Think twice if…
- Content warnings: Anxiety, Panic attacks, Depression, Self-harm, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Attempted murder, Torture, Drowning, Death, Grief, Body horror
Curious Tides
by Pascale Lacelle
Book 1 in Drowned Gods
It delivers dark academia with actual undertow: lunar magic, drowned students, secret societies, and a slow-burn bond built on dangerous knowledge.
goodreads 3.79/5 14,571 ratings
Quick fit
Is this story right for you?
A decision-first view of the reading experience.
Length544 pages
Series statusCompleted series · 3 books
Spice1/5 · Closed door / fade to black
PacingMedium
Story profile
What the story promises
The strongest reviewed signals about romance, fantasy, and the reading experience.
Romance promise
- Slow burn
- Male/female pairing (M/F)
- Low
- Closed door / fade to black
- Book hangover
- Scholar/intellectual
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- Intellectual connection
- Slow seduction
- Thought-provoking
- Damaged survivor
- Hurt/comfort
- Longing glances
- The angst delivered
- Mysterious stranger
- Forbidden love
- Tension
- Anticipation
Fantasy promise
- Ya romantasy
- Dark academia romance
- Academy / campus
- Academy / school
- Humans only
- Coastal / island / beach
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- Gothic
- Forced alliance
- Low fantasy / secret magic
Reading experience
- Dual POV
- Medium
- Dark
- Atmospheric
- Heavy
- High
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- Healer
- Mental health rep
- Mysterious
- Survivor
- Anxiety rep
- Lush
- Witch/mage
- Depression rep
- Introspective
- Haunting
- Forbidden knowledge
- No one is safe
- Plot twist heavy
- Cliffhanger warning
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Matched by the most important shared story signals, with the tradeoffs made explicit.
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Intellectual connection · Scholar/intellectual · Dark academia romance
Different because
Slow pacing rather than Medium. A shorter read (416 vs 544 pages).
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Intellectual connection · Dark academia romance · Plot twist heavy
Different because
It is standalone rather than completed. Slow pacing rather than Medium.
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Similar because
Intellectual connection · Scholar/intellectual · Witch/mage
Different because
Spice is higher (3/5 vs 1/5). A shorter read (384 vs 544 pages).
Book details
- Length
- 544 pages
- Publisher
- Margaret K. McElderry Books
- Language
- English
- Format
- Book