🩷 Book Review 🩷
📚 Black River
✒️ Ruby Jean Cottle
💫💫💫💫

Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Australia for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book has you second guessing everything and when you get to the "WHAT, BUT WHY?" you will know what I mean.
As a debut author, I was hooked from start to finish. The writing is so unique, that I feel like I would've struggled if it wasn't as compelling as it was, I had to keep turning pages, I could not stop.

We meet 17 year old Dusty as she starts to experience some strange things happening with her unsatiable hunger and a developing connection she cannot control. This book has dark elements, there is a lot of blood, so if this is a trigger for you please be careful as the details are quite well detailed...
The characters for me was the best part of this book. They felt real, they reacted in a very real way to their situation and Ruby touches on character worries and anxiety so well in this book that it felt a part of the story.

I did get myself confused a few times with whose POV I was reading but that was sorted out about 25% in.

Oh and yes, there is a clifhanger and it is brutal.

If you love Vampire Diaries, read this book.

Thank you to the author and NetGallery for picking me to read this as a ARC.

Black River is a compelling story, This book with have you on edge. It's abit creepy in part's but you have to keep reading to find out more. It's thats kind of story once you open it your hook so be warned... I will definitely read another of Ruby's books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for the ARC.
Absolutely loved this book! Was hooked from the start and kept on the edge of my seat. The plot twists took me by surprise and I enjoyed the character and relationship developments. Ugh, it’s just so good!!
Can’t wait for more from this author.

Thanks heaps NetGalley and Ruby Jean Cottle for an early copy of this AMAZING book!

Man!! WHAT A RIDE!! From the get go, I was at the edge of my sit, couldn’t stop turning pages or thinking about it! It has been a while since a book has me so on edge!

There are plot twists that I didn’t expect, on this nowadays world that fantasy books have similar story lines.

It has heaps of thriller, sci-fi, fantasy vibes. For me is the three of them.

Made me gasp at times, made my heart hopeful and broken in several parts. Just perfection!

I would love a sequel!! I want to dig deeper into these characters and know what’s next for them

Ruby Jean Cottle you are a beauty! Thank you so much for this book! You have a great future ahead!

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for sending me an advanced copy of this book.

Black River is a wonderful, atmospheric debut that really pulled me in with its eerie setting - perfectly matched to the creeping suspense. Cottle's writing is immersive, with a lyrical, almost poetic quality that made the story feel rich and textured. This book had the intrigue and mystery of an episode of Stranger Things, which I really enjoyed.

I liked Dusty as a main character. I found her smart, curious and careful in a way that felt quite real. The connection between her and Eli was interesting and it was nice to see this develop into something unexpected, although I did feel that their realisation about being the same came a bit too easily. There were a few slow spots where I struggled to stay engaged, but I'm glad I stuck with it.

I didn't realise this was the start of a series - I have so many questions! But I'm very impressed by this as a debut. Will definitely be keeping an eye out for book two.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Black River is an atmospheric and often haunting read, with writing that leans more poetic than plot-driven. Ruby Jean Cottle creates a vivid sense of place and an undercurrent of something darker always lurking just beneath the surface. It’s not a traditional horror or fantasy novel by any means, but there are... elements. Let’s just say some parts veer into the uncanny, with a slow reveal that blurs the line between grief, memory, and something more eternal.

The story unfolds gently, sometimes a little too gently for my taste—the pacing dragged in places, and I found myself wishing for a deeper emotional connection to the characters. That said, there’s a lot going on beneath the stillness, and Cottle does a great job of creating a sense of unease without spelling everything out.

Not quite a favourite, but a moody, quiet novel that fans of literary fiction with a supernatural twist might appreciate.

Beautiful, well written, and gripping.

This book sucked me in with relatable characters and wonderful descriptions. I felt like I was there and found myself thinking about the location and characters during my day to day life, wanting to go back and read more.

It's quite balanced, but towards the end, I was ready to know what the hell was going on, and I felt like it didn't quite move quickly enough for me... until it did.

I still feel like there are some unanswered questions, or maybe it's just that I want to read more.

Thank you for this ARC copy from Netgalley. I'll be keeping an eye out for more by this author!

3.5/4ish stars! I am so here for this YA fantasy debut! Seventeen-year-old Dusty’s life in the mountains goes sideways when she starts changing- new senses, weird thirst- and then meets the mysterious Will in the forest. Slow-burn romance? Check. Dark, spooky vibes? Double check. And there’s a real tension as Dusty discovers chilling forces lurking in her shadowy hometown .

The world-building is immersive, the cast is compelling, and the romance is spicy but not overwhelming (). Think paranormal with bite- this one’s block-your-plans level good.

Massive thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia (and NetGalley if you’ve read the ARC) for letting me dive into this thrilling, atmospheric story. Already buzzing for the sequel!!!

Black River by Ruby Jean Cottle is a beautifully unexpected gem, set in a small town in the Adirondacks.

I usually gravitate toward darker, spicier reads, but this YA blend of fantasy, SciFi, and romance completely drew me in. The character dynamics are rich and believable—I especially loved the tension and emotional push-pull between the leads. There’s mystery, layered world-building, and just enough twists to keep you guessing (the ending genuinely caught me off guard!).

What really stuck with me is the way the FMC is evolving and I can’t wait to see how she holds on to herself in what’s clearly becoming a much bigger battle. Cottle’s created a world I want to come back to, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where she takes her characters next.

Black River’ is an unreal, utterly captivating debut YA novel that will have you on the edge of your seat thinking “WAIT WHAT!?”. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the blurb but when Ruby said if you liked ‘The Vampire Diaries’ and ‘Twilight’…. I was sold. It’s a sci-fi fantasy (with a beautiful sprinkling of romance) that follows 17 year old Dusty who begins to experience strange occurrences and things happening to her. I genuinely didn’t expect the story to happen the way it did and I enjoyed every moment of it. The setting, the vibes, the physical chills I experienced, IMMACULATE. Ruby Jean Cottle has definitely made her debut mark with this novel and I cannot wait to see what else she has in store for us.

This one’s going on the favourites list!

Black River is a modern day sci-fi fantasy (light on the sci-fi) with a splash of horror. It follows Dusty, a 17 year old who one week starts going through some weird changes that make her question who she is. She has a hunger she can barely control, especially around Will who she just started to connect with.

The writing of this book absolutely sucked me in. Dusty's connection with the land and the world around her to quite literally ground herself felt visceral in the descriptions. I could almost hear the sounds of the forest and feel the soil between my toes.

I do wonder what it is that I still really enjoy about YA books as I'm getting into my 30s, but I couldn't put this book down. It's very vibey, and reminiscent of The Vampire Diaries (TV show as I’ve not read the books to compare) but maybe a little less melodramatic. There's a dark overtone because of the plot (if you don't like blood, this isn't for you) and some quite detailed descriptions that had me completely invested in what was happening to the characters.
The teens all feel like real people, with their own worries and anxieties - and the way the author ties it all into what's happening just made for a perfect book.

If I had any critiques at all, it would be that the third person switching perspectives is maybe a little confusing a couple times throughout the book. I was able to get my head around them but I could see how it might put someone else off.

Absolutely fantastic debut, from an Aussie author - I have a deep hunger for the next book as that cliffhanger… I need to know where it goes.
Thanks so much to Simon & Schuster (Australia) for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own.

‘Black River’ is an amazing YA debut by author Ruby Jean Cottle, which is an intriguing blend of fantasy, sci-fi, romance with a sprinkle of horror. All these genres are blended so well that you are left questioning what is happening just like the characters.

The story follows Dusty, a 17-year-old girl, who gets sick after forging in the woods with her sister. When she recovers, she finds that she and a couple of other local teens have changed, and now strange things are happening all over the mountain where they live. I love how the author has created such an original story and manages to take an old trope and gave it new life. I very much enjoyed that at first, we the reader, are just as confused as Dusty as to what is happening.

Dusty is very likeable as our protagonist, but she shines even more when surrounded by her friends who are amazing in their own ways. We have her sister Opi, who is younger but feels so much wiser at times, her best friend Mali, who is so supportive to Dusty but also has her own life and interests that don’t hinge on Dusty. We also have Will who is new to Black River and likes to keep to himself and Eli, who at first seems to be the typical jock but grew to be possibly my favourite character.
I genuinely enjoyed each different POV and wanted to hear more from all these characters. Normally multiple POV’s annoy me since inevitably there is one that is boring and feels like filler but this time, each one was valuable and helped give more depth to the story.

The author did such a lovely job describing the scenery so well, that it almost transports you to the mountain too. It helped give the story such atmosphere, which only enhanced all the mystery and creepy vibes.

I appreciated that by the end the author gave us some big answers to our questions but left enough mystery that I am very much looking forward to reading the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Australia for this ARC.

Ruby Jean Cottle has crafted a truly captivating and original story in Black River. From the very first page, I was completely drawn into Dusty's world, a world both familiar and unsettlingly strange. The blend of fantasy, sci-fi, and romance is expertly woven together, creating a unique and thrilling reading experience unlike anything I've encountered lately.

Dusty is a wonderfully relatable protagonist. Her desire to escape into books and the wilderness resonated deeply, and watching her navigate the confusing changes happening to her was both fascinating and heartbreaking. The mystery surrounding her transformations kept me constantly guessing, and the hints of darker forces at play added a layer of suspense that had me eagerly turning the pages.

And then there's Will! The quiet and mysterious love interest immediately captured my attention. The connection between Dusty and Will is palpable, and the added element of a thirst beyond mere attraction adds an intriguing and slightly dangerous edge to their relationship.

Cottle's writing is beautifully descriptive, bringing the setting of Black River to life. I could almost feel the earth beneath my feet and smell the scent of the forest. The pacing is perfect, balancing moments of quiet introspection with heart-pounding action and suspense.

Black River is more than just a genre-bending YA novel, it's a story about self-discovery, embracing the unknown, and fighting for what you love. I was completely invested in Dusty's journey, and I'm already eagerly anticipating the next installment in this promising series. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy, sci-fi, and romance who are looking for something fresh and exciting!

This threw me back into high school, right into the wave of vampire books when Twilight was literally in everyone's bag.

I enjoyed the unique premise (there are vampires but it's not that simple) and the setting was delightfully atmospheric, acting as the supporting character to the mysterious events unfolding.

The pacing did slow at the midway point and I began to feel slightly bored with the characters cyclical struggles and lack of action.

I was really excited to get accepted for this book. The blurb caught my eye straight away, and jumped out as something I thought I'd love.
Blurb:
"A mystical new YA series that blends fantasy, sci-fi and romance.

All seventeen-year-old Dusty wants is to escape into books and the wilderness that surrounds her mountain home. What she doesn’t know is that there’s something waiting for her in the shadows of the forest.

One morning, Dusty wakes up with dirt on her feet. Then she realises that her body and senses are changing. And after a chance encounter with quiet and mysterious Will, she feels an attraction unlike anything she’s experienced before. It isn’t just an emotional connection making her heart beat faster—it’s a thirst.

But Dusty isn’t the only person experiencing strange events in Black River. Darker forces are at play, and Dusty must uncover the mystery—or risk losing everything and everyone she loves"

This book sadly became more of a not right now / did not finish for me. I find third person perspective stories to be a read that I find challenging at times, and for some reason this one I found a bit difficult. The writing style and the premise are presented really beautifully. The chapters I read had really intricate, and layered world building. The darker elements of the story were what kept pulling me in. The mystery that slowly unfolds was great. I think from what I read if you love fantasy this is definitely for you. I am hoping to try for a re-read in future.

A huge thank you to both Netgalley and the team at Simon & Schuster Australia for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Australia for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I wasn't certain what to anticipate from the book's summary, but this captivating, intriguing, and somewhat unsettling narrative exceeded my expectations in the best possible way.

The book's unique tone and unexpected twists made it a compelling page-turner. I was thoroughly engaged and enjoyed it immensely. The cliffhanger ending has me eagerly awaiting the next installment.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars!

I’m not sure what I expected from the blurb of this book but this cool, fascinating and quite frankly creepy story wasn’t it, I was surprised in the best way.

This is a real page turner, the last 20% had me in a chokehold and I couldn’t put it down! The unexpected twists are the best part of the book.

What I loved:
- I liked Dusty as a main character, she acted like I think any 17 year old would if they suddenly woke up as a monster.
- the creepy atmospheric setting is described so well.

I’m already looking forward to the next instalment, hopefully we can hear more of Sarah’s story as we continue Dusty’s adventure. This ends on a fascinating cliffhanger and I need to know what happens next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Australia for the opportunity to read this ARC.