Sapphic academic rivals with a murder mystery subplot... what's not to love? I think a lot of people will be eating this up.

A Dark and Drowning Tide follows folklorist, Lorelei who is tasked to go on a expedition to find the Ursprung, which is said to give powers to those deemed worthy, with her mentor and some peers but to make matters worse, one of the peers is her her rival Sylvia. However nothing goes smooth sailing when Lorelei found her professor murdered one night and now she is on a mission to find the killer whilst trying to locate the Ursprung. And the only one that knows that Lorelei is innocent, is Sylvia.

I absolutely loved Saft's writing, it's so lyrical and descriptive that you immediately get sucked in. While this book is described as a "sapphic fantasy romance" don't let it fool you, there's no actually that much romance in this book. However, the amount that we got delivered! It was literally everything, had me kicking and screaming. I couldn't get enough of these two like their constant bickering but yet Lorelei couldn't stop thinking about Sylvia, chefs kiss. Their grumpy and sunshine vibes fit together so well.

I do wish that maybe we could've gotten a dual pov or perhaps a multi pov because I would've loved to know what Sylvia was thinking during some moments and I think it would've given us a better insight on some character's motives. I would've loved to have seen the murder mystery aspect a little more as well.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

🌊A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft

"What must it be like, she wondered, to feel you truly belonged to a place? She did not expect she'd ever find out"

//ARC received from @netgalley and @daphne.press

A Dark and Drowning Tide was one of my 2024 hopefuls, combining dark academia with murder mystery and folklore. This is a book perfect for fans of Voyage of the Damned and Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries.

When I was not reading the ARC, it was calling to me like a siren. However, the book attempts to include and do too many things at once, and complex as it is, it fails to bring everything properly to a close.

My favorite part of this book was strangely the romance, which was absolutely delectable.

However, I had multiple issues with the book:
1. It seems almost incomplete. Many of the characters are not well rounded and the murder mystery was unsatisfying.
2. The plot seems quite problematic, in and so far as it almost seems as a pro-colonialisme narrative, that praises assimilation. Whatever the intention, this was the experience of this reader.
3. The book was a little bit of a heavy read, surprisingly.

A Dark and Drowning Tide is a book, whose strengt is vibes and its romance. This is a book I should like to reread, but probably not physically. It might have been a better experience as an audiobook. I was going to be receiving two special editions of this, and opted to cancel one.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

#adarkanddrowningtide
#allisonsaft #darkacademiareads #arc #arcreader #daphnepress #bogbloggerdk #anmeldereksemplar #boganmeldelse

3? 3.5? ⭐
(Belated) Happy Publication Day!
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Thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author, for providing me with an e-ARC of this book.

It's a perfect release for this month since the academic year is back and autumn is starting.

As readers, we're following an academic adventure of a group of students: some noble-born and our main character, Lorelei, is a social outcast. It's a consequence of her heritage, which intends to mirror Jewish history. They go on an expedition to find a magical spring. As we can imagine, nothing comes as easy as they would like to.

It can be slow at times, and I didn't feel how high the stakes were because the characters somehow had a lot of time to talk, even though they were in a hurry—especially nearing the end. Nevertheless, I got fully immersed after going through the first 1/3. Academia, folklore and adventure, followed by a murder mystery, are the main plot points of this story. I genuinely loved how Saft worked the folktales into the narrative. All the little creatures and water magic aspects played a significant part in creating the reading atmosphere.
However, I've got a neverending feeling that the book could have had a more enhanced political and colonial aspect. Maybe then it would have had more depth. Some part of this world's history was left untold.

The sapphic romance was lovely. I'm a sucker for slow-burn and academic rivals. What's better? Before they become lovers, they have to turn into reluctant allies.
Both Sylvia and Lorelei were looking for acceptance and a feeling of belonging. No matter how beautiful, the folktales were caging Lorelei on top of her delusions and closed-off emotions. Sylvia, on the other hand, was full of a yearning fire.

The detail that had me giggling was Lorelei's hand flexing after touching Sylvia's arm – I see what you did there

"A Dark and Drowning Tide" is a dark spell of hidden secrets, dangerous powers, and hearts fighting against an unstoppable fate.
A gripping tale where every twist pulls you deeper into its chilling mystery, leaving you breathless until the very end.
Perfect for fans of atmospheric, slow-burn fantasy with morally complex characters and haunting tension!
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book!

I missed the publication, oops!
But a Dark & Drowning tide deserves all the love!
Thank you to NetGalley & Publishers for this e-arc!

its gay, its fantasy, its dark, romance, gothic! what more do you want this autumn? I think the poetic writing of Allison keeps on getting better!!!!
You wil llove this if you fancy nice words and sentences. perfect atmospherical read!
rivals to lovers and it kept me up at night! the mystery is intruiging and keeps on giving.

i loved absolutely everything about this book!!!!! another one i will be buying. i think allison is an autobuy author at the moment.

On paper this should have been a 5 star read for me, I love Dark Academia, Folklore and Sapphic Romance but... I didn't fall in love with the execution of this novel.
I loved the writing it was very evocative and submersive and everytime the wildleute came up in the book it was magical. I always wanted more of them. The protagonist was a very interesting character with a solid past and a complicated inner monologue. But sometimes she felt to. me childish and annoying. I loved the group of childhood friends and getting to know them, their pasts and their personalities.
The ending didn't convince me, and the "last months" of the story were silly to me. A more mature approach would have worked better for me.

Sadly I could'nt connect with the story and had to dnf at 41%
I did like the writing style however so I'll put it at 3 stars in the middle

It has been a while since I read a proper rivals to lovers and it's save to say that I was not disappointed.

I found the world building quite easy to understand, so I got into it pretty quick. I loved the setting and the places Saft described and I was able to get a clear picture of it in my head. Both main character's were likeable even with their faults (I love mean lesbians) and I liked seeing their character development.

NOW FOR THE ROMANCE. I loved it. Like I said, finally a good rivals to lovers. I felt like it was timed really well, not too slow and not rushed either. Sometimes you have to yearn for someone you (think) you hate.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review

This book is at its core the perfect autumnal read, it is a sapphic academic rivals to lovers! This book follows a group of nobles on a search for a spring of legend, tensions between the group are heavy and they only multiple when on the first night the leader of the group is murdered and no one knows who to blame! The atmosphere of this book combined with its rich details of all this worlds folklore truly made this something completely unique to the genre. The chemistry and longing between our two main characters is what made this book impossible to put down, these characters are perfect together. It was not just our two main characters that had me binging this book, it was the whole cast. Each of them are written in a way that you don’t know who to trust. Trying to solve the murder whilst reading about their epic journey to the spring was by far my favourite aspect of this book!

3.5/5 ⭐️

I found Lorelei to be an intriguing protagonist and I feel for her situation. We get glimpses of how her trauma manifests itself throughout the story, and it was heartbreaking to hear her discuss folktales with clear discriminatory intentions. I enjoyed her dynamic with Sylvia, the human embodiment of hope and optimism, as she is the perfect counterbalance to Lorelai’s understandably doom and gloom outlook on life.

Unfortunately, I did have some minor issues with the book. Firstly, the story would’ve benefitted from having multi-POV chapters, especially Sylvia’s, so we could get a better understanding of each character’s motive. Secondly, while I enjoyed the inclusion of folktales, their additions felt jarring and at times took me out of the ongoing dialogue or conflict. And lastly, without delving into spoiler territory, there was a lot that needed to be addressed in the ending and it could’ve been handled better if the book was a duology instead of a standalone. Nonetheless, Allison Saft’s prose is mesmerising and I was completely immersed in the world she built for the story and its characters.

If you enjoyed 𝑬𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒆’𝒔 𝑬𝒏𝒄𝒚𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒂𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒂 𝒐𝒇 𝑭𝒂𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 but also wanted a whodunit murder mystery with political intrigue in a slightly darker setting, then this book is for you 🌿

Thank you to Netgalley, Daphne Press, and Allison Saft for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

On paper, A Dark and Drowning Tide fills quite an extensive checklist of things I've always wanted in a book, things I believe would universally appeal to me, not unlike the checklist many people have concerning future partners they'd like to date. Unfortunately, just like those who utilise checklists to seek appropriate dating candidates, my list did not take into account one of the most (arguably the most) important things: chemistry. I should have loved this book... but I didn't.

Allison Saft has created a lavish world full of lively creatures — or so readers are told. That, perhaps, is my biggest takeaway from this book. Readers are constantly told, rather than shown. We learn about the names of entities, locations, magic systems... yet we rarely see them. We hear about cultural differences, but they are rarely demonstrated. We are told characters despise one another, yet we do not see this in their monologuing. To me, this firmly lies in my belief that A Dark and Drowning Tide should have been a duology, not a standalone. To create such an expansive fantasy universe in so few pages is ambitious. To carefully and thoughtfully develop a political system fuelled by systemic racism and xenophobia in so few pages is even more ambitious.

It is rare that I ask for more pages when reading a book, but in this case, A Dark and Drowning Tide truly would have benefited. This review will remain relatively spoiler free, but I do want to note that the ending is what really cinched this belief. Early in the book, one of the main characters expressed a (remarkably sound) belief that being with another character would be impossible without sacrifice, and it was a sacrifice they were unwilling to make. Not only is this conversation glossed over, but when they do start considering being with this character, this conversation is never mentioned again. Those very real concerns lay abandoned for the sake of love, and despite being a romantic at heart, I found this difficult to swallow.

Overall, A Dark and Drowning Tide was a book I liked, but did not love. I think it is decent for a debut, but it is not a debut. My star rating reflects that.

From the beginning the writing felt very formulaic as if the author was checking trope boxes as they wrote. I found some of the worldbuilding interesting, especially the folklore elements, but instead of discovering things as we went along there’s frequent inelegant infodumps which takes the fun out of engaging with a new world. There wasn’t a lot of subtlety and I never bought into the romance.

I really enjoyed the overall vibes of this book, and the dark academia / folkloric romance cross over is something I’d love to see more of. This book had everything that I love (mostly yearning and angst in a fantasy setting) and I enjoyed it thoroughly. A Dark and Drowning Tide is a slow burn, one bed, sapphic romance and an epic adventure through an immersive setting with a unique and interesting magic system.

Thank you so much to Daphne Press and to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy of A Dark and Drowning Tide.

Wow, what a wonderful book! I have been looking forward to this release for MONTHS so I was super happy to get an ARC; and it absolutely did not disappoint. I can't stop thinking about this story; I loved Lorelei as a character, and that she was revealed to us a little at a time. The book was really well-paced, very beautifully written and I felt really immersed in the world.

I really enjoyed this version of an 'enemies to lovers' story, because I think right from the outset we know Lorelei is in love with Sylvia, but she doesn't know it herself and we kind of follow her along that journey to discovery. We also follow Lorelei in her journey of self-forgiveness which I think is very beautifully and sensitively written.

The murder mystery aspect of the book was good, but I think the focus on all the characters and their interactions was most interesting to me (even though I love a good whodunit!). I also absolutely LOVED the world of this book; I would read a whole series set in this world! I thought the stories Lorelei studies were woven into the book very cleverly, and all the creatures reminded me of Holly Black's world in a really lovely way. The way each character interacts with the world they travel through in the book was so well-written too, and so vividly imagined.

this was beautifully written and I loved the concept, however it felt a bit like it went nowhere, and has already been done before very similarly

Thank you to NetGalley, Allison Saft, and Daphne Press for a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for an honest review.

5⭐
A DARK AND DROWNING TIDE is a beautiful mystery by Allison Saft, following an uptight folklorist and a whimsical naturalist as they seek to uncover the truth at the heart of their expedition. These academic rivals (turned lovers, my absolute favourite trope) are joined by four other fascinating characters. These six individuals are the true heart of the story, with the standout being the main character, Lorelai.

Lorelai’s portrayal is deeply moving. Despite her prickly exterior, her journey of self-forgiveness for events no one else blames her for makes her incredibly endearing. She navigates a world steeped in anti-Semitism, and this adds another layer of depth to her character. Watching her grow while facing external and internal battles is one of the novel’s highlights.

Saft’s writing beautifully captures the balance between rich world-building and the emotional complexity of her characters. The relationship dynamics, especially between Lorelai and Sylvia, feel authentic and engaging. This is a beautiful dark fantasy, with a delicious sapphic slow burn romance that had me entranced until the very end. Fans of Samantha Shannon who want the same emotional and complex characters will find a lot to love here, but following a germanic fairytale theme perfect for autumn. I really loved this book, and look forward to the next from Saft!

3.5/5 ⭐️

A Dark and Drowning Tide is a fantasy standalone with a strong dark academia feel throughout. In which, we follow Lorelai and Sylvia, two academic rivals of folklore, and their journey to uncover the murder mystery of their mentor and their feelings for each other at the same time.

I enjoyed the main premise of the plot and must say that I’ve never encountered a murder mystery plot in a fantasy setting before and found it added to the eerie atmosphere perfectly. I also really enjoyed the quest and all of the folklore we met along the way- that was probably my favourite part of the whole book, I thought it was really well done.

Lorelai and Sylvia’s romance I found enjoyable, particularly the yearning- I liked what we had but would’ve definitely loved even more. I did, however, find the use of the enemies to lovers style trope a little confusing. The term academic rivals to lovers certainly feels more fitting. The tension between the two, I found, felt almost wholly one-sided and a little forced.

As for the characters generally, I think I liked (and disliked) them as much as was intended. Although, I did expect to connect with Sylvia more than I did. Perhaps dual perspective would’ve helped with that.

This book is made for the autumn time, so I definitely read it at the right time of year. I think I would recommend this book to fans of Ava Reid’s A Study in Drowning and Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde series.

4.5 stars!!

A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft is a sapphic academic rivals (and trust me they are really rivals!!!) to lovers murder mystery grumpy sunshine adventurous epic quest type fantasy? Whatever it was, I was eating it up!!
We follow our main character Lorelei Kaskel, who is a folklorist, as she embarks on an expedition with her mentor and some peers to find a spring said to be a source for magic. When her mentor gets murdered, chaos erupts, an unlikely alliance forms and their trip just barely begun. The drama was very entertaining as well.
Our main character Lorelei Kaskel was so so brutally honest which I found hilarious at times. And Sylvia Von Wolff was almost a mythical creature the way Lorelei described her. Her white silver hair reminded me of Alina from the Shadow and Bone Trilogy. The romance arc is a little more on the side but still so fleshed out and the timeline of the romance feels realistic alongside Lorelai’s and Sylvia’s character development. It is a REAL slow-burn rivals/enemies to lovers people!!
“When Lorelei looked at her, she felt sick with an emotion she preferred not to name.”
The way Saft illustrates the world they live in is enchanting and magical. From the whimsical villages, to the dark forests, to the icy mountains, everything feels alive due to the writing style. It was a very atmospheric read with expansive fantasy elements and worldbuilding. So much that it could still be a duology!!! (Allison please).

SOMEONE SAID THE SONG TO SWEET FITS THE STORY AND KNOW I CANT UNSEE IT
*screaming*

Okay so I will be reading all of Allison Saft’s backlog know because I love her writing style and character building!!!

An absolute dream of a book. A Dark and Drowning Tide is a beautifully written and incredibly atmospheric fantasy read that centres around a murder mystery and a folklore-inspired academic adventure. Saft's writing is lyrical and immersive in a way that transports you straight into an eery, misty, sparsely candle-lit setting with characters you don't trust but can't help growing fond of.

The story is riveting from the start. I love the fusion of an academic setting with folklore and magic. The way Saft weaves several folklore stories into the book really elevates the dark whimsical atmosphere, and enriches our understanding of Lorelei Kaskel as a character by providing insight into how she views or interprets the world through these stories. This book grappled well with difficult themes such as belonging, racial/ethnic injustice, loyalty and forgiveness. I especially appreciated the way Saft wrote Loreli's experience as a Yeva in Brunnestaad - a second class citizen, an outsider. It was harrowing to read but I felt that Saft did justice to the issues explored.

The only small gripe I have for this book is that it is marketed as academic rivals to lovers and I do not believe the romance in here delivers on that. Don't get me wrong: the romance plot is especially good and filled with lots of yearning and is a deliciously slow burn. I also LOVE that it is sapphic. However, it is not a rivals-to-lovers (and it shouldn't have to be labelled as such). To call it a 'rivalry' is a slight exaggeration and feels a bit forced. That being said, I loved the way the romance subplot was written and the development of their affections. The angst and suppressed longing between these two is simply spectacular.

If you are looking for dark academia vibes featuring institutional politics, career rivalries, and a whodunnit ... this is definitely the book for you. I adore this book. A solid 5 stars from me.

Loved it and had a lot of fun. A mix of fantasy and mystery, two rivals who must join forces, and a lot of action+adventure.
I loved how the author was able to balance the different aspects and keep the romance as one of them and not the main one.
Great storytelling and world building. Can't wait to read another book by this author
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Ps: I fell in love with the gorgeous cover