A Study in Drowning (November 2024) Buddy Read Discussion - Brianna & LiteraryCryptid & Aless

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Welcome to the A Study in Drowning Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on November 5th and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 11/05
November 5:


PARTICIPANTS
~ Brianna
~ LiteraryCryptid

[Brianna]

A schedule was never really finalized but this is one that was in contention so I am just going to go based on this one:

11/5: chapters 1-2
11/6: chapters 3-4
11/7: chapters 5-6
11/8: chapters 7-8
11/9: chapters 9-10
11/10: chapters 11-12
11/11: chapters 13-14
11/12: chapters 15-17

Technically a day behind but am still off today so should be able to catch up pretty easily!

[Brianna]

through the end of chapter 4:

I kind of don't understand the world just yet but am definitely intrigued. There is definitely an element of magic that not all may see/realize but Effy does. If the house is in such ruin and the location is not great and could inevitably get worse, why rebuild there? I don't quite understand but last wishes and all - don't always have to make sense?

[Brianna]

through the end of chapter 6:
I am not sure how I feel about the main character, Effy. She believes Preston and agrees to go along with his plan far too easily. I do appreciate the anxiety representation (whether or not it was intentional - some of how she reacts to the world is very similar to my own anxiety - especially with not being sure of others intentions based on prior experiences).
I am excited to learn more about the Fairy King and how everything comes together.

[Brianna]

through end of chapter 8:
Things are getting spooky! I am so curious to know what is going on with Ianto and of course is Effy crazy (as the doctor said) or is she truly seeing things that no one else is able to?

[Brianna]

through chapter 10:
There is something about how Effy and the girl in the photos are being overly sexualized older men that is just... rubbing me the wrong way.
I am also still a bit fuzzy on the world building and lore - why only Southern authors can be part of the "sleepless"? Why not any of the Northern ones? I am also curious to see how Preston and Effy will be able to leave to visit the other author.

[Brianna]

through the end of chapter 12:

The plot thickens! I continue to get super creepy vibes from all the guys (except Preston so far) being introduced to Effy. Current theory is that Blackmar's daughter wrote the book and is also the ghost that Effy saw. I also wonder if she is the author's widow that we haven't met at all yet - I don't think Preston has either although she's the one who invited him?

[Brianna]

reading a bit ahead since I have 4 reads going and that's far too many. lol
through the end of chapter 14: (view spoiler)[I can see why so many people enjoy this but.... I don't think it's for me. I am interested enough in the story and everything but I kinda sorta can't stand Effy.
This big storm that's coming has to mean something significant - pretty sure at least. (hide spoiler)]

[Brianna]

through the end: Well... that was a book. I have thoughts. (view spoiler)[Maybe not great ones? (hide spoiler)]

[Aless, Discord/Readathon Procrastinator]

Omg I can't wait. I am sorry for being a week behind (last week was a lot for me). But I just started! I've heard mixed things about this one.

[Brianna]

Aless wrote: "Omg I can't wait. I am sorry for being a week behind (last week was a lot for me). But I just started! I've heard mixed things about this one."

No worries! I’m looking forward to your thoughts!

[LiteraryCryptid]

I am unfortunately playing severely delayed catch-up as my commitments with work were far more than expected the last 2 weeks. So far however, I'm enjoying the plot-line. It's reminding me a bit of the Emily Wilde's series, as well as Babel

[Aless, Discord/Readathon Procrastinator]

End of chapter 7. I have lots of thoughts lol.

I don't think this is a rivals/enemies to lovers. Preston doesn't start any jibes or battles. If anything he shuts them down and meets her when Effy jumps to conclusions and a verbal battle. I do think that it was interesting that she didn't think about joining him overnight like some of her other decisions.

I do think it is weird that they are insistent on staying on the property. I assume it's to not dig up the past that I assume is in the basement. I think this is the second book of Reid's that deals with SA. I haven't read Juniper & Thorn, but I've seen the trigger warnings. I haven't read Lady Macbeth, but I can see it having SA conversations too. I don't like how forceful the older men are and there aren't any good men so far except for Preston???

OH! The chapters are too long for a YA. Also, this doesn't feel like a dark academia which I've seen it marketed as. Honestly, it doesn't feel like YA except for Effy's behavior.

I think the weirdness of the characters and creepiness of the older men is interrupting my interest on the world building. Like why does Yanto just have the blueprints in his pockets?? OH WAIT (view spoiler)[Perhaps Myrddin was a false personality as well as a hoax. (hide spoiler)] The snippets from the book by Myrddin is for sure written by a woman. ALSO WHY DIDN'T THEY GO INTO THE GUEST HOUSE WITH THE IRON DOOR in chapter 8???

2 hopes for the rest of the book. Meet this professor of his. And we better get an explanation of the her missing finger since it keeps getting brought up. I know we are going to meet the widow eventually. That feels obvious.

[Aless, Discord/Readathon Procrastinator]

Chapter 8 theory

(view spoiler)[I wonder if the house is the anchor to keeping Yanto into a mortal than the fairy king and he isn't actually a son (hide spoiler)]

[Aless, Discord/Readathon Procrastinator]

So it seems like I am going to finish this all in one day (listening on 2x speed). That wasn't the plan lol.

I checked back at my notes from the previous Reid book I have read and I felt like the it wasn't moving fast enough. Once again, I am feeling like the ending should come sooner. I'm in the middle of chapter 13 and I feel like I'm dragging my feet in water.

I am still confused on the magic system and fantastical elements in this world. I am considering that (view spoiler)[the widow is dead after those pictures (hide spoiler)].

I feel like I could comp this The Kingdom of Back or The Iron King. Maybe even a writing style similar to Naomi Novik in Spinning Silver and Uprooted.

Chapter 13: (view spoiler)[All of sudden she's on his lap after accepting to put herself in danger in more than 1 way. I don't understand why this is happening here of all places.

Chapter 14 (I skipped ahead by accident, but now I know where to skip HAHA.) DUDE WHAT JUST HAPPENED? Yanto for sure knows that they just did the deed.

I went back to where I was and am gonna listen to chapter 14 now. I don't understand how that happened. Hey what if The Drowning was intentional. (hide spoiler)]

I wish I was reading this physically so I can see his language written out and spelling of names. I def don't think the chapters need to be like 1 hour long.

[Aless, Discord/Readathon Procrastinator]

end of chapter 14

I liked that chapter. Love the butler/property owner. That above scene makes more sense in context now that I didn't accidently skip ahead lol. I think the climax is gonna happen in chapter 15. Like the final battle. I am very curious to see where this ending is going to go since I know that a sequel is coming eventually. I'm not sure if I want a sequel.

[Aless, Discord/Readathon Procrastinator]

Brianna wrote: "through the end of chapter 12:

The plot thickens! I continue to get super creepy vibes from all the guys (except Preston so far) being introduced to Effy. Current theory is that Blackmar's daught..."

Right!! Isn't it weird that she called him yet Yanto didn't seem to care and he didn't get to meet her or I guess see her handwriting to compare. I am wondering about why the South is more important than the North yet the North has all the war conflict. Also did we ever get explained what the war is about? I feel like that is important too.

[Aless, Discord/Readathon Procrastinator]

Finished. @Brianna I'm ready!

(view spoiler)[Okay, so I understand that they wouldn't save all the evidence, but geez that felt like a let down in a way. I'm not sure if Effy ever changed. I think she got a bit more empathetic towards Preston as they feel in love, but still. I like his professor lol we better see more of him.

I also feel let down since I feel like I figured out a lot of the twists and turns early on. Except whatever the obsession is with the color green. Reid did write a great villain and I hated him the whole time.

I think I might try to read the sequel when it comes out. We better get to see more of Anne and maybe the property manager. I guess the sequel is the fallout of the thesis being published, but I'm not sure if I need it. I suppose a return of the Fairy King...in Preston due to the bells? (hide spoiler)]

[Brianna]

Aless wrote: "Finished. @Brianna I'm ready!

Okay, so I understand that they wouldn't save all the evidence, but geez that felt like a let down in a way. I'm not sure if Effy ever changed. I think she got a bit ..."

Honestly - didn't realize they didn't save everything as far as the evidence goes so that will be interesting to see how that changes things. I am also curious about Preston's professor - is he a "true academic" or is there some sort of vendetta or what's his story/motivation here?

Reading the synopsis of the sequel, I couldn't even begin to guess what's next. A return of the Fairy King with Preston could be possible - I can see that!

[Aless, Discord/Readathon Procrastinator]

Yes! The professor was more of an observer in the last chapter or two when they were presenting. Also there was an epigraph at the start of one of the chapters by the professor. I feel like it could be interesting if we met someone who knew Yanto before he went crazy possessed.

Yeah it was the original items they were going to present. The pictures, the letters, and I think something else. To think about it. Did they abandon the house or did it get pulled into the ocean once they left?