I really, really liked this! I read it in about two or three days and felt like I was really speeding through it because I enjoyed it so much. I liked the setting/genre -- a fictional, sort of fantasy-like world, full of myth and mythological beliefs, but not so fantastical that what the main characters discover is within the realm of accepted possibility in their world. It was light fantasy, which was refreshing.

I felt like the explanation from Angharad was a little cliche. Everything explained and answered in monologue. AND I pretty much saw those explanations and answers coming. BUT I still enjoyed the getting there.

All of the characters were enjoyable to read, and I liked the theme of men taking advantage of women over time, and the conclusion of that theme, with Effy being about to stand up for herself and get what she wanted and deserved.

I would give this like a 4.25 out of 5 stars.

As a huge fan of "Juniper & Thorn" and "The Wolf and the Woodsman," I was really looking forward to Ava Reid's next book, and first YA novel. "A Study in Drowning" proved to be just as strong as her first two works. The mystery was compelling, but so was the time just spent following the protagonist. A good chunk of the plot is devoted to exploring the relationships we develop with our favorite authors and how their works live independently of them within us. I really enjoyed the lore Reid utilized in this book, and how she kept it manageable for a YA audience.

I didn't really enjoy this book. The writing and the romance didn't work for me. I was put off by the way the main character was treating her soon to be love interest because he was from a different country. I honestly ended up skimming a lot of the book to see how it would end because I didn't want to take the time to fully read it but still get the gist of what this story was about. I've read and liked this author in the past but for some reason, I really struggled with this book pretty much from the start.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperTeen for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

Effy Sayre believes in fairytales and the Fairy King and is an ardent fan of the late Emrys Myrddin’s work, his masterpiece Angharad in particular. She finds herself seen and heard and understood within its pages, but despite her dreams of the literature college, she studies architecture at university due to misogynistic prejudice. When Myrddin’s family hosts a contest to redesign Hiraeth Manor, Effy’s design is chosen and she is to spend the winter at her favorite author’s dilapidated manor, where his son and reclusive widow live. Little does she know, Preston Héloury, a literature student working on his thesis, has also been invited to the manor to study his papers—and his goal is to prove that Myrddin’s authorship is not what it seems.

A Study in Drowning is a gorgeous coming of age story discussing survival, believing women, agency, the horrors of academia, and the power of stories. Ava Reid is one of my favorite authors, and I do appreciate that there is always a thread of dissecting nationalism through their works—in this, we experience how stories and mythmaking contribute to the creation of a national identity, and thus propaganda. Though this is not at the forefront, I did think the undercurrent was extremely well done. What it means to survive takes center stage here, and I think that this, too, is wonderfully rendered—Effy’s emotional turmoil is palpable and very real. This book is also clearly inspired by anti-Stratfordians, and I loved how this made us think about things like authorship, agency, and power. I loved how Reid wove folklore and academic skepticism into this even using “one half of the country is notoriously superstitious and the other half disregards folklore/religion entirely” is on the simple side of conflict. And in any case, this story is primarily about Effy and Preston, and these two contain multitudes that make the story shine.

The prose in this is so good and so lyrical that I was instantly absorbed into the story and I loved how all the little details played into the larger narrative. The tension and atmosphere is exquisite; the decrepit manor certainly contributes to a gothic atmosphere, and Effy’s perspective is claustrophobic in the best way. Much like Marlinchen in Reid’s Juniper & Thorn, I loved that Effy was allowed to be afraid and uncertain; each dismissal of Effy’s experiences is infuriating and I thought it was inspiring to see her grow as the story progressed. I also really enjoyed the slow burn of Effy and Preston’s relationship and how they come to understand each other. I loved watching them interact and slowly learn to be vulnerable with one another.

Of course, Reid’s work tends to be heavy in nature and so I definitely recommend checking out the trigger and content warnings on their website. I loved the care that Reid handled these topics with, though of note there is the pervasive and lingering effects of sexual abuse. While it is all off-page and non-graphic, Effy’s fear and anxiety were visceral. Effy’s experience with mental illness is also covered extensively, and she is frequently dismissed as being a silly girl or otherwise belittled.

Overall I am obsessed with the prose, the characters, the atmosphere, the world building… the entire thing, actually. Reid’s written one of the best YA novels I’ve read in ages (though certainly this is for an upper YA crowd) and is still very firmly cemented as one of my favorite authors. I definitely highly recommend this and it absolutely is one of my favorite reads of the year.

This was my first Ava Reid's book and I was impressed by her writing. For the first 30% the pacing was slow but after that the myteries were really gripping. The mysteries throughout the book kept me turning the pages. I actually had a slight discomfort while reading it, so I would advise anyone to look at the trigger warning first before reading. Overall even though the ending felt a little bit rushed I enjoyed reading ASID.
I'd recommend it if you love gothic mystery especially with sprinkles of fairytales and romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ava Reid's beautiful writing sweeps you away with Effy's story. The author creates an atmospheric, dark academic story that transports the reader. It is a story of mystery and rivals to lovers, with Welsh folklore. Fans of The Invisible Life of Addie Larue will enjoy it. This is one of those books, like A Lesson in Chemistry, that sticks with me and makes me glad I was born later in the twentieth century. The book addresses sexism in academia, as well as the men who abuse their positions of power within that world.

This is one of the most beautiful, well-written books I’ve read in awhile. It is atmospheric and you can vividly imagine the scenery of the book while reading, due to how descriptive the author is. The characters are wonderfully done, and unique, especially the female lead. I especially loved the mystery elements and was on my toes wondering what was going to happen to our characters until the very end.

I'm just in awe of this, it's such a beautiful read. It's so atmospheric and mysterious, and I thought all of the themes worked very well together. It felt both painful and empowering to read, and the vibes were immaculate. I was hoping to love this, but honestly it still took me by surprise how stunning of a book this was.

This is gothic fiction at its finest. A creepy, isolated house; a girl who may or may not see ghosts; an enigmatic author; a dark secret. Reid’s writing is beautiful, dark, and atmospheric. Her worldbuilding is incredible, as always, and had me wishing I could live in this world with Effy. The romance was well-done and didn’t feel rushed. Without revealing too much, one theme in the book is PTSD — and I think Reid handled it in a nuanced and accurate way: hyper-vigilance, flashbacks, irritability, freeze response, etc. (Note: there is no on-page sexual violence as far as I can remember, just allusions to it.)

“Her body remembered what it felt like to be afraid so well that it would take time, a long time, to teach it something new.”

Ava Reid is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

The writing is beautiful and the undertone is woven in so well. The vibes are perfectly moody and the storyline so intriguing and yet this story wasn’t for me. I can tell that it’s going to be a popular one though!

Wow, this book. I read this in two days. I would have read it faster if I didn't have responsibilities, dang being an adult. I could not put this down. I was immediately pulled in with the dark academia & historical fiction. I stayed up late for the gothic mystery & fairy core elements. It was haunting and elegantly written with beautiful world building and an aching romance. This book has it all and I will be rereading again upon it's release. We follow Effy, her tattered copy of Angharad—Emrys Myrddin’s epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, then destroys him— in hand as she heads to study architecture, though she'd rather study literature. So when Myrddin’s family announces a contest to students to redesign the late author’s estate, Effy feels certain it’s her destiny. There she meets Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar determined to expose Myrddin as a fraud. As the two rivals piece together clues about Myrddin’s legacy, dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspire against them—and the truth may bring them both to ruin.

This will be one of the best books of this year. It was an enthralling, never put down book. So much happens in this book. There is institutional sexism, magical realness, dark academia and rivals to lovers. It it upper Ya.

Unfortunately I didn't love this. I haven't read from this author before, but I heard amazing things so I was excited to jump in! I think this book however was another case of "it's not you, it's me". Slower paced atmospheric books are very popular, and a lot of readers love them. I think I just needed a faster paced easy to get into book at the time that I read this. Maybe I'll give it another try later and see if it is for me, maybe it was just the time I read this.
I will say that the atmosphere was great, I loved the feeling of the old dangerous house, I felt like I was there with the characters.

"Bestselling author Ava Reid makes her YA debut in this dark academic fantasy perfect for fans of Melissa Albert and Elana K. Arnold.

Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. Haunted by visions of the Fairy King since childhood, she's had no choice. Her tattered copy of Angharad - Emrys Myrddin's epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, then destroys him - is the only thing keeping her afloat. So when Myrddin's family announces a contest to redesign the late author's estate, Effy feels certain it's her destiny.

But musty, decrepit Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task, and its residents are far from welcoming. Including Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar determined to expose Myrddin as a fraud. As the two rivals piece together clues about Myrddin's legacy, dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspire against them - and the truth may bring them both to ruin.

Part historical fantasy, part rivals-to-lovers romance, part Gothic mystery, and all haunting, dreamlike atmosphere, Ava Reid's powerful YA debut will lure in readers who loved The Atlas Six, House of Salt and Sorrows, or Girl, Serpent, Thorn."

Doesn't everyone survive because of a tattered copy of some book?

Effy believes in fairy tales and always has done. Especially since she has been haunted by visions of the Fairy King. Finding solace in the pages of Angharad, an epic by Emrys Myrddin, Effy is only kept afloat in her architecture course by her own tattered copy. So when the Myrddin estate announces a contest to design the late author's house, Effy thinks it's fate. There she finds another has made it their temporary home but with much different intentions.
This gothic YA fantasy is not for the faint of heart. There is a lot happening. We’re almost instantly introduced to a world where not only is there rampant sexism in the academic world but also how their stories and voices can be ripped away from them at any moment. It was heavy. And that is brilliantly woven together within a mystery at an almost haunted house. I don’t want to give too many spoilers but I loved this story so much and I loved the characters.
Effy was one of those characters that you can’t help but want to put in your pocket to try and protect them. And watching her throughout the progress of this story was… just heart wrenching but at the same time you are screaming encouragement and threatening fictional characters.

Ava Reid doesn't hold any punches back and the mood here is really something to read. I enjoyed what I read for the most part and I liked it.

Effy Sayre has been plagued by visions of the fearsome Fairy King ever since she was young. When Effy tried to confide in those around her about it, instead of believing her, they gave her pills to quiet her mind. Effy's only solace is in her tattered copy of Angharad by Emrys Myrddin. The story is about a brave mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King and destroys him. Angharad has been like a lifeline for Effy, so when the Myrddin estate announces a contest to redesign the family's manor, Effy jumps at the chance.

But when Effy arrives at the remote Hiraeth Manor, it's even more decrepit than expected. Effy's barely passing her architecture courses and knows this project is more than she can handle, but she refuses to give up. To Effy's annoyance, she also has to contend with Preston Héloury, a literature student determined to expose Myrddin as a fraud. The pair decide to work together, but the more they investigate, the more secrets they uncover.

I've only read one other book by Reid that I thought was okay, but I couldn't pass this up. I loved how atmospheric this was. I could picture so clearly in my mind this crumbling estate perilously perched on a cliffside. It was eerie and cold and lived up to the Gothic description. I also enjoyed the characters. There are so many things about Effy that felt otherworldly but also relatable. She's one for the anxiety-ridden girlies; for those who overthink and second-guess everything. She and Preston have a little rivalry at the beginning, but it feels one-sided. I liked seeing their relationship blossom. I also thought Reid did a wonderful job tackling tough subjects such as mental health and sexism within academia. If you're looking for a dark, compelling read for the fall, I recommend checking it out.

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.

This was an eARC I was granted access to via NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers

I read this on my Kindle, no page counts.

Review:
I WANTED to love this. I WANTED Ava Reid to be redeemed after the no love lost story that was Juniper and Thorn.

Alas, my wants were not granted.

It took me about 40% to get invested and interested in this novel. It held my attention in a vise up until about 48%. Then, it lost me again.

I guessed the "plot twist" as soon as Effy arrived at Hiraeth. I knew her and Preston were going to be...friends.

The insta love was *puke* but I understand it needed to be done in order to piss off the Fairy King.

This could have been half as long as it really was.

Honestly, even with the parts that had me intrigued, as much as I disliked Juniper and Thorn, I think it was the better book.

This was just not it for me. There was too much that didn't need to happen. If the house was really that deteriorated, it wouldn't have stood a chance even before it fell into the sea.

The letters were burned/tossed but yet somehow ended up in a drowned basement and were perfectly legible?

There was an iron horseshoe above the door but yet the Fiary King could still get into the room?

All of the things made to reject the Fiary King actually trapped him instead of warding against him?

No. Just no.

To add:
It's very shallow and lacking proper world building. There is no character development until the last 98% and the trauma that Effy experienced when younger, it was never unpacked.

Also...don't changeling babies happen as....babies!? Not 6 or 7 years old? And because the baby is sick or lame, not misbehaving?

My new favorite book by Ava Reid. This story follows Effy, an architecture student, who actually wants to study literature but the college doesn't allow women. She is given an opportunity to design an estate for her favorite author, and the story goes on from there. I felt like the story was a perfect mix of dark academia, horror, romance, and mystery.