A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid is a beautifully written dark academic fantasy novel that will leave readers spellbound from the very first page. Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales and has been haunted by visions of the Fairy King since childhood. Her only solace is her tattered copy of Angharad, a book about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King and destroys him. When Myrddin’s family announces a contest to redesign the late author’s estate, Effy feels certain it's her destiny.

Effy faces an impossible task with the musty, decrepit Hiraeth Manor and its unwelcoming residents, including Preston Héloury, a 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.

The novel's intricate world-building and magical realism elements are skillfully interwoven into the story, making it a perfect read for fans of Melissa Albert and Elana K. Arnold. Reid’s writing is achingly atmospheric and beautifully sharp, immersing the reader in a haunting, dreamlike atmosphere.

Part historical fantasy, part rivals-to-lovers romance, part Gothic mystery, A Study in Drowning is an impressive YA debut that lures readers in with its powerful storytelling and evocative imagery. This is a must-read for anyone who enjoyed The Atlas Six, House of Salt and Sorrows, or Girl, Serpent, Thorn.