The River She Became

No. 1 bestselling, Waterstones Prize-shortlisted author Emily Varga returns with a much-anticipated new YA romantasy novel, coming in 2026! A high-stakes, action-packed romantasy where a relic-hunter searches for an ancient fae object to restore the magic to her world, but must learn to trust her own powers – and her heart.

My mother told me magic used to pass freely between our land and the fae, like the current of the river that divided us.
Until the invaders came, and the wall erected, cutting us off from them.
And our crops died. Our people starved.
And magic leaked out of our country like the drip in the rotten board of a ship.
Nearly all our magic was gone.
All except mine.

Yaseema is a brilliant scholar and loyal servant of the Empire – or so they think. By day, she catalogues the fae relics of her conquered kingdom. But by night, she reclaims the artefacts in secret, trying to restore magic to her dying land.
When she finds the long lost key to cross the River into the fae world, a ruthless realm awaits her there, ruled by monsters wearing beautiful skin. Even the cold-eyed captain who sees through her lies isn’t what he seems, and he is seeking the same lost relic as Yaseema: the crown of an ancient Fae Queen. To survive, they must work together to outwit ancient curses, battle creatures born of nightmares, and find a power that could resurrect their worlds. But soon they face the greatest danger of all: losing their hearts to each other.
Perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Mummy, this thrilling start to a new fantasy duology bursts with dangerous romance, heart-stopping twists, and a heroine who dares to steal back her future.