3.5
Unexpectedly suspenseful and heart-aching.

This was my first sapphic novel and I’m pleasantly surprised. It was a bit of a slow start but by the end of part one things really picked up and by the end of the book finished strong. There were points where I was overwhelmed with the lore drops just because there was so much info at once and I’m unfamiliar with these specific tales. The quick introduction of all the characters left me confused on who was who but as the story progressed I quickly established personalities with their names. I thought Saft did an excellent job building the mystery behind Zygler’s murder and I also enjoyed the development between the MC and love interest—I’m a sucker for rivals-to-lovers and similar tropes.

Overall would recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Allison Saft for the eARC and opportunity to review this book :)

I was once again blown away by Saft’s fabulous writing ❤️

I really loved Down Comes the Night and was anticipating amazing things with A Dark and Drowning Tide. It was like it was written for me: sapphic messes, dark academia, and high stakes fantasy. Boy, did it deliver.

The story follows Lorelei, a grumpy commoner folklorist, and Sylvia, a noble naturalist, who start out as academic rivals, but when forced to team up on an expedition gone wrong, they find more than they could ever imagine.

The worldbuilding is perfectly simple yet complex - its easy to follow but is not lacking in political intrigue and detail. The Kingdom of Brunnestaad, based loosely on Central Europe, has social tensions that create stakes and investment for the characters as they work to navigate their paths.

Additionally so, there’s Jewish representation, albeit under a different name, and social criticism on institutionalized anti-semitism in folklore. As someone who isn’t Jewish, it was a very visceral and educational reading experience the entire way through, and experiencing it through the eyes of the main character in particular made it even more poignant to me.

The fantasy aspects were beautifully mystical and a treasure to read through. From vengeful forest nymphs to sirens, there were many wonderful expositional monsters that added to the worldbuilding.

There are so many reasons to read this but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the love story. The sapphic romance is everything I wanted and more (inclusive of a beautifully and accurately written moment of gay panic), and this bisexual fantasy loving girl felt very seen and loved throughout this read.

5/5 - cannot say enough wonderful things about it!

A Dark and Drowning Tide was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I must say -- it did not disappoint! This is my first Allison Saft book (but definitely not my last) and I was immediately drawn in by her atmospheric prose. The opening scene with Lorelei witnessing rival Sylvia charming some deadly magical creatures (known as wildeluete in Saft's world) set the tone perfectly. Although the worldbuilding was dense with political rivals and the cast of characters was rather large -- we travel with 4 others, besides Lorelei, Sylvia, and their mentor -- I never felt lost. By the book's end, I felt that each of the side characters and their motivations were fully fleshed out, which is a rare and remarkable thing.

I also adored Lorelei in general. Her prickly, standoffish nature is such a refreshing thing to read in a main character; I loved having bright-eyed, mystical Sylvia as the love interest, rather than the other way around. Their romance also develops beautifully. It's a slow burn and they only get one mildly spicy scene, so romantasy folks go in knowing this, but it is so realistic and I love how each character complements the other one so well.

The actual plot of the murder mystery and quest for the mythical Ursprung--source of great power for their kingdom's leader, if he gets his hands on it--is also done very well. I thought there was a nice balance between all of the elements going on, and when I turned the last page, I felt like I could've lived in this world forever, but also that it was wrapped up so nicely, as befits a standalone.

My only critique is that it took a while for me to settle into the story. Pacing in the first 100 pages didn't really work for me, although I adored the rest of the book.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Allison Saft for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

"Back in the days when wishes still held power..."
Dark Academia, Gothic Fantasy. Sapphic Romance.
This was a fantastic read, that had everything in just the right amount. I loved the characters, I loved the magic system, I loved the usage of folklore. This was my first Allison Saft novel, but I doubt it will be the last. The atmosphere that she created was perfect. I thoroughly recommend this to anyone looking for a enemies to lovers fantasy with a hint of gothic/dark academia vibes. Thank you to Netgalley and Ballentine for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Bleeding with folklore, adorned in the atmosphere of a sentient forest, and hung with tension and yearning so thick you can feel it like a mist curling around your heart, "A Dark and Drowning Tide" is the Jewish, sapphic romantasy of my dreams.

This was the first Allison Saft book that I have read and really enjoyed my reading time with it. Once I saw Gothic and Fantasy as descriptors I immediately requested the ARC.

I enjoyed the characters a lot throughout this story. While it doesn’t provide epic fantasy level character development I felt like I knew and understood the characters enough to enjoy the rest of the story. To me, the characters affections towards one another made sense and I understood the slow burn of their storyline.

I also enjoyed the plot of adventure to find the body of water that could provide a lot of power to the king. And a group of his followers/friends looking for that in the good of the kingdom.


Plus, if you love a one bed/one tent troupe there is a moment in this book.

Aspects of the book that I didn’t enjoy was the touch to our reality. Lorelei is a Yeva, a group of persons prosecuted and abused in the world as being evil and snakes. As the story continues it leans towards showing that Lorelei is what our world would mark as Judaism. It just felt like a strange aspect to the story when in a fantasy world you could make up your own religions and ideas.

Another aspect I didn’t enjoy was the folklore of this world was stories taken from our world. Again touching on our reality when there’s so much opportunity to make up your own world-building aspects. Where I understand using known folklore to make stories in their own worlds I just expect enough of a difference to leave me interested in the folklore.

Other than those two things I rather enjoyed the story, but wished the ending was a little different. Something happened towards the end that didn’t feel necessary.

Overall I gave this book a 4 star! And thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Del Rey for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another hit for Allison Saft! I may be biased in the sense that I love all of her work, and this one was no different!

A Dark and Drowning tide follows two academic rivals, Lorelei and Sylvia, as the attempt to solve the murder of a beloved mentor. Filled with folklore and longing, this sapphic fantasy novel will absolutely delight readers. The banter, the tension, and the gorgeous, magical, dangerous setting will draw you in and make you never want to leave! So excited for this one! Thank you NetGalley for my ARC!

"Back in the days when wishes still held power..." I was overjoyed when I saw this ARC come through. Allison Saft is my favorite author, and her step from YA into Adult is just as magical and lush as her other works. A Dark and Drowning Tide is a beautiful sapphic fantasy novel, brimming with A+ yearning and sass from our lead, Lorelei. This book was [art murder mystery, part golden fleece, all tied up with a beautiful romance and heartbreaking folkloric talkes woven throughout. I'll be thinking of this one for a good, long while. Thank to to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book gave me Emily Wilde vibes because of the scholars who are searching for a mythical fairy location but add murder and back stabbing. Thoroughly enjoyed this

This was not for me. I don’t think I’m a fan of Saft’s writing, it just does not connect with me. I honestly feel very confused at times because so many big plot points and not explained. I felt like I was reading but not really retaining anything with this one. Again, I just did not really connect and feel anything towards this book or the characters. The world building had me lost from pretty early on and when I wasn’t able to follow throughout the book, I wasn’t engaged. This just wasn’t for me!

Imagine a dark and ominous world that’s filled with magic and magical creatures, rich in folklore, and has very human political and social conflicts and prejudices. A Dark and Drowning Tide follows a group of researchers on an expedition throughout this world to search for the Urspring, the source of magic. The book is part adventure story, part dark-fantasy, part murder mystery, and part slow-burn love story.
The first element that really stood out to me was the worldbuilding. There is so much packed into this little story. First and foremost is the magic, the folklore, and the wildeleute. All the depictions of magic/magical creatures in this book are vivid. This is also balanced out by the human social and political situation in the book. The story definitely focuses on certain groups of people and regions more than others, but the reader leaves with what feels like a complete understanding of this complex world. I think focusing on the human concerns makes this world feel real, despite being surrounded by fantastical ideas and creatures.
The second element that I want to address is the romance. This book simultaneously holds the romance back and throws it in your face. It’s almost funny because anyone paying attention knows very quickly that there is romantic tension between Lorelei and Sylvia, despite the fact that the book doesn’t acknowledge it until over halfway through the book. It is one of the driving forces of the story (and the reader’s interest in it) but also something that exists almost entirely in Lorelei’s annoyed internal monologue. I loved it.
In conclusion, I enjoyed this book very much, and I absolutely recommend it. I can see how it might be a little foreboding for people not interested in dark fantasy that definitely borders on horror in a few places. I happen to enjoy this genre, so perhaps I’m biased, but I think this book is worth reading, even if you’re a little hesitant.

I received an advanced copy for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft has swept me away to sea and I am afraid I will never read a grander, more romantic adventure. A twisted fantasy novel set in dark academia follows Lorelei, a folklorist, part of the socially ostracized group called Yeva, has managed to find herself on the team of specialists, who also happen to be childhood best friends, spearheaded by her mentor setting out to find the mystical source of all magic, the Ursprung. They are working for King Wilhelm who is tenuously holding onto power in the Kingdom of Brunnestaad. All those on the expedition have their futures in the hands of this man, bent on power in pursuit of eternal unity. However, when someone ends up dead within the first hours of the expedition, Lorelei must shed her hardened armor to form an alliance with her academic rival, Sylvia. She needs someone she can trust as they pursue both the murderer and the Ursprung. Can Lorelei and Sylvia put aside the vast canyon of their differences to accomplish both tasks and save both their lives? Will Lorelei be able to finally make peace with the ghosts of her past?

A Dark and Drowning Tide is a sapphic rivals-to-lovers, slow burn fantasy. While the romance is a huge part of the novel, it runs like an undercurrent that never overtakes the story, only bolsters it. Beautifully woven with some of the most stunning and romantic scenes I have ever read, this story was expertly paced. Every part of the story was allowed to breathe. I found myself eagerly awaiting picking it up to see what would happen next. Saft’s words were heartbreaking, romantic, and devastatingly poetic. I have never highlighted more in a book. From an intimate hairbrushing scene to an incredible, breathtaking ride upon mystical horses, Saft has us experiencing everything from Lorelei’s third person perspective in such a stunning way. The clear references to antisemitism are displayed through the experiences of the Yeva. They live in the Yevanverte, which are essentially ghettos, are seen as vipers & rats in society, and are sneered at when mixing within the Kingdom. From the beginning we understand that Lorelei is an outcast, unwelcome not only at the university, but in the kingdom altogether. Her only saving grace is her mentor Ingrid Ziegler who has made a name for herself and vouched for Lorelei’s excellence. Seeing things through the third person allows us to see that a lot of Lorelei’s assumptions about the people around her are as tenuous as the opinions others have about her, none more than her assumptions about Sylvia. Sylvia is utterly charming, beautiful, and smart. Lorelei seems to despise everything she is and everything she represents. Sylvia has spent her career on expeditions to explore and interact with the wildleute, or mythical creatures. Her interactions with the mystical creatures mirror, charmingly enough, Steve Irwin’s. She risks everything while attempting to appreciate each creature for its own beauty and what it has to offer the world. Endearingly, Sylvia extends this optimism to all in her life, often to her detriment. As Lorelei says, she has no self-preservation. This optimism and ability to see the beauty in the world is ultimately extended to Lorelei in some of the most incredibly tender ways. Because we only get Lorelei’s self-deprecating view of herself, it is stunning to see the way Sylvia reveals Lorelei’s true nature throughout the story. All romance is mild and anything explicit takes place off page. The book takes us through water, land, mountain, and island adventures. Ultimately leading us to the third act. Here we are gifted with the most visually stunning epic battles. Each scene was so utterly vivid that I could picture everything as if it were playing on a large screen. This book will surely be on my list of best books of 2024! If you're looking to enjoy a new world, mythical creatures, magic system, & adventure, this book is for you! A Dark and Drowning Tide will sweep you away from the very first page and leave you sodden on the shores of the ending, panting and satisfied.

A huge thank you to Allison Saft, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in an exchange for a review. All thoughts are my own

A Dark and Drowning Tide is an ethereal and richly imagined tale of loss, love, and finding oneself.

Lorelei Kaskel is a folklorist who has joined a expedition to find a mysterious river, and the purported source of all magic in the land. Along with her academic mentor and five others, she is a bit of an outsider, but has been appointed as the second in command of the mission. When her mentor is suddenly found murdered the first night of the expedition, Lorelei must take charge of the expedition while also trying to determine who is responsible for her mentor's death. The only person Lorelei is certain is not guilty is her academic rival, Sylvia, who she is also drawn to for reasons she doesn't fully comprehend or recognize. With her life on the line and the king's focus on the outcome of the expedition, Lorelei cannot fail at her task, and must work closely with Sylvia to ensure the success of the mission.

Sapphic romance, academic rivalries, a murder mystery, fantasy folklore, and Jewish influences galore! This book is packed with a lot, and it worked so well! There is a lot going on in this book, and Saft's beautiful writing draws it all together wonderfully. The worldbuilding is rich and well explained without being overly heavy or confusing. Worldbuilding is built into the narrative, and as a character driven novel, it is rich without being overwhelming. The characters are deep and flawed, and we see wonderful growth with Sylvia and Lorelei especially. I loved seeing their relationship develop over the course of the story. The pacing is excellent, there is a lot of action and excitement balanced with tender and quite moments of character development,

This story is also a bit of an allegory for Europe in the years leading up to WWII and the treatment of the Jewish people in the years leading up to the Holocaust. Lorelei is a member of the Yeva, which is a very Jewish influenced ethnic group of people who are persecuted by the majority of other groups and often seen as a scapegoat for all the kingdom's misfortunes. So this sentiment was echoed very much in this book and the parallels were clear to me, and the lessons learned about the dangers of racial and religious prejudice and hateful ideologies in the years following the Holocaust.

Overall, I really enjoyed this rich and romantic story. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for this electronic advanced copy. Al opinions are my own.

Every now and then, you read a book that makes you remember why you love reading so much. This was one of those books for me.

Filled with dark and enchanting whimsy, gorgeous prose, brilliant worldbuilding, lovable characters, and captivating storytelling, A Dark and Drowning Tide is the book you will never want to put down. I immediately fell in love with the dark folk tale atmosphere of this novel. The action never stops, from murder mysteries to slaying dragons.

If you want to be reminded why reading can be so much fun (or you just love a good sapphic romance) PICK THIS UP!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for access to an eARC. This is my honest review.

I tried to read this book as slowly as possible so it wouldn't end, but I still managed to finish it in two days. *sob* Going in, I was prepared to love it because it's a) dark academia, b) a mystery, and c) SAPPHIC - and it truly met my every expectation. The rivals-to-lovers romance is excellently done, and I liked how the romance draws you in with its angst and pining without superseding the main plot's quest and mystery. Allison Saft's prose is lyrical and haunting, and even as she explores the darkest parts of humanity, she brings such empathy and determined optimism to her writing.

I think this will be one of my top 10 favorite reads of the year. If you love fantasy, folklore, and rivals-to-lovers romance, this one is not to be missed!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine, for my free copy for review.

Prepare to be enchanted by the best of Allison Saft's books that I’ve read. The atmospheric vibe, the enthralling quest, and the captivating murder mystery are expertly woven into this delicious fantasy novel. The cast of characters is delightfully complex, keeping me suspicious of everyone's motivations. Lorelie, the main protagonist, is an underdog with a chip on her shoulder, and her journey of opening up to someone and accepting that she is worthy of love is an adventure I thoroughly enjoyed.

The world-building is lush, filled with rich folktales that unfold as the story progresses. The magical world teems with nixies and otherworldly creatures, creating a captivating environment where humans with magic seem to be on equal footing. Court intrigue, power plays, friendship, and betrayal add captivating layers to this tale.

I must confess, that the ending had me on the edge of my seat as I eagerly anticipated the conclusion of the novel. Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint with the happily ever after (HEA). It was a sweet ending that left me smiling.

Thank you net galley for providing an arc of the book. Once again, Allison Saft did not disappoint. Really strong characters and atmosphere. A strong 4 stars.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I am about all things gothic, folklore, magical and enemies to lovers. This book had different elements (political, mystery) but it read beautifully. I had never read anything from this author but will certainly begin to now.

where to even begin.

lorelei kaskel is simply a babysitter to three other lesbians, a himbo, and a psychopath. all the while, she’s trying to figure out who murdered her mentor.

the romance, the pining, the bickering… god this was everything my silly sapphic heart craves for in a book (and in real life. if u look like lorelei kaskel hmu)

thank you so much net galley for blessing me with this arc, and thank you so much allison saft for my newest obsession (i already have four copies of this on order btw)

p.s. allison saft please another sapphic romantasy... please... please...........

p.p.s pls come to barnes store 3308 i will handsell ur books and make u the best coffee. or tea. or whatever drink pleases u. i will go get u lunch. i will--let me stop.

Okay. I have read three of Saft's novels as ARCs, every time I see she has a new book being published I immediately run to try and get an advanced copy. I truly believe that everything she writes is solid gold. This is her first dive into New Adult Fantasy and thank god she wrote this book. I have my heart set on getting my hands on a UK copy as well because I need multiple copies.
The magic system was the first thing to really suck me into this world. Lorelei (our main FMC) is a folklorist. She is tasked with working on a magical expedition with her academic/professional nemesis, Sylvia. Everyone in this book was a young person striving and yearning for renown and success. Anyone that is a found of dark academia, rivals to lovers to enemies, and enchanting magic systems must preorder. Did I mention there's also a sentient forest? This book is truly incredible and I need all of my dark weirdos to read this & squeal when they see hidden parts of themselves in the characters Saft brings to life.