3.5 rounded down for netgalley
Overall this was an enjoyable read, I loved the high fantasy, the mystery and creatures. The beginning felt very reminiscent of knives out with fantasy mixed in. I think the last few chapters really let down the rating for the majority of the book I was planning on giving it 4/5 stars. I felt there was some plot holes towards the end that kinda ruined my immersion and I think time skips at the end of the book are a lazy way to tie everything together. It was a book that I told multiple people about as I was reading it and recommended reading when it’s released. I just think Sylvia and Lorelei acted out of character at moments, with sudden personality shifts regarding deaths and safety of other characters.
I enjoyed the snippets of folklore but didn’t like that sometimes it just continued with the main story without leaving a satisfactory end to the section, same with the mention of a nightmare. At first I liked not fully knowing what the wildleute were that were being mentioned it added to the mystery of it all but with the alp, I feel the bit with his tarnkappe would’ve had more weight if we knew more of his lore.
And the odd mention of fantasy Germanic creature names started to grow old because you knew you wouldn’t get anymore context than that. I really did enjoy the main meat of the story but like I said the last few chapters all being squeezed together and the plot hole mentioned in spoilers let it down.
Spoiler<spoiler> I thought it was so weird that in the end of chapter 25 Heike is unconscious and bleeding out of her head, and we just forget about her in 26?why was no one with her, why was there no talk of getting her back on the prinzessin, and then chapter 27 a week later she comes off the boat with everyone else, for the reader she is as good as dead until you see her name again (I don’t know if this is going to be fixed in the final version) also the intimacy scene was slightly disjointed and it goes from Lorelei kissing Sylvia’s hips, thighs etc but then she’s pulling Sylvia’s hair, surely it would’ve made more sense for Sylvia to grab Lorelei’s? Also did we actually ever get a confirmation on the button? Also for me the fact that Sylvia and Lorelei hadn’t seen each other in four months with no contact which is later explained very poorly, why would letters that are addressed to Lorelei be given to the king?? </spoiler>

3.25 stars

A Dark and Drowning Tide was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and while I did enjoy the first 20% or so, I found after that I was struggling to focus on reading it. it was very slow paced and the main characters felt very two dimensional, and while I usually enjoy learning more about the folklore in fantasy books in this book I found that it was just slowing down the plot even more. I was close to DNF the book but from around 70% the book improved and I couldn't stop reading it, the plot became more interesting as the pace was suddenly quicker. I also felt that the characters became less two dimensional. I just wish the middle part was as good, also while I have seen it mentioned as a dark academia book only a very small amount of the book is actually set in the university. While the last part was a lot better some aspects of the ending felt unresolved and rushed.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy

I’m talking sapphic academic rivals with elements of murder mystery and dark academia!! I absolutely adored this.

at first it was slightly difficult to get into, the author intended to create a whimsical vibe which they achieved but they did so by providing very little information regarding the world and the magic, you discovered information throughout which made it slightly difficult to get your bearings at first. there were a lot of character introductions and moments of the world that I struggled with BUT when I did finally read far enough into it to grasp the world building I had a blast.

I love the two main characters, sunshine X grumpy with complex histories that cling to them in such different ways. their relationship and interactions were beautiful, watching it develop alongside the whimsy of the world and its folklore was a great experience.

This one was beyond amazing. The story flowed well, and it was by far interesting enough to capture my attention until deep in the night, when I had to be asleep early to get up early for work. Goodbye sleeping schedule, hello new book for my top five reads of 2024.

A DARK AND DROWNING TIDE – 5 stars

'Back in the days when wishes still held power…'

In this magical sapphic standalone, Allison Saft returns to what she does best: a distinctly atmospheric settings, trauma-ridden characters and astute parallels with social issues.

In “A dark and drowning tide”, we meet Lorelei, a Yeva foklorist tasked with supervising an expedition in search of the origin of all magic, entrusted by the king. However, everything crumbles when her tutor is mysteriously killed on their ship. Accompanied by Sylvia, her infuriating rival, and five other nobles, Lorelei must figure out who killed her tutor, or take responsibility herself.

As happened in "Down comes the night" and "A far wilder magic", the romance was masterfully done. The tension, the banter and their mutual admiration for eachother’s intelligence and knowledge despite their rivalry made reading how the relationship between Sylvia and Lorelei developed enticing.

In addition to the intricate romance and captivating mystery, "A Dark and Drowning Tide" delves deeply into the themes of cultural preservation and identity. The nobles, who used to be rulers of independent regions that were annexed by the kingdom, are haunted by the fear that their alliance will eventually erode their traditions and exploit their people. This looming threat of cultural assimilation adds a layer of tension to their already precarious political positions, as they struggle to maintain their heritage while navigating the demands of their powerful ally.

Lorelei embodies this struggle on a personal level. As a Yeva, a Jewish-coded minority, she faces constant challenges in preserving her cultural identity and her language. Lorelei’s life is a delicate balance between striving for personal success and safeguarding her heritage. “A dark and drowning tide” poignantly captures her internal conflict: the desire to excel in her role, which could mean abandoning her roots, versus the need to keep her culture alive amid widespread discrimination and violence.

Furthermore, the representation of the Yeva people through folklore adds a realistic dimension to the narrative. These stories, which paint Yevas as cunning and evil, perpetuate the prejudice against them and highlight the deep-seated animosity they face. This element of folklore not only enriches the world-building but also underscores the insidious nature of cultural stereotypes and their impact on marginalized communities.

Overall, Allison Saft's "A Dark and Drowning Tide" is a masterful exploration of the complexities of cultural identity, the pressures of political alliances, and the enduring power of love and resilience in the face of adversity.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Daphne Press for the eARC**

@librisinetenebris on Instagram

This book was such an enjoyable read. I loved it!
Allison Saft did an amazing job on her debut adult book!
This was my first dark academia book (also my first Allison Saft’s book!) and it won’t be my last.
It was so magical and unexpected.

The first half of the book was full of a whimsical magic system. The fairytale stories included in the narrative was brilliantly done and that made the story special too.

The second half of the book was what got me extremely hooked! I blew through it in one night. There was no clear indication as to how or why Lorelei realised her feelings for Sylvia were romantic and I did find that a bit awkward but overall it was well done.

The slow burn was slow burning. The academic rivals were rivalling (and very well done too!)

The other characters were likeable. I could relate to the characters when some of the deaths happened. This was how good Alison was at helping us understand the characters.

I did have my doubts and suspicions but the plots still remained unexpected and interesting.

Overall, this became one of the good books that I enjoyed. I would definitely recommend.

🖤 sapphic
🖤 standalone fantasy
🖤 dark academia
🖤 murder mystery
🖤 absolutely spellbound

This is a tale full of desire between two women who cannot see eye to eye on the best of days, rife with political tension and absolutely dripping with folklore and deep magic.

Allison Saft's writing is beautiful without being too purple, and while the book had a pretty slow start, I loved the time taken to explore the characters and the world before the plot truly escalates. This is so incredibly important for an enemies to lovers story. Lorelei and Sylvia's attraction to each other runs so deep it will make you blush, but you will also understand why they cannot seem to stomach each other's presence; Lorelei I believe is the author's attempt at representation for the oppression of the Jewish in Germany, while Sylvia is of nobility, albeit that of a conquered nation. Lorelei, who has one of the worst instances of the martyr complex in a fictional character I've ever encountered, has built walls thick and thorny, walls that are slowly broken down as the story progresses.

Thank you Daphne Press, the author and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I leave this review voluntarily.

This may be one of the best sapphic fantasy novels ever written !

A folklorist (!!!) and her academic rival (!!!!!!!) have to work together to solve their mentor’s murder (!!!)

The vibes of this book were immaculate. It was eerie and beautiful and haunting and utterly enthralling. The pacing was great, the plot was so wonderfully written, the characters were well developed, the setting was immersive, AND DO NOT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE SLOW BURN!!!!! SO SO SO SO GOOD ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

Dare I say…..the perfect book????

A captivating dark academia and sapphic fantasy romance that swept me away. I think a lot of you are really going to enjoy this!

Allison Saft has created magical creatures and locations that give such a sense of wonder. I loved how folktales were interwoven with these and the plot. I will definitely be picking up her previous novel A Far Wilder Magic.

I enjoyed the expedition's fascinating and complicated characters and seeing their backstories gradually revealed. Our protagonist, Lorelei, is a spikey character who has sharpened herself in order to survive. She is a perpetual outsider, not only is she a commoner among nobles, but she is Yevani (parallels with the Jewish community); she is forced to live in their section of the city, her movements are tightly controlled, and she's experienced a lifetime of prejudice and persecution (including from some on the trip). And now she has to find her mentor's murderer - or the King will make her his convenient scapegoat.

I loved the rivals to lovers romance and how their barbed dynamic remained even as the relationship improved. They could be both endlessly frustrated by and sweet to each other.

Lorelei's fellow academics may all be nobles, former royalty, and claim high ideals, but they couldn't be more different from one another, and have their own sharp sides. They may be childhood friends joined by a promise with their now King (and conqueror) to remain loyal to each other, but there's a murderer on the steamboat and it's one of them, so someone has clearly betrayed them! The mystery and suspense were excellent; I genuinely felt like they all had motives.

🌿 A Dark and Drowning Tide releases on 17th September 2024. 🌿

This is another one of those books that I picked up purely because of the cover (im a simple girl, I see a book with a pretty cover, I read the book with the pretty cover). So hats off to the designer and artist.

Did I enjoy reading this? Yes. Do I think it was an objectively good book? No. Is the premise and world building really damn interesting and amazing, partly because lesbians and hello, I love lesbians, but parts of the book were so jarring to me that it was difficult to immerse myself? yes, absolutely.

The key thing that held me back was the underlining sense that all the characters were deeply one dimensional. You've got the grumpy one, clever one, jealous one, stone hard bitch one and then doctor one. The attempts at developing these characters is done through some pretty jarring exposition dumps. which I get it, explaining characters that have relationships previous to the book is going to be touch, but boy does it feel a little bit like an essay at times. I found Lorelai difficult to relate to, she was such a martyr and so self hating, it felt like her entire character was just doomed to never feel happiness which is just a little grating to read, and falls quite flat. Not to mention she keeps doubling back on her character progression which just gets a bit boring after a while. And Sylvia as much as I loved this character, was desperately quite manic pixie dream girl.

It's like the definition of a book that is just overspilling with potential, but the characters just feel underdeveloped and I would just love a little more on that for me to really enjoy this one. Still, loved the whimsy of it all, and isn't that why we read fantasy?

A book I sadly just couldn’t get invested in. I thought the writing was very nicely done but things just didn’t settle in to place for me and I couldn’t find myself interested in the characters or the plot. I did enjoy Sylvia as a character but found it hard to relate to Lorelei and found it comedic that she believed Sylvia ever hated her. A 2.5 rounded up to 3 for good prose.

4.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in advance in exchange for my honest review!
First, I should mention that this is the second book I am reading by Allison Saft. I discovered her writing through A Fragile Enchantment, and I fell in love with her writing. When I heard of A Dark And Drowning Tide and read the blurb, I just KNEW I had to get my hands on it one way or another. I had high hopes for this book, and it DELIVERED.

I don’t know what it is, but Allison Saft’s writing grips my attention and does not let go. I don’t usually like to stop and tab/highlight my books because I feel like it takes me away from the story, but some of these quotes/moments were so good I just had to stop. The writing gave me the impression of floating between the fairytales of the book and the darker world describes. I loved it!

The worldbuilding was good. It took me a minute to figure out what was what and how it all fit together, but I think I got there in the end. Reading the ARC, I’m not sure if there’s a map associated with the story, but it definitely would have been helpful.

The characters were well written, although reflecting on the book I find myself only knowing Sylvia and Lorelei well, and then the rest of the cast is blurry. This may be because Lorelei herself doesn’t really know them, but in my opinion it makes the tension between the characters feel a little surface level. This isn’t a deal breaker for me, but could be for some.

The romance had me swooning. Being an academic myself, I am living for these rivals to romance stories. I loved Sylvia and Lorelei. This was a VERY slow burn, but the way I giggled when they brushed hands or for a split second didn’t think the worst of each other was 100% worth it. They are just so good together, whether they hate or love each other. It was very entertaining to read.

Overall, I loved this book. I definitely recommend if you fancy reading a slow-burn sapphic romance with rivals to lovers trope!

This was a fun sapphic book, full of banter, tension and fairytales. It was beautifully written and an overall enjoyable read. I liked the magic system and the rich atmosphere but wished it was more fully fleshed out. The balance between character/world development and story felt a tad off to me. The pacing was still good and it was an enjoyable read but I just wanted more. More banter, more tension, more falling in love, more magic and exploration of the magic system.

It kept me guessing though which was great and I enjoyed how the villain wasn’t immediately obvious whilst reading but thinking back on it, given how little focus was on the villain it feels deliberately misleading now.

I liked the story, it’s a great read but not really the academic rivals to lovers that it was painted at. The main FMC certainly thought they were rivals in a lot of ways but I just didn’t think it was very rivals to lovers. They’d clearly loved each other the whole time so it just seemed a little drawn out and we didn’t get much of their love story in the grand scheme of the main story focus. But the tension and banter was still fun and made me laugh at times. So i thoroughly enjoyed the book overall.

It was a fantastic story in terms of the folklore and fairytales. I loved how it wove traditional stories into the main story.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'A Dark and Drowning Tide' by Allison Saft.

Words cannot explain how madly in love I am with Allison Saft. She has never written a bad book and I'm delighted to say her latest novel, 'A Dark and Drowning Tide' is consistent with that. A lush Dark Academia with sapphic academic rivals? I was hooked from the beginning. Allison's writing is just beautiful and it feels to natural to follow this story and the love inside of it.

A gothic, mystery, sapphic fantasy novel. Imagine The Atlas Six but with more magic and less physics.

I really enjoyed this book, especially the mystery aspects of it. I felt like I was trying to solve the murder alongside Lorelei (FMC). I also enjoyed the slow-burn tension and realisation of her relationship with Sylvia.

The world building was intresting, but the lack of a map in the book impacted the reading experience for me. There was a lot of talk around the location of places and borders and without a map it was difficult to visualise it.

A Dark and Drowning Tide is pure magic in book form. Sylvia and Lorelei captured my heart, with their rivalry spanned against the backdrop of a swashbuckling adventure in the name of magic, power and discovery. I was enraptured with every page and every character. I fully intend to purchase this book the minute it comes out!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC, and to Allison Saft for her storytelling gift.

**3.5 Stars**

Mixed feelings about this one, I liked the premise and I thought the execution was done fairly well.

I think my biggest struggle is that this felt like one of those fantasy books you pick up where it's a standalone set in a pre-existing world. The book relies a lot on folklore but I don't think it does a good enough job of explaining what all these creatures are. Even a section at the beginning explaining what each creature is and how they look etc would have worked well so that you could refer back to it. The lack of this meant I struggled a bit to be fully immersed in the story.

Aside from this, I think I just didn't get super invested in the story, and the ending ended up feeling a little bit rushed.

I think the romance had a lot of potential, it worked well but I think I would have liked a little bit more of it so I could get a bit more attached to them.

All in all, this was a decent stand-alone fantasy, probably not quite the book for me but I think a lot of people will really adore it.

Also the cover is STUNNING!

Thank you to Netgally and Daphne Press for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

I truly had a hard time coming up with a review for this book.
While I adored the premise and usually love the grumpy/sunshine trope, it sadly did not work for me in this story. Initially I was excited to get to know Lorelai better and wanted to see her grow but while the writer has a beautiful way with words, somehow I could not connect with either Lorelai or Sylvia.

I wanted to like this story so much, I loved that one of the main characters is a folklorist and the descriptions are very lyrical, but sadly this book did not work for me.

Thank you to Daphne Press, Allison Saft & NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5

A little bit underwhelming, but still a fantastic example of this author's gorgeous writing and beautiful atmosphere. The gothic folklore vibes are wonderful and this book felt very immersive; I loved reading the various folktales of this world, which were kind of woven into the story nicely. I really liked the romance too - it's academic rivals to lovers, which I love, and worked so well in this novel. The quest was fascinating, although I wish it had felt more fleshed out in the magic side of things; I was struggling to care too much about the whole murder-mystery side of things. I also really struggled to connect to Lorelei, our main character - while I really liked Sylvia, Lorelei felt a bit closed off emotionally to be able to fully understand how she was feeling about everything going on. However, she does go through some character growth in this, I can't deny her that, I just wish we'd been able to know a bit more of her emotions. A beautiful, atmospheric novel nonetheless.

First of all, many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for granting me a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I sadly had to make the decision to dnf this at about 43% in. While I quite liked a different book by the same author ( a fragile enchantment) this one wasn’t really working for me. Which i’m very sad about cause the premise of this one sounded right up my alley ( I mean rivals to lovers sapphics?? Hell yes).

One of my main problems I feel, was the lack of anything really exciting happening. Don’t get me wrong, there was definitely some action going on in the 43% that I managed to read, but I couldn’t find it in myself to really care about it?? Stuff that was meant to make me go ‘’ah ohhh wowww wth!!’’ was instead just making me go ‘’ah ok sure’’.

And the other main problem you think?? The actual unlikeable main character. And not in the ‘’ah they’re supposed to be unlikeable but I would die for them’’ way, but no, more in a ‘’please stop talking, you’re annoying me’’ kind of way. I do love me some grumpy characters but Lorelei wasn’t a grump, she was just straight up mean.

While I really do love the author’s writing style and prose, i’m afraid this one just isn’t meant to be for me ( yes i’ll be mourning this quite anticipated read for a few days, sorry in advance).