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A review by myleejmiller
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
In A Study In Drowning by Ava Reid, Effy Sayre is a steadfast believer in all things magic and mythical - especially when it comes to the tales of her favorite author. Stuck in architecture college while dreaming about becoming a literature student, she seeks a way to prove herself in the only way she can: by taking on a job to rebuild her favorite, now-deceased, author's ruined home. But Emrys Myrddin's house isn't all natural, and by visiting it, she might just uncover the truth of magic and reality... alongside how they come together.
This book is the first novel I have read, in years, that kept me thinking about it during all hours of the day. I stayed up all night to read it, finishing it in less than two days whereas all my other reads this year have taken me weeks to finish. It was, by definition, unputdownable. I couldn't get over this lush, gritty, alluring story. It's everything I didn't know I needed in a fantasy book. Although, perhaps I'm biased as a writer who picked this story up as a potential comp title.
A Study In Drowning is dark, immersive, and magical - in all the darkest, best possible ways. It was a story I'm not soon to forget. I don't often feel the desire to reread books outside of childhood favorites, but this novel made me want to pick it up and read it until the binding fell off. It was so good it made me grit my teeth and cry out when devastation plagued the plot. It was extraordinary, a life-changing narrative. Ava Reid has quickly climbed the ranks to become one of my favorite authors and I cannot wait to dig into her other stories.
There likely were problems with the novel, but I couldn't see them as immersed as I was. Definitely give this book a read if you ever have the chance, and follow Reid!
This book is the first novel I have read, in years, that kept me thinking about it during all hours of the day. I stayed up all night to read it, finishing it in less than two days whereas all my other reads this year have taken me weeks to finish. It was, by definition, unputdownable. I couldn't get over this lush, gritty, alluring story. It's everything I didn't know I needed in a fantasy book. Although, perhaps I'm biased as a writer who picked this story up as a potential comp title.
A Study In Drowning is dark, immersive, and magical - in all the darkest, best possible ways. It was a story I'm not soon to forget. I don't often feel the desire to reread books outside of childhood favorites, but this novel made me want to pick it up and read it until the binding fell off. It was so good it made me grit my teeth and cry out when devastation plagued the plot. It was extraordinary, a life-changing narrative. Ava Reid has quickly climbed the ranks to become one of my favorite authors and I cannot wait to dig into her other stories.
There likely were problems with the novel, but I couldn't see them as immersed as I was. Definitely give this book a read if you ever have the chance, and follow Reid!