This premise was so so exciting but the book fell very flat for me. The entire resolution felt like it didn’t actually resolve anything? Just a big disappointment

A Dark And Drowning Tide
Allison Saft
3⭐️

Pub Date: 9/17/2024

Dark academia, adventure setting, with people in a ship for a journey. And then there's murder. This book reminded me a lot of Voyage Of The Damned plot. Obviously the premise/plots are different however they both gave off the same vibes as I was reading them. But in addition to that, there's mystery and academic rivals turned into Sapphic romance aspects to this. It took me a while to actually be immersed into the story. It got interesting as I proceeded but it didn't captivate me. The world building was brief but adequate and well written. The characters were not very likeable to me, even the main ones. One thing I really liked about this though is the addition of various folklore. That was a really nice touch and I had fun trying to figure out if I know them. I think this book is good and can be enjoyable. There are so many positives to it but it just wasn't for me.

Thank you @netgalley and Ballantine- Del Rey Books for a gifted e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

DNF at 70%

I don't like how the politics are talked about in this one. I don't like that someone from an oppressed group was able to be manipulated into being apart of the people who are oppressing her people

3.75 (rounded to 4)

I think the most dazzling part of this book is the atmosphere and world that Saft has built in this book, although I do think it lacked depth. When first introduced to the magic system, I thought it to be new, but I don't know if it was really delved into. I found the characters, especially Lorelai to be unique in how she included folktales in her character development. It had such a distinctive voice compared to other books I have read and I enjoyed that this was more adult from the author.

Plot wise, I did struggle a bit. I think what really compelled me was the characters and the romance. I think I ended up forgetting it was a murder mystery for a large part of it. Definitely moreso of a fantasy book with romance and hints of murder mystery. I also wished we had more of them together at the ending since it was suchh a slowburn. But regardless, the romance was my favorite part! While not my favorite of Saft's books, it definitely deserves a place on my bookshelf.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is a dark academia fantasy romance and I really enjoyed it! The world building and details were so good, I was captivated. I definitely recommend reading this!

A Dark and Drowning Tide completely pulled me under with its moody, immersive setting and haunting tone. From the very first chapter, there’s this creeping sense of unease that lingers throughout the story, and I loved how the author built that tension slowly, layer by layer. The coastal imagery, the folklore elements, and the themes of grief and isolation all blended together beautifully.

The protagonist’s journey felt intimate and raw—watching her navigate fear, memory, and the murky line between reality and something darker was deeply compelling. I appreciated how the supernatural elements were woven in subtly, never overshadowing the emotional core of the story.

The reason I’m giving it four stars instead of five is that a few parts felt slightly underdeveloped—certain character motivations or pieces of the lore could have used a bit more depth. Still, the atmosphere and emotional weight carried it through.

If you’re drawn to gothic fiction with a slow-burning mystery and lyrical writing, this book will absolutely deliver. A dark, melancholic read that leaves a chill long after the final page.

I do think the sapphic fantasy needs more representation in the broader fantasy genre but it being sapphic cannot be what makes the story unique in the genre. Where I struggle a little bit with A Dark and Drowning Tide is that the story - separated from the romance - does feel very generic YA to me. I think the background characters were exactly that, meant to fade into the background. And even now trying to write this review I can’t remember anyone but the main couple’s names.

Ultimately, I’m glad this story was written. And that it is well written. But I would have liked it to step more outside the genre norms of YA and do something different, agnostic of the romance.

Thank you to the publisher Del Ray for providing an e-ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

I didn’t particularly like Allison Saft’s previous books. A Dark and Drowning Tide so far is probably my favorite by Saft.

I thought the book was 50 page too long, but I liked dark academia, rivalry romance and queer couple.

I also appreciate the fact that the ending wasn’t a perfect ending but more like a compromise or suddenly have a magic wand to make all the complicated court politics go away.

3.5 ⭐️

DNF. I was really looking forward to reading this, but it did not live up to my expectations as soon as I got into it. I couldn’t connect with the characters and it just seemed like the story was dragging and not much was happening.

This is my first book from Allison Saft, and I have to say that it absolutely will not be my last. I was drawn to this book because of its cover (because it's *stunning*) and the fact that one of the main characters, Lorelei, is a folklorist; as someone who is getting a graduate degree in American Studies, part of which deals with folklore, this was a huge draw to me. That's not really a career path that too many stories follow, and I was super interested in seeing what Saft did with it. Allison Saft's writing is absolutely beautiful. It's lyrical, it's magical, and it's atmospheric. And it's able to be all those things without being too overwhelming. It's accessible. It's easy to follow along with.

I believe this is Saft's adult debut, and I think she knocked it out of the park. I really enjoyed the way that she combined academia with the fantastical and the magical. It didn't feel too stagnant because we're following Lorelei as she's a part of an expedition, so that allowed for a lot of different settings for the characters to settle into and exist in for a time. Overall, I think this was a fantastic and sensational adult debut and I know that there are going to be so many readers who are going to fall in love with this world and these characters.

I was drawn to this book purely because of the cover. It’s giving dark academia, gothic and sapphic which in my opinion is a stellar combination. I tried reading this book at least 3 different times before deciding that it probably was not for me. The characters were just fine like they didn’t particularly hold my attention all that much and the writing just felt excessive to me honestly and I wasn’t really vibing with it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Del Rey for the early copy.

A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft is a lush, atmospheric fantasy that weaves romance, magic, and mystery into a haunting tale of self-discovery. Set in a coastal town steeped in secrets and ancient rituals, the novel follows a determined heroine grappling with grief and power as she unravels the truth behind a series of eerie disappearances. Saft's prose is lyrical and immersive, drawing readers into a world both beautiful and menacing. While the romance simmers and the stakes rise, the novel balances heartache with hope. Perfect for fans of gothic fantasy and emotionally driven storytelling. A captivating, moody read.

unfortunately this style of story is just not for me, despite me really wishing it was. this cover is beautiful and its queer but alas the folklore was not doing what i wanted it to do.

A Dark and Downing Tide was my introduction to Allison Saft’s writing and I am very pleased with the overall experience.

Saft writes beautifully and crafts her scenes very well. Seldom did I struggle to “see” what she was trying to show me and I fell right into the plot with the characters. While the words themselves crafted a very intriguing plot, I feel the book could have used more in terms of overall development, backstory, and (romantic) tension. By the time the story was well on its way, I found myself wondering when and where I missed the backstory and the foundational development.

While I did want Sylvia and Lorelei to eventually find their way to one another, I did not personally feel like there was enough “desire” and longing built up before they confessed their feelings for one another. I would have liked to see a little more time being spent on the tension between the two characters.

Overall A Dark and Drowning Tide was an enjoyable fantasy read and I’d highly recommend it.

Allison Saft has done it again. A Dark and Drowning, like Saft’s other books, was phenomenal. I read it in one sitting and fell in love with the characters. I’m super sad to be leaving this world behind but I can’t wait for what Saft brings out next.

5/5 stars! This is a stunning sapphic dark academia fantasy. I loved everything about this book: from the cover, to the premise, to the enemies-to-lovers plot lines between Lorelei and Sylvia. It humorously reminded me of Murder on the Orient Express in that everyone on the ship was a suspect. Running to pick up another book by author Allison Saft.

From the moment I started reading, I felt like I was holding my breath, completely pulled into this eerie, gorgeous world that Allison Saft created. It’s gothic, magical, and beautifully sad, but more than anything, it’s emotional. Like… it made my chest hurt... in a good way though.

The setting is haunting and immersive, as if you can feel the salt in the air. There’s this constant sense of quiet danger, and at the same time, a deep longing that runs through every page. The magic feels mysterious and dangerous, but it’s the people who really hit me.

The characters are messy and real. The romance? Good god. It’s slow, subtle, and quiet, possibly one of my favorite examples of yearning.

By the end, I was emotionally drained and completely satisfied. I love this book with my whole heart, and it is definitely one that I am going to pick up again and again.

The sapphic dark academia of my dreams, I devoured this book from beginning to end! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the dark lyrical fantasy writing style that Allison Saft does so well

Unfortunately this did not meet my expectations. The romance, the world building, and the politics all just felt underdeveloped. I felt like I barley really got to know these characters and I really wanted to! They were interesting! The romance was cute but I didn't really buy us moving from point A in their relationship to point Z. The real downfall of this book is the ending. The whole book we are examining colonization, bigotry, and the corruption of the ruling king. Yet at the end it all it just wrapped up with a pretty bow and nothing changes. Nothing is confronted. I think this book needed to book longer inorder to explore everything more deeply.

2 stars.

I had been anticipating this story ever since I first saw the cover. I went into this knowing next to nothing about plot. I only knew that this included a sapphic academic rivals to lovers storyline. I didn't realize until starting the book that there would be a murder mystery plot, which was an interesting turn of events. I found the prose to be very beautiful and loved the folklore elements.

With that said, this book was very disappointing on multiple fronts. While the plot started strong with the premise of students trying to solve the murder of their mentor, it fell apart when the story attempted to expand the world. I didn't feel invested in any of the characters or their relationships. The main romance wasn't compelling at all. Lorelai's constant hot/cold feelings got very frustrating quickly. I couldn't bring myself to care about the relationship, let alone believe that they were truly in love. The ending was dissatisfying and the story got weaker and less engaging as it went on. By the time I was past the halfway mark, I was ready for the book to be over.

The biggest fault I have with this book though, is how it feels like the story is pro-colonization or at least excusing it. The fact that the "antagonists" of the story ended up being those who were fighting for their personal freedom or the freedom of their country was very uncomfortable. Plus, the fact that no one ever combats the king and he continued to remain in power in the end, with no consequences for the harm he has done (including to the main characters!!) is insane to me. A happily ever after ending with everyone still working for the king who took away their people's/country's independence? That just does not make sense to me. Due to that, I can't bring myself to give this anything higher than a two star rating.

I'm just disappointed with the experience I had reading this. I have heard so many rave reviews about this author's work and Saft's prose is very gorgeous in its own right, but there were faults that I just couldn't look past and made me really uncomfortable.


Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an honest e-arc in exchange for an honest review.