A fun fantasy full of unique folklore, academic rivalry and political intrigue. Well thought out characters and plot, with a beautiful writing style and clever worldbuilding. Another great novel from Allison Saft.

This started off giving me slight Emily Wilde vibes and then once we met the group of characters going on the mission it leaned more into atlas six vibes. The book does give dark academia based on the cover so that fits but I didn’t like atlas six, I found it slow, boring, confusing and I didn’t like a single character, and this was feeling the same to me. I didn’t like the characters, I found the pacing slow and the story confusing.

If you like slow paced dark academia with light fantasy elements this could be perfect for you. The writing is great, beautiful without being too descriptive. It just wasn’t the right story for me

A weirdly pro-colonial story set in a fantasy version of 1800s Germany that explores Jewish identity and antisemitism (although it doesn't do anything to fix it) but then takes the bizarre stance that colonisation is good.

This book could have been amazing but it fell short in so many places. As I've already mentioned, it had a weirdly pro-colonial message to it which is uncomfortable enough but then you add in that this is based in a fantasy version of Germany a few decades before WWI and it just gets worse. The book frames all the people who we are expressly told have been starved, discriminated against, and/or had their culture repressed after their country was invaded and colonised as the villains for wanting to get rid of the explicitly pro-war and antisemitic emperor who colonised their country. What's weird is that this message doesn't feel deliberate for most of the book, it just feels like a very underbaked idea and like the author didn't know what to do after she'd written herself into a corner so we end up with this weirdly pro-colonial message.

Its especially jarring to read this pro-colonisation narrative when the other major theme of the book is exploring Jewish identity and antisemitism and that part is done really well. Lorelei's characterisation and her Jewish heritage is handled so well and I really clearly understood who Lorelei was, even when she annoyed me and was being petty or short sighted.

Whilst the characterisation of Lorelei was one of the best elements of the book, the characterisation of the other characters lacked depth and most of them fell flat. I struggled to care about a bunch of privileged rich kids going on a mission for their homicidal emperor bestie so he can take control of the magic spring in one of the countries he colonised so he can keep repressing said country and colonising more places. And then we’re meant to be shocked that they’re all horrible people and one of them committed murder? As Lorelei has no emotional attachment to the people she's with (other than misplaced contempt for Sylvia and a thin friendship with Ludwig), I didn't really care about which one of them did it as soon as we knew it couldn't be Sylvia (which was instantly). The murder mystery itself wasn't very well fleshed out and just drove home the pro-colonial narrative.

The romance was one of the main reasons I was excited for this book, but I struggled to connect with Lorelei and Sylvia's romance as it takes over half of the book for Lorelei to stop outright despising Sylvia (or at least to realise that she despises the privilege Sylvia stands for not Sylvia herself) and then suddenly their whole relationship went from 0 to 100 and felt very rushed. It also isn't academic rivals to lovers - they're rivals for maybe 30 pages then Lorelei just hates Sylvia for breathing for the next 150+ pages till she decides Sylvia is actually perfect and bam she's in love. I know some people will like their relationship, but I felt like it needed an extra 50 pages to pace their relationship better and also just to give them more time together as we would go 30+ pages without them even talking in the first half of the book.

The final key element of the book is the dark academia which was also a disappointment as it was barely there to the point that I don't even feel like I can call this a dark academia book. The folklore feels more like info dumping of world building and telling not showing– it would have been better if Lorelei had been a naturalist like Sylvia so we could get more on the magical creatures and lore behind them as they were the best part of the magic in the world (this also would have actually made Lorelei and Sylvia rivals).

What frustrates me most is that this book just needed an extra 50-100 pages to explore the romance and other themes better and a revised last 30 pages to correct any pro-colonial message and then it would have been so much better! There is no need for this book to be as short as it is when it just leaves so many elements half baked and poorly explored. The one element that was done so well was the Jewish representation and I'm just sad that people who were looking for that much needed representation in fantasy books get in wrapped in this pro-colonial story.

i really wanted to love this one, but unfortunately too much of it either didn't work for me or was just ok.

let's start with what i did enjoy: the jewish representation in this is really good, and alison saft's writing is always easy to read and get lost in. i think it would have benefitted from being slightly longer, especially at the start, to introduce it more to the surrounding characters, their motivations and relationships with each other. i didn't feel particularly drawn to ziegler or the depth of her relationship with lorelai, so i wasn't particularly affected by her death - and the 'mystery' of her murder was a very closed-door, systematic review of the five who could have been involved.

the adventure/journey itself gave me indiana jones vibes, which i did enjoy, but i was never fully hooked? it was a fun adventure story but never really went deeper than that for me. i also struggled with being in lorelai's head for the whole book, as i found her and her choices to be quite frustrating. nothing really endeared me to her, or to her relationship with sylvia, though i enjoyed the latter's whimsy.

finally, this book felt weirdly pro-colonial to me? the choices were very much pitched as a 'lesser of two evils' and whilst i appreciate the angle lorelai was coming at it from (as an outsider whose people lived in, essentially, a ghetto) i felt the book could have dived rather a lot deeper into the moral struggle that should have presented her with. it stays pro-colonial the whole way through, and i found it quite hard to feel sorry for this group of privileged students adventuring through poverty-stricken towns on behalf of the royal family. lorelai does get a reward at the end, but it is tempered by the fact that we don't actually /see/ life get better for her folk. i just think it has done a disservice to not examine the colonial aspect of the story in more detail, particularly as the journey is about finding something to.. prolong that colonialism?

anyway. as i say, unfortunately this one was not for me but i appreciate it for the jewish and sapphic representation, and know it will find its audience.

e-arc provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review

it genuinely pains me to say this about an allison saft book -a far wilder magic is one of my all time favourites, after all- but this did nothing for me.

yes yes i know. sapphic rivals to lovers, dark academia, a magical expedition, a murder mystery, a vaguely historical setting? all things i have eaten up before and will eat up again. but, somehow, this just didn't work for me. i feel like there was at the same time too much worldbuilding and too little. the folklore was clearly thought out, and i thought that the idea of water being the source of magic (and therefore magic is sort of just waterbending) was really cool, and something i could draw parallels to in the folklore of my own country. but the politics? some of the choices these characters made towards the end were... interesting, to say the least.

then there's the romance. listen, i'm a sucker for it. but if you expect me to believe these two went from their relationship as it was on the first page to as it was on the last within a few weeks (more like a few days, actually), i have a bridge to sell you.

i know, i know. this pains me more to write than you to read. a dark and drowning tide was probably my most anticipated book of the year. i'll stay living in that pre-reading bliss.

Banter, mystery, murder.. sharp heroines and lot's of Spooky vibe!
This was a beautiful written fantasy book that was almost more magical realisme and I liked it!

Post on IG (One_fairy_tale_at_the_time) Coming on release day 17 of sep 2024

Dark, enchanting and ethereal. Lorelei is fiercely independent and feels like she has something to prove due to her heritage. This often results in her pushing everyone away. Lorelei and Sylvia really are working the grumpy X sunshine trope and it's obvious that there is a fine line between love and hate. The magic system was very unique, I loved the world building and I especially loved that the characters back stories seemed to link to old folk tales. Overall this was a very enjoyable read

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review ☆

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The book gives the reader an insight into a dark fairy tale world of Brunnestaad, where each region feels distinct from each other, helping with immersion. Allison Saft’s worldbuilding creates an unique setting, one based off of Germanic folklore. Having read brother Grimm’s fairy tales as a kid ‘A Dark and Drowning Tide’ to me was like coming into a well-known territory.

I must admit that I was captivated by the two main characters. Their chemistry was a joy to witness AND THE YEARNING, MY GOD THE YEARNING. Chef's kiss. Lorelei and Sylvia's dynamic reminds me of a gothic romance and I mean this in the best way.

Despite the author’s claim for the book to be a breach into adult fantasy genre, this idea was unrealised. The story reads more like YA, which is not a bad thing at all, however it was a bit too juvenile for it to be classed as anything more than that. The mystery reveal was incredibly obvious, and so Lorelei detective stints were not as interesting to read about as I wished, which is why I had rated the book as 4/5.

All in all, it was a pleasant read, and will be on the lookout for anything new Alison Saft might publish. I have preordered a physical copy of the book as well, since both the US and the UK versions of ADaDT are gorgeous - kudos to the illustrators!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a mix of Voyage of the Damned with Emily Wilde.
I enjoyed the chemistry between the two main characters. There was a good balance of chapters with just the two of them, and chapters with the rest of the crew.
Every character had their own personality and history. I found Lorelei hard going at first. I understand why her defenses were up, but even to people being nice to her, she was rude. That being said, I wish they had focused on the prejudice on her people at the end and that having more of a conclusion.
Sylvia luckily balances Lorelei out. She is pure of heart without being too much. I think it's because you need this character to balance Lorelei out.
I would recommend this book to others.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

My god it has been a long, long time since I have read a book that captured folklore, fantasy and fairytales like this one has.

A Dark and Drowning Tide combines the darkness of A Brothers Grimm Fairytales with the whimsical and alluring style of Lewis or Tolkien (and as a huge Tolkien Fan, I do not say this lightly).

Setting out on an expedition, we follow an intrepid group of individuals, each with their own unique talents, as they attempt to find the source of magic within their lands, whilst solving a murder along the way. Our FMC, Lorelei, must work with her rival, Sylvia to ensure the project goes ahead as planned and confirm who killed their mentor before it is too late.

The writing style was so utterly captivating and gorgeous, weaving so many different folklores and stories together I was enraptured from the very start. I must admit, I was not aware of any German Fairytales or creatures before delving into this book, and I did have Google on hand to ensure I was able to keep up with each one introduced, but this absolutely only enhanced my experience.

However, the thing that absolutely makes this book is the stunning enemies/rivals to lovers romance that entwines throughout the story. These two had me giggling and kicking my feet from just them holding hands! Note: this is a fade to black series, ensuring that it remains within the YA genre. This does not, in my opinion, take anything away from this romance.

I want to thank NetGalley, Daphne Press and Allison Saft for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. The review is my own opinion and I have given this freely.

In A Dark and Drowning Tide, Allison Saft casts a spellbinding narrative that seamlessly blends magic, German folklore, and romance. Set against the backdrop of a mystical forest and brimming with tension, the story follows Lorelei Kaskel, a Yevanni folklorist navigating not just the dark wilderness but also the murky waters of grief, societal prejudice, and a treacherous murder mystery. From the very start, I found myself utterly captivated, this is a tale where every page feels like a step deeper into an enchanted, and sometimes dangerous, world.

Lorelei is an intriguing character. As someone marked by her Jewish heritage, her story deeply explores antisemitism embedded in folklore, offering a fresh and personal perspective in fantas. I loved how Saft didn’t shy away from the complex layers of Lorelei’s identity and grief, especially when it comes to her brother’s murder and the sacrifices she’s made to belong in academia. There’s a profound sense of isolation that follows her throughout the book, something many readers might resonate with, even outside the fantastical setting.

The academic rivalry between Lorelei and Sylvia von Wolff was beautifully done. While at first their banter and coldness suggested only tension, it slowly unfolded into a love story that had me grinning like a fool. The enemies-to-lovers trope was executed so perfectly, with their differences enhancing the romance rather than detracting from it. Sylvia's wit and brilliance make her a great counterpart to Lorelei's more guarded and methodical nature. I found myself rooting for them long before they began to understand each other.

As for the plot itself, A Dark and Drowning Tide is not just a romantic fantasy. It's a murder mystery wrapped in a dark academic setting, dripping with atmospheric tension. The sentient forest, magical waters, and folklore woven throughout the narrative only added to the immersive world-building. Saft’s prose is lush, and there’s a rhythmic beauty to her writing that mirrors the waves of emotion Lorelei experiences, whether it’s her longing for belonging, her desire for justice, or the growing feelings between her and Sylvia.

And while the romance is slow-burning, it’s the kind of slow burn you savour. Every glance, every touch, every whispered word carries weight, making the payoff feel incredibly satisfying. By the end, I was fully invested in the plot and in the future that these characters could create together (are we getting another instalment?).

Saft also handles deeper themes like survivor’s guilt, societal reform, and the burdens of expectation with care and nuance. These elements added an emotional gravity that anchored the magic and mystery, making the story feel both fantastical and deeply human.

If you’re a fan of sapphic romances, folklore-heavy narratives, or atmospheric mysteries, A Dark and Drowning Tide will pull you under like the siren’s call it is. Prepare to get lost in its pages you won’t want to come up for air.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballentine/ Del Rey for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my review.

I overall had a good time reading this book.
The murder mystery with some folklore-based research setting was an amazing combination, and I especially loved the fact that the folktales were mostly German or Austrian-inspired, and thus didn't feel reheated compared to Greek or Egyptian myths we always read about.
Still, I felt like the romance was somehow a little forced from time to time, but then again, I am not a big reader of romance, so my opinion is obviously biaised.
If you like romance, and academic rivals, but that time happening in the wild rather than in between college walls, this is for you!

Thank you Daphne Press and NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Release date: 17 September.

I enjoyed reading Allison Saft’s Adult Fantasy debut. It had lots of adventure, scary but fascinating magical creatures, a (very) slow burn romance (of which I loved the part where they became friends, most), politics, a low-key murder mystery and a great development of a not very likable main character but you very soon get why she is the way she is.

Lorelei is a folklorist at Ruhigburg University. I must admit that I was a little disappointed, that there wasn’t actually any time spent at that university (I always love that) but the huge adventure that followed, made me forget about that very quickly.

Lorelei’s mentor is about to go on an expedition for the King, to find something magical and powerful. She is taking Lorelei’s rival, Sylvia, who is a naturalist, and 4 others with her, until she announces she wants Lorelei to go with them too as the co-leader.

As a persona non grata because of what she is, Lorelei is constantly in survival mode, lashing out from behind the safety of her wall of thorns. But she just wants to be accepted. She hopes to be granted the full rights of a citizen and advocate for her people after a successful expedition.

But… sad expedition is like a den of vipers. Literally everyone has their own motives and secrets. Sabotage, murder, violence and betrayal soon follow. And there are actual vicious creatures to be dealt with too.

Lorelei’s rival Sylvia was so fun and fascinating! She has a way with magical creatures and she’s the heir of the ducal seat of her homeland Albe, a land that wants to be independent again. When Lorelei has to team up with her after a murder, she finally gets to know the real Sylvia and the prejudiced image she had of Sylvia, slowly crumbles.

This whole story was interspersed by tales and fables which I loved.

Overall a great adventurous and mysterious fantasy. And I mean, look at that cover!

I had very high hopes for this one, the cover is beautifully whimsical looking, and the blurb sounded so good.

The story follows Lorelei, a sharp-tongued folklorist, who must pair up with her academic rival to solve their mentor's murder.

Sadly, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. I found the pacing to be very slow, and the writing style didn't engage me, I just felt bored trying to get through it. I found myself not caring enough about the characters to connect with them, and the main FMC Lorelei was moody and quite irritating.

The romance in the story didn't make sense to me and felt a bit forced, and again, I just wasn't invested in it.

Although this wasn't for me, I can see how readers who enjoy folklore with mystery vibes would enjoy this.

' The loveliest fairy tale I have heard in all my life '

A Dark and Drowing Tide

A literary love story, full of hopes and dreams, nixies and all manner of other worldly tales.

Author Allison Saft has produced such an awe inspiring story, the world in which she has created was so vividly beautiful in description, it was hard to look up and be pulled back into reality.

Her story telling was exceptionally elegant, the characters all had such unique qualities and realisms, with relatable quirks that had me eagerly anticipating how each character would react to certain problems or scenarios.

We are plunged into a swirling world of moody colours that clouded my eyes, easily loosing myself in this magical world.

Rival folklorists Lorelei and Sylvia are granted the opportunity to occompany their mentor on an expedition to find a magical spring of untold power with 5 other nobles, but when their mentor is horribly murdered with no known reason or suspect, it's up to Lorelei to find out why and who would want her dead.

With quite a history of being used against one another, Sylvia and Lorelei are already off to a bad start, but quickly realising neither of the two could be responsible, they try to put their differences aside in order to uncover the truth.. and find out exactly who they are travelling with.
The expedition must continue and with only long passed down stories to guide them, the group encounter numerous obstacles that threaten each of their lives, aswell as alliances that have been formed.

Sylvia and Lorelei are pushed time and time again against the odds and with each near miss or short lived victory, their distane for each other soon makes way for respect, friendship and slowly.. more.
But in the wake of new revelations and hope, chaos ensues when one finds out the truth and the ultimate betrayal is the only way forward. Shattering every newly formed feeling and truth that was so recently uncovered has both women questioning everything.

I don't want to say to much else because this really was such a beautiful story and it made me appreciate the beauty of polar opposites in the most elegant way.

Releases on the 17th of September 2024

Also a spoiler.... *

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This book is rumoured to be the SEPTEMBER Edition of the YA Illumicrate book box!! And I am so incredibly excited!!

A DARK AND DROWNING TIDE is an atmospheric tale of dangerous folklore and people determine to achieve their goals no matter what.

I really liked how the folklore was woven into the tale, fragments of tales scattered among the text. It's rarely the full story, just enough to make a point and let the reader fill in the rest. There's no real delineation between the tales and the creatures the crew encounter, leading to a sense of a world steeped in magic.

This helps the book drip atmosphere. There's a lot of water in this world, drip drip dripping here there and everywhere, and strange, dangerous creatures lurk in its dark depths. There's a real sense of danger from the world and the characters on the expedition.

This book definitely had the research obsession or drive I associate with dark academia. Lorelei wants this mission to succeed because of what it means for her career, though there are other stakes at play. This is a key part of her way to security, and she is going to make alliances and betray people for that end.

I liked that there were world-level stakes as well as the personal career in there. This Ursprung has the potential to solidify a rule for good or ill, or topple it. Everyone has a motive for wanting it, meaning that everyone is a suspect - and the king is not the most trustworthy character either.

This made the mystery wending its way through the book very compelling as there were no characters I immediately dismissed. Lorelei also had her own goals and made choices to protect herself and her people that made me even doubt her at a few points.

3.5 Stars

I wasn't too sure what to expect when I started this book, having only read one other work by Allison previously but quickly found myself engaged and immersed in the world Saft created.

The Romance - It is most definitely a slow-burn and the romance is a background plot compared to the mystery, academic, folklore and adventurous aspects (which I found myself really enjoying!). However, the tension was there and when it came to fruition I was obsessed. Our two protagonists crave a sense of belonging and acceptance, and I really found myself relating to their feelings if not their circumstance. I find this is difficult to do with novels of this genre but Saft created fleshed out characters we could relate to and engage with.

The world - The folklore and folktales aspect was done brilliantly and I found myself truly immersed in the world Saft created. I found myself able to visualise the world based on Safts descriptions and this is somewhere that a lot of fantasy based novels lose me. There was tension and suspense in all the right places and the academia storyline was truly engaging and simple to understand and follow. At times it did feel a bit slow paced, especially at the start - but the end more than made up for this.

This was so unique compared to other Sapphic Novels I have read recently and I thought the enemies/rivals to lovers aspect was done superbly. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a unique read interwoven with folklore and mystery.

Thankyou to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

The premise had great potential, with a murder mystery entwined in a high-stakes expedition to find a magical spring and Sapphic romance . Lorelei Kaskel's sharp wit and the dynamic between her and her rival, Sylvia von Wolff, initially piqued my interest. However, around the 20% mark, I found myself struggling to stay engaged. The pacing dragged, and the characters felt difficult to connect with, making the story feel less gripping than it should have been. Despite the fantastical elements and the intrigue surrounding the murder, it just didn’t deliver the impact I was hoping for.

Thank you to another Allison Saft and publisher, Daphne Press for the ARC in exchange for a honest review

3.5 stars rounded up

Back in the days when wishes still held power, there lived two young academics who yearned for something better - a kingdomless princess with hair the colour of moonlight, and a Jewish woman haunted by ghosts...

Lorelai is bitter rivals with Sylvia, but that doesn't keep her from setting off on a journey for the King that promises a chance for something more for both herself and her people. The path will be filled with monsters, but what she didn't expect is for some of those monsters to be in the expedition crew...

The premise of this book is so interesting, with political forces at work as well as personal ambitions that drive each character. The sudden murder aboard the research ship creates mystery as well as added tension, and I found myself considering each interaction to try to figure out who had motive and opportunity. It really plays with your mind, and I felt like the eventual reveal worked well (though another clue or two would have been appreciated!).

Lorelai is bitter, but I sympathized with her pretty quickly as everyone treats her appallingly. The persecution of her community made my blood boil, and the prejudice random townsfolk held for her made my heart sink each time. Unfortunately, this is never really dealt with by the end of the book (nor is the reason why L sees ghosts) other than a brief discussion of 'I'll make sure your people are protected'. The conclusion felt awkward after all the talk of forced assimilation and violent takeovers.

The romance felt both really natural and really rushed. They jump from not realizing their feelings to dedicating their life in the span of pages it seems. The ending also would have benefited from a slight extension to really wrap things up. In terms of the relationship itself, I really liked the chemistry, plus the idea that Lorelai is so broken by her traumas that she can't even comprehend someone having feelings for her was so tragic it added an extra dash of sweetness to the situation when it all came together.

The atmosphere is definitely my favourite thing about A Dark and Drowning Tide. The world is harsh yet full of whimsy, and the magical creatures are frightening, powerful, and full of mischief and ready to cause misery at any moment it seems. I loved how each one was introduced and played a role in the story.

This was a great read, and well worth checking out. It has some minor holes, but overall it's full of charm. It's especially good for the colder and darker months, as it has an ominous vibe that's perfect for autumn and winter.

Thank you netgalley for providing me with this eARC for review.
10/10 perfect no notes. What a gorgeous book, it was everything I wanted from the synopsis and more. It's always so refreshing to have good butch/masculine lesbian representation, particularly in a fantasy setting.
This is a wonderful mix of emily wilde meets a study in drowning and the wolf and the woodsman (and a huge improvement on the latter). It had the Jewish characters and folklore elements that I enjoyed in the wolf and the woodsman but actually employed well, the short folklore stories didn't take away from the novel but rather added to it.
The prose is beautiful without being too convoluted to read and it sets the tone of the story very well. One of my favourite reads of the year without a doubt.