You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.43 AVERAGE
4.43 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Years ago I read a couple of novels by McDowell, specifically The Amulet and Cold Moon Over Babylon. I would have probably forgotten except for the fact that although The Amulet was a nice way to pass the time, Cold Moon Over Babylon was a real surprise. In that novel McDowell did something that is rare except when an author hits a level that I'm not sure there is a proven technique to accomplish this. He was able to evoke and maintain a feeling of being in a nightmare all the time I was reading it. I felt I had been "dropped into" someone's living nightmare. Dark, depressive and claustrophobic and as creepy as you can believe.
I saw Blackwater online and immediately purchased the Kindle version. It was actually a somewhat leisurely read, not an edge of the seat thriller I halfway expected yet I never considered quitting the book. The characters were all fascinating and well drawn. No one-dimensional stuff here. The setting is deep south and follows one family and friends and it plays out through more than a generation. From the 20s I think until late 60s. McDowell was excellent at this time making me forget this was fiction and more of a something based on a real family. Does it have a monster or monsters? Oh yes it does but nothing like I've ever known. It's what I read influenced King's approach to his The Green Mile where McDowell first did a 6 part novel. I understand it was published in parts and now collected in one volume. It was worth my time. I'm now want to read McDowell's The Elementals which I missed when it was published in the early 80s.
I saw Blackwater online and immediately purchased the Kindle version. It was actually a somewhat leisurely read, not an edge of the seat thriller I halfway expected yet I never considered quitting the book. The characters were all fascinating and well drawn. No one-dimensional stuff here. The setting is deep south and follows one family and friends and it plays out through more than a generation. From the 20s I think until late 60s. McDowell was excellent at this time making me forget this was fiction and more of a something based on a real family. Does it have a monster or monsters? Oh yes it does but nothing like I've ever known. It's what I read influenced King's approach to his The Green Mile where McDowell first did a 6 part novel. I understand it was published in parts and now collected in one volume. It was worth my time. I'm now want to read McDowell's The Elementals which I missed when it was published in the early 80s.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is simply incredible. It's epic in what it covers, in the story it tells, and in its length, of course. It's just so good. I know it is classified as horror, but it barely even is that, in my opinion, but that does not matter. It is more just a traditional gothic tale told about a family in the American south. I found myself at times disliking and then rooting for almost every character, and I loved the interwoven tales about them. I feel like I've been living in Perdido for some time and just want to go back!
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this saga absolutely rules. grand sweeping epic over about 50 years following one family. its super well written and all the characters are a joy. the scope of this book is just insane but it flows so well and i just have an amazing time reading it each time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Violence, Car accident
Moderate: Rape