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A Fate Worse than Drowning
Not yet published
Expected 21 Jul 26One deal with the devil makes a fool. Two? A villain...
A year ago, Elle made a deal with the devil to save her sister. Now, they live on a desolate spit of land beyond Halifax harbor. Elle, as lighthouse keeper, steers unsuspecting sailors to their destruction; those are the terms of her bargain. Liney need never know the cost. Her safety is worth every drop of blood.
But a sinner’s pact is not so simple. When the devil returns, demanding more – more shipwrecks, no survivors – Elle knows what she must do to keep Liney safe...
Another ship. Another crew killed in the devil’s name.
Then a woman washes ashore. Is she a soul to be sacrificed, or part of a darker design? As Liney and the stranger grow closer, Elle faces an impossible choice: kill, and break Liney’s heart, or forfeit her own soul.
Danger arises from all sides: the merciless sea, ruthless men on the mainland, and the infernal bargain itself…
Souls and sisterhood, fate and fire – what must be sacrificed for the devil to get his due?
A year ago, Elle made a deal with the devil to save her sister. Now, they live on a desolate spit of land beyond Halifax harbor. Elle, as lighthouse keeper, steers unsuspecting sailors to their destruction; those are the terms of her bargain. Liney need never know the cost. Her safety is worth every drop of blood.
But a sinner’s pact is not so simple. When the devil returns, demanding more – more shipwrecks, no survivors – Elle knows what she must do to keep Liney safe...
Another ship. Another crew killed in the devil’s name.
Then a woman washes ashore. Is she a soul to be sacrificed, or part of a darker design? As Liney and the stranger grow closer, Elle faces an impossible choice: kill, and break Liney’s heart, or forfeit her own soul.
Danger arises from all sides: the merciless sea, ruthless men on the mainland, and the infernal bargain itself…
Souls and sisterhood, fate and fire – what must be sacrificed for the devil to get his due?
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication July 21, 2026
About the author
Sarah L. Hawthorn
4 books63 followersSarah L. Hawthorn is a Canadian horror and speculative fiction writer. Her debut novel, A FATE WORSE THAN DROWNING, will be published by Sourcebooks in 2026.
She holds a bachelor’s in public relations from Mount Saint Vincent University and has worked across federal, healthcare, secondary education, and tech fields. Their short fiction has been featured in The Arcanist and the Queer Blades anthology by From the Farther Trees Press.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys watercolour painting, video games, and swimming. Sarah lives in Halifax/Kjipuktuk, Nova Scotia, a maritime locale full of spooky folklore they've been devouring since elementary school.
She holds a bachelor’s in public relations from Mount Saint Vincent University and has worked across federal, healthcare, secondary education, and tech fields. Their short fiction has been featured in The Arcanist and the Queer Blades anthology by From the Farther Trees Press.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys watercolour painting, video games, and swimming. Sarah lives in Halifax/Kjipuktuk, Nova Scotia, a maritime locale full of spooky folklore they've been devouring since elementary school.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
May 29, 2025
"Everyone has read A FATE WORSE THAN DROWNING" a statistical anomaly. Average person hasn't yet read A FATE WORSE THAN DROWNING because it doesn't come out until 2026. Spooky Author Sarah, who lives in a haunted island lighthouse owned by the Devil and has read the book 10,000 times, is an outlier and should not have been counted.
![Profile Image for Anna ʚɞ [Semi-hiatus until beginning of Sept. '26].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1727628240i/57906850._UY200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
Want to Read
January 22, 2026: ̗̀➛ Pre-read: I got an arc??? 🫢
My very first one!! Super duper surprised honestly, but soooo excited to dive into this horror gothic fantasy! 😍
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
My very first one!! Super duper surprised honestly, but soooo excited to dive into this horror gothic fantasy! 😍
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Want to Read
April 3, 2026omg I love this cover so much
thank you very much to Poisoned Pen Press for early access to this ARC
thank you very much to Poisoned Pen Press for early access to this ARC
Want to Read
January 7, 2026Loading more horror and sci-fi/fantasy
Many thanks to NetGalley, Poisoner Pen Press and the author, Sarah L. Hawthorn for the early eARC!
Publication date: July 21, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley, Poisoner Pen Press and the author, Sarah L. Hawthorn for the early eARC!
Publication date: July 21, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.
Sarah L. Hawthorn’s A Fate Worse Than Drowning is effective Canadian lighthouse horror that centers the complicated relationship between two sisters. I love how Elle and Liney are juxtaposed and act as foils, although I was admittedly most intrigued by Elle and her contending with her inner darkness and her dealings with the Devil—I know, big surprise! What can I say? Faustian stories are great but often center men and their ambitions for knowledge, fulfillment, or power; we focus on Faust and not Gretchen, who is similar to him, but because of her stated place in society where she's made to be the caretaker for her family and then scorned when she becomes pregnant, she doesn’t get the same opportunities. She never got to be a renowned professor or travel the world and therefore be tired from learning all she can know. So, in this Faustian story, I’m happy to have a book that centers Elle and her relationship with her sister, especially Elle’s codependence on Liney because she needs to be her sister’s protector after all she lost and thinks that Liney cannot exist without her.
I have complicated feelings on this topic of Faustian stories and power. On one hand, I think because of social barriers, a woman’s search for knowledge and power, often derided in stories of witchcraft, is frowned upon because a patriarchal society benefits from shaking its finger and saying she should not grasp too much or shouldn’t corrupt her “gentler nature.” So, a part of me always roots for the woman choosing darkness and monstrosity and becoming powerful. However, on the other hand, especially with the Devil, we have to ask ourselves whether agency is ever really allowed. Is Elle really valued by “the Devil” or is she just a “hound dog” and therefore still subservient?
It was so telling that with all Elle and Liney endured at the hands of their parents and men in society, speaking to the Devil himself was a relief to Elle, despite him also being a force of control and, of course, supernatural darkness. I was interested in the theme of personas and artifices, the faces we show to the world or what we show to preserve a status quo. For example, what Elle hides from Liney to protect her and make her stay or how she dresses as a man to navigate the “real world” or how the Devil, AKA Mr. Pratterman, stops with the nice hibiscus tea and the pleasantries, but he still wears something to conceal his true face. There's the theme of control, of autonomy and ownership, how a woman still has to contend with a male figure, the Devil, and his deals to get some semblance of “freedom” at greater and greater costs. Either way, Elle or Liney would have been sacrifices, women made by their parents to become the wife and second mother to Thomas Seymour. The Devil’s promises, at least, are more literal and therefore tempting. And then, there is the way Elle controls Liney to keep the relationship of the protective big sister who went to great lengths to save her sister. It’s a cycle, and Hawthorn navigates this theme well because despite all the horrors Elle was capable of, I have to admit I was rooting for her.
While there is romance when it comes to Liney and her feelings for women, particularly Bridget, which I enjoyed and loved, the core of the story is what hits the hardest: an older sister willing to go to great, scary lengths to protect her little sister, who is lonely and therefore wants to leave and explore the world and fall in love despite her sister’s great sacrifices. While it’s easy to understand and sympathize with Liney’s motivations, I also sympathized for Elle, despite her increasing darkness. Great stuff. And of course, I couldn't get enough of the ocean atmosphere.
Sarah L. Hawthorn’s A Fate Worse Than Drowning is effective Canadian lighthouse horror that centers the complicated relationship between two sisters. I love how Elle and Liney are juxtaposed and act as foils, although I was admittedly most intrigued by Elle and her contending with her inner darkness and her dealings with the Devil—I know, big surprise! What can I say? Faustian stories are great but often center men and their ambitions for knowledge, fulfillment, or power; we focus on Faust and not Gretchen, who is similar to him, but because of her stated place in society where she's made to be the caretaker for her family and then scorned when she becomes pregnant, she doesn’t get the same opportunities. She never got to be a renowned professor or travel the world and therefore be tired from learning all she can know. So, in this Faustian story, I’m happy to have a book that centers Elle and her relationship with her sister, especially Elle’s codependence on Liney because she needs to be her sister’s protector after all she lost and thinks that Liney cannot exist without her.
I have complicated feelings on this topic of Faustian stories and power. On one hand, I think because of social barriers, a woman’s search for knowledge and power, often derided in stories of witchcraft, is frowned upon because a patriarchal society benefits from shaking its finger and saying she should not grasp too much or shouldn’t corrupt her “gentler nature.” So, a part of me always roots for the woman choosing darkness and monstrosity and becoming powerful. However, on the other hand, especially with the Devil, we have to ask ourselves whether agency is ever really allowed. Is Elle really valued by “the Devil” or is she just a “hound dog” and therefore still subservient?
It was so telling that with all Elle and Liney endured at the hands of their parents and men in society, speaking to the Devil himself was a relief to Elle, despite him also being a force of control and, of course, supernatural darkness. I was interested in the theme of personas and artifices, the faces we show to the world or what we show to preserve a status quo. For example, what Elle hides from Liney to protect her and make her stay or how she dresses as a man to navigate the “real world” or how the Devil, AKA Mr. Pratterman, stops with the nice hibiscus tea and the pleasantries, but he still wears something to conceal his true face. There's the theme of control, of autonomy and ownership, how a woman still has to contend with a male figure, the Devil, and his deals to get some semblance of “freedom” at greater and greater costs. Either way, Elle or Liney would have been sacrifices, women made by their parents to become the wife and second mother to Thomas Seymour. The Devil’s promises, at least, are more literal and therefore tempting. And then, there is the way Elle controls Liney to keep the relationship of the protective big sister who went to great lengths to save her sister. It’s a cycle, and Hawthorn navigates this theme well because despite all the horrors Elle was capable of, I have to admit I was rooting for her.
While there is romance when it comes to Liney and her feelings for women, particularly Bridget, which I enjoyed and loved, the core of the story is what hits the hardest: an older sister willing to go to great, scary lengths to protect her little sister, who is lonely and therefore wants to leave and explore the world and fall in love despite her sister’s great sacrifices. While it’s easy to understand and sympathize with Liney’s motivations, I also sympathized for Elle, despite her increasing darkness. Great stuff. And of course, I couldn't get enough of the ocean atmosphere.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2026
Is there a fate worse than drowning? The year is 1861 and Mary Eleanor “Elle” and her sister Caroline “Liney” have fled to live in the lighthouse on Devil’s Island - a small uninhabited island in the Halifax harbour.
Elle has made a deal with the Devil to save her and her sister’s lives. In return, Elle must sacrifice the lives of those on incoming ships and boats to the hellscape that is beneath the island.
Told from both Elle and Liney’s perspectives, it is a tale of sacrifice, sisterhood, love, smothering, pain, and debt.
I loved this book. It’s not my typical genre (historical fantasy vs the thrillers and mysteries I’m partial to), but having followed the author on her journey to creating her debut novel, I knew I needed to read it. Thank you Sarah for an advanced copy of your book. What an honour to read it.
This isn’t a book you can mindlessly read, skimming the paragraphs to get the gist. Its prose is intentional and beautifully written, and each paragraph helps shape the atmospheric, isolated world the author has created.
The dynamic between Elle and Liney is tense and often times at odds with one another. Elle’s resolve to protect her sister infringes on Liney’s freedom; and Liney’s desire for something more directly threatens Elle’s sacrifice. Their dual perspectives provide contrast - a light to the darkness.
The book has smart twists which don’t feel forced, but instead we are uncovering details alongside the protagonists.
Is there a fate worse than drowning? You’ll have to read to find out.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Sarah L. Hawthorn, and Net Galley for an e arc in exchange for an honest review. I will be pre ordering a physical copy and I recommend others do the same!
Elle has made a deal with the Devil to save her and her sister’s lives. In return, Elle must sacrifice the lives of those on incoming ships and boats to the hellscape that is beneath the island.
Told from both Elle and Liney’s perspectives, it is a tale of sacrifice, sisterhood, love, smothering, pain, and debt.
I loved this book. It’s not my typical genre (historical fantasy vs the thrillers and mysteries I’m partial to), but having followed the author on her journey to creating her debut novel, I knew I needed to read it. Thank you Sarah for an advanced copy of your book. What an honour to read it.
This isn’t a book you can mindlessly read, skimming the paragraphs to get the gist. Its prose is intentional and beautifully written, and each paragraph helps shape the atmospheric, isolated world the author has created.
The dynamic between Elle and Liney is tense and often times at odds with one another. Elle’s resolve to protect her sister infringes on Liney’s freedom; and Liney’s desire for something more directly threatens Elle’s sacrifice. Their dual perspectives provide contrast - a light to the darkness.
The book has smart twists which don’t feel forced, but instead we are uncovering details alongside the protagonists.
Is there a fate worse than drowning? You’ll have to read to find out.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Sarah L. Hawthorn, and Net Galley for an e arc in exchange for an honest review. I will be pre ordering a physical copy and I recommend others do the same!
February 4, 2026
3.25/5 stars.
I was pretty excited for this book when I went into it. A deal with the devil? Luring sailors to their demise? Secluded lighthouse? I was locked in! I would say the first 20% of this book, I was highly intrigued but it started to become hit or miss for me from there on. I was really hoping for more atmosphere in this book, more suspense, and more horror. I found that my level of investment into this story kept coming and going in waves. Something interesting would happen that would draw me back in, and then it would lose momentum for me again.
I thought there were some strong components to this book such as the setting, the intriguing backstory with the FMCs' family, and I'm always drawn in when I see that a story is LGBTQ+. The plot was enjoyable, but not as much as I was hoping for. I struggled a bit with the characters too. I felt a slight disconnect from them but I did enjoy the tension between the two sisters. I thought this was very well crafted. The author also had a great air of mystery in this story. I still thought this was a worthy read even though it ended up being different than my expectations.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
I was pretty excited for this book when I went into it. A deal with the devil? Luring sailors to their demise? Secluded lighthouse? I was locked in! I would say the first 20% of this book, I was highly intrigued but it started to become hit or miss for me from there on. I was really hoping for more atmosphere in this book, more suspense, and more horror. I found that my level of investment into this story kept coming and going in waves. Something interesting would happen that would draw me back in, and then it would lose momentum for me again.
I thought there were some strong components to this book such as the setting, the intriguing backstory with the FMCs' family, and I'm always drawn in when I see that a story is LGBTQ+. The plot was enjoyable, but not as much as I was hoping for. I struggled a bit with the characters too. I felt a slight disconnect from them but I did enjoy the tension between the two sisters. I thought this was very well crafted. The author also had a great air of mystery in this story. I still thought this was a worthy read even though it ended up being different than my expectations.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
February 23, 2026
”I've been living with a murderer wearing the skin of my sister.”
Wow. Wow wow wow this book! A Fate Worse Than Drowning is a visceral slow burn experience where the terror creeps up your spine and you only realize it once it's dragged you to Hell.
This book follows two sisters, Elle and Liney, who have run away to Devil's Island to escape an abusive man and a controlling family. The dynamic between Elle and Liney is an interesting one, Elle is protective to a fault and Liney doesn't believe herself capable and asks Elle no questions. Throughout the story their relationship begins to fracture as Liney starts to realize the secrets that lurk beneath the lighthouse Elle tends and demands answers.
This book had so many fascinating plots happening at the same time but they all wove together in a eerily beautiful tale between sisters, a ghost, a woman washed ashore and the Devil himself. After reading the last page I felt a range of emotions pulling deeply at my heart and I feel both sad, happy, relieved and emotionally drained from the third act of the story. Just when you think things on Devil's Island can't get more tense the story takes it up a notch again and again. A Fate Worse Than Drowning was an incredible debut and I cannot wait to see what horrors this author will bring us next.
Huge thank you to netgalley and the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
March 2, 2026
You know what? That surprised me
I thought I knew what I was getting into when I started this book and then realised I had actually no idea. This was so different to anything that I have read before and I really enjoyed the two very distinct perspectives we got.
I think we’re so used to the Idea that a main character who does horrible things must feel horrible about them. I found it so refreshing that we don’t necessarily get that with Elle, or at least not in a way that we would expect.
I enjoyed the writing, enjoyed the plot, and really enjoyed this little twisted world on their little twisted island.
I received an ARC in return for an honest review
I thought I knew what I was getting into when I started this book and then realised I had actually no idea. This was so different to anything that I have read before and I really enjoyed the two very distinct perspectives we got.
I think we’re so used to the Idea that a main character who does horrible things must feel horrible about them. I found it so refreshing that we don’t necessarily get that with Elle, or at least not in a way that we would expect.
I enjoyed the writing, enjoyed the plot, and really enjoyed this little twisted world on their little twisted island.
I received an ARC in return for an honest review
January 5, 2026
Wonderful world building, love the twist and turns within the story. Absolutely love the concept behind this book as well, thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this before it comes out. I definitely will be adding it to my bookshelves when it comes out
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
review to come once I can gather words fitting enough. I devoured this book. It evoked emotions and was very well written.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. This is my honest, voluntary review.
When Love Becomes the Darkest Curse
There are stories that slowly wrap around you like a thick blanket of sea mist, making it impossible to tell where reality ends and nightmares begin. A Fate Worse Than Drowning is exactly that kind of novel.
Sarah L. Hawthorn creates an unforgettable gothic atmosphere from the very first pages. The lonely lighthouse, the crashing waves, the constant feeling of isolation, and the ever-present darkness make the setting feel like a character of its own. Every chapter carries an unsettling sense of dread that quietly lingers beneath the surface, making it impossible to fully relax.
The writing style is beautifully immersive. Rich without becoming overwhelming, descriptive without slowing the story down, it perfectly balances lyrical prose with emotional tension. The pacing is deliberately measured, allowing both the mystery and the characters to unfold naturally while steadily increasing the feeling that something terrible is waiting just beyond the next page.
Elle is a fascinating morally grey protagonist whose choices are driven by fierce love, fear, and desperation. She isn't always easy to like, but she is endlessly compelling to follow. Liney provides a wonderful contrast, bringing warmth, hope, and vulnerability to the story while slowly discovering that the truth can be far more dangerous than ignorance. Their complicated sisterly bond forms the emotional heart of the novel and gives the story far more depth than its supernatural premise alone.
The plot weaves together gothic horror, historical fantasy, folklore, and psychological tension into a story filled with impossible choices and haunting consequences. Rather than relying on constant action, it builds suspense through atmosphere, emotional conflict, and the weight of every decision. The mystery unfolds naturally, rewarding patience without ever revealing its hand too soon.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning is a beautifully haunting debut that explores how far someone is willing to go to protect the people they love, and what happens when devotion slowly transforms into obsession. While the slower pacing occasionally softened the momentum, the unforgettable atmosphere and emotionally layered characters made this a captivating reading experience from beginning to end.
Gothic Horror | Historical Fantasy | Morally Grey FMC | Devil's Bargain | Sisters | Lighthouse Setting | Queer Romance | Slow Burn | Atmospheric | Psychological
When Love Becomes the Darkest Curse
There are stories that slowly wrap around you like a thick blanket of sea mist, making it impossible to tell where reality ends and nightmares begin. A Fate Worse Than Drowning is exactly that kind of novel.
Sarah L. Hawthorn creates an unforgettable gothic atmosphere from the very first pages. The lonely lighthouse, the crashing waves, the constant feeling of isolation, and the ever-present darkness make the setting feel like a character of its own. Every chapter carries an unsettling sense of dread that quietly lingers beneath the surface, making it impossible to fully relax.
The writing style is beautifully immersive. Rich without becoming overwhelming, descriptive without slowing the story down, it perfectly balances lyrical prose with emotional tension. The pacing is deliberately measured, allowing both the mystery and the characters to unfold naturally while steadily increasing the feeling that something terrible is waiting just beyond the next page.
Elle is a fascinating morally grey protagonist whose choices are driven by fierce love, fear, and desperation. She isn't always easy to like, but she is endlessly compelling to follow. Liney provides a wonderful contrast, bringing warmth, hope, and vulnerability to the story while slowly discovering that the truth can be far more dangerous than ignorance. Their complicated sisterly bond forms the emotional heart of the novel and gives the story far more depth than its supernatural premise alone.
The plot weaves together gothic horror, historical fantasy, folklore, and psychological tension into a story filled with impossible choices and haunting consequences. Rather than relying on constant action, it builds suspense through atmosphere, emotional conflict, and the weight of every decision. The mystery unfolds naturally, rewarding patience without ever revealing its hand too soon.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning is a beautifully haunting debut that explores how far someone is willing to go to protect the people they love, and what happens when devotion slowly transforms into obsession. While the slower pacing occasionally softened the momentum, the unforgettable atmosphere and emotionally layered characters made this a captivating reading experience from beginning to end.
Gothic Horror | Historical Fantasy | Morally Grey FMC | Devil's Bargain | Sisters | Lighthouse Setting | Queer Romance | Slow Burn | Atmospheric | Psychological
January 18, 2026
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Sarah L Hawthorn for the ARC on NetGalley this one!
I was drawn in by the setting of the Devil Island Lighthouse and stayed for the emotional storylines of our two characters Elle and Liney. Although the book didn't end up going where I thought it might have, I was still pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed this. I'm a big fan of emotionally-driven stories and this one definitely ticks that box.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning has undercurrents of dread and tragedy that definitely pulled me under and left me in its wake! Thoroughly enjoyed my time with this and felt like it's easily going to be a book I recommend to others around me that I know will really love this as well!
Definitely a 4.5 star but Goodreads doesn’t offer half stars 😫
I was drawn in by the setting of the Devil Island Lighthouse and stayed for the emotional storylines of our two characters Elle and Liney. Although the book didn't end up going where I thought it might have, I was still pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed this. I'm a big fan of emotionally-driven stories and this one definitely ticks that box.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning has undercurrents of dread and tragedy that definitely pulled me under and left me in its wake! Thoroughly enjoyed my time with this and felt like it's easily going to be a book I recommend to others around me that I know will really love this as well!
Definitely a 4.5 star but Goodreads doesn’t offer half stars 😫
Want to Read
January 6, 2026LET ME IN
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The synopsis and premise for this novel really appealed to my love of the gothic. There was so much promise and potential with this story, which I was extremely excited to start.
The opening lines immediately grabbed my attention and I was certain that I'd be experiencing a narrative told through rich prose. Unfortunately, I didn't find this to be the case. The writing was very reportive in style, lacking in any emotion. I was yearning for a dark, brooding atmosphere, with a sense of foreboding; there was a hugely missed opportunity here to deliver this effect. Likewise, there were no occasions where I felt any emotional connection to either of the protagonists or their experiences. For example, the flashbacks should have been an opportunity to create empathy for Elle, shedding light and understanding on her desperate choices and rash decision making. However, the lack of tension and suspense stripped away any opportunity for me to forge these emotional connections and I just wasn't invested in the story or the characters.
The idea has great potential, but the writing style did not suit my personal reading tastes; I felt too detached from the characters and therefore wasn't emotionally invested.
The opening lines immediately grabbed my attention and I was certain that I'd be experiencing a narrative told through rich prose. Unfortunately, I didn't find this to be the case. The writing was very reportive in style, lacking in any emotion. I was yearning for a dark, brooding atmosphere, with a sense of foreboding; there was a hugely missed opportunity here to deliver this effect. Likewise, there were no occasions where I felt any emotional connection to either of the protagonists or their experiences. For example, the flashbacks should have been an opportunity to create empathy for Elle, shedding light and understanding on her desperate choices and rash decision making. However, the lack of tension and suspense stripped away any opportunity for me to forge these emotional connections and I just wasn't invested in the story or the characters.
The idea has great potential, but the writing style did not suit my personal reading tastes; I felt too detached from the characters and therefore wasn't emotionally invested.
February 27, 2026
This was a really interesting combo of historical fiction (1860’s Nova Scotia), folklore (Devil’s Island Lighthouse), and horror/ fantasy elements. The premise is extremely fascinating: a deal with the devil, wherein Elle assumes responsibility of a lighthouse that connects to a supernatural source of the devil’s power located below it. I found the horror elements to be a bit of a slow burn, and the supernatural fantasy elements to be more of a backdrop to the drama unfolding between Elle and her sister, Liney. Overall I enjoyed the bits of history and folklore, as well as the queer representation, but I do feel that the pacing made it a bit difficult to read larger portions in one sitting. Because of this, I feel that there wasn’t as much momentum leading up to the ending. I did appreciate how the author chose to bring it all together, and satisfied with the way that everything ended.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning releases on July 21, 2026. Thank you Poisoned Pen Press (via Netgalley widget) for gifting me with an eARC, all thoughts express are my own.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning releases on July 21, 2026. Thank you Poisoned Pen Press (via Netgalley widget) for gifting me with an eARC, all thoughts express are my own.
June 4, 2026
AITA for sacrificing sailors to the demon guy who grants me powers and residence? (It's for my sister's safety)
This was such a beautiful representation of violence and devotion. How they can intermingle with each other so wholly.
I had difficulty getting into the time setting at first. The language and references are pretty standard for the time, which does help get you into it, but it just took me a bit.
It also took me a bit to understand what the heck was happening with the setting and with Pratterman.
I really enjoyed the alternating perspectives of Liney and Elle. I feel like it really added to the story (and the morally dubious understanding of Elle's actions) too see it. Elle justified, while Liney slowly began to realize the concerning nature of Elle's actions.
I felt like Elle's romance with SPOILER was kind of unnecessary. It didn't really add much to the story, especially because her whole character arc is about how she doesn't need a man and all that. I just didn't really connect to it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!
This was such a beautiful representation of violence and devotion. How they can intermingle with each other so wholly.
I had difficulty getting into the time setting at first. The language and references are pretty standard for the time, which does help get you into it, but it just took me a bit.
It also took me a bit to understand what the heck was happening with the setting and with Pratterman.
I really enjoyed the alternating perspectives of Liney and Elle. I feel like it really added to the story (and the morally dubious understanding of Elle's actions) too see it. Elle justified, while Liney slowly began to realize the concerning nature of Elle's actions.
I felt like Elle's romance with SPOILER was kind of unnecessary. It didn't really add much to the story, especially because her whole character arc is about how she doesn't need a man and all that. I just didn't really connect to it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!
July 9, 2026
A deal with the devil, doomed sailors, a co-dependent sister relationship, lots of murder…what’s not to like :) The beginning of this story was super strong and I just fell right into it.
I also loved the eerie atmosphere, paranormal elements, and overall weird girl vibes. The LGBTQIA representation was a nice addition, and the cover is absolutely stunning.
My biggest issue was the pacing. It felt uneven, and while the atmospheric writing was beautiful, there weren’t enough action-heavy moments for the story to really take off. I kept waiting for the momentum to build, but it never quite got there. With just a slight editing of the pace, I feel like I would have liked it a little more. But, I enjoyed the creepy atmosphere and unique premise, even if the execution didn’t fully land for me.
Thank you to the author, #NetGalley, and Poisoned Pen Press, for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.
I also loved the eerie atmosphere, paranormal elements, and overall weird girl vibes. The LGBTQIA representation was a nice addition, and the cover is absolutely stunning.
My biggest issue was the pacing. It felt uneven, and while the atmospheric writing was beautiful, there weren’t enough action-heavy moments for the story to really take off. I kept waiting for the momentum to build, but it never quite got there. With just a slight editing of the pace, I feel like I would have liked it a little more. But, I enjoyed the creepy atmosphere and unique premise, even if the execution didn’t fully land for me.
Thank you to the author, #NetGalley, and Poisoned Pen Press, for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2026
I loved the premise of this book and the tension between two sisters who both were keeping secrets from each other in order to protect each other. I’m a huge fan of historical fiction, especially with the added fantasy elements
✷ historical fiction
✷ fantasy horror
✷ deal with the devil
✷ complicated family relationships (sisters)
✷ queer love
✷ ghosts
✷ morally grey main character
“An uncertain world ahead may not look unkindly on us. But we’ll search for the gentler edges of its map.”
One of my favorite parts of this story was the love that both Liney and Elle ultimately experienced. I just wish there was more of it, more development leading up to those relationships.
Unfortunately, the story started to get repetitive for me around the 50% mark and the plot felt tight and almost too consistent. I wanted more action and more advancement within the story. Perhaps I felt that way because the majority of the setting is within a lighthouse, but I think I needed more description rather than thoughts or dialogue that started to feel repetitive.
Thank you to the NetGalley Team and Sarah Hawthorn for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.
✷ historical fiction
✷ fantasy horror
✷ deal with the devil
✷ complicated family relationships (sisters)
✷ queer love
✷ ghosts
✷ morally grey main character
“An uncertain world ahead may not look unkindly on us. But we’ll search for the gentler edges of its map.”
One of my favorite parts of this story was the love that both Liney and Elle ultimately experienced. I just wish there was more of it, more development leading up to those relationships.
Unfortunately, the story started to get repetitive for me around the 50% mark and the plot felt tight and almost too consistent. I wanted more action and more advancement within the story. Perhaps I felt that way because the majority of the setting is within a lighthouse, but I think I needed more description rather than thoughts or dialogue that started to feel repetitive.
Thank you to the NetGalley Team and Sarah Hawthorn for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.
May 6, 2026
As soon as I heard about this novel, inspired by Nova Scotia folklore, I knew I had to read it. I grew up in the maritimes and I’m obsessed with our spooky coastal legends.
This book was steeped in seafaring lore and inspired by a fantastic local folktale from Devil’s Island at the mouth of the Halifax Harbour.
The author did a fantastic job of setting the scene. You could almost feel the salt spray coming off the ocean.
I loved following the characters on their journey. The pacing of this story wasn’t rushed which made the ending that much more impactful.
This book is perfect both for those familiar with east coast folklore and those who are intrigued but haven’t yet had the chance to dive into our rich culture of seafaring superstitions.
Thank you Net Galley and Poisoned Pen Press for an Advanced Copy!
This book was steeped in seafaring lore and inspired by a fantastic local folktale from Devil’s Island at the mouth of the Halifax Harbour.
The author did a fantastic job of setting the scene. You could almost feel the salt spray coming off the ocean.
I loved following the characters on their journey. The pacing of this story wasn’t rushed which made the ending that much more impactful.
This book is perfect both for those familiar with east coast folklore and those who are intrigued but haven’t yet had the chance to dive into our rich culture of seafaring superstitions.
Thank you Net Galley and Poisoned Pen Press for an Advanced Copy!
Did Not Finish
April 6, 2026I DNF'ed this one at 20%
I was excited to read this and it sadly isn't interesting enough for me to continue. I do think it's too early to conclude whether it's a good or bad book. It simply does not bring me joy when reading it and therefore decided not to continue.
Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was excited to read this and it sadly isn't interesting enough for me to continue. I do think it's too early to conclude whether it's a good or bad book. It simply does not bring me joy when reading it and therefore decided not to continue.
Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Did Not Finish
April 8, 2026I won’t be reviewing A Fate Worse Than Drowning by Sarah L. Hawthorn at this time.
I made it about 20% in before deciding to set it aside, as the paranormal elements weren’t quite working for me personally. That said, this feels very much like a me thing, and I hope to revisit this title in the future with a fresh mindset.
Thank you so much to Sarah L Hawthorn, Poisoned Pen Press & Netgalley for the early copy - I truly appreciate the opportunity. 🖤📖
I made it about 20% in before deciding to set it aside, as the paranormal elements weren’t quite working for me personally. That said, this feels very much like a me thing, and I hope to revisit this title in the future with a fresh mindset.
Thank you so much to Sarah L Hawthorn, Poisoned Pen Press & Netgalley for the early copy - I truly appreciate the opportunity. 🖤📖
March 20, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
Gahhhh. The premise of this sounded SO GOOD. I was so excited to read it.
Then, I started it. And it felt like a chore to finish it.🫠
I did not feel connected to Elle or Liney at ALL during this book. I don’t know why that was. The writing was fine, but the pacing was off, and the backstory just felt kind of glossed over, like it lacked depth or sustenance.
I wish there were more details of the before. I really think that would have helped this story. Instead, we’re thrown in. I think it would have been beneficial to the background of Thomas, and helping the reader to understand why they fled on a deeper level.
Great premise, not so great execution.
Gahhhh. The premise of this sounded SO GOOD. I was so excited to read it.
Then, I started it. And it felt like a chore to finish it.🫠
I did not feel connected to Elle or Liney at ALL during this book. I don’t know why that was. The writing was fine, but the pacing was off, and the backstory just felt kind of glossed over, like it lacked depth or sustenance.
I wish there were more details of the before. I really think that would have helped this story. Instead, we’re thrown in. I think it would have been beneficial to the background of Thomas, and helping the reader to understand why they fled on a deeper level.
Great premise, not so great execution.
December 24, 2025
A great premise and solid writing, though I thought the structure could have used some work. I won’t go as far as to say it was an inherent flaw, but I think the dual POV undercut a lot of the tension. While I did find Elle a compelling character, I think the story would have worked better overall if it had only been told from Liney’s perspective. Through Elle’s chapters, we learn all of the secrets, and so when Liney later unearths them herself it tends to feel redundant and underwhelming. That being said, I enjoyed the plot and the character work, so I’d be interested in reading what this author does next.
Review of advance copy
2.5 stars rounded down
I wanted to love this one, but I was bored most of the time (i.e. I liked the beginning, I loved the ending, and the middle was mostly a drag).
There were some darker elements that were compelling, and it kept me interested at first… but then it seemed that the author pulled her punches, so it was anti-climatic a lot of the time.
I didn’t quite understand the magic system rules, especially with who becomes a ghost and who doesn’t, and who Elle needs to sacrifice/not (and why Douglas and Chamomile are still present). Some of those questions get answered later on in the story, and it seemed like the exposition tried to answer these questions in the earlier chapters, but failed to make the lore clear.
I appreciate how much the sisters care about each other, and they repeat how devoted they are to each other all the time. But for some reason, I never felt connected to either of them. Having said that, I did like how the story ended for each of them, as it felt fitting given who they were.
All in all, I did enjoy aspects of this story, but I also feel there were multiple areas that need improvement. I would recommend someone try this story out if it interests them though, and I look forward to reading what the author writes next!
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:
I wanted to love this one, but I was bored most of the time (i.e. I liked the beginning, I loved the ending, and the middle was mostly a drag).
There were some darker elements that were compelling, and it kept me interested at first… but then it seemed that the author pulled her punches, so it was anti-climatic a lot of the time.
I didn’t quite understand the magic system rules, especially with who becomes a ghost and who doesn’t, and who Elle needs to sacrifice/not (and why Douglas and Chamomile are still present). Some of those questions get answered later on in the story, and it seemed like the exposition tried to answer these questions in the earlier chapters, but failed to make the lore clear.
I appreciate how much the sisters care about each other, and they repeat how devoted they are to each other all the time. But for some reason, I never felt connected to either of them. Having said that, I did like how the story ended for each of them, as it felt fitting given who they were.
All in all, I did enjoy aspects of this story, but I also feel there were multiple areas that need improvement. I would recommend someone try this story out if it interests them though, and I look forward to reading what the author writes next!
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for honest review!
The idea of A Fate Worse Than Drowning gripped me from the moment I read the synopsis. Two sisters, running from the world, alone together on an inhospitable island, with one hiding a horrendous secret - that she's made a deal with the devil...
Overall, outside of a few quibbles, there's a hell of a lot to like about this book. I absolutely loved the character arc of the elder sister, Elle; I loved her relationship with her, Liney, the younger sister, and the ghost she created, James; and I absolutely adored the twist the surprised me right at the end of the book.
Not many authors have the guts to commit to an arc where a character gets worse and worse to the point that, although they turn back at the end, they still deserve a tragic fate. Not many authors then have the guts to go on and give them that tragic fate, rather than swerving into an undeserved happy ending. One of the key strengths of this book is that Hawthorn does both. Elle and Liney, the main characters, switch POVs back and forth in each chapter, and while both have great character arcs, Elle's really drew me in and made me feel like she was the main character of the whole book. Hawthorn adeptly uses the harsh realities women faced in this time period to draw Elle into an impossible Faustian bargain - risk her sister's health and happiness by allowing her to marry a monstrous man (and potentially get sent to a horrific mental asylum herself), or commit murder over and over again in order to provide them both a safe haven. Hawthorn paints a truly believable picture of someone who starts off with the noble intention of protecting her sister, but who spirals into near-madness as she has to confront the things she's done and the lengths she'll continue to go to, to try and keep her sister with her and safe. Elle and Liney's relationship has a really interesting downward slide in the novel, where they both love each other, but realise maybe being together isn't for the better. But as much as Elle's actions are immoral, the reader is left with the thorny question: if Elle had sat back and done nothing, how terrible would her sister's life have been? And hers? But because she tried to save her sister, many good people died. A key strength of A Fate Worse Than Drowning is that it doesn't give you an easy answer to that question, while also giving both main characters the ending you feel they should get - Elle's tragic but deserved, and Liney's finally happy.
While I'm talking about Elle, I also loved her relationship with the ghost, James, and how their relationship built up throughout the story. They start out hilariously at odds and salty at each other (appropriate, since both are lighthouse keepers!), but that bond morphs into something that by the end is tender and heartfelt. I really found their relationship believable and oddly lovely, despite all the dark and dire circumstances surrounding them.
The other relationship in the novel is between Liney, the younger sister, and Bridget, a girl who washes ashore in a shipwreck. This was definitely the weaker of the two relationships for me, though it was sweet and touching in its own way. It all felt like it happened a little fast, and Bridget herself felt a little flat, a little too perfect despite the character flaws the narrative tried to tell us she had (forgiving someone so quickly after they near-drown you was pretty unbelievable, for one example). I did really like the representation though, both of Liney and Bridget's sapphic relationship, and Elle being either GNC or non-binary in some way. I really appreciated that Hawthorn used very period appropriate language to explain what both girls felt, rather than dipping into any anachronisms!
Speaking of language, Hawthorn's prose itself is very readable, and there were many lines, especially description of the weather, the island, and the spooky goings-on, that showed real flare.
I was also super impressed by the final twist! I won't spoil it at all, but I absolutely did not see it coming. It's one of those great twists where it blindsides the reader, but looking back, it makes perfect sense. There were quibbles I had with earlier events that I had written down to bring up in this review, only to erase them when I finally got to the twist, which tied things all together and explained everything. I can't overstate how satisfying it was! In fact, the entire ending sequence, aside from a couple of minor things, was a really good read.
Speaking of criticisms, though, I do have a few, which took this book's rating down to four stars. Although some moments in the novel have lots of pace, it sometimes feels like a lot of page time is expended on not much happening at all. Events and feelings are sometimes explained several times in different ways, which ends up taking necessary pages away from other scenes, or action that could have been happening. On a related note, Elle's feelings, plans, and decisions sometimes seem to turn on a dime in a way that can feel a bit like whiplash; these could've used a bit more space to breathe. There are a couple of moments where Elle makes a decision or seems to have realised something in a flash, without the audience having any knowledge of how she got to that conclusion - for example, randomly knowing she can physically go into the spiral at the end, or use its power to save Bridget, or even when she decides to dip her knife into the pool. At other times, though, she spends so long thinking about a decision or course of action that it gets tiring. There needed to be a little more balance and thought put into which moments and decisions are detailed on page, and how much detail to go into about how the characters make those decisions.
There are also one or two moments where the decisions the characters make feel a little contrived, as if they're for the sake of the plot, rather than what that character would logically do. This is most obvious with Liney not going immediately up to the lightroom to place James' skull - an action that would've taken about five minutes tops - so that the narrative has an excuse to separate her from Bridget at the crucial moment. There are one or two continuity errors as well, most glaringly when Elle realises someone has undone the ribbon she put into the basement lock on one page (and the only people who could have possibly done it are Liney and Bridget), and then somehow being surprised a few pages later when she sees footprints and realises that Liney and Bridget have been in the basement.
My final quibble is that for all the cool supernatural elements and images Hawthorn put into the book, I felt it could have gone EVEN HARDER on the spookiness and devilish, hellish imagery. The natural atmosphere of the island itself is drawn so well, and there are moments - like the room in which Elle meets the devil - where I felt the atmosphere really shone. The book needed to take the guts it showed with Elle's character arc and use them to really take the horror themes up to eleven! They were there, but they stayed a little muted for my tastes, when they should ideally have been loud and proud (and CREEPY AS HELL).
Overall, though, I really enjoyed A Fate Worse Than Drowning a lot - evidenced by the fact that I flew through it in just a week! I'd definitely recommend picking this one up, and thanks to the team at Poisoned Pen Press who gave me the chance to read this ARC!
The idea of A Fate Worse Than Drowning gripped me from the moment I read the synopsis. Two sisters, running from the world, alone together on an inhospitable island, with one hiding a horrendous secret - that she's made a deal with the devil...
Overall, outside of a few quibbles, there's a hell of a lot to like about this book. I absolutely loved the character arc of the elder sister, Elle; I loved her relationship with her, Liney, the younger sister, and the ghost she created, James; and I absolutely adored the twist the surprised me right at the end of the book.
Not many authors have the guts to commit to an arc where a character gets worse and worse to the point that, although they turn back at the end, they still deserve a tragic fate. Not many authors then have the guts to go on and give them that tragic fate, rather than swerving into an undeserved happy ending. One of the key strengths of this book is that Hawthorn does both. Elle and Liney, the main characters, switch POVs back and forth in each chapter, and while both have great character arcs, Elle's really drew me in and made me feel like she was the main character of the whole book. Hawthorn adeptly uses the harsh realities women faced in this time period to draw Elle into an impossible Faustian bargain - risk her sister's health and happiness by allowing her to marry a monstrous man (and potentially get sent to a horrific mental asylum herself), or commit murder over and over again in order to provide them both a safe haven. Hawthorn paints a truly believable picture of someone who starts off with the noble intention of protecting her sister, but who spirals into near-madness as she has to confront the things she's done and the lengths she'll continue to go to, to try and keep her sister with her and safe. Elle and Liney's relationship has a really interesting downward slide in the novel, where they both love each other, but realise maybe being together isn't for the better. But as much as Elle's actions are immoral, the reader is left with the thorny question: if Elle had sat back and done nothing, how terrible would her sister's life have been? And hers? But because she tried to save her sister, many good people died. A key strength of A Fate Worse Than Drowning is that it doesn't give you an easy answer to that question, while also giving both main characters the ending you feel they should get - Elle's tragic but deserved, and Liney's finally happy.
While I'm talking about Elle, I also loved her relationship with the ghost, James, and how their relationship built up throughout the story. They start out hilariously at odds and salty at each other (appropriate, since both are lighthouse keepers!), but that bond morphs into something that by the end is tender and heartfelt. I really found their relationship believable and oddly lovely, despite all the dark and dire circumstances surrounding them.
The other relationship in the novel is between Liney, the younger sister, and Bridget, a girl who washes ashore in a shipwreck. This was definitely the weaker of the two relationships for me, though it was sweet and touching in its own way. It all felt like it happened a little fast, and Bridget herself felt a little flat, a little too perfect despite the character flaws the narrative tried to tell us she had (forgiving someone so quickly after they near-drown you was pretty unbelievable, for one example). I did really like the representation though, both of Liney and Bridget's sapphic relationship, and Elle being either GNC or non-binary in some way. I really appreciated that Hawthorn used very period appropriate language to explain what both girls felt, rather than dipping into any anachronisms!
Speaking of language, Hawthorn's prose itself is very readable, and there were many lines, especially description of the weather, the island, and the spooky goings-on, that showed real flare.
I was also super impressed by the final twist! I won't spoil it at all, but I absolutely did not see it coming. It's one of those great twists where it blindsides the reader, but looking back, it makes perfect sense. There were quibbles I had with earlier events that I had written down to bring up in this review, only to erase them when I finally got to the twist, which tied things all together and explained everything. I can't overstate how satisfying it was! In fact, the entire ending sequence, aside from a couple of minor things, was a really good read.
Speaking of criticisms, though, I do have a few, which took this book's rating down to four stars. Although some moments in the novel have lots of pace, it sometimes feels like a lot of page time is expended on not much happening at all. Events and feelings are sometimes explained several times in different ways, which ends up taking necessary pages away from other scenes, or action that could have been happening. On a related note, Elle's feelings, plans, and decisions sometimes seem to turn on a dime in a way that can feel a bit like whiplash; these could've used a bit more space to breathe. There are a couple of moments where Elle makes a decision or seems to have realised something in a flash, without the audience having any knowledge of how she got to that conclusion - for example, randomly knowing she can physically go into the spiral at the end, or use its power to save Bridget, or even when she decides to dip her knife into the pool. At other times, though, she spends so long thinking about a decision or course of action that it gets tiring. There needed to be a little more balance and thought put into which moments and decisions are detailed on page, and how much detail to go into about how the characters make those decisions.
There are also one or two moments where the decisions the characters make feel a little contrived, as if they're for the sake of the plot, rather than what that character would logically do. This is most obvious with Liney not going immediately up to the lightroom to place James' skull - an action that would've taken about five minutes tops - so that the narrative has an excuse to separate her from Bridget at the crucial moment. There are one or two continuity errors as well, most glaringly when Elle realises someone has undone the ribbon she put into the basement lock on one page (and the only people who could have possibly done it are Liney and Bridget), and then somehow being surprised a few pages later when she sees footprints and realises that Liney and Bridget have been in the basement.
My final quibble is that for all the cool supernatural elements and images Hawthorn put into the book, I felt it could have gone EVEN HARDER on the spookiness and devilish, hellish imagery. The natural atmosphere of the island itself is drawn so well, and there are moments - like the room in which Elle meets the devil - where I felt the atmosphere really shone. The book needed to take the guts it showed with Elle's character arc and use them to really take the horror themes up to eleven! They were there, but they stayed a little muted for my tastes, when they should ideally have been loud and proud (and CREEPY AS HELL).
Overall, though, I really enjoyed A Fate Worse Than Drowning a lot - evidenced by the fact that I flew through it in just a week! I'd definitely recommend picking this one up, and thanks to the team at Poisoned Pen Press who gave me the chance to read this ARC!
January 16, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, apparently I’ve stumbled into a very niche reading streak: two books back-to-back where someone goes delightfully murder-y for their sister in a dark, isolated setting. It’s… specific. But if the rest of my year meets this kind of quality? I’m not complaining.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning has the salt-stung dread and gothic unease of The Lighthouse (2019), fused with the beautifully reckless “deal with the devil” energy of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. It’s soaked in murderous intent and sapphic yearning, then laced through with genuinely spectacular paranormal touches; without ever dropping the racing tension of a psychological thriller.
Okay, apparently I’ve stumbled into a very niche reading streak: two books back-to-back where someone goes delightfully murder-y for their sister in a dark, isolated setting. It’s… specific. But if the rest of my year meets this kind of quality? I’m not complaining.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning has the salt-stung dread and gothic unease of The Lighthouse (2019), fused with the beautifully reckless “deal with the devil” energy of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. It’s soaked in murderous intent and sapphic yearning, then laced through with genuinely spectacular paranormal touches; without ever dropping the racing tension of a psychological thriller.
There’s so much that works here. The setting is properly isolating, not just in a scenic way, but in a claustrophobic way, like the world has narrowed to a few rooms and a handful of choices, and every option is the wrong one. Even when we eventually escape the isolation of the island onto the mainland, Hawthorn does such a spectacular job of setting up the intrigue that nothing feels safe. Even outside of the paranormal core to this book we’re left watching every shadow. Waiting for the next danger, I loved it.
The mood is consistently eerie without relying on cheap shocks, and the spookiness feels earned rather than ornamental. Hawthorn also sets a brutal tempo: the book moves with intent, and it’s difficult to put down because it keeps you in that anxious, half-hypnotised “just one more chapter” state.
The dual points of view from Liney and Elle are a big part of that momentum, even though I wasn’t convinced at first. Up until around the halfway mark, I kept thinking the story would be cleaner and sharper as a single POV. But once the book settles into its rhythm, the split narration starts to feel like a pressure system: two angles tightening around the same dread, two versions of reality rubbing up against each other, and you can feel the story accelerating because you’re constantly bracing for where those perspectives will collide. It ends up adding urgency rather than diluting it. Especially as other characters begin taking more of a forefront, especially Mr Pratterman and Mr Douglas.
For a quite limited cast especially for the first chunk of novel, everyone is distinctive and compelling. Elle is the definition of protective older sister and watching the lengths and sacrifices she’s willing to make to keep Liney safe was so devastating and brilliant to read.
Elle was surprisingly delightful to follow, she’s naive and overly sweet which could have easily become bothersome. But in the setting it works brilliantly and how she works out the truth is really fun to read. Watching her come to terms with the bloodshed caused to keep her safe was just top notch.
As a villain Mr Pratterman (/our devil) wasn’t on page for a tonne of the book but his impact was tangible on the richter scale. Untangling the web of lies around him and his island was so satisfying, and he’s got plenty of spook to make him a standout in this genre.
My only real issue with this book was the number of red herrings. I absolutely get they have their place in a thriller of this sort, but this was bursting at the seams with them in places particularly at the 60% mark or so. We drop one character, Chamomile to be replaced by a functionally quite similar Bridget. To begin with it felt like this was going somewhere quite interesting, as the former is a ghost and the latter a survivor of a suspicious event. It feels like Hawthorn is going to lead us down a twisty path… but it goes kind of nowhere? There’s a few examples of this and enough threads untied to feel a bit… odd in the end? I’d have loved to see these more developed but given the book’s quite short length I can see why they weren’t really.
I genuinely loved this story and would love to see more from Hawthorn.
Okay, apparently I’ve stumbled into a very niche reading streak: two books back-to-back where someone goes delightfully murder-y for their sister in a dark, isolated setting. It’s… specific. But if the rest of my year meets this kind of quality? I’m not complaining.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning has the salt-stung dread and gothic unease of The Lighthouse (2019), fused with the beautifully reckless “deal with the devil” energy of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. It’s soaked in murderous intent and sapphic yearning, then laced through with genuinely spectacular paranormal touches; without ever dropping the racing tension of a psychological thriller.
Okay, apparently I’ve stumbled into a very niche reading streak: two books back-to-back where someone goes delightfully murder-y for their sister in a dark, isolated setting. It’s… specific. But if the rest of my year meets this kind of quality? I’m not complaining.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning has the salt-stung dread and gothic unease of The Lighthouse (2019), fused with the beautifully reckless “deal with the devil” energy of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. It’s soaked in murderous intent and sapphic yearning, then laced through with genuinely spectacular paranormal touches; without ever dropping the racing tension of a psychological thriller.
There’s so much that works here. The setting is properly isolating, not just in a scenic way, but in a claustrophobic way, like the world has narrowed to a few rooms and a handful of choices, and every option is the wrong one. Even when we eventually escape the isolation of the island onto the mainland, Hawthorn does such a spectacular job of setting up the intrigue that nothing feels safe. Even outside of the paranormal core to this book we’re left watching every shadow. Waiting for the next danger, I loved it.
The mood is consistently eerie without relying on cheap shocks, and the spookiness feels earned rather than ornamental. Hawthorn also sets a brutal tempo: the book moves with intent, and it’s difficult to put down because it keeps you in that anxious, half-hypnotised “just one more chapter” state.
The dual points of view from Liney and Elle are a big part of that momentum, even though I wasn’t convinced at first. Up until around the halfway mark, I kept thinking the story would be cleaner and sharper as a single POV. But once the book settles into its rhythm, the split narration starts to feel like a pressure system: two angles tightening around the same dread, two versions of reality rubbing up against each other, and you can feel the story accelerating because you’re constantly bracing for where those perspectives will collide. It ends up adding urgency rather than diluting it. Especially as other characters begin taking more of a forefront, especially Mr Pratterman and Mr Douglas.
For a quite limited cast especially for the first chunk of novel, everyone is distinctive and compelling. Elle is the definition of protective older sister and watching the lengths and sacrifices she’s willing to make to keep Liney safe was so devastating and brilliant to read.
Elle was surprisingly delightful to follow, she’s naive and overly sweet which could have easily become bothersome. But in the setting it works brilliantly and how she works out the truth is really fun to read. Watching her come to terms with the bloodshed caused to keep her safe was just top notch.
As a villain Mr Pratterman (/our devil) wasn’t on page for a tonne of the book but his impact was tangible on the richter scale. Untangling the web of lies around him and his island was so satisfying, and he’s got plenty of spook to make him a standout in this genre.
My only real issue with this book was the number of red herrings. I absolutely get they have their place in a thriller of this sort, but this was bursting at the seams with them in places particularly at the 60% mark or so. We drop one character, Chamomile to be replaced by a functionally quite similar Bridget. To begin with it felt like this was going somewhere quite interesting, as the former is a ghost and the latter a survivor of a suspicious event. It feels like Hawthorn is going to lead us down a twisty path… but it goes kind of nowhere? There’s a few examples of this and enough threads untied to feel a bit… odd in the end? I’d have loved to see these more developed but given the book’s quite short length I can see why they weren’t really.
I genuinely loved this story and would love to see more from Hawthorn.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4/5
A Fate Worse Than Drowning was a fresh take on the classic "deal with the devil" storyline.
It follows Elle, who saved her sister from an engagement to a bad man by making a deal with the devil. In return, they must reside on an island where Elle is required to operate the lighthouse, sinking ships and thus sacrificing the sailors' souls to the devil. When the devil returns to keep asking for more, Elle is caught between keeping her secrets and keeping her sister safe.
There were many parts of A Fate Worse Than Drowning that thoroughly surprised me. Elle as a character is at times really hard to root for. Her desire to protect her sister has made her cruel and unapologetic. At her core, she's fiercely loyal, which is a likable quality, but it also causes her to do really bad things for those she loves. I went back and forth between really supporting her and wanting her to succeed in things and wanting her to take a step back and realize how INSANE her actions are, and how she might not be thinking clearly. I think walking this line is a sign of really complex, good writing.
Liney honestly really frustrated me most of the time. She's so childish and immature, only because Elle has allowed her to remain so sheltered while enduring much difficulty herself. Liney is EXTREMELY ungrateful. While I know she doesn't actually understand what Elle has done for her, I don't think that would make it any better - it would probably make her even more ungrateful. From her "imaginary" friend to her bond with Bridget, she has her head in the clouds and is not grounded at all. She's basically the complete opposite of Elle, which is a nice contrast for the book, but also really aggravating at times. I seriously f0und myself HOPING for something bad to happen to her sometimes just so she would realize she needs Elle and she would be nowhere without her. I realize how insane that makes ME sound, but I really think the Hawthorne's writing and personification of Elle is so good that sometimes I found myself feeling her frustration.
I also didn't really care for Bridget. I feel like I was supposed to like her, but part of me felt the residual frustration from Liney's ungratefulness and blamed Bridget for being so anti-Elle. Which she kind of is... I'm not saying I totally blame her, but she seems determined to whisk Liney away to some foreign place and have her abandoned the sister that literally sold her soul to the devil for her. I feel like Bridget is Liney's Manix Pixie Dream Girl. Their love didn't entirely convince me or captivate me, so I didn't really care either way what happened to Bridget on a personal level, but sometimes actively wanted something bad to happen to her for Elle's sake lol.
Then there's Douglas - BY FAR my favorite character and such a pleasant surprise. I won't give much away, but his character was so complex and so refreshing. His relationship with Elle is so dynamic that I couldn't stop thinking about it after reading. I feel like that story could be a book all on its own, away from all the events that happen after their initial meeting.
This story really took a couple of turns I didn't expect and I was SO HERE. FOR. IT. I love when a story takes me by surprise! Douglas was a very unexpected character that I loved reading about. And Elle's descent into moral turpitude really fascinated me because it evoked so many conflicting emotions.
The end of this book hit me a lot harder than I expected it to. While there was ENOUGH closure for me to move on, I surprisingly felt like I would miss these characters and what could have been if the story had gone differently - not that I wish things hadn't happened the way they did, but in a way where this story could have been told in a completely different genre with different events and I would have loved it then, too.
Overall, this book took me a little while to fully appreciate, but I ended up thinking about it WAY more than I expected after finishing it.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning was a fresh take on the classic "deal with the devil" storyline.
It follows Elle, who saved her sister from an engagement to a bad man by making a deal with the devil. In return, they must reside on an island where Elle is required to operate the lighthouse, sinking ships and thus sacrificing the sailors' souls to the devil. When the devil returns to keep asking for more, Elle is caught between keeping her secrets and keeping her sister safe.
There were many parts of A Fate Worse Than Drowning that thoroughly surprised me. Elle as a character is at times really hard to root for. Her desire to protect her sister has made her cruel and unapologetic. At her core, she's fiercely loyal, which is a likable quality, but it also causes her to do really bad things for those she loves. I went back and forth between really supporting her and wanting her to succeed in things and wanting her to take a step back and realize how INSANE her actions are, and how she might not be thinking clearly. I think walking this line is a sign of really complex, good writing.
Liney honestly really frustrated me most of the time. She's so childish and immature, only because Elle has allowed her to remain so sheltered while enduring much difficulty herself. Liney is EXTREMELY ungrateful. While I know she doesn't actually understand what Elle has done for her, I don't think that would make it any better - it would probably make her even more ungrateful. From her "imaginary" friend to her bond with Bridget, she has her head in the clouds and is not grounded at all. She's basically the complete opposite of Elle, which is a nice contrast for the book, but also really aggravating at times. I seriously f0und myself HOPING for something bad to happen to her sometimes just so she would realize she needs Elle and she would be nowhere without her. I realize how insane that makes ME sound, but I really think the Hawthorne's writing and personification of Elle is so good that sometimes I found myself feeling her frustration.
I also didn't really care for Bridget. I feel like I was supposed to like her, but part of me felt the residual frustration from Liney's ungratefulness and blamed Bridget for being so anti-Elle. Which she kind of is... I'm not saying I totally blame her, but she seems determined to whisk Liney away to some foreign place and have her abandoned the sister that literally sold her soul to the devil for her. I feel like Bridget is Liney's Manix Pixie Dream Girl. Their love didn't entirely convince me or captivate me, so I didn't really care either way what happened to Bridget on a personal level, but sometimes actively wanted something bad to happen to her for Elle's sake lol.
Then there's Douglas - BY FAR my favorite character and such a pleasant surprise. I won't give much away, but his character was so complex and so refreshing. His relationship with Elle is so dynamic that I couldn't stop thinking about it after reading. I feel like that story could be a book all on its own, away from all the events that happen after their initial meeting.
This story really took a couple of turns I didn't expect and I was SO HERE. FOR. IT. I love when a story takes me by surprise! Douglas was a very unexpected character that I loved reading about. And Elle's descent into moral turpitude really fascinated me because it evoked so many conflicting emotions.
The end of this book hit me a lot harder than I expected it to. While there was ENOUGH closure for me to move on, I surprisingly felt like I would miss these characters and what could have been if the story had gone differently - not that I wish things hadn't happened the way they did, but in a way where this story could have been told in a completely different genre with different events and I would have loved it then, too.
Overall, this book took me a little while to fully appreciate, but I ended up thinking about it WAY more than I expected after finishing it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There is something about an isolated, wave-battered lighthouse that makes the perfect canvas for a creeping gothic nightmare. In her beautifully haunting debut A Fate Worse Than Drowning, Sarah L. Hawthorn takes that classic maritime loneliness, infuses it with unyielding psychological tension, and wraps it in an infernal bargain that keeps you guessing until the final pages.
The novel introduces us to Elle, a lighthouse keeper living on a desolate spit of land beyond Halifax harbour with her delicate sister, Liney. To save Liney from a predatory, monstrous fiancé back on the mainland, Elle made a deal with the devil: an entity calling himself Mr. Pratterman. In exchange must tend the light, but she must also tend its darkness, deliberately steering unsuspecting ships onto the rocks as a blood sacrifice.
In a brilliant, visceral opening sequence, Elle is scaling fish while casually conversing with the ghost of the man she replaced.
Hawthorn writes with sharp, rhythmic precision, noting how a good knife makes all the difference between a clean cut and a "massacre of choppy, gut-covered bits." The former keeper casually remarks that she has become much better at the cut since she did it to him. It is a wonderfully macabre introduction to the novel's haunting.
I will admit, the book started a little slow for me and initially felt almost disjointed. Its flashback structure in the first half didn't quite flow, and I actually found myself having to go back a few times to re-read passages to make sure I wasn't missing any of the plot. However, it effectively shows us why Elle fled the mainland. Her memories of her family's complacency regarding her abusive ex-fiancé, Thomas, are chillingly quiet. His cruelty was the predatory, silent sort that took place while onlookers believed he was whispering sweet nothings, using his acrid breath to deliver promises of pain and humiliation while her aunts gushed from across the room about how he doted on her.
Once I hit the second half, the story becomes incredibly atmospheric, particularly after a violent storm brings a shipwrecked survivor named Bridget to the island. Hawthorn does an extraordinary job weaving together gothic horror, historical fantasy, and maritime folklore. Instead of leaning on constant, frantic action, she masterfully builds suspense through sheer emotional conflict and the suffocating weight of secrets. The isolation of the lighthouse is absolute, and the psychological tether of Elle's deal is razor sharp as Pratterman closes in for his final dues, reminding her that a sister's love is deep, but "no certainty" to him.
What I loved most is the sheer historical grounding of the setting. Hawthorn clearly put a labour of love into her research of the real history of Devils Island Light in Nova Scotia. Knowing afterwards that parts of the final confrontation were inspired by genuine oral folklore collected from the island's descendants made the gothic trappings feel entirely earned and richly textured.
The tender moments between the sisters, like the sacred tradition of braiding each other's hair by the fire until it becomes "glowing rivers in the firelight," provide a beautiful, tragic contrast to the horror outside.
Somehow, I had different expectations going in based on the publisher's copy and didn't anticipate it blending into historical fiction, not a bad thing, though. Although the flashback-heavy first half occasionally slowed the momentum for me, the novel ultimately won me over through its emotionally layered characters, evocative setting, and quietly devastating exploration of love, sacrifice, and survival.
It's a remarkably assured debut, and I'm genuinely excited to see what Hawthorn writes next. #pudseyrecommends
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
The novel introduces us to Elle, a lighthouse keeper living on a desolate spit of land beyond Halifax harbour with her delicate sister, Liney. To save Liney from a predatory, monstrous fiancé back on the mainland, Elle made a deal with the devil: an entity calling himself Mr. Pratterman. In exchange must tend the light, but she must also tend its darkness, deliberately steering unsuspecting ships onto the rocks as a blood sacrifice.
In a brilliant, visceral opening sequence, Elle is scaling fish while casually conversing with the ghost of the man she replaced.
Hawthorn writes with sharp, rhythmic precision, noting how a good knife makes all the difference between a clean cut and a "massacre of choppy, gut-covered bits." The former keeper casually remarks that she has become much better at the cut since she did it to him. It is a wonderfully macabre introduction to the novel's haunting.
I will admit, the book started a little slow for me and initially felt almost disjointed. Its flashback structure in the first half didn't quite flow, and I actually found myself having to go back a few times to re-read passages to make sure I wasn't missing any of the plot. However, it effectively shows us why Elle fled the mainland. Her memories of her family's complacency regarding her abusive ex-fiancé, Thomas, are chillingly quiet. His cruelty was the predatory, silent sort that took place while onlookers believed he was whispering sweet nothings, using his acrid breath to deliver promises of pain and humiliation while her aunts gushed from across the room about how he doted on her.
Once I hit the second half, the story becomes incredibly atmospheric, particularly after a violent storm brings a shipwrecked survivor named Bridget to the island. Hawthorn does an extraordinary job weaving together gothic horror, historical fantasy, and maritime folklore. Instead of leaning on constant, frantic action, she masterfully builds suspense through sheer emotional conflict and the suffocating weight of secrets. The isolation of the lighthouse is absolute, and the psychological tether of Elle's deal is razor sharp as Pratterman closes in for his final dues, reminding her that a sister's love is deep, but "no certainty" to him.
What I loved most is the sheer historical grounding of the setting. Hawthorn clearly put a labour of love into her research of the real history of Devils Island Light in Nova Scotia. Knowing afterwards that parts of the final confrontation were inspired by genuine oral folklore collected from the island's descendants made the gothic trappings feel entirely earned and richly textured.
The tender moments between the sisters, like the sacred tradition of braiding each other's hair by the fire until it becomes "glowing rivers in the firelight," provide a beautiful, tragic contrast to the horror outside.
Somehow, I had different expectations going in based on the publisher's copy and didn't anticipate it blending into historical fiction, not a bad thing, though. Although the flashback-heavy first half occasionally slowed the momentum for me, the novel ultimately won me over through its emotionally layered characters, evocative setting, and quietly devastating exploration of love, sacrifice, and survival.
It's a remarkably assured debut, and I'm genuinely excited to see what Hawthorn writes next. #pudseyrecommends
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
TW: torture (on page), sexual assault (on page), murder (on page), misogyny (both period typical and modern), death, spousal abuse, gore, mention of slavery (allusion to)
Give me a book with either: sacred cannibalism, deals/living with an extra-planar entity , tea and queerness. This book has two of the three, and I predictably wanted to drown in this book. What a gripping reading experience.
But first, the plot. in 1809, Elle (Mary Eleanor) and her sister Liney (Caroline) live alone on a desolate bit of land called the Devil's Island, in the Halifax harbor. New arrivals, they've run from two dead parents and a man who is after their fortune. On the island, after killing the previous lighthouse keeper, Elle tends to the lighthouse, which guides sailors away from their watery graves. Or, at least that's what she tells her sister she's doing. In reality, instead of saving sailors, Elle is tasked with using the demonic powers given to her from a deal with the devil to sacrifice souls. Which, is rather easy, when there are choppy seas and deep caverns. Elle must do this, to keep her sister and herself safe, or the devil may come after her sister next. Liney dreams of a wider world. Sickly her whole life from childhood asthma, she sits caged; first with her family (forced to marry a man when she loves women), and then with her beloved sister. Elle will do anything to protect her, except let her go. The fragile peace of this island is interrupted when the devil demands an increase in souls, and a beautiful woman washes up on shore. Now, will Elle sacrifice this girl, and take away the only person that Liney truly loves?
The characters are one thing that made this story for me. Elle and Liney are such realistic siblings, and their bond is a major motivator and draw. I believed that they were siblings. You also get to see both of their POVs, as this book is first person with dual perspectives, and their personalities really shine through. Elle is intense and driven, but also suffocating, whereas Liney is at first, relatively passive, but extremely curious and capable when she allows herself to be. I also love the side characters; Douglas and Bridget especially, but due to spoiler reasons, I'll not mention them further.
The characters are amazing, but what really made this book for me was it's tight prose and plotting. Every twist and caveat was foreshadowed, and make me go 'oh, that's clever' multiple times. Expository dialog and prose was natural and easy to read. The prose is also vivid enough, especially with sensory descriptions, that I could taste things like the hibiscus tea and smell the dying fish. I also appreciate American slavery being mentioned as a terrible force of supernatural evil, but I wish there was POC rep, but I understand why this isn't the case.
There is a romance in this book, but the scenes stop at kissing and fade to black; the romantic relationships add to the story and the characters, but romance isn't the end all be all. This book is about queerness and sisterly love and the urge to destroy those who've wronged you; about the seductive temptation of power and the suffering it brings. Mind the trigger warnings; and you'll have a wonderful read with a bittersweet ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Final Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Check out my blog for more reviews and tea parings: https://theredreaderreviews.blogspot....
Give me a book with either: sacred cannibalism, deals/living with an extra-planar entity , tea and queerness. This book has two of the three, and I predictably wanted to drown in this book. What a gripping reading experience.
But first, the plot. in 1809, Elle (Mary Eleanor) and her sister Liney (Caroline) live alone on a desolate bit of land called the Devil's Island, in the Halifax harbor. New arrivals, they've run from two dead parents and a man who is after their fortune. On the island, after killing the previous lighthouse keeper, Elle tends to the lighthouse, which guides sailors away from their watery graves. Or, at least that's what she tells her sister she's doing. In reality, instead of saving sailors, Elle is tasked with using the demonic powers given to her from a deal with the devil to sacrifice souls. Which, is rather easy, when there are choppy seas and deep caverns. Elle must do this, to keep her sister and herself safe, or the devil may come after her sister next. Liney dreams of a wider world. Sickly her whole life from childhood asthma, she sits caged; first with her family (forced to marry a man when she loves women), and then with her beloved sister. Elle will do anything to protect her, except let her go. The fragile peace of this island is interrupted when the devil demands an increase in souls, and a beautiful woman washes up on shore. Now, will Elle sacrifice this girl, and take away the only person that Liney truly loves?
The characters are one thing that made this story for me. Elle and Liney are such realistic siblings, and their bond is a major motivator and draw. I believed that they were siblings. You also get to see both of their POVs, as this book is first person with dual perspectives, and their personalities really shine through. Elle is intense and driven, but also suffocating, whereas Liney is at first, relatively passive, but extremely curious and capable when she allows herself to be. I also love the side characters; Douglas and Bridget especially, but due to spoiler reasons, I'll not mention them further.
The characters are amazing, but what really made this book for me was it's tight prose and plotting. Every twist and caveat was foreshadowed, and make me go 'oh, that's clever' multiple times. Expository dialog and prose was natural and easy to read. The prose is also vivid enough, especially with sensory descriptions, that I could taste things like the hibiscus tea and smell the dying fish. I also appreciate American slavery being mentioned as a terrible force of supernatural evil, but I wish there was POC rep, but I understand why this isn't the case.
There is a romance in this book, but the scenes stop at kissing and fade to black; the romantic relationships add to the story and the characters, but romance isn't the end all be all. This book is about queerness and sisterly love and the urge to destroy those who've wronged you; about the seductive temptation of power and the suffering it brings. Mind the trigger warnings; and you'll have a wonderful read with a bittersweet ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Final Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Check out my blog for more reviews and tea parings: https://theredreaderreviews.blogspot....
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