1장
When Fairy Tales Meet Dark Waters
Imagine a world where the line between fiction and reality blurs like mist over troubled waters. In Ava Reid's "A Study in Drowning," we enter this haunting realm through the eyes of Euphemia "Effy" Sayre, the only female architecture student at her prestigious Northern college, who finds herself drawn to design a manor for the family of Llyr's beloved national author, Emrys Myrddin. The novel has captivated readers since its 2023 release, earning praise from critics for its gothic atmosphere and feminist reimagining of literary canon. What begins as a professional opportunity becomes a dangerous descent into secrets, identity, and the power of storytelling. Reid's work has been championed by literary influencers like BookTok, with readers particularly drawn to its exploration of female authorship and the ways women's contributions are erased from history. As we wade into these waters, prepare to question everything you believe about authorship, identity, and the monsters that lurk beneath seemingly calm surfaces.
2장
Architecture of Ambition and Escape
The poster for Hiraeth Manor catches Effy's attention immediately-design a home for Emrys Myrddin's family, reflect the late author's character, and submit by midautumn. As the only female student at her architecture college, Effy faces constant prejudice, yet she sees this opportunity as her salvation. While her classmates redesign the Sleeper Museum where seven Storytellers including Myrddin rest in glass coffins, Effy's mind fixates on HIRAETH MANOR in bold letters.
At the library, Effy's frustration mounts when she discovers all books about her favorite author have been checked out by someone with an Argantian name-P. Heloury. This feels like a personal affront since Myrddin is Llyr's national treasure. Outside by Lake Bala, she contemplates the tensions between Llyr and Argant, and the significance of Sleepers like Myrddin whose magic supposedly protects Llyr during wartime.
When her roommate Rhia and Rhia's lover Maisie suggest she switch to music instead of failing architecture, Effy keeps her Hiraeth plans secret. That night, instead of taking her prescribed sleeping pills, she stays awake drawing until dawn, determined to create something worthy of Myrddin's legacy.
The stakes become real when Effy receives word her design has been selected. Proudly showing her skeptical friend Rhia a letter from Ianto Myrddin inviting her to Saltney in the Bottom Hundred, she reveals the dean has approved her six-week absence. Despite Rhia's concerns about the region's harsh climate and different religious beliefs, Effy keeps her own belief in the Sleepers private, not wanting to appear superstitious at her prestigious Northern college.
Before departing, Effy must obtain her adviser Master Corbenic's signature. Their encounter reveals a previous inappropriate relationship that nearly cost him his career. He belittles her abilities and warns her against the Bottom Hundred. Leaving with tears threatening, she discovers someone has written "whore" beside her name on the class roster-a cruel reminder of the reputation that follows her. With determination, she tears down the paper and throws it into Lake Bala, desperate to escape both her nightmares and the feeling of drowning that haunts her waking life.
3장
Journey Into Darkness
The train journey south marks Effy's transition from the emerald hues of Northern Llyr to the darker, more mysterious Bottom Hundred. Though she intended to work on her sketches during the trip, dread overwhelms her as the train crosses Lake Bala. After changing trains in Laleston, she arrives in Saltney at dusk to find the station eerily deserted.
Panic rises when no one arrives to meet her. In desperation, she calls her mother from a phone booth, only to be chastised for poor planning and told to "sink or swim." Her mother's cold reminder to take her medication for what she calls Effy's "episodes" reveals a troubled history. Swallowing one of her pink pills-prescribed since childhood to stop her from "seeing things that aren't real"-Effy manages to calm herself enough to face the darkness.
Just as despair threatens to overwhelm her, a car arrives driven by Thomas Wetherell, barrister for the Myrddin estate. Their journey to Hiraeth takes them up treacherous cliffside roads where waves occasionally wash over the path. Through thick mist, Effy glimpses something disturbing-a figure with tangled dark hair and pale bone darting across the road. When questioned, Wetherell dismisses it as a deer with "peculiar adaptations," though his explanation rings hollow.
Eventually they stop beside an enormous moss-laden oak, and Wetherell leads her through fog to a stone cottage nearly reclaimed by nature. This, he explains, is merely the guest cottage where "the mistress" has requested she stay. Inside, Effy finds primitive accommodations-no electricity, a small desk, washing tub, and an enormous four-poster bed with a cobweb-like canopy. Everything feels worn and faded, suspended in time.
Before leaving, Wetherell casually mentions that Myrddin's obituary referenced both a wife and son, though neither was named in public records. As Effy examines her temporary home, she notices the door is reinforced with new iron-reminiscent of Angharad's protection against the Fair Folk in Myrddin's most famous novel. Despite the unsettling dripping water and profound silence, exhaustion eventually claims her, and she falls asleep clutching her beloved copy of Angharad like a talisman against the unknown.
4장
Strangers and Secrets
The next morning, Effy wakes to find her face wet from ceiling drips and a strange young man at her door. After demanding privacy to dress, she joins him for a walk to Hiraeth proper. He introduces himself as Preston-clearly Northern Llyrian but with a certain primness about him. As they traverse the unnaturally green forest, they reach a cliff's edge with a breathtaking view of the churning sea below.
When the rock crumbles beneath her feet, Preston pulls her to safety, and she glimpses the name on his notebook: P. Heloury. With shock, she realizes he's the same person who checked out all the Myrddin books from the library. Their conversation quickly becomes heated as she accuses him of "pawing through a dead man's things" for scholarly gain. Preston reveals he's collecting Myrddin's papers for the university archive with Dean Fogg's permission. When Effy challenges his right as an Argantian to study Llyr's national author, Preston coolly responds that "no one owns the right to tell a story" and that he's "just here for the truth."
At Hiraeth Manor itself, Effy meets Ianto Myrddin, the author's middle-aged son-a man with a weathered face and haunted eyes who bears little resemblance to his father's photographs. The house proves even more decrepit than the cottage, with water damage everywhere and a foundation clearly sinking into the cliff below. Ianto leads Effy to a small locked door where the sound of waves grows louder. Using a key worn around his neck, he reveals stairs half-submerged in murky water-Myrddin's flooded basement archives.
The room smells of salt, old leather, and wet paper. Ianto explains the sea level rose years ago, flooding the entire basement floor. Though valuable documents are stored there, Ianto believes they're properly sealed but unreachable without "a very cold, very dark swim." When Effy asks why the water hasn't drained with the tide, Ianto explains the cliffside is sinking, with the foundation waterlogged-the entire Bay of Nine Bells draws closer to drowning each year.
Above the stairs, an archway bears the carved inscription "The only enemy is the sea," which Preston unexpectedly recites as part of "The Mariner's Demise" from Myrddin's poetry. After breakfast, Effy escapes to the cliffside, finally understanding why Ianto sought a student rather than a professional architect-no seasoned professional would attempt building on a sinking cliff with a half-drowned foundation. She realizes the task is impossible, like a cruel fairy tale challenge.
5장
Literary Rivalries and Unexpected Alliances
Despite their initial animosity, Effy and Preston find themselves forming an uneasy alliance during a pivotal early morning meeting in the manor's dusty library. The tension between them crackles as Preston reveals his controversial theory about Myrddin's writings, methodically laying out evidence suggesting they might be elaborate forgeries. His most compelling piece of evidence centers on peculiar inconsistencies in Myrddin's personal correspondence - most notably the poet's tendency to misspell his own surname as "Myrthin" in private letters, a Northern variant that seems at odds with his purported background.
Their intellectual sparring intensifies when Preston quotes what he considers a damning passage: "The only enemy is the sea." Effy immediately challenges his interpretation, drawing from her extensive knowledge of Angharad to demonstrate how the protagonist's relationship with the ocean evolves throughout the narrative. She points to specific passages where the sea is portrayed not as an enemy but as a complex symbol of both destruction and renewal - particularly in the pivotal storm scene where Angharad finds her voice.
The debate grows increasingly heated as Preston constructs his argument about Myrddin's backstory. He suggests that the narrative of an impoverished provincial poet rising to literary greatness might be a carefully crafted marketing strategy. Effy watches him pace the room, methodically connecting dots between publishing dates, letters, and financial records. Despite her deep skepticism, she finds herself drawn into his investigative fervor, agreeing to help him search for architectural blueprints of the house that might reveal hidden rooms containing more of Myrddin's writings.
Their collaboration provides Effy her first real opportunity to articulate her theories about Angharad, a text she's studied obsessively for years. When Preston dismissively suggests the Fairy King character merely represents patriarchal control, Effy launches into an impassioned counterargument, her voice trembling with conviction: "He loved Angharad more than anything. She was the one to betray him." She elaborates on the complex power dynamics at play, pointing out subtle textual clues that suggest a more nuanced reading of their relationship.
Preston's forgery theory becomes more detailed as he presents evidence about Myrddin's background. He produces parish records showing Myrddin's parents were illiterate, signing documents with simple marks, and questions how their son could have developed such sophisticated literary skills. Preston argues that several contemporary accounts of Myrddin's early life contain contradictions, suggesting a constructed narrative. He's particularly focused on the financial aspects, demonstrating how Myrddin's publisher continues to profit handsomely from the "rags-to-riches" story that helps sell new editions.
The dynamic between Effy and Preston shifts subtly during their research. Despite her initial resistance, Effy finds herself temporarily swayed by Preston's persuasive arguments and meticulous research methodology. This moment of intellectual vulnerability angers her - she's prided herself on maintaining scholarly independence. Their relationship takes an unexpected turn when Effy discovers her name repeatedly scribbled in the margins of Preston's research notes, appearing alongside his theories and observations. When confronted about this peculiar detail, Preston's typically confident demeanor falters as he responds with uncharacteristic ambiguity: "I suppose I thought that one was important." The moment hangs between them, loaded with unspoken implications about their evolving relationship.
6장
Dangerous Currents
Effy's interactions with Ianto grow increasingly unsettling. When she finally works up the courage to ask him for the house blueprints, he invites her to join him for tea and immediately begins questioning her about her background. Though these questions seem innocent, there's an unsettling intensity to his interest. When Effy attempts to steer the conversation toward the blueprints, Ianto abruptly suggests they continue their conversation at the local pub in Saltney.
At the pub, his behavior becomes increasingly disturbing-ordering scotch she doesn't want, watching her eat with unsettling intensity, and making uncomfortable comments about her appearance. When Effy finally asks directly for the blueprints, Ianto produces them but grabs her hand painfully before releasing them. On the drive back, his demeanor becomes even more threatening, causing Effy to hallucinate the Fairy King in his place and impulsively jump from the moving car.
After this terrifying encounter, Effy experiences an eerie, unnatural calm in the hallway of Hiraeth. The house falls silent-no creaking floorboards, no distant ocean sounds. Then she glimpses a spectral figure at the hall's end-a white glimmer like a ragged dress hem, long silver hair, and a bare foot-that passes through a closed door. This terrifies Effy differently than her fear of the Fairy King; this is something unknown.
Despite taking her medication earlier, both the ghost and the Fairy King appeared to her, suggesting her pills aren't working. Effy concludes something is wrong in Hiraeth and the Bottom Hundred-the unreal world is breaking through, and the Fairy King has more power here. Frightened not of the ghost but of whatever killed the woman it once was, Effy flees into the night.
Meanwhile, armed with Ianto's blueprints, Effy and Preston discover a mysterious blank space in the house plans. With Ianto away at church, they investigate his private chambers, finding a dust-choked hallway with a rust-speckled mirror too oxidized to reflect anything. The wing feels wrong-cold, silent, drowned-yet Ianto's bedroom appears ordinary with its canopy bed and moth-eaten curtains. Finding nothing in his collection of mysteries and romances, they accidentally discover the bookcase conceals a hidden room.
7장
Unraveling the Author's Secrets
Behind the hidden bookcase, Effy and Preston discover a dented tin box marked "PROPERTY OF E. MYRDDIN" with an engraving of saints Eupheme and Marinell. Inside, they find a leather-bound notebook and concerning personal documents that suggest inappropriate conduct between Myrddin and a young subject. The materials include a haunting inscription: "I will love you to ruination"-words the Fairy King said to Angharad in Myrddin's novel.
Preston directly criticizes Myrddin's apparent misconduct, which surprises Effy. She attempts to defend her literary idol with weak justifications, but knows she's grasping at straws. Despite their differing perspectives, Effy finds herself developing an unexpected bond with Preston. Just as Preston begins to suggest they've uncovered something significant that others would go to extreme lengths to protect, Ianto interrupts them, appearing suddenly with hunting equipment.
Their transparent attempts at deception only increase Ianto's wariness as he makes subtle implications about their "exploiting" his hospitality. Later, Effy overhears Ianto in conversation with an unseen party, discussing the need to "bring her back" and mentioning "mountain ash," adding to her suspicions about supernatural elements within the house.
Following Ianto's veiled warnings, Effy and Preston shift their research to nighttime hours. They concentrate on Colin Blackmar, a recurring figure in Myrddin's personal writings. When Preston reveals his previous attempt to contact the elderly author through a formal letter (which was returned though clearly read), Effy critiques his approach. She composes her own carefully crafted appeal, which Preston posts from Saltney to avoid detection.
Blackmar responds to their inquiry, addressing her as "Euphemia Sayre" and extending an invitation to both researchers to visit his estate, Penrhos. He identifies himself as not only Myrddin's close friend but "even, in the end, family." Preston's notice of her formal name leads him to carefully inquire about her possible connection to folklore traditions-a question that prompts Effy to share her difficult childhood story.
She reveals her origins: born to a teenage mother and an older man from the Bottom Hundred, causing family discord. During a troubled period in her childhood, she was briefly left alone near a river in winter, where she believes she encountered supernatural forces before her mother's return. She shows Preston her missing digit, which she attributes to this encounter, though Preston gently suggests a medical explanation. He understands how Myrddin's tales of magic offered her solace against life's harsh realities.
8장
Truth in the Drowning Depths
Their investigation takes them to Penrhos, Blackmar's estate, where they meet Mr. Marlowe, Greenebough's editor-a crude man in his forties who immediately makes inappropriate comments about Effy. When questioned about Myrddin and Angharad's publication, Marlowe reveals little, claiming he inherited the company after publication. When Effy boldly asks about Blackmar's eldest daughter, Blackmar sharply cuts her off, suggesting a painful connection.
After this uncomfortable encounter, Preston drives them away at dangerous speed and opens up about his past. He shares the tragic story of his father's car accident and subsequent personality change from brain injury-partly explaining why he doesn't believe in permanence: "anything can be taken from you, at any moment." This vulnerability brings them closer, though Preston maintains a respectful distance.
As a massive storm approaches, Ianto warns them the road to Saltney will soon be impassable. After dismissing Preston, he makes disturbing comments to Effy alone, telling her she's "an Acrasia" rather than "an Amoret"-a temptress who makes men unable to "help what they do" around her. This leaves Effy panicked, reminded of Master Corbenic's similar words about needing someone to "rein her in."
With the storm gathering and time running out, Effy steals the key from around Ianto's neck while helping him with his jacket. She and Preston unlock the basement door, revealing dark, rippling water below. Determined to find the truth, Effy dives in, following their plan to keep one hand on the wall to avoid getting lost. During her second dive, she discovers and retrieves a heavy metal box despite nearly drowning. When they surface, they discover the box bears a single word: "Angharad."
Battling the intensifying storm, they stagger through mud and wind toward the guesthouse. Inside, their closeness leads to intimacy, and they make love for the first time, finding brief sanctuary from the chaos outside. After falling asleep in each other's arms, they wake to find the storm has worsened dramatically, forcing them to return to the main house for their evidence before attempting escape.
9장
The Fairy King's Reckoning
As the storm reaches its peak, Effy and Preston enter Hiraeth to find Ianto waiting with chains and a musket. He reveals he's learned of their deception through Blackmar's phone call and university records. With menacing clarity in his eyes, Ianto confronts them about their true intentions, displaying the photographs they found and Preston's thesis title.
As the house crumbles around them, Effy begs Ianto to leave with them, but he refuses, reciting a disturbing legend about Llyr's first king sacrificing a fatherless child to secure his castle's foundation. With terrifying purpose, Ianto forces them at gunpoint toward the basement, drawing blood from Effy's cheek and taunting Preston that he'll die by water just like his father.
Ianto chains Preston to the basement wall as water pours through the bricks, threatening to drown him. When Effy tries to intervene, Ianto hurls her against the wall with inhuman strength. He drags a semi-conscious Effy upstairs, leaving Preston chained in the rising water.
In the slanting dining room amid shattered glass, Ianto demands Effy finish the manor blueprints, revealing he specifically chose her as someone no one would miss. When he violently kisses her, Effy shoves protective hag stones into his mouth and holds one to her eye, finally seeing his true form-the Fairy King with bramble vest, pale skin, claws, and bone coronet.
He explains she was offered to him as a child by the riverbank, and he's spent twelve years hunting her. "I come for girls who are left out in the cold," he says, offering her queenship. Desperate to save Preston, Effy kneels as if surrendering, but secretly grabs a glass shard. When he approaches, she raises a mirrored piece toward him, reflecting his image back at himself. The Fairy King transforms into an ancient, withered man before crumbling to dust.
Racing back to the basement, Effy finds Preston alive but drowning as water rises to their shoulders. Despite their desperate pulling, the chains won't break. Just as hope fades, mysterious hands join theirs, finally freeing Preston. They surface to find an elderly woman with flowing white hair has saved them-Angharad Myrddin herself, alive and real.
10장
Reclaiming the Narrative
In the guesthouse-the only structure still standing amid the destruction-Angharad reveals herself: "I am Angharad Myrddin, nee Blackmar. My husband has been dead for six months. My son, I imagine, has died along with his father's house." She explains the Fairy King's possession-"To become the Fairy King's vessel is to lose yourself, little by little, like water wearing away stone."
When Preston struggles to believe, Angharad sympathizes, "Northerners never understand until they see something with their own eyes," validating Effy's lifelong visions that no one believed. She reveals how Marlowe fabricated letters to "prove" Emrys's authorship when reporters began investigating, while the real Emrys burned his genuine letters in paranoia.
For years, Angharad used mountain ash, rowan berries and horseshoes not to keep the Fairy King away, but to trap him in the house. When Emrys died, the Fairy King found a new vessel in her son Ianto, who fought the possession but ultimately lost. Angharad had invited Preston hoping he'd uncover the truth, and placed Effy in the guesthouse to protect her from the Fairy King's desire for a bride.
Effy tearfully explains how Angharad's book saved her, providing comfort when she felt alone and mad. Though the evidence from Myrddin's secret room was lost with the house, they still have the locked box Effy recovered from the basement. Angharad produces a key from around her neck, revealing letters and a diary inside-physical proof of her authorship.
In the aftermath, Effy and Preston spend two weeks compiling evidence from Angharad's letters and diary. Their finished draft bears both their names: "Euphemia Sayre and Preston Heloury," with Effy choosing the title "Uncovering Angharad: An Inquiry into the Authorship of Major Works Attributed to Emrys Myrddin."
When they present their thesis to Dean Fogg and Master Gosse, the men acknowledge its strength but attempt to exclude Effy from academic credit. Finding her voice, Effy points out the irony of men trying to claim a woman's work-exactly what their thesis exposes. She demands admission to the literature college as the first female student and, most boldly, insists on Master Corbenic's firing for his predatory behavior.
Outside, Preston embraces her in celebration, admitting he "wasn't a romantic until you." As they build their new life together, Effy feels the architecture taking shape-with windows and doors, not just cracks to slip through. Though nightmares still haunt her, she takes strength in knowing that "if fairies and monsters were real, so were the women who defeated them."
