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A review by othersideoftherain
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
dark
mysterious
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
3.5
a lot of potential here with fairy lore, Welsh mythology and dark academia coming together in an interesting, dark and twisting premise.
here’s what’s good: the confrontation of academic misogyny is excellent. it’s a central theme of the plot from the beginning, which builds up to the twist and the conflict resolution. Reid even confronts the reader in a way I really enjoyed. Basically every man Effy interacts with makes some comment on her appearance or a pass at her. It’s so easy for the reader to fall into questioning Effy’s behavior or personality instead of holding the men accountable. The atmosphere is rich and convincing, and the visuals are compelling.
here’s what’s not so good: nearly everything else Reid puts on the table falls flat. There’s no reason for a war or the nationalist sentiments Effy holds, nor her prejudice. There’s no reason for the Sleepers. There’s no reason Effy and the love interest, whose name I literally already forget, end up together. Too many of these elements feel as though they’ll hold significance at some point in the book. They don’t. Reid makes no actual comment on war, no actual comment on prejudice nor colonialism. I finished the book feeling as though these elements were simply because she’d pulled so much from Welsh folklore and language. But that conversation of Welsh identity, English colonization and theft of folklore and language is better left, I think, to a Welsh person born and raised in Cymru.
here’s what’s good: the confrontation of academic misogyny is excellent. it’s a central theme of the plot from the beginning, which builds up to the twist and the conflict resolution. Reid even confronts the reader in a way I really enjoyed. Basically every man Effy interacts with makes some comment on her appearance or a pass at her. It’s so easy for the reader to fall into questioning Effy’s behavior or personality instead of holding the men accountable. The atmosphere is rich and convincing, and the visuals are compelling.
here’s what’s not so good: nearly everything else Reid puts on the table falls flat. There’s no reason for a war or the nationalist sentiments Effy holds, nor her prejudice. There’s no reason for the Sleepers. There’s no reason Effy and the love interest, whose name I literally already forget, end up together. Too many of these elements feel as though they’ll hold significance at some point in the book. They don’t. Reid makes no actual comment on war, no actual comment on prejudice nor colonialism. I finished the book feeling as though these elements were simply because she’d pulled so much from Welsh folklore and language. But that conversation of Welsh identity, English colonization and theft of folklore and language is better left, I think, to a Welsh person born and raised in Cymru.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Sexism
Minor: War and Xenophobia