The Dark Tide cover

Reading Metrics

Grade Level Upper Grades (UG 9-12)
Book Level 5.5
Points 11.0
Fiction/Nonfiction Fiction
Word Count 71980
Points per Word 0.000153
Page Count 336
Points per Page 0.032738

Description

"The Dark Tide" is a young adult fantasy novel by Alicia Jasinska set on the sinking island of Caldella. The story follows sixteen-year-old Lina Kirk, who sacrifices herself to the Witch Queen Eva to save her brother Finley and her secret crush Tomas from capture. When Lina and Eva unexpectedly fall in love, the dynamic shifts dramatically, putting everyone in danger. The book contains mild profanity, sexual situations, and violence.

Quick Summary

A teenage girl literally trades herself to a Witch Queen to save her brother and her crush, but things get complicated when she falls for the villain herself. Readers will devour the forbidden romance between Lina and the mysterious Eva, the sinking island's dark magic system, and the gut-punch twists that flip the story on its head. If your kid loves the dark romance and morally gray characters of "Shadow and Bone" or the enemies-to-lovers vibe of "To Kill a Kingdom," they'll be absolutely hooked. This is perfect for teens 14 and up in grades 9-12 who want a fantasy with real stakes, steamy tension, and a protagonist who makes impossible choices.