Book overview A Study in Drowning, Book 1 Ava Reid

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid: Complete Book Guide

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Quick Facts

Feature Detail
Author Ava Reid
Publication Year 2023
Genre Dark academic fantasy, Young Adult
Setting Llyr and Argant, primarily at Hiraeth Manor in Saltney, with scenes at Caer-Isel University and Penrhos estate
Narrator Third-person limited, closely following Effy Sayre’s perspective
Major Characters Effy Sayre, Preston Héloury, Ianto Myrddin, Angharad Myrddin, Emrys Myrddin, The Fairy King

Short Summary

Effy Sayre, an architecture student at Caer-Isel University, wins a contest to redesign the decaying Hiraeth Manor, home of the late celebrated author Emrys Myrddin. There she meets Preston Héloury, a skeptical Argantian literature scholar who believes Myrddin did not write his famous works. Together they uncover evidence that Myrddin stole the epic poem Angharad from his wife, while the manor literally drowns into the sea. Effy must confront the supernatural Fairy King—who possesses Myrddin's son Ianto—face her own trauma, and fight for her right to tell stories.

Full Summary

Part 1: Arrival at Hiraeth

Effy Sayre is a gifted but struggling architecture student haunted by the memory of being assaulted by her professor, Master Corbenic. She discovers a poster advertising a competition to redesign Hiraeth Manor, the estate of the deceased literary giant Emrys Myrddin. Eager to escape Caer-Isel and its hostile environment, she applies in secret and receives an invitation from Ianto Myrddin, the author's son.

Upon arriving in Saltney, Effy is met by the estate barrister Thomas Wetherell and driven to the crumbling manor. She stays in a guest cottage reinforced with new iron—a detail that will prove significant. The next morning, she meets Preston Héloury, the same literature student who had checked out all the Myrddin books from the library. Preston is investigating Myrddin's authorship and quickly clashes with Effy over scholarly territory. Ianto Myrddin gives a tour of the waterlogged house, revealing a flooded basement archive. Effy feels overwhelmed but decides to stay.

Part 2: Uncovering the Truth

Effy and Preston form an uneasy alliance. Preston shares his thesis: Myrddin may not have written his major works. Effy, desperate for a future beyond architecture, agrees to help him gain access to documents. They swear an oath by Saint Una not to betray each other.

They examine Myrddin's letters and find misspellings and vocabulary gaps that suggest forgery. Effy asks Ianto for the house blueprints; Ianto takes her to a pub where his behavior becomes unsettling. He describes a blood sacrifice myth, compliments her, and grabs her hand. During the drive home, Effy hallucinates the Fairy King and jumps from the moving car.

Back at Hiraeth, Preston tends her wounds. They study the blueprints and find a hidden space near Ianto's bedroom. While investigating, Effy sees a ghostly woman in white pass through a closed door—proof that the supernatural is real and growing stronger. She decides to stop taking her sleeping pills.

Part 3: The Heart of the Mystery

Effy and Preston search Ianto's private rooms and discover a secret chamber containing Myrddin's diary and nude photographs of a young girl. The diary reveals Myrddin's misogyny and mentions a man named Colin Blackmar delivering the manuscript of Angharad. Ianto confronts them with a musket, and Effy overhears him speaking to an unseen entity about needing to bring her back.

They travel to Colin Blackmar's estate, Penrhos, under false pretenses. There, Effy finds letters proving Myrddin had an affair with Blackmar's eldest daughter. A line from one letter—“I will love you to ruination”—appears verbatim in Angharad, confirming that Myrddin stole a real woman's words. Effy is devastated but more determined than ever.

During a storm, Effy steals the key to the flooded basement from Ianto. She dives repeatedly into the dark water and retrieves a rusted metal box stamped Angharad. After stripping wet clothes, she and Preston become intimate. Effy begins to heal through trust.

Part 4: Confrontation and Resolution

Ianto, having learned from Blackmar that Effy and Preston were investigating him, chains Preston in the basement as a foundation sacrifice. He reveals that he is possessed by the Fairy King—the same entity that possessed his father. Effy is knocked unconscious and forced to draw blueprints. Using hag stones, she sees Ianto's true form and tricks him into looking at a mirror shard, which causes him to wither to dust. She frees Preston as the house collapses.

The ghostly woman reappears: she is Angharad Myrddin, the true author of the epic poem. She explains that her husband Emrys, her father Colin Blackmar, and the publisher Marlowe conspired to steal her work. The Fairy King—a real supernatural entity—had possessed Emrys and later Ianto. Angharad maintained iron traps and charms to contain the Fairy King. She gives Effy the key to the box, which contains proof of her authorship. The box's mirror reflects Effy's face, symbolizing her reclaimed identity.

After two weeks in Laleston compiling evidence, Effy and Preston finalize their thesis. They return to Caer-Isel, where Effy presents the findings to Dean Fogg. She demands admission to the literature college and the firing of Master Corbenic. The dean reluctantly agrees. Effy reflects on her future, feeling her new life take shape.

Main Characters

  • Effy Sayre – The protagonist, an architecture student haunted by the Fairy King and determined to restore Hiraeth Manor. She confronts trauma and institutional sexism.
  • Preston Héloury – An Argantian literature scholar who believes Myrddin did not write Angharad. He partners with Effy and helps her heal.
  • Ianto Myrddin – The manipulative son of Emrys Myrddin, secretly a vessel for the Fairy King.
  • Angharad Myrddin – The true author of the epic Angharad, whose words were stolen by her husband Emrys.
  • The Fairy King – A supernatural entity from Llyrian folklore that possesses Emrys and later Ianto.
  • Emrys Myrddin – The deceased author credited with writing Angharad, later revealed as a fraud.

Themes

Symbols

  • Water, the Sea, Drowning – Represents trauma, silencing, and the destruction of truth; also a medium for self-discovery.
  • Mirrors and Reflection – Expose the Fairy King's true nature and reflect Effy's reclaimed identity.
  • Hag Stones – Stones with natural holes that let Effy see through glamour, representing hidden truths.
  • Iron – Provides protection against the Fairy King, such as the reinforced cottage door and iron knife.

Ending Overview

In the final chapters, Effy uses a mirror shard to destroy the Fairy King possessing Ianto. Angharad reveals the truth about her stolen authorship. Effy and Preston compile evidence and present it to the university, winning Effy admission to the literature college and the firing of her abuser. The story ends with Effy feeling hopeful about her future. For a deeper analysis, see our ending explained.

Chapter-by-Chapter Summary Table

Chapter Title Summary Link
1 Epigraph The Fairy King refuses mirrors and tells the listener to see their reflection in tide pools or the sea. Chapter 1
2 One Effy sees the Hiraeth Manor contest poster, struggles in studio, and sketches the house all night. Chapter 2
3 Two Effy receives Ianto's invitation; she faces institutional sexism and is assaulted by Master Corbenic. Chapter 3
4 Three Effy travels to Saltney, stays in a cottage with iron reinforcements, and experiences supernatural encounters. Chapter 4
5 Four Preston fetches Effy; Ianto tours the house; she learns about the Drowning and feels hopeless. Chapter 5
6 Five Effy tries to flee but is trapped; a shepherd gives her hag stones and warns about the Fairy King. Chapter 6
7 Six Ianto describes the Drowning; his touch triggers Effy's trauma; she agrees to help Preston. Chapter 7
8 Seven They find forged letters; Ianto becomes unsettling; Effy jumps from his car. Chapter 8
9 Eight Preston tends Effy; they find a hidden space on the blueprints; Effy sees a ghost. Chapter 9
10 Nine They discover a secret room with Myrddin's diary and photographs; Ianto confronts them. Chapter 10
11 Ten Effy and Preston investigate Blackmar; Effy confesses her childhood trauma to Preston. Chapter 11
12 Eleven They visit Penrhos; Blackmar becomes evasive; Effy and Preston share a room, deepening trust. Chapter 12
13 Twelve Effy finds love letters that prove Myrddin stole words from Blackmar's daughter; they discover an iron knife. Chapter 13
14 Thirteen Effy breaks down over the photographs; Preston comforts her; they return to Hiraeth and face Ianto's accusations. Chapter 14
15 Fourteen Effy steals the basement key; she dives repeatedly into the flooded basement to retrieve a box stamped Angharad. Chapter 15
16 Fifteen Ianto chains Preston as a sacrifice; Effy uses a mirror shard and hag stones to defeat the Fairy King. Chapter 16
17 Sixteen Angharad reveals the truth; she and Effy free Preston; the box's mirror reflects Effy's identity. Chapter 17
18 Seventeen Effy and Preston present their thesis; Effy wins admission to the literature college and has Corbenic fired. Chapter 18
19 Back Ad Publisher promotional material; no narrative events. Chapter 19
20 About the Publisher HarperCollins colophon; no narrative events. Chapter 20

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Who actually wrote Angharad?
    The epic poem Angharad was written by Angharad Myrddin, Emrys Myrddin's wife. Emrys, her father Colin Blackmar, and the publisher Marlowe conspired to take credit for her work.

  2. What is the Fairy King?
    The Fairy King is a real supernatural entity from Llyrian folklore that can possess human hosts. It takes over Emrys Myrddin and later his son Ianto, and fixates on Effy.

  3. Why is Hiraeth Manor sinking?
    The manor is built on a crumbling cliffside in the Bottom Hundred. The sea level has risen over years, flooding the basement and slowly drowning the entire structure—a literal Drowning.

  4. What do the hag stones represent?
    Hag stones are rocks with natural holes that allow Effy to see through the Fairy King's glamour. They symbolize the ability to perceive hidden truths beyond deceptive appearances.

  5. How does Effy defeat the Fairy King?
    She uses a shard of mirror—reflecting the Fairy King's own image back at him. This causes his physical form, which had possessed Ianto, to wither to dust.

  6. Does Effy return to Caer-Isel University?
    Yes. After presenting the evidence, Effy demands and receives admission to the literature college and the dismissal of Master Corbenic. She begins a new chapter in her academic life.

  7. What happens to Ianto Myrddin?
    Ianto is possessed by the Fairy King. After Effy reflects the Fairy King's image, Ianto's body withers and presumably dies. The house collapses around them.

  8. What is the significance of the box marked Angharad?
    The box, retrieved from the flooded basement, contains proof of Angharad Myrddin's authorship. Its mirror reflects Effy's own face, symbolizing her reclaimed identity and survival.

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