Fantasy
A Dark and Drowning Tide
Allison Saft
A Dark and Drowning Tide
by Allison Saft
When their mentor is murdered during a royal expedition, folklorist Lorelei Kaskel has to work alongside Sylvia von Wolff, the aristocratic academic rival she can't stand. Sharp intellectual sparring and steady tension build a restrained, slow romance. A standalone. Content notes: graphic antisemitism, murder, violence.
About This Book
A Dark and Drowning Tide is a fantasy romance novel by Allison Saft, first published in 2024. Readers can expect rivals to lovers, forced proximity, slow burn; mild heat.
At a glance
- Genre
- Fantasy
- Trope
- Rivals to Lovers
- Heat
- Mild
- Published
- 2024
Where to read or listen
Get A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- When their mentor is murdered during a royal expedition, a folklorist must begrudgingly team up with her academic rival to survive.
- Readers who enjoy academic rivals
- Fans of character-driven fantasy
- Tense
- Features Rivals to Lovers
This may not be ideal if…
- Readers looking for explicit content
- Readers uncomfortable with graphic depictions of prejudice
- Heavy themes of antisemitism may be difficult for some readers
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: F/F
Pairing: unknown
Power balance: Academic peers with mutual intellectual sparring.
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
High tension.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
May not suit
Recommended audience: Adult/Young Adult Fantasy readers.
Content Guidance
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
After their mentor is murdered, Lorelei Kaskel is forced into a proximity-heavy alliance with Sylvia von Wolff, an aristocratic academic who has long been her rival. As they navigate the perils of a royal expedition, their antagonistic relationship shifts through intellectual combat and rising tension.
Central Conflict
The protagonists must solve the murder of their mentor while navigating a forced-proximity alliance amidst a dangerous royal expedition.
Setting
A royal expedition in an unspecified fantasy setting.
Strengths
- Strong central dynamic with academic sparring
- Well-defined, high-stakes premise
Consider before reading
- Heavy themes of antisemitism may be difficult for some readers
Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 3
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 4
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 5
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 6
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- October 13, 2026
- Confidence:
- High confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
Allison Saft
What Readers Say
No reviews yet
Be the first to share what you thought of this book.
Publication Details
- Published
- 2024
- Language
- English
A Dark and Drowning Tide: quick answers
- Who wrote A Dark and Drowning Tide?
- A Dark and Drowning Tide was written by Allison Saft.
- When was A Dark and Drowning Tide published?
- A Dark and Drowning Tide was first published in 2024.
- What genre is A Dark and Drowning Tide?
- A Dark and Drowning Tide is a fantasy romance novel, with rivals to lovers, forced proximity, slow burn.
- How spicy is A Dark and Drowning Tide?
- EIKNA rates A Dark and Drowning Tide as mild heat.
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Want more books like this?
Let Lyra help you discover lesbian romance books that match your exact mood, favorite tropes, and reading style.