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A review by emilynied
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Ultimately, this book was just not for me. From the start, the mood felt uncanny, even in the academic environment at Effy's college - and it only builds as she travels to the South and to the spooky, (what I imagine as gothic), ancient house in the lower hundred. My gripe with this story is that I just felt confused with the fantasy elements, particularly about the presence of the Fairy King. With Effy's pills that she so adamantly takes in moments of great anxiety and nerves, we learn that she has visions, that may or may not be real? The myths of the Fairy King weren't explored enough, in my opinion, to supplement the ultimate reveal that he was, in fact, a real person. One who trailed our main characters and even inhabited one for the entire book. This main the main climax of the story underwhelming and the unraveling mystery not that exciting to me.
The overarching plot surrounding institutional sexism in academic really was the highlight of this book, and I'm so happy it was explored in this fantasy tale. Effy's character arc was exemplified in the end of this story and I was happy to see her development portrayed so well. I think the rest of the content though, made that fall a little flat. Preston was sort of just *there* as a side character, and honestly the story could have existed without him/their romantic relationship in my opinion. He had a backstory that was minimally explored to explain some of his actions (which was honestly self-explanatory) but there wasn't much to him besides acting as a contradiction to Effy's previously held views about her favorite author and literature and as someone from Argent, a neighboring country? (that is actually at war with Lyrr but that is also CRIMINALLY unexplored). Hey, at least they were kinda cute together.
The overarching plot surrounding institutional sexism in academic really was the highlight of this book, and I'm so happy it was explored in this fantasy tale. Effy's character arc was exemplified in the end of this story and I was happy to see her development portrayed so well. I think the rest of the content though, made that fall a little flat. Preston was sort of just *there* as a side character, and honestly the story could have existed without him/their romantic relationship in my opinion. He had a backstory that was minimally explored to explain some of his actions (which was honestly self-explanatory) but there wasn't much to him besides acting as a contradiction to Effy's previously held views about her favorite author and literature and as someone from Argent, a neighboring country? (that is actually at war with Lyrr but that is also CRIMINALLY unexplored). Hey, at least they were kinda cute together.