Daphne Press has acquired A Dark and Drowning Tide plus one other adult fantasy title by New York Times bestselling author Allison Saft. A Dark and Drowning Tide is Saft’s adult fantasy debut, in which a Jewish folklorist must team up with her academic rival to solve their mentor’s murder, all while completing the expedition she was to lead them on.
Commissioning Editor Davi Lancett has acquired UK & Commonwealth (ex. Canada) rights from Rachel Kind at Penguin Random House US. Daphne Press will publish in hardback and ebook in September 2024, in line with the US.
Lancett says, “Allison is such a fantastic author and her YA titles are already fan-favourites. Her adult debut invites you into a stunningly rich fantasy world alongside a team of complex compelling characters. Their rivalry is delicious, the tension is pitch-perfect, and the atmosphere is hauntingly beautiful. Sapphic romance, folklore, murder… What more could you want?”
Saft comments, “I am beyond thrilled to work with Davi, Daphne, and the rest of the brilliant team at Daphne Press, whose work I have long admired for their creativity and vision. A Dark and Drowning Tide is my debut adult fantasy, and I can’t think of a better team to launch this new stage of my career. This is a story about stories. It’s about a young Jewish woman who believes her fate has already been indelibly written—and the noblewoman determined to prove her wrong. I wrote it for those who have grown thorns and who consequently feel they’re difficult to love. I’m so excited for readers to sink into this world full of dark whimsy, folkloric creatures, and larger-than-life characters.”