The Dark Tide
Every year on St. Walpurga's Eve, the witch queen of Caldella lures a boy to be sacrificed to keep the island from sinking. Lina Kirk offers herself in his place, and the queen is not what she expected. A sapphic YA fantasy romance.
About This Book
The Dark Tide is a fantasy romance novel by Alicia Jasinska, first published in 2021 by Sourcebooks Fire. It runs 336 pages. Readers can expect enemies to lovers.
At a glance
- Genre
- Fantasy
- Trope
- Enemies to Lovers
- Length
- 336 pages
- Format
- Paperback
Where to read or listen
Get The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska
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Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- To save her island from sinking, a girl offers herself as a sacrifice to the witch queen, only to discover the queen is not what she expected.
- Features Enemies to Lovers
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Tropes
Details
Type: Sapphic
Pairing: unknown
Power balance: Asymmetrical; a witch queen and a sacrificial volunteer.
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Recommended audience: Young Adult readers.
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
In the isolated island of Caldella, the threat of the ocean consuming the land is held at bay by an annual sacrifice performed on St. Walpurga's Eve. Lina Kirk breaks tradition by offering herself in place of the chosen boy, coming face-to-face with the witch queen whose nature and motives defy local legend.
Central Conflict
The tension between the survival of the island and the burgeoning, unexpected connection between the protagonist and the witch queen she was meant to appease.
Setting
The island of Caldella.
Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 3
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- October 13, 2026
- Confidence:
- Moderate confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
Alicia Jasinska
What Readers Say
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- Sourcebooks Fire
- Format
- Paperback
- Length
- 336 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9781728231921
- ISBN-10
- 1728231922
The Dark Tide: quick answers
- Who wrote The Dark Tide?
- The Dark Tide was written by Alicia Jasinska.
- When was The Dark Tide published?
- The Dark Tide was first published in 2021 by Sourcebooks Fire.
- What genre is The Dark Tide?
- The Dark Tide is a fantasy romance novel, with enemies to lovers.
- How many pages is The Dark Tide?
- The Dark Tide is 336 pages long (Paperback).
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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