Simon & Schuster swoops for Lacelle's 'atmospheric' YA fantasy duology

Simon & Schuster has swooped for a "dark and captivating" young adult fantasy duology from debut author Pascale Lacelle. 

Ali Dougal, publishing director, and Sarah McCabe, senior editor at Margaret K McElderry Books, acquired world rights in a "multi-house" auction from Victoria Marini at Irene Goodman Literary Agency. Curious Tides, the first book in the duology, will be published in "high-spec" hardback simultaneously in the UK and US in autumn 2023. 

The novel is an "atmospheric and unputdownable" dark academia fantasy following a young mage who believed her secrets drowned along with some of her classmates until their bodies wash up onshore. The publisher continued: "With the  help of  a  reclusive  student whose power may be as unpredictable as her own,  she  must uncover the truth behind the  drownings – and the secret society  linked to them – before  the sinister magic  that  claimed  her classmates claims  her  next."

Dougal said: "Curious Tides sucked me right in and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Pascale Lacelle’s luscious world and complex characters. As the home of YA bestsellers Adam Silvera, Cassandra Clare and Tracy Deonn we’re always on the lookout for the next huge hit, and I’m thrilled to be launching Curious Tides with our colleagues at Margaret K McElderry Books."

Lacelle said: "I am incredibly thrilled to be working with the entire S&S team on Curious Tides. I’ve always loved stories that feel like portals to other worlds, and I hope this book can be just that. I’m so excited for readers to discover the moon-drenched shores of Curious Tides and all the secrets, characters and magics that make up the fabric of this world."