3.5/5

As a long-time Ava Reid fan, I was really excited to get my hands on this ARC!

This piece is unlike The Wolf & The Woodsman and Juniper & Thorn in the way that it is a more YA-focused dark academia novel, rather than an adult fantasy novel. I enjoyed seeing Reid explore a new genre, and I believe that she captured the spirit of dark academia quite well. I always enjoy a hard-hitting female-focused storyline, and Effy was certainly a powerful character in both her perseverance and bravery.

Ava Reid always manages to write extremely likable protagonists, and I especially enjoyed Preston's character: I love that he was a shining light in a world seemingly filled with cruel and wicked men.

Overall, I thought that the plot was well-rounded, but there were also moments that could have used slightly better pacing. I thought that the climax and resolution felt a little bit rushed, and I wish there had been a bit more of a gradual conclusion.

I always really enjoy Reid's writing style and prose, and she definitely continued to express her talents in this book! Overall, I enjoyed this book and am very excited to see what she comes up with in the future!

I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review - thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins!

A Study in Drowning is in the style of a classic fairytale, which is to say it is dark.

Effy has been told since she was a child that her sightings of the fairy king were hallucinations, that she needed to be a "good girl" and take her medicine, to the point that her mother asks her if she's taking her medication when she shows strong emotions, like being on the edge of crying. As a first-year student in the architecture college who dreamed of being admitted to the literature college (despite them not accepting any women), Effy couldn't resist the opportunity to design a manor in honor of her absolute favorite author just six months after his death. Imagine her surprise when she winds up staying at the manor, working with the author's son on her design for the manor!

Imagine her surprise, when Effy encounters P. Héloury (her self-styled nemesis that checked out every single library book on Myrddin that she'd wanted to use to research her architectural design) there on behalf of the literature college.

Imagine her surprise as the world she's been told is fake begins to collide with the world she's been told is real, as she begins to question everything.

TWs for abuse of power, mention of & brief (non-graphic) descriptions of sexual assault by an authority figure.

I had many theories and thoughts and was trying to put some things together as I was reading through - this definitely kept me hooked!

<spoiler>I swore early on that I would throw a fit if Effy was ""fixed by"" (or had) a romance by the end of the story - and somehow Reid convinced me with Preston's gentleness and kindness that, yes. Effy knows this doesn't repair her trauma. But she deserves that kind of gentle kindness and it's ok for that to be in a romantic relationship. So well done on Reid's part! You convinced me and also I ship it.</spoiler>

Effy Sayre is a first year architecture student who would rather be studying literature. At the beginning of her story, she finds a poster for a design contest to redesign the estate of Emrys Myrddin, her favorite author. If she can't study his works, she'll at least enter the design contest to see his home in southern Llyr.
Upon arriving, she finds a decrepit, waterlogged manor on a cliffside and is greeted by an academic rival, Preston Héloury whose thesis she disagrees with. Regardless of their differences, they band together to solve the mystery of Myrddin's principle work, Angharad, in the face of natural and supernatural forces at play.
My scholarly heart was filled with joy reading this Gothic/dark academia/young adult mystery. Can I just say how much it pleases me to puzzle out the little details in Reid's works? Like Llyr is Wales while Argant is possibly Brittany? The university is in Caer-Isel, the mythical sunken city of Ys, and Llyr went through a "Drowning" a little over 200 years earlier in the story. Emrys Myrddin? *Kind of a spoiler* Immortal Bard?! We also get some nods to Marlovian theory going on later in the plot, and the publisher of the famed novel at the center of the mystery is called Marlowe! *Chef kiss*
The themes of ASiD are numerous and complex: superstition, fairies, misogyny, women's roles in academia. But the one that stuck out to me most was mental illness. Effy questions her reality throughout the book as she confronts visions of the Fairy King and dang, if that ain't a trauma response. Even her resilience as she struggles and survives is a sign of her past trauma.
Misogyny and its trappings are the other themes that stuck out to me. Effy is barred from the college of literature since women "have not, as a sex, demonstrated great strength in the faculties of literary analysis or understanding."
First of all, ugh. Every man except for Preston says something misogynistic to her. Ugh. Second, it was interesting to see the internal rebellion Effy had in the face of such outright misogyny. Eventually, she was able to stick up for herself in a way that made the ending satisfying.
The atmosphere of the story was immaculate! The crumbling Gothic manor on a cliff by the sea, the stormy weather, the gruff and helpful harbinger in town. I. Ate. It. Up.
There's also outright romance and romantic tropes in the book that I haven't seen in Reid's other works. I enjoyed the way she incorporated them and molded them to her style.
I can't recommend this book enough. I hope my review has convinced you to read it, and that you'll pick it up when it's released in September!
Also, many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am an Ava Reid stan. She can do absolutely no wrong in my mind, and this book is just as incredible as Woodsman and Juniper. The writing in this book is absolutely immaculate and I am obsessed with effy. However, I do think that Reid is generally better suited to writing adult fiction.

Effy is the lone female student at Caer-Isel’s College of Architecture, who ends up with a unique opportunity to design a house for the estate of her favorite (dead) author. Upon arriving at the estate, she finds that the people in the Bay of Nine Bells take their fairytales and superstitions very seriously.

There is so much to love about this book. The fairytale aspect, the imagery that is so reflective of both the fairytale at the center of the story and the emotions of the characters themselves. It’s dark academia, with fairytales and romance but without the extreme pretentiousness. It’s an onion and it has layers and I loved pulling it apart as I read, trying to figure out for myself what was real and what was imagined. I loved it and Ava Reid is quickly becoming one of my autobuy authors.

This was absolutely lovely! There are so many teen fantasy books in the market nowadays, but this one stands out from the rest. I have been craving a book like this for years. Think early Sarah J Maas or "Poison Study".
This book was everything I had been wanting and missing. Excellent dialogue, solid world building, an independent, likeable heroine, romance. I just savored each page and was very sorry when it ended. I will definitely be buying this book in print! TEN STARS!

This book is lyrical, beautifully written, and enchanting. You are transported into this world with ease and find yourself never wanting to leave. I loved the romance, the mystery, and the entire plot development. I wish I’d had this when I was a Young Adult, it would have easily changed my life then.

The thing I love about Ava Reid's writing is that no matter what, she draws you in. This book was no different. I thought the characters were compelling, and the story was interesting. It does drag a bit at times, but I enjoyed it overall. 4/5 stars, and Ava Reid is an author I'll continue to read from!

Thank you so much to HarperCollins & NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A Study In Drowning follows Effy Sayre, a college-aged female who has had visions of The Fairy King since she was a little girl. Effy is the only female in her architectural program and enters a contest to redesign the estate of one of her favorite authors. She is competing against an English major named Preston who hopes to expose the author, Emrys Myrddin. The two start out as academic rivals and slowly burn to a passionate pair worth swooning over.

This is a beautifully written dark academia piece - the first half was a little slow as the building blocks of the story's foundation were set, and then the second half really peeled back all the layers of the onion and uncovered the secrets that we were looking for. I was a bit surprised at the abrupt ending - I was expecting more of an epilogue prior to the acknowledgments!

Uncovering the mysteries was pretty fun - it was cool to dive into the fairy world and the comparisons of how different regions had different interpretations/folklore of the fairy world.

I definitely recommend this book to those who love solving puzzles.

A beautifully written gothic story about a girl making sense of the world and uncovering the truth about fairytales. Effy isn’t your typical badass female character - she’s ridden with anxiety, needs pills to sleep, and finds it difficult to hide her emotions, which I actually loved and found very relatable. She definitely has her strengths as well though - she’s a brave, intelligent feminist who fought for her place as the only female in her university program. In her own words, she’s a survivor.

While I did really enjoy the story, I think my expectations were a bit high based on other reviews. The first half was just okay for me, but I started to become more invested when the magical aspects and the Fairy King started coming into play more. I also enjoyed the academic rivals romance and thought Preston was a great contrast to Effy. I liked the ending the best and I thought the story was wrapped up really nicely.

Thank you to HarperCollins for the ARC!

Anything can be taken from you, at any moment. Even the past isn’t guaranteed. You can lose that too, slowly, like water eating away at stone.

There is a lot going on in A Study in Drowning. It’s about institutional sexism in academia; about how young women are simultaneously treated as too insipid and frivolous to be of any consequence and yet also held responsible for the predation of the men who demand power over them. It’s about stories and the relationship between author and reader; about who really owns a story and decides what it means. It’s about all the ways your voice can be taken from you - both by others and eaten away at within yourself - and what it takes to get it back, if you can.
All of this is wrapped within a Dark Academia tale of mystery and romance (of the academic rivals variety) in a rotting old house on a cliff, intertwined with themes of the disconnect between religious, superstitious folklore and academic agnosticism. This book will have you questioning perceptions of reality and not knowing who or what to believe.
And all of it works so beautifully. A seamless blend of narrative, characters I absolutely loved, mysteries to unravel, and an ambiguously fantastical setting that you will question again and again. I loved this book so very much.

On the note of characters, I can’t not speak about the main character, Effy.

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

Effy Sayre is for the soft femmes. The anxiety femmes. The “I’ve been rehearsing my Starbucks order since I got in line” femmes. The “life has made my fight or flight response heavily weighted toward flight for my own survival” femmes. I love her. She’s not going to pick up a sword and get a training montage to defeat her enemies on a battlefield, she’s not always going to have the right quip at just the right time, and she’s not always going to have the right answers, but she shows that there’s a strength in softness. That it’s strength enough to survive and that the ways we find to make it through the day are valid. She’s not a perfect character, she has very real flaws beyond the sometimes trite “quirks that a romantic partner will find cute,” and it’s part of what makes her authentic and leaves room through the writing for real growth.

Almost as soon as I started this book I knew there was no chance that I was going to be Normal about it. Effy, has my whole heart. I love her, I feel protective of her, and I will lay down my life for her. (Remember, not going to be Normal about this). She distinctly puts this in the rare category of books that make me feel Seen as a human being, alongside others like VE Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and John Green’s Turtles All The Way Down. This is personal, it feels very singular (though it definitionally is not), and it absolutely elevates the experience of an already fantastic book. This idea is reflected in the story as well. To paraphrase, “Writing [a book is] like shining a beacon from a lighthouse…Are there any ships on the horizon? Will they signal back…?” It reminds me of the Kazuo Ishiguro quote “In the end, stories are about one person saying to another: This is the way it feels to me. Can you understand what I’m saying? Does it feel this way to you?”

And so, yes, I am the ship on the horizon signaling back. It feels this way to me too. And for that, A Study in Drowning holds a very special place in my heart. Five Stars.

A dark and brooding story about a young woman who is finding her way in the world.
Effy has always felt like she attracts the wrong kind of attention, and that is somehow her fault, and not the fault of gross dudes being manipulative.
She is in the college of architecture when she would rather be a literature student, which isn't allowed.
When she mysteriously wins an architectural competition to remodel the remote home of her favourite deceased author, Effy takes the chance.
She meets a literature student who she at first loathes and envies, but she soon begins to feel safe around him as they try to unravel the mysteries of the house and the occupants within.

I like it. Fae-folk and tradition play a large part in this great book.

This is one of those books that I finished a while back, and I'm still thinking about it. I won't be able to stop until I have an actual copy in my hands, reading and rereading until it becomes as well loved as Effie's copy of Angharad.

A Study in Drowning is about Effie Sayre, an architecture student who's fighting several battles - with herself, with her mind, with her place in the world and with the Fairy King himself. She has seen visions of him for as long as she can remember, yet the only one who seems to understand is Emrys Myrddin and his epic fantasy story, Angharad. When Effie gets a chance to visit Hiraeth Manor, the home of the esteemed author, she certainly can't refuse. What follows is one of the most beautiful, haunting yet hopeful stories I've had the pleasure of reading.

ASID is, essentially, a story about stories. How much of what an author writes belongs to them and how much belongs to us as readers? It's also about those aspects of mental health that people don't like to talk about - the medication, the hallucinations, the panic attacks, the absolute terror of dealing with your own mind. This book managed to have elements of a fantasy story while also feeling very gothic. My biggest issue is that I felt a little lost timeline-wise, but I feel like the author did a great job explaining and it was definitely a "me" thing. Once I go back to read it, I need to pay more attention to that aspect.

But seriously, no doubt that A Study in Drowning is a 5 star read.

Ava Reid has an uncanny ability to create worlds that you absolutely fall into. The writing is so lush that it's impossible not to imagine yourself there on the edge of the cliff with your hair whipping around you in the damp chilled air. Reid weaves together mystery, romance, power dynamics, and abuse of power (among many other themes) perfectly, without spending too much time on one vs another.

The depictions of panic and anxiety and Effy's "pink pills" is very similar to my own experience with anxiety and the need for medication; almost to the point where it was too close for comfort (but in the best possible way).

There's a version of the "only one bed" trope that made me throw my e-reader across the room it was so swoon worthy. The relationship between the two main characters unfolds dreamily.

I just absolutely loved this book.

ARC provided by NetGalley.

“And the sea, the sea, it whispers the secret of how all things end.”

I will absolutely be rereading in the fall, preferably on a stormy day by the ocean.

Ava Reid has concocted a luscious, mysterious, atmospheric and whimsical novel. There isn’t much to say without giving too much of the plot away — but at the heart of this story is the reclamation of girlhood. The sea is a constant presence throughout, both in metaphor, physicality, and imagery.

Effy and Preston were well executed characters. It was easy to like them, to doubt them, to root for them, to understand them. Reid was correct in describing this story as a “true romance.” Their connection is earned throughout the novel and culminates nicely.

I know I’ve read a good book when I wish for it to be a limited series on HBO, which is the case here.

Definitely pick this one up on a gloomy, overcast day — the stormier the better. Reading on a cliff side overlooking a thrashing sea is highly recommended.

I've enjoyed Ava Reid's two adult works in the past, so I was eager to read her first foray into young adult fiction. I was NOT prepared to love this as much as I did: "A Study in Drowning" is an intricate, character-driven tale told in the grays and silvers of fog rolling off of a merciless sea. Effy is a young architecture student who has been selected to design her favorite late author's house in a remote, superstitious town besieged by floods. While there, she meets a literature student who is determined to prove said author a fraud - and he asks for her help in the research.

This book deals with self-forgiveness, bravery, and truth: who is allowed to tell stories in a patriarchal society? Who is silenced? Effy is a memorably sympathetic protagonist; Preston gentle and incisive. I was deeply invested in the romantic subplot between these two characters, and wound up reading this book in 24 hours. And the atmosphere! Dripping, frightening, humid, rotten yet alive. Gothic fantasy on the edge of horror. I loved it.

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid is an absolute five-star masterpiece that left me in awe. This captivating novel not only immerses readers in its atmospheric setting but also delves into thought-provoking themes of personal agency, sexism in academia, and the complexities of one's story.

Reid's talent for crafting a rich and immersive atmosphere shines through every page. The detailed descriptions of Hiraeth Manor and its inhabitants created a vivid and hauntingly real world that I could almost reach out and touch. The author's ability to transport readers is truly remarkable. I found myself enthralled by the intricate details that brought the manor to life, while also feeling the weight of the challenges Effy encounters.

What truly sets A Study in Drowning apart is its exploration of important themes, including personal agency and the ownership of one's story. Reid deftly weaves these threads throughout the narrative, prompting readers to consider the various ways our stories can be shaped and stolen, both literally and figuratively. The novel invites reflection on the complexities of identity and the power dynamics at play in determining who controls our narratives.

Moreover, the novel fearlessly tackles the issue of sexism in academia, shedding light on the impossible double standards imposed upon women. It exposes the pervasive societal expectations that view women as somehow both inconsequential and responsible for the predatory actions of men. Through the experiences of the characters, Reid sparks meaningful discussions about these injustices, providing a much-needed voice to these important conversations.

In conclusion, A Study in Drowning is an extraordinary achievement that masterfully combines an immersive setting, well-developed characters, and profound themes. Ava Reid's exploration of personal agency, alongside her fearless examination of sexism and the complexities of women's experiences, make this novel a truly standout work. Prepare to be enthralled, challenged, and inspired by this thought-provoking and gripping tale that will stay with you long after the final page.

I could recognize Ava Reid's writing style from a mile away. It is truly so unique, I found myself reading and reread paragraphs just because. This story, while intriguing, was slow at times. However, the pacing is kind of a part of Reid's writing style so I did not expect otherwise to be honest. The characters are complex, and the worldbuilding is so unique. I will definitely keep my eyes peeled for Reid's future novels.
3.5/5

Before I get into the review I want to say a quick thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers over at Harper Collins for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. A Study in Drowning tells the story of Effy Sayre who has been haunted by visions of the Fairy King since childhood. She’s spent her whole life coping with these visions by reading a beloved author’s novel about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King and then destroys him. So when the author’s estate holds a contest for students at her architecture college to design the late author’s house she knows she has to enter. But Hiraeth Manor is a musty, decrepit estate on the brink of crumbling into the sea and it has its own secrets to tell. A Study in Drowning comes out on September 19th is available for preorder now.

Coming off reading The Fall of the House of Usher was probably the absolute best time for me to read this one. This is a twisted Mystery novel (with Fantastical elements) that is also Gothic in the truest sense of the word. The house is decrepit and falling apart while also possibly being haunted. And, just like the novel the main character loves, this book manages to cross multiple genres in a way that makes sense and makes you love it all the more for it. It managed to be haunting and atmospheric while also making the characters realistic and flawed. I think the thing that I enjoyed the most of the entire novel was the fact that this is a story about a girl who is trying to survive. She was dealt a crappy hand from day one and has always been a survivor. In the grittiest and ugliest sense of the word. She does horrible things and can treat people like shit all in the name of survival and it’s never glamorized which I loved. I also liked that it took a lot of the usual themes and plot points for darker romances and just smashed it to pieces. Basically giving the idea that those things aren’t romantic, they’re awful. There’s a line that a character says to another character (not the main character or her love interest) which is: ‘I will love you to ruination’ and all of the characters we follow basically have an ‘ew gross’ reaction. Which was great.

I will say that a detractor for me was how much the messaging is just constantly beating the reader over the head. I have no problems with the messages in this novel. It’s just constant. I’m a reader who has a lot of questions and a lot of mine went unanswered in this one in favor of spending more time on the overall message. It’s one of the few things took away from the story for me. I also felt like the first third of the novel was pretty slow. Especially given how the end of the novel is paced. Overall, I would say it’s a fast paced, easy to read, Mystery/Horror novel that’s great for fans of Dark Academia and Haunted Houses.

4 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.