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A review by whatsheread
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Ava Reid does not write cheery, fairy tale-esque stories with happily-ever-after endings. Instead, she writes nuanced stories with vivid imagery and dark themes. She makes her heroines and you, the reader, work for every good thing that happens. To persevere through one of her novels is to observe a rich tapestry of human darkness overcome by human strength.
A Study in Drowning may be Ms. Reid's first novel for young adults, but her approach to the story is the same as with her adult novels. She does not shy away from triggering situations but does so in a way that is not explicit or visceral. Ms. Reid knows that your imagination is better than anything she could write about a character's secrets, and she is more than happy to let your imagination run rampant regarding Effy's secret. When the plot is ready for it, only then she gently hints at the truth. It is an effective method to instill anxiety and darkness with little effort but major results.
A Study in Drowning is, in essence, a coming-of-age story for Effy. By traveling to a remote location, Effy is able to grow beyond the labels attached to her by her fellow students. She breaks the model enclosed around her by her parents and society and learns a few harsh truths along the way.
However much A Study in Drowning is about Effy, the star of the story is the mysterious and decrepit Hiraeth Manor. Everything about this setting is creepy, from the peeling wallpaper to the standing water. In creating this larger-than-life, leaking building, Ms. Reid generates the tension and horror that hallmark her stories. Long after Effy's story reaches its satisfactory conclusion, you will remember the basement full of water and the waterlogged cliffs that peel away from the edge without warning.
Ms. Reid's novels may not be for everyone, but they should get more attention than they do. A Study in Drowning is the perfect novel to introduce yourself to her dark storytelling. In it, Ms. Reid covers more than one triggering topic with a gentleness that belies her stormy setting. She also creates in Effy a character who is much stronger than even she believes. As with her other novels, A Study in Drowning is a poignant but brutal observation of women's roles in society and the bonds women need to break to not just survive but also thrive.
A Study in Drowning may be Ms. Reid's first novel for young adults, but her approach to the story is the same as with her adult novels. She does not shy away from triggering situations but does so in a way that is not explicit or visceral. Ms. Reid knows that your imagination is better than anything she could write about a character's secrets, and she is more than happy to let your imagination run rampant regarding Effy's secret. When the plot is ready for it, only then she gently hints at the truth. It is an effective method to instill anxiety and darkness with little effort but major results.
A Study in Drowning is, in essence, a coming-of-age story for Effy. By traveling to a remote location, Effy is able to grow beyond the labels attached to her by her fellow students. She breaks the model enclosed around her by her parents and society and learns a few harsh truths along the way.
However much A Study in Drowning is about Effy, the star of the story is the mysterious and decrepit Hiraeth Manor. Everything about this setting is creepy, from the peeling wallpaper to the standing water. In creating this larger-than-life, leaking building, Ms. Reid generates the tension and horror that hallmark her stories. Long after Effy's story reaches its satisfactory conclusion, you will remember the basement full of water and the waterlogged cliffs that peel away from the edge without warning.
Ms. Reid's novels may not be for everyone, but they should get more attention than they do. A Study in Drowning is the perfect novel to introduce yourself to her dark storytelling. In it, Ms. Reid covers more than one triggering topic with a gentleness that belies her stormy setting. She also creates in Effy a character who is much stronger than even she believes. As with her other novels, A Study in Drowning is a poignant but brutal observation of women's roles in society and the bonds women need to break to not just survive but also thrive.