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.

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.

Unfortunately for me, I think the file may have been corrupted, so I could only see about 25% of the pages in this sampler. I am intrigued by the premise, so I will absolutely be checking the title out once it is published!

I was given an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

The premise for this sounds amazing but needed more depth or length? There were also issues with the download but overall would still try more from the author

This wasn't my favorite read lately. The dialogs felt forced, and i couldn't understand eli's motivation for stealing Tony's inhaler. It made no sense to me.

This was a cute sampler of a longer work, and I found it enjoyable, but would like to have been able to see more of it. This definitely has potential, and I'm excited to see more.

This is part of a series I believe so take that how you wish. The illustration was done very well. The storyline was decent.

The item received is only the first 123 pages of a 304 page work, but it's not marked as such anywhere on the netgalley listing or in the download. The art, alternating between 2 artists between chapters, is beautiful in both styles, and the story seems interesting; I'd love to read the full work.

*This review is based on a preview provided by NetGalley and the publisher*

Blackwater is a small town with a slight supernatural vibe. In this first novel, we are introduced to Tony a high school track star looking for his dad's approval, and Eli a quiet nerd who is hiding something. Tony and Eli slowly become friends throughout the story while the town's supernatural presence lets itself be known.

Overall the story is pretty great! There is a lot of world-building going on in setting up the story that's to come. It is a bit of a slow burn with most of the action being in the last chapter which ends in a cliffhanger leaving you wanting more. The art style fits the narrative as well, it is reminiscent of an Archie comic. The choice to go with black & white as well sets the mood for this spooky setting and serves it well.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a quick story in a spooky setting. I am looking forward to the full release to see where the story goes.

This was a really cute sampler - I really want to see the full story before adopting it into a classroom library. I think that I really love the story and the characters already. It was super diverse but really adorable from the beginning. I love it!

I really enjoyed this novel!

With that being said, I felt it was a bit basic.

It had wonderful queer representation which I love seeing, but I felt the story was kind of rushed. I also felt the authors could have given the protagonists deeper back stories.

The enemies to lovers story line is one that I enjoy quite a bit, I just felt that their romance was a bit rushed, much like the story.

Don't let that discourage you! I still think this was a fun read and I would recommend it if you're looking for a cute supernatural love story. I'm excited to read the next part!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan for giving me an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review.

Blackwater is a bleak high school story about bullying, disability, and monsters.

Tony and Eil are two high school seniors in Blackwater, Maine, who have absent and disapproving parents and a cheerless time at school. Both are hiding physical disabilities which have them skipping school and spending time in the nearby woods. However, strange animal sightings and mysterious ghosts suggest the woods are not the best place to be.

I found the start of this story to be extremely depressing with non-stop bullying and dire adults. I am, however, very interested in the ghosts and supernatural creatures in the woods, so I'm excited to continue with the story.

Jeannette Arroyo and Ren Graham alternate illustrating the chapters. Both of their styles are excellent, and really complement each other. I appreciate how the novel uses illustrations to tell the story, often without dialogue, which is something I expect from graphic novels but is often missing.

I read a sample of this book through Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks and NetGalley.

I'm going to start this review with a statement that I wish had been more obvious: this is the first of a series. The Goodreads doesn't state it and neither does the summary. That being said I liked the concept of the story and the art is great from both illustrators. If I had to compare it to another piece of media it would be MTV's "Teen Wolf". They are both billed as horror but they are more teen soap opera instead, My main critique is based on not knowing it wasn't a standalone. I found it boring until the last chapter and by then my attention was wandering. I couldn't connect with the characters as much as I would like because it was so quick. Anyway, I like that there are LGBTQ+ and disability representations. I also like that there are the beginnings of a conversation on child neglect and homophobia. Unfortunately, I don't see myself continuing with the series. This wasn't bad but it wasn't anything that would stick with me. Just because this wasn't for me doesn't mean that someone else won't love it. Read my review with that in mind.

This story drew me in the from the beginning. I don't usually read western comics, but recently I've been giving them a chance. I wondered if the stylistic changes between each chapter would be jarring, but I didn't notice much of a difference at all. Both styles were appealing, conveyed emotion well, and were nice to look at.

We have two boys as our main characters: Tony, the track star with asthma, and then Eli, a loner boy with some sort of illness. Tony is obviously interested in Eli and tries to start a friendship. This book set up the premise for that, but didn't get any further. I liked both characters - but also I appreciated that Tony's best friend, the football player, is a more complicated character than the average bully. We see both sides of him in how he treats Tony and Eli. It's just a nice multifaceted look at a character that could've easily been a stereotypical bully (flat.) The ending of the book also implies a larger role for Marcia to play in the series.

Blackwater has ghosts and other monsters, and we only just started to see them by the time the book ended. I'm very curious as to how this series will go, and I look forward to reading the next.

"Blackwater" is a spooky ghost story set in the small haunted town Blackwater, Maine. The art style cycles between the two artists and it's not a huge stylistic change between the two, but they differences really add a charm in the way each artist interprets the characters.

This graphic novel is adapted from the webcomic and those fans will notice the book format will be a little censored to make it accessible to middle-grade and high school audiences. The story is almost otherwise shot for shot from the webcomic, which is gonna be fine for people who have enjoyed it already online, but I find the story (which this will be multiple volumes) starts a little too fast paced and would have benefitted by using the opportunity to expand some backstory before getting into the thick of it.

The representation is great also. Eli is a queer Jewish immigrant with an auto-immune disease, Tony is a queer person of color (I assume from his mother that we never meet, he is shaded much darker than his father in the art), and Marcia is a plus-sized, black, goth girl! A great diverse cast that makes their forming friendship super dynamic and interesting to read about!

Overall it's got a good storyline, a good cast, and lovely art. I'm looking forward to the coming volumes!

Blackwater was a very fun time! If you’re looking for a YA supernatural graphic novel with ghosts, werewolves, and an Achillean romance, this is for you! I adored the fact both our protagonists were chronically ill. We have Eli who is a trans boy with an autoimmune disorder that leaves him isolated from his family and peers. Then there is popular Tony who is an asthmatic Boricua hiding his chronic illness at school so he can continue to be popular. Eli can see ghosts and Tony becomes a werewolf after being bitten by one in the woods.

Not going to lie, I didn’t know if I could get on board with the romance after something Eli does at the start of the book, but I’m really glad I could. Romance aside, I really appreciated the friend group that is formed!!

My only criticism is the art style. The art style isn’t for me but that has no impact on my review. However, the graphic novel is in black and white. This usually isn’t an issue but in this volume, it was very difficult to see what was going on, especially when we were following our characters of color. Other than that, I think this is worth your time! Cannot wait to have this in my book collection and desperately hope we get another volume in this world!

CWs/TWs: Gun violence, animal death, homophobia, ableism, bullying, alcoholism.

I was just getting really invested in Blackwater and then it was over! A little research revealed that my digital download only includes the first third of the book, a bit more than a sneak preview and a bit less than the full e-galley. I love the spooky small-town setting, the supernatural elements, and the budding romance between the two main characters. However, until I can read further and discover how the story develops it’s difficult to review this book. I will say that I’m definitely looking forward to reading the whole book when it’s released in July of 2022!

Tony Price and Eli Hirsch are two high schoolers in the eerie town of Blackwater, Maine. At first they couldn't be more different. Tony is a well-liked and popular track team member and occasional delinquent. While Eli is a reclusive and quiet boy with an auto-immune disorder that increases his introverted behavior. Tony and Eli seem to meet by chance and after stealing Tony's inhaler during a track meet, Eli starts to feel some attraction towards him. The feelings seem to be mutual as Tony is interested ion getting to know Eli better.

However, Eli seems to be able to see ghosts and one has been warning them to stay out of the woods. Tony attends a hunting trip with one of his other friends and gets attacked by a werewolf-like creature. After being bitten, he starts to feel like his body is changing...

A little rushed and ending on a cliff hanger, I'd still be interested to see where this series goes. The relationship between the two boys is still tentative and in the friendship phase. I am enjoying the art style.

The file for this one didn’t work for me so I wasn’t able to read it sadly. Would love to be able to read it in the future and give it an actual review.

Jeannette Arroyo was born and raised in New Mexico but recently relocated to the rainier Seattle area. She has done freelance in animation and children’s book illustrations. A huge fan of the horror genre, Jeannette likes to mix in some lighthearted spooky elements in her work. Ren Graham is a fiction writer and illustrator currently residing in the rainy Pacific Northwest. They have B.A. in Art History and a graduate studies certificate in Science Illustration, so biology, world mythology, and natural elements tend to influence and reappear in their work. Ren is interested in spooky stories, chilly hikes in the woods, and the ways in which art and science intersect. Co-created, Blackwater is their debut graphic novel. It’s a fabulous horror story geared towards a teen audience.

Tony is a high school jock. He’s a track star, friends with the starting quarterback, and dating the edgy and attractive Marcia. He’s also attracted to Eli, a quiet nerdy boy who we discover has an autoimmune disease that keeps him home a lot. When Tony tries to make his move and invites Eli to the track fundraiser, Eli betrays his trust, further complicating things. Also, the town is currently haunted by some weird bear with mange that’s slaughtering the wildlife. Everything seems to center around Tony, and it’s up to Eli and Marcia to figure things out.

Blackwater is a solid teen horror story. The characters, while a bit one-dimensional on occasion, have enough variety and depth to keep a teen audience interested. They very much read like average teenagers, dealing with hormones and secrets and private lives while trying to survive high school with all its rejection, awkwardness, fear, anxiety, and posturing. The fact that there are characters with diverse ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ characters, and characters with chronic illness represented makes this not only a more believable book, but also a more representative book, which is important in expanding and developing future horror readers.

The art in Blackwater is appropriate for the story and the audience. It’s not too juvenile or cartoony, but it’s also not too artistic or realistic as to scare off readers just getting started with graphic novels and horror. The panels are not formulaic, either, and make for a really solid narrative, propelling the story forward while also engaging the readers.

Overall, Blackwater is a very strong teen-focused graphic novel that adult readers will probably enjoy as well. Many horror readers will probably be able to identify with the awkward and nerdy teens struggling to find their place in the world, and the horror aspects of the story play out well to keep even mature readers engaged. This is a solid debut novel and one that horror readers of all ages will most likely enjoy.