Reviews tagging 'Torture'

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

4 reviews

kenzaett's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I went into this knowing nothing but the title, and that it was a runner up for book of the year..

Did I expect a wonderfully written novel thats engaging, has dark academia, found family, enemies to lovers, grumpy x grumpy, mystery, academic rivals tropes, dark urban fantasy, fae legend proving true, great world building, feminism, mental health awareness, and is trickled with beautiful poetry, in a gloomy, misty island setting?? 

Did I LOVE IT and read half of it within one day? Yes!!! 

And the romance was JUST the right amount, not overly annoying or taking away from the protagonist's innner conflict, or the mystery in the plot. 
THE FMC is called Effy, btw. What other Effies do we know? Trinket, the one from skims... She's another one in a line of amazing, uniquely flawed and intriguing characters! 

The "plot twist" was a bit expectable, but I don't mind figuring it out earlier than the protagonists. It was just too obvious

with there only being one name unmentioned and then turning out to be exactly her, lol.

You'll love this if you liked books like Divine Rivals or , cold oceans and cliff sides, LOADS of references to water, a slow burn academic rivals romance, elements of fairy tales, female empowerment, discussions of mental health... And beautiful, poetic writing!

Here are my favorite, most memorable wuotes;

(TBA) 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Drug use, Chronic illness, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief

Moderate: Murder, Addiction, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Abandonment, Torture, Xenophobia, and Mental illness

Minor: Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Car accident, and Violence

lizzye33's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Blood, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Death, and Mental illness

Moderate: Classism, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, and Death

Minor: Torture, Sexual assault, Gore, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Cursing, Child death, Car accident, Body shaming, Animal death, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, War, Terminal illness, Religious bigotry, Kidnapping, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Rape, and Domestic abuse

smellymiche's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Torture, Sexual harassment, and Misogyny

cristina_m_casas's review against another edition

adventurous 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? It's complicated

4.75

I really love Ava’s books. This one is the perfect middle ground between The Wolf & The Woodsman & Juniper & Thorn. I come away from each of Ava’s books feeling like just the girl she’s written them for. This book is once again a tender love letter to survivors. 

The dark academia/gothic blend was so well executed. 

Having followed her for a while & kept up with not just her progress on this book but also the little bit of her life she shares online, it was interesting to see how much of herself & her fiancé she put into this book.

I did have a couple of qualms with the book. The biggest being that while I understand the symbolism behind

having Effy’s showdown with the Fairy King as he posses Ianto being over so quickly to demonstrate how absolutely inconsequential he is to Effy etc. it still had an air of disappointment to it. The whole book was building to this climax & I appreciate what Ava was going for, but I think it was a path that requires some faith on the part of the reader to continue & sit with why that was the choice. Additionally, I wish we had gotten an explanation from Angharad herself as to why she never made herself known before the very end.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Death

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Torture, Vomit, War, and Panic attacks/disorders