Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

109 reviews

mcrespo's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-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

2.0

while i really enjoyed Reid's ability to world build with a passage or quote at the beginning of each chapter, i found that overall this novel lacked something remarkable to set it apart from any standard fantasy (with a dash of romance) novel. it felt truly that this novel relied on some of the most predictable tropes from both fantasy novels and romance novels (enemies to lovers .... yawn). early on in the novel, the sea and water metaphors seemed overstated and repetitive. in addition to this, all of the points that Reid was making regarding sexism and misogyny in academia were stated forthright rather than implied. it seems that this is a novel that lays out very plainly the plot and main themes, and because of this, it became predictable. i also think that Effy, as a "strong female lead," really does center her male counterpart and love interest far too much. at some points, it seems that Effy only makes it through to be with Preston, and at some points, Effy does seemingly have a lot of grace and empathy for men like Ianto who was violently misogynistic. considering this is a YA novel, it does make sense why the messages and themes of this novel are so blatantly obvious, and at the end of the day, this is such an easy read for anyone just needing a quick fantasy fix. unfortunately, i'm not the target audience for this one (´• ᴗ •̥`✿)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Blood

reddeddy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Sexism, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexual content, Body shaming, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Classism, Confinement, Child abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Terminal illness, War, Animal death, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Blood, Colonisation, Dysphoria, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Religious bigotry, Body horror, Bullying, Car accident, and Deportation

misslav20's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I feel like some details weren't very clear even at the end of the book. Effy wasn't the easiest character to like but I'm empathized with what she was going/went through. I think if your paying attention and asking questions while reading your going to get to a point very close to the end and feel like it's full of holes, or things that weren't explained but they become very clear I'm the last 2 chapters. The book has one very tame sex scene but multiple times it implies sexual acts.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Domestic abuse

I think the most confusing part for me was if Angharad knew who Effy was before she came to Hiraeth. You'd assume she knew why he invited her after hearing from Ian to but did the Fairy King mention Effy before hand or that he found a new bride?

madi_miss's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark inspiring reflective sad slow-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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content

writingandwhimsy's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism

Moderate: Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Xenophobia

Minor: Sexual content, War, Abandonment, and Alcohol

amalas_bookstop's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

3.0

I thought this was a pretty simple plot. The story opens with Effy who attends the Architecture College at the University she attends. She did test high enough to attend the literature college however the school has an archaic rule that states women are not allowed. After entering a competition she is awarded an opportunity to stay at and design her favorite authors home who is recently deceased. It is through this opportunity she meets the love interest Preston and uncovers secrets that will have the potential to rewrite history. 

Ava Reid is a really descriptive writer. I think she did a really good job of exploring some of the more triggering topics in this novel in a very age appropriate way as this is a YA novel. I also really enjoyed how she described the anxiety that Effy was feeling every day. There was only one scene between the love interests Preston and Effy that seemed to toe the line a little, seemed more like adult content. 

I only have a few critiques. First, I thought the pace of this story was a little slow and very predictable. Once you get to the end the twist (if you could call it that) was not a surprise more of a confirmation. The ending seemed to also drag a little for me as well. I found myself skimming. Secondly, based on the cover and title I thought this book would have dark academia vibes, but this doesn’t quite hit the mark. While the overall atmosphere does seem pretty bleak. The university has a very minor role and I just don’t get the prestigious atmosphere like I have gotten in other dark academia novels. 

Overall it was a great break from my usual tastes, but I will probably never think of it again. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia

Minor: Death of parent

holliesatchell's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia

emilywemily6's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

The writing of this book is absolutely stunning. So many good lines that made me think, especially knowing that this is YA. However, the plot and characters fell short for me. The FMC was very annoying to me, she was overly shy and submissive in some instances and extremely brash and rude on others. She also had no sense. Overall, not a consistent characterization, and I liked almost none of her. The MMC I liked better, but his perspective was definitely lesser in the story. I couldn’t get behind this world and how certain things like literature were exclusive for men and women were seen as temptresses but almost no other misogyny was talked about to set the frame for this type of world. It felt incomplete. The “mystery” of what was happening was not very deep, I predicted the gist of things very early on but the main characters seemed really oblivious and thick-headed. And when a major plot hole regarding the wife was ignored until it was extremely convenient, all the questions the reader had were answered in a straightforward, interview-style reveal, which wasn’t satisfying. The climax did not have the background lore lead up that would have made it a more powerful story. Overall, the story itself was very mediocre and basic, though with lots of unfulfilled potential, and yet the writing style was really beautiful to read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: War

caffeinated_magpie's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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: Death of parent, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Misogyny

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content

letheaster's review against another edition

dark reflective tense 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

I loved this book. It involved a LOT more fantasy elements than I initially expected, but I love that so it was not a disappointment at all. I loved Effy's development through the book, and her relationship with Preston was fun.

I need Reid to actually write Angharad because I was reading those quotes and some of them actually drove me mental.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Sexual content