The Trident and the Pearl

Wilson (Of Deeds Most Valiant) wows with this spectacular romantic fantasy. Queen Coralys of the Crocus Isles makes a plea to Okeanos, God of the Sea, to save her people from a terrible storm. In exchange for her kingdom’s safety, she agrees to marry the first man to set foot on her pier, who turns out to be a humble fisherman. Named for the same god Coralys bargained with, her new husband, Oke, is more than he seems. There’s an ever-bleeding godwound on his thigh and a far closer connection to the pantheon than he would have her believe. As Coralys is swept into a burgeoning divine war and seeks revenge against the gods, deities and humans alike make their plays for power. Wilson immerses readers in an atmospheric and well-crafted world filled with lush history and folklore while expertly balancing steadfast Coralys’s efforts to protect her people, the pantheon’s politics, and slow-burning romance. Fans of One Dark Window and Daughter of the Moon Goddess will devour this. Agent: Whitney Ross, High Line Literary. (Feb.)