SPOILER Review: A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

GENRE: YA Fantasy

LENGTH: 376 pages

PLOT

Effy has grown up immersed in the famous fairy tale book Angharad. As she studies architecture in college, she applies for the position to update the seaside home of Angharad's author. When she gets there, though, sinister things begin to happen.

CHARACTERS

As a woman, writer, and fairy tale lover I connected with Effy on many levels. Unfortunately, I fear many female readers will relate all too well to Effy in her struggles with her society's misogyny and sexism. In Effy’s society women are not allowed to attend the literature college. One quote succinctly describes her society’s primitive, sexist views on women: “They’re all temptresses or blushing maidens, unfit for higher thinking” (page 313).

Effy has also been abused by men in positions of power over her. Her advisor sexually assaulted her and continues to torment her, but she feels powerless to stop him. While it’s never explicitly stated that she suffers from PTSD, we see in the way she interacts with the world that she is haunted by what happened. I appreciate, however, Effy’s strength and perseverance. She is a victim, yes, but she's also a survivor.

Towards the novel’s end, Effy kills the fairy king and, in my opinion, this was very symbolic of her reclaiming her power as a woman over the men who have controlled and used her. She also advocates for herself to join the literature college and have her abusive advisor fired. Effy is such a well written character. She is an inspirational female character especially for young female readers today.

Preston is Effy's love interest and he is a scholar in the literature college. He and Effy are technically slotted into the enemies to lovers trope. In reality, though, they’re more rivals to allies to lovers. Some readers classify this book as a romantasy, but I wouldn’t say the romance is the main focus. I did like the romance's gradual development and believe that the two are well suited for each other. I also loved Preston’s character for being a male feminist who supported but never spoke over Effy.

 

WRITING

The novel is told from Effy’s point of view. It has slow pacing and isn’t necessarily plot heavy. The plot that is there is really there to convey the messages of the novel. The ‘reveals’ are foreshadowed and incredibly predicable, but I don’t hold that against the novel as it’s not a mystery/suspense novel. In lieu of fast pacing and high thrills, the novel offers immersive atmosphere. You feel transplanted into Hiraeth Manor. You, too, are a guest in the crumbling, damp, haunted seaside home. You are inside this surreal, creepy fairy tale with Effy and Preston.

The novel’s world focuses on two countries; there is Llyr where Effy is from and the location of the novel, and there is the neighboring kingdom of Argant with whom Llyr is at war. There are some Argantian students in Effy’s college including Preston who is half-Argantian, and they are often treated with prejudice. There isn’t a lot that comes from this conflict, though I wonder if it is setting up for something in the sequel.

Though we only have two main locations in the novel (the college and Hiraeth Manor), the greater world is still well developed. We get the sense for the greater scope of the landscape and cultures in the neighboring Llyr and Argant.

In addition to sexual assault, the novel also deals with domestic abuse. Angharad is revealed towards the end to be a real person and Myrddin’s (the author) wife. Angharad is actually the true author of the famous book that is her namesake. It's based on her true story of her marriage to Myrddin who is possessed by the fairy king. She describes her marriage as what I believe to be the most profound quote in the entire novel: “I could not tell the kind version of him from the cruel. I wished he would be a serpent, a cloven-footed creature, a winged beast – anything but a man” (page 141). Myrddin’s possession is symbolic of the way abusers manipulate their victims and keep them locked in that perpetual cycle of abuse. Just like Effy reclaims her power, however, so, too, does Angharad. She emerges into the light from the darkness she has lived in for so long and reveals herself to be the book’s true author.

This novel is an ode to the art of storytelling. The supposed author of Angharad is revered throughout Llyr. The novel also features two female characters who are either writers or aspiring authors – Effy and Angharad. At the novel’s heart is Effy who finds connection and belonging in stories. In a society that represses women, Angharad herself uses storytelling as a method to spread her voice that the men around her would have silenced. Another of my favorite quotes in the books sums up why, like Effy, I feel most at home as a writer and reader: “How terrible, to navigate the world without a story to comfort you.” (page 375).

 

 FINAL THOUGHTS

All readers and writers will understand why this is one of my favorite novels of the year. I value the themes of storytelling and women empowerment. I also feel the way in which they are symbolically conveyed perfectly encapsulates the themes. If you only read high plot stories, then you might be bored reading this. If you moreso look for books with atmosphere and messaging, then pick this one up.

FINAL RATING: 5⭐️