Title: A Dark and Drowning TideAuthor: Allison Saft
Pages: 384
Publication Date: Sept 17, 2024
Publisher: Del Rey
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Fantasy / Romantasy
Synopsis:
A sharp-tongued folklorist must pair up with her academic rival to solve their mentor’s murder in this lush and enthralling sapphic fantasy romance from the New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic .
Lorelei Kaskel, a folklorist with a quick temper and an even quicker wit, is on an expedition with six eccentric nobles in search of a fabled spring. The magical spring promises untold power, which the king wants to harness to secure his reign of the embattled country of Brunnestaad. Lorelei is determined to use this opportunity to prove herself and make her wildest, most impossible dream come to become a naturalist, able to travel freely to lands she’s only ever read about.
The expedition gets off to a harrowing start when its leader—Lorelei’s beloved mentor—is murdered in her quarters aboard their ship. The suspects are her five remaining expedition mates, each with their own motive. The only person Lorelei knows must be innocent is her longtime academic rival, the insufferably gallant and maddeningly beautiful Sylvia von Wolff. Now in charge of the expedition, Lorelei must find the spring before the murderer strikes again—and a coup begins in earnest.
But there are other dangers lurking in the forests that rearrange themselves at night, rivers with slumbering dragons waiting beneath the water, and shapeshifting beasts out for blood.
As Lorelei and Sylvia grudgingly work together to uncover the truth—and resist their growing feelings for one another—they discover that their professor had secrets of her own. Secrets that make Lorelei question whether justice is worth pursuing, or if this kingdom is worth saving at all.
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An entertaining sapphic fantasy rich in folklore, A Dark and Drowning Tide is Allison Saft’s adult fantasy debut. I was so excited to read this since I’ve loved all of the author’s books. Saft has a distinct and gorgeously enchanting and immersive, writing style, and it was no surprise that I found myself easily pulled into this magical story.
The story includes a murder mystery, a variety of settings, dark academia vibes, political intrigue, and a fabulous rivals- to-lovers love story. It’s an interesting combination, and there are many twists and turns as Lorelei, a folklorist, teams up with her rival Sylvia to figure out who killed their mentor and professor. On an expedition with several others, they all have their own motives for murder, and it makes for a layered and intriguing adventure.
Lorelei and Sylvie’s slow-burning rivals-to-lovers relationship is my favorite part of the story. I just loved these two and how their feelings slowly changed over the course of the story. There’s so much pining and angst, and the perfect amount of groveling. Plus, the chemistry between the two is fantastic – sharp and humorous and filled with tension.
The setting is rich and atmospheric, and the world-building and magic are well constructed, though some parts did feel like a lot of information was given at once. That didn’t detract from the story though and made sense when reading. The plot is interesting, too, with a lot of suspense and an intriguing murder mystery. All of the crew had plausible reasons to commit the crime, and I liked how they slowly unraveled what happened.
Something I really like about Saft’s writing is the way she weaves everything together. The folklore, worldbuilding, characters, politics, and relationships are nuanced and well crafted, which makes for a seamless read. This book is no exception. It’s a dark, dangerous, and exciting adventure with great characters and a wonderfully romantic subplot.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
- The characters
- The romance
- The writing style.
“I want you however I can have you. I want you brutal, I wat you tender, and I want you at your best and your worst. Saints. I want you, Lorelei…”
Allison Saft is the New York Times and indie bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic and Down Comes the Night. After receiving her MA in English Literature from Tulane University, she moved from the Gulf Coast to the West Coast, where she spends her time rolling on eight wheels and practicing aerial silks. She lives with her partner and an Italian greyhound named Marzipan.
