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A Study in Drowning #2
A Theory of Dreaming
Return to the immersive, lush, and dreamlike world of the instantly bestselling dark academia fantasy A Study in Drowning as the aftermath of their first discovery pulls Effy and Preston on a final adventure and brings their haunting love story to its end in this stunning sequel and final book in the duology.
All stories come to an end.
Effy learned that when she defeated the Fairy King. Even though she may never know exactly what happened at Hiraeth, she is free of her nightmares and is able to pen a thesis with Preston on the beloved national fairy tale Angharad. She has finally earned a spot at the literature college, making her the first woman in history to enroll.
But some dreams are dangerous, especially when they come true. The entire university—and soon the entire nation—is waiting for her to fail. With the Fairy King defeated and Myrddin’s legacy exposed, Effy can no longer escape into fantasy. Who is she without her stories?
With Effy under threat, Preston is surprised to discover a rage simmering inside him, ringing in his ears like bells. He begins to dream of a palace under the sea, a world where he is king—visions that start to follow him even in waking.
As the war between Llyr and Argant explodes, Effy and Preston find themselves caught in the crossfire: Effy losing her dreams and Preston losing himself in his.
Are dreams ever truly just dreams?
All stories come to an end.
Effy learned that when she defeated the Fairy King. Even though she may never know exactly what happened at Hiraeth, she is free of her nightmares and is able to pen a thesis with Preston on the beloved national fairy tale Angharad. She has finally earned a spot at the literature college, making her the first woman in history to enroll.
But some dreams are dangerous, especially when they come true. The entire university—and soon the entire nation—is waiting for her to fail. With the Fairy King defeated and Myrddin’s legacy exposed, Effy can no longer escape into fantasy. Who is she without her stories?
With Effy under threat, Preston is surprised to discover a rage simmering inside him, ringing in his ears like bells. He begins to dream of a palace under the sea, a world where he is king—visions that start to follow him even in waking.
As the war between Llyr and Argant explodes, Effy and Preston find themselves caught in the crossfire: Effy losing her dreams and Preston losing himself in his.
Are dreams ever truly just dreams?
416 pages, Hardcover
First published July 29, 2025
1138 people are currently reading
47663 people want to read
About the author
Ava Reid
8 books7,356 followersAva Reid is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of gothic fantasies, including A Study in Drowning, Juniper & Thorn, and Lady Macbeth. She lives in California.
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December 11, 2024I’m seated. My local bookstore‘s employees are scared and asking me to leave because it’s “not 2025 yet” but I’m simply too seated.
April 4, 2025
ava reid making me believe in love and magic yet again? fork found in kitchen
Read my full review
you know at the end of the story when the heroes go off into the sunset and love conquers everything, well a theory of dreaming proves there’s more to surmount but that love IS the reason we can continue to navigate this waking world and that sometimes we must save ourselves. for preston and effy that is acknowledging just how much they need each other all over again.
i’m no longer surprised by reid’s brilliance and this sequel is not only brilliant it is vitally necessary.
thank you to the publisher and edelweiss for providing the advance copy in exchange for review
Bookstagram | Blog
Read my full review
you know at the end of the story when the heroes go off into the sunset and love conquers everything, well a theory of dreaming proves there’s more to surmount but that love IS the reason we can continue to navigate this waking world and that sometimes we must save ourselves. for preston and effy that is acknowledging just how much they need each other all over again.
i’m no longer surprised by reid’s brilliance and this sequel is not only brilliant it is vitally necessary.
thank you to the publisher and edelweiss for providing the advance copy in exchange for review
Bookstagram | Blog
December 22, 2024
I am seized by such love, I vow / that I must come to ruin now.
if they don't love me like preston loves effy, i don't want them!!!!
rating: 4.25★
this was the sequel we needed: what happens to effy and preston when they return to university from hiraeth manor with their controversial thesis? they must face their colleagues, superiors, and the whole of llyr; effy, as the only woman in the literature college, preston as an argantian on the precipice of a full-out argantian-llyrian war.
preston fans rejoice, bc we get a whole lot more of him in this one! dual (3rd person) POV yayayayay!
while i missed some of ASID's etherealness, this one felt more raw and real. there is still much room for magic, but it deals it more as a method of escapism. we also learn more about llyr and argantia both and the fables of the sleepers. nationalism/xenophobia is a large theme in this one and feels quite on par w current times.
there were a few things that i wanted more precisely wrapped up, but overall this felt like the right conclusion to effy and preston's story 💙
“My mind is never empty of you. Not in waking; not even in dreaming.”
if they don't love me like preston loves effy, i don't want them!!!!
rating: 4.25★
this was the sequel we needed: what happens to effy and preston when they return to university from hiraeth manor with their controversial thesis? they must face their colleagues, superiors, and the whole of llyr; effy, as the only woman in the literature college, preston as an argantian on the precipice of a full-out argantian-llyrian war.
preston fans rejoice, bc we get a whole lot more of him in this one! dual (3rd person) POV yayayayay!
while i missed some of ASID's etherealness, this one felt more raw and real. there is still much room for magic, but it deals it more as a method of escapism. we also learn more about llyr and argantia both and the fables of the sleepers. nationalism/xenophobia is a large theme in this one and feels quite on par w current times.
there were a few things that i wanted more precisely wrapped up, but overall this felt like the right conclusion to effy and preston's story 💙
“My mind is never empty of you. Not in waking; not even in dreaming.”
April 23, 2025
I was thrilled and surprised to discover that Ava Reid decided to write a sequel to A Study in Drowning, gifting fans like me a perfect fantasy treasure that made me scream with delight and dance on my couch! This continuation of Preston and Effy’s story is a joy to read, especially as it explores how their lives unfold after publishing their groundbreaking article exposing Angharad Myrddin as the true author of the celebrated novel Angharad, reclaiming her legacy from her husband who falsely claimed her work.
Returning to the academy to complete their education, Effy and Preston face fresh challenges, particularly when their findings about the infamous Sleepers spark conflicts. Effy, one of the first female students, has already stirred controversy by tarnishing a respected professor’s reputation with assault accusations, while Preston, an Argentinian student, faces suspicion and hostility from the Lyrans, who label him a saboteur, spy, and traitor.
Neither of them expects a warm welcome, but the hostility is overwhelming. Gossip columnists circle the school, eager for interviews, and while Preston is rewarded with an assistantship under Professor Gosse, aristocratic students constantly remind him of his humble origins, making his academic experience a battleground.
Effy, struggling to adjust after years under the control of the fairy king, finds herself increasingly reliant on sleeping pills, seeking solace in her dreams as her literature program challenges her stability. Meanwhile, Preston becomes entangled in a secret project with Professor Gosse that blurs the boundaries between reality and dreams, leading him to reconnect with a lost loved one. This transformation turns his rational, stoic nature into that of a romantic dreamer, forcing him to question his grasp on reality while grappling with his growing fear of losing Effy forever.
As war erupts between the Argants and Llyr, Preston must find a way to survive the harsh realities of the world and resist the pull of his dreamscapes. Simultaneously, he faces a race against time to save Effy from surrendering herself entirely to her dream world as a means of escaping her suffering.
Overall: This sequel is even darker than the first book, delving into Effy and Preston’s struggles against the injustices of academia, unethical school politics, and harsh societal prejudices. These challenges make you squirm in your seat and ignite a fierce desire to shield this beloved duo from the wolves in sheep’s clothing surrounding them. I adored the dream world and the breathtaking twist revealed in the diary. Spending more time with my favorite characters from A Study in Drowning was an absolute pleasure, and I loved the book’s dark, mystical tone, its rich mythology, and its critique of falsified legends and myths turned into unquestioned beliefs.
This is a phenomenal sequel and a must-read! However, I strongly recommend reading the first book to fully appreciate the intricate complexities of the characters and their world.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for providing me with a digital review copy of one of my most anticipated fantasy reads in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Returning to the academy to complete their education, Effy and Preston face fresh challenges, particularly when their findings about the infamous Sleepers spark conflicts. Effy, one of the first female students, has already stirred controversy by tarnishing a respected professor’s reputation with assault accusations, while Preston, an Argentinian student, faces suspicion and hostility from the Lyrans, who label him a saboteur, spy, and traitor.
Neither of them expects a warm welcome, but the hostility is overwhelming. Gossip columnists circle the school, eager for interviews, and while Preston is rewarded with an assistantship under Professor Gosse, aristocratic students constantly remind him of his humble origins, making his academic experience a battleground.
Effy, struggling to adjust after years under the control of the fairy king, finds herself increasingly reliant on sleeping pills, seeking solace in her dreams as her literature program challenges her stability. Meanwhile, Preston becomes entangled in a secret project with Professor Gosse that blurs the boundaries between reality and dreams, leading him to reconnect with a lost loved one. This transformation turns his rational, stoic nature into that of a romantic dreamer, forcing him to question his grasp on reality while grappling with his growing fear of losing Effy forever.
As war erupts between the Argants and Llyr, Preston must find a way to survive the harsh realities of the world and resist the pull of his dreamscapes. Simultaneously, he faces a race against time to save Effy from surrendering herself entirely to her dream world as a means of escaping her suffering.
Overall: This sequel is even darker than the first book, delving into Effy and Preston’s struggles against the injustices of academia, unethical school politics, and harsh societal prejudices. These challenges make you squirm in your seat and ignite a fierce desire to shield this beloved duo from the wolves in sheep’s clothing surrounding them. I adored the dream world and the breathtaking twist revealed in the diary. Spending more time with my favorite characters from A Study in Drowning was an absolute pleasure, and I loved the book’s dark, mystical tone, its rich mythology, and its critique of falsified legends and myths turned into unquestioned beliefs.
This is a phenomenal sequel and a must-read! However, I strongly recommend reading the first book to fully appreciate the intricate complexities of the characters and their world.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for providing me with a digital review copy of one of my most anticipated fantasy reads in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
twitter<
August 29, 2025
It took me a long time to get into this story. Which is disappointing because the author's ability to create such atmosphere is remarkable, I usually really enjoy her writing style and I loved Effy and Preston in book one. Especially with Effy the author crafted such a complex and troubled character that you couldn’t help but root for, so initially I was excited to continue her story.
That feeling of excitement disappeared early on, though. The characters just felt very different compared to book one. Now there could be several reasons for that: this book is told more from Preston’s POV than from Effy’s, so it’s ofc going to have a bit of a different tone to it.
Also, traumatic experiences change people, and both of them did go through it in the previous book. So I’m not entirely sure why they felt like different people, if it was on purpose or not, I just know that they did and that I didn’t enjoy this as much because of it.
My other reason for only kind of liking it is that the pacing and plot in general felt off. For more than half of the book, the plot moved very slowly, and it only somewhat picked up close to the end. It also deals with heavy topics, so maybe check TW.
I do really enjoy this author and will definitely read her next book, but imo, A Study In Drowning should have just remained a standalone.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
___
You don’t understand how excited I am to read this book 🥹😍
That feeling of excitement disappeared early on, though. The characters just felt very different compared to book one. Now there could be several reasons for that: this book is told more from Preston’s POV than from Effy’s, so it’s ofc going to have a bit of a different tone to it.
Also, traumatic experiences change people, and both of them did go through it in the previous book. So I’m not entirely sure why they felt like different people, if it was on purpose or not, I just know that they did and that I didn’t enjoy this as much because of it.
My other reason for only kind of liking it is that the pacing and plot in general felt off. For more than half of the book, the plot moved very slowly, and it only somewhat picked up close to the end. It also deals with heavy topics, so maybe check TW.
I do really enjoy this author and will definitely read her next book, but imo, A Study In Drowning should have just remained a standalone.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
___
You don’t understand how excited I am to read this book 🥹😍
January 20, 2025
Very sad to report that, as much as I loved A Study in Drowning, the sequel did not deliver. We still have Ava Reid's gorgeous, gothic, atmospheric writing which deserves a star on its own, but a plot was nowhere to be found. Truly had to force myself to slog through this.
Going forward, I will be recommending A Study in Drowning to everyone as a standalone. Unfortunately, it should have stayed that way.
Many thanks to the author, Netgalley, and HarperCollins for this eARC!
Going forward, I will be recommending A Study in Drowning to everyone as a standalone. Unfortunately, it should have stayed that way.
Many thanks to the author, Netgalley, and HarperCollins for this eARC!
August 2, 2025
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎
⭐️: 4.75
🌶️:0.5
“𝐼 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊. 𝒫𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓈𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝒷𝒶𝒸𝓀”
જ⁀➴ y’all this book 😭✋ easily one of my favourite reads of the year. It single handedly altered my brain chemistry in the best ways possible. Seeing how much the events of the first book impacted Effy and Preston was so heartbreaking, and the way each of them dealt with it was honestly just so sad to see 😭💔. Preston was honestly such a sweetheart 😭💗 the way he cared for Effy and was willing to do anything for her was actually just so adorable. I honestly ended up enjoying this more than the first book which totally shocked me because it’s usually the other way around. I really loved the whole idea of focusing on the characters working through their trauma from the first book. It’s honestly such a cool and meaningful direction for a sequel to take and I wish more authors would do that.
જ⁀➴ I’d 100% recommend reading this, but I do suggest skimming or rereading the first book beforehand because not gonna lie, I was a bit lost at the start since I forgot pretty much everything that happened 😅
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎
𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 ˚⊱🪷⊰˚┆eeeeeeeeehhhh I’m so excited to start this!!🤭🤭🤭🤭💗💗💗💗💗
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 💌┆ EXCUSE ME?!?! THERE'S A SQUEAL!?!?! WHY AM I JUST NOW FIGURING THIS OUT!?!? I AM SO READY!!
⭐️: 4.75
🌶️:0.5
“𝐼 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊. 𝒫𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓈𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝒷𝒶𝒸𝓀”
જ⁀➴ y’all this book 😭✋ easily one of my favourite reads of the year. It single handedly altered my brain chemistry in the best ways possible. Seeing how much the events of the first book impacted Effy and Preston was so heartbreaking, and the way each of them dealt with it was honestly just so sad to see 😭💔. Preston was honestly such a sweetheart 😭💗 the way he cared for Effy and was willing to do anything for her was actually just so adorable. I honestly ended up enjoying this more than the first book which totally shocked me because it’s usually the other way around. I really loved the whole idea of focusing on the characters working through their trauma from the first book. It’s honestly such a cool and meaningful direction for a sequel to take and I wish more authors would do that.
જ⁀➴ I’d 100% recommend reading this, but I do suggest skimming or rereading the first book beforehand because not gonna lie, I was a bit lost at the start since I forgot pretty much everything that happened 😅
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎
𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 ˚⊱🪷⊰˚┆eeeeeeeeehhhh I’m so excited to start this!!🤭🤭🤭🤭💗💗💗💗💗
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 💌┆ EXCUSE ME?!?! THERE'S A SQUEAL!?!?! WHY AM I JUST NOW FIGURING THIS OUT!?!? I AM SO READY!!
December 26, 2024
*+:｡.｡“𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓯𝓪𝓾𝓵𝓽𝓼 𝓘 𝓶𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮— 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓘 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓽𝔂— 𝓳𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓸𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾, 𝓪𝓵𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼. 𝓜𝔂 𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓭 𝓲𝓼 𝓷𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓮𝓶𝓹𝓽𝔂 𝓸𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾. 𝓝𝓸𝓽 𝓲𝓷 𝔀𝓪𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰; 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓲𝓷 𝓭𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓰.”｡.｡:+*
Just to be clear, I absolutely loved "Study in Drowning," but this sequel was a disappointment in comparison; it felt more like a filler, tbh; there's nothing actually happening, and both MCs are trying to get over their trauma from the first book. They each had their own storyline away from the other so it felt inconsistent. The characters changed and not for the better I'm afraid
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I can't believe it; I got the eARC 😭😭 tysm Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books 💋
Just to be clear, I absolutely loved "Study in Drowning," but this sequel was a disappointment in comparison; it felt more like a filler, tbh; there's nothing actually happening, and both MCs are trying to get over their trauma from the first book. They each had their own storyline away from the other so it felt inconsistent. The characters changed and not for the better I'm afraid
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I can't believe it; I got the eARC 😭😭 tysm Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books 💋
January 24, 2025
Rating: 3.5 ⭐️
Altogether, A Theory of Dreaming is an enjoyable read! It picks up at the end of A Study in Drowning. Preston and Effy are now back at school and Effy is starting at the literature college. They are both having their own struggles: Effy, in a university that doesn't value her and Preston, in a country that doesn't value him.
A Theory of Dreaming has that same witchy-briny aura of the first and feels like an organic continuation of the original storyline. This book has interesting atmosphere and politics and theming, however, some parts didn't feel fully realized. Both this book and the first revolve around some great work of Llyrian literature. However, in this one, I found that aspect to be less impactful. In A Study in Drowning, the reveal of the true authorship of Angharad is so important because of what it means to Effy. This version felt a little more disconnected. I also found parts of Preston's storyline, especially his "dreaming," to feel a bit disconnected from the rest of the story. What happened in his dreamscape, or even its very existence, didn't feel overly important.
However, this is still a good sequel with some great characters and a great setting. It continues some important plot lines from the first. One, being Effy and Preston's relationship. It continues the Llyrian-Argantian conflict and what that means to Preston, being Argantian. It shows the realities of Effy's acceptance into the literature college and the difficulties she faces being the only woman. It also continues the narrative about female authorship of literature. The addition of this book lends these storylines a more complete, well-rounded conclusion.
For anyone who enjoyed A Study in Drowning, I would definitely recommend that you continue the series!
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Pre-read:
Already requested on NetGalley. You best BELIEVE I’m getting my hands on this.
EDIT: GUESS WHO GOT APPROVED!!!!!!
Altogether, A Theory of Dreaming is an enjoyable read! It picks up at the end of A Study in Drowning. Preston and Effy are now back at school and Effy is starting at the literature college. They are both having their own struggles: Effy, in a university that doesn't value her and Preston, in a country that doesn't value him.
A Theory of Dreaming has that same witchy-briny aura of the first and feels like an organic continuation of the original storyline. This book has interesting atmosphere and politics and theming, however, some parts didn't feel fully realized. Both this book and the first revolve around some great work of Llyrian literature. However, in this one, I found that aspect to be less impactful. In A Study in Drowning, the reveal of the true authorship of Angharad is so important because of what it means to Effy. This version felt a little more disconnected. I also found parts of Preston's storyline, especially his "dreaming," to feel a bit disconnected from the rest of the story. What happened in his dreamscape, or even its very existence, didn't feel overly important.
However, this is still a good sequel with some great characters and a great setting. It continues some important plot lines from the first. One, being Effy and Preston's relationship. It continues the Llyrian-Argantian conflict and what that means to Preston, being Argantian. It shows the realities of Effy's acceptance into the literature college and the difficulties she faces being the only woman. It also continues the narrative about female authorship of literature. The addition of this book lends these storylines a more complete, well-rounded conclusion.
For anyone who enjoyed A Study in Drowning, I would definitely recommend that you continue the series!
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for providing me early access to A Theory of Dreaming in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Pre-read:
Already requested on NetGalley. You best BELIEVE I’m getting my hands on this.
EDIT: GUESS WHO GOT APPROVED!!!!!!
July 22, 2025
E-ARC generously provided by HarperCollins Children’s Books in exchange for an honest review! Thank you so much
4 stars. Hypnotic and dreamlike in its prose and clever in its examination of subjects like nationalism through a speculative lens, A Theory of Dreaming is an excellent follow-up to A Study in Drowning that was utterly romantic and difficult to put down.
4 stars. Hypnotic and dreamlike in its prose and clever in its examination of subjects like nationalism through a speculative lens, A Theory of Dreaming is an excellent follow-up to A Study in Drowning that was utterly romantic and difficult to put down.
August 15, 2025
ngl... felt like a unnecessary sequel that had filler book vibes...
December 14, 2024
"The real magic was never the men themselves. It was their stories."
One of my reading fears is when a beloved book initially meant to be a standalone ends up turning into a series. I should have known Ava would completely assuage that fear, because this continuation of the story set up in ASID felt perfect and so beautiful.
I would say this was very much Preston’s book. Where we leave him in ASID, he’s still on the cusp of believing in magic but not quite. This book explores the journey he takes and his growth was incredible to see. That’s not to say Effy isn’t an important part of the story too - she’s very much prominent but she also has her own continued struggles here dealing with the aftermath of book 1. Beautiful writing, immaculate vibes as always! Also, there were some really fun side characters introduced here and I love them so much.
I’ll update this with more in depth thoughts later! To summarize, ASID is still one of my favourite books of all time, and while this wasn’t quite as lifechanging, it felt deeply important to fully wrap up the story and character arcs. So to me ASID is like a 6 star/infinity star read, this was more of a 4 to 4.5 stars but rounding up for my love of the characters and book 1!
Some additional quick thoughts
- Plot was much slower than book 1, much more character driven
- Understandably less tension in the romance since book 1 ends with them in love, but there were so many sweet tender moments! Now that Effy and Preston are out of imminent danger, they navigate the more mundane parts of their relationship as well as their individual insecurities about not feeling good enough for the other
- Atmosphere and vibes were dreamlike and trippy just as with book 1! Lots of exploration of having dreams (hence the title lol) while not losing sight of reality
- Very focused on inner turmoil and mental health, balancing between self-sufficiency and knowing when to ask for help
- Super emotional but also had a ton of hilarious moments too
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the eARC!
One of my reading fears is when a beloved book initially meant to be a standalone ends up turning into a series. I should have known Ava would completely assuage that fear, because this continuation of the story set up in ASID felt perfect and so beautiful.
I would say this was very much Preston’s book. Where we leave him in ASID, he’s still on the cusp of believing in magic but not quite. This book explores the journey he takes and his growth was incredible to see. That’s not to say Effy isn’t an important part of the story too - she’s very much prominent but she also has her own continued struggles here dealing with the aftermath of book 1. Beautiful writing, immaculate vibes as always! Also, there were some really fun side characters introduced here and I love them so much.
I’ll update this with more in depth thoughts later! To summarize, ASID is still one of my favourite books of all time, and while this wasn’t quite as lifechanging, it felt deeply important to fully wrap up the story and character arcs. So to me ASID is like a 6 star/infinity star read, this was more of a 4 to 4.5 stars but rounding up for my love of the characters and book 1!
Some additional quick thoughts
- Plot was much slower than book 1, much more character driven
- Understandably less tension in the romance since book 1 ends with them in love, but there were so many sweet tender moments! Now that Effy and Preston are out of imminent danger, they navigate the more mundane parts of their relationship as well as their individual insecurities about not feeling good enough for the other
- Atmosphere and vibes were dreamlike and trippy just as with book 1! Lots of exploration of having dreams (hence the title lol) while not losing sight of reality
- Very focused on inner turmoil and mental health, balancing between self-sufficiency and knowing when to ask for help
- Super emotional but also had a ton of hilarious moments too
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the eARC!
April 21, 2025
Less empowering, more depressing.
This follows on from book one, but this time with Preston in the spotlight where his avowed skepticisim is tested as his advisor wants to prove the existence of magic.
Effie in this instalment reminded me of the book ‘My Year in Rest and Relaxation’. Unfortunately, it felt like she took a step back from book one. Without her magic world to escape to, she feels shamed and not enough.
Per usual, Reid’s prose is delectable. Dream-like, folk-adjacent, spine-tingling.
“Whatever faults I might have—and I have plenty—just know that I think of you, always. My mind is never empty of you. Not in waking; not even in dreaming.”
Effie feels like she is a burden to Preston who manages her doubts wonderfully. However, I think Effie’s entire character became an obsessive, self-loathing, cowering shadow of who she was in book one: she had already gone from wishing to be exceptional to wishing to be invisible.
I liked how Reid portrays mental health and the impact of this - it is so pervasive and her prose is deeply impacted by this.
I did feel the plot was less driven in this book and the climax felt lacklustre and one of the main issues easily resolved.
Also, incest alert!
Overall, I preferred book one, but I enjoyed being back in this world and devouring Reid’s artful writing and psychoanalysis.
Arc gifted by Del Rey.
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This follows on from book one, but this time with Preston in the spotlight where his avowed skepticisim is tested as his advisor wants to prove the existence of magic.
Effie in this instalment reminded me of the book ‘My Year in Rest and Relaxation’. Unfortunately, it felt like she took a step back from book one. Without her magic world to escape to, she feels shamed and not enough.
Per usual, Reid’s prose is delectable. Dream-like, folk-adjacent, spine-tingling.
“Whatever faults I might have—and I have plenty—just know that I think of you, always. My mind is never empty of you. Not in waking; not even in dreaming.”
Effie feels like she is a burden to Preston who manages her doubts wonderfully. However, I think Effie’s entire character became an obsessive, self-loathing, cowering shadow of who she was in book one: she had already gone from wishing to be exceptional to wishing to be invisible.
I liked how Reid portrays mental health and the impact of this - it is so pervasive and her prose is deeply impacted by this.
I did feel the plot was less driven in this book and the climax felt lacklustre and one of the main issues easily resolved.
Also, incest alert!
Overall, I preferred book one, but I enjoyed being back in this world and devouring Reid’s artful writing and psychoanalysis.
Arc gifted by Del Rey.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
September 3, 2025
˖ ࣪ ⟡˚ 3.75 stars ˚⟡ ࣪ ˖
when i say: bring back yearning! bring back green flag MMC’s! i’m talking about this lovely man right here.
Preston loves Effy so much he’d go to the literal ends of the earth for her. find yourself a man who’d do that for you or dump his ass 😇
when i say: bring back yearning! bring back green flag MMC’s! i’m talking about this lovely man right here.
Preston loves Effy so much he’d go to the literal ends of the earth for her. find yourself a man who’d do that for you or dump his ass 😇
April 16, 2025
While "A Study in Drowning" focuses mainly on Effy's background story, this sequel is full on focused on Preston's and I enjoyed that but I wish we had a little more time with Effy. She's one of my favorite female main characters ever and it might be just a me thing but I just love reading about her. Aside from that, I adored how Preston and Effy's romantic moments were full of so much yearning and devotion.
The pacing of this book was perfect (practically impossible to put down, just like the first one.) The writing was just as beautiful and immersive and I always appreciate how the meaning behind the story has so much power and similitudes with today's current events, specially the patriarchal spectrum, the imbalance in power dynamics and oppression.
I think the reason behind why I couldn't rated this 5 stars is because in some way this was lacking that "gothic asmospheric" vibe that I loved from ASID. This is also in some ways a little bit more triggering than the first book and it deals with heavy topics. I personally wouldn't recommend this duology for young adult readers, even though is marketed as such. It does feels so much more mature. Nonetheless, I think Reid's wrote a wonderful continuation of this story and I am very pleased with how it ended. If you loved the first one, you shouldn't be worried about not enjoying this one. It was great!
Thank you so much to Harper Collins for the Advance Reader Copy!
The pacing of this book was perfect (practically impossible to put down, just like the first one.) The writing was just as beautiful and immersive and I always appreciate how the meaning behind the story has so much power and similitudes with today's current events, specially the patriarchal spectrum, the imbalance in power dynamics and oppression.
I think the reason behind why I couldn't rated this 5 stars is because in some way this was lacking that "gothic asmospheric" vibe that I loved from ASID. This is also in some ways a little bit more triggering than the first book and it deals with heavy topics. I personally wouldn't recommend this duology for young adult readers, even though is marketed as such. It does feels so much more mature. Nonetheless, I think Reid's wrote a wonderful continuation of this story and I am very pleased with how it ended. If you loved the first one, you shouldn't be worried about not enjoying this one. It was great!
Thank you so much to Harper Collins for the Advance Reader Copy!
May 13, 2025
Ava Reid said this sequel wasn’t originally planned and it shows. If you really enjoy these characters and want to watch them hang around school a whole bunch, I would say that there is something here.
Otherwise, I found it to be tedious. The ethereal Gothic storytelling in the last book is not present here, and this is more of a strict dark academia. The themes are cool, I just really do not care about what’s going on and I feel like it could’ve been resolved a little bit quicker. A lot of repetitive scenes as well.
I might try this again on audiobook at some point. I just don’t really have the patience for it right now and I say I do like slow burn usually. I think part of it is just that these characters don’t really need to grow up, they’re just characters facing troubles and mental illness . They have already gotten together so no relationship development either- so what are we doing here exactly?
Otherwise, I found it to be tedious. The ethereal Gothic storytelling in the last book is not present here, and this is more of a strict dark academia. The themes are cool, I just really do not care about what’s going on and I feel like it could’ve been resolved a little bit quicker. A lot of repetitive scenes as well.
I might try this again on audiobook at some point. I just don’t really have the patience for it right now and I say I do like slow burn usually. I think part of it is just that these characters don’t really need to grow up, they’re just characters facing troubles and mental illness . They have already gotten together so no relationship development either- so what are we doing here exactly?
February 3, 2025
If you have extensive and expansive childhood trauma, I would skip this book.
I think I'm officially done with this author. She has a beautiful and lyric writing style, but I just can't get behind her worldview that all men are inherently evil except this one guy or two that she arbitrarily chooses to be inherently good.
At its core, this book is Preston's story. Effy's contribution to the central plot is small but focused around misogyny, trauma, and manipulation. Honestly, by and large it felt like she was being pushed around by the plot as a character. Preston though experiences some character assassination. Ultimately, this book encapsulates his journey towards becoming a more powerful man but whose character is unrecognizable and abhorrent. At the book's peak, Preston must choose whether to continue down that path or walk away from it entirely.
Not much happens in the book until the last fourth of the storyline. Preston's descent is carefully and slowly described and Effy is going to class, depressed, navigating reporters, and reading.
And then. There are the letters Effy is using for her research. This book is marketed as a young adult book. But the content of the letters is very much not young adult. As the letters unfold, the gross depravity of the situation of their author is described as we learn how she was mistreated by her father in a shocking yet purely Ava Reid sort of way (see content warning). Could she have shown how utterly terrible he was without resorting to the extreme? Of course. It's her book after all. And yet here we are.
This book is dark. It's really not a good time nor is its content YA. This is a firmly New Adult novel that should be kept far away from the YA section, and yet that is how it is being marketed.
The ending was great.
The beginning was just okay.
The middle was confusing.
It was tonally a little different from what I was expecting in that I kept waiting for him to bring Effy into the central plot vein, making this a "them" problem, instead it remains firmly a Preston issue. In contrast, Effy's main character arc was hitting rock bottom and learning that the people who really love her won't leave her. Preston's arc was kind of, learning what's more important, living in a world of supposed power and influence because it's easy or living a more difficult reality and choosing to live and love even when the deck is stacked against you.
Content: inc*stual father/daughter relationship, attempted su*cide via overd*se, language, lightly explicit, misogynistic, racist, coma
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review is voluntarily written and the thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.
I think I'm officially done with this author. She has a beautiful and lyric writing style, but I just can't get behind her worldview that all men are inherently evil except this one guy or two that she arbitrarily chooses to be inherently good.
At its core, this book is Preston's story. Effy's contribution to the central plot is small but focused around misogyny, trauma, and manipulation. Honestly, by and large it felt like she was being pushed around by the plot as a character. Preston though experiences some character assassination. Ultimately, this book encapsulates his journey towards becoming a more powerful man but whose character is unrecognizable and abhorrent. At the book's peak, Preston must choose whether to continue down that path or walk away from it entirely.
Not much happens in the book until the last fourth of the storyline. Preston's descent is carefully and slowly described and Effy is going to class, depressed, navigating reporters, and reading.
And then. There are the letters Effy is using for her research. This book is marketed as a young adult book. But the content of the letters is very much not young adult. As the letters unfold, the gross depravity of the situation of their author is described as we learn how she was mistreated by her father in a shocking yet purely Ava Reid sort of way (see content warning). Could she have shown how utterly terrible he was without resorting to the extreme? Of course. It's her book after all. And yet here we are.
This book is dark. It's really not a good time nor is its content YA. This is a firmly New Adult novel that should be kept far away from the YA section, and yet that is how it is being marketed.
The ending was great.
The beginning was just okay.
The middle was confusing.
It was tonally a little different from what I was expecting in that I kept waiting for him to bring Effy into the central plot vein, making this a "them" problem, instead it remains firmly a Preston issue. In contrast, Effy's main character arc was hitting rock bottom and learning that the people who really love her won't leave her. Preston's arc was kind of, learning what's more important, living in a world of supposed power and influence because it's easy or living a more difficult reality and choosing to live and love even when the deck is stacked against you.
Content: inc*stual father/daughter relationship, attempted su*cide via overd*se, language, lightly explicit, misogynistic, racist, coma
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review is voluntarily written and the thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.
June 5, 2024
effypreston will always have my heart
January 12, 2025
GUESS WHOOOO GOT THE ARC 😭😭😭😭
I LOOOOVEDDDD a study in drowning 😭😭😭
-
Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins Children's Books, for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Date to be published: August 05, 2025
-
No quotes as this book has yet to be published and quotes could be subject to change.
Trigger Warnings:
- Suicidal Ideation
- Suicide Attempt
-
A Theory of Dreaming is just as painstakingly beautiful as A Study in Drowning. A Theory of Dreaming is very character-driven, focusing on Preston while being in the third person. We return to the whimsical world after defeating the Fairy King, where war is slowly but surely looming over the town of Llyr. Everything is not as it seems and the veil between dreams and reality is slowly but surely thinning. Tensions are running high between Llyr and Argant, the age to be drafted is lowered. What happens when the town of Llyr has to face a hard truth? One that they can't quite believe with a war quickly racing overhead?
Preston is a character I absolutely fell in love with in ASID. The way he is written bleeds through well throughout the pages of A Theory of Dreaming as well. Preston is being tugged between Reality and his dreams, the line between them thinning the more he lets himself disappear into them. It starts to become one. At first, it is wonderful, a beautiful thing that must be cherished. But all good things surely must come to an end, right?
Effy is someone I wanted to hug the biggest in this book. At one point, there's a certain scene where I put my phone down and just closed the Kindle app for a moment. It wasn't necessarily graphic in any way, it just caught me off guard. If you're sensitive to Suicide Attempts, I would perhaps skip over this particular scene. Watching her downfall was heartbreaking because we, the reader could see the slow progression that suddenly snowballed. Yet, we couldn't do anything but watch as her friends missed the signs.
While I loved reading this, I have to say the former book, A Study in Drowning blows it out of the water. I fell in love with that book and the message that was hidden between the pages. I am grateful I got this arc because it is beautiful and holds a hidden message. Getting to dive into this story again, to see the aftermath of the fall of the Fairy King was beautiful. I am happy that Ava Reid decided to turn this into a duology rather than a stand-alone.
If you loved A Study in Drowning, I think you would fall in love with A Theory of Dreaming as well.
Once again, I want to give a massive thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for this eArc!
I LOOOOVEDDDD a study in drowning 😭😭😭
-
Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins Children's Books, for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Date to be published: August 05, 2025
-
No quotes as this book has yet to be published and quotes could be subject to change.
Trigger Warnings:
- Suicidal Ideation
- Suicide Attempt
-
A Theory of Dreaming is just as painstakingly beautiful as A Study in Drowning. A Theory of Dreaming is very character-driven, focusing on Preston while being in the third person. We return to the whimsical world after defeating the Fairy King, where war is slowly but surely looming over the town of Llyr. Everything is not as it seems and the veil between dreams and reality is slowly but surely thinning. Tensions are running high between Llyr and Argant, the age to be drafted is lowered. What happens when the town of Llyr has to face a hard truth? One that they can't quite believe with a war quickly racing overhead?
Preston is a character I absolutely fell in love with in ASID. The way he is written bleeds through well throughout the pages of A Theory of Dreaming as well. Preston is being tugged between Reality and his dreams, the line between them thinning the more he lets himself disappear into them. It starts to become one. At first, it is wonderful, a beautiful thing that must be cherished. But all good things surely must come to an end, right?
Effy is someone I wanted to hug the biggest in this book. At one point, there's a certain scene where I put my phone down and just closed the Kindle app for a moment. It wasn't necessarily graphic in any way, it just caught me off guard. If you're sensitive to Suicide Attempts, I would perhaps skip over this particular scene. Watching her downfall was heartbreaking because we, the reader could see the slow progression that suddenly snowballed. Yet, we couldn't do anything but watch as her friends missed the signs.
While I loved reading this, I have to say the former book, A Study in Drowning blows it out of the water. I fell in love with that book and the message that was hidden between the pages. I am grateful I got this arc because it is beautiful and holds a hidden message. Getting to dive into this story again, to see the aftermath of the fall of the Fairy King was beautiful. I am happy that Ava Reid decided to turn this into a duology rather than a stand-alone.
If you loved A Study in Drowning, I think you would fall in love with A Theory of Dreaming as well.
Once again, I want to give a massive thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for this eArc!
July 9, 2025
⭐️ 4 (4.25)
I loved A Study in Drowning and I believe if you did, too, you'll really enjoy A Theory of Dreaming as well. Reid is such a talented writer and their writing is just as gorgeous here as in the first of the series. I really appreciated reading a book with an already established relationship between the main characters and there is enough there, enough interpersonal conflict and emotions, to keep it from feeling stagnant as the story progresses without relying on a break-up or anything like that. That being said, this story is heavily focused on the characters rather than a more traditional plot progression, and if you don't enjoy a deeper, slower exploration of the world and people and their lives in your stories, than this might not be for you. And I'm not sure why I'd say this exactly but the narrative is also less cohesive than A Study in Drowning. That's not really a dig at this book, however, because I believe it's hard to make a book with as much meaning and aesthetic cohesion as ASID, it's just something that I noticed. I adored the new characters and the new scenes with Effy and Preston together and that ending as well.
If you're someone who was kind of ehhh about A Study in Drowning, or disliked it, I don't think this is the book that will sell you on the first. It's really just supplemental story so you can live a little bit longer in the world and see the fallout from all their actions in the previous story. But as someone who rated ASID 5 stars? I teared up and I had a lot of fun.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved A Study in Drowning and I believe if you did, too, you'll really enjoy A Theory of Dreaming as well. Reid is such a talented writer and their writing is just as gorgeous here as in the first of the series. I really appreciated reading a book with an already established relationship between the main characters and there is enough there, enough interpersonal conflict and emotions, to keep it from feeling stagnant as the story progresses without relying on a break-up or anything like that. That being said, this story is heavily focused on the characters rather than a more traditional plot progression, and if you don't enjoy a deeper, slower exploration of the world and people and their lives in your stories, than this might not be for you. And I'm not sure why I'd say this exactly but the narrative is also less cohesive than A Study in Drowning. That's not really a dig at this book, however, because I believe it's hard to make a book with as much meaning and aesthetic cohesion as ASID, it's just something that I noticed. I adored the new characters and the new scenes with Effy and Preston together and that ending as well.
If you're someone who was kind of ehhh about A Study in Drowning, or disliked it, I don't think this is the book that will sell you on the first. It's really just supplemental story so you can live a little bit longer in the world and see the fallout from all their actions in the previous story. But as someone who rated ASID 5 stars? I teared up and I had a lot of fun.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 18, 2025
Thank you, HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins, for sending me this ARC.
This was definitely the sequel we needed. I enjoyed following Effy and Preston further and getting to know Preston a bit more this time. The pacing is a little slower, but this one remains a dreamy and atmospheric book. The storyline is decent, but honestly, it is not my favorite series out there. I just didn't feel as invested in it. I will say the cover is stunning. I still found it to be worth the read!
3.5 stars!
Pub Date: August 05, 2025
As always, all thoughts are my own. ✨🖤
This was definitely the sequel we needed. I enjoyed following Effy and Preston further and getting to know Preston a bit more this time. The pacing is a little slower, but this one remains a dreamy and atmospheric book. The storyline is decent, but honestly, it is not my favorite series out there. I just didn't feel as invested in it. I will say the cover is stunning. I still found it to be worth the read!
3.5 stars!
Pub Date: August 05, 2025
As always, all thoughts are my own. ✨🖤
August 8, 2025
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
i love ava reid, don’t get me wrong, but i don’t think a study in drowning needed a sequel. sometimes, stories should be left where they ended.
while i didn’t particularly enjoy this book per say, i did really appreciate reid’s political commentary as it is unfortunately very timely, and if you follow her on socials like i do, you know she is very vocal and encourages her readers to educate themselves on current socio-political happenings. in this book she tackles: the erasure/control of the media and journalism, war time concerns/ethics, and concerns about education, especially the arts.
i love ava reid, don’t get me wrong, but i don’t think a study in drowning needed a sequel. sometimes, stories should be left where they ended.
while i didn’t particularly enjoy this book per say, i did really appreciate reid’s political commentary as it is unfortunately very timely, and if you follow her on socials like i do, you know she is very vocal and encourages her readers to educate themselves on current socio-political happenings. in this book she tackles: the erasure/control of the media and journalism, war time concerns/ethics, and concerns about education, especially the arts.
July 12, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
2.5 stars
This did not live up to its predecessor unfortunately.
Right off the bat, this story starts with both characters, now together after the first book, experiencing some issues individually and both deciding to keep them from the other. Not much I hate more than that when dealing with a now established couple.
Also, what happened to Effy? She just got pushed aside in this book and essentially does nothing. She is going through some very real and emotional problems, but even that didn't really get the a attention it should have been due, so all of her chapters just felt like unnecessary filler.
All of Preston's chapters were entertaining though there were some frustrating bits there too. But at least I was looking forward to something...
Overall, I found myself skimming a lot and just not enjoying myself ☹️
2.5 stars
This did not live up to its predecessor unfortunately.
Right off the bat, this story starts with both characters, now together after the first book, experiencing some issues individually and both deciding to keep them from the other. Not much I hate more than that when dealing with a now established couple.
Also, what happened to Effy? She just got pushed aside in this book and essentially does nothing. She is going through some very real and emotional problems, but even that didn't really get the a attention it should have been due, so all of her chapters just felt like unnecessary filler.
All of Preston's chapters were entertaining though there were some frustrating bits there too. But at least I was looking forward to something...
Overall, I found myself skimming a lot and just not enjoying myself ☹️
May 29, 2025
A Study In Drowning is one of my absolute favorite books. This one, while still a wonderful addition, doesn't hold onto the same magic.
Things to prepare for:
• A HUGE focus on sexism and xenophobia within academia (and in general, really).
• Major depression coupled with prescription drug abuse.
What I Liked:
• The expansion on the lore and culture was fascinating. I actually could have used more of it.
• The way both characters were chasing escapism in their own way felt really personal, and HOW DARE YOU CALL ME OUT LIKE THAT.
• The love Preston has for Effy is so PURE.
• Lotto and Preston. BFFs4Evaaaa.
What I Didn't:
• Some chapters felt so mundane, they didn't seem to fit with the subtle magic of the rest of the story.
• I really wanted more time with Effy and Preston actually together. Their stories were very separate and they continuously didn't tell one another what they were doing.
• The ending felt rather sudden. There needed to be some sort of healing arc after what happened, and there just wasn't one.
Overall, this was still beautiful, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if this was a "Preston & Effy" story instead of "Preston" and "Effy" stories.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for providing me with this ARC.
Things to prepare for:
• A HUGE focus on sexism and xenophobia within academia (and in general, really).
• Major depression coupled with prescription drug abuse.
What I Liked:
• The expansion on the lore and culture was fascinating. I actually could have used more of it.
• The way both characters were chasing escapism in their own way felt really personal, and HOW DARE YOU CALL ME OUT LIKE THAT.
• The love Preston has for Effy is so PURE.
• Lotto and Preston. BFFs4Evaaaa.
What I Didn't:
• Some chapters felt so mundane, they didn't seem to fit with the subtle magic of the rest of the story.
• I really wanted more time with Effy and Preston actually together. Their stories were very separate and they continuously didn't tell one another what they were doing.
• The ending felt rather sudden. There needed to be some sort of healing arc after what happened, and there just wasn't one.
Overall, this was still beautiful, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if this was a "Preston & Effy" story instead of "Preston" and "Effy" stories.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for providing me with this ARC.
June 6, 2025
A Study in Drowning was a 5 star read for me, but I unfortunately didn't enjoy A Theory of Dreaming quite as much. I did still love Effy and Preston, who I think are very loveable characters, but I didn't feel as pulled into the story. I truly do appreciate all the attention to detail that went into this story - creating such an intricate literary history for a fictional story is undeniably impressive. And I did think it was interesting to read about, but overall, the vibes just weren't as strong as in the first book and I didn't really see the need for this sequel - I could have easily done without it.
January 23, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for approving me for the ARC!!! I LOVE A Study in Drowning and couldn’t wait to finish this duology!!
Ava Reid’s ‘A Study in Drowning’ was an amazing read, one that will be considered a top tier book on my shelf. As much as I loved this book and its poetry, I feel like it lacked elements that the first book was drenched in. I feel like there was no real definitive resolution at the end, and maybe that’s just me being dissatisfied with real world issues, but in my fantasy books I’d at least like them to go away (men).
Effy faces some serious mental struggles, and I do like the way Ava Reid broached these issues, especially given this is a teens book, but I think it Effy’s situation should have been given more attention. Nothing truly changes for her, and I feel it’s implied Effy will go down this path again, which is something that’s ok to admit in adult books, but maybe not in one meant for teens?
I loved how this book is about Preston’s POV!! This book highlighted his struggles with nationality, and having to make every decision with that political unrest on his mind.
This book feels like a second book in a series, not the end of a duology. I really hope Ava Reid feels this way too and can continue this series, perhaps even highlighting the side characters who I would love to hear more from!
There are SO MANY quotes I want to include in this review, but since this book isn’t published yet I’ll have to refrain until publishing day, which is AUGUST 5th!!
Ava Reid’s ‘A Study in Drowning’ was an amazing read, one that will be considered a top tier book on my shelf. As much as I loved this book and its poetry, I feel like it lacked elements that the first book was drenched in. I feel like there was no real definitive resolution at the end, and maybe that’s just me being dissatisfied with real world issues, but in my fantasy books I’d at least like them to go away (men).
Effy faces some serious mental struggles, and I do like the way Ava Reid broached these issues, especially given this is a teens book, but I think it Effy’s situation should have been given more attention. Nothing truly changes for her, and I feel it’s implied Effy will go down this path again, which is something that’s ok to admit in adult books, but maybe not in one meant for teens?
I loved how this book is about Preston’s POV!! This book highlighted his struggles with nationality, and having to make every decision with that political unrest on his mind.
This book feels like a second book in a series, not the end of a duology. I really hope Ava Reid feels this way too and can continue this series, perhaps even highlighting the side characters who I would love to hear more from!
January 14, 2025
2.5
I’ve said it before in an update and I’ll say it again in the review, ASID should’ve been a stand-alone. This just wasn’t interesting to me in the slightest. The plot felt like a refurbished version of the plot from book one, and Effy was extremely unlikable for me. She was obnoxiously self loathing and everything was “woe is me, everyone hates me, I’m a burden to the world” yada yada.
I actually don’t have it in me to write a full blown review on this, I truly disliked it that much lol. I made it to 68% and had to skim the rest because it was so underwhelming. NOTHING exciting happened in the 68% that I read, and I didn’t care about what could’ve possibly happened in the last 32%.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the arc.
I’ve said it before in an update and I’ll say it again in the review, ASID should’ve been a stand-alone. This just wasn’t interesting to me in the slightest. The plot felt like a refurbished version of the plot from book one, and Effy was extremely unlikable for me. She was obnoxiously self loathing and everything was “woe is me, everyone hates me, I’m a burden to the world” yada yada.
I actually don’t have it in me to write a full blown review on this, I truly disliked it that much lol. I made it to 68% and had to skim the rest because it was so underwhelming. NOTHING exciting happened in the 68% that I read, and I didn’t care about what could’ve possibly happened in the last 32%.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the arc.
August 31, 2025
this was so cute and lovely and i really felt how effy was towards the end of the book
i wish ava could have included the other side characters more often though
anyways, after that ending, thank you so much ava reid for giving us a novella because i still need more of this world
---------------------------------
TBR
I NEED EFFYPRESTON CONTENT
AHHH IM SO EXCITED FOR THIS
I WAS LITERALLY JUST SITTING DOWN PEACEFULLY AND JUST REMEMBERED THAT THIS EXISTED
I'LL BE RUNNING FOR THAT ARC IF IT APPEARS ON NETGALLEY
i wish ava could have included the other side characters more often though
anyways, after that ending, thank you so much ava reid for giving us a novella because i still need more of this world
---------------------------------
TBR
I NEED EFFYPRESTON CONTENT
AHHH IM SO EXCITED FOR THIS
I WAS LITERALLY JUST SITTING DOWN PEACEFULLY AND JUST REMEMBERED THAT THIS EXISTED
I'LL BE RUNNING FOR THAT ARC IF IT APPEARS ON NETGALLEY
Want to read
January 31, 2025I haven't even read the first book, but that cover alone makes me wanna run to the nearest bookstore and pick it up immediately 🤭🤭
July 31, 2025
3.25⭐️ rounded down
Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 10 hours 44 minutes
🎤: Saskia Maarlevelo/Gary Furlong
Publisher: Harper Collins
Format: Multi POV/Singular Timeline
Themes:
💧: The fear love brings
💧: Standing tall in the face of prejudices
💧: The dangers of unchecked power
Representation:
📚: Coping Mechanisms
📚: Mental Health/Medication talks
Tropes:
💗: Found Family
💗: Forehead kisses
🥵: Spice: 🚫
Potential Triggers: domestic violence **check authors page/socials for full list.
Short Synopsis:
Upon returning to the literary college, Effy and Preston face scrutiny for their revelations about Myriad and his works. Effy facing gender discrimination and Preston experiencing prejudice for his country of origin. The war between the two sides is ramping up, and Preston has a magnifying glass on his actions. Preston starts to have visions of an underwater castle and is struggling to decipher what it means.
General Thoughts:
The book starts with Ava Reid's signature lyrical prose and Gothic style vibes and setting. This really leans into the dark academia setting because they are back at school and the story is fully set in the literary college. You get a sense of stress and mystery from the writing, as well as the characters in their motivations.
Ava Reid continues to lean into water as a metaphor. I really like that continuation from the first book. It makes everything feel very cohesive, even though it is now two different settings and two different plot lines. Adding Preston's POV gives me mixed feelings. While it's important for us to hear his thoughts in the second installment, it doesn't really feel like the Preston from the first book. We are no longer able to put our own spin on what he is "likely" feeling, since we now know his thoughts.
Unfortunately, I was not a fan of the change in character tone. Effy was so strong at the end of this first book and in the second book her anxiety and mental health has markedly declined. Whereas Preston seems much more anxious and worrisome than he did in Drowning. It was a stark difference to me from the first book and hard to adjust to. A big part of this book was Preston and the dreaming world. I still don't understand the world very well. It felt a little too underwhelming and the world building was lacking for me.
Overall this book had a few disappointing elements that stopped me from fully enjoying it. I did love the underlying theme of love and chosen family. But the character tone and quick ending that felt unsatisfying made it hard to truly love.
Disclaimer: I read this audiobook via free ALC through NetGalley and Harper Collins. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 10 hours 44 minutes
🎤: Saskia Maarlevelo/Gary Furlong
Publisher: Harper Collins
Format: Multi POV/Singular Timeline
Themes:
💧: The fear love brings
💧: Standing tall in the face of prejudices
💧: The dangers of unchecked power
Representation:
📚: Coping Mechanisms
📚: Mental Health/Medication talks
Tropes:
💗: Found Family
💗: Forehead kisses
🥵: Spice: 🚫
Potential Triggers: domestic violence **check authors page/socials for full list.
Short Synopsis:
Upon returning to the literary college, Effy and Preston face scrutiny for their revelations about Myriad and his works. Effy facing gender discrimination and Preston experiencing prejudice for his country of origin. The war between the two sides is ramping up, and Preston has a magnifying glass on his actions. Preston starts to have visions of an underwater castle and is struggling to decipher what it means.
General Thoughts:
The book starts with Ava Reid's signature lyrical prose and Gothic style vibes and setting. This really leans into the dark academia setting because they are back at school and the story is fully set in the literary college. You get a sense of stress and mystery from the writing, as well as the characters in their motivations.
Ava Reid continues to lean into water as a metaphor. I really like that continuation from the first book. It makes everything feel very cohesive, even though it is now two different settings and two different plot lines. Adding Preston's POV gives me mixed feelings. While it's important for us to hear his thoughts in the second installment, it doesn't really feel like the Preston from the first book. We are no longer able to put our own spin on what he is "likely" feeling, since we now know his thoughts.
Unfortunately, I was not a fan of the change in character tone. Effy was so strong at the end of this first book and in the second book her anxiety and mental health has markedly declined. Whereas Preston seems much more anxious and worrisome than he did in Drowning. It was a stark difference to me from the first book and hard to adjust to. A big part of this book was Preston and the dreaming world. I still don't understand the world very well. It felt a little too underwhelming and the world building was lacking for me.
Overall this book had a few disappointing elements that stopped me from fully enjoying it. I did love the underlying theme of love and chosen family. But the character tone and quick ending that felt unsatisfying made it hard to truly love.
Disclaimer: I read this audiobook via free ALC through NetGalley and Harper Collins. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.
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