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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Misogyny, Sexual assault
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
Unexpectedly unusual story. While there are elements of the fantastic and set in a fantasy realm, the story spends more time focusing on the main character and her struggles with anxiety, mental illness and insomnia. Are her conditions a result of real fantasy worlds or all in her mind. That’s what made this story feel interesting and a different perspective for a fantasy tale.
* 3.75 rating * and this is why...(minor spoilers ahead)
The writing in this novel was, at times, delicious. It was obvious how invested Reid was in developing the world. If I had read this as a young adult, it would have consumed my imagination for days, if not weeks. The fairytale, meets dark academia, meets gothic genre blending in A Study in Drowning was well executed. Personally, I loved it.
There were some shortcomings, which is why this wasn't a 4-star read for me. Two things I thought were unnecessary: (trigger warning) the sexual assault and "enemies-to-lovers" trope.
It's not that I don't believe the first wouldn't have happened (unfortunately). Still, I think the heroine being the only girl in the architecture department and her "changling" challenges would have been enough to alienate her from others.
As for her relationship with Preston, it moved a bit too quickly from "he's annoying" to "I'm in love."
Also...the ending/plot twist was very predictable, and the character development occurred too conveniently and rapidly for my taste. But neither bothered me too much, as I was committed to the journey of discovery and understood the book's genre/general audience.
In conclusion, I'm happy to have this book on my physical bookshelf.
The writing in this novel was, at times, delicious. It was obvious how invested Reid was in developing the world. If I had read this as a young adult, it would have consumed my imagination for days, if not weeks. The fairytale, meets dark academia, meets gothic genre blending in A Study in Drowning was well executed. Personally, I loved it.
There were some shortcomings, which is why this wasn't a 4-star read for me. Two things I thought were unnecessary: (trigger warning) the sexual assault and "enemies-to-lovers" trope.
It's not that I don't believe the first wouldn't have happened (unfortunately). Still, I think the heroine being the only girl in the architecture department and her "changling" challenges would have been enough to alienate her from others.
As for her relationship with Preston, it moved a bit too quickly from "he's annoying" to "I'm in love."
Also...the ending/plot twist was very predictable, and the character development occurred too conveniently and rapidly for my taste. But neither bothered me too much, as I was committed to the journey of discovery and understood the book's genre/general audience.
In conclusion, I'm happy to have this book on my physical bookshelf.
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
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:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
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:
No
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
I really enjoyed this book. It has such a unique lore system and the main characters were so well written. I loved seeing Effy struggle with her trauma and trying to come to terms with what happened to her and find out if what she sees is real or if she is truly going mad.
Very well written but admittedly a little slow paced and boring at times.
Very well written but admittedly a little slow paced and boring at times.