The Dark Tide is a compelling, atmospheric young adult fantasy.

On the island of Caldella, the sea is always a danger, always trying to reclaim the island. The Witch Queen rules the island and keeps the dark tide at bay by sacrificing a young man she loves once each year. Two years ago, the Witch Queen couldn't bear to sacrifice her love, so she sacrificed herself instead. But it wasn't enough, and the sea always comes. This year, the dead queen's sister Eva, now the Witch Queen, takes Thomas Lin, her sister's beloved, and plans to sacrifice him. But a young dancer named Lina loves Thomas and tries to take his place. But Linda finds that Thomas may not be worth her love, and that the Witch Queen is not at all what she expected.

This book was so engrossing. Jasinka is really good at description, and her writing really brought the setting to life. The frenetic (and slightly creepy) festival where the witches leave their palace to dance and mingle with the people of Caldella, the witch's castle, and the ever-encroaching sea all felt very real to me. The writing is really lovely. Take this passage, for example:

"The water moved like a living, breathing thing. Serpentine and ravenous. Pouring itself down the corridor with deliberate intent, gushing eagerly over the floor, reaching, touching, tasting. Liquid darkness clawed forward on wet black fingers. Teeth of froth and foam raked along the walls, cresting white and biting down."

The story goes in some unexpected directions, and the romance ends up being rather unexpected. It's complicated and a little messy. I was very caught up in the story once Lina enters the witches' castle. I will say that the world-building felt a little thin at times, but it didn't detract from the story.

This book right here was absolutely everything I needed in a book right now. A small island coinhabited with everyday people as well as witchs all working together to try to save their island home from sinking under the dark tide. But how do they hold off the ever rising tide each year? Well by sacrificing one of the islands boys to the dark waters and this can't just be any boy, the witch queen herself has to select a lad at a yearly festival and then take him captive within her water palace and actually make herself fall in love with him....before then having to make the ultimate sacrifice and drown him in the ocean.
But the past two years the ritual has not worked with the new witch queen at the helm and people are getting desperate as the watch their beloved island city slowly sink. So as per yearly custom the queen selects a boy to hold captive until she can develop true feelings of.love for him.....but what if what she needs for her heart to finally feel something isn't a boy?
The Dark Tide was a dark, moody, and witchy tale about maybe going against the norm to get what your heart really needs. This book gave me each and every feel and I wish I could go back into this story and watch certain relationships develop

<p>I liked this novel. It's a cute enemies to lovers with witchy magic and misunderstandings. And our couple happens to be two young ladies who are struggling to understand themselves and their place in the world. It was adorable and well done.</p>

<p>The best part of this story is the characters. They felt believable and well-rounded with plenty of faults and strengths. I found myself feeling for them through the difficult decisions they had to face. The magic was also interesting as we learned bits and pieces through the world building and conversations. It was both at the center of the conflict but not the center of the story.</p>

<p>This story does cover some dark themes like human sacrifice, anger management, and grief. I think anyone who likes stories about witches, young people exploring their identities, clean romance, or a good story with great characters would enjoy this captivating novel.</p>

I really enjoyed reading this book! In my tablet, it was about 170 pages long, though the text was probably at it's smallest. And I just devoured this book, it was a really quick read, and I just couldn't down, I had to had more of Lina and Eva's story!

The magic was pretty interesting in this book. We had the main form, from various bits from a witch's body, hair, spit, things like that. So that was pretty interesting to read. Plus the history of the island, why they're all on this island, and why they have this sacrifice in the first place, well, they're important to the main plot of Lina's offer to be the sacrifice.

Reading about their relationship develop was just amazing to read. We were in both of their heads, and to see the moments that they were spending with each other, thinking of one another, was really great. Especially since Lina offered to switch places with Thomas, because she loved him. Plus there was the whole thing that it was going to end with one of them dead. Yeah, I really enjoyed their relationship!

That ending, though! I mean, she has to sacrifice someone that she loves, and she loves Lina. But we don't want Lina to die! I just loved that ending, and there's possibilities for the future, and I can't wait to see where it's going to go from here!

This book was utterly fantastic, and I can't wait to read the sequel!

The Dark Tide was truly a delightful read. This book swept me off my fight from the very beginning, and I found that once I started reading it I really couldn't put it down. This book is so deeply atmospheric it's hard not to fall in love with this waterlogged world of witches and sacrifices. The world is well put together and the sea itself felt like a character rather than just an inanimate body of water.

While we didn't learn much about who Eva really is (though we do learn her past and multiple chapters are told from her POV) she was still a riveting character. Her vibe of pantsuits and cigarettes and magical shoes that can walk on water is everything that I aspire to be. I'm really hoping that in the second book of this duology we'll get to flesh out her personality even more.

Lina is where this book really shone for me. She's headstrong and naive, but somehow that was done in a way that didn't make me want to pull my hair out. Usually I can't stand characters like her, but I found myself rooting for her every step of the way. Her growth throughout the book was truly enjoyable to follow, and I loved her voice.

While I did thoroughly enjoy the romance between Lina and Eva, I will say that defining it as a villainous love story is certainly a stretch. This is what The Dark Tide had been billed to me as, so I found it slightly disappointing when that wasn't the case. Their romance is definitely one of enemies to lovers but Eva never felt quite like a villain to me, rather she was just a girl in a bad situation doing her best.

When I saw that The Dark Tide book featured witches, a curse requiring a heartbreaking and deadly sacrifice every year, and a f/f romance, I knew I had to get my hands on it. And I was not disappointed.

Every year, Caldella's witch queen must convince a boy to follow her home, where they fall in love, and then he must be sacrificed to the tide to keep the sea from drowning all of Caldella. This year, Lina is convinced her handsome brother will be the target of the witch queen's desire. To keep him safe, she enlists the help of local boy Thomas, who Lina is in love with, since he was the only boy to ever escape the sacrifice--by convincing the witch queen to sacrifice herself. As Lina and Thomas join the revelry where the witch will make her selection, Thomas is chosen again by the new witch queen, Eva, the sister to the previous queen who died by Thomas's trickery.

Lina travels to the castle to save him, and offers herself to the witch queen instead. Like Thomas, Lina has not given up hope that she will not have to die by the coming of the tide, and while Eva has convinced herself she will never love another person, she can't help but fall for Lina as the tide approaches. But the tide requires a sacrifice, and the two of them must work together to discover the solution to their quickly approaching problem--who will die to satisfy the tide?

This book held my attention, and I fell in love with the characters. The writing was fast-paced, though perhaps a bit too flowery at times. I was also confused by some aspects of the plot and found myself backtracking to make sure I hadn't missed important details.

The story of love and redemption was beautiful, and Lina at one point identifies as bi, which was wonderfully explained and Lina's acceptance of herself was very well done. Eva's character was also believable (as believable as a witch queen can be)--I found myself sad for her, as she dealt with the loss of her sister. Her grief was palpable and moving, and felt very authentic. The world building was also really well done. I would love to explore Eva's castle.

This is a great book for teens interested in fantasy with a lighter romance, there is kissing at one point, but even by the end of the book, the girls are still exploring their feelings. Nothing felt forced or rushed, and I appreciated that aspect of the novel.

3/5 stars

This book was just alright. I just couldn't get into the writing of this book, I'll admit this is completely on me. It may have just been a time and place issue. That being said I see some real merit in this book and can see people really loving this book. I would say if the synopsis interests you at all to go ahead and give it a read.

I’ve read The Dark Tide a few months ago but I struggled so much to rate and review it that I decided to reread it again after a while. Finally, I’ve reread it and I’m still struggling to organize my thoughts about it.
I was really liking the story during the first half of the book but then I felt disconnected. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment that my interest in the story started to fade but I’ll try to sum up what I liked and disliked.
What I liked:
• Rep (POC; LGBT);
• Captivating premise;
• The dark setting of the palace and the island;
• Witches;
• Lina and Finley’s relationship was great, really loved their banter;
• The pet sea serpent was amazing;
• Eva was the most complex character in my opinion and I really liked her POV;
What I didn’t like:
• The magic system was underdeveloped;
• The pacing felt off;
• There was no build up in the romance (Lina’s transition from being so in love with Thomas to having feelings for Eva came out of nowhere);
• Other than Eva and Lina, the other characters felt flat.
Overall, I liked it but I feel like the story didn’t quite fulfill its potential and couldn’t keep me invested until the very end. I’m still curious about the next book though.
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.*

The Dark Tide was an atmospheric seaside fantasy that was enjoyable, if a bit predictable. It's very atmospheric, which is a huge plus! I mean, it was indeed a dark situation, in which witches had to sacrifice a boy to save the island. And it was with a sort of perverse pleasure that the island's inhabitants treated it as a celebration. The witches seemed a bit more somber about their murdery ways, which was cool.

I did have a feeling I knew where the story was going (and I did) from fairly early on. And while I enjoyed Lina as a character, and thought she was a decent person, I didn't fully understand why she was so willing to die for this dude she liked. I mean, they didn't even know each other, and you're going to charge a witch's lair? Is lair even the right word? I don't know.

It was definitely a fast read, and kept me entertained even if I wasn't completely blown away. The characters, like the plot, were fine, though I didn't fall in love with any of them. The world itself was intriguing, as I wondered what exactly made the witches have to sacrifice just for the island to stay afloat. I could have used more world-building, but perhaps that will be coming in the sequel!

Bottom Line: Basically, my thoughts on the book as a whole are of the "it was good, not great" variety, and hey, that's okay sometimes!

I really enjoyed this!
Basically our main character is suppose to rescue a guy but ends up falling for the girl keeping him captive! There’s is magic and a fun world.
The writing style was definitely the best part, it was beautiful and atmospheric.
We have LGBTQ representation, our main character is Bi and may feature a f/f relationship.
There are witches and magic involved in an interesting island setting.

The only thing I will say is the story felt a bit underdeveloped at times and even in the end there were a few plot holes left unexplained, but there is a sequel so I’m excited to see how things wrap up.

Every year in Caldella, a boy is taken to be sacrificed by the witches to prevent the dark tide from rising and swallowing the city. When Lina realizes her brother, Finley, and her crush, Thomas, are potential targets, she offers herself up.

The language throughout has the whimsy and atmosphere like a classical fairy tale. The atmosphere is just perfect and the reverence towards legends makes the world feel lived in. Every scene uncovers a new, dark secret about the world of witches and serpents, with some wonderful gray morality throughout.

Throughout, the book focuses on sibling relationships and takes a very deep dive into selfishness, grief, and what heroics mean. The tensions are very individual, but it never lets off the focus on saving the city. I wish we had gotten to spend more time in Thomas's head to get to know him better, but perhaps that will be further explored in the next tome.

A fabulous tale that's queer and dark, perfect for fans of Alexandra Cristo's To Kill a Kingdom.

2*
Pros: Captivating premise and world-building. Features intriguing, dark witches. Interesting retelling of underrated folklore tales.
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Cons: Insta-love and absolutely no build-up. Excessive and melodramatic description and narrative style. No relatability or attachment to the characters.

I really liked the characters. Lina is a fierce and passionate young woman. When the people she cares about are in danger, she never hesitates to do what’s necessary to help them. I also loved Eva, the Witch Queen. She is such a cool character. Although at first she seems to be a bit cold and cynical, as we get to know her, she is revealed to have a very caring personality. I also really enjoyed the slow-burn romance that gradually develops between the two of them.

With regards to the world building, the island of Caldella is such a wonderful and magical setting. The writing in this book is also very beautiful, which helps to make all these wonderful descriptions even more enchanting. I loved the queer representation in this book as well. Aside from the queer F/F romance, the book also portrays a society where people can be openly queer, which I thought was wonderful.

I loved this book. The writing is beautiful and the story is full of enchanting settings and wonderful characters. I also enjoyed the romance, which I thought was developed very well over the course of the book. If you enjoy dark fantasy stories with a nice, slow-burn romance and queer characters, you should definitely check out this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a lovely book. I enjoyed the writing style, I liked the characters, I liked how no one was perfect and everyone had their dark side, or weaknesses. And I really like how it portrayed fear and what fear can make you do, whether it's fear for yourself or fear for other people.

I am always here for sapphic stories, and I'm always here for witches, ESPECIALLY when those witches are tied so heavily with the ocean. I don't know why but magic and the sea go so perfectly well together that I just can't resist them, and this story, which takes place on the edge of the water, is no different. The magic system was also really interesting. I loved the way that it was described, and the way that it was vicious and unique and oh my gosh I loved the sea serpent so much.

The plot itself was good too, I was eager from the start to know how the story was going to end, if they'd find a way to get around the sacrifice, if Eva would mirror her sister or Lina would step forward, and in the end it wasn't what I had expected (which is a good thing) but I'm not going to spoil that here, you'll have to find out for yourself!

As for the romance, well. Let me tell you. I'm also a sucker for enemies to lovers which is basically the main trope of this book so I was living my best life. I would have liked a little more time to develop the relationship between Lina and Eva as the romance of it kind of hit a bit fast (One more thing i'm a sucker for: slow burn haha) but they had great chemistry and I had SUCH a crush on Eva so I'm not going to complain too much haha.

Overall this book was really fun. I'm so happy to have read it, and I can't wait to have a physical copy too because that cover is gorgeous and I'm obsessed. I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of witchy books with f/f romance and a wonderful atmosphere.

3.25 // 5 stars

When I first read the synopsis for this book, I immediately knew that I wanted to read it. Witches, sacrifices, a sapphic romance? Sign me up! This book was good in a lot of ways and I ended up reading it in just one sitting. However, I do think there were some things this book was lacking to make it a truly amazing read for me.

I'll start with the things that I did like. I really enjoyed the author's writing style. It was very easy for me to get sucked in from the very beginning. I ended up not only reading this book in one sitting but also reading it rather quickly because of how easy it was for me to fall into the story and follow the writing.

The magic system and world-building was enough to understand the story but I am a big sucker for learning about magic and different worlds so I will always want more. I think that the author gave us the right amount of magic and world-building for this book, but I am excited to hopefully see it all expanded upon in book 2.

The plot itself was rather interesting. I really liked the entire concept of the sea demanding a sacrifice every year and the ritual behind it. I will say that the pacing kind of threw me off a bit because, while the plot was very strong and interesting, there were a few issues pacing-wise. I think one of the biggest for me is that at least the entire first third of this book was told in the span of just a day or two. But the last two thirds spanned an entire month? I think that the first part was so strong because nothing was rushed but the last two thirds felt less developed to me. Interesting things still happened plot-wise, but I feel like I wasn't as connected to the story because of the big time jumps.

I think the pacing was also an issue for me when it came to the character relationships. Our two main characters have a developing relationship and, to me, it felt like there was very little development between them for most of the book and then it did a complete 180 in the last act. I really wish we would have seen more actual scenes between the two main characters but we didn't actually get that many.

I did really enjoy all of the characters in this story, though. The side characters really helped bring a new level to this story and I thought they were all pretty well-developed even if most of them got little page time. I really liked the strong family connections as well. I enjoyed our two main characters, though I think I connected more with Lina. I'm not sure why I connected more with Lina than Eva considering they alternate points-of-view but it just ended up that way. Maybe not connecting as well with Eva was why I struggled a bit with their developing relationship.

I think what was interesting to me was seeing the character developments outside of the relationship that formed. Obviously a big part of the development of this book was these two characters forming this relationship but I also just liked seeing them develop as people. No spoilers, of course, but I really liked these journeys they went on, both internally and externally. I'm really excited to see where all these characters end up in the next book.

Overall, I thought this was a very interesting, fun, and addicting book. I think the pacing issues really made me struggle with the story and the relationship between the two main characters but other than that I am fully on board with this series. I want to know what happens next and I am very eager to return to this world and characters when the next book comes out.

*Actual Rating 3.5 Stars

”The Witch Queen comes on wings of night.
The Witch Queen has your heart’s delight.
Hold him, hold him, hold on tight.
Hold him, hold him, out of sight.”

The Dark Tide follows the beginning of a ritual. The people on the island each year have to sacrifice a young boy to the witches of the island to give the sea for payment to stop the waters from rising. Lina Kirk, our main character, ends up bargaining her life for her brother’s and her crush’s in order to save them. She becomes the new sacrifice and must either have the witch fall in love with her and be spared, or lose her own life.

The writing is very atmospheric and flowery and sets the stage right from the beginning for the story to feel more like a fairytale. In addition, there are monstrous sea creatures, magic, evil witches, and stories of those who risked it all for love.

The romance is very light and while it does play a huge part in the story, it is really not a focal point.

I loved Lina as a character, and I really enjoyed Eva, the main witch, but I found some of the other character’s to be too one-dimensional and lacking. I also really loved the whole conflict with Lina’s brother but felt I wanted just a little more.

Overall, this was a fun and nice summer read and I think a lot of people would really enjoy it.

Those looking for a dark fantasy/fairytale-esque story with little romance would definitely enjoy.

*eARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I'm on the fence about this one. On one hand, I have a beautiful sapphic enemies-to-lovers story with dark magic, sentient (and evil) water, and a city on the verge of collapse. On the other hand...the plot is weak in places. I adore this book for the characters and the romance, the plot somewhat strange.

Every year, the witch queen chooses a mortal boy to drown. This sacrifices appeases the dark water that is threatening to overrun the city. Two years ago, the queen chose to sacrifice herself instead, and the water has gotten worse ever since. The current witch queen, Eva, is not looking to make her sister's mistake. However, the sacrifice only works if the queen is losing something she loves, and Eva is indifferent.
Lina is a mortal girl just trying to protect her brother. She fears the queen will choose him and in the process of protecting her brother, the man she loves gets taken instead. In a fit of passion, she offers herself to the queen instead, and they have to decide what matters more to them: love, family, or the island's survival.

The story switches between Lina and Eva's POVs, but it is mostly told from Lina's perspective. They are a perfect contrast for each other. Determined Lina with a glittering spirit and heart filled with passion. Dark Eva with a strong will and a cold indifferent mind.

After Lina is taken by Eva, the plot kinda suffers, but the romance and pining is top=notch. Read this for the sapphic enemies-to-lovers, not the plot.

4 stars. I wish there would be a sequel. I need more of Lina and Eva!

This book was definitely interesting for sure and a different type of read for me. The atmosphere of this book was unique and awesome and the cover is super pretty. I dont read a lot of Fantasy novels so this one was definitely different for me but I really enjoyed it. I needed a good different type of read. Definitely recommend this one to others.

Excuse me while I flail helplessly at this book because I just loved it so freaking much. The writing sucked me in immediately and I DID NOT WANT IT TO END! The writing was beautiful and magical and atmospheric and it was amazing. And it was so incredibly dark too. The world building was incredible and I loved the magic. There was something so poetic about this book. I can't even put it into words, which is s shame, mainly because I know that is the one requirement for a book review. Ha. I loved the two characters too. Lina was fierce and determined and oh, so passionate. She was amazing. Eva was just as passionate, but mainly about being queen and trying to get revenge for what happened to her sister. If there is one complaint I had, it's that I wanted a little more depth to the relationship between the two girls. But their chemistry was off the charts, so it's all good. The author kept me engaged throughout the entire book; there was so much action and the climax was unreal. The ending was so satisfying, but there is still a sequel. I don't know where the author will be going with it, but I can't wait to read it!

I wanted to love this novel so badly, especially since it was compared to The Wicked Deep, which is one of my all-time favourite novels! However, it just didn’t work for me. I wasn’t a big fan of the writing style; it was very jerky. I also had a problem with the pacing: at times, it was moving too slowly, and then it would suddenly speed up. The story was definitely more plot-driven but there were too many plot holes for me to feel satisfied. I also only liked one of the main characters, as she just felt more developed and relatable. The story had a lot of potential but there was just something about the way it was written and presented that didn’t work for me.