Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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

A Study in Drowning was one of my most anticipated releases of 2023 and I was not disappointed! This book is all about fairytales, mental illnesses, keeping our beloved stories safe, and finding a way to live after trauma.

Effy was probably the most anxious character I have ever read about which made me love her quickly. As someone who suffers from anxiety, I related to Effy a lot. She goes through a lot of trauma in her life, especially during her first year in college. All she wants is to fit in and be cared for. Never did she think going away to a rundown, gothic mansion on a cliff that belonged to her favorite author would find love, acceptance, and the truth.

Her and Preston were so loveable and I enjoyed every second of their story from rivals to friends to more. Preston accepts her and doesn’t judge her for her past, illnesses, and traumas. I loved Preston just so much.

If you love lyrical, gothic, atmospheric books, you should definitely read this book!

🌧️Happy Publication Day to A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid🌧️
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for letting read this audio arc!
•••
Effy has always believed in fairy tales, because ever since childhood she is haunted by visions of the Fairy King. Her only reprieve has been the pages of her favorite book Angharad, which is an epic tale of a mortal girl who falls for the Fairy King and then destroys him, authored Emrys Myrddin. Struggling through her first term at Llyr’s prestigious architecture program, Myrddin’s family announces a rare opportunity for a student to design a remodel of the late author’s house and Effy feels it is meant for her. Upon arriving at Hiraeth Manor, she finds it is very near to crumbling into the hungry sea below the cliffs. She also finds she isn’t the only visitor when she meets Preston Heloury, a young literature scholar, who is studying Myrddin’s papers in an effort to prove that her favorite author is a fraud. The rival duo decide to work together to discover the reclusive author’s legacy through his letters, books, and diaries only to discover that the manor’s foundation isn’t the only untrustworthy thing among them. There are dark mortal and magical forces working against them, and the truth could destroy both of them.
•••
Reid has a beautiful way of painting the atmosphere so that the reader really feels the moment. Every novel I’ve read by them, the atmosphere was the shining star of the story. I also really enjoy the topics presented in this novel when it comes to sexism, women’s rights, PTSD, and mental illness. I do think there are some really powerful elements woven into this fictional setting that make it very relevant for today’s audiences.
•••
What did not work for me was quite a few things.

The pacing was terribly slow, it picked up a little at the end, but why should I have to read 75% of a book before it takes off? And it didn’t really take off, just kinda started moving a little faster.

There was zero world building. An attempt was made, but I was so confused the whole time and none of my questions were answered by the end. I mean we never really even get an explanation as to what the actual past drowning was or why it happened? I’m sorry what?? And there were lots of times the characters would hint at past historical events but would never fully explain the histories, so it felt like the reader was supposed to know that already but we’ve never been told it? Also, the time period was super confusing. It was set in like year 190s or 200s but they had more advanced machinery and technology than what was around in the time frame of human history. And yeah, it’s supposed to be a different world than ours I think, but still, it just felt conflicting in my mind.

The climax at the end fell so flat for me. It was just easy peasy and didn’t really feel like there was much risk involved or needed. And the very end has a line of dialogue that I have no clue as to what was trying to be implied to the reader. If anyone else does, please tell me. I’m so confused.
•••
I do recommend this for the atmosphere and important messages but only to those who don’t mind super slow pacing.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub date: 9/19/23 — out now.

Thank you to Harper Audio for this advance audio edition! Unfortunately, I did not enjoy the audiobook, but the book itself really was wonderful. This book had a gripping way to it, and the atmosphere was perfect headed into fall. The gothic vibes were there and I believe delivered for my personal tastes, but it might be a miss with others! Overall, it was a short, interesting read.

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

This line perfectly sums up our main character Effy. She has been through a lot in her short time in this world but has persevered. Ava Reid does an amazing job of bringing together a book inspired by Welsh-folklore that explores feminine rage in a character that is both vulnerable and quietly powerful.

There is also a romance at the core. I loved the evolution of Effy and Preston’s relationship over the course of the story. From academic rivals to lovers, with such a down to earth, believable metamorphosis of their feelings for one another.

The gothic setting of this book was beautifully atmospheric and written in such a way that you could feel the continued collapse of the house’s facade as the main characters searched for answers.

Overall this was one of my most anticipated books and quickly cemented itself as one of my favorite books of 2023. The narration was so well done, I was completely drawn into the story hanging on every word.

This Ava Reid’s debut YA and is a dark academia gothic fantasy with a romantic subplot that will sweep you out to sea on an eerily, magical adventure.

Overall 5/5.

Thank you to Ava Reid, HarperTeen, and NetGalley for an advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

I'm glad I went in blind because WOW! This dark academia had me SUPER invested in the characters from the start. So much so that all the questions surrounding what is real or not, the world, the characters on the outside - all become extra bonus drama for our characters to experience. Absolutely would recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio for approving my request for the A Study in Drowning audiobook! I have been a huge fan of Ava Reid since The Wolf and the Woodsman, and as she publishes, her books get better from last to next–not to downplay how much I love TWATW or Juniper and Thorn, because those are two of my favorite books, but ASID’s dark academia vibes and academic rivals to lovers trope literally checked every box for me!

This book is about recovering from SA, never meeting your heroes, and suppressing women as intellectuals and artists, with allusions to Anti Stratfordian theory. What’s amazing is, after having read the book and discovering these themes, I read some notes from Reid on her ideas for the book, and she confirmed all of my impressions, which tells me that Reid is a master at weaving motifs into the matter of her fiction–which I did honestly already know from reading her other books and then learning her thoughts behind those. She is truly a machine of thought-provoking talent.

Despite ASID’s heavier themes, this book ultimately left me with such good feelings, from the dark academia tone to the romance, and finally with the female connection and empowerment in the end. Being aware of the SA TW, I do recommend this book to anyone who enjoys these tropes and is looking for the perfect fall read, or seaside read, or dmn good book in general!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this! Which was a bit of a surprise for me, as I didn’t really click with Ava Reid’s Juniper & Thorn.

I loved the depiction of womanhood and being believed, how Effy is traumatized and trying and knows she is at the mercy of powerful men. Even other women, such as her mother, are tired of her and it’s painfully clear that everyone finds her insipid and sensitive and a bother when all she is doing is existing.

I liked Effy’s relationship with Preston, even if it did feel a smidge rushed, and I liked how he did try to take her seriously but is still skeptical of the Fairy King (without making her feel ridiculous). The plot was engaging and I was invested the whole way through, even if it was a tad predictable.

I will say I didn’t completely understand why Angharad waited until the end to reveal everything. Maybe I missed it, but if she was trying to protect them, why not just tell them the truth? Overall, this is a very solid read and I’m glad that Reid seems to be improving with each book.

I wanted to love this one. The premise sounded great and the themes it touches upon were done very well but boy oh boy was it a let down. World building and gothic vibes were on point but the characters are so one dimensional, I was annoyed with them. I think the narrator tried their best but the story just wasn’t up to par, the writing is well done but the story is so repetitive and flat that I felt even the narrator was bored with it. I had to listen to it at 2.5x to feel like something was happening.

I received this book from NetGalley, Harper Teens & Harper Audio as an advanced listener’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

P.S. I know it’s an ALC but I found it very annoying to randomly listen to a guy saying Harper Audio throughout the narration.

A gothic-fairytale-mystery that takes readers to a spooky mansion on the edge of a sea cliff. Effy, the only girl in the architecture school, and who often finds it difficult to discern truth from reality finds herself isolated in the barren lands of the "lower 100" to redesign the late author Myrddin's estate. A difficult task, made even more difficult by the literature student Preston, who is there to learn uncover truths.

A spooky house... yes! A gothic vibe...yes! A twist... yes and yes!

Although I was expecting more of an academia setting I wasn't disappointed by the spooky setting of Myrddin's estate--a dilapidated mansion set on the ragged rocks above the sea, in fact I loved it. My biggest critique is the cliche romance story of bickering rivals turned lovers-- it seemed way too predictable and secondary and didn't give me the feels. I would have preferred more spook over the romance scenes, which is why I gave it three stars over four.

I would recommend this book to a teen reader who loves: gothic settings, romance, fairytales, mystery, bookish stories, female lead, stormy vibes, the color green.

My only complaint is that I wish I had saved it reading in the fall, it is so atmospheric and spooky it would be the perfect October read. From the start it reminded me of the way I felt reading Mexican Gothic, Rebecca, and a little bit Divine Rivals - which is a winning combination if you're me! This is a dark, moody story with some definite supernatural elements, a little bit of rivals to lovers, and a mystery to unravel. This was a voice galley so I cannot speak to the narration, but I did feel that Ava Reid's writing flowed exquisitely. I am tempted to pick it up in print for a reread in a month or two. Highly recommend!

“That was the cruelest irony, the more you did to save yourself, the less you became a person worth saving."

------------------

Effy is a young girl with an obsession for literature, but the college she applies to forces her into the architecture program. There she is chosen for a special project which brings her to the crumbling home of her favorite author. There she and a literature student, Preston, team up to discover the truth about this fabled author.

Ok, this one revolves around a Fairy King, so you know mayhem is ahead. The vibes and visuals Reid builds in this story are overwhelmingly immersive. I definitely felt swept away into this world.

I think I would have liked this one better without the Effy / Preston love story. That’s the only part that didn’t work for me, I would have been happy if they were just young scholars searching the truth. I did love Effy’s evolution to empowerment and how Preston supported her in the end.

Read this one if you enjoy T Kingfisher.

Thanks to Harper Audio for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

Ava Reid can write her lil tail off, lots of foreboding but not in the sense of atmosphere - it was in this sense of dread that you get when you're the only woman surrounded by men that you can't trust and that was a maniacal way to open this one.

Thank you Harper Audio, HarperTeen, and NetGalley for the advanced electronic audio review copy of this book. This was an interesting read, haunting and mythical, a bit dark for me at times, with a beautiful setting and good writing. I love mythology and this story masterfully combined Celtic mythology and great storytelling into a seamlessly flowing, enveloping whole. So glad I read this and would be looking for more Ava Reed’s books.

I liked the gothic vibes of the book-- it was very well written, which isn't surprising because I have yet to dislike anything that Ava Reid writes. Your reader's heart will go out to Effy, having to struggle the way she does, but Preston gives her the hope she needs. An atmospheric tale of rivals to lovers, this is a must read for anyone!

I personally couldn't get behind the narrator-- I decided to switch to reading the book the traditional way and the story flowed better from there.

What a stunning first foray into Young Adult fiction for this author! I very much enjoyed this charming book. Reid manages to perfectly combine fantasy with dark academia in this captivating tale of trauma, overcoming prejudice, and finding one's inner strength. Effy was a delightful and relatable protagonist that I was cheering for all throughout the story. I think this story contains an important message for all young women and is perfect for YA readers 14+. I would happily recommend this book to anyone looking for a fantasy romance with a dark-academia twist.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperTeen for the eARC. This is an honest review.

Ava Reid immerses readers in a haunting tale that blurs the lines between reality and myth. Effy's life has been intertwined with the legends of the Fairy King, a haunting presence in her nightmares and her refuge in the pages of a novel by deceased author Myrddin. She dreams of being a student of literature but is accepted into the architecture college instead. When the opportunity arises to compete in a contest to design Myrddin's dilapidated estate, Hiraeth Manor, Effy believes it's her chance to fulfill her destiny.

The atmosphere of this is drenched in gothic vibes, with Hiraeth Manor playing a central role as a decaying mansion perched precariously on the edge of the sea. Effy's journey intertwines with that of Preston Héloury, a young scholar seeking to unravel the truth behind Myrddin's legacy and expose potential fraud. As Effy and Preston delve into the reclusive author's letters and diaries, they discover not only the secrets of Hiraeth Manor's foundation but also the presence of dark and dangerous forces.

Reid's narrative deftly weaves elements of mystery, fantasy, and gothic romance, creating an immersive and unsettling reading experience. Effy's connection to the Fairy King and her exploration of the blurred boundaries between reality and fantasy lend an air of eerie enchantment.

While the narrative was intriguing, it's important to note that the pacing of the story may be perceived as slow and meandering. I was bored and not emotionally invested through most of this. However, it's important to note that the synthetic voice narration used for this ALC of the book absolutely affected my overall reading experience and certainly negatively impacted the emotional depth of the story.

There were also themes of sexism and predatory behavior of older men and the challenges faced by young women in male spaces. While my discomfort with these themes was likely the point, it was unsettling. "A Study in Drowning" offers a unique blend of gothic fantasy and dark academia, creating an atmosphere that kept me somewhat intrigued but uncomfortable. I think I'll avoid synthesized ALCs in the future.

This was my most anticipated release for the second half of 2023 and somehow it EXCEEDED my expectations, so this will be more gush than review. First of all, I am utterly entranced by the way Ava Reid writes. I don't think I ever went a single chapter without highlighting at least one line. I also loved getting snippets from Angharad, an in-world text that is crucial to the plot and which I know would love it read (if only!).

Honestly, the narrator didn't really do justice to Ava's gorgeous prose. The narration was fine but seemed to lack emotion and the tone didn't change during dialogue, which I disliked. My rating reflects the book itself and not the narration.

Effy is struggling to fit in as the only girl studying architecture at her university. She wishes she could study literature instead, especially the works of her favorite author, Emrys Myrddin, but girls are not allowed to study literature. Through what seems a stroke of luck, she wins a contest to redesign the late Myrddin's house for his son. When she arrives to find it crumbling into the sea and realizes she's stuck in a very remote and eerie location, she begins to have second thoughts. And then there's Preston, a snobbish literature student intent on some investigations that make her very uncomfortable.

This book encompasses so much in relatively few pages . It is both an atmospheric gothic fantasy and a critique of misogyny in academia, while also being a spooky mystery and a bit of a romance. I cannot recommend it highly enough and now I have no idea what to do with my life because it was over too soon and I'm lost without it.

This book is breathtaking. There’s not a woman I know who won’t relate to some part of Effy’s story. The repeating imagery of houses and mirrors and the sea were so effective. Ava Reid just became an auto buy author for me

Now this is the kind of dark academia that I like! Ava Reid did it again in creating a haunting story with flawed (though likeable) characters. I'll definitely be recommending this book to my teen readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.