This is such a great book. It is good to read at any time of the year but especially the fall season. It feels like an old school gothic novel with castles, sea cliffs and fog. It has a very Victoria Holt book cover sort of vibe. It includes mysterious people and otherworldly beings, a diary, letters, and tons of intrigue.

The premise is that Effy and Preston are academic rivals who have to come together to figure out the life of Emrys Myrddin, Effy’s favorite author. Preston has suspicions about Myrddin's life and claims and Effy is not happy about it. It’s them working through both their personal traumas and towards their academic scholarship. It’s dark academia for sure and learning about principles of truth.

In the beginning Effy can be prickly but a lot of the times she is frustrated with herself so she lashes out. You learn a lot about what has happened to her to make her this way. It’s really well done where you will be listening to the story and then these little nuggets of information about her will be dropped and it leaves you even more intrigued. Preston can come across as snobby and defensive but he always tries to be polite. You also learn more about him as well. At first I thought it was going to get tiring because it felt like Effy was fighting him at every turn for every little reason, but it was just the right amount. At about 38% both are on the same team without Effy constantly lashing out. It’s a journey for all characters involved and I love that you can genuinely see the character development by the last page. I love the delicate trust that forms. It’s such a gentle and tender companionship.

I listened to this on audiobook. Saskia Maarleveld did an amazing job narrating. It was a great atmospheric listen with just the right pacing and supernatural elements. I highly recommend you give this a listen. It’s beautifully put together.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio|HarperTeen for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest review.

Ava Reid’s "A Study in Drowning" is a spellbinding tale that masterfully combines elements of fantasy, mystery, and emotional depth. Reid’s lyrical prose and vivid world-building transport readers to an enchanting realm filled with intrigue and wonder. The characters are meticulously crafted, each bringing their own unique perspective and richness to the story. The plot is cleverly woven, keeping you hooked with its unexpected twists and turns. Reid’s exploration of themes such as identity, love, and resilience adds a profound layer to the narrative. "A Study in Drowning" is a beautifully written, unforgettable journey that will captivate fans of both fantasy and mystery. Highly recommended!

This book was absolutely amazing. I was not expecting to read what I did! Ava Reid is very talented and for her first book I think she did wonderful. I hope that she is working on another book so that I can read more.

While the story felt slow, there was something haunting and beautiful about it. I found questioning Effy's reliability as a narrator to be one of the most compelling parts of the story. The reader is left wondering how much is myth vs reality. I found her character to be one I was protective of, and I rooted for her continued survival. The story has heavy and difficult moments, so it wouldn't be one I would recommend for someone looking for a fast paced fantasy, but for readers looking for something with academic rivals, stories interwoven with history, and beautiful imagery, this would be a great read.

Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting book. I wasn't really sure how I felt about it in the beginning, but I ended up liking it about halfway through. I typically enjoy dark academia books, so that was a plus. This book is about Effy, who isn't taken seriously as someone who wants to be a literature student. When she receives the opportunity to redesign her literary hero's estate, she jumps at the chance. Unfortunately, when she arrives, she meets Preston who is determined to discredit all that the late author, Myyrddin's estate.

Their romance starts off as an enemies to lovers, but as Preston starts to ask her questions that don't add up, the two of them work o discover the truth about the late author. I didn't mind the romance, even though it may have been a little cliché. I didn't feel like it was insta-love, as Effy was adamant that Preston was wrong and the two of them couldn't stop bickering.

Overall, it was a unique story that I ultimately enjoyed. It did take me awhile to get into it, but once the mystery started, I was hooked.

I thought the narrator did a nice job and that it added to the storyline.

This one took me awhile to get into. But as Effy’s story starts to unfold, I found a really deep appreciation for her.

There’s something so good about rivals to lovers. My favorite part about this book was Preston and Effy coming out of their shells and falling for each other. I loved watching them slowly come to appreciate each other through the story while they tried to reveal the truth about the author/house/Fairy King.

I definitely wanted more Fairy King. I wanted more development of that story and not just all told to us at the end of the book. It was eerie the way he would pop up at times! I had guessed the ending reveal with The Fairy King but that never bothers me, I like guessing and it coming true.

And Effy!! How strong she is, how she stands up for herself! I loved this for her. And thank you for never having the r*pe on page but only lightly described as to you know what happened, but without the details that could really hurt some women to read.

But, THE END! Omg that last line, it’s haunting me. I need to know!!! Will there be more!?

I would definitely be interested in reading the next one if there is one! And if this an open ending then that’s just as cool too.

This audiobook wasn’t the true audiobook so I can’t comment on the true narrator of the audio.

This one took a little time to get moving for me. Very slow story with plodding plot. The characters weren’t unlikable but neither were they particularly likable. I did feel for the main character as a disenfranchised member of society and a woman and all the trappings that go with that. I wanted it to be creepier but it was more mystery than eerie.

I can see many young adults enjoying A Study in Drowning. It is an interesting take on the story of the Erlkönig and has a fun mix of realistic and fantastic elements. However, I found it a bit slow, and occasionally felt like I was reading it out of duty and not out of pure enjoyment.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#AStudyinDrowning #NetGalley

This book is going to do great with the dark academia crowd and will likely continue to be popular through the winter months.

The dark academia read/listen of the year! I loved our heroine so much and the narrator really brought this book to life for me. I will definitely be following this author in the future.

Thank to NetGalley and Harper Audio for an advanced copy of this book.

Ava Reid's A Study in Drowning is one of my favorite books of 2023. While listed as YA, this book also holds great appeal for adults as well. It's moody, atmospheric, lyrical, Gothic, dreamy...and what book lover doesn't love a book about books? I was so moved by Effy's story as she faces her demons -- both those of myth and of her own mind.

Effy Sayre is essentially drifting through the architecture program at university when she comes across a chance to redesign Hiraeth Manor, the crumbling, decaying, water-logged home of her literary hero, Emrys Myrddin. She finds herself working alongside a "smug" literary scholar, Preston Héloury, to uncover the truth about Myrddin's most famous and beloved novel, Angharad, a book that Effy holds incredibly dear.

Reid's commitment to the imagery, both literal and metaphorical, of water, the sea, and drowning creates a haunting story not only about the dark magical forces at work in the world, but also the dark corners of human nature and of the human mind. Effy, already often dismissed as fragile and frivolous because she is a girl, is preyed on for her beauty. She has spent much of her life doubting herself and her ability to discern what is real and what is imagined. Preston is a young academic, and half-Argantian (the enemy), but the strength of his moral character shines through against all the disgusting misogynists Effy crosses paths with. He has faith in Effy and respects her intelligence and bravery.

This is a beautiful and heartbreaking book.

I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. Good characters and story. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook

Absolutely tremendous.

Ava Reid is a treasure. Of course, this was a highly anticipated book, and Reid never lets us down!

Ethereal, dark academia, with the feeling of Addie Larue. 10/10

Oh gosh, I wish I loved this more, but I really didn't like it at all! I wish I had seen the trigger warnings but it's hard when reading an arc copy, because I probably wouldn't have requested this. I did enjoy this narrator, and I'm a big fan of Welsh mythology, but this was a confusing book to get through. It's like I was a distance from Effie forn90% of the book and it just felt like a slog to get through. I am probably not the ideal person for this book because of the triggers, but I can see how other people could take this book and feel seen and heard.

This book was great! Obviously the audiobook was a little wonky with the AI test narrator, but it was still enjoyable to listen to and I think this book will transition really well with a professional narrator. The story was fascinating, thought provoking, and mysterious. The characters were unique and engaging. The magical elements, the physiological uncertainty, and the academic research played really well together and I was super invested the whole time. Despite the monotone narrator I felt fear, frustration, betrayal, and even infatuation along with these characters. I was scared to read this because I was super excited and preordered a special edition and everything, but it didn’t let me down!!

Such a fantastic audiobook. The narrator kept me engaged the whole time. I really enjoyed the story and would definitely be open to reading more from Ava Reid in the future.

Love, love, loved this book. Highly recommend if you like dark academia, enemies-to lover romance, or Welsh mythology.

"A Study in Drowning" by Ava Reid introduces readers to Effy Sayre, a believer in fairy tales haunted by visions of the Fairy King since childhood. Driven by a sense of destiny, she enters a contest to redesign the estate of Emrys Myrddin, the author of her beloved fairy tale, "Angharad." However, the decaying Hiraeth Manor proves to be an impossible task, with unwelcoming residents and Preston Héloury, a literature scholar intent on exposing Myrddin as a fraud.

The novel blends elements of dark academic fantasy, historical fantasy, rivals-to-lovers romance, and Gothic mystery. Effy and Preston, despite being rivals, find themselves unraveling the secrets surrounding Myrddin's legacy. As they dig deeper, dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspire against them, putting them on a perilous path.

The book promises a haunting and dreamlike atmosphere, appealing to readers who enjoyed works like "The Atlas Six," "House of Salt and Sorrows," or "Girl, Serpent, Thorn." If you've had the chance to explore "A Study in Drowning," feel free to share your thoughts on how Ava Reid weaves together the different elements, creating a compelling story filled with mystery, romance, and fantasy.

A Study in Drowning is a dark fantasy/light horror set in decaying rural elegance. There is an enemies-to-lovers romance, as Effy tries to make sense of the nightmarish visions that have always been with her with the aid of a grumpy, serious scholar.

Ava Reid is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

a study in drowning is a captivating journey into dark academia with an irresistible blend of romance and mystery. effy, an architecture student haunted by enigmatic visions of the fairy king, takes us on a spellbinding ride to a decaying manor where the line between reality and fantasy blurs.

ava reid's storytelling shines as the story delves deep into profound themes, touching upon the theft of voices and the undercurrent of academic sexism.

the atmosphere is hauntingly perfect for a brisk autumn evening, enveloping you in an eerie ambiance. with concealed mysteries waiting to be unraveled, and reid's expert storytelling, the plot maintains a tight grip on your attention from start to finish.