An instant Indie and #1 New York Times bestseller!
“Achingly atmospheric and beautifully sharp, A Study in Drowning will draw you in from the first page.” —Rory Power, New York Times bestselling author of Wilder Girls
Bestselling author Ava Reidmakes her YA debut in this dark academic fantasy perfect for fans of Melissa Albert and Elana K. Arnold.
Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. Haunted by visions of the Fairy King since childhood, she’s had no choice. Her tattered copy of Angharad—Emrys Myrddin’s epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, then destroys him—is the only thing keeping her afloat. So when Myrddin’s family announces a contest to redesign the late author’s estate, Effy feels certain it’s her destiny.
But musty, decrepit Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task, and its residents are far from welcoming. Including Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar determined to expose Myrddin as a fraud. As the two rivals piece together clues about Myrddin’s legacy, dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspire against them—and the truth may bring them both to ruin.
Part historical fantasy, part rivals-to-lovers romance, part Gothic mystery, and all haunting, dreamlike atmosphere, Ava Reid's powerful YA debut will lure in readers who loved The Atlas Six, House of Salt and Sorrows, or Girl, Serpent, Thorn.
About the Author
Ava Reid is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning, A Theory of Dreaming, Lady Macbeth, Juniper & Thorn, and The Wolf and the Woodsman. Her books have been published in over fourteen territories. She lives in the New York area. Follow her on Instagram @avasreid and find her online at tumblr.com/avasreid.
Praise For…
“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) “Both haunting and tender. Set amongst crumbling cliffsides and a raging sea, this atmospheric story will settle in your bones. Romantic, beautifully written, and powerful.” - Rachel Griffin, New York Times bestselling author of The Nature of Witches “Lyrical, moving, and sensitive, A Study in Drowning is a magically romantic tale, filled with writing that will sweep you into a whimsical and gothic world. I’ll recommend this beautiful and thoughtful book over and over again.” - Isabel Ibañez, author of Together We Burn “Incandescent, tender, and fierce. A Study in Drowning is a deftly woven mystery, brimming with lyrical writing and compelling characters who will steal your heart. This is a story that lingers, long after the last word.” - Rebecca Ross, bestselling author of Divine Rivals "A Study in Drowning is everything: a dark fairytale, a tender romance, a haunting historical mystery, and a quietly furious tribute to the people whose stories have been stolen from them. I absolutely loved it.” - Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling author of Once and Future Witches "Lusciously evocative and dripping with verbal texture." - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books “A dark and gripping feminist tale.” - Kirkus Reviews “Haunting and elegantly rendered, A Study in Drowning is a lyrical examination of stories told, cherished myths, and an unraveling of truths held dear. Darkly romantic and unsettlingly eerie, I will be thinking about this book for a long time to come.” - Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows and Small Favors “In A Study in Drowning, Reid questions the idea of stories, who writes them, and who they are for. Between heart-wrenching discoveries, lush worldbuilding, and prose as beautiful and cruel as the sea, she delivers an answer I won’t soon forget. I could read this book again and again - absolute perfection.” - Courtney Gould, author of The Dead and the Dark “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, New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi “Piling invention upon invention, Reid conjures a bleached-bone jewel box of a tale, full of strange treasures and captured bits of dangerous lore. A Study in Drowning is as merciless as a rising tide and as beguiling as a fairy’s bargain.” - Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood “As always, Ava Reid's worlds feel lived-in and rich in history. This one is also full of myth and superstition, and heavy rains that fall upon crumbling old houses. A rewarding, romantic read, with much to chew on.” - Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Three Dark Crowns “This is one of those books that makes you remember why we read in the first place. A Study in Drowning takes dark academia to magical new heights. Reid is a singular, extraordinary talent.” - Sasha Peyton Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Witch Hunt "Ava Reid's YA debut is a deft exploration of strength in survival that's as nuanced as it is quietly impactful and delicately romantic. There is a healing quality within her works that makes A Study in Drowning feel like not just another breath of fresh air, but a necessary one. It's a read that should have a permanent space on your shelves and in your collections immediately.” - Kalie Barnes-Young, Barnes & Noble at the Grove, Los Angeles CA "A Study in Drowning is everything I’ve ever wanted to read: dark academia, romance, mystery, and a powerful story of a survivor, one I can hold close to my heart because Effy feels so real. Addictive and brimming with atmosphere, Ava Reid weaves a striking tale that will sweep readers away to a harrowing sea.” - Bridey Morris, RJ Julia Booksellers, Madison CT “A Study in Drowning is a brilliant novel that's part fantasy, part dark academia, part modern gothic, part horror fairytale, and altogether too gripping to put down. A gothic that manages to be both breath of fresh air and the familiar claustrophobic feel of the walls closing in around you, A Study in Drowning is an undeniable testament to Ava Reid’s mastery of their trade.” - Brittany Smith, Barnes & Noble, Greenville SC “Drenched in atmosphere, and as wondrous and haunting as a dream half-remembered. A Study in Drowning is a love letter to stories—and to everyone silenced or forgotten in their retelling. Effy and Preston are spectacular leads, tenderly drawn and sure to win readers’ hearts as they’ve won mine.” - Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic “A dark and tender YA debut from the lyrical genius Ava Reid. A Study in Drowning is a beautifully eerie story about the myths we are told, the people we admire and what happens when the truths we hold begin to unravel. I am in awe of Reid and her storytelling abilities. You are going to need this book in your life!” - Joseline Diaz, Kepler’s Books “Achingly atmospheric and beautifully sharp, A Study in Drowning will draw you in from the first page. A spell-binding mix of magic, myth, and mystery.” - Rory Power, New York Times bestselling author of Wilder Girls
