A Dark and Drowning Tide

A new country still in the throes of becoming one, a ruler looking to solidify his power by gaining the power of the magic spring (the Ursprung), and the six people (after the leader is killed right off) with ideas and plans of their own, that he sent to go find it. Sounds like a solid story and it sure was. This land is flush with magic and folklore. But a lot of it is dangerous though Sylvia (quite the adventuress with charm galore called by the locals as the moonlight princess) and Lorelei (grumpy with sharp edges but also a very smart folklorist haunted by ghosts) and their compatriots travel far to find the spring. There are so many plans and assassinations there is hardly a quiet moment to declare love but the somehow they can still fit it in between charming and dodging nixies, alps and other creatures on the way to the spring. Sadly besides the magic, there is also hatred of other races (antisemitism) mixed in to ramp up the tension among the team (and villages they pass) and I couldn't decide who was trustworthy and who was willing to betray everyone for their own cause (well done), except for Lorelei and Sylvia of course! And it takes both of them together to make sure the spring's power ends up where it is supposed to. I have enjoyed all the books that Allison Saft has written and this one joins that pack with all the excitement and betrayals and magic and a sweet romance to end it all!