A Study in Drowning

This book was not really what I expected, I expected dark academia, but it was more of a dark mystery or something, so that might have influenced my experience a bit.. A lot of people seem to love this book, so maybe I was just not in the right headspace or expecting something too different, but it just wasn't for me. I didn't dislike the book, but it was just not quite there for me. I feel like there were a lot of unnecessary elements (the rivalry between the 2 countries and the north and south, also the drowning was mentioned a decent amount, but it didn't really feel like part of the story for me) that kind of distracted from the main themes that I was really interested in. I also did not love the romantic relationship, I did not feel like they had a lot of chemistry and it seemed to move quite quick and sudden, especially considering Effy's traumatic past. I thought the sex scene was kind of out of place as well, like they had been worrying about the storm (and the second drowning?) and having only a small amount of time to get out and then just decided that that was the right time for a quicky and a nap? Really?

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book. The devil makes three vibes are strong.

Characters.

I loved the characters in this. Preston especially. Effy annoyed me in places but as the story continued, she grew on me. But Preston will forever have my heart.

Everyone keeps saying his is the best book of the year and I can see why hey love it so much but while enjoyed it, it had some issues.

Mainly the ending. I loved the last chapter, how Effy grew from the start of the book. But the ending before that, the fight for survival, the boss battle if you will. it felt cheep. it ended too quickly for my taste and I would have loved to see more of a struggle with the antagonist since they have been plaugines Effy from the start.

My other issue is with the fantasy element. The Fae king. I believe the book would have been stronger if it was clear from the start that the fae king was real. Only Effy believes in the fae king and it left doubt is he was real. I had a feeling reading that it was going to toy with the is it real or inside Effy's head. Not until the end did we get the answer.

Now I loved the romance. it deep deep and meaningful.
I loved the vibe. The vibe of this book nails.


Overall I had a good time reading this.

Merged review:

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book. The devil makes three vibes are strong.

Characters.

I loved the characters in this. Preston especially. Effy annoyed me in places but as the story continued, she grew on me. But Preston will forever have my heart.

Everyone keeps saying his is the best book of the year and I can see why hey love it so much but while enjoyed it, it had some issues.

Mainly the ending. I loved the last chapter, how Effy grew from the start of the book. But the ending before that, the fight for survival, the boss battle if you will. it felt cheep. it ended too quickly for my taste and I would have loved to see more of a struggle with the antagonist since they have been plaugines Effy from the start.

My other issue is with the fantasy element. The Fae king. I believe the book would have been stronger if it was clear from the start that the fae king was real. Only Effy believes in the fae king and it left doubt is he was real. I had a feeling reading that it was going to toy with the is it real or inside Effy's head. Not until the end did we get the answer.

Now I loved the romance. it deep deep and meaningful.
I loved the vibe. The vibe of this book nails.


Overall I had a good time reading this.

im conflicted,

the first half of the book was really difficult to get through, I didn't understand anything that happened THEN the romance take another turn as well as the pace of the story

the second half was good ?¿
i really don't know, on one hand the representation of sa survivors is well developed, the writing style and the gothic atmosphere was really good
and on the other hand the transition between enemies to lovers (if we can say enemies) happened when the fmc told the mmc her trauma, the spicy scene was sooo stereotypical, the mmc said that he would be kind, that she was beautiful etc... but he done nothing but p3netrate her (so classic behavior of men)

For me, this book did not live up to the hype.
At some point the narration seemed to be taken over by a romantic version of it, which I did not enjoy but I think that's mostly on my own bookish dislikes.

The story was interesting but some things about the writing style and story decisions annoyed me too much.

Merged review:

For me, this book did not live up to the hype.
At some point the narration seemed to be taken over by a romantic version of it, which I did not enjoy but I think that's mostly on my own bookish dislikes.

The story was interesting but some things about the writing style and story decisions annoyed me too much.

effy's character is written so fuckin bad and annoying ngl
the ending dragged to hell, there was no need for that extra 50 pages of explanation we didnt need that. ive never been so impatient for a book to just end. 
what the hell was the sex scene? so unnecessary, not to mention they literally have a psychopath trying to kill them + a world altering storm happening + fmc almost dying of hypothermia. its giving “its only love if you have sex”
the fairy king and angharad did not need to actually exist, it was really strange and unnecessary to have them be real, and wouldve been better for them to be “fake”, especially because the fairy king dies in 2 fucking seconds
also, that random boy that asks for her number just, disappears lol? what was the point of his existence?
dont get me started on the romance... these motherfuckers are saying “i love you” 1 week into knowing each other... bruh. some things just DONT need to be a romance. you'll live. i promise.
i did really like the atmosphere but that was about it.

I tried so hard to love this book, the writing itself is so lyrical and enchanting, but unfortunately I just found the story lacking so much. I really struggled to get through this one, I feel like a good 70% was just boring and nothing really happens. I enjoyed the character building and the relationship between Preston and Effy but that dragged on far longer than it needed to.

Thank you so much to the author and to NetGalley for the ARC.

I became an instant fan of Ava Reid after reading Juniper and Thorn. So when I finally acquired a copy of this book, I immediately read it. And good heavens, I could not put this book down.

This book had the right amount of most of what I’ve been looking for in a good story. The entire plot was very engaging. It had a lot of mystery to it and many times it had me questioning the reality of its universe, much like our sweet protagonist, Effy. I could not help but also root for her the entire story.

Speaking of characters, I love them. Each one has unique strengths and weaknesses and I was able to somehow empathize with each one, despite being very different people. I especially love the relationship Effy has with the characters (though I shall not name them to avoid spoilers).

It was also a nice touch, how the story went around full circle. Suddenly, all the quotes within the story finally made sense. And after all the gripping and intense events, it still left me satisfied, how the story ended. Much like the rollercoaster ride of emotions Effy felt, I felt them too. I felt like I was transported into that world and I was truly invested. And if it were up to me, I’d wish for a continuation. For more adventures with Effy and Preston. I would love to see what their life will become, after such life-changing events.

Surprisingly good! I was wary of the whole dark academia billing, as I dislike TikTok trends/aesthetics/what-have-you, but it was very enjoyable! I'm not a huge fan of fairy myth or romance, but both elements worked out well. One of the few romantic subplots I've actually enjoyed is in this book! The characters fit well together, and had a healthy relationship. The prose is deliciously descriptive, but not overbearing. I also enjoyed the in-world quotes that preceded each chapter.

Issues:

I couldn't decide on a rough time period that the book is based on, so details like television, the common use of cars, and women wearing pants in a misogynistic society threw me off. I was thinking the world building was 1920s-30s-ish, but I'm getting a 50s, maybe even 60s impression now. I really don't know. It doesn't matter much.

Lastly, Preston is just a bit too perfect. Sure, he's arrogant, but no-one ever treats their partners well all the time. I wish that wasn't the case in books or real life, but, considering the goings-on of the story, he should have at least one minor mistake interacting with Effy. On the flip side, she does make mistakes relationship-wise, making her portrayal stick out less in a book of messed-up people.

Out now!

“You don't have to take up a sword. Survival is bravery too”

Thank you Ava Reid, I've felt seen.

I am truly impressed with this book, it was very different and had much more depth than I was expecting.

”It was an eternal feeling, this sense of being unwelcome. No matter where she was, Effy was always afraid she was not wanted.”

I entered into A Study in Drowning expecting a fantasy novel based on folklore and mid 20th century England/ Wales, happening in a dark academia setting with a bit of mystery to move story forward.
We've get all this, and it is great. However, what I feel this books accomplishes best, is describing and validating experiences of abuse (sexual and parental abuse) and panic, dealing with trauma, misogyny and sexism, and finding agency and a new sense of self.

The prose is expertly crafted, giving a murky feeling to the story, and easily showing what I imagine to be the feeling of drowning. My senses were overwhelmed with the descriptions from the start until the end.

I've felt the romance was a bit rushed, especially given the circumstances. However, I believe it was an important piece of the healing process and I wouldn't change the length of the book.

As a fantasy, I wished we had a bit more worldbuilding and context regarding the hate, war and the drownings. A map would have been nice as well, I don't know if the final version has it or not.

I enjoyed it and I wish I had the opportunity to read something like this when I was younger.
I wish Effy was less relatable and that her experiences were conscripted to the past. However, this is still an accurate reality, fairytale beauty or not.

I'm glad this is going to be on Illumicrate box and that I get to have a pretty Edition of it.

I would like to thanks The Fairy King, Random House UK, Cornerstone, Del Rey and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

TW - sexual harassment, sexual and parental abuse, panic attacks, mental illness, sexism, misogyny, death of a parent

This is one of those books, those that will teach you that you are seen in the world. Even if you are only seen by 1, 10 or hundreds of people.

It's not exactly the best book but it's one that falls deep into you, seeps into your brain and burrows there because you relate to it all so much. It reminds me of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue in that regard. Both were entirely remarkable, they were so creative and both Addie and Effy are so similar although one made a bargain and the other was a child desperate to escape death after being left.

This book is imprinted in my brain, possibly even my heart and that's enough for me to rate it 5 stars

Merged review:

This is one of those books, those that will teach you that you are seen in the world. Even if you are only seen by 1, 10 or hundreds of people.

It's not exactly the best book but it's one that falls deep into you, seeps into your brain and burrows there because you relate to it all so much. It reminds me of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue in that regard. Both were entirely remarkable, they were so creative and both Addie and Effy are so similar although one made a bargain and the other was a child desperate to escape death after being left.

This book is imprinted in my brain, possibly even my heart and that's enough for me to rate it 5 stars

Effy Sayre selalu percaya pada cerita dongeng. Salah satu cerita yang dia percaya adalah Raja Peri. Buku Angharad (yang ditulis oleh Emrys Myrddin tentang gadis manusia yang jatuh cinta pada Raja Peri, lalu menghancurkannya) adalah favoritnya, hingga usang karena dibacanya berulang kali. Ketika pihak keluarga Myrddin mengumumkan sayembara untuk merancang ulang kediaman mendiang Myrddin, Effy merasa inilah takdirnya.
Namun Manor Hiraeth yang bobrok dan kuno adalah tugas yang mustahil, belum lagi penghuninya yang tidak bersahabat. Termasuk Preston Hèloury, mahasiswa literatur yang bertekad untuk mengungkap Myrddin sebagai penipu. Pada akhirnya Effy dan Preston menyatukan petunjuk-petunjuk dari peninggalan Myrddin, dan menemukan kebenaran.
Awalnya fokusku selalu lepas, karena alur buku yang sangat lambat di awal. Setelahnya, barulah terasa vibe misterinya, mengenai mendiang Emrys Myrddin dan masterpiece nya, Angharad. Ketika aku mencapai akhir buku, ada informasi yang membingungkan, sehingga aku harus googling apa artinya.
Untuk rancang bangun dunianya, kurang dijelaskan secara detil, lebih fokus ke cerita dongeng (di buku disebut mitos atau legenda) mengenai Raja Peri (Fairy King), yang juga tokoh utama dari Angharad, karya Emrys Myrddin. Ada tema feminist juga, dimana Effy berjuang di dunia yang memuja patriarki.
Untuk yang menyukai fantasi ringan dengan trope rivals-to-lovers dan tema feminist, bolehlah memberi buku ini kesempatan.

I loved, loved, loved this book! The atmosphere, dark academia leanings, the mystery, the fairytale elements, relatability, and a non-cringey, slow burn romance. Most especially though it's themes on storytelling and authorship. I'm not sure I can fully articulate how much I loved this but I'll try!
The very beginning felt a bit awkward in the writing, but once Ava Reid hits her stride the writing literally drips with atmospheric lyricism. I FELT this book and was transported every time I opened it to a place that was damp, eerie, haunting and vivid. But it's not just the writing style that captivated me, but also the fact that Reid deals with some pretty unsettling and heavy subjects, while also telling a fantastic story. Sexism, patriarchy, sexual assault, female autonomy, and mental health are weaved in so well that it never feels heavy handed, but just disconcerting enough to make you pay attention and really think about the implications. It is written so seamlessly that it never detracts from the story or enjoyment of it. I really loved the main character Effy. Her struggles are relatable, she is relatable in so many ways and in the end very inspiring. I think that's what I enjoyed the most about this book - it deals with a lot of dark, unpleasant subjects, but Reid manages to build it into something very positive and inspiring. It would be easy to leave it in the mire and bitterness and bleakness, but instead her character Effy rises above that, fights to change her fate and inner struggles with wits, determination and bravery and I think we all could use more encouragement to do the same no matter our circumstances. Reading, books and storytelling have long been a huge source of comfort, encouragement and solace for me and this book hits so close to home on that fine line between our admiration for the flawed people who write those stories, the impact the stories have on our lives and how we navigate the tightrope of the ownership of those stories.
I want to say so much more, about the refreshingly healthy romance and actually likeable and decent love interest, the setting and fairytale aspect, but I'll stop here otherwise this review will be an essay and will leave it to others to discover this treasure of a book!

I can see how some readers would find this book boring: it's a pretty fast read, but it's very quiet and moody. Reid's books typically deal with abuse, trauma and violence against women and it shows in Effy's nature and her view of the world. It's a little lighter here (maybe because it's YA?), but it's done compassionately and is no less relatable. I find it weird that some people didn't seem to understand why she'd start off as a timid and paranoid character, but okay. I'm not sure how I feel about a couple choices: like the overall mystery is kind of predictable and the romance while genuinely sweet sometimes, lacks chemistry. It's beautifully written though and the atmosphere is thick. Reid really captures the murky relentlessness of the ocean and water in general.