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A Dark and Drowning Tide full box (Illumicrate 'Darker Academia' exclusive)
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Illumicrate

September's Theme

Allison Saft

A Dark and Drowning Tide full box (Illumicrate 'Darker Academia' exclusive)

Featured book: A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft

A redesigned cover (by @niallcgrant; design by @chattynora)

Full colour printing and foil on the hardback utilising the US cover art (by @audreybenjaminsenart; design by @chattynora)

Digitally printed edges (by @niallcgrant)

Illustrated endpapers (by @hopechristofferson; design by @chattynora), different front and back

Bound-in author letter, bonus material, signed by the author

September 2024 'Darker Academia' Illumicrate Box

This box was part of the Illumicrate subscription in September 2024 and is no longer available to purchase.

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About the product

An 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 fabled spring. The magical spring promises untold power, which the king wants to harness to secure his reign of the embattled country, and Lorelei is determined to use this opportunity to prove herself and 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, each with their own motive. The only person Lorelei knows must be innocent is her long-time academic rival, the insufferably gallant and maddeningly beautiful Sylvia von Wolff. Now in charge of the expedition, Lorelei must find the spring before a coup begins and 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.

Our Illumicrate Exclusive edition is a Royal hardback and features:

  • A redesigned cover (by @niallcgrant; design by @chattynora)
  • Full colour printing and foil on the hardback utilising the US cover art (by @audreybenjaminsenart; design by @chattynora)
  • Digitally printed edges (by @niallcgrant)
  • Illustrated endpapers (by @hopechristofferson; design by @chattynora), different front and back
  • Bound-in author letter
  • Bonus material
  • Signed by the author
  • Adult fantasy standalone
  • F/F romance; lesbian main character, lesbian love interest, queer side characters; Jewish main character; German folklore

Items included in the full box option:

  • The Dark Academia bookcase puzzle, artwork by Olivia Gibbs; designed by Chatty Nora
  • Scales And Wings task journal, designed by Gretchen Cobaugh
  • Wheels of Fate Reading prompt cards, designed by Franziska Stern
  • Foreshadowing glasses case, designed by Jay Kay

Photo: @melting_pages

'Clever, emotional, and gorgeous.' - Ava Reid

'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

Tropes for A Dark and Drowning Tide include: only one tent, optimist x cynic, tortured yearning, academic rivals to reluctant allies to lovers

Book merchandise

Our September 2024 'Darker Academia' box included:

  • The Dark Academia bookcase puzzle image

    The Dark Academia bookcase puzzle

    Artwork by Olivia Gibbs; designed by Chatty Nora

  • Scales And Wings task journal image

    Scales And Wings task journal

    Designed by Gretchen Cobaugh

  • Wheels of Fate Reading prompt cards image

    Wheels of Fate Reading prompt cards

    Designed by Franziska Stern

  • Foreshadowing glasses case image

    Foreshadowing glasses case

    Designed by Jay Kay

A Dark and Drowning Tide

  • Content Warning

    • Violence, including graphic descriptions of blood and injuries
    • Murder
    • Past death of a sibling (on page in flashback)
    • Antisemitism and scientific racism
    • Nationalism and imperialism
    • Grief and PTSD
    • Emesis

About the Author

Allison Saft is the New York Times, Sunday Times, and USA Today bestselling author of A Dark and Drowning Tide, A Fragile Enchantment, and other romantic fantasy novels. After receiving her MA in English Literature from Tulane University, she moved from the Gulf Coast to the West Coast, where she spends her time practicing aerial silks. She lives with her partner and an Italian greyhound named Marzipan.

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