Now in paperback!
The very first thriller from Rick Riordan Presents! Drawing from the darkest corners of Caribbean mythology, acclaimed author Sarah Dass crafts a chilling tale of magic, murder, and how far we’ll go to protect what’s ours—perfect for fans of Angeline Boulley and Tiffany D. Jackson.Unlike the other residents of the small Caribbean island of St. Virgil, Selina DaSilva does not believe in magic. With a logical mind and a knack for botany, Selina used to dream of leaving home with her boyfriend, Gabriel, and starting a new life together far away—until a vicious, unsolved attack left her father dead and her mother in a coma.
Two years later, her guilt over her mother’s condition keeps her tethered to the island, relegated to using her mother’s legacy as St. Virgil’s most talented (and most feared) psychic to con desperate islanders and gullible tourists with useless talismans and phony protection rituals. But when one of those tourists ends up at the center of a string of strange murders, the truth that Selina has been denying can no longer be avoided: There is evil lurking in the forests that surround St. Virgil. Another thing that can’t be avoided? Selina’s now ex-boyfriend, Gabriel, who’s returned home for the first time since Selina broke up with him.
Desperate to put an end to the killings and claim justice for Selina’s parents, these two former lovers must race to find answers. But darkness is no fool. And evil bides its time. As long-hidden secrets about Selina’s family begin to reveal themselves, Selina knows only one path to the truth remains—and it waits in the forest.
Endorsed by Rick Riordan, author of the Disney+ hit series Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
On sale: April 8, 2025
Age: 14 and up
Grade: Grade 9 & Up
Page count: 336 Pages
ISBN: 9781368098731
Sarah Dass was born in Trinidad but has lived in Tobago since she was two years old. A graduate of University College London, she works as an office administrator by day and writes stories about the Caribbean by night. When she’s not writing, she’s reading or taking walks with her dachshund, Stella. Sarah is also the author of
Where the Rhythm Takes You and
When the Vibe Is Right. Find her online at SarahDass.com or on Instagram @SarahDassWrites.
"I was glued to these pages from beginning to end!"
—Lauren Blackwood, New York Times best-selling author of Within These Wicked Walls“A wickedly delectable thriller that will have you looking over your shoulder to make sure nothing followed you out of the forest.”
—Roseanne A. Brown, New York Times best-selling author of A Song and Wraiths and Ruin “A dark, tantalizing tale that will keep you on your toes as much as it will knock you back on your seat.”
—Vincent Tirado, Pura Belpré Award–winning author of Burn Down, Rise Up “Begs the question of how far you would go to reclaim what you’ve lost and what you risk sacrificing to get it. Compelling, creepy, and complex, this story will haunt you long after you’ve finished reading.”
—Liselle Sambury, author of Blood Like Magic and Delicious Monsters
