Hi friends! I’m excited to be bringing you my review of A Study in Drowning. I will say that I didn’t like this as much as I thought I would. Let’s hop in!
{You might also like – Masters of Death Review}
Quick Synopsis
A young arcitecture student is chosen to redesign the manor of a mysterious author – her favourite author. Once there, she meets a boy who wants to prove her favourite author is a fraud. Will they survive the stay?
Perfect for readers who want:
- Academic Rivals to Lovers
- Fairytale Atmosphere
- Dark Academia
- Isolated Manor Setting
About A Study in Drowning
Title: A Study in Drowning
Author: Ava Reid
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Content Warnings: Mentions of sexual assault, sexism, depictions of drowning
Pages: 384
Age Range: 16+
Publisher: HarperTeen
Date Published: 19 September 2023
Goodreads Description: Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. She’s had no choice. Since childhood, she’s been haunted by visions of the Fairy King. She’s found solace only in the pages of Angharad – author Emrys Myrddin’s beloved epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, and then destroys him.
Effy’s tattered, dog-eared copy is all that’s keeping her afloat through her stifling first term at Llyr’s prestigious architecture college. So when Myrddin’s family announces a contest to design the late author’s house, Effy feels certain this is her destiny.
But Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task: a musty, decrepit estate on the brink of crumbling into a hungry sea. And when Effy arrives, she finds she isn’t the only one who’s made a temporary home there. Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar, is studying Myrddin’s papers and is determined to prove her favorite author is a fraud.
As the two rival students investigate the reclusive author’s legacy, piecing together clues through his letters, books, and diaries, they discover that the house’s foundation isn’t the only thing that can’t be trusted. There are dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspiring against them – and the truth may bring them both to ruin.
I received a review copy from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
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A Study in Drowning Review
I was so excited for this book. Dark Academia is my jam, and I’m always up for reading new releases. Unfortunately, A Study in Drowning didn’t hit the mark for me.
I enjoyed the writing, and I think Ava Reid has really grown as an author. I hated the writing in The Wolf & The Woodsman, but it’s completely different in this book. It still has that fairytale feel, Reid does a masterful job at creating a dark but whimsical atmosphere. But it’s less flowery than her adult writing, and I liked that.
As for what made this book a miss for me, I don’t really know. I never felt connected to the characters, and the ending had a lot of exposition and unnecessary info dumps. Somehow, I feel like if this was an adult book, the world and the characters could have been better expanded on.
I want Reid’s YA writing, but her adult stories. A Study in Drowning isn’t bad, and there are some really good scenes, it just wasn’t for me.
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aw im so sorry this was such a disappointment ESPECIALLY SINCE THE SYNOPSIS SOUNDS SO INTERESTING 😭 fingers crossed you have much MUCH better luck with the next book you pick up!!
I’m so sorry this one missed the mark for you Bianca! 😭 I completely agree with your point that if you dont enjoy or connect with the characters (especially in fantasy) it can impact the experience! I personally haven’t read her books, but I’m interested in seeing how the writing is – wishing you an amazing month of reads! 💖📚📚