A Fate Worse Than Drowning: A Novel

Sarah Hawthorn
Skip to product information

A Fate Worse Than Drowning: A Novel

Sarah Hawthorn
Release date:
Regular price $23.19
Sale price $23.19 Regular price $28.99
Final Sale. No returns or exchanges.
Oversized: This item will be shipped by appointment through our delivery partner.
Overweight: This item will be shipped by appointment through our delivery partner.

Digital download

Immediate access in your Kobo library

Deliver to

In stock online. Free shipping on orders over $49

Buy online, pick up at Bay & Floor

Free pick up today

Find it in store

Out of stock

Found in: FICTION, Horror

Earn 116 plum points and save more with plum Rewards. Learn more

View full details

Overview

CANADIAN368 PAGESENGLISH

Promotional Details

Shop All Indigo Bestsellers at Up to 25% off

*Valid TUESDAY - MONDAY at Canadian stores and indigo.ca, while quantities last. Not valid on previous purchases or in conjunction with other offers.



Overall rating: 4.5 / 5 from 2 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Summary topics

Review topics: [].

Review highlights

Reviews

Haunting read!

"“I was wondering how it must feel to be that little fish swimming to the only light it has ever seen, in all its life, at the bottom of the sea. The beauty it beheld before being consumed. ” A Fate Worse Than Drowning first drew me in with its striking cover. Then with its promise of devil deals, an isolated lighthouse, an overprotective sister, and an added touch of romance. Oh, and it takes place in Nova Scotia? Sold. We follow both sisters, Elle and Liney, through this atmospheric tale. I was drawn more to Elle’s journey, but I can’t say I wholly liked or connected with either sister. I don’t think of this negatively though, as in my opinion, it makes this story unique. These sisters will not make decisions you necessarily want them to. Their relationship is complicated, imperfect, and a little broken, just like they are. The story is told beautifully with the authors prose. It is terrifying and haunting, yet still has an unexpected warmth to it. “Has the Devil come to take my sister, unannounced, while I danced with my ghost?” Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Sarah L. Hawthorn for an eARC."

Jerrica B. (4/5)

An atmospheric, Nova Scotian read

"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."

Emma L. (5/5)

Q&A

  • Published date: Jul 21, 2026
  • Language: English
  • No. of Pages: 368
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks
  • ISBN: 9781464238147
  • Dimensions: 5.4" W x 1.0" L x 8.2" H
"What if a lighthouse keeper, rather than shining her light as a beacon of hope in a storm, instead used it to lure unsuspecting ships onto deadly shoals? With lush prose, plenty of danger, and a dash of romance, A Fate Worse Than Drowning explores what it truly means to make a deal with the Devil. Sarah L. Hawthorn spins a fantastical gothic tale of sisterhood, sacrifice, and the sea and asks the ultimate question: Just how far would you go to save a loved one?" — Juliet Blackwell, New York Times bestselling author of Asylum Hotel and The Séance Garden
Sarah L. Hawthorn (she/they) is a Canadian horror and speculative fiction writer. She holds a bachelor's degree in public relations from Mount Saint Vincent University and has worked across federal, health care, secondary education, and tech fields. Their short fiction has been featured in The Arcanist and the Queer Blades anthology. When she's not writing, she enjoys watercolor painting, video games, and swimming. Sarah lives in Halifax/Kjipuktuk, Nova Scotia, a maritime localefull of spooky folklore they've been devouring since elementary school.

Recently Viewed