In A Dark and Drowning Tide, Allison Saft presents a sumptuous tapestry of murder mystery, folklore, and sapphic romance, set within the politically fraught realm of Brunnestaad. With her characteristic lyrical flair, Saft invites readers into a dark‐lingered world alive with ancient power, social tensions, and spellbinding relationships .

The story follows Lorelei Kaskel, a sharp‑tongued folklorist whose dream of becoming a naturalist gains tragic momentum when her mentor is murdered aboard the expedition’s ship. Suddenly at the helm, Lorelei must lead six nobles in a journey deep into enchanted forests and treacherous rivers to uncover the mythical Ursprung spring—said to be the wellspring of magic. Suspense mounts as night‑shifting woodlands and slumbering dragons haunt their trek .

Central to the narrative is the reluctant partnership between Lorelei and her rival, Sylvia von Wolff. Forced by circumstance to collaborate, the two women shed layers of distrust and rivalry, revealing tenderness and longing in the heart of turmoil. The gradual "enemies‑to‑lovers" transformation is both tender and deliberate, with moments that stir the heart and ignite the pages .

While the bones of this tale are built on political intrigue—prejudice, class tensions, and nationalism—the beating heart is grace, acceptance, and deep love. Saft’s folklore‑infused prose is dazzling (“bewitching as a naiad’s song,” as one reviewer put it) and envelops readers in a sense that even in the most tangled thorns of history and hearts, healing can be found . Yet it does not shy away from darkness: body horror, institutional cruelty, and magic wrought with risk loom large, reminding us that beauty often lives beside dread .

Critics and readers alike have embraced this novel: Library Journal called it “highly recommended,” and Publishers Weekly noted its “intricate worldbuilding” and “classic interplay of infuriating kindness and endearing irritability” . On Reddit, fans echoed the praise, awarding it a solid 4.5⭐ rating for its lush fantasy, slow‑burn romance, and deep emotional resonance .

The Dark and Drowning Tide is a deeply felt, richly imagined fantasy that walks the line between wonder and darkness. Saft’s careful weaving of romance and folklore, her exploration of power and prejudice, and her gifted character arcs make for a journey that is thrilling, heartfelt, and unforgettable.

My Rating: 4.5 ⭐ / 5
For those who treasure slow‑burn sapphic romance, enchanting world‑building, and emotional depth interwoven with mystic peril, this book is an immersive delight—and a gentle but powerful reminder of love’s resilience against the tides of darkness.

Really enjoyed this book perfect gothic whimsical vibes !
Highly recommend this book if you’re looking for this kind of vibe. Can’t wait to read more from the author !!

A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft is a gothic fantasy brimming with mystery, romance, and eerie atmosphere. The novel follows Lorelei Kaskel, a sharp-tongued folklorist who embarks on an expedition to find a legendary spring that promises immense power. But when her mentor is murdered aboard their ship, Lorelei must navigate political intrigue, dangerous creatures, and an uneasy alliance with her academic rival, Sylvia von Wolff.

Saft masterfully blends slow-burn romance, dark academia, and high-stakes adventure, creating a world where forests shift at night, rivers hide slumbering dragons, and secrets threaten to unravel everything. The dynamic between Lorelei and Sylvia is electrifying, filled with tension, wit, and undeniable chemistry.

With lush prose, gripping suspense, and a richly imagined setting, A Dark and Drowning Tide is a must-read for fans of romantasy, gothic storytelling, and morally complex heroines.

At this stage I was not unfortunately able to read this arc before the book was released but I am still excited to read it and have in fact bought it.

The world-building was absolutely amazing - the folktales, the magic, the politics... and the romance and the plot were just as good. This was my first Allison Saft, but it won't be the last.

A gothic fantasy with slow-burn romance, A Dark and Drowning Tide delivers immersive atmosphere and intricate world-building, but struggles with pacing and emotional depth.

✨ A folklorist & her academic rival on a deadly expedition 💀 Murder, magic & shifting alliances 📚 A promising setup that doesn’t fully deliver

While the setting is engaging, the mystery unfolds slowly, and some character arcs feel underdeveloped. Lorelei and Sylvia’s dynamic has great potential, but their relationship lacks the emotional intensity needed to make it truly compelling. The novel’s themes of power, survival, and trust are intriguing, but the execution doesn’t always match the ambition.

If you enjoy gothic fantasy with atmospheric storytelling, this may be for you!

Thank you for the ARC! Sadly unable to read as this was downloaded onto an old device I no longer have access to and the book has since been archived.

Very atmospheric and I loved the descriptions and writing style. All the tales starting with "when wishes still held power" was pretty fun. Most of the time, the settings were so well done that I felt very immersed in the visual, but other times I think they got lost in each other. I loved the leading ladies and the supporting cast felt fleshed out. There were definitely weak areas in some of their actions and motivations however. Over all, I did enjoy it and would recommend it. It definitely feels like a autumn read.

After loving other books by this author I was super excited for this one...and super disappointed unfortunately. I did not connect with the protagonist, or any of the characters, and did not care about the plot.

I've been reviewing and loving Allison Saft since Down Comes the Night. It's a privilege to be allowed to read an advanced copy for A Dark and Drowning Tide.

This book reminded me how much I adore expedition type stories, and it had the same vibes as Atlantis: The Lost Empire which were, needless to say, perfection. There is a difference between being told how dangerous and mysterious the journey is going to be to feeling it as the reader. The atmosphere was eery and distrustful, I was on the edge of my seat to see what was going to happen.

The dynamic between Lorelai and Sylvia was tense and addicting, there this "will they, won't they" that keeps you turning the pages. The tense dynamic was also found in Lorelai's relationship with the other characters, which then added to the mystery and the tension hanging over them.

The folklore and its stories were the cherry on top. I enjoyed everything A Dark and Drowning Tide had to give me and I remain a steadfast fan of Allison Saft.

To my friends, I'm making you read this. You can thank me now.

This was a really enjoyable read. The plot was very interesting and kept me reading. I loved the characters and the dynamic between them. Something I'd definitely recommend

disclaimer: I received this free from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review

content warnings: antisemitism, death, war, grief, violence, colonisation

rep: jewish lesbian m/c, sapphic romance

A Dark and Drowning Tide is a murder mystery and adventure fantasy novel full of rich folklore, rich atmosphere & an academic rivals to lovers sapphic romance. Lorelei and Sylvia are academic rivals but their relationship soon turns into a passionate romance. In this novel, Saft explore antisemitism in folklore and the influence stories have on people's prejudices, this aspect was done phenomenally.

One of my favourite aspects of A Dark and Drowning Tide was the fairytale/magical aspect of the novel - while showing how dark & dangerous nature and magical beings could be, it did also feel a little whimsical in parts too. The romance was endearing too & it is quite trope heavy - grumpy/sunshine, academic rivals to lovers, forbidden romance - but Saft writes these well.

The mystery in itself was quite lacklustre & I feel it did take quite a backseat to the rest of the story. I'm not going to lie - I really disliked the ending (bar the romance, I loved this ending) but it felt a little pro colonisation, which felt like a complete u-turn on the narrative we'd seen throughout the novel. I don't know, it just left a little bit of a bitter taste. Regardless, Saft is a talented fantasy author with a real skill for rich worldbuilding and romance.

Finished A Dark and Drowning Tide and wow, the vibes were immaculate. It’s a gothic seaside fantasy with witches, secrets, and that slow-burn tension that just keeps building. The atmosphere felt so eerie and dreamlike, and I loved how messy and complex the characters were. Definitely one to pick up if you’re into moody settings and morally gray magic.

I love Alison Saft's writing style, she is an instant read for me! This book lives up to my expectations of her writing and I really enjoyed reading another of her books! Would definitely recommend this.

I personally was not a fan, however I do think the vibes of this one were immaculate. I think the problem at the time lays with me and the mood I was then in. This book is perfect for lovers of moody fantasy and beautiful prose.

5/5 stars! This is a stunning sapphic dark academia fantasy. I loved everything about this book: from the cover, to the premise, to the enemies-to-lovers plot lines between Lorelei and Sylvia. It humorously reminded me of Murder on the Orient Express in that everyone on the ship was a suspect. Running to pick up another book by author Allison Saft.

“You've acted the part of a villain so well, you've gone and convinced yourself it's who you truly are.”

Lorelei Kaskel's dream comes true when she is asked to co-lead an academic team to find a fabled spring, the source of all magic. The king wants to harness its power to secure his reign and stop any more wars. The task is a difficult one though. For one, everyone hates Lorelei and she hates everyone back, except her mentor, Professor Ziegler.

But the expedition quickly turns into a nightmare, when Lorelei finds Ziegler's body. It's clear the professor has been murdered and the only person Lorelei knows it can't be, is her academic rival, Sylvia von Wolff. Unfortunately, the two have to band together to save a doomed mission, discover which of their colleagues is a killer, and fight to keep their hateful attraction to each other at bay.

I am a big fan of using folklore and mythology in fantasy, and the author uses this technique well, exploring both German and Jewish folklore. I don't know that much about either, so I found this aspect fascinating and entertaining.

Lorelei is a complex character. She's angry and foul-tempered and uninterested in almost anyone except herself. And yet, she is what others made her. As part of an ethnic group others see as dirty and criminal, she's had to fight for her right to be an academic and for a place on the expedition. To counterbalance Lorelei, Sylvia is portrayed as carefree and a bit airheaded, despite her talents as a naturalist, though Lorelei finds she has to see Sylvia differently once they get to know each other.

This book really is a hybrid genre because there is very much a locked-room mystery aspect to it (the room being the expedition boat). I was almost more interested in discovering who killed Professor Ziegler than seeing whether the group could find the magical spring. I found myself trying to figure out who the murderer was and guessed it just shortly before the reveal.

This gothic, sapphic romantasy will satisfy anyone who likes their fantasy full of new and interesting folklore, juicy characters and a murder mystery to boot.

A Dark and Drowning Tide pulled me under from the first page and didn’t let go. The writing is absolutely stunning—moody, immersive, and rich with atmosphere. The story unfolds like a slow, inevitable storm, full of buried secrets, emotional depth, and characters who feel raw and real.

I loved how the author let the darkness breathe—never rushing, never over-explaining. It’s gothic without being cliché, lyrical without being overdone. Every page felt like poetry soaked in seawater.

If you love stories that linger and leave you a little haunted, this one is for you.

This is a sapphic romance standalone steeped in folklore and academic rivalry. I loved the murder mystery aspect to this story, but was expecting it to be a little darker than it ended up being. I still enjoyed it nonetheless, and absolutely loved the vibes and atmosphere of the book even when sometimes the plot slipped away from me.

I really enjoyed this story steeped in folklore and it was refreshing to read a standalone novel when so many are series out there. Not to mention the tension and yearning between the characters was delicious! I will definitely read more from this author on the future!