A Dark and Drowning Tide

This book breathes folklore. Rivers, forests that shift, shape‑shifts, sleeping dragons under water these details made me pause and want to linger. The world of Brunnestaad feels dangerous but beautiful, and her touch with mythic details often gave me chills. Lorelei’s Yevani background adds emotional weight and cultural richness. I found Lorelei to be compelling as a main character not always likable, but always interesting. Her guardedness, her anger, her insecurities they make her real. Sylvia’s more polished, more outwardly composed, which makes the contrast and their dynamic fun. The slow build of their relationship mutual irritation, distrust, but also admiration hit many of the right emotional notes for me. If you like romances that don’t rush in, this book has you. Their chemistry is subtle, the push‑and‑pull is satisfying, and when the romance moments do come, they land harder because of that buildup. There’s emotional tension, longing, reluctant trust it resonated for me.