Reviews

Blackwater by Jeannette Arroyo, Ren Graham

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. 

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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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Gore, Gun violence, and Violence

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Grief

lostboylit's review

adventurous mysterious

4.5

cedarflem1394's review

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated

4.0

shayfiction's review

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

5.0

muchdismay's review

2.0

** spoiler alert ** The art in this was so good and fun! But I’m really vexed because I did not enjoy this one. I found there to be some odd pacing decisions (e.g., Tony is trying to convince Taylor to let him help her using the same advice he ignored from Marcia in a previous scene, then he gets home and complains to his dad about having a crush on a cute boy that stole his inhaler one time—unclear whether the crush developed before or after Inhalergate. I understand maybe he didn’t want to talk about the werewolf thing with his dad and his crush IS a concern besides the werewolf thing, but I didn’t find it to be a priority right after the scene with Taylor LOL). Speaking of which, the story itself was really just Fine—I liked the supernatural premise and the storyline with the Ghost. I unfortunately did not like the progress of the romance because I didn’t find it established well enough through the character arcs. Like, how I am, from p. 60 on, supposed to sympathize with Eli when he Willfully Withholds Life-saving Medical Equipment from Tony, who could have died from an asthma attack without it? Lol (Not that he was not justified for resenting Tony for letting his dickhead of a friend Biff push Eli into a lake while Eli was in his wheelchair…) And therein lies my biggest issue: not of the characters are likeable. They are flawed and annoying—which is good and realistic for people and especially for teenagers—but they’re annoying to a degree that is not charming. It makes sense for Biff, who has a redeeming quality (he cares about his friendship with Tony; he is just too much of an asshole), and even for Eli’s insensitive mom because they’re pretty static, but nothing about anyone else developed in a way that made me want to cheer for them(except Marcia. Marcia is the best and I am happy to have met her). And listen—listen! I love a good kiss scene, but this one was so unsatisfying, I was eager the story kind of just..ended.

pocketfullofjoy's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

2.75

diaryofabookahloic's review against another edition

3.0

This story feel kind of all over the place. Tony feels like someone who doesn't know who he is and will just follow his friend biff around then the next moment he standing up to biff. This story feels unfinished and I know a few reviews says it the first in a series, but even with that the story feel like it just ends with out any warning there not much to this story and just when it gets good it ends. Over all it an okay read, and I'm looking fowo0rd to see what else happens in this series but it kind of lacking with this first instalment.

random_being's review against another edition

• 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

michelleheegaard's review

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

Had a good enough time reading it and enjoyed the casual lgbt content in it.