I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Lorelei Kaskel is venom-tongued, fiery tempered social outcast and misfit in her kingdom, her university, and her nonexistent social and professional circles. A reluctant folklorist under the wing of one of the King’s chief advisors, Lorelei is in a state of constant exasperation with her mentor’s other assistant, the the flighty, unserious, and infuriatingly attractive Sylvia von Wolff, princess of one of the King’s conquered provinces. Unwillingly included in an expedition with Sylvia and other noble friends of the King on a quest to find the source of magic in the kingdom, Lorelei’s mentor is murdered, leaving her in charge of the mission. Lorelei is suddenly stuck in unfriendly territory with at least one murderer amongst a group of people all looking for the source of magic that could create an unstoppable monster out of the person who reaches it first.
I loved A Dark and Drowning Tide. Loved it. Saft’s adept mixture of dark fantasy, romance, intrigue, and murder mystery works beautifully with Lorelei’s acerbic attitude and Sylvia’s seemingly childlike naivete. Their character growth over the group’s journey is as full of interesting twists and depths as Lorelei’s investigation into the murder of her mentor.
More importantly, all the characters had their own motives and secrets, which made all the characters suspicious. It was wonderful to not actually know whodunit in a whodunit story before the final twists occurred. Added to the mix of murder, politics, and romantic angst is a backdrop of some terrifyingly unpredictable fairytale and folklore creatures who present their own dangers to the group. There were quite a few sub-plots and story threads to manage in this book, and Saft expertly wove them into a tale full of monsters, magic, and a satisfyingly witty enemies-to-lovers romance.
While I enjoy a good political-intrigue retelling of the fairy tale genre, this book takes that idea and adds moral complexities that make the whole story much more engaging. None of the characters are fully good or evil, and the horrors of decades of war, conquest, and discrimination all play a role in the themes underlying the pretty veneer of a new kingdom looking for the ultimate prize. Selfishness and selflessness, loyalty, love, family, and destiny all make things wonderfully messy and unpredictable for the reader, so the ultimate journey is never straightforward. Easily five stars: A Dark and Drowning Tide is an excellent read. I hope there’s a sequel.
No Pithy Phrase 