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.

'A Study In Drowning' is a portrayal of a young girl's life and struggles with myth, misogyny and mental health in a combination of dark academia and dark faerie tale.

Ava Reid's lyrical prose provides a strong foundation to the novel and easily draws one into Effy's story. Though set in a time in the last century when girls were not even allowed to enroll in particular college courses, her struggles with misogyny were relatable as some of the instances and the writing just ring true.

The writing, hand in hand with the story sets the dark faerie tone of the novel and the inclusion of Angharad, the story within the story and Effy's well-used book, adds to the whole tone. Angharad provides the only functional bridge to understanding for Effy between her world and the world that she sees but everyone else dismisses.

This is overlaid with a mystery in a Gothic mansion and the world-building on the whole supports the story. Effy's character development as an unreliable narrator as the story progresses is interesting.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[One star for the premise and the whole book; One star for the characters; One star for the writing; Half a star for the story; Half a star for the world-building - Four stars in total.]

<i>Thank you so much to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of “A Study in Drowning” by Ava Reid in exchange for an honest review. All of the following opinions are formulated on my own. Any quotes in this review should be cross-referenced with the final copy for any possible edits. </i>

<b>Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars </b>

<b>Favorite quote(s): </b>
<i> “Fear and pain could be endured if you knew that eventually… they would end.” </i>

My review: A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid, is a beautiful standalone thriller. This book an a stunning examination of a woman’s existence in a world created for men. This story is a beautiful dive into dark academia. Effy is an awkward young woman who has been given enrollment in an architecture college while her only dream is to study literature. She watches her dream slip through her fingers every day until she applies to remodel the crumbling foundation of a home formerly belonging to her favorite writer. When Effy arrives at the manor, her rival, or more likely someone who she envies, is there. Preston convinces Effy to help him unravel the truth behind her favorite author.

This book starts of quite slow though as the story goes on, the pieces slowly come together. We slowly see the devastation Effy experiences repeatedly as she walks through the world. In a way, Effy is a character similar to the manor she is supposed to repair. A home on a cliff about to fall into the water, unable to be saved. The story is rooted in Welsh mythology and crafted with beautiful words. I really hope a lot of people read this because there are some stunning quotes, especially towards the end. The message of this novel is stunning: keeping your head above the water is enough even if it doesn’t feel like it is.

<b> Triggers: </b> <i>Please note this is not an all inclusive list </i> violence, SA, misogyny, anxiety, self medicating, gaslighting, acoholism, sexism

<b> Notable Themes, Elements, and Tropes: </b>
-Welsh Mythology
-Gothic mansion
-Dark academia
-Women in a World Made for Men
-Psychological Thriller
-Fae and Changelings
-Academic Rivals

This book started out really slow for me and it was difficult to hold interest. Once I got into the meat of the story around 1/3 of the way in, I started to reeeeally enjoy this book. The world building was incredibly interesting and the atmosphere was dark and foreboding. The main character is a determined young woman and the novel has strong feminist themes woven throughout. The characters grew on me over time and I loved them at the end!

Solid read for fans of dark academia. Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy. 4/5 stars.

This is not the book I expected, but it was everything I apparently wanted because I couldn’t put it down! If you take a pinch of fantasy, a dash of feminism, a cup of academia, add some romance to taste and finish off with mystery you get A Study in Drowning.

Such a unique story…This is a dark academia story with mystery and romance. Effy is our FMC and she is such a beautifully complex character. She is attending college as the only female architectural student. She decides to enter a contest to redesign the estate of one of Effy’s favorite childhood authors. Preston is a student that she is competing against, but his motives are different! He want’s to expose this author as a fraud. This sweet storyline is complex, twisty, full of angst and will keep you wanting more! Ava has a way of writing books that unfold before your eyes. She beautiful and lyrically pulls together all the pieces exactly as they need to come together and I am mesmerized by her writing style.

I highly recommend this read! Such a great story…



Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for this ARC of A Study in Drowing.

I was not prepared for how much I liked A Study in Drowning. This is my first novel by Ava Reid but it definitely won’t be my last because I absolutely loved her writing style.

We follow Effy, an architecture student who wishes she were a literature student. She finds solace in the classic novel Angharad written by the mysterious Emrys Myrddin, and then one day she is given the opportunity to redesign the Myrddin estate and she couldn’t be happier.

While working on her plans at the Myrddin estate, a literature scholar named Preston shows up and is determined to prove Myrddin’s works weren’t actually written by him. At first, the two butt heads over their differing opinions of Myrddin, but eventually some secrets come to light that cause them to join together against dark forces.

A Study in Drowning is a magical and atmospheric novel with a dark setting, historical undertones, discussions of academia, old secrets buried in a crumbling house, a soft romance, and ethereal and captivating writing. I really enjoyed the novel, and I liked that it had a completely different feel from the generic YA novel format. I would absolutely recommend this book.

A Study in Drowning beautifully joined the fantastical elements with those of dark academia. The writing had a wonderful flow and I loved all the comparisons to mermaids and sirens. This book had such an important story to tell and I loved watching the main character grow in confidence throughout.
I thought the narration was very well done. The voice was fitting for the flow of the story and kept you captivated with the lovely descriptions and different characters’ voices.
There are many young women especially who would benefit from this story of a girl learning to stand up for herself and finding her voice.

A big thanks to YABC, NetGalley, and HarperCollins for providing both a physical, eARC, and advance audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

A dark academia mixed with the fanciful of fairy tales, sign me up.

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid is a YA gothic about a girl named Effy Sayre, who aspires to create the best home design for her favorite fairy tale author. Effy has always believed in fairy tales, especially when one of them lives inside her head. But as fanciful as her mind is, she is dedicated to her only allowed studies of architecture. Until her favorite author's family decides to renovate the old home, and is only looking for a bright student to make up the design. And Effy is the perfect candidate. But not everything is as it seems, as she must be better than her rival and try not to let herself drown in the rising sea.

What I liked most about this book, is that it combined the eerieness of being a gothic novel, with a mostly desolate house overlooking a raging sea that seems to be haunted by something supernatural. With the more fanciful fairy tales of the youth. Ie. Fey. I also just really liked Preston (just a tad bit more than Roman from Divine Rivals, sorry not sorry). BUT ALSO THAT END LINE. You can't go wrong with that kind of ending.

I've tried and been burned by Ava Reid (I'm looking at you, Juniper and Thorn) and I really wanted to love this one. But just couldn't. The first thing I absolutely detested, was the mere mention of a student/teacher relationship. Even if it was off page in the past. I thought I could get past this, but it kept getting mentioned over and over again. And I know this was a huge trauma point for the main character, but I just couldn't get behind it.

Overall, this was a solid read. Just not my exact cup of tea. But I would highly recommend it to anyone needing something following the devastation that is Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross and just can't wait for Ruthless Vows.

A Study in Drowning is a book that I struggled to find a way to review in a manner that wasn’t incoherent ramblings because it is one of those books that says so much that I feel I don’t know if there is really a satisfactory way to begin a review at all. Partially, I felt like A Study in Drowning trapped me within its pages in the same manner Angharad trapped Effy, and in planning to review this, I have had to untangle myself from the vines of this story as well as I could, if I was going to say anything worthwhile.

What I can tell you is that Ava Reid has written another masterpiece that is both timely and timeless in its subject matter, and is a story that will live with me for a long time. It is on par with recent additions to the dark academia genre including Babel by R.F. Kuang in its critique of society and academia and The Whispering Dark in its tender, bleeding romance.

Both of Reid’s previous works have been driven forward by their themes, and A Study in Drowning is no different, and there is no place where their commentary felt half-hearted. The discrimination and fears of violence (physical, verbal, emotional, and sexual) women face within academia are handled with care and nuance as Effy must make compromises with her family and institution, which forbids women from the Literature College, to study the work of the author she loves most dearly.

Stories, like the ones Effy reads and writes herself, are once again at the heart of A Study in Drowning. Reid asks the readers, along with Effy, to consider questions of ownership of works, the role stories play within politics, who is believed when they tell a story, and what our favourite stories can do to us throughout the book in a manner that feels like a fairytale and a conversation about each of our own stories, as well, bringing the reader into the tale alongside Effy and Preston, as well. As much as it is a dark academia novel, I think A Study in Drowning is worth considering as a key member of the canon about stories about stories for its poignant exploration of these themes.

Personally, however, I found it was Reid’s commentary regarding mental illness that sparkled like the sun on the sea throughout the entire book. Effy has seen the Fairy King most of her life in her dreams, and has dutifully taken her medication in order to be a “good daughter” instead of a burden to her family. Reid’s personal experiences with their own mental illness bleed from every page, and perhaps that is what makes them so touching. Reid does not shy away from sharing the gruesome, unproductive thoughts that come with mental illness, and the fears of being a burden, or worth being locked up that are directly tied into the themes of misogyny. Yet Reid nor her love interest diminish Effy for her struggles, reaching like like a warm hug to say that, in spite of a world that tells you that you’re mad, you are worth listening to.

There is also so much to say on the topic of Effy and Preston, the characters at the heart of this book. Their romance is so heartbreaking and heartwarmimg that I almost did not know what to do with myself when they were on the page together. I found myself screaming, crying, laughing, and smiling uncontrollably whenever they were, sometimes doing more than once. Effy and Preston are consistently challenging the other’s worldview, and watching both characters come to understand each other more deeply and fall further for each other because of it drove the tender slow burn of their relationship over the book deep into my heart.

Paired with Ava Reid’s characteristic, beautiful writing, A Study in Drowning has quicky become of my favourites of the year, and easily one of my favourite books of all time. Reid has truly mastered her command over a story, and I cannot wait to see where their exploration of stories takes us after this.

A Study in Drowning is a moody, slow-burn mystical realism book about fairytales and idols, and what happens when reality is oh so different than you were led to believe. Effy believes in fairy tales, she has been seeing the Fairy King her entire life-so it makes sense that her favorite book is an epic about a girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, and what happens afterwards. But when she is invited to compete to design her idols house it seems like an impossible task, especially with Preston Heloury there hellbent on proving the author a fraud. As this unlikely duo works together to piece together clues as to the mysterious author's history, what they will find will change everything.

I really enjoyed the mood that this book inspired in me. It was lightly dark, mysterious and just the right amount of moody. There were a lot of moments that made me so angry and distinctly uncomfortable, without being too graphic. The author superbly wrote about anxiety. There were a lot of hard topics that she didn't shy away from. I really liked the basis of the story, even if I found the ending rather anticlimatic.

This is a slow moving book, so if you like things to be succinct and fast-paced this may not be for you. Check the content warnings if you know you have subjects that trigger you!

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It isn't a new favorite, but I'm happy to have been able to listen to it. The narrator does a wonderful job matching the moodiness of the story. YA fantasy lovers should definitely check this one out!

This is my first Ava Reid book so I wasn't sure what to expect. I did enjoy the gothic atmosphere but at the same time I was never really sure what was actually going on. I think part of that is that I listened to the synthetic voice audiobook ARC and it really took me out of the story. Everything was read in a flat tone so I found myself losing interest and when I came back to the story I didn't know what was going on. I didn't really enjoy Effy as a character, but I did like Preston. I found the middle of the book to be a little slow, but the last 25% was pretty good.

I'm not sure if I didn't like it as much because of the story itself, or because of the synthetic voice audiobook. But I think that if you've ready Ava Reid before and liked their work then you would probably like this one as well.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for providing me with an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

They say you should never meet your heroes. But what about redesigning their estate after they die?
Our main character is given this precise task, and she doesn’t feel she’s up for the challenge it presents — or is she?

This story just builds and builds and gets better and better as it goes!
FAN.TAS.TIC conclusion!!

I thought the beginning was a little weak because the setting was unclear, but around the halfway mark, I felt like any confusion I had was sorted out.

In the end, the character growth was excellent, the plot developed well, and the prose was so full of heart.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I’m a fan of the dark academia. The book was very eerie and atmospheric. I really love Effy and Preston. Fairytales are not always happy. A lot of times they are dark just like this one. I definitely recommend this one. I cannot wait to read more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Posting a longer review on the contents of the book on the ebook review, this is specifically just for the audiobook.

Really hoping the AI voice generated audiobooks do not become a thing. I realize this was made as a preview for NetGalley, but the voice just sounds off. I couldn't get through more than a chapter before I switched over to just reading the ebook.

Ava Reid has a main character that they excel at writing. They write heavily traumatized, unreliable narrators of girls who come to terms with their traumas and eventually grow to destroy the systems that created their trauma and that is not a formula that they should abandon anytime soon. There is the same feeling of a creepy fever dream to this story of an architecture and design student who is tasked to redesign her recently deceased favorite author's house while a literature student explores the author's work. Will they be able to come together and untangle the web of stories in the house and their own lives?
Ava Reid truly honed their authorial voice in Juniper and Thorn, and A Study in Drowning, while delivering quite similar feelings, expands upon that voice in a very authentic way. This was a much more clear and intentional story, but still continues to hit on incredibly difficult and dark topics in ways that, while they remain very uncomfortable, must be sat with. The tale is inherently feminist and feels much lower fantasy than the rest of the author's work. Overall, the story is engaging and strange and exactly what you want when you pick up the author's work.

5⭐️

“It began as all things did: a girl on the shore, terrified and desirous.”

Effy Sayre has had visions of the Fairy Kings since she was a child; nightmares keeping her awake at night, hallucinations in the light of day that only she can see. She has a constantly supply of little pink pills to keep the not real things away. The only other thing that kept Effy whole was author Emrys Myrddin's book, Angharad, that featured a mortal girl who fell in love with Fairy King and then eventually destroys him.

Now in her first year of uni, Effy is the only woman in the architecture program. When a competition arises to remodel the home of the late Emrys Myrddin, Effy jumps at the chance and wins. Hiraeth Manor is a broken down home on the top of a cliff, constantly at risk of crumbling into the sea. And when Effy arrives at Hiraeth Manor, she discovers that her rival, literature student Preston Héloury has also been invited to the manor and he is set to prove that Myrddin is a fraud. As the two but heads they discover that they can't believe everything they thought was true.

As soon as Ava Reid began promoting this book, I knew I would love it. A Dark Academia book set in a crumbling manor at the top of a cliff featuring rivals to lovers and a character called the Fairy King? That is all right up my alley. And when I wasn't able to get the ebook ARC on Netgalley, I was disappointed that I would have to wait until September. But then a Voicegalley Advance audio edition became available and I was so glad to get it!

I absolutely loved Effy; from her strained relationship with her mother, to her being the only woman in her uni program, to her immediate defensiveness in a desperate attempt to prove herself all endeared her to me. She is not a perfect person and never pretends to be. She's not necessarily the one who would run into battle, but will fight in her own way. As a fellow anxious girl, I can see myself in her.

I can appreciate how much faith Effy put into this book that got her through her life and how disheartening it is when you find out that the author doesn't live up to expectations. This tackled 'death of the author' fairly well. The book also captured the inherit sexism in academia as well as the abuse those in power inflict on those under them. The abuse of power is not only seen in sexism, but also prejudice against different cultures as seen with the treatment Preston receives. The fact that Effy and Preston can go from rivals to understanding the issues each has undergone in their fields was heart warming.

I do wish that the Fairy King was more prominent. It was a constant theme throughout the book and his presence seems to shadow almost everything, but I think I'd like to see more of him upfront and center.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for providing this ARC to me!

"We must discuss, then, the relationship between women and water. When men fall into the sea, they drown. When women meet the water, they transform. It becomes vital to ask: is this a metamorphosis, or a homecoming?"

I am obsessed with A Study in Drowning. The whole story and setting had me hooked right from the start. Picture a fantasy world inspired by mid-20th-century England/Wales, spiced up with some delightful Welsh mythology. It's like stepping into this Dark Academia vibe where mystery and romance take center stage in a crumbling and damp old house perched on a cliff that is about to be swept away into the sea. It delves into the clash between superstitious folklore and academic skepticism, shedding light on the rotten institutional sexism in academia. Reid nails it by portraying how young women are simultaneously dismissed as insipid and frivolous, yet somehow expected to shoulder the blame for the predatory actions of power-hungry men. I felt an instant connection to our unbearably brave FMC, Effy. She proves that being brave doesn't require the loss of being soft, and her softness is what helps her, and those she cares about, survive. This is a novel that is dedicated to those who survive. The blend of storytelling, lovable characters, gripping mysteries, and a touch of ambiguous fantasy makes this such a wonderful read. Honestly, there's not a single con I can think of. This book is hauntingly perfect.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 World Building: 5/5
🌊 Plot: 5/5
💫 Pacing: 5/5
🌸 Characters: 5/5
⭐️ Overall: 5/5