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A review by melcanread
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
4.5
The dark and moody atmosphere to this novel was absolutely exquisite, with the story leaning heavily on the mythology of dark fae and truly taking on a darker Midsummer Night's Dream twist. If Shakespeare and Caitlin Starling collaborated, this would be the result.
I absolutely would not call this a feminist masterpiece as I hated just how little femininity there was, but you learn very quickly that that's the point. Effy is the only woman on her course, and the only reason that she's there is because the literature course won't allow her to study with them because she is a girl. She was never believed about anything because she was a girl, even over the teacher, that assaulted her. The way the men in this novel acted enraged me: how they always hung her assault over her, how they all just kept hitting on her, how they never leave her alone. Every day was a fight for her and it angered me so much. Even her mother was an awful human being.
There were so many twists and turns in this book some I saw coming but others surprised me. But Myrdden was such a giant piece of shit it made me hope his death was painful.
Preston was a wonderful young man who ended up basically trauma-bonding with Effy and falling in love with her. And it was so nice getting to see her be loved and finally have someone in her corner fighting for her instead of fighting against her.
One thing I do feel like was missed or needed addressing was the use of the word "slur." There were two instances in the novel where Reid told us that Effy had in that moment had a slur said against her, but nothing was actually said besides a simple "for Saint's sake!" Which is certainly no slur. I wish that authors wouldn't use such language if they don't include actual slurs, because it ultimately diminishes the word until it doesn't have the same impact anymore. Kind of like how in the Mimicking of Known Successes, one of the characters cried over the fact that someone called her the c-word... meaning conservative. That is not a slur, nor is the lack of one in this book. And I wish this problem would be addressed and taken seriously by the publishing industry.
There is a part of me that wished the rivals part lasted longer and that the banter and insults were a little better but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I absolutely would not call this a feminist masterpiece as I hated just how little femininity there was, but you learn very quickly that that's the point. Effy is the only woman on her course, and the only reason that she's there is because the literature course won't allow her to study with them because she is a girl. She was never believed about anything because she was a girl, even over the teacher, that assaulted her. The way the men in this novel acted enraged me: how they always hung her assault over her, how they all just kept hitting on her, how they never leave her alone. Every day was a fight for her and it angered me so much. Even her mother was an awful human being.
There were so many twists and turns in this book some I saw coming but others surprised me. But Myrdden was such a giant piece of shit it made me hope his death was painful.
Preston was a wonderful young man who ended up basically trauma-bonding with Effy and falling in love with her. And it was so nice getting to see her be loved and finally have someone in her corner fighting for her instead of fighting against her.
One thing I do feel like was missed or needed addressing was the use of the word "slur." There were two instances in the novel where Reid told us that Effy had in that moment had a slur said against her, but nothing was actually said besides a simple "for Saint's sake!" Which is certainly no slur. I wish that authors wouldn't use such language if they don't include actual slurs, because it ultimately diminishes the word until it doesn't have the same impact anymore. Kind of like how in the Mimicking of Known Successes, one of the characters cried over the fact that someone called her the c-word... meaning conservative. That is not a slur, nor is the lack of one in this book. And I wish this problem would be addressed and taken seriously by the publishing industry.
There is a part of me that wished the rivals part lasted longer and that the banter and insults were a little better but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.