5/5 stars
Recommended if you like: dark academia, light fantasy, Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia, rivals to lovers

This review has been posted to Goodreads as of 11/9 and will be posted to my book review blog 11/14 and to Instagram on 11/15.

I really liked the vibe of this book, especially once the characters are all introduced. It definitely gave me the feel of setting up a murder mystery game/party, which I enjoyed. We know that someone is a murderer, and so we're side-eyeing everyone except our narrator, Lorelei, from the get-go. Later on, the book takes on Emily Wilde vibes, which I also love and I enjoy the rather obsessive nature of the various expedition members.

The setting for this book is a fantasized Germany (or perhaps Austria, but since the language is German and the history is vaguely German, I'm going with that) shortly after unification. The characters are in the capital city for the first handful of chapters, and you definitely get that cobblestone-city feel while there. After the first couple of chapters, the characters are on the expedition and are in a variety of places and I enjoyed getting to see the different elements of culture.

In terms of culture, while all the characters are Brunnisch, the majority of them come from different ducal states, which previous to unification were their own countries (I think?), and so have their own cultural nuances that we get to see through the characters. Lorelei is from Brunnestaad's capital city, Ruhigberg, though she grew up, and still frequently visits, in the city's Yevanverte, or the quarter for Yevanis (i.e., fantasy Jews) and thus has a mix of Brunnisch and Yevani culture. Similarly, her mentor, Ziegler, was also Brunnisch but lived most of her life in Javenor before being called back to her birth country, and so she brings a blend of cultures to the table as well.

Lorelei is prickly but pragmatic, and she has something to prove. She keeps pretty much everyone at a distance and tries to use logic and reasoning to guide her through life. She does this in part because it makes the most sense and is easiest for her, but also in part because that means things are explainable, even when they feel as though they are not. I liked how focused Lorelei could be on her work and how that dedication also lends itself to a strong sense of loyalty toward the people she does decide to let in. On top of that, Lorelei also has somewhat of a chip on her shoulder, though admittedly it's founded in experience and reason.

Sylvia, on the other hand, is pretty much the exact opposite and is bright and bubbly and almost never unhappy, at least not for long. She is also wildly determined, but in a more spontaneous, empathetic way, and she seems to make friends with everyone, and everything, she meets. I can definitely see why Sylvia might be annoying, but I enjoyed the lightness she brought to the book and I think she balances out Lorelei's outlook and way of doing things well. Being both nobility and acceptably Brunnisch, Sylvia does have some naivete to her about how things work for other people, but it's also clear she's willing to learn and that she does care for the common folk.

Lorelei and Sylvia are rivals for most of the book, though their relationship does start trending toward being friendlier and more understanding. It's a situation where they take two steps forward and then Lorelei takes a step or two back. I think their dynamic works pretty well and when they're working in conjunction with one another, they're very adept at reaching their goals. I've heard Daphne Press picked this book up for UK publication in a two-book deal, so I'm wondering if that means we'll get a sequel, which, if so, I really want to see Sylvia and Lorelei on a new expedition now that they're both on the same page (mostly).

As mentioned, I liked the murder mystery vibe and trying to figure out who did it. Lorelei tries to keep her investigation on the down low, so there is a weird gap where she immediately tries to figure it out, then gets side-tracked with expedition stuff, and then finally goes back to the murder. At the beginning I had a suspicion on who it was, then revised my guess to someone else, then had to revise it again about 50-60% of the way through, and I have to say I was surprised at who it turned out to be. I will say though that I'm not sure we ever get a satisfactory answer to who got the alpdrücke involved.

Overall I enjoyed this story and think it's a bit like a dark academia, sapphic Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia. I definitely recommend it if you're looking for a blend of light fantasy adventure and a mystery.

A Dark and Drowning Tide is a gripping adult fantasy debut for Allison Saft, filled with the longing and romantic tension that her books are known for as well as a murder mystery that will keep readers glued to the page.

A Dark and Drowning Tide has all of the elements that you'd want in a grumpy x sunshine, rivals to lovers story, but it feels fresh because it's told from the perspective of a character who is written, at least on the surface, like the antagonist.

Lorelai is an underdog and an outsider, a Jewish-coded character who is distrusted and reviled by her expedition partners because of her heritage. Deciding that she'd rather be hated for who she is than what she is, she's sharpened herself into a blade. She is cutting and unkind, and she does not allow anyone to get close to her. She uses her height and her personality to intimidate and control those around her as much as she is able, and she struggles to hide her bitterness and her deep desire to belong and to be safe.

Sylvia is the effusive, vibrant, silver-haired war hero and princess that you'd expect to be the protagonist of this story. She's charming and joyful, adventurous and trusting, and she cares deeply and openly for the members of their expedition crew. Lorelai cannot help but be drawn to her, even though Sylvia's boldness and cheerfulness irritate Lorelai to no end.

I enjoyed the cast of characters that Saft created for this novel, the magic system she worked into the world, and the twists and turns that the crew took on their search for the fabled Ursprung. This book will delight fans of Saft's YA writing as well as lovers of sapphic romance and fantasy books with a mystery plotline.

A quest to find the ultimate magic elixir.
Five noble childhood friends and a girl who wants independence are set on the task. But nothing goes right from the beginning. The Leader of the expedition is murdered.

Magic, political discord, and discord among a collection of cultures conquered comes out. A literary sensation with vivid imaginary and witty dialogue.

I enjoyed this so much!

Reviewed on 11/8/2023

Special Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me a chance to review this!

To start off this review, I want to say that for an adult book, A Dark and Drowning Tide isn’t really read as adult. For the first 10 pages, I truly thought that this story was for Young Adults. It wasn’t until it was mentioned that one of the characters was 25 years old did I even get a hint that these characters were older than most protagonists, and even then, they didn’t speak as if they were much older than 17. I think that’s just one of the lingering marks of a YA-turned-Adult author in that no matter how hard they try to write adults; their characters will forever read like children. And indeed, Saft is one of those authors.

But where Saft fails in nailing the emotional maturity of adults, Saft doesn’t pull punches when it comes to incorporating her heritage into her books. A lot of it feels well throughout and researched, and it really adds to the layer of magic to her books. Both A Far Wilder Magic and A Dark and Drowning Tide both deal with protagonists navigating their Jewish-inspired religions, as well as the mystical elements that creep into their lives and Saft handles it beautifully.

However, whereas Far Wilder Magic takes place in a more historical-magical-realism world where the fantasy elements took second place to romance and personal drama, Dark and Drowning Tide is the opposite. This book decides to put the fantasy—dragons, golems, fairy tales, etc.—center stage as our characters search for this worlds equivalent of the fountain of youth, and it’s these added elements that bring almost every character to head when it comes to the main plot of the story. Whether it be Lorelei’s dream of being a naturalist, to the mythical folktales and fairy tales that permeate the character’s pasts. All clash against a very heavily gothic inspired atmosphere that harkens back to the gothic atmosphere of Frankenstein and Dracula.

For this book, Saft chooses her adult debut to showcase her first foray into sapphic romance. By far this book has the best romance out of Saft’s four published couples so far. Loralei and Sylvia clash in a wildly fun yet heated rivals to lover’s romance that made every scene with them entertaining to read. As for lorelei herself, she’s one of Saft’s best protagonists by far, with such a sharp wit and attitude that felt righteous yet not annoying to read like so many other angry protagonists.

However, as much as I can praise Saft for most things, I think her biggest shortcoming when it comes to this is the world itself. A lot of it is mostly window dressing as it, much like her other books, doesn’t really feel like a character in and of itself. For gothic settings, the world needs to match the mysterious tone that the author wishes to invoke. It almost felt as if you could have replaced the mythic countries with the real ones like Germany or Austria and nothing much would have changed.

In the end, I think this is a good start into Safts adult publishing endeavors. It read super fast and it was ultimately a good gothic fairy tale tale that it'll scratch the itch most people will have come next spooky season.

3.75 stars

Ahhhhh!!! I'm SO EXCITED— thank you so, so much to the publisher for granting me an eARC for this book off my Wishlist! This is one of my most highly anticipated reads for 2024, so I can't wait to immediately dive in (+ do you *see* this cover?? Absolutely GORGEOUS). Thank you again!

it's a bit disappointing to say that this is my least favorite of saft's, but i think it's just because fantasy isn't my normal genre and i need the characters i'm reading about to feel layered towards the beginning for me to feel invested in the plot. i will say if you're more of a fantasy (or mystery) reader, you will probably love this one as the storyline is rooted in something tangible (politics and messy relationships). the romance is sweet though albeit underdeveloped in the current timeline.

Allison Saft is rapidly becoming one of my auto-buy authors. I really enjoy the political and cultural commentary she infuses into each of her novels, and I think all of the worlds she creates are just spectacular. As her first adult novel, this book has a ton of crossover appeal for YA, especially for fans of her YA novels or other YA books like The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones. I really liked our two main characters, Lorelei and Sylvia, and I think that one of the best things about Saft's books is that the dynamics between characters are just as intriguing as the worldbuilding. The quest element of the book is something that I've read in tons of books, but Saft always manages to put her own unique spin on classic tropes.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc! Incredibly romantic, love that it was narrated from the point of view of the dark and mysterious character that usually plays the part of the romantic interest. So interesting, loved the commentary on language. I understood the characters and world they live in just from the first chapter.

This is a gorgeously-written, immersive Gothic novel, full of angry sapphics and neo-Victorian magical academics. It's fairly political, so do know that going in, but if you dig Victorian-style academia-centered fantasy, this will very much be your bag.

5/5

A Dark and Drowning Tide is an elegantly fashioned fantasy novel that delves deep into the heart of folktales and their origin, as two women in academia fight for their place in the world and what they mean to one another. This her adult debut, Allison Saft serves up a fantasy adventure with a slice of academic rivalry that is both endearing and ardently romantic. As if ensorcelled by a faerie spell, Saft draws you in and hits the mark with her mesmerizing prose and snippy back and forth between heated rivals. Lorelei and Sylvia were idiots to lovers first and academic rivals second and I love them all the more for it. Wonderfully layered like what lies beneath some hidden well of power, Saft’s true talent lies in her capacity to depict intense yearning, the flaws in believing you know your enemy, and the traumas endured but ultimately survived. A Dark and Drowning Tide will undoubtedly resonate with many, leaving behind a kernel of hope that will kindle and then spark into an inferno.

Full review to come at a later date!

Deeply riveting and mystifying. It's been a long time since a fantasy book has completely engulfed me and swept me away on a powerful current, much like the enigmatic waters of the black river Saft introduces in the first chapter of the book.

Outstanding plot - a very mystical and mysterious whodunnit. Exceptional, larger than life characters. The main couple were a glorious grump vs sunshine trope, and in my opinion, a wonderful new age twist on Hades and Persephone.

Very much loved this read. Thank you Ballantine and Netgalley for the ARC.

Wow, I thoroughly enjoyed this story!! The vibes were just immaculate and the writing was was so atmospheric! I initially requested this book because of the gorgeous cover but ended up loving the story just as much. I loved the characters in this as well. I do wish that this story was less murder mystery and more court politics though. I also hope there will be a sequel!! Perhaps about Lud or Heike!

A beautiful, deep, dark, gothic fantasy that left me completely mesmerized.I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the world building the immersive settings, and the sapphic romance. I recommend it to people looking for a strong romance that takes place in a larger fantasy world.