The River She Became

Author: Varga, Emily

Fantasy romance (Teenage)

Published on 2 July 2026 by PAN MACMILLAN (First Ink) in the United Kingdom.

Number-one 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 from bestselling author Emily Varga 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.I’m going across the River. And I’m going to save us all.

Yaseema is a brilliant scholar and loyal servant of the Empire — or so they think. By day, she catalogs 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 as secrets unravel and loyalties blur, they face the greatest danger of all: losing their heart 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.