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A review by malima
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Effy, the protagonist of “A Study in Drowning” is a young woman that has spent her whole life trying to survive, to be believed and to find her place in a world set against her. Having been refused at the literature college, the most prestigious academic institution in Llyr, for being a woman, she is now the only woman in the architecture college, where she’s been sexually assaulted by her advisor and called a “slut” by her peers for having had an “affair” with him. In addition to these new problems, she’s always had problems with seeing the Fairy King, a character from myths and the stories of her favorite author. These supposed “hallucinations” and Effy’s fear of them have been a constant burden to her family.
When she’s chosen by the family of her favorite author to design a new house for them, she thinks this is the way to prove herself to her family, the university and her peers as well as bring the magic of her favorite stories to life.
Once there, things are different than she expects: the author’s widow doesn’t want her in the house, the author’s son can’t seem to decide what he wants from her, switching from fatherly figure to lusting after her, the house she is supposed to redesign is falling apart and being swallowed by the sea. And then there’s an Argantian literature student staying there that has everything Effy wants — studying the works of her favorite author at the literature college, but seems to want to discredit instead of appreciate him.
Being the least hostile part of her environment, she strikes a deal with him: If she helps him find out the truth, his dissertation will bear her name as well, gaining her entry in the literature college. Effy hopes to prove him wrong during their search for the truth, but first they have to survive the house and its inhabitants.
In the duration of the book, I’ve become a big fan of it. The world of myths that was developed for Llyr and the way it plays together with the culture in the country both in the North and in the South and with the protagonists own beliefs was very interesting to me. I enjoyed the way romance and sexual assault and the power dynamics at play in these contexts were portrayed in this book. How Effy’s history has her react to other’s advances or just other situations that could possibly be ambiguously read, as well as the difference in situations she lets happen to her and situations where she’s the one initiating and pursuing someone.
Effy was a deeply compelling character to me, and I struggle to put all that I loved about her story and this story in general into words, but I definitely fell in love with this book and would recommend it to other fans of the fantasy or romantasy genres.
When she’s chosen by the family of her favorite author to design a new house for them, she thinks this is the way to prove herself to her family, the university and her peers as well as bring the magic of her favorite stories to life.
Once there, things are different than she expects: the author’s widow doesn’t want her in the house, the author’s son can’t seem to decide what he wants from her, switching from fatherly figure to lusting after her, the house she is supposed to redesign is falling apart and being swallowed by the sea. And then there’s an Argantian literature student staying there that has everything Effy wants — studying the works of her favorite author at the literature college, but seems to want to discredit instead of appreciate him.
Being the least hostile part of her environment, she strikes a deal with him: If she helps him find out the truth, his dissertation will bear her name as well, gaining her entry in the literature college. Effy hopes to prove him wrong during their search for the truth, but first they have to survive the house and its inhabitants.
In the duration of the book, I’ve become a big fan of it. The world of myths that was developed for Llyr and the way it plays together with the culture in the country both in the North and in the South and with the protagonists own beliefs was very interesting to me. I enjoyed the way romance and sexual assault and the power dynamics at play in these contexts were portrayed in this book. How Effy’s history has her react to other’s advances or just other situations that could possibly be ambiguously read, as well as the difference in situations she lets happen to her and situations where she’s the one initiating and pursuing someone.
Effy was a deeply compelling character to me, and I struggle to put all that I loved about her story and this story in general into words, but I definitely fell in love with this book and would recommend it to other fans of the fantasy or romantasy genres.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Sexism, and Sexual assault