Break Wide the Sea

by Sara Holland

Overview

In New York Times bestselling author Sara Holland's new novel, Break Wide the Sea, a young woman cursed with a fatal heartbreak-induced sickness must race against time to find a cure and protect her family legacy from the ancient finfolk that would destroy it, the fiancé that would kill her for it, and the boy who would love her if she forsook it.

In the treacherous waters surrounding Kirkrell, sailors hunting magic whales live in fear of the finfolk—bloodthirsty sea fae who sink ships and curse bloodlines. Nineteen-year-old Annie, as heir to the city's preeminent whaling company, is determined to carry on her parents' life's work. But she keeps a secret from everyone: she's cursed to transform into a monster, with scales spreading up her arms and claws growing from her fingertips.

Her fiancé August offers comfort, but their love falls apart when Annie discovers his plan to take over the company. Desperate, Annie makes a deal with Silas Price, a young captain rumored to be half-finfolk. He says he knows how to break the curse – but only if Annie promises to stop the practice of whaling forever.

As Annie, August and Silas sail north, Annie wrestling with her family's legacy, the threat of the finfolk and August's ambitions increasingly force her to put her trust in Silas. Yet Silas has secrets of his own, and they might be the most dangerous of all.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250854490
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	11/11/2025
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	5.38(w) x 8.25(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Sara Holland is the author of Havenfall and the New York Times bestsellers Everless and Evermore. She grew up in small-town Minnesota and has held jobs in a tea shop, a dentist's office, and a state capitol building, to name a few. She now lives in New York, where she can be found exploring bookstores or finding new ways to put caffeine in her bloodstream.

Editorial Reviews

"Sea-swept horror and folklore elements fuse into a pulse-pounding parable of gender, love, and power." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"An extraordinary work teeming with magic, intrigue, and strong emotion." —Kirkus

“Break Wide the Sea is a spellbinding nautical tale of love, grief, and decisions that make us human. With lyrical writing that is as mesmerizing as the tides, Annie’s story will not only hold your heart captive and steal your breath—you’ll be thinking of it long after that devastating last line.” —Rebecca Ross, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divine Rivals

"Mercilessly plotted and gorgeously written, Break Wide the Sea is full of haunting imagery and animated by strange tides. I loved it right up to its gut-wrenching end." —Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood

"Sara Holland weaves an enchanting and unforgettable story of that will have readers swooning." —Laura Sebastian, New York Times bestselling author of the Ash Princess Series

"Break Wide the Sea is a spellbinding journey through treacherous waters and even more treacherous hearts. With haunting magic, high-stakes adventure, and a romance as fierce and fragile as the sea itself, I found it utterly unforgettable." —Patrice Caldwell, Internationally bestselling author of Where Shadows Meet

From the Publisher

2025-07-03
A cursed young woman must decide who she can trust and how to save herself and her siblings.

Annie Fairfax watched her parents die when the fae known as the finfolk sank their whaling ship in revenge for their hunting of the magical Livyatan whales. Annie and two other children—Silas and August—survived but returned cursed, like many who encounter the finfolk. Now 18, Annie leads the Fairfax Whaling Company of Kirkrell while hiding the heartbreak curse that takes a toll on her body and mind. She’s engaged to August, who may covet her business more than her heart. Silas, now the feared captain of the Cursed Crew, is rumored to be part finfolk. When the trio embark on a dangerous expedition to the far north to establish a new whaling outpost, Annie begins to question August’s intentions. On the voyage, Silas is Annie’s confidant, offering the hope of meeting the finfolk and lifting her curse. Holland blends fantasy with themes of legacy, identity, and moral awakening as Annie fights for survival and reckons with everything she’s been taught. Despite a slightly bumpy ending, the writing is rich and immersive, the pacing sharp, and the characters are deeply compelling. Their flaws and deep, often unexpressed, feelings contribute to their well-rounded characterization. This duology opener explores what it means to do the right thing, even when it means turning against your past. Most characters are cued white.

An extraordinary work teeming with magic, intrigue, and strong emotion.(Fantasy. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews