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ajrbrennan's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
whataqt's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
What I find unfortunate about A Study In Drowning is how the first half of the book is compelling, atmospheric, and eerie. The set up of the central mystery and the first couple of plot beats had me engrossed. After the halfway point, however, the romance becomes more of the central focus. This is acceptable, given the dedication boldly marks the novel as a love story, but what I didn't enjoy was the choice Reid made regarding the other males characters. Any man who isn't named Preston is a total piece of shit inside this world, which felt to me like a choice meant to aid in the romantic development, but ultimately undercuts the themes of the novel. Patriarchy is a system of oppression, and men uphold it in many ways, both obvious and subtle. I wanted my view of these men to be complicated the deeper into the story I went, and that did not happen. Another choice I couldn't get past was the choice to not have Effy spend a substantial amount of time around any female characters. Those interactions are pushed into the front and back of the book, and in a story about women reclaiming their stories, it felt like an oversight to not have another female character Effy could interact with. As the mystery was revealed and the book drew to a close, I found myself losing interest. Ultimately, though, I enjoyed the overarching metaphor of the sea, the dense atmosphere, and the epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter (which were better than a lot of the prose). I just was left wanting more from the back half of this book, but with my time with it, I can never say I wasn't intrigued and immersed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual harassment
jenna_daley's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
kghunter's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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
4.0
“[…]the truth was very costly at times. How terrible, to navigate the world without a story to comfort you.”
If you were to remove all of the sentences in this book that described one of the characters blushing, it would probably be about half its current length. I don’t know if this is just a more common experience of fair skinned people or what but I think a group-read of this in which everyone took a shot every time someone blushes would be a pretty fun way to get absolutely shittered with your friends if they also happen to be into horny fantasy mystery novels that involve a lot of quivering and clenched fists.
Blushing and quivering aside this was a truly enjoyable read. Reid is brilliant at capturing the “dark academia” imagery and I loved how she used such a beautifully painted, fantastical storyline to examine themes of misogyny, victim-shaming, childhood trauma, and isolation, as well as gender-based violence, bigotry, and oppression. As a reader who originally chose to read this book to scratch my annually occurring wintertime dark academia itch, its depth and sincerity came as a pleasant surprise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
dajabooks's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
fayeelizabeth's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Sexual assault and Xenophobia
Minor: Death of parent
loved the writing style. Effy actually felt like a real person, i thought the decisions she made were rational and how she reacted to things that happened to her felt realistic for a college-aged girl. The twist was a little predictable, but overall the story was still enjoyable, it was fun and mysterious. My two biggest complaints come with the time setting and the relationship between the main characters. I could not figure out what time period the story was supposed to be set it? some things felt very modern and others felt very archaic, it was confusing at times. my second issuerachelheis's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
This book felt like a breath of fresh air. Definitely a little different than the normal ones I read but I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The FMC was not the typical one I like but I really appreciated her quiet strength and determination in the face of just terrible life circumstances. I liked the quiet tension and connection she formed with Preston, it felt very genuine and just warm. Really interesting world building that was a big flowery and confusing at the beginning but I’m glad I kept with it as it comes back around. I enjoyed the pace, especially at the beginning it was fast enough to keep me engaged. Overall really enjoyed it and especially loved the way it ended. Very wholesome and tied it all together.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
spencellio's review against another edition
4.5
this book took a few chapters to hook me, but once it sunk it's teeth in it refused to let me go. the romance was refreshing and genuine, the first straight romance subplot i've enjoyed in a long time, and I think part of what makes it so special to me is that despite their "rivalry," and despite Effy's worries, Preston never looked down on her. He respects her, and he YEARNS. I love a good yearner.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
emexjay's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
amdriver12's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault