A Study in Drowning Collector's Deluxe Limited Edition Hardcover – Special Edition, November 5, 2024

"A Study in Drowning" by Ava Reid is the kind of book that can be put there with the classics. It's a read where every page has a subliminal message that you have to take a moment to think to understand what the author and her character are trying to convey.and for that, I do not think some people would appreciate it.This is not a true fantasy despite the made-up worldThis is not a romance despite having a romantic relationship in itThis is a woman's journey towards regaining her power and control over her life when her choices were taken from her in so many different ways.The book is a captivating gothic fantasy that weaves a dark and intricate tale of mystery with elements of romance and the supernatural. Set against the backdrop of a Welsh-inspired cliffside estate, the novel follows Effy Sayre, a young architecture student, as she embarks on a journey to redesign the dilapidated Hiraeth Manor.The manor, with its decaying grandeur, and the water surrounding it become characters in themselves, mirroring the tumultuous emotions and hidden depths of the story's protagonists. Reid's narrative is a masterful blend of folklore and academia, challenging the reader's perceptions of reality through its atmospheric descriptions and hauntingly beautiful prose.We can argue that the book delves into themes of institutional sexism, the power dynamics within academia, and the struggle for one's voice against the silencing forces of society, however, it is Effy's personal struggle and Reid's exploration of the relationship between author and reader that picked my interest.⚜Genre: Urban Fantasy???⚜Theme: Gothic with romance⚜Targeted audience: 16+ (although this is stated as YA, it is not suitable for younger audiance)⚜Characters: Effy, Preston, Ianto, Angharand, the water⚜Representation: mental/emotional disorder⚜Pace: medium⚜TW: child abandonment/neglect - s€xual @ssault - attempted m¥rder - forced imprisonment⚜ tropes: medium-burn, one bed⚜ POV: one-sided third person⚜ spice 🌶⚜ rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟⚜standalone: yes⚜Ending: resolved

Stunning book, even better story

I absolutely adored this book. It masterfully wove subtle clues throughout its narrative, captivating me with its poetic language. Often, I found myself setting the book aside to ponder the beauty and depth of certain sentences. The plot gradually builds momentum, culminating in a satisfying climax about three-quarters of the way through. This payoff beautifully ties together all the subtle hints and questions that had been lingering in my mind. I've already ordered the next installment and eagerly hope there are more to come. The hints for the next book were tantalizing, not a cliffhanger, but rather a seductive invitation to continue the journey. Thank you for such an engaging read.

Loved this book!

Wow was I blown away and sucked into this story. It was heartbreaking and too many can identify with it. I loved the story arc and the ending has left me reeling with theories. This story will not be leaving me anytime soon. Effy is the survivor in all of us. I loved that the romance was a subplot and didn't overshadow the other elements in the book. There are so many take aways that I could reread this multiple times and walk away with a different felling, and to me that's what makes a good story exceptional. Very well done.

This was filled with a Gothic ambiance and beautiful prose and although it did take me a good 50% of the book to get into the story in the end I enjoyed it.Effy is an architecture student that dreams of being in the literature program. When her favorite author dies and his son is searching for an architect to redesign his home Effy submits designs and is accepted. There she meets Preston, a literature student allowed into the estate to write his thesis on the author.This book was beautifully written but it was so slow to get into it. I liked Preston as an MMC but it took me much longer to be a fan of Effy. I felt like Effy was judgmental and difficult to like in the beginning and although there was character development throughout the story and in the end Effy did get there it was a long journey. The chemistry between the two in the end worked well but for most of the book there was no chemistry at all and it felt like they were just existing together.This felt very much like a stand-alone so knowing that another book comes out in July I wonder where the story will go. I am excited to pick up where we left off with the more difficult aspects of Effy’s character having already been worked through.

Beautiful edition! I have to say this is the prettiest book I own.

While this book didn’t grab me at the start, it didn’t take too long for it to pull me under. It’s dark academia, mystery, and fairytale all wrapped in one, with a rivals-to-lovers romance thrown in that is just the cherry on top.Beautifully written, A Study in Drowning tells the tale of Effy Sayre, a girl who longs to study literature at university but is forced to pursue architecture instead since women are considered too “feeble-minded” to grasp the nuances of written word. Effy’s favorite author, Emrys Myrddin, is something of a Shakespeare of his time, having written poetry, novels, and the most famous epic of all time, Angharad. Effy can’t believe her luck when she’s chosen to design a new home for the late author’s estate, but her own demons follow her there, adding to the horrors she faces in the crumbling manor.The biggest horror, however, comes in the form of Preston Heloury, a literature student who is on a mission to prove that Myrrddin was not in fact the author of Effy’s favorite book (an interesting premise given that there are those who claim Shakespeare could not have written all the sonnets, plays, etc. attributed to him). Eventually forced to form a shaky alliance, Effy and Preston set out to uncover the truth, but what they discover will challenge them both and force them to choose whether they will sink or swim.