I was quickly swept away into a world of magic, lost gods and secret societies. This is everything I want when I think of the perfect dark academia book, in a time when dark academia is hot. Curious Tides should be at the top of any list.

Curious Tides is atmospheric tale that with a mystery that will hook you from the first page. The world building was exquisite, the magic system was genius and drew on the phrases of the moon and connected into the lore of the world brilliantly. Lyrically written, we follow our to main characters Emory and Baz both who have to work together to solve a mystery and how an old fairytale could possibly be connected.

Let me start by saying I am far from being a young adult and that may have prevented me from enjoying this book more. However on paper, this should have been just my bag. It was *ok* although I found the pacing very slow. I didn’t get much sense of the characters and the magic seemed more complex than it needed to be or poorly described. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

Curious Tides is the atmospheric YA dark academia book I’ve been looking for! I think this book most reminds me of Threadneedle (Cari Thomas) & The Magicians (Lev Grossman), although there are definitely other similar titles that would also share characteristics.

First let me start with the magic system, my absolute favourite part of this book! Moon magic in general obviously isn’t a new idea, but Lacelle has imagined such a unique magic system based on the lunar & tidal cycles, I genuinely don’t know how she came up with it. It’s just one of those perfect magic systems that you hardly ever come across, one that’s just so unique & works so well when applied within the story.

Curious Tides is told from a dual POV, alternating between Emory & Baz the 2 main characters. I enjoyed both POV’s but I think Baz was my favourite, something about Emory’s naïveté just made me want to give her a good shake after a while! The supporting characters were also great, some of them you could clearly tell had ulterior motives & the intrigue really kept me guessing. I think in book 2 we will see a bit more of a couple of them, which will be very interesting!

The plot & pacing generally was very good, a tad slow at the beginning but I was interested from the start, some classic tropes were featured however they felt carefully planned & thought out which prevented them from feeling stale. Some of the twists I definitely saw coming, but others were surprises & the complexity of the world definitely helped with that aspect. In general the world building was really good, the back story of the in world book & how that correlates to the events was very well integrated, I loved learning the intricacies with the characters.

The ending was perfect, yet so frustrating at the same time! I know this is going to be a duology & that ending definitely leaves you wanting more, can’t wait for the next book to be out!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster UK Children’s and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC.

Dark Academia, magic, intrigue, secret societies and murder are beautifully blended as we join Emory at the start of her second year at Aldryn College, grief-stricken and traumatised after a treacherous night in the Dovermere sea caves leaves a group of her classmates dead and her as the only survivor and Emory plagued by strange, impossible powers that no healer should possess.
Enlisting her dead best friend's reclusive scholar brother Baz to help her, Emory is determined to get answers - answers that lead her answers back to Dovermere and a fate she should never have escaped.
@pascalelacelle has woven a gorgeous world with a comprehensive and clever magic system and I could see myself in the Aldryn's libraries and smell the sea and rock of the Dovermere Caves.

The ending has me hoping that we don't have to wait very long until book 2! In the meantime I shall content myself with the novella!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Actual rating: 4,5 stars

This book combines fantasy, dark academia and a murder mystery in such a flawless and cohesive way, I absolutely loved how these different elements came together.

The magic system was the thread tying everything together. I loved that it was determined by the natal moon phase, it's such a unique concept that perfectly fits with the world and also ties in beautifully with the tides and Drowned Gods.
The progression of the magnitude of the magic system was also very organic, at first it seemed to only be what determines your magic and what house at school you belong to, but then the scope of it all gets bigger and bigger.

The same goes for the story progression in general, the mystery starts off feeling like a classic murder mystery, and over time it turns out to be so much more.

There is a love triangle in here, which I personally thought was done very well, though I'm not someone who's opposed to love triangles in general.

It took me a bit to get into the book, and while you can clearly tell that the magic system and everything around it was very thoroughly created, it did feel a bit confusing at times.

Overall, I had a really good time with this and absolutely recommend it to any fan of dark academia novels, and I'm very much looking forward to the sequel.

This is the perfect dark and gloomy academia vibe! The dual pov and the romance are chefs kiss 💋 I really love the myths and the world building, this writer’s story flowed well and it helped pull me out my current reading slump, I’m obsessed!

‘Curious Tides’ by Pascale Lacelle is a beautifully written, haunting novel, set in a world of mystery and magic. When Romie dies trying to carry out a ritual to summon The Tides, her brother Baz and her friend Emory (the two narrators) are determined to bring her back to Dovermere. In their search to seek the truth about the secret society, linked to the deaths of other students, not everyone is who or what they seem. A novel of friendship, power, complex relationships and manipulation. Perfect for fans of YA fantasy/dark academia. Can’t wait for a sequel!

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.