A review by cristina_margarita
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

adventurous 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? It's complicated

4.75

I really love Ava’s books. This one is the perfect middle ground between The Wolf & The Woodsman & Juniper & Thorn. I come away from each of Ava’s books feeling like just the girl she’s written them for. This book is once again a tender love letter to survivors. 

The dark academia/gothic blend was so well executed. 

Having followed her for a while & kept up with not just her progress on this book but also the little bit of her life she shares online, it was interesting to see how much of herself & her fiancé she put into this book.

I did have a couple of qualms with the book. The biggest being that while I understand the symbolism behind
having Effy’s showdown with the Fairy King as he posses Ianto being over so quickly to demonstrate how absolutely inconsequential he is to Effy etc. it still had an air of disappointment to it. The whole book was building to this climax & I appreciate what Ava was going for, but I think it was a path that requires some faith on the part of the reader to continue & sit with why that was the choice. Additionally, I wish we had gotten an explanation from Angharad herself as to why she never made herself known before the very end.
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