First and foremost, this cover is STUNNING. And it perfectly matches the magical, eerie, intense vibes of the story. Worldbuilding really was the heart of this book and it was so well done and richly layered. It took some time to sink into the world but once I did I was all in. I’ve read and loved Saft’s previous books and this book had her characteristically stunning writing that was so incredibly atmospheric — it really felt like being inside a dark fairytale.

3.5⭐️

First i want to give a thank you to net galley for giving me this arc!

This book was so fun! The characters were so enjoyable i was honestly concerned liked why don’t i HATE any of them🤣? I find that mc’s frequently irritates me, but i lovedddd Lorelie. I also loved the slow burn, some tension, and sapphic romance that was brought into the eerie and gothic setting. It set a great mood and atmosphere for the book! my only problem is that occasionally things kind of got off course—maybe the plot wasn't properly laid out?

There is a lot happening in the book the murder mystery, the journey to find the ursping but also dealing with creatures, curses, etc along the way. I was very interested in it but i think it wasn’t organized/ plotted properly. At times i forgot there was even a murder mystery and other times i forgot they were even on a journey to find the ursping because we were too busy focused on one thing or the other. All together i do think it was interesting and fun to read!!

This would be a good fit for someone who loves a dark setting with a little bit of magic, murder and basically EVERYTHING😭!


some things i didn’t like ⬇️
*MINOR SPOILERS IF YOU CONTINUE READING*

The fact that when they found the ursping the first thing they did was have sex and then fall asleep… like be so fr you set yourself up doing stupid stuff😭

also i hated that they had to get off the ship i think if the setting for the book was the ship the whole time at least until they made it to the ursping would’ve been way more interesting and darker. It would hold the plot in place !! They’d be on the ship people would be dying as they’re on their way to find the ursping it would’ve set things in place! Maybe the killer would be revealed when they got off the boat and found the ursping? Idk im just a writer just jotting down thoughts😭

I loved the premise of this book! I thought that the ideas were very fleshed out, the language was fantastic, and was very moody. I will definitely be reading more from this author. The only critique I would add is that there was a lot of information in the beginning, which was a little hard to keep up with. Otherwise, this was a great read.

⭐️ 4 stars-

I love Allison Saft so so much, so it hurts to say that this book was a little bit of a miss for me. It was not bad by any means, but I just don’t think it was the book for me. Right book wrong time, maybe? Overall, I thought the premise/concept was really interesting and I loved the atmosphere a lot, but the execution and the characters fell a little bit flat for me, which ended up making it feel pretty slow and taking a while for me to get through.

A Dark and Drowning Tide follows Lorelei, a folklorist (a person who studied folklore/folktales which is SO COOL), who embarks on an expedition with a gang of people from her college (I think?) to search for a magic river. That is, until *someone* gets murdered and then it becomes a whodunit as well as a quest narrative. As you might have gathered from the “I think?”, the world building of this book confused me a bit. I don’t know what exactly it was…just that I was quite perplexed over the history between the characters, the history between the countries, and all of that.

This premise is so interesting and sets up for a wonderful found family story…or so I THOUGHT! There is no finding family in this story—you have been warned! For some reason I was fully expecting it to head in that direction (gang of people who borderline dislike each other have to unite over a shared goal and bond…yeah it’s not that at all) and was a little sad to see my hopes dashed, but maybe that was my own fault.

Here’s the issue—the character relations in this book perplexed me a bit. I kept getting the country names mixed up (I really hope the printed version has a map), and therefore kept getting each character’s pasts and motivations mixed up as well. I had a hard time understanding Lorelei’s character and had a hard time understanding the rest of the characters by default. I think this book would have benefitted from Sylvia’s perspective…less gloom and doom, maybe?

I could get more specific about the characters, but part of me feels guilty doing so because I think that I just didn’t *get it* and I think it was mostly a me problem. However, I will say that the plot/journey was verrrry meandering in the first half and felt quite directionless. The ending pulled together more though, and I enjoyed the last half significantly more than the first. The vibes/magic system/worldbuilding were all super interesting and unique as well and I loved it for that.

Because this is an Allison Saft book, of course there were quotes that made me kind of want to die but in a good way. See below:

“It occurred to her that a good person would not feel so exhilarated at holding a lover’s very life in their hands.”

“The thorns around her heart had withered sometime in those bright days she thought Sylvia was really hers. They’d been replaced now by a horrid, intractable weed. Hope.”

Honestly, try this book out if folklore-driven journeys and snowy mountain rivers appeal to you. It’s nowhere near badly written, but just not for me. 🌊🧜🏼‍♀️🏔️🧌

First of all, I'm very grateful to have received an early ARC of this book for reviewing purposes. That cover is distractingly beautiful and I'd enjoyed Saft's other works before; I was hoping to love this one.

At 50%, this book does not know what it wants to be. Is it dark academia? Murder mystery? Folklore fantasy? Social commentary? Romance? The journey is the enemies we made along the way? There're certainly sizeable sprinkles of everything throughout, and it's a commendable juggle on the narrative's part, but nothing seems to stick and the pot is melting.

Whenever the plot meanders, which it does a lot, I kept pushing myself through, thinking that I would have grown to love everything by the end, even the long-winded descriptions and the cumbersome fables. It doesn’t help that our narrator, Lorelei, is incredibly closed off and seems to hold a personal vendetta against everyone, whether her reasoning for it is justified or not. Despite their close proximity to another in most of the book, the rest of the cast appeared to me as shadowy impression of people, instead of people themselves. It was so difficult for me to get invested in them, especially when there’s not much to work with besides Lorelei’s hatred (or occasional sympathy turned snide remarks). At 50%, the romance is a series of question marks and lingering glances. I do not know why they are interested in one another.

Perhaps I'd come into this book with the wrong expectations, it was clearly not for me. I was told that the ending would not by satisfying as I’d hoped it would be and so I decided to stop reading early.

A Dark and Drowning Tide still has all the ingredients for a sumptuous read and a beautiful cover to back it up, I’m certain that it will find its readers — if it hasn’t already.

Sapphic AND Academic Rivals to lovers? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Allison Saft does it AGAIN. This book was lyrical and magical and you cannot help to root for these too!

My biggest criticism is actually the cover... not my fave...

Caught between ambition and dreams, this story delicately flows into something magical and secret. A power as strange as it is magnificent, that only those who are worthy will be able to carry its immensity. The problem with power is greed. The desire to contain it and become part of it, the selfishness and death that lead to unleashing lies and rivalries in a kingdom about to explode into chaos. Consequently, a group of scholars in magic and folklore will be taken to the depths of the world to find a source of power that will end an imminent revolution. However, death will leave them adrift, drowning in suspicions and new discoveries.

A Dark & Drowning Tide has an exquisite plot. Flooded with magical stories, myths and legends that become reality, transporting the reader with ease. Allison Saft never fails to present excellent characters, with opposing dynamics and personalities that then converge into an inspiring union. Through her prose, she manages to capture the richest of folklore and history, along with an incredible introduction to a cultured and mysterious world. This book is for those looking for an adventure, hungry for knowledge and willing to fight for what they want.

I think what stands out most about this book are the characters. Lorelei & Sylvia, their dynamic and relationship, is simply fascinating to read. Both opposite poles, but so close. They cling to knowledge and their ambitions, to their fears and beliefs. There is beauty in them, in how their relationship unleashes something inspiring and pure to witness. I must admit that I became obsessed with them. If you enjoyed A Darker Shade of Magic and Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, feel free to read this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book really has it all! Fantasy, romance, mystery, politics, rivals-to-lovers, dark academia… there is a lot going on in this story and I enjoyed every second of it. Usually whenever a book spans several different genres like this the quality of the story suffers, but not in this case.

The writing in this story is beautiful. The author does a fantastic job of creating an atmosphere that is at once dark and captivating. I was kept interested from the very beginning with the different folklore and fairy tales happening throughout the book.

I enjoyed the characters quite a bit. I’ve always loved enemies/rivals to lovers so that was good for me from the start. Usually I’m not the fondest of the whole “grumpy/sunshine” trope, but it was done extremely well in this case. The tension, the banter… everything was done super well and kept me interested in the relationship throughout the story.

While I wasn’t completely satisfied by the ending, I think that’s honestly more of a me problem because I tend to like things wrapped up neatly, and I was definitely left with a few questions at the end. But again, I don’t think that’s a flaw with the book itself.

Overall I greatly enjoyed this book and will most definitely recommend it to others. 4.5/5 stars rounded up.

I thought this was such a smart jump into adult fiction for Allison Saft. It felt so much like her YA works but in a decidedly adult context. It definitely leaned more new adult - which to me feels like the natural transition from YA to adult fiction. The characters were fun and the concept was well thought out. This was a sapphic gothic mystery that I couldn't put down. I can't wait to recommend this to friends when it comes out and to see what the author comes out with next.

Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
A Dark and Drowning Tide follows two academic rivals, Lorelei and Sylvia, on an expedition to find a magical spring. Lorelei is a folklorist who is struggling to fit into a society that will not accept her. When she is made co-leader of the expedition, she knows success will give her freedom. But when the professor is murdered shortly into their journey, the only person Lorelei can trust is her enemy Sylvia. The murderer is among them and trying to derail the mission. Lorelei is desperate to solve the crime, find the spring, and win the king’s favor. Because if she fails the king will make her a scapegoat.

A Dark and Drowning Tide is an enchanting story that incorporates folklore, academia, and mystery. The author paints a rich, magical world with mystical creatures. The characters are intriguing, especially the students chosen to go on the expedition and their dynamic as ‘friends’. Lorelei and Sylvia both felt a bit one dimensional for me with relatively little growth throughout the book, however I loved the tension between them. One of my favorite parts of this book are the tales Lorelei tells us throughout the novel, as her character is a folklorist. The murder mystery is a great plot line for this story and I would have preferred it to have been dragged out to the end. Unfortunately, after we discovered who did it I lost interest but that’s just me. Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the advance reader copy!

5/5 Stars

Sapphic folklore horror with a sentient dar forest? Say less. I didn't expect the academy vibes to be so prominent either. I was impressed by Saft's writing style and tone throughout this book that could have easily fallen flat like so many other reads from last year with similar premises and aesthetics. We've got magic and self-discovery on the forefront of this books themes and story elements that I think even those who don't prefer a darker romantasy vibe may still enjoy!

Huge thank you to Edelweiss and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Allison Saft was already a must-buy author in the YA space, but this adult debut was fantastic! All the folklore richness of her previous works like A Far Wilder Magic, a further exploration of Jewish identity, so much atmosphere, and a delicious romance full of yearning. This takes a lot of trendy tropes (dark academia, rival romance, folklore) and elevates them, and I can't wait to see what she does in the adult space next.

RUN DON’T WALK!!! She’s done it again folks.

This book has solidified Allison Saft as an insta-buy author for me. If you are looking for the perfect sapphic story with an amazing blend of fantasy, folklore, dark academia, and romance that will make your heart ACHE, look no further.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Huge thank you to Del Rey Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Look no further to find the sapphic academic rivals to lovers fantasy of your dreams! I was a bit skeptical going into this, as often books with this premise fail to keep me entertained, but I loved this. The slow burn was slow burning and the fantasy world wasn’t super complicated nor was it over simplified. The mc was frustrating at times but it was understandable due to her upbringing and place among society. Will definitely be checking out other works from this author.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Allison Saft, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of A Dark and Drowning Tide in exchange for my honest review.

A Dark and Drowning Tide follows Lorelei Kaskel, a folklorist, who is desperately trying to secure a place for herself in society. Lorelei is picked to co-lead an expedition to find a magical spring. If she can succeed, Lorelei is sure that she will be able to secure her place and gain the access necessary to travel freely throughout the lands, However, shortly after the mission starts her professor is murdered and the only individual she knows for sure is innocent is her enemy Sylvia.

Throughout the entirety of this book, I was never able to predict what happened next. I thought I knew who the killer was and then suddenly a curveball would be thrown in my path. Not only that but what ends up happening is the last thing I would have guessed which is special. I feel like it is rare these days that authors can create this mystery and write it in a way where you are not able to suspect what is the truth until the very end. Even more, this is the kind of story that even though you know what happens, readers will want to go back and read it again in search of clues that they missed the first time around. My only issue with the entire book was the romance. The romance made sense to me in many ways, however, the line between enemy and lover crossed very suddenly. It felt as though they went from hating each other to madly in love in the span of a few chapters. I just wish I was able to see that line blur a bit slower and in a way that felt more natural.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to all readers. It is a great tale that will suck you in and keep you guessing until the very end.

If I thought A Fragile Enchantment was good, this one was SPECTACULAR! Like seriously, I ate this book up in no time flat.
I went into this book expecting a Dark Academia sapphic romance, and I came out of this experience knowing I’ll never get over this pairing. I had high expectations and this book did not disappoint.
The writing was phenomenal. I love her writing style so much, because even though she covers so many topics, they’re each written beautifully while being kept enticing to me, the reader.
The romance was amazing. The glances, the banter, the slow burn, the everything!!
The characters in this were so good, but not perfection. Only because I felt like you couldn’t connect to them all the way.
Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the pleasure of reading this novel. It’s gorgeous and atmospheric. You say sapphic and folklore and I’m immediately going to love something, and I really did. The fact that it was academic rivals to love only made it that much better. Can’t wait for release day to see what the final product looks like, and if it can turn my four stars into a five stars!

Every time I read an Allison Saft novel, I think I found a new favorite, and A Dark and Drowning Tide was no exception. Thank you Netgalley and Del Rey for this ARC! I loved this book. From the cover, to the title, to the story, I couldn't get enough. It's absolutely gorgeous. Allison Saft has such a talent for stand-alone fantasies. 10/10 would read again!!

I liked this book and thought it was a solid read. It is not one that I would readily recommend to people though, I wouldn't re-read this book, but I do not regret reading it.

I believe that the book moved a bit too slow for me. The pacing felt drawn out and then hurried. The book didn't draw me in until about 59% of the way through and then the main part of the novel happened in what felt like the last ten chapters.

I feel like I never really got to know the main character. Although the novel is told through her point of view, the only thing I really knew about her for a good third of the book was that she was grumpy. To a point where it was completely unreasonable and frustrating. Then when we learn more about her character she doesn't feel like she makes sense. I felt like I understood Sylvia's motivations as a character and knew more about her in general. In fact, I think I knew more about every other person on that expedition, save Adelheid who just kind of came out of nowhere. Sylvia describes the MC as self-sacrificing and never doing anything for herself, but from what I read she is the exact opposite. She is a coward that runs away from hard situations. She did not make a single choice, throughout the ENTIRE novel, that was in the best interest of anyone but herself.

I think that the relationship between Sylvia and Lorelei was rushed and not flushed out at all. The move from hate to tepid friendship to completely in love gave me whiplash. It felt forced. It felt like they both fell in love with illusions instead of the actual person. I think their relationship would be doomed in real life.

Thinking about the average consumer of this genre, the vocabulary used was unnecessarily complex and nuanced. I had to add about 20 new words to my vocabulary list during this read. Not a bad choice of diction but it made it harder to stick with the story when I kept running into words I wasn't familiar with. On top of stopping to pull out my dictionary every chapter, trying to keep all the wildeleute names and unfamiliar town names and such in order pulled me out of the story.

I liked that this is a standalone novel. I didn't feel like I knew Adelheid well enough to be truly surprised she was behind the plot, but it was a fun twist. I liked that everything got wrapped up in the end. Even if I don't think Sylvia and Lorelei will actually be happy. I liked their romance and wish I could have seen more of it than I did. I liked the banter they had once they actually started talking about their feelings.

I think this book has such an interesting theme and it felt more mystery than fantasy. I just think that it tried to do too many things that it ended up not being that great at any one thing.

This was quite the interesting book and I loved the dark academia setting. The whole book had a very eerie folklore style atmosphere which I really enjoyed. There was mystery and intrigue - would be a great book around Halloween to read. I think the romance lost me a little and I love enemies to lovers and also a sapphic romance but it just didn’t come together for me and I didn’t feel that much chemistry - I think we could have dove into the characters more and that would have helped a lot but I still overall enjoyed a lot of the book!