A Dark and Drowning Tide
Ratings7
Average rating3.8
15
Ratings7
Average rating3.8
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.
“Clever, emotional, and gorgeous—at its core, this is a story about the healing capacity of love”—Ava Reid, author of Juniper & Thorn
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 in order to secure his reign over the embattled country of Brunnestaad. Lorelei is determined to use this opportunity to prove herself and make her wildest, most impossible dream come true: to become a naturalist, able to travel freely to lands she’s only 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 the 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 dark: forests that rearrange themselves at night, rivers with slumbering dragons hiding 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 each other—they discover that their leader had secrets of her own. Secrets that make Lorelei question whether justice is worth pursuing, and if this kingdom is worth saving at all.
Reviews with the most likes.
A very easy to read book with a mystical and almost a whimsical feeling storyline. My favourite parts all involved touches of folklore or even the mystical creatures themselves. This was a definite rivals-to-lovers rather than enemies-to-lovers.
Allison Saft introduces us into a world divided, but with inhabitants that live in the wild nature that could either ignore or maul you. The world building is exquisite, though I wish we delved more into the magic that flowed through the people. Most of them just seemed to make ice spears...
Our main characters are both feisty and headstrong, which does get a little bit irritating sometimes (especially with Lorelai), but when they realise their lack of communication with each other clears up a lot of misunderstandings, it's almost endearing to see them together.
The other characters were also interesting in their own way (Ludwig has become his own botanical wonder for investigation). Their personalities shone through, each with clear determination to do what they set out to. Perhaps more than some...
Nonetheless, an enjoyable dark sapphic read.
