Effy Sayre wanted to be in the literature college, but they have never admitted a woman before. Settling for architecture, Effy is floating and a step away from drowning in despair. When she sees an ad to redesign the estate of her favorite deceased author, she leaps at the chance even though she is still a student. To her shock, she is invited to the crumbling cliffside of Hiraeth Manor. There she meets the author’s strange son and an intrepid scholar named Preston with ulterior motives. Effy will need to decide whether her sight can be relied on and whether she can trust Preston as she navigates the dark secrets of Hiraeth Manor. 

I had chills in the best way while reading this book. I really enjoyed the mystery that slowly unraveled as Preston and Effy tried to uncover if Myrddin was the true author or whether he had plagiarized. The pacing was impeccable! I was on the edge of my seat and couldn’t put it down. The world-building about fairy stories and the Fairy King were very compelling. I was struck by the beautiful and deadly ways that water imagery was used. Reid writes captivatingly about women who are labeled mentally ill, the power of stories, what it means to save yourself, and how women can defeat monsters in all forms. 

Effy is one of my favorite characters! Effy is someone who has been told she’s difficult, too sensitive, and that the things she sees and believes mean she’s mentally ill. I loved seeing her character growth and journey as she learns to trust in herself. Preston and Effy have such a sweet romance! I absolutely loved how Preston always believed Effy even when he didn’t have full understanding yet. Readers who enjoyed Erin A. Craig (House of Salt and Sorrows), Melissa Albert (The Hazel Wood), and Rebecca Ross (Divine Rivals) would love this book. I can’t wait to see what Ava Reid writes next! 

Thank you so much to Ava Reid, Harper Audio, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.