A Study in Drowning
Unraveling secrets and confronting dark forces
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Cornerstone
Published:13th Jun '24
£9.99
Available for immediate dispatch.
This paperback is available in another edition too:
- Hardback£16.99(9781529150506)
In A Study in Drowning, Effy navigates her passion for fairy tales while facing dark forces that threaten her ambitions and unravel the truth.
In A Study in Drowning, Effy has always been captivated by fairy tales, her life shaped by the haunting visions of the Fairy King. Since her childhood, these dreams have provided her solace, particularly through her cherished book, Angharad. This epic tale of a mortal girl who loves and ultimately destroys the Fairy King has been her refuge as she navigates the pressures of her first term at a prestigious architecture college. With her tattered copy in hand, Effy feels a sense of purpose when the late author's family announces a contest to design his house, believing this could be her destined moment.
However, the challenge of Hiraeth Manor proves to be more daunting than she anticipated. The estate is a crumbling relic, teetering on the edge of the sea, and it soon becomes clear that Effy is not alone in her aspirations. Preston Héloury, a serious literature scholar, is also there, intent on discrediting her favorite author. As they delve into the author's past through letters and diaries, they uncover a web of secrets that intertwines their fates.
As Effy and Preston work to decipher the true legacy of the reclusive author, they realize that dark forces—both human and magical—are at play. Their quest for truth could lead to their own undoing, revealing that the foundations of their lives are as unstable as the manor itself. A Study in Drowning masterfully intertwines themes of ambition, rivalry, and the power of storytelling in a captivating narrative.
A love letter to stories - and to everyone silenced or forgotten in their retelling. * Allison Saft *
A wonderfully written, tense and moving novel that offers its audience an endlessly readable mix of historical fiction, gothic mystery and fantasy romance that will draw you in again and again. * CultureFly *
As merciless as a rising tide and as beguiling as a fairy's bargain. * Melissa Albert *
A Study in Drowning is a stunning book in every way. From one phenomenal book to another, Ava Reid is an author I am obsessed with . . . A masterclass in pacing, characterisation and tension, with a beautiful meditation on stories and who gets to have an authorial voice. * The Nerd Daily *
A spell-binding mix of magic, myth, and mystery. * Rory Power *
Reid wields lyricism, dark academia, and fairy-core elements to eloquently imbue the narrative with originality and depth that ferries themes surrounding grief, gender, and the value of folklore. * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *
A lyrical examination of stories told, cherished myths, and an unravelling of truths held dear. Darkly romantic and unsettlingly eerie. * Erin A. Craig *
A dark and gripping feminist tale. * Kirkus Reviews *
Lyrical, incisive, and tragically beautiful, this book will haunt your dreams. Reid delivers in every way - from the atmospheric house by the sea to the achingly hopeful romance to the examination of power, gender, and control, A Study in Drowning ruins and rebuilds you. * Vaishnavi Patel *
Full of myth and superstition, and heavy rains that fall upon crumbling old houses. A rewarding, romatic read, with much to chew on. * Kendare Blake *
ISBN: 9781529157048
Dimensions: 198mm x 130mm x 25mm
Weight: 270g
384 pages