A Dark and Drowning Tide
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Daphne Press
Published:23rd Sep '25
Should be back in stock very soon
INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
A sharp-tongued folklorist and her academic rival must solve their mentor's murder in this lush 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 mythical spring of untold power. The king wants to harness the fabled water source from which magic flows to secure his reign, and Lorelei is determined to prove herself. It’s a small cost to make her dream come true: to become a naturalist, able to travel freely to faraway lands.
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. 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 other dangers lurk 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.
Richly imagined and as bewitching as a naiad's song, A Dark and Drowning Tide deftly weaves romance with powerful indictments of the fetid, nationalistic roots of our favorite fairy tales. But for each prick of a prejudicial thorn, Saft offers her readers a balm-at its core, this is a story about the healing capacity of love. Clever, emotional, and gorgeous.
—Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Juniper & Thorn
A Dark and Drowning Tide is an enchanting tale in an intricately realized world. The narrative is laced with folk tales and enlivened by brave and clever protagonists. Its adventures are enriched by Allison Saft's beautiful prose, making it the perfect read for lovers of fantasy.
—Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches
Haunting and bewitchingly romantic, A Dark and Drowning Tide deftly twines mystery and lore and adventure. Protagonists Lorelei and Sylvia illuminate their surrounding gloom and will sweep you clean off your feet. I loved every page.
—Rachel Gillig, New York Times bestselling author of One Dark Window
Richly imagined and deftly told, A Dark and Drowning Tide is a story that draws you deep as any unexplored wild and leaves you changed on the other side.
—Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of The Foxglove King
Rich with folklore, mystery vibes, and academic rivalry, A Dark and Drowning Tide is also a nuanced and compassionate story about two women who must overcome class and cultural divides to help each other survive.
—Sunyi Dean, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Bookeaters
A dreamy fantasy which, like the dark folktales cleverly woven into its narrative, will captivate readers with its beguiling atmosphere and intricate lore. Beware: Once you sink into A Dark and Drowning Tide, you may not want to resurface.
—Chelsea Abdullah, author of The Stardust Thief
Reading A Dark and Drowning Tide is like being immersed in a fairytale. Allison Saft writes beautifully, and she fearlessly explores powerful themes in this compelling, magical novel infused with folklore and woven through with a sapphic, rivals-to-lovers romance that will leave you breathless. It's dark academia fantasy perfection.
—India Holton, author of The Secret Service of Tea and Treason
ISBN: 9781837840915
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
400 pages