melanie_reads_books's review
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Blackwater is utterly adorable… as much as a horror can be adorable. I loved the story and the very real feelings of the characters. The art was perfect and I loved how the action was drawn. I particularly enjoyed the diverse representation in this novel, which was done really well. The father and son relationship was a little weak though, but not enough to spoil the rest of the story. A re-read for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Violence
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, and Chronic illness
ezwolf's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was very cute (in the way a werewolf, ghost, mystery graphic novel can be) and I liked it, I just wish it was a tiny bit more detailed both with the characters and the magical elements.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Animal death, Bullying, and Gun violence
Minor: Death of parent and Medical content
brianneh's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Gun violence
Moderate: Bullying
soulingual's review
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Animal death
Moderate: Gun violence and Violence
Minor: Transphobia
o__o's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I liked it I just don’t think it was really my style. Good for people who like the monster side of the supernatural.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Medical content, Bullying, and Violence
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Animal death
clarabooksit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Bullying
Moderate: Body horror, Chronic illness, Ableism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Medical content
pucksandpaperbacks's review
adventurous
dark
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This was a really fun read. I'm not a big fan of reading about werewolves, but this book had me invested! I really enjoy the origin story of a character turning into a werewolf and having to figure out this new part of them. Both main protagonists are disabled and living with chronic illnesses. Tony has asthma and we see him using an inhaler during his track meets. Eli lives with an autoimmune disorder and we see him in the hospital a lot.
Eli is a trans boy who has gotten top surgery and I was pleasantly surprised bc I didn't know there was trans rep! It was so subtle and that's what I love to see when there's a trans character. There's also an Achellian romance that is a slow burn (which I love) and I enjoyed the way it was done. THE TENSION!
However, I do wish the book wasn't ALL in black and white. This threw me off and made me less interested and invested in the surroundings. I definitely think Blackwater would have benefited from having pops of color throughout the book when needed especially since the cover is so lively. I understand B&W for the purposes of a paranormal book, but I still stand by my opinion.
[READ FOR A VLOG. COMING SOON...]
Eli is a trans boy who has gotten top surgery and I was pleasantly surprised bc I didn't know there was trans rep! It was so subtle and that's what I love to see when there's a trans character. There's also an Achellian romance that is a slow burn (which I love) and I enjoyed the way it was done. THE TENSION!
However, I do wish the book wasn't ALL in black and white. This threw me off and made me less interested and invested in the surroundings. I definitely think Blackwater would have benefited from having pops of color throughout the book when needed especially since the cover is so lively. I understand B&W for the purposes of a paranormal book, but I still stand by my opinion.
[READ FOR A VLOG. COMING SOON...]
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Violence
sydneyj's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Ableism, and Bullying
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Gun violence, Medical content, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Alcoholism and Alcohol
libscote's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Tony has a pretty good life (minus his relationship with his father) but he finds himself drawn to Eli, a quiet boy who is often picked on. As they grow closer, they start to deal with a mysterious force in the woods, one that attaches itself to Tony as well. I enjoyed it. The Maine setting is not a real town, but it didn't bother me, the way it can. There were a few parts where I thought things changed around quickly, but the story flows well otherwise. I like that the chapters alternate between Tony and Eli's perspectives, with each author taking a chapter so the styles are slightly different.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Homophobia
slasherreads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I am not much of a YA or graphic novel reader. I'm just not the target demographic for YA and high school is typically not a super interesting setting for me, and graphic novels typically are paced in a way I do not really enjoy. Blackwater, however, did everything right for me.
The characters are wonderful. Their designs are not terribly complex but they are super fun on the page--I love Tony's pomp and little fangs especially. Every character, while obviously inspired by or referencing certain high school stereotypes, is given depth and nuance (including the bully). The excellent characterization and focus on character relationships is what really carries this title for me, I think; the plot itself is fine, but it's certainly not the star of the show. In this case, I think that's a good thing--a simpler, easy to follow (but still interesting) plot using familiar supernatural creatures whose lore broadly follows about what the reader is familiar with allows for more focus to be given to the characters.
Connected to the writing is the pacing. Again, normally pacing in graphic novels isn't my thing; it either feels rushed or over too soon. Blackwater, however, felt very well-paced. The story in this volume wrapped up on a satisfactory note, leaving me feeling like I had gotten a fully developed and well-executed story while still leaving possible openings for more to follow.
I look forward to more of Blackwater. The authors did a fantastic job and I would love to see where the character's story goes next. I would really advise anyone who is interested in queer YA to pick it up, even if they're not interested in horror (As the horror is present in elements but the goal of the story certainly isn't to horrify).
This graphic novel firmly lands itself in the catergory of "god, I wish I had this in high school." I'm glad it's here now.
The characters are wonderful. Their designs are not terribly complex but they are super fun on the page--I love Tony's pomp and little fangs especially. Every character, while obviously inspired by or referencing certain high school stereotypes, is given depth and nuance (including the bully). The excellent characterization and focus on character relationships is what really carries this title for me, I think; the plot itself is fine, but it's certainly not the star of the show. In this case, I think that's a good thing--a simpler, easy to follow (but still interesting) plot using familiar supernatural creatures whose lore broadly follows about what the reader is familiar with allows for more focus to be given to the characters.
Connected to the writing is the pacing. Again, normally pacing in graphic novels isn't my thing; it either feels rushed or over too soon. Blackwater, however, felt very well-paced. The story in this volume wrapped up on a satisfactory note, leaving me feeling like I had gotten a fully developed and well-executed story while still leaving possible openings for more to follow.
I look forward to more of Blackwater. The authors did a fantastic job and I would love to see where the character's story goes next. I would really advise anyone who is interested in queer YA to pick it up, even if they're not interested in horror (As the horror is present in elements but the goal of the story certainly isn't to horrify).
This graphic novel firmly lands itself in the catergory of "god, I wish I had this in high school." I'm glad it's here now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Bullying
Moderate: Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Medical content, Violence, and Body horror