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A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

In the misty realm where reality blurs with fantasy, Ava Reid crafts a haunting tale of truth, power, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.

The Dark Waters of Truth and Illusion

There’s something deeply unsettling about houses by the sea. They stand precariously between two worlds—the solid ground of reality and the endless depths of possibility. In A Study in Drowning, Ava Reid masterfully explores this liminal space through a gothic academic fantasy that questions everything we think we know about authorship, authority, and authenticity.

A Tale of Two Genres

Reid’s third novel (following The Wolf and the Woodsman and Juniper & Thorn) marks her YA debut, but don’t let that classification fool you. This is a sophisticated narrative that braids together two distinct literary traditions: the dark academia of Donna Tartt’s The Secret History and the feminist fairy tale retellings of Angela Carter. The result is something entirely unique—a story about stories, truth, and the price we pay for both.

Plot and Premise

Euphemia “Effy” Sayre arrives at the decrepit Hiraeth Manor with dreams of architectural glory and literary destiny. As the only female student in her architecture program, she sees the chance to redesign the estate of beloved author Emrys Myrddin as her opportunity to prove herself. What she finds instead is a house drowning in secrets, a mysterious widow, and Preston Héloury, a pretentious literature student determined to expose Myrddin as a fraud.

Strengths

Atmospheric Excellence

Reid’s prose shimmers with gothic atmosphere. The decaying Hiraeth Manor becomes a character in its own right, with its:

  • Rotting floorboards
  • Salt-stained walls
  • Mysterious locked basement
  • Endless corridors that seem to shift and change

Complex Characters

Both Effy and Preston emerge as fully realized characters, each carrying their own wounds and prejudices. Their slow-burn romance develops naturally against the backdrop of academic rivalry and supernatural danger.

Literary Layers

The novel works on multiple levels:

  • As a gothic romance
  • As a meditation on authorship and authority
  • As a feminist critique of academic institutions
  • As a supernatural thriller

Critical Observations

While Reid’s ambitious narrative largely succeeds, there are moments where the various elements compete for attention rather than complement each other. The pacing in the middle section occasionally slows as the mystery unfolds, though this may be intentional, mirroring the oppressive atmosphere of Hiraeth Manor itself.

Themes and Analysis

Authority and Authorship

The central mystery revolves around questions of who has the right to tell stories and who gets to be believed. Reid weaves this theme throughout both the supernatural and academic elements of the plot.

Gender and Power

The novel’s exploration of gender dynamics in academia feels particularly relevant, especially in how it connects to broader questions about voice and authority.

Truth and Reality

Reid deliberately blurs the line between what is “real” and what is “imagined,” suggesting that perhaps the distinction isn’t as clear as we’d like to believe.

Style and Structure

Reid’s prose is atmospheric and precise, with moments of startling beauty:

“The waves gnawed at the cliffside. Effy could no longer see it as anything but consumption, dark water eating away at the pale stone.”

The structure alternates between immediate tension and slow-burning dread, creating a reading experience that mirrors Effy’s own increasingly uncertain grip on reality.

Comparative Context

Fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House or Olivie Blake’s The Atlas Six will find familiar elements here, but Reid’s voice is distinctly her own. The novel also shares DNA with classic gothic romances like Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, particularly in its use of setting as character.

Impact and Significance

A Study in Drowning arrives at a moment when questions about truth, power, and narrative control feel particularly urgent. Reid’s exploration of these themes through the lens of dark academia and fairy tale horror offers fresh insights into contemporary concerns.

Minor Criticisms

  • Some readers may find the pacing uneven in places
  • The academic mystery occasionally threatens to overwhelm the supernatural elements
  • Certain supporting characters could be more fully developed

Final Verdict

Reid has created something remarkable: a ghost story about authorship, a fairy tale about truth, and a romance about rivalry. While not perfect, A Study in Drowning succeeds far more often than it falters, delivering a compelling narrative that will likely linger in readers’ minds like sea spray on skin.

For Readers Who…

  • Love atmospheric gothic settings
  • Enjoy academic mysteries
  • Appreciate feminist retellings
  • Seek complex romantic relationships
  • Are drawn to supernatural elements in realistic settings

Looking Ahead

With A Study in Drowning, Reid establishes herself as a significant voice in YA fantasy, while maintaining the sophisticated themes and dark undertones that characterized her adult work. The upcoming sequel, A Theory of Dreaming, promises to further explore this rich world of magic, academia, and power.

A Study in Drowning reminds us that sometimes the most dangerous waters are the ones we carry within ourselves, and that truth, like the tide, is both constant and ever-changing.

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Reid has created something remarkable: a ghost story about authorship, a fairy tale about truth, and a romance about rivalry. While not perfect, A Study in Drowning succeeds far more often than it falters, delivering a compelling narrative that will likely linger in readers' minds like sea spray on skin.A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid