Review of ‘The Dark Tide’ (The Dark Tide #1)

Synopsis

The Wicked Deep meets A Curse So Dark and Lonely in this gripping, dark fairy-tale fantasy about two girls who must choose between saving themselves, each other, or their sinking island city.

Every year on St. Walpurga's Eve, Caldella's Witch Queen lures a boy back to her palace. An innocent life to be sacrificed on the full moon to keep the island city from sinking.

Lina Kirk is convinced her brother is going to be taken this year. To save him, she enlists the help of Thomas Lin, the boy she secretly loves, and the only person to ever escape from the palace. But they draw the queen's attention, and Thomas is chosen as the sacrifice.

Queen Eva watched her sister die to save the boy she loved. Now as queen, she won't make the same mistake. She's willing to sacrifice anyone if it means saving herself and her city.

When Lina offers herself to the queen in exchange for Thomas's freedom, the two girls await the full moon together. But Lina is not at all what Eva expected, and the queen is nothing like Lina envisioned. Against their will, they find themselves falling for each other. As water floods Caldella's streets and the dark tide demands its sacrifice, they must choose who to save: themselves, each other, or the island city relying on them both.

Review

The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska, is a gripping dark fairy-tale fantasy.

An excellent dark fantasy. Honestly, this was such a good novel, and the LGBTQ representation was excellent. The fact that it just exists in the story, so naturally, makes the novel astounding. It also adds to the world-building and the depth of the characterization since the main character has two moms. It is invigorating to see it just bleed into the confines of the societal structure in the novel,making the novel more realistic in an impactful way.

Exceptional Storytelling

As for the story, the world-building is exceptional. There are snippets of where these people came from and why they live in a world that is both beautiful and tragic. It gives off this wonderful feeling as it lures the reader into the story and the history of the world without overwhelming the reader. It has a breathtaking edge to it as it is something rather unique. The Dark Tide also steps away from classic fantasy tropes and cliches revolving dark fantasy, witches, and romance, making the novel even more engaging for the reader.

Jasinska did a fantastic job in constructing this novel, giving the reader a look at the characters, a look at their pain, guilt, remorse, and desires. She creates complex characters in a complex narrative to keep the story engaging. Lina is the unsuspecting heroine of the novel and works hard to keep those she cares about safe.

Admittedly, Lina is not the most engaging character in the beginning. Lina is relatable, there is no doubt about that, but it is not until Lina meets Eva that she becomes engaging, and that has to do with the character dynamics. Eva is a brilliant character because of her complex nature. In the beginning, it does not seem that way, but as the story continues, it peels away layers of her past to reveal why she has so much anger, so much grief, and her connection with Lina, it is empowering to both of them. Together they make such an incredible duo.

Final Thought

The Dark Tide is a fantastic novel. The perfect pacing allows all aspects of the novel to grow and develop into a beautiful breath of fresh air.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

BUY ON BOOKSHOP

Like this review?

Don’t forget to follow Cyn’s Workshop on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads | LinkedIn to stay tuned for future reviews.

About the Author

Cynthia Bujnicki graduated from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has always loved to read since she was a child. A contributing writer for YA Fantasy Addicts, she is also the Editor-in-Chief for Cyn's Workshop. She lives in sunny South Florida with her husband and son and their two cats, Mr. J the Kitten and Nyx.