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hjung's review
adventurous
hopeful
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? Yes
4.5
constant_reader's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
artofbookshelves's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
viqwxcs's review against another edition
4.0
⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ pre read
losers falling in love is smth that I will eat up everytime
losers falling in love is smth that I will eat up everytime
spenkevich's review against another edition
2.0
Sometimes what are seemingly all the right ingredients can still not mesh into a satisfying whole. Blackwater, the queer YA horror graphic novel from duo Jeannette Arroyo and Ren Graham unfortunately resides in this category, having a lot of good things going for it but never quite finding its footing before stumbling through a rather rushed ending. It’s a tale of two unlikely friends when Tony, the popular track star suffering and acting out due to his alcoholic father’s inattention, teams up with Eli, the quiet kid who gets bullies and has an autoimmune disorder that makes a public life all but impossible, when their town is threatened by hauntings and horrors. With a retro art style that rotates each chapter between the two illustrators (a rather jarring effect, unfortunately) and plenty of spooky elements, this never quite satisfies or scares, feeling rather forced in terms of both the representation elements and storyline.
I really wanted to like this one but it just seemed to fumble about on most levels. The storyline is a bit clunky and occasionally easy to lose the thread of what’s happening, not to mention the pacing never feels comfortable in it’s own story which makes for a rocky landing at the ending. I also just am personally not a big fan of the art or character design. It is presumably set in the modern day, though Tony looks like he walked off the set of Grease. The illustrators made the choice to alternate chapters, and in some ways this works as the more cartoony style is more befitting the action sequences, but the characters seem a bit too dissimilar between the two and it unfortunately comes across as mostly a jarring experience.
I do really enjoy how much representation there is in the story, however. Tony is Puerto Rican and Eli is trans and Jewish, and the unlikely romance is great to see. Some of the elements did feel a bit inserted for the sake of being there without being folded into the narrative, but all in all I’d rather see clunky representation than none at all so I still count that as a win. It does feel realistic in its representation and adds a good dynamic, plus I love how supportive the characters are of queer romance and overall it is rather cute and charming. Except when Eli steals Tony’s inhaler to teach him a lesson, which was really uncool. Unfortunately the horror elements fall pretty flat though and the werewolf story is pretty weak and could have used more background.
Blackwater is a book that could have been great but just never quite seemed to make all the ingredients work together. It is still worth reading and I’d love to see more YA graphic novels with this level of representation, especially having chronically ill characters who are very often overlooked in fiction. Though if you are looking for a good spooky and queer YA graphic novel, I would also recommend Over My Dead Body, Coven, or Squad (which also has a retro art style).
2.5/5
I really wanted to like this one but it just seemed to fumble about on most levels. The storyline is a bit clunky and occasionally easy to lose the thread of what’s happening, not to mention the pacing never feels comfortable in it’s own story which makes for a rocky landing at the ending. I also just am personally not a big fan of the art or character design. It is presumably set in the modern day, though Tony looks like he walked off the set of Grease. The illustrators made the choice to alternate chapters, and in some ways this works as the more cartoony style is more befitting the action sequences, but the characters seem a bit too dissimilar between the two and it unfortunately comes across as mostly a jarring experience.
I do really enjoy how much representation there is in the story, however. Tony is Puerto Rican and Eli is trans and Jewish, and the unlikely romance is great to see. Some of the elements did feel a bit inserted for the sake of being there without being folded into the narrative, but all in all I’d rather see clunky representation than none at all so I still count that as a win. It does feel realistic in its representation and adds a good dynamic, plus I love how supportive the characters are of queer romance and overall it is rather cute and charming. Except when Eli steals Tony’s inhaler to teach him a lesson, which was really uncool. Unfortunately the horror elements fall pretty flat though and the werewolf story is pretty weak and could have used more background.
Blackwater is a book that could have been great but just never quite seemed to make all the ingredients work together. It is still worth reading and I’d love to see more YA graphic novels with this level of representation, especially having chronically ill characters who are very often overlooked in fiction. Though if you are looking for a good spooky and queer YA graphic novel, I would also recommend Over My Dead Body, Coven, or Squad (which also has a retro art style).
2.5/5
wordlawsl's review
hopeful
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
3.0
nb_alex's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I wanted to like this and as others said the art is good and the concept seems amazing but it is all over the place pacing wise. The first 100 pages or so the two main characters barely interact and seem to hate each other then they express feelings and the story ends in like 30/40 pages, none of the back stories are developed and the characters feel 2d and at times really unlikable.
Tony goes from barely speaking to Eli and being mean, to Eli telling Tony he’s trans in like barely any time with barely any conversation between each other.
It seems like someone has tried to fit 5 or 6 volumes into one book. There is the opportunity for this story to be so much more but it just misses the mark completely. I desperately wanted to love it but it won’t be one I re read.
Tony goes from barely speaking to Eli and being mean, to Eli telling Tony he’s trans in like barely any time with barely any conversation between each other.
It seems like someone has tried to fit 5 or 6 volumes into one book. There is the opportunity for this story to be so much more but it just misses the mark completely. I desperately wanted to love it but it won’t be one I re read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, and Chronic illness
danaslitlist's review
2.5
This is marketed as "Stranger Things meets Riverdale" and I hate to say that this is more Riverdale than anything. It was a fine graphic novel with the art being the strongest aspect of the whole thing. The plot and characters are one dimensional and standard to the genre. Yay for queer trans rep, ehhh for it playing out.
Other reviews have pointed out that the pacing for Blackwater is all over the place and I agree, the characters don't feel fleshed out or motivated, and it ends super abruptly without exploring anything.
Don't go into this book thinking it's going to be scary or particularly "supernatural" other than there being a ghost and werewolf, because as much as those things are present, they take a back seat to the stereotypical high school character finding themselves trope. Which, is fine if you wanted that, however that isn't what it's advertised as.
Other reviews have pointed out that the pacing for Blackwater is all over the place and I agree, the characters don't feel fleshed out or motivated, and it ends super abruptly without exploring anything.
Don't go into this book thinking it's going to be scary or particularly "supernatural" other than there being a ghost and werewolf, because as much as those things are present, they take a back seat to the stereotypical high school character finding themselves trope. Which, is fine if you wanted that, however that isn't what it's advertised as.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Gore, Gun violence, and Violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Grief
cedarflem1394's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.0