Lies We Sing to the Sea

A fantasy romance, by dazzling new talent Sarah Underwood, inspired by Greek mythology and the tale of Penelope’s twelve hanged maids.

In the cursed kingdom of Ithaca, each spring brings the hanging of twelve maidens, a gift to the vengeful Poseidon. But when Leto awakens from her death on the shore of a long-forgotten island, its enigmatic keeper Melantho tells her that there’s only one way the curse can be broken. Leto must kill the last prince of Ithaca . . .

In Lies We Sing to the Sea, debut author Sarah Underwood delivers a thrilling and breathtaking tale that will enthral readers from the very first page as they are transported to the cursed shores of Ithaca.

A reclamation of a story from thousands of years ago, Lies We Sing to the Sea is about love and fate, grief and sacrifice, and, ultimately, the power we must find within.

Review

‘A lovely, lyrical fantasy which takes the fate of the hanged maids of the Odyssey and weaves something brand new. A story overflowing with emotion and full of magic.’
Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne and Elektra

‘A sensual story about power and autonomy of self, and about how appeasing the gods means making painful choices”

The Bookseller One to Watch, 9/12/2022

“A twisting tale of lust, love, loss and sacrifice, told in a style that melds modern snappiness with timeless atmosphere” – LoveReading March 2023 Debut of the Month

‘An immersive and transportive tale of love, loss, death and destiny’ – CultureFly ????

“Gorgeous, tragic, and timeless, Underwood’s Lies We Sing to the Sea makes an age-old story feel new again. This is Greek tragedy at its best: sweeping in scope yet deeply intimate in characterization. This book will break your heart.”
― Grace Li (Sunday Times bestselling author of Portrait of a Thief)

“LIES WE SING TO THE SEA is a wondrous tale of love, death, and sacrifice. The vivid characters give depth and adventure to a story with roots in classic Greek mythology.”
― Natasha Bowen (New York Times bestselling author of Skin of the Sea)

“Sarah Underwood’s classical reimagining is woven with pure magic: salt-laced myths, a plot that slowly unravels like a tapestry, and vivid characters who are destined to steal your heart. A scintillating, beautiful debut.”
―Rebecca Ross, internationally bestselling author of A River Enchanted and Sisters of Sword & Song

About the Author

Sarah Underwood grew up in Devon, England. She obtained her MEng in Computational Bioengineering at Imperial College, London, and has recently graduated with an MPhil in Population Health Sciences from the University of Cambridge. Lies We Sing to the Sea is her debut novel.