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reedrl333's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
3.5
This was my first read by this author and I enjoyed it. It is slower paced than my usual reads, but I was invested in the characters and enjoyed the authors writing style.
The main reason my rating isn’t higher is because the ending felt drawn out. It was unnecessary to explain every detail of the mystery like the end of a Scooby Doo episode, especially when it wasn’t all that hard to guess at in the first place. Even for a YA novel, I think the author should have a little more faith in the comprehension ability of the reader.
The main reason my rating isn’t higher is because the ending felt drawn out. It was unnecessary to explain every detail of the mystery like the end of a Scooby Doo episode, especially when it wasn’t all that hard to guess at in the first place. Even for a YA novel, I think the author should have a little more faith in the comprehension ability of the reader.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, and Sexual assault
Minor: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
whimsofmin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
4.75
I sat down and read this book in big chunks. I have missed doing this a lot! I love reading as a hobby and I love just sitting and reading for hours straight. I don't know if that improved my experience of this book, but either way I really loved it.
Sometimes it's nice to read younger characters, and when I accepted the mc was young and acting immaturely because of it, I connected with the book much better. Decisions that I thought (as a 30 y/o) seemed dumb, or annoying, I had to remember were being made by someone over 10 years younger, and in a very new and intimidating environment.
The book addressed themes of sexual assualt, in fact this, and misogyny, are main themes of the book. I guess I found them quite jarring initially, because I wasn't expecting them as plot devices, however the book did really well at addressing them and it explained some of the mc's initial meekness.
The fantasy elements of the story really bring it together, and set an interesting and haunting stage for the story to sit upon.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Study in Drowning, and I would highly recommend it to the right people.
Sometimes it's nice to read younger characters, and when I accepted the mc was young and acting immaturely because of it, I connected with the book much better. Decisions that I thought (as a 30 y/o) seemed dumb, or annoying, I had to remember were being made by someone over 10 years younger, and in a very new and intimidating environment.
The book addressed themes of sexual assualt, in fact this, and misogyny, are main themes of the book. I guess I found them quite jarring initially, because I wasn't expecting them as plot devices, however the book did really well at addressing them and it explained some of the mc's initial meekness.
The fantasy elements of the story really bring it together, and set an interesting and haunting stage for the story to sit upon.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Study in Drowning, and I would highly recommend it to the right people.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
foxdance's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
It's a personal pet peeve of mine when a book with beautiful writing and impeccable vibes packs all of its explanations on wth was going on in the last chapter or two. Oh, and it's always a firsthand account from a character central to the events that appears at the very end.
I loved the writing and I loved Effy's character. Personally, I wanted to know more about the world, the Drowning, the Southern superstitions. About the two nations embroiled in war and reasons for it. This book has such an interesting backdrop, so much lore to explore. But I guess it would've been a very different story then.
I loved the writing and I loved Effy's character. Personally, I wanted to know more about the world, the Drowning, the Southern superstitions. About the two nations embroiled in war and reasons for it. This book has such an interesting backdrop, so much lore to explore. But I guess it would've been a very different story then.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
teaph's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Loved it but i had to take a point and a quarter off for having guessed the plot from very early on (one character’s name is a strong giveaway if you know your classics) but that’s probably what happens when you read often. Likewise, i found that sometimes the world building was a little clumsy (ex: i was taken aback when Preston mentioned his dad watching TV because it had not seemed to me that these existed in this world).
The underlying story is pretty in the face too but i found it refreshing and i know it’s a topic very rarely touched upon — even more so in YA stories — so I was glad (plus, reading some “i believe you”s felt so nice…).
I love Preston and it’s one of those instances were “hets deserve some rights 👀”.
Can’t wait to read the sequel, although this one wrapped up well enough to have been left as a stand alone.
The underlying story is pretty in the face too but i found it refreshing and i know it’s a topic very rarely touched upon — even more so in YA stories — so I was glad (plus, reading some “i believe you”s felt so nice…).
I love Preston and it’s one of those instances were “hets deserve some rights 👀”.
Can’t wait to read the sequel, although this one wrapped up well enough to have been left as a stand alone.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Grief and Death of parent
brockoli's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Grief, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent and Deportation
snikhtha's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I don't know if it's because this is the first time listening to an audiobook, but boy oh boy, was this just... not my thing.
The atmosphere and setting felt eery and I kind of liked the weird time period. The little starts to the chapter with in-world text excerpts was fun. The mythology also seems pretty fun. Misogyny, the central theme of the novel, had some good portrayals - the parts on power dynamics and age gaps were very interesting and timely.
Unfortunately, the theme was just so overt that it made the central mystery of the novel sooo boring. The theme is misogyny, the central mystery is an author who might not have written his own work... hmmmm, I wonder who it could be! I don't have a problem guessing plot twists, but when you have to slog through an entire book just for the characters to uncover what you've known all along... that's just boring.
The extent of the misogyny was also just kind of annoying to read? A lot of it just felt like very easy "girl power" type messaging and a lot of it was also very blatant, straight up "Women can't read! Women aren't allowed to study literature!" Okay, this is set in some kind of historic time, but if a book published in 2023 is going to make misogyny and women's empowerment it's central theme to the point that it can't go 2 pages without reminding you, I think it should have something more substantial to say to it's readers about the state of women in present time. There's a lot of women reading this book, there's no need to affirm to them that yes, women can read and write. It seems like a cheap way to signal which of the male characters are good and which ones are bad - the bad one's prey on young women and think they can't write because they're women. The good one's don't do that. There's like 1 substantial female character besides Effy though so we don't need to worry about that!
It seems like an issue with trying to do too much - if it had focussed on just one or two aspects, like on Effy's experience at the college and the central mystery, it might've worked better for me. The same could be said for a lot of the book - I don't care for the war. I don't understand why it's there or why it matters and it had way too much screentime. There were like three different plots going on and none of them were all that intriguing. I don't care for the romance or the main characters either.
So I guess this entire rating is because those last few lines managed to grab me by the neck.
The atmosphere and setting felt eery and I kind of liked the weird time period. The little starts to the chapter with in-world text excerpts was fun. The mythology also seems pretty fun. Misogyny, the central theme of the novel, had some good portrayals - the parts on power dynamics and age gaps were very interesting and timely.
Unfortunately, the theme was just so overt that it made the central mystery of the novel sooo boring. The theme is misogyny, the central mystery is an author who might not have written his own work... hmmmm, I wonder who it could be! I don't have a problem guessing plot twists, but when you have to slog through an entire book just for the characters to uncover what you've known all along... that's just boring.
The extent of the misogyny was also just kind of annoying to read? A lot of it just felt like very easy "girl power" type messaging and a lot of it was also very blatant, straight up "Women can't read! Women aren't allowed to study literature!" Okay, this is set in some kind of historic time, but if a book published in 2023 is going to make misogyny and women's empowerment it's central theme to the point that it can't go 2 pages without reminding you, I think it should have something more substantial to say to it's readers about the state of women in present time. There's a lot of women reading this book, there's no need to affirm to them that yes, women can read and write. It seems like a cheap way to signal which of the male characters are good and which ones are bad - the bad one's prey on young women and think they can't write because they're women. The good one's don't do that. There's like 1 substantial female character besides Effy though so we don't need to worry about that!
It seems like an issue with trying to do too much - if it had focussed on just one or two aspects, like on Effy's experience at the college and the central mystery, it might've worked better for me. The same could be said for a lot of the book - I don't care for the war. I don't understand why it's there or why it matters and it had way too much screentime. There were like three different plots going on and none of them were all that intriguing. I don't care for the romance or the main characters either.
So I guess this entire rating is because those last few lines managed to grab me by the neck.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Xenophobia and War
erins_bookrecs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
sammijayne's review against another edition
3.0
can’t determine if I detest or adore this book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexual assault
juuliarose's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
A decent, fun read but not anything crazy. I thought the element of confusing fantasy and reality was interesting. I just wish it was expanded on more. I also felt the book cover summary left out a fair amount of what the book actually centers around. Again, still a decent read and I’ll probably get the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal death and Child abuse
val_theburrowofstories's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
2.0
- My hatred towards stories with girls who are sexually assaulted / raped will always influence my rating in a book :( I’m sorry but I just can’t handle it. Maybe if the campaign of this book wasn’t just “oh sweet YA with faeries and mystery” and people mentioned what happened to her as a trigger warning then MAYBE I would not have picked up this book.
- This poor girl has NO ONE rooting for her and she doesn’t stand up for herself. She might as well be all alone in the world because her mother is an alcohol addict who doesn’t care about her at all, she’s the only girl studying architecture and every man or boy looks at her like she doesn’t belong there. She only has this one girl friend but they don’t see each other that much.
- I hated her fucking mother so much you cannot even imagine 😭
- In general I would say is a very simple story and despite the things I hated (what happened to her, her asshole mother and how women are treated) I was entertained with the audiobook and I liked listening to it while I was doing house chores (then I discovered that was influenced by the fact that the narrator is one of my favorites and has narrated some of my favorite historical fiction books)
- I don't think this book was enough for me to want to continue whatever book is next in the series and honestly I do not want to pick up another book of this author either. I think every single one of her books include rape or sexual assault and I do not like to read books with those “elements”.
- So yeah, 2 ⭐ and that ending was very underwhelming.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexual content