I enjoyed the adult fantasy novel A Dark and Drowning Tide.

The story takes place in a world where magic is linked to water and a group of scholars has been put together to try and find the location of a fabled spring that grants the worthy with unlimited power. The current young king of Brunnestaad believes that it would help him maintain control over the region which was once separate countries with a shared language but different cultures. The different characters on the mission all represent not only different areas of study like folklore and botany, but also the different regions excluding Lorelei, the main protagonist, who belongs to a much maligned religious group which is confined to a specific area of the city and is looked down on because they are believed to be naturally without magic. My only real disappointment with the story was that the novel felt like it could have been a third in a trilogy. Chapter 2 does a lot of character sketches and outlining of prior events and relationships that would make for interesting prequel stories.

Besides the fantasy elements, the novel also has the mystery of the one of the scholars murders early on in the journey, and also has a frustrating but sweet rivals to lovers Sapphic romance. If you enjoyed Emily Wilde’s Encyclopadia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett, than you will likely enjoy this novel as well. You can also check out Saft’s YA novels: A Fragile Enchantment, A Far Wilder Magic, and Down Comes the Night.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early! Unfortunately I got really sick and it put me behind schedule so I did miss pub day but better late than never lol.

I liked this a lot, I think Saft writes character dynamics really well and I love the use of myth and legend and folklore as a whole in stories. I've mentioned this in past reviews but I also really like how she weaves real world cultures and theologies into stories, along with the injustices that come along with them. It adds a extra layer of depth to the characters and their motivations and the ways they react to things that I appreciate.

Sylvia and Lorelai were lovely to spend time with and ugh I love a good romance between rivals. The competition. The hardheadedness. The tension. So good!!!

Two academic rivals, a murder mystery, and some sapphic romance, what else could you possibly want? Lorelei is a folklorist with q cuik temper who has finally got the job she wanted and is heading on an expedition with six eccentric nobles in search of a fabled spring. Along for the ride is her rival Sylvia, a talented, insufferable, and absolutely gorgeous woman who gets under Lorelei's skin like no one else. During the journey Lorelei's mentor is murdered and the only person Lorelei knows is innocent is Sylvia, together they'll have to find a way to work together in order to find out who in their expedition is the murderer, if they even manage to have one conversation without arguing. With so many secrets within the group and complicated feelings that grow between Lorelei and Sylvia, can they find out who the killer is before the entire trip is ruined and the kingdom becomes at risk? This was a great academic rivals/expedition murder mystery romance. Lorelei and Sylvia are true opposites attracts and made an interesting pair to read as their constant bickering and dynamic was really fun to read. I loved that while we read everything from Lorelei's perspective, Sylvia completely turning Lorelei's thoughts and perceptions upside down was great. I had a fun time reading this and would definitely recommend it for fans of murder mystery romances!

Release Date: September 17,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

A world of folklore and magic, Saft spins a dark and romantic story of an academic expedition shrouded in murder, mystery, danger, political intrigue, and romance.

After a few chapters, this book had me HOOKED. There was so much folklore and fairytales and wonder that the story had a dreamlike quality with a dark undercurrent that felt like at any moment it could become a nightmare.

Lorelei is cold, witty, intelligent, and pushed everyone away from her out of self preservation. She’s brusque but inside, she’s complicated and tortured by her own demons. And I loved her and her dynamic with Sylvia, who was the opposite in almost every way. Their relationship grew slowly and showed that they knew and accepted each other the way they are.

I just loved this book!

This was such a beautiful story. I enjoyed the expedition, murder mystery, rivals to lovers romance all wrapped into one. Lorelei's ability to relate almost any situation to folklore was perfect and added immensely to the world. The mutual pining was devastating in the best way.

I enjoyed the writing and the development of the characters. The setting felt real and well thought out.

Yet another amazing story by Allison Daft. She's very quickly become one of my favorite authors. I loved this darker fantasy with sprinkles of romance and intrigue. The perfect fall read!

I wanted to like this so badly! When I started it I literally thought it was going to be a 5 star read. I really enjoy how the way Allison writes… but I cannot get past 40%. The book just feels like it’s dragging at this point. I will try again at another time to finish it.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I really enjoyed it! I thought the magic and quest were interesting and different for fantasy novels, and the relationship that developed between the love interests was fun to read as well.

This was such a fun read and one that had me staying up a bit too late just so I could finish. I don’t think this was doing anything new but what it did do was done very well. I particularly enjoyed the layered experience of: reading about an investigation of folklores, an almost narratorial telling of folklore directly to the audience, and lastly, that the plot itself is a folklore, and a self-aware of that fact. This combination worked really well for me and outweighed the gripes I had with Lorelei’s character and how I failed to connect with her beyond her trauma.

This one suffered from a lack of balanced pacing. I liked the folklore elements - particularly the little stories that were place liberally in the beginning and then all but disappeared - but I would have loved more of the differences between the provinces (duchies? Annexed nations? See, not really sure what those were other than that each of the noble characters was from a different one), but instead we got kind of blindsided by certain distinctions of those territories only when they became relevant. Also, the magic was way too hand-wavey. Lorelei, despite having minimal training, was always able to use magic conveniently without suffering any major consequences.

Also not sure why this is classified as dark academia? The university is barely present and no one is actually actively conducting research at any point except for Adelheid and Ludwig. I wish their respective fields of study were more relevant to the actual meat of the story.

As for the rivals-to-lovers romance, I actually rather liked it. Lorelei is so predisposed to roll her eyes at and poke fun at Sylvia that their constant awareness of each other just works rather seamlessly. Though I think Sylvia as “battle hardened warrior maiden” needed a bit more reinforcement - particularly at the part where her shiny silver saber designed to ward off magical creatures is pitted against a steel blade (a matchup which is clearly defined early on in the story and does not go as telegraphed)

Another thing that I really appreciated was just how well Jewish history (specifically the oppression of Jewish faith/practices and the corralling of Jews into slums) was integrated into this fictional and magical society. I think it gave an otherwise “fanciful” story quite a solid touch of reality without being heavy handed.

I really enjoyed reading A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft. Saft’s writing is beautiful, magical, and enchanting. The writing style is captivating and addicting. A Dark and Drowning Tide is a beautiful dark folklore with a murder mystery. I really loved both of our main characters Lorelei and Sylvia and enjoyed their own POV. The sapphic slow burn romance was perfection. I enjoy reading anything dealing with academic rivals and leading to romance. Saft executed this area perfectly and lead me to want more from the story. Thank you Netgalley for providing digital advanced copy. I can’t wait to purchase a physical copy because this cover is absolutely stunning.

I unfortunately DNFed this book. I wasn’t sure if I should count that as a review, as I appreciate that chance to read this early. I however just couldn’t get into this story. I kept giving it time but everytime I picked this one up I was left bored.

Lorelai is a sharp-tongued, quick thinking, prickly folklorist, who is holding on to a lot of guilt from childhood and is (reasonably) quite jaded after facing years of discrimination/ridicule. Sylvia is a positive-thinking, find the joy in life, sort of person; a naturalist and a long-time academic rival of Lorelai’s. They’re brought together as partners when their mentor, Ziegler, invites them both on an expedition to search for a mythic spring whose waters can grant untold power to a worthy person, by direction of the King of Brunnestadd (who is trying to stabilize his kingdom). With competing goals and personal agendas, the group sets out…and is immediately thrown into further chaos when Ziegler is murdered. In order to keep things together for the good of the mission, finding the spring, and identifying the murderer, Lorelai and Sylvia grudgingly agree to work together. Facing opposition both from within (other members of the expedition) and without (myriad magical creatures and mystical landscapes), the two uncover the truth about a number of secrets, including their carefully guarded feelings for each other.

Ok, I loved almost everything about this book. And I am going to focus mostly on that for this review. But there is one sticky thing that just wasn’t quite right for me, so I want to say it, to be clear and fair about my feelings while reading, and then move past it and into the good stuff. The thing is… I know that Lorelai’s character is supposed to be proud and independent and prickly and impatient, as her end of the “opposites attract” and “grumpy-sunshine” spectrum that she represents. I get that all of that personality was developed as a defense/protective mechanism, and it became who she is in a way she couldn’t stop. I respect the authenticity in this, as how she’d probably actually be, after her life/experiences. I also understand that this novel is from Lorelai’s perspective, in her narrative voice and with her internal monologue, so all that came through extra strong, as compared to any other character’s POV or voice. All that to say: it’s very great, realistic character development. And yettttttttt. By about a third of the way into the book, it was all to an extreme that was frustrating and I was quite ready for walls to start coming down. I mean, I am here for the slow burn, romance-wise, but this lack of ability to soften to anyone, at all, for any reason, got a bit tiring to read. Like, Lorelai couldn’t get out of her own way to an extent that it was not only affecting relationships, but also her own work and goals. It tried my patience to an extreme that was both frustrating and a bit un-fun to read (hopefully that got tightened a bit before publication).

But fear not! Just when I was getting bogged down to the point that I thought I might be disappointed in the book as a whole, there was a definite shift! We got just the slightest of softenings, when Lorelai and Sylvia take on a small side-quest together. That focused time on the two together gave the reader a bit more of their relationship development, and some particular insight into Sylvia’s internal and background story, which helped balance things out. I still feel, overall, that Sylvia was too easy a counterpart character (like, she had some depth, but it seemed chosen to too easily complement Lorelai and fit the narrative needs, and I would have liked a bit more…fight? nuance? idk exactly), but it was enough to win my general buy-in. (Side note: I do wish I could have some of the pure wonder in the world around her that Sylvia has.)

And then…this slow burn really hit its stride and the straining towards each other finally broke free and, phew, it was worth the wait. When they finally decided to give in to the pull between them, it hit. And it delivered on this love-and-hate-are-two-sides-of-the-same-coin romance set-up. Like, OH that ending! It left me cheesing so hard. These polar opposites, truly incorrigible in their own ways, are finally able to just be soft for each other (and enjoy the parts of each other that they’d labeled as disagreement, but were more lowkey jealousy), exactly as they are. And I cannot.

As for the rest… The real highlight(s) of this reading experience came from the ambiance and tone. It was darkly mystical, with threads of lighter magicality woven throughout. All the creatures mentioned (the wildeleute) and the folktales told/referenced are all based in or echoes of IRL folklore and I always love when books do that. Giving the familiar a new spin is the perfect mix of nostalgia/familiar and new discovery that makes for such a comfortable reading experience. This was a fairly isolated narrative, in that it focused entirely on this expedition and the members of the group, so the greater world-building was limited a bit. On the other hand, the history and entwining of these characters, how it’s all slowly revealed as they search for the spring (and Lorelai and Sylvia work in the background to solve Ziegler’s murder as well) and their individual motivations are all revealed, was really well paced. I was mesmerized by the story and the development of the plot and characters, moving forward with compelling interest, though never what might be considered a fast pace (heads up, if you’re looking for something with more intensity). It has all the elements of great fantasy – a very cool magic system (water-based), competing loyalties and secret scheming and betrayals, supernatural creatures, an otherworldly vibe, a few action scenes (both magical and not), political machinations/maneuvering, a bit of mystery – but with a steady sort of delivery (though it never felt like it dragged).

I was really enchanted by this darkly whimsical, sapphic romantasy. It very much gets my recommendation. (If you’re looking for more guidance, read if you liked: An Education in Malice, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue).

***Thank you to Del Rey for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

I loved almost everything about A Dark and Drowning Tide. It had a great academic rivals-to-lovers romance paired with a magical adventure full of murder and political intrigue. The grumpy and sunshine pairing of the main romance had so much witty banter, and the two characters had such a great dynamic. I was hooked on their chemistry from the very first chapter.

The world-building in A Dark and Drowning Tide was really, really cool. I loved the inclusion of the folk tales and how they were incorporated into helping unravel the central mystery. The wide variety of magical creatures was so interesting. I really enjoyed learning about each of them. Despite the many fascinating aspects of the world, I do think this was one of the weaker elements of the story. I would have loved to see a larger focus on the academic endeavors of the team. The story and characters felt mostly academic in name only. I also wanted a bit more background on the kingdom itself. The political backdrop was very bare bones despite being an extremely important element of the story.

The writing in A Dark and Drowning Tide was beautiful. It set the tone of the story well. The descriptions were lush and completely transported me to all of the stunning locales that the characters explored. This was my first book by Saft, but it definitely won't be my last. Her writing just kept drawing me back to the book, even when I needed to be doing other things. I can't think of higher praise to give.

I liked the main character, Lorelai, in A Dark and Drowning Tide. She was prickly and didn't let people close, and I enjoyed watching her learn to open herself up to Sylvia. Lorelai had her reasons for keeping people at arm's length, though. She faced so many hardships to accomplish her dream of becoming the best folklorist. I liked that her character was used to shine a spotlight on how difficult it can be to pursue education when coming from a working-class background. She often felt like she didn't belong at home because no one shared her interest in research and academia while also being the outcast in her school/work because she didn't have the right pedigree. I related to that hard, as well as her obsession to work harder and be the best to compensate for her perceived shortcomings.

Overall, A Dark and Drowning Tide was an entertaining and magical adventure with writing that completely immersed me within its world. The mythical creatures and folktales were a highlight for me, as were the main character's struggles to belong and lead her team while carrying the potential fate of her people on her shoulders. It was all very compelling. Her romance with her academic rival was just the cherry on top of a great story. Therefore, I rate A Dark and Drowning Tide 4.25 out of 5 stars.

First thank you to NetGalley, Allison the author and the publisher for allowing me an eARC of this book!

WOW I loved it so much!! The fantasy in this book was so well written and enthralling. I could picture every mythical creature in my head with complete clarity. The enemies to lovers of our two FMC was just *chefs kiss* I couldn’t get enough. I was interested from beginning to end, and honestly wouldn’t mind a book two. 👀

This is THE sapphic romantasy. I don't make the rules, I just follow them.

Allison Saft delivers A Dark and Drowning Tide on a gilded platter than promises dark academia, rivals to lovers, and a tale dripping with folklore. She hits the nail on the head so well, I almost dare say she's setting a precedent within the genre. If you're looking for rivals who turn into reluctant allies who then turn into lovers, Allison Saft delivers that and then some. Her writing is beautiful, whimsical, but also sharp and bitter when it needs to be. She weaves a world that is so rich you want to spend years in it just learning and unearthing all of its secrets.

With a murder mystery tacked on, this book's fantasy adventure backdrop is upped tenfold. If you love fairytales, you will love the depth in which Saft goes into the history there. (Jewish rep, as well as fairytales hailing from Germany.) Overall, this book is beautiful, tender, and so so good.

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

Lorelei Kaskel, a sharp-tongued folklorist, must team up with her longtime academic rival, Sylvia von Wolff, to solve the murder of their beloved mentor while leading an expedition to find a fabled magical spring. The duo's quest for truth takes them deep into a dangerous and mystical world, with untold threats from shapeshifting beasts and forests that come alive at night. As Lorelei and Sylvia work together, they must resist their growing attraction and confront the secrets their mentor left behind.

Despite an intriguing premise and Saft's signature atmospheric style, A Dark and Drowning Tide ultimately failed to impress. Lorelei, our main character, is difficult to connect with, coming across as bitter and resentful toward everyone, including the love interest. The character development is sparse, especially around Lorelei’s Jewish-coded identity, which is hinted at but never fully explored, leaving readers to make assumptions without sufficient world-building.

The pacing of the novel is its biggest flaw. The constant use of folktales, meant to enrich the plot, often feels like a distraction, stalling the main storyline rather than advancing it. Even without these interruptions, the story meanders, failing to find its footing. The central romance, which should offer some reprieve from the protagonist’s grim outlook, instead feels more like a series of frustrating encounters, making it hard to invest in their relationship.

Overall, while A Dark and Drowning Tide has the ingredients of a captivating fantasy, its execution falls quite short, and the slow pacing and underdeveloped world-building made it a challenging read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

This book had me hook. line, and sinker. Pun intended. I fell in love with the world and characters throughout reading. It was amazing to not know what was around the next corner. I haven't read a book in a while that was able to hold my focus like this. I applaud Allison Saft and can't wait for more! Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this magnificent piece :)

"Back in the days when wishes still held power..."

this was my first read of the year AND first book by allison saft and it did not disappoint! a whimsical, dark, and atmospheric read w sapphic academic rivals to lovers, a murder mystery, political machinations, and magic.

“You're like something out of a nightmare.”
And you, Lorelei thought dispairingly, are resplendent.

brooding, sharp-tongued folklorist lorelei embarks on an expedition with her rival aboard, the bubbly, vivacious sylvia von wolff. when their mentor is murdered, lorelei must balance handling her precarious role navigating strange, mystical lands while trying to uncover the murderer.

“You saved me,” Sylvia said. “Again.”
“You still sound surprised.”

“You’re awful.”
“I’m aware.”

the banter between lorelei & sylvia is delightful and the romance builds well, but my focus was really on lorelei. thinly coded as jewish, she faces intense prejudice from the world around her and is constantly reminded of the danger in the very folktales she specializes in and loves. in a genre that has had many famous books that contain antisemitic tropes (goblins, witches, etc.), it’s refreshing as a jewish reader to see a jewish protagonist take the spotlight while dealing with these issues.

i felt quite connected to lorelei, who wields her wit as a weapon to protect herself, only amplified by the pressure she’s under. though there are numerous sunshine x grumpy stories, we rarely get the grumpy character as the sole POV. i loved lorelei and all her viciousness because i could see how she wore it as her armor.

“Don’t delude yourself. People like me don’t win the princess’s heart.”
“They’re just stories, Lorelei.” Sylvia’s voice frayed. “You must stop taking them so seriously.”
“You and I know very well that they’re not.”

i love saft’s writing. it’s a slower pace story, but i enjoy that; you’re really meant to sit and savor the tale and take in all its lush details.
this was the perfect book to start off what’s so far been a great year of reading!

"Maybe, just this once, she could be the hero of a story like this. Maybe, just maybe, there was a happily ever after waiting for her on the other side of this nightmare."

an honest arc review ♡

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jewish sapphic academia rivals to lovers with dragons?

i'm SAT.