Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.43 AVERAGE
4.43 AVERAGE
Parts of this book were really good, but it often felt bloated between those really good parts. Too much repetition. Also, I wish the author would’ve given the black characters the more modern treatment that they did for the women. While the characters (served of the family) were given some implications of agency, none were a focal character despite their integral part to the story. By making some of these characters as focal as they deserved, the author could have treated the characters in a more modern way, just as they did the women despite going for a semi-realistic setting for the time and place.
wicked long, family saga with a little magic thrown in.
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'm so glad I discovered Michael McDowell. The Blackwater Saga is both horror and fascinating family drama with some southern gothic thrown in and it's fantastic.
This was freaking beautiful. I don't even know how this particular epic made it onto my reading list, but I'm glad it did--the character development alone had me even in the long spells between the horror elements and the croc-mermaids that I presumably came for. A stunning read that's impressively queer for as old as it is (and as old as the setting is). Points for not softening the racism of the era it's set in while also including Black characters with names, personalities, and arcs of their own.
I came across this book being reviewed on Instagram so just went ahead and ordered it not knowing anything about it or the author. I'm so glad I did! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, was worried that due to its size it wouldn't be as good as I hoped but I absolutely loved it
I really enjoyed this story. This is my first book by this author, and I would love to read more by him. He did an incredible job creating the characters, including minor ones, as well as illustrating family dynamics. The narrator was great too.
I didn't expect to love this as much as I did. It's more about the story of a family than horror though there is some supernatural sprinkled in and a few gory scenes. I've read a couple of his other books but this is by far my favorite.