A review by aprilyang1
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

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

3.5

“You don’t have to take up a sword. Survival is bravery, too.”
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I didn’t love this book, but the overall development and journey left a really strong impact on me. I especially liked how the plot kind of mirrored Effy's inner struggles. Ava Reid does a good job of insinuating what was happening through her details and plot choices, although I do think it made the plot somewhat predictable because I knew what was going to happen pretty early on.

Character wise, I didn’t really love Effy. But, while she initially seems selfish and whiny, she does go through character growth. Understandably though it is/was difficult for her to process certain emotions because of various traumatic experiences. So, while I do understand why she reacts anxiously or insecurely to a lot of the situations I don’t see those experiences as an excuse for the racial animosity she held towards Argantian’s in the beginning (yes, I know there is a war and everyone else also shared her similar sentiments but still?). I think that there would have been an even greater character arc had Effy mentioned or discussed her prejudices. She did say sorry one time (as far as I can remember), but I don’t think it’s necessarily enough to say “sorry” one and done and move on without more discussion. Especially, when I felt that she as a character constantly kept using negative remarks about being Argantian when she she was upset AND seemed to feel that it was wrong to do that in the same thought. 

Past the first 30% the story picks up with the magic and suspense. While there's a bit of romance (albeit not the strongest most developed romance), the heart of the story is really Effy's determination to overcome her traumas and find her voice in a society that constantly tells her and other women no. 
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