Curious Tides - (The Drowned Gods Trilogy) by Pascale Lacelle

About the Book

Teen mage Emory must unravel the truth behind the secret society that may have been involved in her classmates' deaths.

Book Synopsis

Two starred reviews!
"A marvel in atmosphere." --Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights

Ninth House meets A Deadly Education in this gorgeous dark academia fantasy "that will capture readers like a rip current" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) following a teen mage who must unravel the truth behind the secret society that may have been involved in her classmates' deaths.

Emory might be a student at the prestigious Aldryn College for Lunar Magics, but her healing abilities have always been mediocre at best--until a treacherous night in the Dovermere sea caves leaves a group of her classmates dead and her as the only survivor. Now Emory is plagued by strange, impossible powers that no healer should possess.

Powers that would ruin her life if the wrong person were to discover them.

To gain control of these new abilities, Emory enlists the help of the school's most reclusive student, Baz--a boy already well-versed in the deadly nature of darker magic, whose sister happened to be one of the drowned students and Emory's best friend. Determined to find the truth behind the drownings and the cult-like secret society she's convinced her classmates were involved in, Emory is faced with even more questions when the supposedly drowned students start washing ashore--alive--only for them each immediately to die horrible, magical deaths.

And Emory is not the only one seeking answers. When her new magic captures the society's attention, she finds herself drawn into their world of privilege and power, all while wondering if the truth she's searching for might lead her right back to Dovermere...to face the fate she was never meant to escape.

Review Quotes

*"By combining elements common to fantastical dark academia novels with innovative worldbuilding, multifaceted plotting, and an intersectionally diverse cast boasting nuanced character arcs, Lacelle crafts a lavishly imagined dual-narrative tale that will capture readers like a rip current."--Publishers Weekly, starred review "8/7/23"

*"Lacelle's writing is absorbing; the plot is detailed and complicated but everything fits together as neatly and tightly as a puzzle box. Emory is a sympathetic hero, full of self-doubt but brave enough to pursue the truth, and she plays off an assortment of well-rounded and distinct characters. Not a word is wasted in this hefty, suspenseful novel as the story, rich with its own mythology, draws the reader in as inexorably as the tide."--Booklist, starred review "10/1/23"

"Curious Tides sucks you in from page one with a fully realized universe that feels lived-in and otherworldly all at once. The story is alive with lore, and it's impossible not to be transported."--Joan He, New York Times bestselling author of Strike the Zither

"A beautifully ethereal fantasy that reads like a dream. Filled with beguiling magic and whimsical storytelling, Curious Tides is a reverie I was sad to wake from."--Chelsea Abdullah, author of The Stardust Thief

"A darkly enchanting story that had me turning pages like mad. Gorgeous writing, fascinating characters, and the kind of rich magical lore that dreams are made of. Curious Tides swept me away. I'm obsessed with this world."--Claire Legrand, New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn

"A world that pulses and breathes. With intricate magic and a mystery that spirals as deep and dark as it can go, Curious Tides is a marvel in atmosphere."--Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights

"Rich, immersive and astonishingly layered--I want to sink into this darkly magical world and never leave."--Laura Steven, author of The Society for Soulless Girls

"Vividly imagined, beautifully written, and as dark as it is dazzling-Curious Tides will drag you under from the very first page."--Sarah Underwood, NYT bestselling author of Lies We Sing to the Sea

"With chewy, intricate worldbuilding; sparkling characters; and thrilling twists, Curious Tides pulled me under, and I never wanted to resurface from its richly imagined depths. An alluring, immersive debut."--Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic

About the Author

Pascale Lacelle is a French Canadian author from Ottawa, Ontario. A longtime devourer of books, she started writing her own at age thirteen and quickly became enthralled by the magic of words. After earning her bachelor's degree in French literature, she realized the English language is where her literary heart lies (but don't tell any of her French professors that). When not lost in stories, she's most likely daydreaming about food and travel, playing with her dog Roscoe, or trying to curate the perfect playlist for every mood. You can find her on Instagram and X @PascaleLacelle.