Allison Saft is an author whose books I have really fallen in love with this year and this new release is no exception. This dark mysterious tale full of tension and romance is the perfect accompanent to the upcoming Autumn season.

I read a far wilder magic a few years ago, so I was super excited to read this one.

It did not disappoint. The world building is exquisite. The characters are all so well rounded, I believed each and every one of them as a real person. This book immerses you, and there's no escaping it (in the best way). I really enjoyed the mystery element to this novel. Without spoiling it, the reveals seemed so obvious once they were announced, but the author keeps you guessing until the very last second.

I enjoyed the romance element of this book too, Sylvia and Lorelei are so good together, and I found myself devouring their scenes together.

I would 100% recommend this book.

Read from September 10th, 2024 to September 25th, 2024. Written on October 6th, 2024.

First off, I do apologise for the delay on posting this review. Between work and the beginning of the second year of university, my brain hasn't been in the right place to sit down and write this.

I have to start with the cover. It is so so beautiful. My congratulations to the artist.

About the writing, though some parts could be a little bit better in terms of making the narrative flow a more easily, in general, it is quite good.

The story has incredible world-building and character development.

Now, there are a couple negatives in my opinion:
1. I feel like the main plot twist was not as twisty as I hoped for. Though I wasn't exactly expecting it, it didn't feel like a major revelation.
2. The relationship between Sylvia and Lorelei was...weird. It was too slow in some aspects and too fast in others. I felt that the whole "rivals-to-lovers" had a strange passage from rivals to lovers, it didn't feel natural, maybe a bit too rushed in a way? Even though they do take their time to get together. I don't know.
3. I didn't fully enjoy all the folktales that the main characters tells. At first it was nice and really good for the lore, but after a while it just became a bit too much.

I'm not entirely displeased, and I do recommend this if you like fantasy stories and a lot of folktales and old history.

(Free ARC from NetGalley and Daphne Press that I chose to review after reading - Cross-posted on Goodreads on October 6th, 2024)

Here I am again, obsessing over another Allison Saft book. She. Never. Misses.
From A Far Wilder Magic, to A Fragile Enchantment, and now A Dark and Drowning tide, Allison is the high queen of constructing fantasy worlds full of magic and intrigue that you can't help but lose yourself in. And even better than that is the angsty romance full of pining you'll find amongst the pages. I love the way that within her writing she always includes a critique of a social issue that reflects what is happening in the real world, and she does so in a delicate yet powerful way.
It is no surprise that once again I am giving an Allison Saft novel 5 stars.

I know it’s from a different author, but I immediately associate this with A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid. The power of water, the power of fairy tales, interesting female leads, and gothic vibes all around.

In A Dark and Drowning Tide, we follow Lorelei, essentially the underdog of an expedition to find the legendary spring that is the source of all magic. She’s such a clever character with a rather sharp tongue (which I always enjoy), and a strong desire to help her impoverished and discriminated community. Still, she’s such a self-deprecating character who believes the worst in herself.

The political aspect’s strong presence in the plot was something I didn’t enjoy. I was in this for the magic and the murder plot. And the sapphic romance part of this so-called romantasy was so subtle throughout I’m not sure it can even be called slow burn, but I really enjoyed it too. I loved Sylvia so much, I wanted to be her, frolicking in nature with magical creatures… don’t we all?

Overall, I had a great time reading A Dark and Drowning Tide. It was almost exactly what I wanted it to be, and just the kind of book I was craving.

this was incredibly well written with prose that allowed you to imagine every tree branch and pond in exact detail. each character was very thought out and real, as real as it gets within the pages of a fantasy book.
I felt myself sympathetic with the ‘villain’ as they actually had understandable motivations, and i did think that there would be more of a conclusion to those ideas at the end, but a lot stayed the same as it was to begin with.
the idea of this magic system is brilliant, and i loved what was shown and the implications for further worldbuilding it gives.
the plot was interesting when spurred on by our main characters and their journeys to tolerating each other (and more :D)

An absolutely stunning story based off fairytales and folklore, this slow-burn fantasy romance had an incredible atmosphere that left you wanting more.

Although it took me a couple of chapters to really get into it, once I did I couldn't put this down and stayed up well into the night to finish this.

The characters were fascinating and inspiring, and the budding romance was beautiful and left me kicking my feet. With the added suspense of a mystery, the twists and hard-hitting imagery, this was definitely a book I will find myself reading again.

Allison Saft does it again!

A beautiful story of folklore and fae for the dark academic crowd. Though I found it a little slow to get into, this book had such great vibes and a good story underneath them. I loved the cast of characters that, while immensely dislikeable, made a good cast for the story.

This is a brutal tale of prejudice and antisemitism. It shows the darker side of humanity and how when pushed into a corner, into desperation and very limited options, you can seem to become the person they want you to be. But it’s also about what’s underneath. It’s about that one person who sees you for what you actually are and finding them and finding a way to be together when the world pulls you apart.

I loved the romance between Lorelei and Sylvia a lot. I love a good enemies to lovers and this was the sort of slow burn romance that I want from that. I think it helped that these two had known each other for a while so the author didn’t feel the need to talk about how hot Sylvia was on first sight. There was just slow loathing and a level of obsession that slowly revealed how much they actually cared for each other.

The book didn’t set itself up for a sequel, but I would like to read more of this world and more Lorelei and Sylvia in the future.

Whilst I did find this a slow burn it was definitely worth the wait!
I love a book that has magical fantasy, a world where you can loose yourself from the mundane of your real life, to then add in the sapphic element takes it straight to a five star read.
There's even a murder mystery to add to the tale, it definitely has a bit of everything and was such an easy read.

3.75 ⭐️

Back in the days when wishes still held power…
there was a kingdom called Brunnestaad, built in pursuit of a king’s expansionist dream and then brought to completion by his son.
The foundations of this kingdom, however, were unstable, because the conquered peoples within it possessed different and precious cultures and traditions and many resented the king for the lost independence. So, the young king asked his dearest childhood friends, heirs of the annexed kingdoms and now acclaimed academics, to set out in search of a legendary magical spring, capable of granting the most deserving unheard-of powers.
Along with these eccentric nobles, the expedition was led by the famous naturalist Ingrid Ziegler and Lorelei Kaskel, her student and the protagonist of this story. Lorelei is a Yeva folklorist (an ethnic group inspired by the Jewish one): she and her people are relegated to the Yevanverte, a ghetto from which they are not allowed to leave without an escort. They are victims of violence and prejudice: even in fairy tales they are described as cowards, careerists, cruel. The most radical do not even consider them human.
However, Lorelei, thanks to her apprenticeship with Ziegler, has gained access to the capital's academy, and now she can hope for a future outside those walls.
However, on the first evening of their journey a tragedy occurs: Ziegler is killed. It will be up to Lorelei to track down the murderer, with the only help of Sylvia, her academic rival.

The magic system of this world is simple but interesting: ether (the substance of which magic is made) uses water as a conductor and therefore anyone with magical abilities can manipulate this element. To this, there are numerous elements from Germanic and Jewish folklore.

Overall, I liked it. I found the story entertaining, the two main characters well developed, and I appreciated the presence of folkloristic elements that were unknown to me, even though at the beginning it was a bit difficult to get into the story and remember the names of all the characters, places and magical creatures. However, this book is not perfect.
First of all, I was not properly satisfied with the secondary characters: they have potential, but they are not given enough space. It would have been nice to read some flashback chapters of their childhood, to be able to pity them and feel sorry for their lost bond. I especially hoped Johann would have some sort of redemption arc (yeah, I willfully ignored his giganti red flags till the end). The biggest problem, however, is the "colonialist" issue, because in the first half it seems that the author wants to denounce the expansionist aims of the king, only to "justify" him and accept him as a "lesser evil" at the end, it seemed to me the simplest conclusion, butnot the right one.
Furthermore, the love story takes on a bit of a dramatic tone at the end (at least for my taste).

I feel like recommending this book, for different reasons, to those who loved books like “Babel”, “Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries” and “The Cruel Prince”: on the one hand it has an academic cut, especially in the first part (no, don't worry, there are no footnotes), on the other a fairytale cut, in which humans and fairy creatures coexist without too many explanations.

This book took me a minute to get into, but once I was, I was swept away and I could not put it down. The folklore really dragged me in and I wanted to know more!

A Dark And Drowning Tide presents itself as an imaginative novel with rich characters and intertwined relationships. It's a shame that its beauty stops at the concept that gave it shape and the covers.
I couldn't feel the magic, nor any connection with the character, which to be honest it's something not even the characters felt with each other (and they are childhood friends...)
It's a novel full of problem, from worldbuilding to the characterization of the characters. They're so many elements that made me turn up my nose that if I made I list I would be telling the whole story. But there's something I can say, even if it's a little spoiler: the book has, almost, a pro-colonialist tone. Because of that I found myself rooting for the villain.
About the sapphic romance, it left me with nothing. It was quite bland, it didn't rouse the slightest interst in me and the sour personality of the protagonist didn't help at all (and I like mean lesbians...)
So, having said that, I really can't recommend it, especially given the path it took toward the end. I'm sorry but I will always be on the side of the revolutionaries and the independence.

Thank you to NetGalley and Daphne Press for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

Despite it taking me a VERY long time to get into this story, I thoroughly enjoyed it once I did!

I loved the prose, folklore, mystical forests, and the ROMANCE was BEAUTIFUL OH MY LORD!!

The ending made me feel so warm and fuzzy!!


I highly recommend checking out this gorgeous book!!

Sapphic academic rivalry, I am in. The yearning, grumpy sunshine, slow burn and forbidden romance vibes, I have been missing this! The romance is top tier!

The story itself builds an immersive world that doesn't get bogged down in exposition dumps. The German folklore inspired world is charming, with a picturesque view that I enjoyed imagining thanks to the fantastic imagery.

While being a stunning love story, this also deals with some serious themes, such as anti-Semitism. The focus on humanity in this tale and how complex we are and the belonging we look for, this really pulled out all the stops.

I went in knowing very little and loved it. Great story, fun twists, fascinating characters and fresh takes on magic.

This book had interesting ideas but ultimately had too many story threads by far for it's length. Because of that the story instead of being fun just became full of holes and messy.
It also had some really weird pro-colonial aspects to it that i *really* wasn't a fan of...

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Daphne Press for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: antisemitism, death, murder, blood, war, injury, violence, xenophobia, grief, drug use, anxiety, PTSD

Lorelai Kaskel is a gifted magical folklorist determined to make people see past her religion to be allowed out of Brunnestaad as a naturalist, even if her quick temper and sharp tongue make things more difficult. After she’s invited to be part of an exclusive expedition alongside six nobles and her beloved mentor, she jumps at the chance to search for a magical spring that guarantees King Wilhelm will have a secure reign after years of war. One of the people she’s travelling with is her academic rival, the beautiful war hero, noble and naturalist Sylvia von Wolff, who Lorelai considers to be the biggest threat to her future career. However, the expedition has a horrific start when Lorelai’s mentor, Ziegler, is murdered on the ship during the first night. Everyone onboard is a suspect, all with their motives and traumas to deal with. Lorelai becomes the expedition’s leader, determined to carry on while also investigating Ziegler’s death, but it quickly becomes apparent that her companions’ biases label her as the killer. Only one person, Sylvia, is definitely innocent- she has far too much to lose if they fail. They begin to work together, but as they travel through rivers full of dragons, forests that move at night and shapeshifting monsters made from blood, their rivalry turns into a passion they can’t ignore. Lorelai learns that Ziegler was hiding many things; as they hunt for her killer and the truth comes to light, Lorelai has to decide if King Wilhelm’s kingdom is even worth saving.

I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Allison Saft so far, “A Dark and Drowning Tide” is her fourth published novel, and I think it’s her best one yet. Set in a world of academia and nobility where prejudice has driven Lorelai to become a harder version of herself, this book is beautifully written as it explores the idea of magic. She was such a complicated character, I adored her from the first page and as the book went on I found myself growing even more attached to her- her experiences of xenophobia have defined her life, and she naturally assumes that everyone feels the same. Her relationship with Sylvia shone instantly, Lorelai is torn between jealousy, irritation, fascination and outright adoration (which she hates) all at the same time, having obsessively read each of her rival’s published works. The chemistry between the two of them, built throughout the mystery of Ziegler’s killer and the expedition, worked brilliantly; Sylvia is as complex and intelligent as Lorelai, disguising her true feelings underneath enthusiasm and self-sacrificing decision-making. Their slow burn, enemies to lovers sapphic romance was perfectly balanced while also not taking over the entire plot. The descriptions of the creatures they discover on the expedition are beautiful, my favourite is the scene with the lindworm on the river or the opening scene of the book. The overall mystery of the killer, and the secrets hidden by King Wilhelm and the other members of the expedition, were incredibly tense and well-plotted. I raced through this book and can’t wait to see what Allison Saft might write next.

2.5? I wish I could say I loved this, I really wanted to, and there are some parts that I did like. I like the characters, mostly, and I like the world. The introduction of folklore and the heavy weight it carries in the story was right up my alley. My main problem is what happens on a political level. I sort of agreed with the bad guys, to be honest. Not only that but there was such a simplification of matters, it was sort of weird and the thing is that it can really be applied to real world matters, and I didn’t love the general message of the story. The style was also maybe a miss for me. Some parts I liked, but others felt a little jarring, out of place.

Thank you to @blackcrow_pr @daphne.press for the arc of this book and for having me on the tour as well.
This was one of my most awaited book of this year and I am so glad I had the chance to read it before its release on Tuesday.

The vibes of the book were great, with its gothic atmosphere and rival academics was just my cup of tea. What more could you want?

The story was just so magical and captivated that you couldn’t put the book down cause you needed to know more. The writing was great and flawless that made you enjoy the book and story even more.

In this book you can find

💜Romantasy
💜Sapphic Love
💜Academic Rivals
💜Magical World
💜Mystery
💜Quest

Back in the days when wishes still held power.. what a unique way for storytelling. We get all these little folkloric fairytales served during the main storyline to highlight characters motives or take comparison to a situation they’re in.

It took me a while to get into the story. I liked the concept of it but it didn’t grab me like I’d have hoped. The expedition is full of adventure, wonder and mythical beings which I am all here for. A sapphic rivals to lovers romance in which we experience the grumpy X sunshine trope through the eyes of the grumpy one. I love a good rivals to lovers but the misunderstood signals went on a bit longer than preferred. The mystery is complicated enough that you won’t figure out the “who-done-it” until the reveal, but it is smart enough written that it will a make sense.

Perfect book if you’re looking for an adventurous read with unique folklores, a challenging murder mystery and an academic grumpy x sunshine romance.

DNF @ ~77%

I'm sorry but... I tried, I really did, I'm just bored and I don't want to continue.

The setup was messy and I still don't fully understand it (or remember it that well tbh).
The romance starts super late (about 70%) and is very sudden at that point.
The main character is somewhat off-putting and annoying.
The others in the crew don't feel fully fleshed out, and I don't feel connected to them for that reason.
The murder mystery also fell flat.
I also don't think this should be marketed as "dark academia". Where's the school setting, the school/academic vibes? Lorelei and Sylvia were hardly academic rivals either.

I haven't DNFed a book yet in 2024, so I'm going to give myself this and let it go.
It wasn't for me.

Thank you to Daphne Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.