Thank you to NetGalley and Daphne Press for the ARC

I really liked this! A Dark and Drowning Tide has luscious writing and a dark atmosphere. It's a dark academia fantasy murder-mystery with a sapphic pairing. The folk-lore is delicately woven into the story. I was captured by the book and had a great time reading it.

A dark and drowning tide is a sapphic, dark academic enemies to lovers romance with lots of folklore

This book is a great murder mystery story!

I really enjoyed this one.

I also love the cover which is one of the things that drew me to this one!

DNF.
I was really excited to read this book, but unfortunately, I simply couldn’t get into it, the writing was not my style at all. I will probably give it another chance in a future but right now I just can’t.
It is a pity as the worldbuilding seems to be very complex and interesting, I loved how the author introduced us to the mythical creatures and the plot but at the same time it was pretty confusing.
I was also really excited to read a shappic rival to lovers, but although the characters seemed really interesting I couldn’t care for them.
I totally believe that it was more of a me problem (I only got to the 20%) than of the book. It probably wasn’t the moment to read it, so I will give it a chance later.

4 stars

Thank you to Daphne Press and NetGalley for my digital review copy.

Going into this, I knew I would enjoy it. It's sapphic and has folklore (two of my favourite things!).

I loved how Saft casually weaved in folklore (from mentioning all manner of creatures like Nixies (some of my favourite Germanic water sprites), to Irrlichts (that are kind of like Will-O-Wisps). I'd be lying if I didnt highlight every creature named.

I also loved how much of Lorelei's character is linked to faerie tales (and how she has a different folk tale for each member of the expedition party). I just loved all the folk tales that were mentioned (and I did also highlight every one of them too)

Sylvia and Lorelei are absolutely polar opposites to each other and I enjoyed seeing them interact (even if they are academic rivals).

I wasn't too sure what I thought the overall plot would end up being, but it was a delightful river cruise, academic exploration whodunnit, but also intertwining that with heavier topics (like antisemitism, imperialism, nationalism), but I absolutely enjoyed the ride.

I can tell that Lorelei and Sylvia may be some of my favourite sapphic pairings because I can't stop thinking about them. I am very glad that I read this.

A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft 🍃🌊

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

𝘼 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙥-𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙠𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙧 𝙪𝙥 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙘 𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙧’𝙨 𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙘 𝙛𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙮 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚.

After loving A Fragile Enchantment last month, I was so excited to read Allison Saft’s new release that had been sitting on my NetGalley shelf for a while, and it did not disappoint! Thank you so much to @daphne.press and @netgalley for the early review copy ❤️.

Similar to A Fragile Enchantment, this is a slower paced fantasy. It focuses on creating a very atmospheric world, following an intriguing mystery and characters that you fall in love with 🥰.

Allison Saft is so good at creating such an interesting and magical world that you feel like you are living in yourself when reading. The adventure and mystery plot lines were so fun to follow throughout the book and kept me guessing the whole time!

My favourite thing about this book was definitely the characters 🥹. Lorelai is short tempered and a bit grumpy but also just sort of wants to fit in somewhere. Sylvia is outgoing and dramatic and loved by everyone she encounters. They’re polar opposites but I fell in love with both of them as they fell in love with each other 🥰. There was such great banter and bickering between these characters and I was genuinely laughing out loud multiple times throughout the book. This is one of my favourite romances I’ve read this year, both characters were so strong and funny on their own, and when together I just loved how much they despised each other (but also very clearly didn’t 😓).

I was very eager to read Allison Saft and I'm very happy to say that I loved her latest book and her writing. I'll happily read A far wilder magic that I have in the French edition because it's much prettier than the originals (sorry).

In A Dark and Drowning Tide, we follow Lorelei, a folklorist who embarks on an expedition with five other students, among them Sylvia, her academic rival. But the expedition starts badly: Lorelei finds her mentor murdered in her cabin. Lorelei must see the mission through and find out who the murderer is before it's too late.

Lorelei is not really a likeable character and not always relatable for someone who hasn't lived systemic oppression like she has. Indeed, not only Lorelei isn't nobility as her companions, but she is also Yeva (read: Jewish) in an extremely racist German-inspired world. Fortunately for me, the investigation wasn't the forefront of the story, and neither was the romance. There was a perfect balance between those aspects and the expedition. The creatures were also fascinating as humans could communicate and reason with them (as Sylvia has been saying all along). I also enjoyed the folktales, that resembled so much to our own.

I found the discussion around trauma and grief really interesting as we see how each character deals with it and how it shaped them. The same goes for the motivations of the "villain": they had very valid reasons and were pretty much right, but of course their methods weren't the best. It raised the eternal question: is it better to change things from the outside or from the inside?

The only caveat I have is that at the end we dont' know what happens to Lorelei's people. But the last lines were my favourite so I'm not that mad because I trust *them* (no spoilers).


Rep: sapphic MC, various sapphic SC, possibly a queernorm society, Jewish MC

TW: trauma, grief, death, blood, monsters, murder, murder attempt, betrayal, war, blackmailing, racism, anti-semitism, torture, colonisation

Lorelai is a hard character to love but a harder one to hate. She's bitter and haunted and so painfully othered from the lands she calls home - fantasy racism is hard to read but it's used like a knife in this one. Some won't like the overall conclusions of the book and how the views and opinions of characters play out but the language and writing in the book is beautiful. I loved how Lorelai relates the people around her and their objectives to folklore and sees the world in stories.

And then we have her relationship with Sylvia, othered not from her ethnicity but because her hair colour marks her as a reborn saint. All the characters carry burdens on their shoulders, but Sylvia loves Lorelai hard, and it is so painfully obvious apart from Lorelai. The scene where Sylvia learns Lorelai has read her books is wonderfully adorable.

This book is far from perfect but I do hope the right people find it as it's amazing.

Many thanks to Daphne Press and NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book for an honest review.

A beautifully written novel that’s part murder mystery and part romantic fantasy. Set in a complex political landscape and inspired by German and Jewish folklore, we find ourselves in the middle of an expedition with heavy implications for each of those participating. Lorelei and her rival Sylvia find themselves thrown together as they aim to uncover which of their peers was responsible for the murder of their mentor, and why.

Saft’s characters were compelling, if not always likeable. The magic system and world of the novel were also intriguing, and I was left wishing there were more pages dedicated exploring both. Pacing at the start of the book was very slow, but as we push deeper into the story the intrigue unfolds. Readers who love traditional folklore, gothic romance, and dark academia will find A Dark and Drowning Tide utterly entrancing! I will definitely be picking up more of Alison Saft’s books in future!

Allison Saft’s A Dark and Drowning Tide impresses with its richly developed world despite its concise length. The vivid descriptions and intricate settings create a vividly imagined backdrop that draws readers in. The story’s deep connection to folklore and its unique magical creatures are particularly engaging.

Initially, Lorelei’s character may seem challenging to connect with, but as her motivations unfold, she becomes increasingly compelling. The evolving romance between Lorelei and Sylvia is a standout element, capturing the complexity and growth of their relationship.

The murder mystery delivers an unexpected twist and a satisfying resolution, though the separation of Lorelei and Sylvia at the end felt a bit forced. Overall, Saft’s novel is an enchanting blend of magic, romance, and intrigue, offering a memorable reading experience.

A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25 Stars

Jewish-inspired religions, slow-burn sapphic romance, academic rivalry, scientific exploration and a mysterious murder all in a gothic/folklore setting? Yessssss please.

A Dark and Drowning Tide was such an immersive cozy read. The story moves at a consistent pace and never feels like its dragging, I ended up reading it in one sitting.

If you enjoyed A Far Wilder Magic and are probably going to enjoy this as well. Both stories contain a lot of the same themes of fairy tale creatures, magic, romance and strong character development.

Thank you to Allison Saft, Daphne Press and Netgalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for a review.

I'd like to start with a thank you to NetGalley and Daphne Press for the advanced copy of A Dark and Drowning Tide

First of all, I'll admit the opening was a little slow but once I got into it i devoured this book.
The descriptions in this book were beautiful, and easy to follow. The folklore was really interesting too and that was the original thing that drew me to this book. and the murder mystery had me thinking about who it could have been and their motives the whole time I wasn't reading.

This would have been a 5 star read had the relationship not fallen short, it felt rushed, like it had been an afterthought which was a little disappointing. There's only so much you can play off as "opposites attract" before it feels farfetched that they like each other at all.

That being said I have already recommended this to several friends!

A TRUE Highlight of my 2024 reads. Allison Saft excels and reigns supreme in sapphic gothic fantasy. Her first foray into adult fiction goes exceptionally well. Perfect for fans of Ava Reid or Rebecca Ross. This book was exceptional, god I wish I could read it again for the first time, alas, I will have to just reread it anyway at every turn. Rooted in Fairytale and Folklore in such a beautifully, intrinsic format, this book is glorious. Allison Saft is a goddess. The murder mystery was fun and tricksy, the plot lines were chaotic in a good way and kept you guessing often, the characters were divine. Urgh I could wax poetic about how much I devoured and delighted in this book. Every page entices the reader into this magical world, filled with incredible creatures, dangerous folklore and prejudices that echo our mortal realm. A tale that showcases the true power stories can hold... And the romance, argh from page one there is so much delightful romantic tension and hatred (that we all know isn't hatred!). Perfection- this book is perfection. One of my most anticipated reads this year, and boy was I correct!

Thank you to NetGalley and Daphne Press for this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5⭐️

This is, without a doubt, Allison Saft's best and strongest novel yet, and this has only made me excited for whatever she has coming next. This novel was incredible in so many ways that I doubt I will be able to comprehensively discuss, but just know that this book consumed me body and soul. I was in love and hooked from just the opening chapter, and remained ensorcelled for the entire book.

A Dark and Drowning Tide is so many things, it is a tale of academia and rivalry, a murder mystery among a group of terribly flawed yet intensely human people, an exploration of guilt and grief and deeply harmful prejudice in a world that closely mirrors our own histories, and a fairytale of two women coming together with hope and falling in love against all odds. Allison Saft handled all aspects of this tale masterfully. The prose in this novel was outstanding, intensely atmospheric and richly woven with folklore and fairytales, and I adored how these aspects served to both expand and mirror the narrative. The worldbuilding in this was also incredible. From the unique magic system to the folklore influences and the vast nuances of a world touched by war and prejudice and a loss of culture, this world is one that had me enthralled from page one.

It would be remiss of me to not mention one of the most compelling parts of this novel, which is of course Lorelei and Sylvia's relationship, which I believe to be one of the most beautiful and hopeful romances I have read in a while. Their relationship is definitely a highlight of this book, an academic rivals to reluctant allies to lovers accompanied by the perfection that is sapphic angst pining. I was routing for Lorelei and Sylvia from their first interaction, and was entranced by their beautiful story.

This book was so close to being 5⭐️, but for me I just wanted a little bit more out of the ending, perhaps a bit more closure on the state of some of the side characters and the wider world, but I do think it was an ending that worked well for the novel and the darkly real world the tale took place in.

I truly cannot recommend this wonder of a book enough and urge everyone to pick this up when it releases next month!

This is one of those books that promises a lot of vibes but leans on them too much. The author seems to have a problem with plot and world building, as nothing seems to develop. Which is also the reason the MC is so unlikable to me; Lorelai is judgemental and holds grudges that make no sense, which could be an interesting character arch, yet towards the end she hasn't learned anything. This book, unfortunately, felt empty to me as it didn't deliver on development and remains empty. And the choice of telling folklore stories throughout the middle of a scene was very jarring. Not to mention the German vocabulary is off. Unfortunately, a pass. Could use a lot of more edits.

I. Am. In. Love.

Since first seeing this book and the short description of it as a Jewish sapphic mystery with lots of folklore, I knew I needed to read it. My expectations were high and they weren't disappointed.

It is a rivals-to-lovers story that is literally full to the brim with magic and folklore, incorporating stories to provide a great understanding of the world in a really beautiful way. The use of fairytales, fantasy and mystery keeps you on the edge of your seat and absolutely addicted to turning page after page. I wanted to know how it ended but also dreaded reaching the conclusion as it would mean that it was over.

All of the characters are so rich and while the story is told from Lorelai's perspective, I felt as if I knew every character so well by the end - and yet I was still surprised by the reveal. Seeing the relationships evolve, change and be challenged was beautiful and felt entirely authentic. Similarly, seeing how Lorelai was othered by the characters, the world and even herself was heartbreaking but made the end all the sweeter.

The slow-burn romance was perfect and so believable. Within one chapter you know exactly the type of people Sylvia and Lorelai are and from then you spend the whole book wishing they could see how perfectly they complement each other. I was so invested in their relationship, even though it was so subtly addressed, with the main focus of the story (and Lorelai's focus) being on solving the mystery and reaching the end of their mission.

This was a beautiful Jewish sapphic love story that used fantasy, folklore and dark academia perfectly to create a book that I couldn't put down and know I won't stop thinking about.

Thank you so much NetGalley and the publisher for accepting my request to read and review this book

I saw the cover of this stuuunninngggg read and knew I had to give it a go!

Also heard magical dark academia and BAM on the TBR it went!

Loved reading a sapphic book for a change too - I feel these are few and far between. Sylvia and Lorelai were such great characters to follow and their interactions were sublime.

I have to say the writing style really did stand out to me, I often felt myself rereading prose and marking quotes. I wish I had read a physical copy so I could have annotated it!

My biggest complaints and reason I didn’t give it 5 stars was honestly just the pacing. There were times I was yawning a little, and add in a little confusion I sometimes was taken out of the book and wasn’t super enticed to pick it back up.

The confusion I had was mostly due to the world building. I struggled to picture everything and felt a little shoved into the story in the deep end.

I loved the sentient forest aspects and all the folklore - I think this kind of “magic” is something I quite enjoy in fantasy - but it needed a little more exploration for me.

But overall I did still love this book and know this will be a hit especially with the YA readers.

Love love love LOVE the dark academia vibes of this book. The dark and brooding characters had me hooked and I could almost feel the atmosphere in their magical world right from the get go. I felt like I was in a Victorian fantasy world and It really reminded me of the haunted mansion ride for some reason!! The feel of the book matches the cover art/artwork that I have seen and this really did not disappoint.

The book is very descriptive and honestly I had a clear picture in my head of characters and occurrences throughout which is something that I can struggle with when it comes to fantasy/dark academia like it. I did struggle with some of the pronunciation but I loved that this book was filled to the brim with folklore and interesting creatures.

I found the pace a bit of a struggle and I wasn't gripped from the get go, I found myself needing to force myself to sit down and read but this was rectified about 25% way in and I was hooked - just stick with it!!

I want to avoid spoilers in here but all I will say is that I am looking forward to my Illumicrate edition of this book and it will be displayed proudly on my shelf!!

I really enjoyed this! I loved the fantasy academia vibe and that’s not something I’ve really come across before, so it was fun to read a unique story. The murder mystery plot was engaging, and the red herrings caught me a few times too.

Lorelei was a super interesting protagonist and it was nice to see Jewish sapphic representation. That being said, if she could have lost that chip on her shoulder a little sooner, I would have been happier. The decisions she made eventually started to feel like less of an informed character choice by Saft, and more of a way to just keep Lorelei and Sylvia apart for a bit longer. I understand the self-hatred and her trauma, but Lorelei’s arc was only really resolved in the last chapter, which felt rushed.

I really loved Sylvia and wanted only the best for her tbh. She deserved better and I will die on this hill. I also liked Ludwig and I wish we saw more of him!

The references to folklore and fairy tales were cute, although possibly a little too frequent in parts and took me out of it, but I also understand it.

Overall, I have a lot of thoughts and most of them are about how I’d maybe like to read this again someday, so that’s good!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Daphne Press for the arc!

𝗔 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗶𝗱𝗲 • 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝘁
★★★★

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗼 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁
- Sapphic fantasy
- Academic rivals
- Dark academia
- Murder mystery
- Opposites attract
- German folklore
- Setting of a ship/wilderness
- Standalone

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
This whole story is a quest for academics and heirs to find a magical spring which gets dark when the research trip leader is found murdered.

Other than Sylvie, all of the characters are dislikable. Including our main character Lorelei. However, Lorelei has good reason to be so intolerable of others, as they’re just as—if not more—intolerable of her ‘kind’ as part of a kingdom that is considered traitorous.

I loved the world building and I would be happy to read more books set in this same world of dangerous creatures, magic, and powerful folk tales. AS orchestrates a tentatively darkly enchanting atmosphere that has both the potential to be wonderful and terrifying. This coupled with a murder mystery creates a tense ambience and an inability for the reader to trust any of the characters.

There were a few plot points that I felt were not explored enough including Lorelei’s magic, the dynamics between kingdoms, and the different academic foci each person held.

4 stars

I loved this book, that's simple. The writing style was just perfect for this narration and the world building was a masterpiece. My only "problem" was that I wished the relationship was a bit more developed in the last part.