Review by justdandy_ - A Study in Drowning

justdandy_ 's review for:

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

4.0

dark 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

I really enjoyed this read! I devoured it in one day, completely hooked by the atmosphere. I went into the story knowing almost nothing about it, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much it pulled me in. As someone who’s a sucker for anything Fae, I was instantly intrigued, easy points for that alone.

Effy was a bit standoffish at first. She had an issue with Preston for what seemed like no reason, and honestly, she came off with some mean girl vibes. But as the story progressed, I started to understand her more, and by the end, I was rooting for her (and Preston). One of my favorite quotes was from Preston: “Challenging me isn’t pestering. I’m not always right. Sometimes I deserve to be challenged. And changing your mind isn’t foolish. It just means you’ve learned something new. Everyone changes their mind sometimes, as they should, or else they’re just, I don’t know, stubborn and ignorant. Moving water is healthy; stagnant water is sickly. Tainted.” That really helped me forgive Effy’s early prejudices. She is proven wrong, learns and grows from it, proving that people can change, and I like that development.

That said, while I loved the book, it didn’t quite hit 5 stars for me. There were some plot elements that felt a little off or predictable.

The ending, especially the Fairy King confrontation, felt a bit anticlimactic and didn’t have the big impact I was hoping for. I also predicted a good chunk of the “twist,” which took away some of the surprise for me. (i.e. Ianto being taken advantage of by the Fairy King, Myrddin not being the true author, etc.)

I guess it is technically a YA, so I can’t fault it for reading like one.

Despite the little hiccups, I had a fantastic time being immersed in this world. The writing is gorgeous, and I loved the atmosphere set up. It’s a story I’ll remember, and I’d still recommend it for anyone looking for a captivating read!

Content Warnings