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ithianna's review
- 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
☆ Writing Style 5/5
☆ Characters 5/5 (A small cast that we spend a lot of time with)
☆ Plot 3/5 (predictable but hits HARD, and I mean hard.)
☆ Setting 5/5 (Gothic spooky vibes)
☆ Feels 5/5 (made me tear up)
☆ Spiciness 2/5 (sex scenes mostly relegated to fade to black but some of the foreplay and kissing happens on page)
☆ Gore 3/5
If this were a movie it'd be rated: R for mild sexual situations, violence, body horror, frequent mentions of sexual assault, PTSD/panic attack depictions, disturbing imagery, misogynistic language
☆FOR FANS OF: Dark fairy tales with feminist motifs
Ultimate verdict: ☆☆☆☆☆/5
☆☆☆Best Character Award goes to:☆☆☆ Effy
Review: This is for all the girls that no one believed
It's a book that means so much to me. It's about a young woman named Effy who's told to shut up and keep her head down and just be a good girl by everyone in her life, even her own mother. Nobody believes her story or what happened to her, so she just censors herself and makes herself small. It can get intensely uncomfortable because it's ultimately a story told through rather heavy handed allegory about women who are the victims of men. Sexual assault, lecherous comments, slut shaming, misogyny, and abuse. As such, this isn't exactly what I'd call a "lighthearted" read, nor do I really understand why this is marketed as YA. It was gut wrenching for me at times. There's so many women in our world who have their own Fairy King haunting their steps who are told to just ignore it, it's not real, he's not so bad. All these little comments are like bricks in the wall that women often hide themselves behind to stay safe and sane.
As such this story is going to hit HARD for survivors of abuse, assault, and misogyny. I saw myself in Effy as a survivor myself. This is an important book because in the end, she defeats her abuser and that's a message that anyone suffering through abuse needs to hear: You can make it through.
A phenomenal modern fairy tale that feels timeless at the same time. Absolutely adored and I will definitely pick up the sequel later this year.
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Xenophobia, Medical content, Stalking, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism
ajslifelibrary's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Xenophobia, and Blood
reddeddy's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Alcohol, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
"A Study in Drowning" follows Effy Sayre, a young woman who is an architecture student who wants to believe in nothing more than fairy tales. When she gets the opportunity to help design the remodel of Hiraeth Manor, she thinks it is finally her chance to make a name for herself. Preston Héloury is a literature student that is hellbent on disproving renowned author Emry Myrddin, who also happens to hold a very special place in Effy's heart. Effy and Preston get off to a rocky start, but they quickly learn that they will need to work together so they both can get what they desire.
This book was fine, and I see why everyone seems so enamored with it. The prose is beautiful and haunting, and the mental illness representation seen in Effy is great to see. Unfortunately, this book just did not land for me like I thought it would. The story felt very predictable and relied heavily on stereotypical Young Adult tropes. This is not a bad thing per say, but it made the story feel uninspired to me.
Rather than coming across as a meek, struggling student, Effy just felt like a very weak protagonist who needed more time to grow up. I empathize with her struggles, and her mother is awful towards her, but I did not enjoy reading from her perspective. Preston felt much more dynamic of a character, and I think I might have enjoyed the story more if we got his perspective instead, or just more of him in general.
I think this book has all of the right ingredients; it was just not executed well.
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship
underhill's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Abandonment, and War
Minor: Torture, Forced institutionalization, and Colonisation
kenzaett's review against another edition
- 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
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
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)
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Torture, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
Minor: Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, and Car accident
lizzye33's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War
smellymiche's review
- Strong character development? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Torture, and Sexual harassment
cristina_margarita's review against another edition
- 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
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
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail