A Dark And Drowning Tide is a Jewish, sapphic romantasy rivals to lovers. This book was filled with dark academia vibes and sentient forests.
I wanted to love this book, I really did, but it fell a little flat. The main character Lorelai is so distrustful and hating of other characters that it felt hard to really root for anyone. All in all, the story ended up feeling a little boring.
One thing that was actually done really well was how Saft used the main characters heritage to discuss antisemitism that is still rampant, even in a fantasy setting. The scenes where we learned more about her backstory and family history were the best parts of the book.

Sapphic, Dark. Haunting. Beautiful. It was perfection. Allison Saft's prose is stunning and adds to the wistful and alluring atmosphere of this book.

I was excited for this but I think it was too fantastical for my taste. I think I was hoping for more dark academia like TSH.

I am typically all-in for dark academia, creepy folklore, epic quests, swoony love stories, murder mysteries, etc. And this book certainly has all of those elements. It held my attention, and I was fascinated by the magic system, but I felt untethered to the main character, whose bitter loneliness marked every interaction with the other characters. Still, there are scenes from this book that were thrilling and have stayed with me even months after reading it, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to spend time in this world.

I was initially drawn to this book by its stunning cover and the promise of a sapphic romance, but unfortunately, you can’t judge a book by its cover.

While the prose is undeniably beautiful and the premise had a lot of potential, the execution fell flat for me. The characters lacked chemistry, making it hard to invest in their relationship, and the plot felt sluggish, dragging more than it should have. It’s one of those stories with a great concept that just didn’t quite deliver.

This book is full of moody atmospheric tension. It is everything I wanted and more. A true rivals-to-lovers story where the plot and romance are both strong and could stand on their own. Any book by Allison Saft is turning into an immediate buy for me.

Loved the writing style and the dark and gothic vibes. The book was interesting and had a lot of potential, but I just didn’t land for me. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood or maybe I’ll try to read it again another day. However, I see this book as something that others will love.

i wanted to like this so much, but i think it's so odd that the romance was forbidden because of racism and colonialism, basically. maybe if the topic had been handled well i would've liked it more, but as it stands, i did not. on top of that, the beginning was so slow and clunky because of the info dumping,

I enjoyed the poetic writing but something about this story kept having me drift off while reading. The atmosphere and the vibes were there but there was just something that was missing. I think I just had a hard time connecting with the characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Daphne Press for providing me with an e-arc
3.5 stars

I sincerely apologize--I thought I had already reviewed A DARK AND DROWNING TIDE! I adored this book, its world, its romance, and will gladly read anything Allison Saft pens for the rest of my days.

The ending felt very rushed and weakened the story from my point of view. I understand the people saying this could have been a duology. The last chapter covers several months and several serious issues. Like we just glossed over a civil war? What?
Shockingly, the romance is what pulled my rating down. I loved the fantasy setting/ world-building and was enthralled in the plot/mystery. Lorelei was terribly unlikeable but also such a fantastic character. She sucks, but also I would defend her against her haters. Her longing and yearning was beautifully done but then I felt like it all resolved so fast. I love that Sylvia loved her for who she is, but I expected to get more character growth from her. I feel like she was the same at the end and didn't really grow. I also just don't buy that they could actually be together long term.
It's not a bad thing to want more from the story and the world because it's so well done, but it frustrating feeling like I was robbed of an actual ending.

Allison Saft is a master at characters writing. I have never felt more at home in a character than I have in their books, and ADADT is no exception. Lorelei and Sylvia are both incredible characters and, without getting into spoilers, are the perfect choices for the reader to follow through the narrative- the suspicious and reviled outcast & the entitled and favored “princess.”

I’ve loved everything written by Allison Saft so it should be no surprise that this is also 5 stars for me. Thank you to Netgalley & the Publisher for this ARC even though I’m super late.

I fear my rating of the book is partially due to user error... I initially went into this thinking this was going to be a queer, gothic, fantasy -- only 2 of the 3 thoughts I had about this book actually came true. I spent most of this book wondering when the gothic part was going to show up. My apologies.

I thought the world was a fun time to be in, and I really enjoyed reading more about the world and discovering it as the book progressed. The characters on their own had a lot of depth and had a lot of fun following them through this story. The writing was gorgeous and I could get lost in Allion Saft's writing all day long.

My biggest issue with the book was that it didn't feel as balanced of a story as I had hoped. I felt like there was a lot going on for a standalone: the murder mystery, the romance, the political aspects. It made it a little hard to follow. The romance also felt lackluster. I really couldn't see the chemistry.

Overall, I think if I had gone into it not thinking it was one thing when it really was another, I probably would have given it a higher rating.

An excellent recommendation for readers looking for more dark academia books. Saft definitely knew her demographic when she wrote this Sapphic fantasy; it hits all the major dark academia, rivals falling in love tropes that have been popularized via Booktok. That being said, she definitely puts her own spin on it and it's an enjoyable read.

I tried to read this twice but I could not get a good grasp on the world so I was very lost. Unfortunately not a book for me but the cover is stunning!

This was a fun mystery. It felt like a Sapphic gothic emily wilde almost. I enjoyed the atmosphere. The store droned on a bit 75% through. I think i lost track of who the actual culprit was. Cute HEA though.

A Dark and Drowning Tide was a hazy, dreamlike adventure with a striking voice and cast. The wold building done is phenomenal and enticed me, and the further into the story I got, the more I found myself enraptured by Sylvia and Lorelei’s ongoing dynamic. I did find myself struggling to maintain a hunger for it through its second act, but I am so, SO thankful I did. The way this story fleshes out and concludes was so fulfilling in a way I did not expect from it. Overall, I liked the book— the evocative line-level writing and its characters most of all— but found trouble at times with the pacing. Nonetheless, I look forward to seeing what Allison Saft has in store in the future!

Unfortunately, I couldn’t bring myself to finish this book because I just couldn’t connect with the characters or the world-building. Right from the start, the heavy info-dumping made it hard to get into the story, leaving me feeling lost. The characters also lacked depth, making it difficult to stay engaged. I gave it multiple chances, hoping it would eventually draw me in, but the storyline never managed to hold my interest enough to keep going. While this book might resonate with other readers, it simply wasn’t for me.

I think this might just be my favorite Allison Saft book so far! This was everything it was promised to be–dark, atmospheric, beautifully written, suspenseful, and full of slow-burn yearning and angst. THIS is how academic-rivals-to-lovers should be done! This is a fantasy romance where the plot and romance could both stand completely on their own.

A wonderful fantasy novel brimming with mystery, folklore, and a slow-burning sapphic romance. The novel follows Lorelei Kaskel, a sharp-witted folklorist, as she joins an expedition in search of a legendary spring—only for a murder to derail their journey. I really enjoy Saft’s style of writing; enchanting and haunting.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Del Rey for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.