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snleck'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Grief, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Mental illness, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Abandonment
booksthatburn's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
5.0
Ava Reid is one of a small group of authors who I trust when reading a new story that deals with abuse and the precarity of survival. A STUDY IN DROWNING deals with institutional misogyny, sexual abuse, and societal dismissal of complaints about the same, all while telling a gripping story that delves into perception, unreality, and the difficulty of knowing what’s real or imagined when you’re dismissed out of hand as hysterical or crazy. Any summary or specific explanation that I could provide pales in comparison to just how fucking good this book is. It has a specific focus on abuse by men in power on young women who are technically women, and that they're legally adults but are in that strange zone where any signs of maturity are taken as indications that they knew exactly what they were getting into, but they can still be conveniently dismissed as children in an instant when it's convenient for their abusees. Even this thought is an inadequate paraphrasing of the way that this position is described in the text.
A STUDY IN DROWNING is a story of uncertainty and a shaky sense of reality, figuring out how to name and shame abusers who use their power, position, and (often) gender to obscure and diminish their abuse, and to cultivate uncertainty as to whether they did what they did, and if they did it, if it even was wrong. The fantastical setting allows for a recursive reinforcement of themes of decay, drowning, and rot as the specter of the Fairy King is invoked, threatened, and manifested in turn to build a story where the water is certain, death is inevitable, but drowning is slow. In that gap is room for denial and obfuscation as the water rises.
Effy is obsessed with the works of a particular author, and of his novel, Angharad, in particular. It tells the story of the Fairy King seducing his human bride from the perspective of that girl. Effy has the text largely memorized, and many lines in it are deeply meaningful to her, whispered as talismans against the sexism of her daily life. In a country where she has to go to the architecture college because no women are allowed in the literature college, the idea that one of the most famous writers in her country would have written this book with such a careful and nuanced understanding of a female perspective is deeply meaningful and inspiring to her. The college bars women because of misogynist nonsense about their minds being unable to handle understanding or producing great works of literature. Though she is admitted at the architecture college, Effy is the only female student there. The few girls in her dorm who are studying at the music college where they are admitted in greater numbers.
At first, Effy has a xenophobic reaction to learning that a boy from an enemy nation was admitted to study at the literature college at the same time she was denied because of her gender. She ends up meeting him, and it turns into a rivals to lovers scenario where they work together to get around the sexist institution and call abusers to account. Gradually it becomes clear as Effy is able to think and process more specifically that one of the professors abused her. She feels unable to go to anyone for help, or even necessarily to be certain in herself, that it was wrong. The other students assume she used her body to get where she is, that somehow she doesn't deserve to be in the same halls as them.
A STUDY IN DROWNING has cemented Ava Reid on my must-read list for her consistently nuanced handling of themes of abuse and coercion in ways that leverage the strengths of fantasy to help deal with traumatic realities surrounding sexism and abuses of power.
A STUDY IN DROWNING is a story of uncertainty and a shaky sense of reality, figuring out how to name and shame abusers who use their power, position, and (often) gender to obscure and diminish their abuse, and to cultivate uncertainty as to whether they did what they did, and if they did it, if it even was wrong. The fantastical setting allows for a recursive reinforcement of themes of decay, drowning, and rot as the specter of the Fairy King is invoked, threatened, and manifested in turn to build a story where the water is certain, death is inevitable, but drowning is slow. In that gap is room for denial and obfuscation as the water rises.
Effy is obsessed with the works of a particular author, and of his novel, Angharad, in particular. It tells the story of the Fairy King seducing his human bride from the perspective of that girl. Effy has the text largely memorized, and many lines in it are deeply meaningful to her, whispered as talismans against the sexism of her daily life. In a country where she has to go to the architecture college because no women are allowed in the literature college, the idea that one of the most famous writers in her country would have written this book with such a careful and nuanced understanding of a female perspective is deeply meaningful and inspiring to her. The college bars women because of misogynist nonsense about their minds being unable to handle understanding or producing great works of literature. Though she is admitted at the architecture college, Effy is the only female student there. The few girls in her dorm who are studying at the music college where they are admitted in greater numbers.
At first, Effy has a xenophobic reaction to learning that a boy from an enemy nation was admitted to study at the literature college at the same time she was denied because of her gender. She ends up meeting him, and it turns into a rivals to lovers scenario where they work together to get around the sexist institution and call abusers to account. Gradually it becomes clear as Effy is able to think and process more specifically that one of the professors abused her. She feels unable to go to anyone for help, or even necessarily to be certain in herself, that it was wrong. The other students assume she used her body to get where she is, that somehow she doesn't deserve to be in the same halls as them.
A STUDY IN DROWNING has cemented Ava Reid on my must-read list for her consistently nuanced handling of themes of abuse and coercion in ways that leverage the strengths of fantasy to help deal with traumatic realities surrounding sexism and abuses of power.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Child abuse, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Pedophilia, Drug use, Mental illness, Cursing, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Murder, and War
paracosim's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
I found this book disappointing in a couple of ways. The pace was a bit too slow, the characters had little to no connection to each other in any way that mattered (unlike in The Wolf and the Woodsman), and the worldbuilding felt too shallow. The writing was gorgeous, which earns it points; but I’d guessed the entire plot by page 45 and was unsurprised with each reveal. I disliked how all the reveals happen, as well. Very dissatisfying book overall. I wouldn’t read it again. And it feels mean to say it, but sometimes I wanted to grab Effy by the shoulders and shake her a little. Why is she nonstop crying over some dead old white guy?? Like girl get a grip, he’s just some dude
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Child abuse, Alcohol, Animal death, and Death
Minor: War
cristina_margarita's review against another edition
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.75
I really love Ava’s books. This one is the perfect middle ground between The Wolf & The Woodsman & Juniper & Thorn. I come away from each of Ava’s books feeling like just the girl she’s written them for. This book is once again a tender love letter to survivors.
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 having Effy’s showdown with the Fairy King as he posses Ianto being over so quickly to demonstrate how absolutely inconsequential he is to Effy etc. it still had an air of disappointment to it. The whole book was building to this climax & I appreciate what Ava was going for, but I think it was a path that requires some faith on the part of the reader to continue & sit with why that was the choice. Additionally, I wish we had gotten an explanation from Angharad herself as to why she never made herself known before the very end.
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Torture, Vomit, War, and Panic attacks/disorders
kayceeisbookish's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? Yes
5.0
Spellbinding mystery meets a twisted fantasy folly turned sinister. We all dream of meeting our favorite authors in person, but for Effy, this endeavor turns into a Drowning of her own that she never can turn back from after uncovering the truth of the manor at the sea side cliffs and the reclusive author who lived in its walls. This book was reminiscent of the Fall of the House of Usher by Poe with a strong feminist tone that gives women who have been wronged a boulder upon the shore of crashing waves to grasp and weather life's storms.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Car accident, Sexual content, Animal death, Death of parent, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Mental illness, Alcohol, Grief, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Racism
katievallin's review against another edition
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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Stalking, Bullying, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Xenophobia, and Alcohol
Minor: Medical trauma, Animal death, Sexual content, Body horror, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
kris386's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexism, Child abuse, Confinement, and Death
Moderate: Classism, Gun violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Violence, and Sexual content
lastblossom's review against another edition
dark
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
tl;dr
An excellent mix of gothic and dark academia set in a world where the lines of reality are blurry, and the power of writing runs deep.
Thoughts
I was going through a reading dry spell when I grudgingly forced myself to start reading this book. And then I finished the entire thing in a day. The book starts at a slow pace, but it gets its hooks into you early with an uneasy sense of uncertainty with the world. There's magic in the world. Or maybe there isn't. Strange things haunt Effy at night. Or maybe they don't? All we really know is that Effy feels unwelcome, and finds solace only in her worn copy of the novel Angharad. It's no wonder that she leaps at the chance to redesign the author's house, even if the invitation seems utterly suspect. And things get even more suspect when she arrives. The house is a character unto itself, a proper gothic crumbling mansion with locked rooms and nature creeping in and out of cracks in the ceiling. It's here that the story really closes in, as reality begins to blur even more, and the mystery surrounding the house and the novel take center stage. Literature student Preston provides a good partner in both the study and romantic sense, with a softer slow-paced romance that takes a back seat to the rest of the plot. The ending is expected, but satisfying, and I found the discussion on what it means to read or write a book to be incredibly touching.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperTeen for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
An excellent mix of gothic and dark academia set in a world where the lines of reality are blurry, and the power of writing runs deep.
Thoughts
I was going through a reading dry spell when I grudgingly forced myself to start reading this book. And then I finished the entire thing in a day. The book starts at a slow pace, but it gets its hooks into you early with an uneasy sense of uncertainty with the world. There's magic in the world. Or maybe there isn't. Strange things haunt Effy at night. Or maybe they don't? All we really know is that Effy feels unwelcome, and finds solace only in her worn copy of the novel Angharad. It's no wonder that she leaps at the chance to redesign the author's house, even if the invitation seems utterly suspect. And things get even more suspect when she arrives. The house is a character unto itself, a proper gothic crumbling mansion with locked rooms and nature creeping in and out of cracks in the ceiling. It's here that the story really closes in, as reality begins to blur even more, and the mystery surrounding the house and the novel take center stage. Literature student Preston provides a good partner in both the study and romantic sense, with a softer slow-paced romance that takes a back seat to the rest of the plot. The ending is expected, but satisfying, and I found the discussion on what it means to read or write a book to be incredibly touching.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperTeen for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, and Gun violence
Minor: Alcohol
gagereadsstuff's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
Effy Sayre is a first year architecture student who would rather be studying literature. At the beginning of her story, she finds a poster for a design contest to redesign the estate of Emrys Myrddin, her favorite author. If she can't study his works, she'll at least enter the design contest to see his home in southern Llyr.
Upon arriving, she finds a decrepit, waterlogged manor on a cliffside and is greeted by an academic rival, Preston Héloury whose thesis she disagrees with. Regardless of their differences, they band together to solve the mystery of Myrddin's principle work, Angharad, in the face of natural and supernatural forces at play.
My scholarly heart was filled with joy reading this Gothic/dark academia/young adult mystery. Can I just say how much it pleases me to puzzle out the little details in Reid's works? Like Llyr is Wales while Argant is possibly Brittany? The university is in Caer-Isel, the mythical sunken city of Ys, and Llyr went through a "Drowning" a little over 200 years earlier in the story. Emrys Myrddin? *Kind of a spoiler* Immortal Bard?! We also get some nods to Marlovian theory going on later in the plot, and the publisher of the famed novel at the center of the mystery is called Marlowe! *Chef kiss*
The themes of ASiD are numerous and complex: superstition, fairies, misogyny, women's roles in academia. But the one that stuck out to me most was mental illness. Effy questions her reality throughout the book as she confronts visions of the Fairy King and dang, if that ain't a trauma response. Even her resilience as she struggles and survives is a sign of her past trauma.
Misogyny and its trappings are the other themes that stuck out to me. Effy is barred from the college of literature since women "have not, as a sex, demonstrated great strength in the faculties of literary analysis or understanding."
First of all, ugh. Every man except for Preston says something misogynistic to her. Ugh. Second, it was interesting to see the internal rebellion Effy had in the face of such outright misogyny. Eventually, she was able to stick up for herself in a way that made the ending satisfying.
The atmosphere of the story was immaculate! The crumbling Gothic manor on a cliff by the sea, the stormy weather, the gruff and helpful harbinger in town. I. Ate. It. Up.
There's also outright romance and romantic tropes in the book that I haven't seen in Reid's other works. I enjoyed the way she incorporated them and molded them to her style.
I can't recommend this book enough. I hope my review has convinced you to read it, and that you'll pick it up when it's released in September!
Also, many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Upon arriving, she finds a decrepit, waterlogged manor on a cliffside and is greeted by an academic rival, Preston Héloury whose thesis she disagrees with. Regardless of their differences, they band together to solve the mystery of Myrddin's principle work, Angharad, in the face of natural and supernatural forces at play.
My scholarly heart was filled with joy reading this Gothic/dark academia/young adult mystery. Can I just say how much it pleases me to puzzle out the little details in Reid's works? Like Llyr is Wales while Argant is possibly Brittany? The university is in Caer-Isel, the mythical sunken city of Ys, and Llyr went through a "Drowning" a little over 200 years earlier in the story. Emrys Myrddin? *Kind of a spoiler* Immortal Bard?! We also get some nods to Marlovian theory going on later in the plot, and the publisher of the famed novel at the center of the mystery is called Marlowe! *Chef kiss*
The themes of ASiD are numerous and complex: superstition, fairies, misogyny, women's roles in academia. But the one that stuck out to me most was mental illness. Effy questions her reality throughout the book as she confronts visions of the Fairy King and dang, if that ain't a trauma response. Even her resilience as she struggles and survives is a sign of her past trauma.
Misogyny and its trappings are the other themes that stuck out to me. Effy is barred from the college of literature since women "have not, as a sex, demonstrated great strength in the faculties of literary analysis or understanding."
First of all, ugh. Every man except for Preston says something misogynistic to her. Ugh. Second, it was interesting to see the internal rebellion Effy had in the face of such outright misogyny. Eventually, she was able to stick up for herself in a way that made the ending satisfying.
The atmosphere of the story was immaculate! The crumbling Gothic manor on a cliff by the sea, the stormy weather, the gruff and helpful harbinger in town. I. Ate. It. Up.
There's also outright romance and romantic tropes in the book that I haven't seen in Reid's other works. I enjoyed the way she incorporated them and molded them to her style.
I can't recommend this book enough. I hope my review has convinced you to read it, and that you'll pick it up when it's released in September!
Also, many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Mental illness, and Misogyny
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, and Bullying
Minor: Car accident, Grief, Alcoholism, War, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Death of parent
readwithria's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.5
A Study in Drowning is an atmospheric, dark YA debut that takes its premise and runs with it.
While it’s technically a fantasy novel, I would categorize this as more literary in feel than a typical fantasy book. I think that it’s important to know that ahead of time, because my incorrect expectation definitely impacted my experience with the book.
Ava Reid’s writing is, as usual, so beautifully lyrical. There are so many quotes that I highlighted, and I can’t get enough of their dialogue. I think that given the themes of storytelling and truth in this book, that lyricism was very well used and a necessary element of the story.
The pacing was slow and deliberate, which is not what I usually like but it definitely was needed to build the level of tension that Reid achieved. If you like a fast paced book this is definitely not that, but for all the slow burn readers out there this will be right up your alley.
The characters in this were intriguing, and I’m sure that many people will absolutely love them, but it took me until about halfway through the book to fully feel connected to them. The first half of the book felt a bit… maybe disassociated is the right word? A little off, not quite 100% there. For reference, it took me a week to read the first 52% and a day to read the last 48%.
This book is beautiful, and there’s lots of things to love about it, but it wasn’t what I usually look for in a book that I love. I think that lots of people will really enjoy it though. Ava Reid’s YA debut will enthrall its ideal reader, I’m just not quite that person. 3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
While it’s technically a fantasy novel, I would categorize this as more literary in feel than a typical fantasy book. I think that it’s important to know that ahead of time, because my incorrect expectation definitely impacted my experience with the book.
Ava Reid’s writing is, as usual, so beautifully lyrical. There are so many quotes that I highlighted, and I can’t get enough of their dialogue. I think that given the themes of storytelling and truth in this book, that lyricism was very well used and a necessary element of the story.
The pacing was slow and deliberate, which is not what I usually like but it definitely was needed to build the level of tension that Reid achieved. If you like a fast paced book this is definitely not that, but for all the slow burn readers out there this will be right up your alley.
The characters in this were intriguing, and I’m sure that many people will absolutely love them, but it took me until about halfway through the book to fully feel connected to them. The first half of the book felt a bit… maybe disassociated is the right word? A little off, not quite 100% there. For reference, it took me a week to read the first 52% and a day to read the last 48%.
This book is beautiful, and there’s lots of things to love about it, but it wasn’t what I usually look for in a book that I love. I think that lots of people will really enjoy it though. Ava Reid’s YA debut will enthrall its ideal reader, I’m just not quite that person. 3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content
Minor: Cursing, Racism, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts
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