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frantic_vampire's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
This was really fun! I loved that this had the styling of a black and white horror movie but it didn’t have a high key horror theme to it. It was more urban fantasy/paranormal with the ghosts and the werewolf attacks. I also loved that all the characters got to be teenagers, even when things were starting to go a little sideways. This is getting a four out of five stars!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Chronic illness
Minor: Death, Transphobia, and Death of parent
inkyinsanity's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a cute, heartwarming little story. (I guess it counts as horror to people who don’t routinely read or watch horror stuff, otherwise it’s just paranormal.)
I enjoyed it, and both art styles are very cool. I found the story itself to be very simple and cliche, which wasn’t what I was hoping for. The only things to make it stand out was the artwork, the gay romance, an FTM trans protagonist, and an unnamed but apparently debilitating autoimmune disorder in one of the main characters. (I really don’t like it when medical conditions aren’t named, especially when it’s a relevant part of the story! But then, I have one of those invisible autoimmune diseases, so I suppose it’s a personal subject.)
Overall, enjoyable but probably forgettable.
I enjoyed it, and both art styles are very cool. I found the story itself to be very simple and cliche, which wasn’t what I was hoping for. The only things to make it stand out was the artwork, the gay romance, an FTM trans protagonist, and an unnamed but apparently debilitating autoimmune disorder in one of the main characters. (I really don’t like it when medical conditions aren’t named, especially when it’s a relevant part of the story! But then, I have one of those invisible autoimmune diseases, so I suppose it’s a personal subject.)
Overall, enjoyable but probably forgettable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, and Bullying
Minor: Death of parent and Grief
werepsyche's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
i feel like the ending was rushed quite a bit. there were a lot of different questions that could have been answered but just wasn't. it was a bit disappointing, but i did enjoy the book. i love the cast of characters and the use of ghosts and lycanthropy (big fan of werewolves. can you tell? love a novel about werewolves that isn't some weird hetero romance story). i'll probably draw fanart or something. auugh, SOOO WISH the story was more fleshed out. there felt like there were a lot of holes :-(
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Grief, Death of parent, Animal death, Chronic illness, Bullying, and Blood
Moderate: Medical content, Emotional abuse, Body horror, and Gun violence
ezwolf's review against another edition
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
bookenbee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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
I loved this! The end felt rushed, but it was overall a well paced story and great characters. Tony and Eli are so sweet together. If there was a sequel to this to answer some questions/give us more background on the characters it would be even better!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Ableism, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical content, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Body horror, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic friendship
asipofcozy's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Blackwater is a spooky contemporary-paranormal story that follows the story of two young teenagers just trying to find their place in the world. Eli a chronically ill boy who is wanting to live a normal life, and Tony who just wants his parents to be there for once. Of course, thrown in some spirits, a werewolf prancing around the forest, and teenage angst...and there you have Blackwater in a nutshell!
I believe my favorite part of this graphic novel was the art style. I was impressed with the spooky vibes it was giving off and I definitely felt like I was put in a twilight zone/ stranger things situation. Also, is it just me or does Tony look like Fonzie from Happy Days. Lol, was I the only one growing up watching older shows!
As for the story itself. The premise of the novel was intriguing to me. I loved the idea of seeing ghosts and having werewolves run around. However, I felt like the plot and backstory were falling flat for me. Especially when the plot raced ahead and didn't pause to give us any context on the situation. There was a missing context that would have been nice to know, some back history to this town that seems to have a lot of supernature creatures living in it.
Also, having a background on the characters would have been nice as well. It would have helped slow the plot a bit and given us more history on the characters. I felt like I was missing something when Tony talked about his mom and was thrown through a loop of Eli being from Germany.
However, I do recommend this graphic novel to anyone that wants those spookyish vibes and a quick read when you are in a reading slump!
I believe my favorite part of this graphic novel was the art style. I was impressed with the spooky vibes it was giving off and I definitely felt like I was put in a twilight zone/ stranger things situation. Also, is it just me or does Tony look like Fonzie from Happy Days. Lol, was I the only one growing up watching older shows!
As for the story itself. The premise of the novel was intriguing to me. I loved the idea of seeing ghosts and having werewolves run around. However, I felt like the plot and backstory were falling flat for me. Especially when the plot raced ahead and didn't pause to give us any context on the situation. There was a missing context that would have been nice to know, some back history to this town that seems to have a lot of supernature creatures living in it.
Also, having a background on the characters would have been nice as well. It would have helped slow the plot a bit and given us more history on the characters. I felt like I was missing something when Tony talked about his mom and was thrown through a loop of Eli being from Germany.
However, I do recommend this graphic novel to anyone that wants those spookyish vibes and a quick read when you are in a reading slump!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Violence
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Toxic friendship, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Animal death
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Death
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