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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?
320 pages, Paperback
Expected publication July 21, 2026
9533 people want to read
About the author
Sarah L. Hawthorn
4 books45 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 - 17 of 17 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.
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
Want to read
December 21, 2025omg I love this cover so much
going on the TBR right now
going on the TBR right now
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.
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
Want to read
January 6, 2026LET ME IN
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 received from Netgalley
I want to start by saying I´m usually not into horror, but this worked beautifully (probably because it was more of the phsycological kind of horror, not so much the gory one).
The story begins with Elle, a woman in the 19th century who manages to escape with Liney, her sister, to an island after having to deal with an abusive relationship. But escape isn´t as easy as it seems and, to gain their freedom, Elle ended up making a deal with a demon (not your usual Tuesday afternoon, I guess).
This deal requires that Elle, more often than not, sacrifizes people for the island... Including the last lightkeeper, who unfortunately perished quite soon in the story (and how could you, Elle, that was my favorite character!).
There are things here that worked so well, and others that didn´t so much. Although, then again, I loved the narration and tale in general, so I´m more inclined to think it´s a me thing, rather than the book´s fault.
For things I liked, all the redemption arc of Elle was so well done. She didn´t strike me as a particularly likeable character, but she had her moments and despite being the archetype of an overly protective sister, you understood her motives. Liney is the other character who stood out the most; where Elle is sharp and aloof, Liney is naive and trusts too easily. The constrast works, to say the least.
Liked all the plot surrounding the deal, all the magic and murder put into it for the sake of power and evil. Douglas is, again, best character (though I still struggle to understand why he forgave Elle so readily. I would never lol)
Funny thing, what I didn´t like so much about this book was... the romance.
Liney and Bridget´s romance felt too insta love for my taste. We can probably say that´s exactly what the author intended, given Liney´s personality, and I´ll buy it (again, a me thing).
And Elle and Douglas´ romance felt more deserved (if slightly weird still, given the circumstances). But it ended like it ended, so I didn´t get get any satisfaction from that either.
My conclussion therefore: Don´t read this for romance. But, for historical supernatural plots with light horror is a 10 out of 10.
The story begins with Elle, a woman in the 19th century who manages to escape with Liney, her sister, to an island after having to deal with an abusive relationship. But escape isn´t as easy as it seems and, to gain their freedom, Elle ended up making a deal with a demon (not your usual Tuesday afternoon, I guess).
This deal requires that Elle, more often than not, sacrifizes people for the island... Including the last lightkeeper, who unfortunately perished quite soon in the story (and how could you, Elle, that was my favorite character!).
There are things here that worked so well, and others that didn´t so much. Although, then again, I loved the narration and tale in general, so I´m more inclined to think it´s a me thing, rather than the book´s fault.
For things I liked, all the redemption arc of Elle was so well done. She didn´t strike me as a particularly likeable character, but she had her moments and despite being the archetype of an overly protective sister, you understood her motives. Liney is the other character who stood out the most; where Elle is sharp and aloof, Liney is naive and trusts too easily. The constrast works, to say the least.
Liked all the plot surrounding the deal, all the magic and murder put into it for the sake of power and evil. Douglas is, again, best character (though I still struggle to understand why he forgave Elle so readily. I would never lol)
Funny thing, what I didn´t like so much about this book was... the romance.
Liney and Bridget´s romance felt too insta love for my taste. We can probably say that´s exactly what the author intended, given Liney´s personality, and I´ll buy it (again, a me thing).
And Elle and Douglas´ romance felt more deserved (if slightly weird still, given the circumstances). But it ended like it ended, so I didn´t get get any satisfaction from that either.
My conclussion therefore: Don´t read this for romance. But, for historical supernatural plots with light horror is a 10 out of 10.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
One deal with the devil makes a fool.
Two... makes a villain.
Elle made a deal with the devil to save her sister.
A deal that she made to keep both of them safe. Now they live on a desolate slip of Halifax, where Elle now has the grim duty of drawing unsuspecting sailors to their doom, all in the name of the devil. But her sister doesn't need to know... right? She just needs to understand that they're safe....
But a pact with the devil is never so simple.
The devil returns, demanding more souls.
More sacrifice.
More shipwrecks.
More death.
Elle believes she knows what she must do in order to keep Liney, her sister, safe. More ships sacrificed in the devil's name... until a woman washes up on the shore of the grim coast that Elle and her sister call home.
Is she a soul to be sacrificed? Or is she something more? Part of a darker, more sinister pot brewing?
Or perhaps even something else? Now Elle is faced with the impossible choice of whether she kills the woman and risks breaking her sister's heart, or to break her deal with the devil ... and give up her soul instead.
Dark, twisty, and yet emotionally deep... A Fate Worse Than Drowning is a flawless combination of the historical, mixed with horror, a tinge of mystery, and just a dash of beautiful romance to finish things off. The lighthouse was such a beautiful way to blend that true element of horror into this novel, and I found myself falling more and more with not just the story, but the tale woven within, of the bond shared between sisters... and let's not even go into the ending... because that absolutely shattered me in the best of ways, and I cannot wait to find out what's happening next...
Thank you so much again to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this copy in advanced! I am voluntarily leaving this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and the rest of my reviews may be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....
Two... makes a villain.
Elle made a deal with the devil to save her sister.
A deal that she made to keep both of them safe. Now they live on a desolate slip of Halifax, where Elle now has the grim duty of drawing unsuspecting sailors to their doom, all in the name of the devil. But her sister doesn't need to know... right? She just needs to understand that they're safe....
But a pact with the devil is never so simple.
The devil returns, demanding more souls.
More sacrifice.
More shipwrecks.
More death.
Elle believes she knows what she must do in order to keep Liney, her sister, safe. More ships sacrificed in the devil's name... until a woman washes up on the shore of the grim coast that Elle and her sister call home.
Is she a soul to be sacrificed? Or is she something more? Part of a darker, more sinister pot brewing?
Or perhaps even something else? Now Elle is faced with the impossible choice of whether she kills the woman and risks breaking her sister's heart, or to break her deal with the devil ... and give up her soul instead.
Dark, twisty, and yet emotionally deep... A Fate Worse Than Drowning is a flawless combination of the historical, mixed with horror, a tinge of mystery, and just a dash of beautiful romance to finish things off. The lighthouse was such a beautiful way to blend that true element of horror into this novel, and I found myself falling more and more with not just the story, but the tale woven within, of the bond shared between sisters... and let's not even go into the ending... because that absolutely shattered me in the best of ways, and I cannot wait to find out what's happening next...
Thank you so much again to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this copy in advanced! I am voluntarily leaving this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and the rest of my reviews may be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
✨
There were three things that made me excited for this book: the cover, the LGBTQ+ rep, and the blurb. A lighthouse keeper who makes a deal with the devil to keep her sister safe? Sign me up. I love lighthouse horror. (Also, if you liked this book, check out the game “Static Dread.” The two are so similar it’s crazy). There were so many cool elements, too. A ghost haunting one of the MCs, a tiny town in eastern Canada, Victorian gothic dread, a creepy lighthouse, sapphic and bi+ and nonbinary/gnc rep to name a few.
However, I feel like it just fell…flat.
Told in a dual POV of the two sisters, I felt as though the entire book just hinged on the miscommunication trope. Like… Elle. Just TALK to your sister. Tell her you were trying to protect her. Clearly she didn’t want to marry a man and you KNEW that. Elle was just annoying and overbearing and relied too much on lies. Liney on the other hand felt so whiny and childish. I get it. She grew up in her sister’s shadow and lived a very isolated life. But if you told me she was 15 instead of 18 I would’ve believed it.
So much just felt rushed, too. Like the whole devil thing just wrapped up in like a single page with an “oh, he’s not actually the devil btw!” Then there was Liney’s “imaginary friend” Chamomile. I’m still not even sure who or what she was.
There was no chemistry between Liney and her mysterious love interest. They kissed twice, declared love, then ran off to explore the world together. Elle decided she loved her ghost but died before that could be expanded on.
I really wanted to love this. It just felt so flat. The horror elements were barely even there. The characters annoyed me. I really didn’t like the miscommunication trope.
If you like creepy lighthouses, there are plenty of other books out there that do it slightly better in my opinion.
✨
There were three things that made me excited for this book: the cover, the LGBTQ+ rep, and the blurb. A lighthouse keeper who makes a deal with the devil to keep her sister safe? Sign me up. I love lighthouse horror. (Also, if you liked this book, check out the game “Static Dread.” The two are so similar it’s crazy). There were so many cool elements, too. A ghost haunting one of the MCs, a tiny town in eastern Canada, Victorian gothic dread, a creepy lighthouse, sapphic and bi+ and nonbinary/gnc rep to name a few.
However, I feel like it just fell…flat.
Told in a dual POV of the two sisters, I felt as though the entire book just hinged on the miscommunication trope. Like… Elle. Just TALK to your sister. Tell her you were trying to protect her. Clearly she didn’t want to marry a man and you KNEW that. Elle was just annoying and overbearing and relied too much on lies. Liney on the other hand felt so whiny and childish. I get it. She grew up in her sister’s shadow and lived a very isolated life. But if you told me she was 15 instead of 18 I would’ve believed it.
So much just felt rushed, too. Like the whole devil thing just wrapped up in like a single page with an “oh, he’s not actually the devil btw!” Then there was Liney’s “imaginary friend” Chamomile. I’m still not even sure who or what she was.
There was no chemistry between Liney and her mysterious love interest. They kissed twice, declared love, then ran off to explore the world together. Elle decided she loved her ghost but died before that could be expanded on.
I really wanted to love this. It just felt so flat. The horror elements were barely even there. The characters annoyed me. I really didn’t like the miscommunication trope.
If you like creepy lighthouses, there are plenty of other books out there that do it slightly better in my opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of A Fate Worse Than Drowning.
This book immediately caught my attention with its eerie premise.
A lighthouse keeper who made a deal with the devil to save her sister, only to spend her days guiding ships to their destruction. The atmosphere is heavy and unsettling in the best way, with the sea, the lighthouse, and the isolation all working together to create a constant sense of unease. It’s the kind of story that feels soaked in salt and guilt from the very first page.
The heart of the novel is the relationship between Elle and her sister, Liney. Their bond, and the lengths Elle is willing to go to protect Liney, raises some really compelling questions about love, sacrifice, and morality. The introduction of the shipwrecked stranger adds another layer of tension and forces Elle to confront whether there are any limits to what she’s willing to give up ... including her own soul.
That said, I found the pacing a bit uneven. Some sections lingered longer than necessary, while moments with high emotional or narrative impact could have been given more room to breathe. I also struggled at times to fully connect with the characters on a deeper emotional level, which made parts of the story feel more distant than I would have liked.
Overall, A Fate Worse Than Drowning is a haunting, thought-provoking read with strong themes and a beautifully bleak setting. While it didn’t completely pull me in from start to finish, it’s a solid choice for readers who enjoy dark, atmospheric speculative fiction with queer representation and morally complex choices.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of A Fate Worse Than Drowning.
This book immediately caught my attention with its eerie premise.
A lighthouse keeper who made a deal with the devil to save her sister, only to spend her days guiding ships to their destruction. The atmosphere is heavy and unsettling in the best way, with the sea, the lighthouse, and the isolation all working together to create a constant sense of unease. It’s the kind of story that feels soaked in salt and guilt from the very first page.
The heart of the novel is the relationship between Elle and her sister, Liney. Their bond, and the lengths Elle is willing to go to protect Liney, raises some really compelling questions about love, sacrifice, and morality. The introduction of the shipwrecked stranger adds another layer of tension and forces Elle to confront whether there are any limits to what she’s willing to give up ... including her own soul.
That said, I found the pacing a bit uneven. Some sections lingered longer than necessary, while moments with high emotional or narrative impact could have been given more room to breathe. I also struggled at times to fully connect with the characters on a deeper emotional level, which made parts of the story feel more distant than I would have liked.
Overall, A Fate Worse Than Drowning is a haunting, thought-provoking read with strong themes and a beautifully bleak setting. While it didn’t completely pull me in from start to finish, it’s a solid choice for readers who enjoy dark, atmospheric speculative fiction with queer representation and morally complex choices.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
5/5 stars.
Ever since I saw this book for the first time, I'd been wanting to read it. And I'm so happy that I got the chance to read this ARC! Thank you to Netgalley, Sarah L. Hawthorn and Poisoned Pen Press for this free copy.
This book is exquisite since the first page. Following Elle and Liney, we go through a supernatural tale of two sisters and the lengths we go to save those we love, and the consequences of playing with the darkness. I loved Liney's silent strength, even when sick and delicate, she is determined and stubborn, but my favorite was definitely Elle. Such a complex character, so flawed yet so enchanting in a dark way. And I loved the relationship that develops with Douglas.
The writing is a salt-speckled delight. I felt brought to the island, to its windy rocky shores, the wild sea waves and the almighty lighthouse standing tall against the elements. The book is chilling and tragic, and I definitely recommend you get this book as soon as it's out.
Ever since I saw this book for the first time, I'd been wanting to read it. And I'm so happy that I got the chance to read this ARC! Thank you to Netgalley, Sarah L. Hawthorn and Poisoned Pen Press for this free copy.
This book is exquisite since the first page. Following Elle and Liney, we go through a supernatural tale of two sisters and the lengths we go to save those we love, and the consequences of playing with the darkness. I loved Liney's silent strength, even when sick and delicate, she is determined and stubborn, but my favorite was definitely Elle. Such a complex character, so flawed yet so enchanting in a dark way. And I loved the relationship that develops with Douglas.
The writing is a salt-speckled delight. I felt brought to the island, to its windy rocky shores, the wild sea waves and the almighty lighthouse standing tall against the elements. The book is chilling and tragic, and I definitely recommend you get this book as soon as it's out.
January 11, 2026
A Fate Worse Than Drowning is a dark, atmospheric read with a strong premise. The isolated lighthouse setting and the idea of a devil’s bargain create a steady sense of unease, and the writing is solid throughout. I appreciated the focus on sisterhood, sacrifice, and moral tension, and the queer elements felt naturally woven into the story.
The pacing and structure didn’t always work for me, and I think the emotional impact could have been stronger with more time spent developing the characters and relationships. Still, it was an easy, moody read with an interesting concept, and I’d be curious to see where the author goes next.
The pacing and structure didn’t always work for me, and I think the emotional impact could have been stronger with more time spent developing the characters and relationships. Still, it was an easy, moody read with an interesting concept, and I’d be curious to see where the author goes next.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning is so beautifully written. It gives a very spooky atmospheric vibe and the author really knows how to give her words life. I did feel very immersed the whole time.
Although the premise of the book was a huge part of the reason I requested this book, unfortunately it really felt flat for me. The pacing, the insta-love type romance, the whole twist felt so rushed to me.
Nonetheless it is a good read and I’d recommend this for anyone looking for a quick, creepy read.
A Fate Worse Than Drowning is so beautifully written. It gives a very spooky atmospheric vibe and the author really knows how to give her words life. I did feel very immersed the whole time.
Although the premise of the book was a huge part of the reason I requested this book, unfortunately it really felt flat for me. The pacing, the insta-love type romance, the whole twist felt so rushed to me.
Nonetheless it is a good read and I’d recommend this for anyone looking for a quick, creepy read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Excellent excellent. A wonderful twisty turny novel with magic weaved throughout. Strong female characters and a great read. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
to-read-lgbtq
December 29, 2025entered goodreads giveaway (excited for fantasy/horror)
January 13, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC.
Fantastic world building and some great twists. I really enjoyed this and will definitely be buying it when its released!
Fantastic world building and some great twists. I really enjoyed this and will definitely be buying it when its released!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews