses, it sure felt like Ash's purpose was Lucy. Her best friend, her closest confidant, her true love. Ash knows the rules. She keeps her head down, her emotions in check, and she fights Lucy, no matter the personal cost. They are doomed to an incessant battle between good and bad, self-righteous and carnal. Or so Ash thinks. But when she resists her instincts to fight Lucy and finally starts to fight the curse instead, she realizes there might just be a way to end this once and for all. If not in this timeline, then the next. As generational secrets begin to unravel, Ashes and Lucy join forces against the true threat that has haunted their families for centuries, even if it costs them their lives--and their love.
Review Quotes
"A sweeping sapphic tale of generational trauma and boundary-breaking love... The women's cat-and-mouse dynamic entices, and Mare's examination of family legacy and inheritance goes deep. It's irresistible." --Publishers Weekly "A joyfully queer reclamation of love, identity, and family that creates space for forgiveness through communication, reparation, and challenging the status quo." --Library Journal
About the Author
Annie Mare (she/they) writes queer contemporary young adult romance and cowrites queer romance and mysteries with her wife, Ruthie Knox. Mare lives with her wife, two teenagers, two dogs, multiple fish, one cat, four hermit crabs, and a bazillion plants in a very old house with a garden.
Dimensions (Overall): 8.03 Inches (H) x 5.23 Inches (W) x .74 Inches (D)
Weight: .57 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 352
Genre: Fiction
Sub-Genre: LGBTQ+
Publisher: Ace Books
Theme: Lesbian
Format: Paperback
Author: Annie Mare
Language: English
Street Date: May 19, 2026
TCIN: 1011100654
UPC: 9780593817506
Item Number (DPCI): 247-07-2350
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
If the item details aren’t accurate or complete, we want to know about it.
Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 0.74 inches length x 5.23 inches width x 8.03 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.57 pounds
We regret that this item cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.
This item cannot be shipped to the following locations: American Samoa (see also separate entry under AS), Guam (see also separate entry under GU), Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico (see also separate entry under PR), United States Minor Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands, U.S., APO/FPO, Alaska, Hawaii
Return details
This item can be returned to any Target store or Target.com.
This item must be returned within 90 days of the date it was purchased in store, delivered to the guest, delivered by a Shipt shopper, or picked up by the guest.