Book Review: A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

A Study in Drowning (A Study in Drowning #1)
Publisher: Del Rey
Pub Date: 19 September 2023
Genre: YA Fantasy/Dark Academia

Panda Rating:

(4.25 pandas)

๐Ÿ“– SYNOPSIS

Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. Haunted by visions of the Fairy King since childhood, sheโ€™s had no choice. Her tattered copy of Angharadโ€”Emrys Myrddinโ€™s epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, then destroys himโ€”is the only thing keeping her afloat. So when Myrddinโ€™s family announces a contest to redesign the late authorโ€™s estate, Effy feels certain itโ€™s her destiny.

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

โš ๏ธ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

From the Trigger Warning Database:
Ableism & internalised ableism, sexual harassment & sexual assault mentioned, alcohol consumption & abuse, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, panic attacks & nightmares, amputation (protagonist is missing her finger), death of a parent mentioned, torture recounted, car accident recounted, drowning & attempted drowning, flood recounted, animal death mentioned

*Context: A secondary character is kissed without consent and has plans to kidnap and hold her captive.

I might’ve gotten a bit carried away with my thoughts on this bookโ€”sorry for the essayโ€”but I guess you can say I loved it. ๐Ÿคญ Also, I buddy read this with Chris @ Biblio Nerd Reflections and it was an awesome pick as there’s plenty to discuss and rage about, lol!

TL;DR:ย A Study in Drowning was an interesting blend of dark academia, fae lore, and gothic romance. It was stunningly atmospheric and I felt every single drenched moment in Hiraeth down to my bones. Experiencing the story through Effyโ€™s POV was also perfect because it added to the dreamlike and otherworldly quality of the story, where youโ€™re unsure about whatโ€™s real and whatโ€™s not. This explores some dark themes, including how misogyny runs rampant in the academic world, and at times it was heavy to read. That said, I was loathe to put it down every time I had to adult, and overall, I thought this was a compelling and satisfying read!

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