I’m so excited to share my review for the amazing A Dark & Drowning Tide by Allison Saft today! 💖 Thank you so much to the lovely Black Crow PR & Daphne Press for my stunning proof copy!! 💖

I have been so excited to read this!! I adore Allison Saft’s writing style so much, it is so lyrical and enchanting! Everytime I read a book of hers, I cannot put it down!

Speaking of being enchanted, I fell in love with the worldbuilding in this story! I really enjoyed how we got snippets of it in Lorelei’s folklore tales as we go through the story. It’s such a clever way to get the reader to really feel part of the world and to also understand the characters and their motivations even better as they parallel really nicely!

And the academic rivalry between Lorelei & Sylvia?!? I LOVED IT 😍 The banter between them and how they each tried to annoy each other but they have to rely and trust each other to get through the voyage - like you don’t even want to know how much I was giggling and kicking my feet with these two!

Plus, the side characters were so dynamic and fun too! Ludwig needs an honorary mention here because he was so funny, I loved him 😂 All of the betrayals, secrets and alliances with this group were so exciting and made for such a twisty murder mystery! And then having the treasure hunt for the spring as well really heightens the pressure and suspense! The twists in this story were so insanely good that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this book! (And special shout out to my mum for listening to all of my yapping because I’ve noticed that when I love something I do not shut up about it 😂)

A Dark & Drowning Tide is a captivating and spellbinding read and has the perfect autumnal vibe! It was such a pleasure to read this!

3.5 ⭐

When Lorelei Kaskel, a fiery folklorist, joins an expedition to find a legendary spring with the power to save a crumbling kingdom, her hopes of proving herself are shattered by the murder of her beloved mentor. With suspicion falling on her eccentric team, the only person she’s sure is innocent is her academic rival, the captivating Sylvia von Wolff. As Lorelei reluctantly teams up with Sylvia to solve the crime and find the spring, they face magical dangers and uncover dark secrets about their mentor that force Lorelei to question if saving the kingdom—and her growing feelings for Sylvia—is worth the cost.

Murder mystery ✅
Sapphic romance ✅
Grumpy X sunshine ✅
Slow-burn academic rivals ✅
Fantasy expedition ✅
Jewish-inspired rep ✅
Tortured yearning ✅
One "tent" ✅

Saft's writing is both engaging and graceful, weaving a sense of magic and wonder without being over the top. Readers quickly connect with her well-developed characters, feeling deeply invested in their journeys.

By the end of the story, I found Lorelei to be a particularly compelling character. Her development throughout the book is both satisfying and authentic, showing her growth without losing the essence of who she is. Her struggles come across as genuine, and her motivations and actions are easy to understand, making her journey both relatable and engaging.

Although I enjoyed the story overall, I found myself occasionally bored and wishing for more romance. Given that the book is marketed as a romance, I expected a greater focus on romantic elements, which were disappointingly sparse.

!Thank you so much to NetGalley for sending me an ARC!

I was completely drawn into the mystery of this story, unable to crack the whodunnit ahead of the reveal but enjoying trying to puzzle it out anyway. Lorelai is an abrasive character, formed partly through the world she lives in, one that’s dangerous to her people and wholly unwelcoming. She has had to grow more resilient over time to hold her own amongst the people who loathe her for who she is and to succeed in completing her education. She’s brave and clever but rightfully doesn’t trust easily. She is therefore somewhat adrift on the ship when tragedy strikes, and stubbornly tries to move ahead alone with her plans. It’s safe to say she’s very different to Sylvia von Wolff, a gentle, beloved woman who views the world with endless fascination and curiosity. Their personalities clash and tempers flare, and emotions are running high - no matter how much Lorelai tries to suppress her own feelings.

Surrounded by vicious, unlikeable colleagues, and unknown danger, this book takes us on a ride both in the plot and the various destinations. We encounter various mythological creatures along the way, and I enjoyed learning more about them. There’s a lot of hostility in this story, so it’s lacking in any warmth, but it’s full of intrigue and keeps you guessing so it’s one I enjoyed and I’m sure others will too. It’s darker than A Fragile Enchantment, the other Allison Saft book I’ve read, or so I felt when reading it, but that definitely made it interesting!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Allison Saft’s A Dark and Drowning Tide masterfully blends intrigue, adventure, and complex character dynamics, set against a backdrop of a deeply magical yet politically charged world. At its heart, this novel is a slow-burn sapphic romance nestled within a murder mystery, all wrapped up in an expedition that seems doomed from the start.

The protagonist, Lorelei Kaskel, is a prickly, brilliant folklorist who is navigating not only the treacherous journey to a fabled spring but also the shadow of her murdered mentor. Her quick temper and sharp wit make her a refreshingly real character, but also one that is hard to fully embrace. Her academic rival, Sylvia von Wolff, is her foil—graceful, composed, and maddeningly beautiful, a figure whose internal world we can only glimpse from Lorelei’s perspective.

The murder mystery element is tense and engaging, with Lorelei’s fellow travelers, all eccentric nobles, acting as both potential allies and suspects. Each character brings a unique blend of motive and intrigue, and while the story keeps you on edge, the real magic lies in Lorelei and Sylvia’s evolving relationship.

The romantic tension between Lorelei and Sylvia, framed by their academic rivalry, is a slow-burning delight. Saft excels at writing longing and emotional distance, but the lack of Sylvia’s perspective feels like a missed opportunity. Given the layers of emotion implied through Lorelei’s observations, a dual point of view could have added more depth and nuance to their dynamic. Sylvia’s yearning, in particular, feels like it’s simmering just beneath the surface, but we never get to dive into it directly, which left me wanting more insight into her character.

The world-building is immersive, if a bit disorienting at first. Readers are thrust into a kingdom teetering on the edge of political collapse, where King Wilhelm has only recently united neighboring lands through war. The kingdom of Brunnestaad is rife with unrest, and the magical landscape, filled with shapeshifting beasts and dragons lurking in rivers, is both enchanting and deadly. While the magic is beautifully woven into the fabric of the story, the political stakes feel slightly underdeveloped. There’s a sense that Saft intentionally leaves some threads unresolved, which aligns with her theme of surviving in a broken world—but for readers invested in the broader geopolitical implications, it might feel like unfinished business.

Lorelei’s emotional growth is gradual and believable. Her cold exterior, shaped by her past and the harshness of the world she inhabits, softens in ways that feel earned rather than rushed. However, her aloofness can make it hard for readers to fully connect with her at times, especially in the early stages of the novel. The chemistry between her and Sylvia takes time to catch fire, and while I enjoyed their later interactions, the initial spark of attraction felt a bit flat compared to what you might expect from a rivals-to-lovers arc.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its willingness to embrace complexity. This isn’t a story where every problem is resolved neatly by the end. The world Lorelei and Sylvia inhabit is deeply flawed, and while there’s a sense of resolution in their personal journeys, the broader political and magical crises remain ambiguous. It’s a refreshing take on a fantasy novel, where survival and finding personal happiness in an imperfect world take precedence over grand, sweeping victories.

Overall, A Dark and Drowning Tide is a moody, atmospheric novel with rich character development and just the right amount of tension. While it doesn’t tie up every loose end or delve as deeply into its secondary characters and world-building as some readers might hope, it’s a compelling, thoughtful read for fans of slow-burn romance, fantasy adventure, and morally complex protagonists. And if Saft ever returns to this world, I’ll be eagerly awaiting more.

I started off really intrigued by A Dark and Drowning Tide as it sets up the quest to find a magical water source and introduces us to our characters. But while I enjoyed the vibes and world building, I didn't enjoy the story as much as I wanted to. Saying that, if you're in the mood for a magical murder mystery with fairytale vibes, politics, secrets, backstabbing and a lot of angst - you will probably enjoy this one! ⭐⭐⭐💫 (3.5 stars rounded up on Netgalley)

I somehow had forgotten from the description that it's not just a quest book but also a murder mystery. I was strangely disappointed by this fact - which I think was definitely a "me problem" I wasn't in the right mood for a murder mystery and so that plotline never really grabbed my attention.

I did really enjoy the fairytale/folklore vibes and the initial group dynamics, there's a bunch of history behind the characters and how they know each other which you learn as you go though the story. Our main character Lorelei is a relative newcomer to the group and so we learn more about them as she does.

I mostly liked how Lorelei's relationship with Sylvia, her main academic rival, developed. However for the rest of the story, I didn't enjoy the central conflict being not knowing who was trying to undermine the group. The story becomes focused on the rifts and secrets between the characters and I personally found that less engaging but I know some readers might really enjoy that aspect.

A Dark and Drowning Tide is out September 17th thanks to Netgalley and Daphne Press for the eARC.

This books involves a murder mystery mixed with some folklore. The book also includes a sapphic romance which was really lovely. The plots is an interesting concept and overall a good read.

Lorelei is a folklorist, on an expedition with six nobles in search of a fabled spring that promises power. Lorelei just wants to prove herself and become a naturalist, able to travel freely and explore. The expedition is off to a bad start when there's a murder on the ship, and with other dangers lurking, Lorelei must team up with her rival, Sylvia von Wolff to discover the truth.

I really enjoyed this one! Both Lorelei and Sylvia are surprisingly endearing protagonists, who have to navigate a murder mystery and sentient forests that come alive at night. It was absolutely delightful, filled with carefully crafted world-building and lush prose.

🍃 sapphic romance
🌱 rivals to lovers
🍃 slow burn
🌱 mystical fantasy adventure
🍃 murder mystery
🌱 unique magic system

Thank you to Daphne Press for an e-arc of A Dark and Drowning Tide, all opinions are my own.

Lorelei finds herself on an expedition with 6 nobles, and they are on a journey to find a Mythical spring as the King wants to harness its power now he has completed his fathers goals.

However, quests never go as planned and when Lorelei finds her mentor murdered shortly into the trip, she must find out which of the group is responsible.

One of said the group members is Sylvia, Loreleis rivial, and strangely, she is the only one that Lorelei doesn't see as a suspect. The two must work together to find the Spring, reveal the murderer... all without getting killed (or killing each other ) along the way.

Great wee adventure with perils a plenty, I loved the girls dynamic and how this developed as their travels got more and more high stakes. Beautiful world and I loved the folklore vibes around the magic and the creatures

Out 17 September, so still time to preorder!

Thanks to NetGalley, Daphne Press and Black Crow PR for the review copy... all opinions my own regardless

Actual rating: 3.5☆

Thank you do much to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC copy in exchange for an honest review

I'm harbouring mixed emotions towards this book.

I think the beginning of this tale was quite strong, Saft is very good at quickly making you feel connected to our main character and her challenges. I thought the atmosphere and setting were also a strong point of this story.

However, just like in 'A far wilder magic' this book is relatively more focused on character exploration and development - exactly my favourite type of storytelling - and I still had the same problem and that is that besides Lorelei and maybe Sylvia I still felt always left at arms length from all the other characters. Specifically in this scenario where we had an expedition with a small group of people I was expecting more exploration of dynamics and it just felt quite surface level. This proves a major let down because, then, I get a bit frustrated with the development of the story and tend to not be as engaged with it.

That being said I think Allison Saft did a really good job in showcasing how wavering and full of yearning the dynamic between Lorelei and Sylvia was.

In 'A Dark and Drowning Tide' we accompany folklorist Lorelei Kaskel as she sets off on an expedition with six eccentric nobles in search of a magic spring for the monarch. For Lorelei, who comes from a persecuted religious group, this is her opportunity to make something of herself and escape the restrictions placed on her community; but this is all put in jeopardy when her mentor and expedition leader is found murdered in her cabin.

I was pleasantly surprised to find myself in a mystery! And even more so to see how well Saft kept that mystery still so infused with magic and tangled up in their academic adventure - which I was worried might end up taking a back-seat.

I found our two MCs loveable, and bought into the way their relationship grew and changed. Particularly, I appreciated the way our MCs subvert their character stereotypes.

SOOO I'm excited for more of you to read it when it comes out on the 17th!

Thank you, NetGalley and Daphne Press, for giving me this E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5★

A Dark and Drowning Tide is a book about our protagonist Lorelai, who became a folklorist and has to go on an expedition with her academic rival Sylvia von Wolff. She was chosen by her beloved teacher, Ziegler, to go on this expedition to find a natural spring, which supposedly gives great power to those who find it. Lorelai chooses to go because she wants to be free and she wants to see the world, this is only achievable for people like her by becoming a naturalist or someone with a higher status. However, her plans get more complicated when someone murders Ziegler. To make things worse, the only person she is sure didn't do it is Sylvia and so she becomes the only person she can trust.

I really enjoyed this story, it was quite fast-paced and very well written. As a lover of grey protagonists, I liked Lorelai, and I'm glad we got to see how much her character developed throughout the novel. The contrast between her and Sylvia was interesting, and I enjoyed their dynamic. I usually don't like reading about "older" protagonists, but here I didn't mind it one bit, I actually preferred it. All the side characters were well developed, and I had mixed feelings about all of them; I couldn't decide if I loved them or hated them.

The world was unique, and so was the magic system, I wish we would get more insight into it, though. Sometimes the author gave us too little explanations for certain things, which made me lose interest since I had no idea what they were saying.

Now for the main relationship, I ADORED THEM. I think the relationship between Lorelai and Sylvia was very nicely written and developed, I was smiling any time they interacted, they are just so cute together. Sometimes it did feel like they were a little bit too formal but I guess it makes sense since the whole world was written like it was in the "past".

I do hope the author will decide to write book 2, since I would buy it immediately. ANYONE WHO LOVES SAPPHIC FANTASY, BUY NOW!!!

I decided to read this book based on the cover design. I thought it may be my vibe. And oh, I was not disappointed.

First half is a bit slow but it was worth of going through. Great book!

I was looking for good dark academia book for a while and this one delivered.

Highly recommend read!

3.5 — oh wow. i will admit i did have a slow start with a dark and drowning tide but once i was past the 30% mark, i was invested. there is a lot to like — a murder mystery, political intrigue, a sound exploration of being 'othered', a dark academic setting and a trope dear to my heart - academic rivals.

short intro to the book: lorelei, our protagonist is a folklorist and is under the tutelage of ingrid ziegler. despite this, lorelei has her own aspirations to become a naturalist and finds the opportunity to prove herself in an upcoming expedition guided by her mentor. in this expedition, ziegler and five nobles are tasked to uncover the fabled ursprung - a natural spring which is rumoured to hold great power to those who find it. however, the expedition is jeopardised on the first night of the expedition when ziegler is found murdered in her study and suddenly everyone on the ship becomes a suspect. placed into a difficult position, lorelei steps forward into ziegler's role to continue the original objectives of the expedition whilst re-evaluating everything she knows about each person to uncover their true motives and well - their willingness to commit murder. with this in mind, lorelei teams up with her rival sylvia to navigate both the path to the ursprung and the murky motives of the other four nobles on the ship.

what worked for me
→ an insightful element woven into the story is the political unrest within the kingdom. this backdrop offers a glimpse into the motivations and inner workings of each character, particularly lorelei. as a young yevani woman who has faced prejudice due to her identity, lorelei has developed a tough exterior in order to protect herself. to voice out her grievances about the injustice she encounters, she frames her experiences through the folklore she studies and transcribes. i appreciated the use of lorelei's tales as way to cross-reference her own experiences as well as those of others she meets. i think it was an great way to connect lorelei to her work as a folklorist to the readers and deepen our understanding of her character.

→ i loved lorelei and slyvia together. the bickering. the push and pull. the pining. the yearning. they were a highlight for me during the read.

→ the writing is really beautiful in this book.

what didn’t work for me
→ as mentioned earlier, a dark and drowning tide does have a slow start. there is a lot of world-building to get adjusted to. i think once you get past this you'll be able to really get into the story.

→ unfortunately i wasn't really interested in any of the other characters aside from lorelei and slyvia. i do think the side characters were not greatly explored enough in the beginning of the book for me to note their importance. i had a hard time connecting with the others during the reading experience. although, the two characters i was actually interested in were excellent with sylvia being my favourite. both slyvia and lorelei as individual characters were designed with more care and emotional depth. together, they had an interesting dynamic that i was drawn to. in particular, i really enjoyed their juxtaposing characterisation.

→ the world-building was confusing at different points of the book. at times, i felt like there was a lot of information being given to inform the readers and during other times, there was not enough.

thank you to the author & netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a honest review!

This one was, meh. I midly enjoyed the first half of the book, and the premise of the book was amazing. But overall the writing definitely let it down. It was quite boring and non engaging, and too waffly. I was really looking forward to this so definitely disappointed!

The first thing I have to mention here and what really stood out to me in this book was the beautifully atmospheric writing style! Saft writes the most gorgeous, vivid descriptions and I absolutely loved the imagery throughout this book.
I struggled a bit with the structure of the story which felt quite disconnected especially in the first half or so, and unfortunately the side characters fell flat for me.
However, I liked the focus on folklore throughout and I also found Lorelei and Sylvia's characters very interesting. Overall if you are interested in books with gorgeous writing, dark academia and a focus on folklore I think you would enjoy this one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Daphne Press, and Allison Saft for this ARC.

I wasn’t sure I liked this book at first. The first 50% was a bit of a slog, a lot of themes and storylines making it somewhat confusing - I mainly kept going because the vibes were so good. But I admit, as soon as the action kicked in, I became wholeheartedly invested and from then on really enjoyed myself. I still think one or two of the plot points could have been cut away for clarity, but it is still a good book, with absolutely impeccable writing. Anyone looking for an intriguing romance will not be disappointed.

Thank you NetGalley and Daphne Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Gothic fantasy, academic rivals to lovers, sapphic, murder mystery, magic and folklore - what more could you want?

Lorelei Kaskel, a quick-witted folklorist, is venturing on an expedition with six nobles with the goal of finding a mythical spring of untold power. The King instructed them to find the spring so he can harness the power and secure his reign. Lorelei will do all she can to ensure the success of the mission so she can prove herself and secure her dream: become a naturalist and freely travel the lands.

The expedition gets off to a rather dark start, with the murder of Lorelei's mentor. The 5 remaining expeditioners, all except Sylvia von Wolff. Maddeningly beautiful Sylvia is Lorelei's long-standing academic rival, and the only one she knows to be innocent.

Left in charge of the journey, Lorelei must work with her rival, uncover the secrets of her mentor, and balance finding both the spring and the murderer before they strike again...

Overall, really liked this and I'm glad I read it. But I will say that my love for this book is pretty one-sided, with the romance really carrying the book for me personally. I loved the world, and really enjoyed the way folklore tales were used to support the narrative throughout - it was a really fun addition to the storytelling.

Lorelei and Sylvia have my whole heart I LOVE them. Academic rivals is one of my favourite romance dynamics...the competitiveness, the admiration, the tension. It was so well executed between them and every moment between them felt like it had been earned.

The slow burn and tension of the romance really carried for the book for me, with some of the murder mystery and overall plot falling a little short. I think the development of the 'villain(s)' was a little weak and I found the end a bit rushed and confusing.

Would definitely still recommend this even with the bits I wasn't completely enraptured with. A great choice for the autumn/winter season if you're looking for something atmospheric!

A Dark and Drowning Tide - 3.5

This is a beautifully curated eerie dark academia/murder mystery with Germanic folklore woven into the plot.

Plot: The premise is very intriguing - a group of young scholars set off on a dangerous expedition funded by the crown to find the original source of water magic. After a sudden death happens on board, the group quickly realises one of them is a killer who is trying to sabotage the expedition. The story is also enriched with folklore tales and creatures as well as a rivals-to-lovers sapphic plot line. While the writing was rich and vivid, the worldbuilding and the political intrigue could have been developed more, as it was sometimes hard to follow the information about all the lands they travelled to and mentioned throughout the book. Also, we do not get much of a background story on any other characters apart from the two main ones, which made the majority of the academic crew seem like one-sided characters whose motifs are unclear to us. It is also mentioned that some of these young scholars have already fought in a war for years and have battle scars, which was hard to imagine.

Characters: The main character, Lorelei, is smart, stubborn and, at times, insufferable. Her love interest, Sylvia, is by far my favourite character of them all - she is a free-spirited, enchanting wild creature who can communicate with wildeleute (mythical creatures). Each one of the groups has a specific task and scholarly niche in which they specialise. Hence, I wish we saw more of them in the midst of their work during the expedition. Another character that I absolutely loved was the Alp, a mythical creature, and I wish we saw more of him. I imagined them all having a little Kaffeeklatsch at the end of the book but we did not get that.

Themes: there are themes of ethnic oppression, death, and spirits. The main character is part of the ethnic minority, which has been oppressed and scapegoated for ages. There are also lots of clear references to the real-life history of Germany.

Overall, I thought the love story was well-written, it fit into the narrative and was very much on theme with the dark academia. They are academic rivals who despise each other whilst secretly being obsessed with each other. They are never really true enemies but they do go through a lot of betrayal and bickering. I absolutely loved all the mythical creatures and craved to see more interactions with them. Would almost want some of them to become one of the main characters. We learn bits and pieces about each wildeleute but considering they are such unpredictable and intricate creatures, it would’ve been cool to study them a bit more during the book.

I am in love with Allison writing style, and I have added her other books to my TBR. I loved how Allison put her own twist into modern fairy tales as this book deep dives into the heart of folktales and their origin.

A Dark and Drowning Tide is a beautifully atmospheric fantasy romance. This book was exquisite and powerful. Allison has managed to stuff so much into the 384 pages. This book is a sapphic dark academia story that’s jammed with folklore, the enemies to lover’s trope, with an intriguing mystery plot, oh and I’m not quite done as we’re also go on an adventure. I mean I might be greedy but what’s not to love this book had everything I could possibly want in a fantasy book.

Reading about Lorelei and Sylvia was such an adventure, and I loved joining them on the journey. Lorelai is unemotional and sadly accustomed to racism. While Sylvia is beloved by all = and she views the world through rose tinted glasses.

Lorelai and Sylvia are obsessed with each other but are unable to trust each other enough to be vulnerable. It was cute watching them be so hopelessly in love and yet constantly deny it. I really enjoyed how in the book the enemies to lover’s plot was enhanced by only having a single POV from Lorelei. It was a slow burn enemy to lovers but it was perfectly paced for Lorelai and Sylvia story. They both also had good character development.

This is the perfect book for the changing season.

“I hope you understand that I will make every day of your life more difficult than the last, more complicated than it otherwise would be.” - “I welcome it.” 😭🖤

I genuinely loved this story & the subtle romance so much 🥹 it’s uniquely written - we have gothic folklore vibes blended into a murder mystery & the only crime this book has committed is not giving me more romance??? Not very demure, not very cutesy of you @allisonhsaft 👀

🖤 Rivals to lovers (sapphic romance & banter!!)
🖤 Dark Academia
🖤 Murder Mystery
🖤 Folklore/Fantasy vibes ✨