Death in Verse

The first ferry of the new term arrives in six days. Let us hope it finds you alive and well.

When Bronte Cade’s mother vanishes, the only clue she leaves behind is an invitation to a retreat for magical poets. Determined to find answers, Bronte attends in her mother’s place by masquerading as the esteemed Dr. Sappho Cade.

​But when Bronte arrives at the Radley School of Poetry, she finds the island abandoned—save for six other confused poets, one line of an unfinished poem, and an anonymous host who issues a chilling ultimatum through an enchanted gramophone: complete the spell, and they may return home on the next ferry. Fail, and they die.

​There’s another problem: Bronte isn’t magical.

​With escape impossible, the body count rising, and her mother still missing, Bronte forms a wary alliance with the infuriating yet brilliant Marlowe Fang. Together, they race to unmask their host before Bronte is exposed—or worse, the next victim.​

But beneath the host’s sinister scheme lies an even more insidious plot, one decades in the making. It bleeds beyond the shores of Radley like an ink stain, and no one’s hands are clean. Least of all the people Bronte trusts most.

• As lyrical as it is brutal, Death in Verse is a haunting fantasy about language, power, and the violence of institutions that decide whose voices deserve to exist. Perfect for readers who love dark historical fantasy, politically charged magic systems, and stories where survival itself is an act of defiance. 
  Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys
• Hauntingly beautiful and utterly unique, Death in Verse is the perfect blend of dark historical fantasy and pulse-pounding mystery, with complex characters and clever twists you won’t see coming. By turns vicious and tender, Lew explores the power of language and who gets to wield it. Phenomenal.
  Pascale Lacelle, New York Times bestselling author of Curious Tides
• Beautifully atmospheric and intricately plotted, Death In Verse is one of the most unique books I've ever read: a fusion of fantasy, murder mystery, and a profound character study, where the reader is called to peel off each layer like the petals of a deadly flower. I devoured it. 
  Kika Hatzopoulou, bestselling author of Threads That Bind
• A fantastical mediation on the power of words and love—the restorative good and destructive bad—this tightly plotted, atmospheric murder mystery is perfect for teen fans of Agatha Christie. Lew's cinematic prose and deft plot twists make this an unforgettable adventure. 
  Kamilah Cole, USA Today and national bestselling author of So Let Them Burn and An Arcane Inheritance
• Death in Verse is a wildly imaginative and lyrically stunning debut—a refreshing addition to the murder mystery genre. Julie Lew expertly weaves heart-pounding thrills with emotionally tender scenes, crafting a story that is wholly unique and sure to linger with readers long after they’ve finished reading.
  Skyla Arndt, author of Together We Rot and House of Hearts