Lorelei, her mentor, and the King’s nearest and dearest friends-the Ruhigberg five set off to find the Ursprung. A magical well of incredible power that will secure the King’s hold of the turbulent Brunnestaad.
Shortly after they set off, Lorelei’s mentor is killed and the King sets her to find the killer or take the blame. Their quest still remains, and with her life on the line, everyone, except her rival Sylvia Von Wolff, is a suspect and threat.

Before this book I had no idea what sapphic meant (I still needed to search it up), the vibes were definitely vibing. I quite enjoyed Saft’s writing but did struggle with some of the Germanic phrases and having to stop to search it up.

Between the German theme and the way the Yeva were treated, it seems Saft has drawn inspiration to the Jewish plight during WWII. I really need to state that I am not a historian by any means and cannot be sure, however this is the impression I got. How successful she was at this I cannot reasonably say, however it might be triggering to some people.

I really enjoyed the slow burn between Sylvia and Lorelei but there were times I just wanted to roll my eyes and knock their heads together. I found the rest of the characters to not be as fleshed out. The rest of the Ruhigberg five, although given some backstory, felt relatively glossed over. It’s never fully explained what ties them together, and to the King, other than a close proximity during childhood.

I think this book is perfect for autumn as it has a dark enchanted feel. I loved the combination of science and magic. It just needed the side characters fleshing out some and more world building for everything to truly immerse me. Thank you very much to NetGalley and Daphne Press for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I knew this would be up my alley when I first heard about it, and I am SO relieved to say that this is still true after reading it!

The atmosphere and writing style was gorgeous and I loved the main two characters and their relationship. The plot was intriguing throughout and concluded in a satisfying way, which isn't always a given!

Highly recommend this one if you like folklore, dark academia and/or sapphic rivals to lovers. This was the first book by Allison Saft I have read and I will definitely be looking to read more!

This was my third book by this author and it was another winner!
The atmosphere of the book was almost another character in itself, and the writing was lyrical and immersive. I was a bit worried that I wouldn't be able to remember all of the characters but they were all written so well that it was never a problem. The two main characters had a truly interesting relationship and I loved watching it develop; enemies to lovers done really well!
I will definitely pick up more books by this author. Huge thanks to the publisher for the eARC.

Thank you NetGalley & Daphine Press for approving this ARC.

A Dark and Drowning Tide is a dark academia, fantasy, sapphic rivals to lover's romance with mystery and intrigue at every turn.

Our main character Lorelei who is a folklorist and has always been an outsider is tasked by the king to go on an expedition to find the spring which can grant untold power to those deemed worthy, along with her academic rival Sylvia (a naturalist) and a few select others (a botanist, navigator, medic, thaumatologist) and their leader who is someone Loreli looks up to, they embark on this journey.

When their leader is tragically murdered Lorelei knows only 1 person beside herself is truly innocent and that Syvia. She must now find out what happened, keep herself safe and complete the quest they are on. But with mysteries and revelations being revealed as well as outside magical/mythical dangers, Loreli has to learn to trust Sylvia in order to help her out.

Dark academia is a relatively new genre for me, and I really enjoyed this book, the writing made it feel eerie and haunting and I loved the characters and world building.

That book was... well. I'm not sure what to say, because I was enchanted by it and bored at the same time. I've read the first half of the book and I've got that nagging thought, that nothing really happened. Which of course is a wrong feeling, there was a lot of plot twists to process. But to conclude a little. A Dark and Drowning Tide is academic rivals to lovers and sapphic obviously, but the waiting for the romance to happen was even worth it. The whole book gave me the vibe of Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faerie and Atlantis (the Disney movie). For the whole time I've sensed the "found family" kinda vibe from the characters but honestly speaking I wasn't the biggest fan of any particular.
To sum up, I've had a good time reading this book, but it won't be my all time favourite.

Loved it!
Loved the author’s style, totally enchanting. Lorelei and Sylvie are so real, written so well, I want to hug them both. Loved their singular stories and relationship as well.
Most of all I loved the folklore and the magic, so unique!

4.5*

A luscious, gothic book with mystery, folklore and the rivals to lovers lesbians of my dreams.

I really loved this, the murder mystery plot was well-paced and easy to be invested in, as well as the explorations of all of the characters and their many flaws. I liked the historical basis of the worldbuilding, and the use of folk tales throughout. The book was less romance heavy than I expected, but I prefer a slow, drawn out development of those plotlines so it suited me fine - Lorelei and Sylvia are exquisitely fucked up and romantic, as any good gothic couple should be.

I'm so glad this book lived up to my expectations, and I'd love to pick up a book from Saft's backlist!

A Dark and Drowning Tide is a brilliant example of just how well acquainted Allison Saft is with her genre and her skill. Her writing style immediately immerses you in a world full of enchantment, relatable characters and well written Sapphic romance.

Saft’s dialogue is great and the characters are well formed and relatable, with sharp tongues and string personalities that shine through. Each character compliments the next perfectly.

The murder mystery aspect definitely deserved to be more fleshed out in places but it didn't take anything away from the book overall.
The unique magic of the world and the creatures along the way make for a very whimsical fantasy.

I also enjoyed how Saft touches on more serious topics throughout.

Thank you to Daphne Press and Netgalley for the ARC

I was excited to dive into A Dark and Drowning Tide and the plot did not disappoint! The concept of the expedition to find the lake, combined with a thrilling murder mystery, kept me intrigued throughout. The cultural elements and differing perspectives added richness to the world-building, though I found myself wishing for a map to help navigate it all—probably the downside of an ARC!

The inclusion of fascinating creatures, especially the alp, was a highlight. I loved how it kept reappearing, and by the end, it played a crucial role in the story. Also, the coffee obsession? Relatable. I’d do anything for coffee, too!

Character-wise, this book was a slow burn. I struggled at first to connect with many of the characters, and it took time for me to warm up to them. But as part two rolled in and the ‘dream teams’ cracks began to show, I found myself more invested in each character’s depth and the complex dynamics between them.

This was my first time reading a queer romance, and I really enjoyed it! The romance followed an enemies-to-lovers arc, which is always fun, and the development of their relationship felt authentic and satisfying.

Overall, A Dark and Drowning Tide was an engaging read, and I’m so happy I had the opportunity to experience it as an advanced reader! If you’re into slow burns, complex characters, and thrilling mysteries, this is one to pick up.

‘A Dark and Drowning Tide’ is everything I have been searching for in a fantasy book all year. The politics, lore of the world and foundational characters, whilst initially confusing, as are most foundations of a fantasy universe are, became incredibly familiar and easy to follow as the book progressed. Whilst the prose in this novel is an absolute love letter to the written word, the true highlight of this novel is Saft’s characters. Whilst the book is written in third person, we are primarily following the thoughts and feelings of the determined, introverted and calculated Lorelei, who I instantly fell in love with. Sylvia Von-Wolff may now be one of my favourite book characters of all time, and felt like the heart of the story on most occasions, with her quick wit, abundance of positivity and kindness throughout the story. Enemies to Lovers can be very over-exposed in literature nowadays, and Saft has nailed the trope perfectly, the stakes between Lorelei and Sylvia felt consequential no matter how their relationship developed, and whilst I was rooting that the both of them could find happiness together, the stakes of their relationship felt authentic to the story and created this beautiful atmosphere amongst the entire world. So much can be said about the entire cast of supporting characters as well, it ultimately felt like a chaotic ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ party meets a ‘Secret History’ Secret Society where once again, the entire cast had differing opinions, values and motivations that made the stakes of the story feel authentic to this world. This world is on the precipice of a war that could devastate everyone, and every character had completely different opinions, thoughts and plans that allowed the world to exist in such a thoughtful way that I couldn’t believe a single thing any of the characters were saying at any time.

I could recommend this all day, every day. What an absolute masterpiece!

Being a huge fan of Allison Saft's previous books I was incredibly nervous for A Dark and Drowning Tide, it's so different to what she has written before but it blew me out of the water nonetheless.

A Dark and Drowning Tide is a fabulous example of just how well Allison Saft can write. Her luscious writing style sweeps you off into a whimsical world full of enchanting moments, relatable characters and the most delicious Sapphic romance.

I was particularly fond of Lorelei, whom we spend the most time with, and I really enjoyed the banter between her and Sylvia. Allison's FMCs were very relatable, the sharp tongue of Lorelei and Sylvia's sunshine mentality complimented one and other really well.

The murder mystery aspect was fun, I felt as though it could have been a bit more fleshed out in places but it didn't take anything away from my enjoyment of the book. I loved the unique magic system and all the different mythical creatures we meet within the book, this is very much the perfect book to get lost in if you love whimsical folklore vibes.

ADADT does touch on a few serious topics (like prejudice) but being Allison's first Adult Fantasy I wouldn't expect any less.

Overall, a very well rounded and enjoyable book.

I love a dark academia and liked the sapphic romance between rivals, other than that I really struggled with finding the motivation to read this book. It just didn’t grip me but I’m sure other people will love it! Allison Saft writes so beautifully, this one just wasn’t for me. Thank you for the arc!

I don't have much to say except that this book was everything, it was amazing and I can't wait to get a physical copy as soon as possible.. Lorelai and Sylvia and everything

Thank you to Netgalley and Daphne Press for an advance copy of this book for an honest review.

The story follows Lorelei a sharp tounged folklorist on an expedition with 6 nobles to find a magical spring that promises magical powers to those who are worthy. While on this expedition her leader and mentor is murdered aboard the ship turning the story into a murder mystery of whodunnit.

Lorelei receives word from the king that she must figure out who did this as well as the spring or be blamed for it herself.

Her only ally on board is her academic rival who she hates Sylvia can she trust her fully and figure out who did this and find the Ursprung and get them back to pass this information too the king and save her life?

It took me a while to get into this but that was more my reading slump than the book itself.

Once I got over this slump I found this story to whimsical, magical and intriguing I loved the added murder mystery aspect and the grumpy/sunshine trope is one of my favourites.

The world building was immersive and captivating and the story and characters arc were all well crafted. All of the suspects have motives that could be realistic added to the suspense of the story and the mystery.

From the ending I assume that this was a standalone and I felt like this story wrapped up wonderfully.

An enchanting story for fans of fanstary magic and murder mystery stories. I would fully recommend this story for fantasy lovers.

I have trouble with getting through this book, since it is really complicated and there are so many Dutch words in it. Even some names are normal Dutch words, making it really hard to read. I put it down for now, but might try to finish it later on

I expected a murder mystery with quite a lot magic and some romance. When I finally DNFd at 43% and about 160 pages, there had been a murder, but no sleuthing whatsoever. The small bits of magic were tempting, but there was little to no explanation of the water-based magic system. And no romance.

I disliked all of the characters. They are a bunch of arrogant nobles with a good smattering of institutionalized racism. The main character Lorelei is a bitter, negativ and hateful woman. She has no redeeming features, although she is the one they all discriminate against and theoretically the hero of the narrative. In the book blurb she is mentioned as witty. I saw none of that.

The world of this book is based on imperial Germany, the king is even called William II. Lorelei is Jewish by a different name, living in a ghetto in the main city of that world. All the nobles in her traveling party are either from the royal families of conquered lands or part of William‘s military, with a strong dose of antisemitism.

What is it all about? To stabilize his kingdom, the king sends forth an expedition to find the fabled source of magic in his kingdom. The mentioned nobles and Lorelei are the expedition members. One of those nobles is Sylvia, Lorelei’s eventual love interest. Shortly after the expedition has gathered, the leader of the group, Lorelei‘s mentor, is murdered. The expedition is undertaken anyway, now under Lorelei‘s leadership. There is some traveling and fighting of mythical monsters and plenty of uncomfortable conversations between Lorelei and the rest of the team that didn‘t add much to the story. It made me miserable and I dreaded picking up the book. This was not what I had signed up for based on the book blurb. I disliked the constant racism and the slow pace didn’t help, aka I was bored on top of it all.

On the plus side the book has a beautiful cover. And there are some enthusiastic 5-star reviews out there. You might like it, but I can not recommend it.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher or author through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.

Firstly, I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, Allisons Saft’s book, A Dark and Drowning Tide, failed to deliver what it promised and it didn’t convince me completely. I wanted to dnf it around the 60% mark, but i pushed through, without any improvement. In detail, i thought that:
- The characters were quite bland, had no personality and were quite unlikable
- The folklore and the worldbuilding were underwhelming
- The writing style was pedantic
- The pacing was odd, uneven and too slow for a 300-page novel

I liked the mystery and the romance, even if both were quite predictable.

I so wanted to love this book but….i just didn’t! I found it so slow, way too ‘wordy’, couldn’t really grasp what was going on for ages and yeh! I struggled to read it, so disappointed that I didn’t love it. However, the cover is beautiful 😂 maybe I’ve read too many fantasy books lately and there’s just so much to live up to?! Or maybe it’s just boring?! I’m hoping the first option… I really hate not liking books!!

3.5

‘A Dark and Drowning Tide’ is German inspired adult fantasy/dark academia tale, and a sapphic love story. It’s very steeped in folklore, which was interesting, and strongly reflects Jewish history.

Set in a recently unified kingdom, the young king is seeking a fabled spring, rumoured to give a chosen figure extraordinary power. He sends out a team of naturalists to try and locate the spring for him. Among the ranks are Lorelei Kaskel, a folklorist who has much riding on the success of this expedition, her academic rival Sylvia von Wolff, and a variety of other characters from different backgrounds and classes. The stakes are turned up even higher when the leader of the expedition, their professor (and Lorelei’s mentor) is murdered on the first night - who of their team killed her? Who can be trusted? And will they be able to find the spring before more members are harmed?

While I absolutely adored the atmospheric setting of this book, I never fully connected with the characters, which was a shame. I loved exploring the murky fantasy world they inhabited, but just felt held slightly at arms length from them, which dampened my overall enjoyment of the book. But truly, I cannot praise the world building enough.

The folklore elements were really well done, and I loved all the different creatures, and the variety of tales, that were weaved into the story. I also found the magic system really intriguing, and the romantic yearning is pretty great. I mostly loved the building tension within the novel. The element of fear while a murderer remains at large, the ongoing quest to find the spring, the questioning of long held beliefs, the stakes of opening up to be loved.

Saying that, I wasn’t fully sold on the relationship aspect - but I think this was again due to not feeling totally drawn in by the individual characters. It truly is the one thing that held me back from really falling in love with this book, sadly.

I do think Saft quite skilfully handled the anti-semitism themes in this book, with the Jewish main character, and how that ideology pervaded in this fantasy world.

Simply put, this book isn’t bad by any means - indeed, certain parts are wonderful, but I found it to be slightly dragged down overall by its characters. I’m still interested in the author overall (I have two of her previous books sitting on my shelf, still waiting to be read) but I was a little bit underwhelmed by my first foray into her work.

Thank you to the publishers, and netgalley, for the copy to review.

DNF at 20 percent.

This book just wasn’t for me. Firstly, the formatting on NetGalley wasn’t great which didn’t help, but secondly it was just really boring and dry! The prose didn’t draw me in, neither did the characters and the world building seemed lack lustre. I was truly excited for this book, but in the end it proved to be a disappointment. What am I missing?