Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

37 reviews

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Animal death and Child abuse

puali's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-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 is a story overflowing with waves upon waves of lush descriptions and prose. Backed by an MC that’s really gone through it, “A Study in Downing” doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of being a woman in a world dominated by men, all while giving this narrative a fantastical twist. 

I really enjoyed reading and rereading passages from this novel, just because I liked the way they resonated in my brain. The blend of between fantasy and reality was also executed really well. 

I think  that what really stuck with me though, was the setting: a manor on top a cliff, with the sea roaring at it’s base of and a drowned city at the bottom. The house at times felt like a character of it’s own, with it’s blurred mirrors and paintings that seemed to come to life at times. 

While the plot was a bit predictable at times, I appreciated the way Reid set the stage and revealed key information as the story progressed. It really felt like the reader was there, uncovering secrets along with the characters.  

All in all, great read. Can’t wait for the sequel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Mental illness, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, and Abandonment

samsbookcorner's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense 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

Genuinely my #1 complaint about this book as that I can't read the next one until next year!! I always struggle to find a reason to annotate books, but with this one I truly couldn't put the pen down. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Death of parent, Abandonment, and War

beasbookburrowxo's review

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death

cordeliant's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: War

booksmoviesandstories's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Blood, Dementia, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

demievrything's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

 Ich hatte Angst, dass ich dieses Buch nicht so sehr mögen würde. So ein großer Hype und hohe Erwartungen und dennoch war ich komplett begeistert von der Geschichte.
Perfekt war, dass ich parallel zum Lesen auch das Hörbuch hören konnte und Effy so direkt eine Stimme verliehen bekommen hat, die wunderbar gepasst hat.
Die Handlung geht einerseits langsam voran und dennoch zieht es sich zu keinem Punkt, auch wenn die Kapitel länger sind, sind sie stets mit Handlung und relevanten Informationen gefüllt. Die Geschichte lebt natürlich auch sehr von der ganzen Stimmung, die über dem Haus auf den Klippen und in Effys Innerem herrscht. Besonders mitgezogen hat mich Effy als Protagonistin, weil ich sehr mit ihr fühlen konnte, ihre Handlungen und Gedanken nachvollziehen konnte und sie als Charakter einfach sehr nah und echt wirkte.
Die wenigen anderen Charaktere sind eigenständig und ich kam gut mit den Namen und Unterscheidungen klar. Auch die Dynamik zwischen den Hauptcharakteren hat mich überzeugt. Vor allem das Ende fand ich besonders gelungen, da es mich einerseits zufrieden aber auch etwas wehmütig und melancholisch zurück lässt und gleichzeitig neugierig, auf die Fortsetzung.

Trotz Reihenauftakt ist der Roman alleinstehend mit abgeschlossenem Ende.

"A Study in Drowning" ist ein mitreißender Roman über den Glauben an sich selbst, die Ungerechtigkeit der Welt voller patriarchaler Strukturen und zeigt eine starke innere Entwicklung der Protagonistin.

Ganz große Empfehlung! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death

Minor: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

sherylkay's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Blood, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

michelethestick's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

3.5

A Study in Drowning was a lengthy look into how superstition is just the ugly side of magic.  This is a dark and icky world where female characters have no agency.   It felt like a cross between Rebecca and the Magicians.  A devotee of a book discovers what it's like to understand her hero.  It's a little soggy.  

Well written though, this novel was filled with beautiful descriptions.  The characters were multi-faceted.  The world building was rich and filled with minute details.

I don't love the way Reid handles SA and its been present in all of her novels I've read so far.  Which I also don't enjoy.  

There were a few times when the characters' decisions seemed too convenient and not fully in character.  But for the most part, it's a good book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

ellenwm's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

4.75

This book is beautiful and brilliant. Truly stunning.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment

Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Car accident, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, and War