A review by roniboi
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

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

3.5

I didn't like this book. Nothing about it made me like it. I knew that pretty quick so I was mainly just going through so I had a book to read for a 5 hour drive. First, world building: It was dodgy at best. Even the house that was meant to have the thickest atmosphere, felt lacking. I didn't fully understand the advancement of technology, or how society actually worked. All I can say about this world was that it was wet and falling apart in this town. Second, the characters: I didn't like any of them. What was I supposed to like? Third, the plot: I was make a bunch of theories through the second half of the book. I was excited to see if any of them would happen, but no, it was just the turnout that I had suspected as soon as Preston brought up the dodgy evidence that the author was the author. Wow. Lastly, I did not like the way the author made it so Effie, for whatever reason, suddenly wasn't socially anxious around Preston even while she was being a xenophobe and all around asshole to Preston. Then they trauma dump and talk about their geographical background. Then they sleep together and suddenly, Effie has the will to live. Such a strong will to live that she is able to defeat the Fairy King. Like kill me now. The only thing that I liked about the book was the ambiguity of the Fairy King being real. Even until the end, you don't really know. He was real, perhaps just in womens' minds? It didn't really matter. It doesn't make up for the trite plot, uninteresting characters, shoddy worldbuilding etc. etc.
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