Allison Saft

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 true: 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 dark: 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.

A Dark and Drowning Tide

grayson gruber

special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced look at the book in exchange for an honest review.

Beautifully written dark academia, featuring sapphic rivals to lovers - literally count me in. This story follows Lorelei and Slyvia and their group as they try to find the wellspring. The magic and adventure plot is extremely fun to experience along side them. We have tons of magic, political intrigue, folklore, mythical creatures and more.

Their love story was so poetic and wonderful. The way they are completely different but fit so perfectly well together. I wish we had more of just the two of them.

The beginning of the story is a little bit hard to get into. It’s a lot of world building that is hard to understand as a reader with no knowledge of German folklore. It look me a lot longer to get throughout, but once you get to the certain big plot of the story it gets easier.

Overall this book, the cover, the characters are all so dark fairy tale aesthetic. Would recommend to all those who would enjoy jumping into that kind of world!

Emily McMeans

“She would never know how much of this bitterness within her was innate and how much had been shaped by the inevitable cruelty of living.”

Romy

Despite everything that has happened, you have made me believe there is beauty to be found.

She'd give anything to bask in the light of her love forever. But for now, she kissed her until she felt lit from within, shimmering and warm and safe.

"One word from you, and I shall be the happiest woman in the universe.

bellamy-hill

Even if they no longer understood her, they loved her. If only she could say she was doing all of this for them.

Someday, maybe, they'd benefit from her selfishness.

"It's unwise to take your eyes off a dying thing, you know," Johann said. "Everything becomes more vicious and beautiful in its final moments."

A Dark and Drowning Tide quotes

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