THIS WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! I literally read this in one sitting because I could not put it down. The atmosphere within this was untouchable, and the characters were incredible. I loved Effy so much and following her journey was truly a delight. I did figure out the ending prior to it, but I do think it was very well written and interesting. This is a must read!!

5 Stars

The perfect dark academia spooky FEMINIST RECLAIMING romance story for the fall 2023 season.

Other reviews have put it more eloquently and given this book the justice it deserves, but I’ll attempt to add my thoughts. A Study in Drowning is a multilayered tale that focuses on reclaiming one’s sense of self, their work, their sanity, and their purpose. It’s also a story around what the written word can mean to a person and how each reader can claim ownership over a story.

It’s also swoony and that plot doesn’t take away from the artful masterpiece being woven into the rest of the story.

I don’t know what to say exactly other than JUST READ IT. And on audio if you can.

4.5

Effy Sayre has had visions of the Fairy King since childhood, but she's determined to prove herself as a student in the architecture program at her university. After all, women aren't allowed to study literature. But Effy's heart is with Emrys Myrddin's Angharad, a fairy tale about a girl who falls in love with the Fairy King and destroys him.

Effy knows the book by heart, and it brings her comfort as she struggles through school. But when Myrddin's family holds a contest to redesign the recently deceased author's home, Effy is also determined to prove her worth as an architect. As soon as she arrives at Hiraeth Manor, she is met with a manor in complete disrepair and her (secret) foe, P. Heloury. You see, Preston checked out all of the books from the library about Myrddin when Effy wanted them. Egregious!

Preston is at the manor officially to write a biography, but unofficially to prove that Myrddin did not write Angharad. Effy finds this accusation incomprehensible, so the two briefly become academic rivals. As time passes, the two realize that something sinister is afoot. Can they save the manor and prove the authorship of Effy's beloved tales?

A Study in Drowning is my first Ava Reid book, but I loved it! The rivalry between Effy and Preston lasted the perfect length. Any shorter wouldn't have felt genuine, and longer would have felt like it was dragging out for excessive banter.

I thought I knew where the plot was going, but I'm glad I was wrong!

If you like:
- Gothic tales
- Dark academia
- Academic rivals to lovers
- Spooky seaside settings
... then you'll love A Study in Drowning.

I should begin by saying I might be a bit biased because Ava Reid is one of my auto-buy authors. I love everything she has written so far, and I loved A Study in Drowning, too, even if my love for it is more complicated than the love I feel for, say, Juniper & Thorn.

I’ve seen numerous reviews from people who’ve said this book gives them all the “fall feelings”. Well, then I feel sorry for what you think fall is, because this book made me feel incredibly sad, heavy, and emotional. I felt as weighed down as all of Hireath (the Myrrdin family home mentioned in the book’s blurb) feels in all its waterlogged sorrow. (Interestingly enough, I know the word Hireath from its Welsh origins, and while there is no direct English translation, to the Welsh, it’s a feelings that mixes longing, yearning, nostalgia, wistfulness or an earnest desire for what–or how–something used to be).

Wales plays more than one part in this story, as Emrys Myrddin was the name of Merlin, King Arthur’s court magician, in the oldest known Welsh texts. Sadly, in those old texts, Merlin was just as atrocious a figure as Emrys is in this book, in the worst of ways. Also, notably, A woman named Angharad James was quite a notable poet in Wales from the mid 17th to mid 18th century. Both her son and husband died before her, and she wrote a beautiful elegy for her son. The manuscript survived and you can find it online.

I think my complicated feelings with this book begin with how much I identify with Effy, our female protagonist. It’s in her struggles to be taken seriously in academia, her mental illness issues, and her trauma. (BTW, here is a good place to suggest that you look up a list of TW/CWs before you read this book, if you’re the type of person who wants to know what they’re getting into before they start a darker book). For Effy, books have been her only friends and her only escape for her whole life, and I feel that sentiment in my bones. Books never leave like people do. Books never die. Books never physically harm you. Books are reliable, a portal out of here. And Effy, well, Effy has needed something to rely on her whole life because she’s had no one else to rely on. The only problem is she ended up relying on a single book to hold onto everything for her.

This book has a lot to say about misogyny, r@pe culture, victim blaming, grooming, the theft of women’s intellectual property for the sake of putting a man’s name on the work, prejudice against women in academia, philosophies behind what you believe and what you know, unwanted children, folklore, mythology, the younger generation changing the power structures, and more.

But what I find I enjoy more than anything when I read an Ava Reid book is the writing itself. The prose. The atmosphere. The imagery. The sentence structure. The way you can almost smell the sea, feel the ocean spray, shiver in the cold, smell the damp, feel the wood flooring bow beneath your feet, see the termite holes in the baseboards. Her books are immersive and evocative. You can feel the heavy doors and freezing water. You can see the trees flying through the air and the curving roads. And this is why I can’t help but love Ava Reid: her writing, just pure and undiluted, is magical all on its own.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: 5 Star Review/College Romance/Dark Academia/Dark Fantasy/Disability Rep/Romantasy/Gothic/Standalone Novel/Spice Level 1/Women’s Fiction/YA Fantasy/YA Fantasy Romance

This book felt like living through my nightmares. Being thrust into a confusing existence along side the protagonist, Effy, means that you can’t take a proper breath. Effy being unable to trust anyone or anything (including herself) whilst experiencing this constant urgency to escape or do *something* and not knowing what that something might be had my heart racing and the pages turning. Like Effy I felt out of my mind and body at times. In a word, I felt sick. Sick with horror of what was past and sick with dread for the future, but I couldn’t look away.

At its core A Study In Drowning is about surviving the present and I’m glad I survived this book and was able to make I t to the end, experiencing each moment of the story along the way. Through it all there were moments of light and hope in a rotting and twisted world.

I can’t promise that reading this book will be pleasant but it will be *something*. Maybe one day I’ll figure out what the something was for me.

Even as I give this book five stars I don’t know if I enjoyed it. I liked it, sure, but I can’t say I enjoyed reading it. I enjoyed reading it the way one can enjoy clutching a piece of driftwood while trying not to drown in a hurricane, I enjoyed it because I had to hang onto it for dear life or I would drown.

Read at your own risk.

This story is told in third person and follows Effy. Each chapter is preceded by a quote from a work by Effy’s favorite author Emrys Myrddin or from other literary critics of his work. Effy has suffered from several traumas over the course of her young life that have impacted the way she comports and views herself. I found her conflicting aspects of sudden bravery followed by traumatic freezes or extreme self-consciousness to be immensely frustrating, but others may find her relatable.

Effy’s initial reactions to Preston were extreme enough for me to feel uncomfortable. I’m not sure whether the general dislike of Argantians was because of the war, snobbery, xenophobia or racism or maybe all the above, but Effy’s use of it was disturbing to me especially since she had been passed over because of sexism. Preston provides stalwart companionship and unwavering support. I did like him, but he was the only redeeming male in the story.

The setting was beautifully atmospheric. I loved how the decaying cliff house mirrored the decay of the characters in the plot. However, much of the story was filled with ambiguity and allusion that I found frustrating. Around the halfway mark, I guessed what was going on with Preston’s project and it made me feel like the end was rather anticlimactic.

Recommended to readers that enjoy female protagonists who have overcome extreme trauma and love atmospheric myths come to life.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperTeen for a copy provided for an honest review.

This book is excellent but I feel like it is for very specific audiences. Gothic magic lovers will appreciate its uniqueness. If you don’t need a dark academia novel then skip this one. Otherwise definitely read!

The dark academia/gothic romance of my dreams! A smart and ambitious girl beset by dark visions! A rival with his own secrets! A house that is literally falling into the sea! I. Loved. It.

I can see where this will appeal to a lot of readers. It has great atmosphere and touches on some heavy topics. Unfortunately for me, I needed a bit more from the plot and characters. I feel like this is an all vibes kind of book. Which is okay, but I really wanted more ti in with the fae king.

This book, oh this book, it will take you along on this epic tale filled with love, loss, fantasy, reality, and folklore that twirl together like fairies dancing in the glen.

To say I loved this one would be an understatement, I want to live in this world, good and bad, with the seamless blending of magic and realism, it's just brilliant.

Effy's character is perfection, she loves literature and does whatever she has to do to prove her thoughts and dreams to be true, she's the kind of character that will make you believe in everything and nothing at the same time.

Preston is her perfect counterpart, he has doubts, he wants to prove that Myrddin is a fraud and that all of Effy's dreams are just that, dreams.

While the characters are fantastic, the house, Hiraeth Manor is its character, it has life, purpose, and everything that makes gothic settings my absolute favorite type of setting.

If you like gothic settings, tales that blend magic with whimsy and reality this book is for you, if you like books that make you question reality this book is for you, if you just want something that will let you escape reality for a while this is the book for you.

Thank you to Harper Collins Children's Books, Harper Teen, and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this E-Book, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was my first outing with Ava Reid, and I THOROUGHLY enjoyed myself. I loved how the story takes a slanted real-world setting (Wales & Cornwall, but not quite) and imbues it with qualities of those cultures' folk tales, but then also adds elements of fantasy and the gothic. I went into this not quite sure what to expect, and if at the beginning you'd told me that all those elements would be playing together, I'd be worried about how the book would go. But I ended up with a book and a reading experience that was delightful, engrossing, and not quite like one I'd had before. The only issues I had were with the antagonist (I didn't fully understand how that worked) and with how the story resolved (a bit more tell than show for my taste).

Otherwise, I had a delightful time. I do recommend, and I'll likely purchase my own copy in the future.

Thank you Harper Teen for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I have been having a difficult time trying to sum up my thoughts on A STUDY IN DROWNING. It’s a book about fairytales, mental illness and keeping the stories we love close to our hearts. I think most readers will immediately fall in love with the main character Effy. She’s a soft and anxious girl and unlike any YA heroine I have ever read. Effy is someone who’s been hurt by the people around her so she is extremely vulnerable. She’s a survivor. Effy is also a young woman in academia trying to navigate spaces that were not meant for her. All while she is having visions of the Fairy King that cause her to question her own reality.

Ava Reid continues to show that her strength lies in writing compelling narratives centered around the experiences of female suffering and anger. But the biggest strength of this book is probably the gothic atmosphere that serves as a backdrop to this story. The present is being haunted by the past. Effy and Preston trying to discover the secrets of Emrys Myrddin in his manor that is literally crumbling into the sea is a perfect example of that.

I loved how sweet and tender Effy’s relationship with Preston was. At first, their relationship was a little rocky, much like the rocks that are crumbling into the sea. But once Effy saw that Preston wasn’t there to judge her, her personality unfurled like a little delicate flower. The “romance” that takes place between Effy and Preston isn’t the focus of the book by any means but it shows that you really only need one person in this world who sees you for who are to make you feel like you can be brave and take on the world.

I could go on and on but you don’t need to keep reading for you to know that I am in love with his book and will continue to ready anything and everything that Ava Reid writes. A STUDY IN DROWNING just might be my favorite book from Reid yet!

5/5 stars!

A Study in Drowning is the first book I’ve read by Ava Reid. I enjoyed Effy and Preston. The mystery of the house and Emrys Myrddin kept me intrigued through the whole book. I really liked the poetry and snippets of Angharad in the beginnings of the chapters. If Ava Reid wrote and published Angharad, I would buy it.

However, I found the world building a little confusing. It starts off in what seems like a fantasy setting before mentioning more modern inventions such as cars and phones. We are given bits of background information about the world but some parts felt like they could’ve been explained with greater detail.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and its message.

Content warnings include sexual assault, grooming, victim blaming, parental neglect, and mental illness.

I am sitting here in complete awe to be honest, having just finished this beautifully crafted work of literary perfection, and feel strongly compelled to go back to the start of the book and re-experience the entire story all over again.

I absolutely loved the immersive world building. The trauma responses of the FMC are completely accurate for that level of trauma. This is a gothic academia novel with fantasy elements. The imagery used through the book is just absolutely beautiful.

The rivals to lovers romantic subplot is very very sweet, with a partner mindful of the FMC's past s*xual assault who waits until she is ready without expectations and with so much gentleness. The banter of the main characters is perfection.

And that ENDING!!!! The whole book was just so well crafted. It felt like stepping into a world of friends you never knew you needed with an outlook on the world your soul has been searching for. This book really is so healing for those who have gone through trauma events themselves. Please be mindful of your triggers.

This book reminds me of Margaret Rogerson's books (in particular, Sorcery of Thorns), Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brönte, and books by Rebecca Ross as well, with some light Series of Unfortunate Events: The Wide Window elements. So basically everything you would want to feel while reading a Gothic academia novel.

Favorite quotes:
"Writing that book was like shining a beacon from a lighthouse, I suppose."
"You don't have to take up a sword. Survival is bravery, too."

Content Warning: Low Spice romance, old boudoir photos, mentions of bare breasts, very minimal swear words, mentions of past s*xual assault by predatory professor, missing finger

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, HarperCollins, for sharing the advanced reader copy of this book with me.

Thank you so much to Ava Reid, Netgalley and HarperTeen. Ava Reid has a way of telling such a unique and dark story that had me hooked from the start. Our FMC is Effy, she is the only female student at her architecture college. She entered into a competition to redesign her favorite author's home. Not only is she shocked when she is selected she is a bit daunted not only at the property she is so draft blueprints for because she looked up to the author, but the building is located on an isolated cliff. If you enjoy dark academia with a hint of romance, A Study in Drowning is for you. I finished this book in less than 48 hours because I was unable to put it down. I will say you may need to check the trigger warnings on this one, but I did appreciate the mental health representation. It was my first read by Ava Reid and I can't want to read Juniper and Thorn next. I highly recommend for the fall and halloween vibes.

Special thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Content Warning: This book includes: on-page alcohol consumption, sexual content: (one on-page vague scene, a couple of kisses, implied & stated sexual content from other characters and written works, a huge storyline is the sexual assault that occurred to our main character-this is not overly descriptive, but you do understand what happened because of her trauma and fear), toxic relationships, professor and student power abuse, older men/younger girls power abuse, lots of misogynistic references and slurs. A couple of on-page swears.

This was my first introduction to Ava Reid’s work. A Study in Drowning is her YA debut, and it is rich in history and the fantastical. Cleverly written with the purpose of empowering and giving voice to young women whose voices were being silenced. Reid delivers a fresh perspective on equality, race, and how admiration and respect are quite different terms.

This book has soft fantasy elements, which I enjoyed. Sometimes, regular fantasy can be a little too hard to get into, but this book did a perfect job of blending both the academic world and fantastical together. Honestly, Reid created vast and descriptive settings that brought you along with the characters. The characters too were all written to have such unique and interesting personalities that made them feel both relevant and real.
My absolute favorite part of this book was the chapter headings, which gave us a glimpse into the history and this world’s works of literature. I absolutely adored Reid’s history behind Myrddin’s books and poetry as well as the history of the world’s Drowning.

The only thing that I did not care for was the repetitiveness of the book. It seemed like there was too much information being handed to us at once, which I would have rather had sprinkled throughout. Of course, that is my own preference, but other than that it was an enjoyable book. I think that it would be a great fit in any public or private library collection.

I would recommend A Study in Drowning to anyone who loves light/dark academia and soft fantasy. Recommended reading would be The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson (The history/literature focus), A Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos (Soft Magic/Artifact & Literature focus), The Darkest Part of The Forest by Holly Black (If you liked the Fairy King) and for a more mature audience the wolf & the woodsman (same author)

Very cozy and autumnal dark academia-esque novel featuring a rivals to lovers romance. I think teens who are interested in this kind of story will be greatly pleased, and it also has quite a bit of crossover appeal. Atmosphere of this story is perfectly done. Very engaging work.

It took me a while to get through this, but simply because, although beautifully written, it just wasn't for me. I liked the concept, but I just didn't fall in love. Effy and Preston had great character development. The academic setting added to the eerie atmosphere, perfect for someone seeking a slow burn, dark academia read..

Poetic, melancholic perfection—Ava writes for the heart of my soul. There are few things outside of my own inner turmoil that can make me cry and FEEL, the way Ava’s writing can.

I waited months to finally read A Study in Drowning after being approved for the eARC because I was in a severe reading burnout and though I knew that, most likely, reading it would bring me out of my slump…I love Ava’s writing too much to risk that the burnout would affect the experience because I’d been sooooooo looking forward to this book.

Fortunately, by end of August I was finally feeling ready to pick it up and got to start reading it on my birthday, which was the best birthday treat. Though I tried to pace myself, I flew through it in a few sittings…but wish I could have made it last forever.

The beautiful, solemn world building transports you immediately and completely into Effy’s melancholic world. My heart aches for this girl who has spent her life being made small, being made to feel she is not enough, that there is something wrong with and inside her. Lost in the overwhelm of life, being forced to live an outer life that doesn’t match who you are inside is such a deeply resonant theme. Tbh, I didn’t think I would really like Preston but turns out, I adored him. He and Effy have my whole heart and I absolutely love them. The world, the story, the lore and mythology…everything about this story is so well and beautifully done and should absolutely be an immediate add to everyones tbr—and is especially perfect for a curled up under a blanket on a gloomy, chilly fall day read.

I am forever in awe of the depth, atmosphere, nuance, feeling…in Ava’s stories, and am ravenously awaiting Lady Makbeth’s arrival next year.

Myth: 5/5

An enthralling dark academia story with evocative drowning vibes from start to finish. This book had me in a chokehold from the third chapter on. Delving into a famous writer’s works after his passing, Effy has to confront both the heroes and demons in her world.

Magic: 5/5

I have to say that this was fantastically done. A slight play with the concept of an unreliable narrator leaves you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire book. I won’t say more!

Overall: 5/5

Captivating! I had to know more, I needed to and wanted to believe in everything Effy saw, but her self-doubt is a powerful tool in dancing the unreliable narrator line. This story felt wholly fresh to me, even in the growing popularity of the dark academia subgenre. I highly recommend it.