Ein schönes Buch mit einem gutem Schreibstill. Nette Charaktere mit einem angenehmen Charakter development. Ein gutes Fantasiebuch.

**Thank you to Netgalley for the e-copy in exchange for an honest review**
4,75-5 ⭐️
It's almost 2am and i just finished this and i'm honestly left speechless by this book. From the beginning i knew i would enjoy it, i read the first pages, found out about the prequel, read it and loved it, and then kept on reading this main volume. It took me quite a long time to read not gonna lie, but not for the reasons you might think (i was just overwhelmed with uni work yes), because the book was gripping me at the throat!! i was and still am obsessed by it. One thing i kept telling my friends about this book was that it felt like old school YA but better, or at least it made me feel like YA used to make me feel, lost in another world ( sorry but truly haha ;) ) and so, so enthralled by a book that i had trouble putting it down.
The characters were incredible, i can't say i supported them through all their decisions (looking at one of them very ardently) BUT i understood where they were coming from most of the time so it didn't make me love them any less, can't unlove my children. The characters i did end up not liking deserved it tbh. also hi Kai my love <3
The plot was sooo interesting, plot twists all the way especially toward the end, and to my greatest delight.
Also, dark academia done right yes thank you that is all.
I will end this review by recommending this to y'all very menacingly, and hoping you find in this book as much comfort and joy as i did.

A delightfully lush, dark academia debut that’s teeming with forbidden magic, mystery and secret societies—that fans of Lev Grossman’s The Magicians or Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House are bound to enjoy.

Set in a world full of magic (and told through alternating, dual perspectives) we follow Emory, a teen mage still grieving the loss of her best friend, Romie, to a tragic drowning accident. And Baz, Romie’s reclusive brother still coming to terms with her loss.

Estranged since childhood, the pair haven’t spoken in years. But when the drowned students start to wash ashore—with bodies that aren’t as dead as they should be. Emory and Baz must reunite once more.

Working together, they hope to uncover the truth behind the drownings, and the shady secret society that shares ties to the all the missing students. But time is of the essence and they must solve the mystery before the magic that claimed Romie and the others, decides to claim the lives of anyone else.

I loved every exquisitely detailed second of this! The world-building was breathtakingly, with prose that practically swam off the page — and in a very Erin Morgenstern fashion, submerging us in a world of intricately woven lore and lunar-based magic that I found utterly fascinating.

I was particularly fond of the excerpts we encounter (from MC Baz’s favourite book, Song of the Drowned Gods.) Which I thought were really reminiscent of the interconnected stories I fell hopelessly in love with, in Morgenstern’s The Starless Sea.

Our protagonists, Emory and Baz were likewise incredibly fascinating too. Suffering from survivor’s guilt (having followed Romie to the sea cave, and being present moments before the tragedy occurred) Emory’s emotional response was quite heartbreaking. However, some of her choices had me seriously questioning her decision making skills.

I do admit, that of our two main characters, it was Baz that I felt the most connected to. Being born with Eclipse magic (the most stigmatised branch of magic), Baz has endured a lifetime of vitriol. And yet, his determination to help Emory, (and risk having his own magic bound if they’re caught) was incredibly endearing. Especially after witnessing the depth of his compassion and his unwavering drive to do the right thing—even if it means breaking the rules.

Overall, phenomenally magical and mystery filled, YA fantasy with a sprinkle of romance (and dark academia deliciousness) that will have readers on the edge of their seats and eager for book two immediately.

Also, a huge thank you to Rachel Quin, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK for the e-arc.

Curious Tides is a dark and atmospheric fantasy. It is full of mystery that kept me curious throughout. Our protagonist starts off naive to the dark underbelly of the school around her, so the story builds up slowly as she discovers the real reason behind her best friend's death. I could guess some of the secrets, but there were plenty more reveals and twists that I did not see coming.

At the beginning I felt a bit overwhelmed by world building, as this is a world with a complex system of inherited magic based on the position of the moon, not to mention the strongly linked mythology of this magic. But is worth persevering through this initial info dump, to enjoy the rich, enticing world. The story and setting can be wonderfully eerie and sinister, with deception, drownings and members of an elite secret society willing to do whatever it takes to have power of magic.

Recommended for fans of YA fantasy with a dark twist.

Wonderful world-building combines with magic, mystery & a host of captivating characters to make this dark novel an immersive read.

I am blown away by this book. If only because of the skilful, intricate worldbuilding and the phenomenal characterisation. Lacelle manages to create a wonderful, vivid, breathing world right from the first page. They have a knack for prose which leaps the imagery off the page, and I was very much compelled by Emory and Baz's characters and arcs in particular. The dark underbelly of the College lurked underneath the mystery, making this one of the best dark academia books in a long time. The water was everywhere, and I would've happily been pulled under!

"𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐝, 𝐭𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝, 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧-𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡-𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 ’𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐞𝐬."

I was fortunate enough to come across Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle, and it's truly one of the most captivating dark academia fantasies I've had the pleasure of reading. From secret societies to dangerous friendships, the book boasts a lush magical system based on lunar phases, and its atmospheric feel and great world-building make it truly stand out.

The plot is intricate yet enthralling, following Emory and Baz after a tragic incident at the caves near their magical academy, where Baz's sister drowned. The mystery surrounding the incident raises questions as to why Emory had gone into the caves and how she survived what others more magically gifted than her had not.

Although the book starts a bit slow, it quickly picks up. The author's beautifully crafted story pulls you in and doesn't let go, making it an excellent debut from a gifted author. For anyone who loves dark academia and fantasy, I highly recommend this gem of a book.

Thank you so much to @netgalley @simonandschuster children, and @pascalelacelle for the chance to read Curious Tides early! All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'Curious Tides' by Pascale Lacelle.

Honestly, I'm a sucker for a good Dark Academia book and this was no different. 'Curious Tides' is the start to a beautiful fantasy series and Pascale Lacelle's writing and characters are just spot on for reader enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this but please read the mini short story (only 38 pages) first for further context because I feel it just adds to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This gave me everything I was hoping for. If you are craving a dark academia infusion this autumn that also packs a lyrical punch – this is it.

Curious Tides has the best magic system that I’ve read in a fantasy book this year. Think Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse level of depth and organisation but based on lunar cycles, tide magic and dreams. It was captivating and incredibly interesting.

We get to experience the POV’s of both Emory & Baz as they work to uncover the mysterious deaths of 8 students the year before. One of which being Romie, Baz’s younger sister and Emory’s best friend. I’m not going to go too much into the plot as I think it’s best to go in somewhat blind, but I loved the tension between the characters and their inner thoughts. There is a hint of a love triangle, which does get resolved in this book, as well as a whole host of various side characters that really round the story out (Kai is my personal fave).

If you are fan of Olivie Blake or Erin Morgenstern I think you’ll absolutely love this!

4.5 stars

I always have some issues with the definition of dark academia as I end up imaging it as a sort mix of Hogwarth and Oxford colleges.
Erasmus attended my alma mother in XVI century but it was in a lovely Renaissance building.
All this blah blah to explain that I loved this story, loved the characters and the magical system, very original and well done.
Even if this is a YA it made me think of The Secret History, some memories of a book I read long ago.
I can't wait to read the next one.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle is one of the best dark academia fantasies I have read in a very long time, filled with secret societies, dangerous friendships and lunar magic.
In the aftermath of tragedy that resulted in the deaths of eight students, including her best friend Romie, Emory is returning to the elite Aldryn College of Lunar Magic, determined to figure out what happened that fateful night. Emory is even more determined to uncover the truth because she was there that night, in secret, and it left her forever changed, corrupting her healing magic into something very different and giving her powers that no one person is supposed to have , and that she may not be able to control. Romie's brother Baz might be able to help her, his type of magic, Eclipse magic, is rare and notoriously difficult to control, but he is still grieving the loss of his sister. When things take a turn for the macabre, Emory learns of the existence of a secret society on campus, one that Romie was a member of, and she decides to try to infiltrate it in an attempt to find out if it was responsible for the tragedy . Power corrupts, and with her new found magic Emory soon finds herself becoming a target for those who seek to use her for their own devices.
This was an absolutely gripping story, I was completely hooked by the mystery of what had happened to cause the original deaths of the eight students and as the plot was slowly revealed I found myself getting more and more invested with each twist and turn. A big reason for this was how much I liked the characters, most notably Emory and especially Baz, I enjoyed both individually but when together they really shone. I also absolutely loved the magic system with different phases of the moon being aligned with different types of magic , it felt really clever and original and was used to great effect throughout the book. I am in awe of how well thought out it all was , it is clear that the author spent a lot of time thinking about and crafting their world.
Curious Tides completely swept me away and I am sure it will do the same for many other readers.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Curious Tides is probably one of my favourite books I’ve read this year.

It was a little slow to start. However after the first few chapters I could not put the book down. Always needing to find out what happens next.

This is one book I will be buying. The cover is beautiful and most definitely needs a place on my bookshelf!

Thank you!

Admittedly I found this a little slow to start with, but once the story really got going I was hooked. Beautifully written and amazing world-building, with some fantastic characters to boot. I loved the magic system, and found it easy enough to follow without it feeling bland or mundane as some can be these days.

A truly enjoyable read, and one I would definitely recommend.

One of the best books I've read this year, and so different from anything else I've seen recently.

Curious Tides is part mystery, part horror, part fantasy, part coming of age. It is the story of Emory, a college student in a place where magic is linked to the moon and the tides. As a healer, she has always been mediocre, and eclipsed by her best friend, the vivacious Romie. When she gets caught up in a ritual she doesn't understand, and several of her classmates, including Romie, are drowned, Emory is determined to uncover what the ritual was, why Romie was there, and how it all links to the myths and legends of the drowned Gods.

There's a whole host of characters, all well developed, and I particularly love Romie's brother Bas, and his friend Kai. Definitely a book to recommend, and the first of a duology. It comes out TODAY, 3rd October, so is an immediate hardback purchase for me!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read an advance copy in exchange for an independent review.

Um, wow?! This book had my jaw dropping with how beautifully written it was - so poetic and captivating, and definitely one of my top 2023 reads.

'We are born of the moon and tides, and to them we return'.

𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀
Emory Ainsleif attends the Aldyrn College for Lunar Magic - born under a New Moon, her magic is healing - or so she thought.

Following her best friend, Romie, to Dovermere Cove, Emory finds herself in the midst of a ritual for the Tides of Fate. One that will change her life forever.

We follow Emory and Baz as they try to figure out Emory's newly acquired magic, and the lies and secrets that surround those born under an Eclipse Moon.

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
To say I was captivated by this book is an understatement, I was completely enthralled. The writing just draws you in, the world building, the magic systems, the descriptions - everything was so beautifully poetic.

'She was his sea, moving in and out of his life, between this world and the next. But what was the sea if it had no shore to return to?'

If you're looking for beautifully written dark academia, this is definitely for you. The universe is filled with magic (and forbidden magic) based on the Lunar cycle, secret societies, strong main characters and love interests, and enthralling world building.

'Her mother was a sailor and her father a lighthouse keeper, and somewhere in between them, Emory was the sea'.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for this copy. This review is voluntary.

I'm that YA reader. That YA reader who has been stuck reading YA for such a long time that really exploring the adult fantasy genre is hard. A lot of those books are slow, focus on parts of the story I don't care about or are so hard to read as a non-native reader. But this plot sounded so incredibly good and interesting. I really wanted to give this book a chance. Luckily Simon and Schuster granted my request for a review copy through Netgalley.

In a way this book reminds me truly of The Starless Sea. Don't worry. It doesn't contain that many plots and that many different stories. It just breathes the same kind of vibe. A vibe that's hard to explain. It's a little gothic, it's a little dark academia, it's a little cult, there is a touch of romance, a little bit of politics and there's a story binding our characters to their fate. A story we get to read throughout the stories of Emory, Baz and Kieran.

This book is quite heavy on the mythology. Normally I skip indexes at the beginning, trusting that the author will explain everything during the story. I'm glad that in this case I at least read through it already once. It helped to grasp the gist of the concept and then the author only had to clarify the details. And there were a lot of details. But once you start getting it, it's amazing and incredibly well thought out. Especially because of all those details it feels very solid and realistic too.

I also really loved the characters. Baz is probably the easiest character to like. He is kind, nice, galant and constantly sacrificing his own needs for others. On top of that his advice is actually quite intelligent. Emory is a little harder to like, but she's also very realist and I recognized a lot of my own longings and mistakes in her. And then there is of course Kieran. He has that true bad boy vibe and as a reader you constantly wonder: What does he really want?

I'm looking forward to the sequel already!

Curious Tides captures the essence of the sea: dark, shifting and entrancing. It offers an oasis from reality, a deceptive mirage, with its shatteringly beautiful storytelling and the glint of deadly tides threatening to sweep you away.

From the first few pages, I was hooked on this gloomy Dark Academia style fantastical mystery that moves like the sea. It is impossible to capture. Lacelle intricately crafts a deadly mystery, with secrets that threaten to pull down every established aspect of this world. This goes to some dark and unnerving territory. It is mired in blood and saltwater, with death and grief as core themes colouring everything around them. It is a real mesh of genres, but seems to pull the best from each and spin it into something entirely new. This is such an imaginatively rich and wonderful book. I was completely under its spell the entire time.

It is heavy on the academia, full of research and storytelling from within the world’s mythos. This is just one of the ways in which Lacelle has created such a rich and expansive world with a unique and deeply fascinating magic system. It is carefully built up around you and explained in a way that felt natural within the story. Though it did take me a little while to grasp everything, that exactly conveys the overwhelming sensations Emory is experiencing. The way the lore intersects with the mystery was excellent. Lacelle includes these extracts from the story within the story, which mirror and refract so well onto what you are reading.

Curious Tides presents a captivating conundrum in a book that holds its secrets close within the watery depths of its pages.

After reading the synopsis of Curious Tides, my interest was peeked and I was so happy that the book met my expectations!
Even though I liked Emory, the protagonist of the book, l have to admit that I preferred Baz and most of the secondary characters, who were extremely interesting and can't wait to learn more of their backstories. The story was a very atmospheric with great world building and personally I think the best part about the book was the magic system and how it was built upon different views on the same topic...
The only thing I didn't like was the love triangle, even though it was not that big part of the story, it was unnecessary in my opinion!

Perfect to read this season! I can wait for the second book to come out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in a exchange for my honest review.

Curious Tides by Pascalle Lacelle is a sweeping awe-inspiring dive into the murky world of the Aldryn College for Lunar Magic. This book comes highly recommended to those who like a bit of magic and fantasy in their reads. It has you hooked from the first moment with the story, but also the wonderful poetic style of writing.

I was really impressed by the world that Pascalle invented for this story. The descriptive prose helps you imagine what it's really like at Aldyn College. The interplay between the main protagonists is sometimes joy but can cause you to scream at the pages at times. However when you persevere, no hardship honest, you'll discover the beauty that lies within the pages.

The magic system is really very clever, not your usual Harry Potter here. The beauty of the book is not only in the exquisite presentation but the words. It's a story that unfolds as each page opens. A wonderful magical fantasy book.

— 3.5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

"We are born of the moon and tides, and to them we return."

📖 | 544 pages
👤 | author Pascale Lacelle
🏢 | publisher Simon & Schuster Children's, UK
📅 | release date 3 October 2023

What you can expect:
— Third-person POV
— Dual POV
— YA/crossover Dark-Academia Fantasy
— Book one in a duology
— Magical college by the sea
— Love triangle
— Magic system based on moon phases and tide levels
— Cult-like secret society
— Murder mystery

Trigger warnings include: death, grief, branding/tattoos, body horror, mild panic attack, anxiety and depression, bloodletting, self-harm, alcohol, magical substance abuse, magical asylum/prison.

Curious Tides is book one in a new YA dark-academia fantasy duology by debut author Pascale Lacelle. Emory returns to her second-year to Aldryn College for Lunar Magic as a shell of who she once was, lost by the tragic death of her best friend Romie. Romie was light personified, a true Dreamer who enchanted everybody she met whereas Emory always believed she fell short. Not bright enough, not magical enough, not good enough. Emory was content to live within Romie's shadow so long as she had her best-friend, but that all changed one fateful night gone wrong which led to the death of eight students and new magic flowing through Emory's veins. Scared and confused Emory turns to the only other person who could help her with this new and untrained magic, Romie's older brother Baz. Baz is the last student of House Eclipse at Aldryn and is a social recluse. Members of House Eclipse are shunned from the rest of the world as the power in their veins is unlike any other, and if their magic becomes too great they can trigger what is called a Collapsing which results in a powerful magical blast that can kill anybody within reach. Baz lives his life staying within the lines and following the rules as he desperately wishes to avoid triggering his own Collapsing. When Emory comes to Baz in desperate need for his help, he is hesitant to agree. Baz begrudgingly agrees, and he and Emory find themselves on a dangerous path in search for answers on what happened that fateful night.

My favourite thing about this entire book was the magical system created by the author. I loved the detail that went into creating each Lunar House and their tidal alignments. When you are born determines your Lunar House and the sole tidal alignment you manifest. The magical system as a whole felt very intricate and thought out, and it created a very convincing atmosphere going into this story. The story was full of mystery and adventure as we follow Emory and Baz on their journey in search of the truth surrounding Romie's death. The mystery surrounding the deaths had me hooked and eager for truths to be revealed, and overall Curious Tides was strong as the first book in a duology that has me eager for the next instalment.

Considering this book is 544 pages long I didn't find the real story beginning until around the 40% mark. So much of the first two parts of this book resolved around going back and forth in time, setting a scene and a lot of repetition. I will admit, I really struggled to initially get into the story as a result of this. Had this not been an ARC read I most likely have DNF'd at this point. However I will say that I'm glad that I persevered and stuck with it, as once the story flourished as did my reading experience. This truly is an incredibly unique and stand-out story which would have better benefitted with the beginning being revised and cut down to avoid the repetition.

I'm so glad that this was a dual-POV book as I came to care less and less for Emory's POV. Emory as a character was difficult to like as she came across as self-centred and selfish. She willingly admits to using the feelings a character has for her to her own gain, and despite showing signs of remorse and guilt, continues to do so until she no longer can. I understand why Emory was so tedious in her quest for the truth after the trauma she endured, but so much of her internal monologue is how she never lived up to the type of person Romie was. Emory is riddled with insecurity and fear which could have added to her vulnerability had it not driven her to behave as she did. Emory bordered-on mean girl behaviour with how she regarded some of the side-characters in this story, characters who didn't deserve her jealously-driven treatment. I was glad to see a semblance of growth with Emory in the end, and I hope to see that growth continue in book two.

I loved Baz as a main character. Baz has suffered through a great deal in his life and desperately wants to find a resemblance of peace to live out his life and become a teacher. After the loss of his sister Baz shrunk further into himself until Emory comes knocking in need of help. Baz is patient and kind, and I truly sympathised with his struggles displayed during his POVs. After his father Collapsed and his sister died, his mother has struggled with depression and Baz is constantly under watch by his peers. I loved learning about his dynamic and unlikely friendship with Kai, and how as opposites they formed an unlikely bond built on truth and loyalty. Kai is exactly the type of friend that Baz deserves, and vice-versa. I was proud of Baz's overall growth from beginning to end, and I really think his character will be one of the strongest to watch out for in book two.

Curious Tides was atmospheric and haunting in the best possible way. Filled with twists and turns I never saw coming, it enthralled me and left me yearning for the answers that Emory and Baz were seeking. The initial pacing in the first half is what really let me down, but the story was strong enough to keep me going and the pay-off in the end was rewarding. I really look forward to see what comes next in book two of this duology.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Children's, UK and NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.