Blackwater is a graphic novel that immediately caught my eye when I was browsing NetGalley one day. Not only does it include Queer rep, but it also has super spooky and paranormal vibes, which sounded so amazing, and I immediately requested a copy! I was incredibly excited when I saw I’d been granted an ARC, however, I will say that I was unaware I would be reviewing a sample, so my expectations weren’t properly adjusted. Even so, I can’t wait to see where this goes when I do eventually get to read the full version!

The art style in Blackwater is so interesting and unlike what I usually read. It has a retro feel to it, which I think is really cool. The story is also in black and white, which also enhanced the retro quality. It just really fits well with the paranormal part of the story, in my opinion. Another interesting part is that both authors illustrate this, so each chapter has a slightly different art style to it. They’re similar enough that it’s not entirely noticeable unless you’re really looking for it, so I think it works well.

During my read of the sample, I wasn’t able to get a full feel of the characters yet. Out of the two, though, I felt more of a connection towards Tony. Even though Eli had a lot of unexplained things about him that made me intrigued to find out more, there was one part in the beginning that soured my mood toward him. And since there wasn’t much development about it, or any apologies, (I assume there will be in the full version though), I had a hard time warming to him. Even so, I was interested to see where his relationship with Tony went.

I have to say, the part this sampler ended on should be considered a crime!! I have so many questions and that cliffhanger was just painful. I truly cannot wait to see where Blackwater is headed, though, and I’ll definitely be reading the final version.

How anticlimactic! I was really getting into the story and it just ended out of nowhere. It said that it was the end, so maybe they’re planning on releasing a second volume?!?! It just feels like we got no answers or closure.

While this book gives very queer feelings, it came off as gay baiting more than anything. Tony, the popular track star, brings who I assumed was his girlfriend, because their relationship was never explained, to meet a boy, Eli, who I also am assuming he likes. Eli is the “weird” kid with no friends and unexplained absents at school.

The plot is confusing, but it could be the many pages that are damaged in the eARC… so I’m going to attempt to reread it when it releases. For now… 🤷🏻‍♂️

Thank You to Fierce Reads and NetGalley for the eARC.

I need the second one asap. I was finally getting into it and it was over. This one hasn’t even come out yet and I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for the next one.

I am certainly intrigued. This was a pretty good start to a bigger story. The book itself was mostly just background information: meeting the characters, describing the setting, and building up the story. Not a whole lot really happened in this book, but it did leave off on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I am not anxiously awaiting the second installment to the story!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
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Blackwater by Jeannette Arroyo and Ren Graham was a supernatural YA lgbt graphic novel, adapted from a webcomic.
Netgalley only gave me a sampler but I did find the webcomic and finish reading the story from there. Not sure how much has or will change from the webcomic to print but overall I enjoyed the story.
I liked the fact that the two creators alternated drawing chapters so the art style changes up a bit to highlight each creators unique style. It was fun and interesting to see that.
The story follows Tony and Eli meeting and getting close, all with the spooky backdrop of their town and the strange things hiding there. Werewolf curses anyone?
I’m looking forward to getting a physical copy of this to add to my shelves

I want more of this terrific queer comic full of interesting characters, ghosts, and scary creatures in the woods--and in the halls of the high school. The two creators do a great job creating the characters and setting the scenes and I really hope there will be many, many more volumes to come.

Took its time drawing me in, but the story and the characters had me shouting at the screen for more by the end. I love the eerie atmosphere and tension all around this town and between its characters. Mysteries abound, from the whereabouts of Tony's mom to the mysterious ghost haunting Eli to the thing in the woods, but the story never feels hampered by all the unknowns--if anything it gives that compulsive urge to read just another page, just another panel.

The art, while expressive and great at its character designs, sometimes lost me in the action from panel to panel. I do appreciate the push for silent storytelling in certain passages, like the dog hiding under the truck and refusing to hunt. These add to the atmosphere, but sometimes there's too big a gap in action between panels that interrupts the reading while you scramble to figure out what's happening. Overall, a fairly infrequent problem that will probably improve in subsequent volumes.

Recommended for fans of CW shows and, most especially, Teen Wolf.

3.25 stars. It was fun graphic novel, had cute characters and I think the beginning of an adorable paranormal queer romance graphic novel. and I am here for it. We get all the high school teenaged angst and desire to fit in coupled with a very Teen Wolf-esque plotline. The ARC provided via NetGalley was only a sampler so can't say how the rest of the story progresses, but I am definitely curious to see more.

Tony and Eli's story contains some pretty familiar tropes, the star athlete (Tony), the socially awkward shy kid (Eli) so you know the romance is going to follow well trod paths. That doesn't mean that the story is hum drum by any means. I received the sampler of this graphic novel from Netgalley (which in no way affected my review and thanks for the ARC) and missed out on the protagonists' full stories (Tony is obviously biracial and is bi, Eli is chronically ill and trans)

Tony's best friend, Biff, is the school football star and school bully who has a real hate for Eli who has done nothing but be weird (in fact other than not wanting to change in the locker room I'm not sure the others have a clue Eli is trans because that seems like something Biff would have rampaged about) No one has a good family life really. Eli's German-speaking mother is not particularly supportive and cold, Tony's father is too busy for him (and we don't see mom) and Biff's family is definitely one of those circle of violence types.

Tony finds himself drawn to Eli especially after a very ugly incident with Biff, confiding that he has bad asthma and Eli invites him over. However we get to see something very interesting with Eli. He sees spirits and knows they are warning him away from the woods. He can't tell Tony why he needs to stay out of the woods only that he should.

So guess who Biff takes hunting? Yeah. There is definitely something paranormal in the woods and really my sampler ends just as the paranormal starts. I really liked Tony and Eli and especially liked Tony's friend Marcia a PoC goth girl. I think this is a web comic so I'm going to have to go out looking for more.

Blackwater features Tony Price and Eli Hirsch. Tony is a popular track star and Eli is quiet and shy. They become unlikely friends and spooky shit starts happening


While i only read a sample I enjoyed it well enough. Both characters are interesting and I'm excited for the romance. I'm sure the full version will be lovely

This a great and entertaining book! This graphic novel is an amazing summer read and I look forward to it's publication. I'm hoping there will be a sequel.

It's difficult to give a full review since I was only able to read a sample but so far it was okay though nothing out of the ordinary. I didn't like how the art style changed frequently and none of the characters were particularly likable so it was difficult to get into the story. It seems be to riding the vibe of Teen Wolf and Stranger Things, but the suspense just isn't there and there is little buildup as far as the lore surrounding the ghosts and werewolf(?). Maybe the second half is better. One thing that story has going for it is the representation of diverse queer, BIPOC characters.

Blackwater is a fun, short graphic novel that I think will work great for lovers of classic horror elements! It's set in a small, rainy harbor town in Maine, there have been recent reports of a mysterious beast in the woods (bigfoot? a werewolf? just a weird bear?), and one of our main characters, Eli, is being haunted by a fisherman's ghost and doesn't know why. Eli is kind of a social outcast at school and is frequently absent because he needs to spend so much time at the hospital due to his chronic illness. The book kicks off as Eli strikes up a tenuous friendship with Tony Price, popular kid and track star who just wants more attention from his father.

I didn't realize my ARC from Netgalley was just a sample of the first half, so I finished reading the comic online, and I'm glad I did - the foundations of the character- and world-building felt shaky in the first half, and I preferred the direction the plot went in for the second half. The plot of the werewolf story really intrigued me once it picked up, and the second half had a lot of heart and sweet moments about friends trying to make up after making mistakes and about characters' attempts at repairing their child-parent relationships. This will be great for anyone looking for a quick, classic horror graphic novel about the mysterious goings-on in the woods of a small town involving werewolves and ghosts!

As if high school wasn’t stressful enough, add a ghost and a werewolf and you’re in for a rough time. This first installment of the graphic novel Blackwater was great fun. Interesting characters, a supernatural element, and beautiful artwork left me wanting to know what happens next. Adolescents and adults alike will enjoy this one.

I can't exactly put my finger on why but this was not the graphic novel for me. I don't mind in books where the author changes with POV's but in this the changes were too abrubt for my liking.

Digital copy is unreadable. It looks like water was spilled on a physical copy and then it was scanned.

What little I could read had gorgeous art, but I can't say anything about the story.

Unfortunately, there was trouble downloading this book, I was never able to open the file. However, I did read the small snippet that was available on WEBTOON as this is based on the web series. I'm really intrigued by this concept and the representation of a character with an autoimmune disorder. I also enjoyed seeing the two different illustration styles as they alternate between chapters! All-in-all, the small portion I was able to read has hooked me and I am excited to read the rest when it comes out!!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance sample of Blackwater.

Keeping in mind I was only given a sample, and not the entirety of the graphic novel to read, I have to say it wasn't my favorite - Blackwater still has a lot of good going for it. I enjoyed that while the characters are in high school, the story doesn't shy away from adult themes, and characters feel three dimensional.

I did commit a rookie mistake and expected something wildly different based on the cover art. I opened it thinking the story would lean more into the romance and be altogether less gritty than it actually is. Past the cover however, the art style definitely reflects the tone.

This graphic novel is perfect for someone who wants the romance to take a backseat to the story, and maybe wants something with a bit more bite to it (please laugh at my pun). I'd be excited to read the rest of it, because while the romance is definitely not as obvious as other queer graphic novels, it's enough that I was invested in the relationship.

I liked what I was able to read of this, and I am looking forward to be being able to read the full story when it is released. While the story feels a bit rushed and the characters not fully fleshed-out, I will see what the full storyline ends up being before making a judgment.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

I should start this review by saying the sampler is only the first 123 pages of the graphic novel, so I'm only addressing what I was able to read.

I'm a huge Stranger Things fan, so I was very intrigued by the premise. I'm not a big graphic novel reader, but I wanted to check it out. I appreciated the overall flow of the panels and I also really liked how the art style switched back and forth depending on POV.

However, the story itself fell flat for me. It's entirely possible that's simply because I only read part of it, but I didn't find myself overly interested in the characters. Both Tony and Eli felt a bit all over the place. Everything happened so quickly it didn't give me time to really get to know them individually or as a pair.

I'm still intrigued by the premise, though, so I will likely check out the completed version once it releases.