The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
kaiiyo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Such a beautiful and respectful depiction of trauma and healing. Came at a very fitting time in my life and provides a powerful message about grief and the ways it manifests. The way dissociation and anxiety are written feel like one of the most accurate and compassionate portrayals I've seen.
Yes sometimes overcoming trauma is all bloody knuckles and determination but just being alive is also a testament of great strength ❤️
Yes sometimes overcoming trauma is all bloody knuckles and determination but just being alive is also a testament of great strength ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Colonisation, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Sexism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Sexual content
amelianotthepilot's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.0
A gothic fantasy full of feminine rage.
It has everything of a classic gothic novel: a female who’s maybe mad or uncovering something, a spooky house with a spooky man, and a mystery to keep her there with a sprinkle of romance.
I overall really enjoyed this story. I loved the characters and the spooky gothic house. The water and drowning imagery was also delicious. I loved the feminine rage and depictions of the female experience.
The plot was a bit obvious towards the end and the last two chapters of wrap up were boring. There were a lot of quotable lines but also an equal amount of cringey pompous lines. I loved the world building but at the same time for a stand alone novel it seemed unnecessary for a personal success plot. It followed the main character and her struggles not a political or societal change.
It follows Effy who is the first female architecture student at this university. She enters a competition to build a house in memorial for her favorite author who has recently passed away. She is invited to the house to discuss and finalize her plans only to get there and see how truly messed up and spooky the current house is. The house is on the cliff which could be swallowed by the sea at any moment. Will Effy, the creepy man owner of the house, and the other male student researching there survive or succumb to the house?
It has everything of a classic gothic novel: a female who’s maybe mad or uncovering something, a spooky house with a spooky man, and a mystery to keep her there with a sprinkle of romance.
I overall really enjoyed this story. I loved the characters and the spooky gothic house. The water and drowning imagery was also delicious. I loved the feminine rage and depictions of the female experience.
The plot was a bit obvious towards the end and the last two chapters of wrap up were boring. There were a lot of quotable lines but also an equal amount of cringey pompous lines. I loved the world building but at the same time for a stand alone novel it seemed unnecessary for a personal success plot. It followed the main character and her struggles not a political or societal change.
It follows Effy who is the first female architecture student at this university. She enters a competition to build a house in memorial for her favorite author who has recently passed away. She is invited to the house to discuss and finalize her plans only to get there and see how truly messed up and spooky the current house is. The house is on the cliff which could be swallowed by the sea at any moment. Will Effy, the creepy man owner of the house, and the other male student researching there survive or succumb to the house?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Death of parent, Sexism, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, and Adult/minor relationship
nemsie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Effy Sayre, an architecture student, finds herself designing the blueprints for her most beloved author's manor in the Bottom Hundred, which is believed to be due for it's second drowning. A Study in Drowning uncovers the mysteries behind Myrddin and the Fairy King.
This book was challenging. The faults of Effy are a main theme in the story while she deals with childhood trauma, her sexual assault, and mental health. It's easy to relate to her through the beginning, and you want to follow her as she navigates her way through a world against her, largely because she's a woman. The mystery and magic of the Fairy King follows you from page 1 to the very end, whether you realize it at first or not. The story is heart-wrenching, romantic, magical, while also dark and mysterious. If you enjoy fantasy, romance, AND mystery, you'll enjoy the ride this book brings.
This book was challenging. The faults of Effy are a main theme in the story while she deals with childhood trauma, her sexual assault, and mental health. It's easy to relate to her through the beginning, and you want to follow her as she navigates her way through a world against her, largely because she's a woman. The mystery and magic of the Fairy King follows you from page 1 to the very end, whether you realize it at first or not. The story is heart-wrenching, romantic, magical, while also dark and mysterious. If you enjoy fantasy, romance, AND mystery, you'll enjoy the ride this book brings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Abandonment
btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A Study in Drowning is an impeccable study in world building - the writing is atmospheric and full, while also filling you full of dread. It was definitely one of those books where you think, "I'm not happy to be here, but I'm intrigued. Proceed." The uncomfy feeling that sat on my chest through this story made it harder to read, but the writing made it hard to look away. It was an interesting reading experience for sure.
While I loved the premise of the story and the tidbits of magic and horror that we get, I feel like much of the problems the characters run into are solved too easily. Need to find proof of something? Go from point A to point B and tada - it's right there waiting for them. A lot of things felt too convenient which often pulled me out of the story.
Additionally, the romance felt too quick. Effy is so rude to Preston when he, objectively, has done nothing to actually offend her. They weren't rivals, really, Effy was just a classist B who needed someone to yell at since everyone else was a misogynistic a-hole. I didn't like her a lot because of that, and their declarations of feelings came much too fast when that was the base of their relationship. It was not for me, honestly.
I did love the overall message. It didn't feel preachy - in fact, it felt magical and I loved that. The way Ava Reid weaved together the story and connected all the dots at the end was absolutely brilliant and I almost wish we could've scrapped the whole romance plot for more depth into the magic of the world.
All in all, this was a solid read, but the stakes for the obstacles they faced (other than a few obvious big ones) felt so low and too easy. I wish there was a bit more meat to those aspects, but enjoyed the book as a whole.
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3.5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 3/5
Overall: 3.5/5
TW: misogyny, sexism, sexual harassment, sexual assault, grief, injury detail, PTSD, mental illness, emotional abuse, blood; mentions death of a parent, abandonment, adult/minor relationship, xenophobia
eARC gifted via NetGalley by HarperTeen in exchange for an honest review.
While I loved the premise of the story and the tidbits of magic and horror that we get, I feel like much of the problems the characters run into are solved too easily. Need to find proof of something? Go from point A to point B and tada - it's right there waiting for them. A lot of things felt too convenient which often pulled me out of the story.
Additionally, the romance felt too quick. Effy is so rude to Preston when he, objectively, has done nothing to actually offend her. They weren't rivals, really, Effy was just a classist B who needed someone to yell at since everyone else was a misogynistic a-hole. I didn't like her a lot because of that, and their declarations of feelings came much too fast when that was the base of their relationship. It was not for me, honestly.
I did love the overall message. It didn't feel preachy - in fact, it felt magical and I loved that. The way Ava Reid weaved together the story and connected all the dots at the end was absolutely brilliant and I almost wish we could've scrapped the whole romance plot for more depth into the magic of the world.
All in all, this was a solid read, but the stakes for the obstacles they faced (other than a few obvious big ones) felt so low and too easy. I wish there was a bit more meat to those aspects, but enjoyed the book as a whole.
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3.5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 3/5
Overall: 3.5/5
TW: misogyny, sexism, sexual harassment, sexual assault, grief, injury detail, PTSD, mental illness, emotional abuse, blood; mentions death of a parent, abandonment, adult/minor relationship, xenophobia
eARC gifted via NetGalley by HarperTeen in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Grief, and Misogyny
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Blood
Minor: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Adult/minor relationship
fransbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
sydapel's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Another author I would do anything for. This book is a gothic, feminist, dark academia, rivals to lovers fantasy DREAM. Ava Reid blends the eerie and foreboding atmosphere of Hiraeth Manor with a story about how women are treated as both too seductive and too silly to be taken seriously in any - but particularly academic - settings. Effy as the main character brings you so fully into your own head that you like her, begin to question your own sense of reality and sense, and slowly we begin to understand how the monsters in our heads, though not entirely real, come from genuine places of trauma, abuse and mistreatment. I read this mostly in one sitting, and now desperately want Mike Flanagan to adapt for TV.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Mental illness, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment
malisac16's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Abandonment and Bullying
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
kayteebee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
booketofbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
1 heard a lot of hype about this book and for me, it did not disappoint. As a fan of faerie- lore retellings, I should mention that I am the target demographic for this book. Ava Reid's writing style also happened to work for me, and I really appreciated her commitment to certain thematic elements and the inclusion of literary devices throughout the book.
Our FMC, Effie, is a young college student who's feeling unmoored.
Although this is a magical alternate universe, men are still men-ning, and she has to settle for a position in Architecture since Literature is off limits to women. After her (male) supervisor assaults her, she feels even more dejected as she becomes the subject of gossip and rumors. A glimmer of hope arrives in the form of a competition. The winner will develop the blueprints to rebuild the home of the nation's beloved author, who is recently deceased and also happens to be Effie's favorite. The fictional author's work is an epic poem about a mortal woman who loves the Fairy King but ultimately must save herself from him. Effie has a personal connection to the Fairy King, but she doesn't trust her own memory after years of being gaslit by the adults around her, and she self-medicates to deal with the lasting effects. After arriving to the grounds of the home, she meets the volatile son of the author, as well as Preston, a student who is a rival of sorts. He has a suspicion that Effie's beloved author is actually a fraud. They team up to find out the real origins of the story and discover the secrets of the mysterious home and its owner.
From the outset, I was really captured by Ava Reid's word choice. Her description of the surroundings may be tedious to some, but to me, her writing is so specific and masterfully deliberate. I was reminded of Spinning Silver, and the love story paralleled that of Divine Rivals, so if you're a fan of those, add this to your TBR. Although there were a few explanations at the end that seemed a tad convenient, overall I enjoyed the book. Do check trigger warnings, as the book discusses SA, mental health, and trauma.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual assault, and Sexism
cortanasreadingnook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was a sight to behold. I’d never thought a fantasy read could never be cozier till I met A Study in Drowning, whose story deals about a girl defying all the odds as an architecture student and a woman while struggling to make sense of her reality, and a literature scholar with a knack for academic integrity. Ava Reid’s writing is absolutely meticulous and at the same time it articulates the prejudices of a patriarchal society.
It’s incredibly impressive how she built a fantastical world off of European folkloric tradition and culture involving gods and the Fair Folk, with amazing prose and rhetorical imagery. The twists and turns in this book were truly unexpected. The soft and slow-budding romance between our sensitive but hard-driven main character and her smug but adorably handsome male lead was also not only emotionally gratifying to read, but it also takes us through their humorous, banter-filled adventure in the pursuit of truth that might end in a perilous conclusion.
It’s incredibly impressive how she built a fantastical world off of European folkloric tradition and culture involving gods and the Fair Folk, with amazing prose and rhetorical imagery. The twists and turns in this book were truly unexpected. The soft and slow-budding romance between our sensitive but hard-driven main character and her smug but adorably handsome male lead was also not only emotionally gratifying to read, but it also takes us through their humorous, banter-filled adventure in the pursuit of truth that might end in a perilous conclusion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Car accident and Medical trauma