The River She Became

By Emily Varga

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.

This limited luxe edition features gorgeous foil design on the cover and case, a dazzling edge design and an exclusive map―available while supplies last

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 to restore magic to her dying land.

Until she finds the long lost key to cross the River into the fae world and save her people. But a ruthless realm awaits her there, ruled by monsters wearing beautiful skin--especially the cold-eyed captain who sees through her lies. But even he isn't what he seems--under the guise of upholding a cruel regime, he works to overthrow it from the inside. To succeed, he needs the same lost relic Yaseema seeks: the crown of an ancient Fae Queen.

With magic that is a mystery even to her, Yaseema can help him find the crown and save his family from a fate worse than death. Unless she steals it first to help her own.

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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1250878691
• ISBN13: 9781250878694
• Release Date: June 2026
• Publisher: Wednesday Books
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 13 to 18 years
• Grade Range: Grade 8 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

Relic hunting and rebellion!

It was really easy to see this world of magic, tyranny, and a quest to bring freedom to the oppressed of the humans and the fae using the old magics that have been lost and long hidden. I enjoyed how one of the main characters, Yaseema wasn't a warrior, but a relic hunter and researcher and she even had glasses. Though she definitely is a survivor, tough and unwilling to give up her search to find a way to help her people and bring back magic to their country. The other main character, Kiyan, is a good foil to Yaseema. Also trying to save his people from a tyrant and looking for the same relic, he is a warrior, a skilled magic user, and has a hard shell when compared to Yaseema. But they need each other to find a way free from the cruelty of those in power. It is a tale full of action, rebels, politics and plots and a world that is intriguing and full. And while I was sad to realize that is the first book in duology, especially with that cliff hanger ending that pulled at my heart strings, I did really enjoy reading this and now I really want the second book! I really need to see Kiyan and Yaseema burn the world down and save their people! Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me the chance to experience this world and get me rooting for Yaseema and Kiyan!