A review by ladypalutena
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I really wanted to like this book.

There are three main issues I have:

1. The pacing. The first chapter starts off with Effy saying she's going to enter a contest, then the second chapter starts with her winning the contest. The second chapter ends with there being a few weeks until she leaves for the Bottom Hundred, and the third chapter opens with her on the train. It's so disjointed, it's hard to keep track of time in any way. 

2. Effy. I know not every protagonist can be a strong independent woman, but there are no redeeming qualities for Effy for 90% of the book.
It's not until she faces down the fairy king that she grows any sort of spine, and even then, it's all to save Preston, it's not for herself.


3. The "love story." It's forced. Like, beyond forced.
The scene where Effy suddenly tries to mount him in the study? Where did that come from? Up until then she's spent most of the book either actively hating him or begrudgingly working with him.
There is no chemistry between the two whatsoever, and
the sex scene is WAY too forced. It's not like something out of ACOTAR or other romantasy books, but it is so wildly out of place in this book it's laughable
. 

The most egregious thing, I think, is that
the second to last chapter is just the Widow telling the two of them how everything happened. She appears out of nowhere to save them, and decides to tell them everything when she could have actually saved them long before this. It's lazy, and it's completely telling, not showing. I wanted more hints of something throughout the book, but it's all dumped at the end. The "hints" throughout are not very good.
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