Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Rating: 4.25/5
This was a wonderfully atmospheric book, with an unique concept. I particularly loved the interjections of folklore stories as they really illustrated Lorelei's interest in folklore and her level of knowledge. The main two characters were fantastic, but I wish the side characters were more fleshed out. Their motivations didn't feel as real or compelling as I didn't know much else about them. It took me a while to get into the story too, as the pacing was fairly slow, and so I wasn't truly interested until the 30% mark. Still, I think any readers of Allison Saft will adore this book too, as will those who are looking for something folklore inspired.

I fear that I may be in the minority here with this review. I really wanted to love this book and fully anticipated that I would based off of the description and marketing. However, I just felt nothing about this book. I was pretty bored through the beginning, but I kept going hoping things would get exciting, but unfortunately whenever something that was supposed to be big and impactful came along, I couldn't get myself to care. Not to mention that the beginning of the book felt like I jumped in at chapter 3 or 4. I feel like I missed a lot of background info. Is this based on folklore that I'm supposed to have read beforehand? Because that's how it felt. There was no explaining the magic system or worldbuilding. It wasn't until the end of the book that I even realized that everyone's magic is the same. I spent the whole book thinking that there were different groups of magic that people had, but that was actually not true at all. I must have just made that up in my head trying to fill in the gaps because the author didn't explain the magic system at all. I think that having that buildup of explanation would have helped me become more invested too, because for all intents and purposes this book should have been great, but it was just blah for me. The characters were fine, I didn't feel strongly one way or the other about them. I don't know, I wish I had more to say about this book and I especially wish I had more positive things to say about it, but it fell really flat for me. I'm pretty bummed about it actually. I do want to emphasize, however, that this is not a bad book. My main criticism was the lack of background and building at the forefront, but other than that, my other points are all opinions. I personally am not much of a cozy fantasy person, and I think that I would classify this book as cozy, which is likely why I didn't vibe with it. I was expecting gothic/dark academia and I would not describe A Dark and Drowning Tide as those genres.

3.5/5 stars.

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

Lorelei is a folklorist who has learned to fight her way to the top. To try to escape her unfavorable environment, she has never been able to afford a single mistake. And the expedition she is about to embark on with six nobles to find a magical fountain on behalf of the King of Brunnestaad is her chance to achieve the life she wants.
When her mentor and leader of the expedition is murdered on the first night aboard, Lorelei’s position becomes more precarious than ever. She will have to discover who the murderer is if she doesn’t want to be used as a scapegoat. To make matters worse, the only person she can trust is Sylvia von Wolff, her fiercest academic rival, a woman unbearably beautiful and who works with unorthodox methods, but also the only person she truly knows.

What I didn't like:
The pacing felt uneven. The narrative dragged at times, and I had to force myself to keep reading. I was eager to unravel the mystery and get to know the characters, but despite the threat of death, the stakes never felt high enough. There were also some elements that were easy to forget (the characters can use magic!!) that shouldn’t have been, and the author seems to bring them up when it’s convenient.

What I liked:
The members of the expedition, most of them unbearable, have complex relationships with one another that make Lorelei feel more like an outsider than ever. The way they interact with each other is shaped by a life they’ve spent sharing for a long time, which brings up grudges, debts, and secrets. One thing I loved is that each of them was chosen because of their specialization within the academic world, something I would have liked to see explored even more.

What I loved:
Overall, this is a book with beautiful prose that transports us into the world of fairy tales, coexisting with the inhabitants of Brunnestaad. Blending reality and fable, Lorelei will use what she knows of these stories to make sense of what happens to her.

**Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC**

Thanks for the opportunity to review. Unfortunately I DNF’d this book at around the 30% mark, despite loving some of Saft’s previous work. There’s a lot of world-building and characters introduced in the beginning, but none of it feels natural and I couldn’t bring myself to invest anything or anyone introduced. I was also excited for a Jewish-inspired fantasy, but it feels clumsily handled here; the author is clearly relying on cultural familiarity with Judaism, without doing any of the world building for this element of the story herself,

A Dark and Drowning Tide is chock full of snippets of folklore, fable and fairytale as we follow folklorist, Lorelei, and naturalist, Sylvia, on a journey to find a fabled spring that is the source of all magic.

This book crosses into a whole bunch of genres, giving something for everyone. We have a murder mystery, political machinations, a dose of academia, a fantastical quest and a slow burn, rivals to lovers queer romance. It's a fabulous offering from Allison Saft as she strays further from YA and into adult territory.

The pacing of the story was great, and the interactions of the various characters kept you guessing throughout - I never was sure who the murderer could be! It was filled with red herrings and murky motivations.
One thing I will say - I could have done with a map! I remain somewhat hopeful that one of my special edition copies will have one! It would have helped visualise the different territories, and how they'd been taken into the wider Empire. It also would've helped visualise the route of the journey.

This book is an atmospheric dark fantasy with stunning prose and a captivating world. Lorelai, the protagonist, is both strong and vulnerable, making her journey deeply engaging. The nuanced supporting characters, with their layered motivations, added much appreciated depth to the story.

I especially loved the slow-burn romance between Lorelai and Sylvia. It felt natural and added emotional complexity to the narrative.

The German-inspired setting, rich with dark folklore, and the water-based magic system were standout elements. The magic felt familiar yet refreshingly unique, woven seamlessly into the worldbuilding.

Overall, the beautiful writing, complex characters, and immersive world make this a must-read for dark fantasy fans.

A fun fantasy full of unique folklore, academic rivalry and political intrigue. Well thought out characters and plot, with a beautiful writing style and clever worldbuilding. Another great novel from Allison Saft.

This started off giving me slight Emily Wilde vibes and then once we met the group of characters going on the mission it leaned more into atlas six vibes. The book does give dark academia based on the cover so that fits but I didn’t like atlas six, I found it slow, boring, confusing and I didn’t like a single character, and this was feeling the same to me. I didn’t like the characters, I found the pacing slow and the story confusing.

If you like slow paced dark academia with light fantasy elements this could be perfect for you. The writing is great, beautiful without being too descriptive. It just wasn’t the right story for me

A weirdly pro-colonial story set in a fantasy version of 1800s Germany that explores Jewish identity and antisemitism (although it doesn't do anything to fix it) but then takes the bizarre stance that colonisation is good.

This book could have been amazing but it fell short in so many places. As I've already mentioned, it had a weirdly pro-colonial message to it which is uncomfortable enough but then you add in that this is based in a fantasy version of Germany a few decades before WWI and it just gets worse. The book frames all the people who we are expressly told have been starved, discriminated against, and/or had their culture repressed after their country was invaded and colonised as the villains for wanting to get rid of the explicitly pro-war and antisemitic emperor who colonised their country. What's weird is that this message doesn't feel deliberate for most of the book, it just feels like a very underbaked idea and like the author didn't know what to do after she'd written herself into a corner so we end up with this weirdly pro-colonial message.

Its especially jarring to read this pro-colonisation narrative when the other major theme of the book is exploring Jewish identity and antisemitism and that part is done really well. Lorelei's characterisation and her Jewish heritage is handled so well and I really clearly understood who Lorelei was, even when she annoyed me and was being petty or short sighted.

Whilst the characterisation of Lorelei was one of the best elements of the book, the characterisation of the other characters lacked depth and most of them fell flat. I struggled to care about a bunch of privileged rich kids going on a mission for their homicidal emperor bestie so he can take control of the magic spring in one of the countries he colonised so he can keep repressing said country and colonising more places. And then we’re meant to be shocked that they’re all horrible people and one of them committed murder? As Lorelei has no emotional attachment to the people she's with (other than misplaced contempt for Sylvia and a thin friendship with Ludwig), I didn't really care about which one of them did it as soon as we knew it couldn't be Sylvia (which was instantly). The murder mystery itself wasn't very well fleshed out and just drove home the pro-colonial narrative.

The romance was one of the main reasons I was excited for this book, but I struggled to connect with Lorelei and Sylvia's romance as it takes over half of the book for Lorelei to stop outright despising Sylvia (or at least to realise that she despises the privilege Sylvia stands for not Sylvia herself) and then suddenly their whole relationship went from 0 to 100 and felt very rushed. It also isn't academic rivals to lovers - they're rivals for maybe 30 pages then Lorelei just hates Sylvia for breathing for the next 150+ pages till she decides Sylvia is actually perfect and bam she's in love. I know some people will like their relationship, but I felt like it needed an extra 50 pages to pace their relationship better and also just to give them more time together as we would go 30+ pages without them even talking in the first half of the book.

The final key element of the book is the dark academia which was also a disappointment as it was barely there to the point that I don't even feel like I can call this a dark academia book. The folklore feels more like info dumping of world building and telling not showing– it would have been better if Lorelei had been a naturalist like Sylvia so we could get more on the magical creatures and lore behind them as they were the best part of the magic in the world (this also would have actually made Lorelei and Sylvia rivals).

What frustrates me most is that this book just needed an extra 50-100 pages to explore the romance and other themes better and a revised last 30 pages to correct any pro-colonial message and then it would have been so much better! There is no need for this book to be as short as it is when it just leaves so many elements half baked and poorly explored. The one element that was done so well was the Jewish representation and I'm just sad that people who were looking for that much needed representation in fantasy books get in wrapped in this pro-colonial story.

i really wanted to love this one, but unfortunately too much of it either didn't work for me or was just ok.

let's start with what i did enjoy: the jewish representation in this is really good, and alison saft's writing is always easy to read and get lost in. i think it would have benefitted from being slightly longer, especially at the start, to introduce it more to the surrounding characters, their motivations and relationships with each other. i didn't feel particularly drawn to ziegler or the depth of her relationship with lorelai, so i wasn't particularly affected by her death - and the 'mystery' of her murder was a very closed-door, systematic review of the five who could have been involved.

the adventure/journey itself gave me indiana jones vibes, which i did enjoy, but i was never fully hooked? it was a fun adventure story but never really went deeper than that for me. i also struggled with being in lorelai's head for the whole book, as i found her and her choices to be quite frustrating. nothing really endeared me to her, or to her relationship with sylvia, though i enjoyed the latter's whimsy.

finally, this book felt weirdly pro-colonial to me? the choices were very much pitched as a 'lesser of two evils' and whilst i appreciate the angle lorelai was coming at it from (as an outsider whose people lived in, essentially, a ghetto) i felt the book could have dived rather a lot deeper into the moral struggle that should have presented her with. it stays pro-colonial the whole way through, and i found it quite hard to feel sorry for this group of privileged students adventuring through poverty-stricken towns on behalf of the royal family. lorelai does get a reward at the end, but it is tempered by the fact that we don't actually /see/ life get better for her folk. i just think it has done a disservice to not examine the colonial aspect of the story in more detail, particularly as the journey is about finding something to.. prolong that colonialism?

anyway. as i say, unfortunately this one was not for me but i appreciate it for the jewish and sapphic representation, and know it will find its audience.

e-arc provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review

it genuinely pains me to say this about an allison saft book -a far wilder magic is one of my all time favourites, after all- but this did nothing for me.

yes yes i know. sapphic rivals to lovers, dark academia, a magical expedition, a murder mystery, a vaguely historical setting? all things i have eaten up before and will eat up again. but, somehow, this just didn't work for me. i feel like there was at the same time too much worldbuilding and too little. the folklore was clearly thought out, and i thought that the idea of water being the source of magic (and therefore magic is sort of just waterbending) was really cool, and something i could draw parallels to in the folklore of my own country. but the politics? some of the choices these characters made towards the end were... interesting, to say the least.

then there's the romance. listen, i'm a sucker for it. but if you expect me to believe these two went from their relationship as it was on the first page to as it was on the last within a few weeks (more like a few days, actually), i have a bridge to sell you.

i know, i know. this pains me more to write than you to read. a dark and drowning tide was probably my most anticipated book of the year. i'll stay living in that pre-reading bliss.

Banter, mystery, murder.. sharp heroines and lot's of Spooky vibe!
This was a beautiful written fantasy book that was almost more magical realisme and I liked it!

Post on IG (One_fairy_tale_at_the_time) Coming on release day 17 of sep 2024

Dark, enchanting and ethereal. Lorelei is fiercely independent and feels like she has something to prove due to her heritage. This often results in her pushing everyone away. Lorelei and Sylvia really are working the grumpy X sunshine trope and it's obvious that there is a fine line between love and hate. The magic system was very unique, I loved the world building and I especially loved that the characters back stories seemed to link to old folk tales. Overall this was a very enjoyable read

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review ☆

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The book gives the reader an insight into a dark fairy tale world of Brunnestaad, where each region feels distinct from each other, helping with immersion. Allison Saft’s worldbuilding creates an unique setting, one based off of Germanic folklore. Having read brother Grimm’s fairy tales as a kid ‘A Dark and Drowning Tide’ to me was like coming into a well-known territory.

I must admit that I was captivated by the two main characters. Their chemistry was a joy to witness AND THE YEARNING, MY GOD THE YEARNING. Chef's kiss. Lorelei and Sylvia's dynamic reminds me of a gothic romance and I mean this in the best way.

Despite the author’s claim for the book to be a breach into adult fantasy genre, this idea was unrealised. The story reads more like YA, which is not a bad thing at all, however it was a bit too juvenile for it to be classed as anything more than that. The mystery reveal was incredibly obvious, and so Lorelei detective stints were not as interesting to read about as I wished, which is why I had rated the book as 4/5.

All in all, it was a pleasant read, and will be on the lookout for anything new Alison Saft might publish. I have preordered a physical copy of the book as well, since both the US and the UK versions of ADaDT are gorgeous - kudos to the illustrators!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a mix of Voyage of the Damned with Emily Wilde.
I enjoyed the chemistry between the two main characters. There was a good balance of chapters with just the two of them, and chapters with the rest of the crew.
Every character had their own personality and history. I found Lorelei hard going at first. I understand why her defenses were up, but even to people being nice to her, she was rude. That being said, I wish they had focused on the prejudice on her people at the end and that having more of a conclusion.
Sylvia luckily balances Lorelei out. She is pure of heart without being too much. I think it's because you need this character to balance Lorelei out.
I would recommend this book to others.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

My god it has been a long, long time since I have read a book that captured folklore, fantasy and fairytales like this one has.

A Dark and Drowning Tide combines the darkness of A Brothers Grimm Fairytales with the whimsical and alluring style of Lewis or Tolkien (and as a huge Tolkien Fan, I do not say this lightly).

Setting out on an expedition, we follow an intrepid group of individuals, each with their own unique talents, as they attempt to find the source of magic within their lands, whilst solving a murder along the way. Our FMC, Lorelei, must work with her rival, Sylvia to ensure the project goes ahead as planned and confirm who killed their mentor before it is too late.

The writing style was so utterly captivating and gorgeous, weaving so many different folklores and stories together I was enraptured from the very start. I must admit, I was not aware of any German Fairytales or creatures before delving into this book, and I did have Google on hand to ensure I was able to keep up with each one introduced, but this absolutely only enhanced my experience.

However, the thing that absolutely makes this book is the stunning enemies/rivals to lovers romance that entwines throughout the story. These two had me giggling and kicking my feet from just them holding hands! Note: this is a fade to black series, ensuring that it remains within the YA genre. This does not, in my opinion, take anything away from this romance.

I want to thank NetGalley, Daphne Press and Allison Saft for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. The review is my own opinion and I have given this freely.

In A Dark and Drowning Tide, Allison Saft casts a spellbinding narrative that seamlessly blends magic, German folklore, and romance. Set against the backdrop of a mystical forest and brimming with tension, the story follows Lorelei Kaskel, a Yevanni folklorist navigating not just the dark wilderness but also the murky waters of grief, societal prejudice, and a treacherous murder mystery. From the very start, I found myself utterly captivated, this is a tale where every page feels like a step deeper into an enchanted, and sometimes dangerous, world.

Lorelei is an intriguing character. As someone marked by her Jewish heritage, her story deeply explores antisemitism embedded in folklore, offering a fresh and personal perspective in fantas. I loved how Saft didn’t shy away from the complex layers of Lorelei’s identity and grief, especially when it comes to her brother’s murder and the sacrifices she’s made to belong in academia. There’s a profound sense of isolation that follows her throughout the book, something many readers might resonate with, even outside the fantastical setting.

The academic rivalry between Lorelei and Sylvia von Wolff was beautifully done. While at first their banter and coldness suggested only tension, it slowly unfolded into a love story that had me grinning like a fool. The enemies-to-lovers trope was executed so perfectly, with their differences enhancing the romance rather than detracting from it. Sylvia's wit and brilliance make her a great counterpart to Lorelei's more guarded and methodical nature. I found myself rooting for them long before they began to understand each other.

As for the plot itself, A Dark and Drowning Tide is not just a romantic fantasy. It's a murder mystery wrapped in a dark academic setting, dripping with atmospheric tension. The sentient forest, magical waters, and folklore woven throughout the narrative only added to the immersive world-building. Saft’s prose is lush, and there’s a rhythmic beauty to her writing that mirrors the waves of emotion Lorelei experiences, whether it’s her longing for belonging, her desire for justice, or the growing feelings between her and Sylvia.

And while the romance is slow-burning, it’s the kind of slow burn you savour. Every glance, every touch, every whispered word carries weight, making the payoff feel incredibly satisfying. By the end, I was fully invested in the plot and in the future that these characters could create together (are we getting another instalment?).

Saft also handles deeper themes like survivor’s guilt, societal reform, and the burdens of expectation with care and nuance. These elements added an emotional gravity that anchored the magic and mystery, making the story feel both fantastical and deeply human.

If you’re a fan of sapphic romances, folklore-heavy narratives, or atmospheric mysteries, A Dark and Drowning Tide will pull you under like the siren’s call it is. Prepare to get lost in its pages you won’t want to come up for air.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballentine/ Del Rey for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my review.

I overall had a good time reading this book.
The murder mystery with some folklore-based research setting was an amazing combination, and I especially loved the fact that the folktales were mostly German or Austrian-inspired, and thus didn't feel reheated compared to Greek or Egyptian myths we always read about.
Still, I felt like the romance was somehow a little forced from time to time, but then again, I am not a big reader of romance, so my opinion is obviously biaised.
If you like romance, and academic rivals, but that time happening in the wild rather than in between college walls, this is for you!

Thank you Daphne Press and NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Release date: 17 September.

I enjoyed reading Allison Saft’s Adult Fantasy debut. It had lots of adventure, scary but fascinating magical creatures, a (very) slow burn romance (of which I loved the part where they became friends, most), politics, a low-key murder mystery and a great development of a not very likable main character but you very soon get why she is the way she is.

Lorelei is a folklorist at Ruhigburg University. I must admit that I was a little disappointed, that there wasn’t actually any time spent at that university (I always love that) but the huge adventure that followed, made me forget about that very quickly.

Lorelei’s mentor is about to go on an expedition for the King, to find something magical and powerful. She is taking Lorelei’s rival, Sylvia, who is a naturalist, and 4 others with her, until she announces she wants Lorelei to go with them too as the co-leader.

As a persona non grata because of what she is, Lorelei is constantly in survival mode, lashing out from behind the safety of her wall of thorns. But she just wants to be accepted. She hopes to be granted the full rights of a citizen and advocate for her people after a successful expedition.

But… sad expedition is like a den of vipers. Literally everyone has their own motives and secrets. Sabotage, murder, violence and betrayal soon follow. And there are actual vicious creatures to be dealt with too.

Lorelei’s rival Sylvia was so fun and fascinating! She has a way with magical creatures and she’s the heir of the ducal seat of her homeland Albe, a land that wants to be independent again. When Lorelei has to team up with her after a murder, she finally gets to know the real Sylvia and the prejudiced image she had of Sylvia, slowly crumbles.

This whole story was interspersed by tales and fables which I loved.

Overall a great adventurous and mysterious fantasy. And I mean, look at that cover!

I had very high hopes for this one, the cover is beautifully whimsical looking, and the blurb sounded so good.

The story follows Lorelei, a sharp-tongued folklorist, who must pair up with her academic rival to solve their mentor's murder.

Sadly, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. I found the pacing to be very slow, and the writing style didn't engage me, I just felt bored trying to get through it. I found myself not caring enough about the characters to connect with them, and the main FMC Lorelei was moody and quite irritating.

The romance in the story didn't make sense to me and felt a bit forced, and again, I just wasn't invested in it.

Although this wasn't for me, I can see how readers who enjoy folklore with mystery vibes would enjoy this.