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yelizaveta_a's review against another edition
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
angus_mckeogh's review against another edition
2.0
First thing I’ll say is wow this was long but it really is a six-novel series mashed into one. It was also my first McDowell. Supposed to be Southern Gothic in tradition. But the best I can figure is Southern Gothic means uneventful with a sprinkling of supernatural events. Not scary by any means so I wouldn’t suggest it as horror fiction which I’ll admit was kind of what I was thinking going in. Reads like a mishmash between The Shape of Water and The Thornbirds. And I’ll say it wasn’t ever terrible. The writing was good and the story was well told and linear. But I was constantly waiting for something really exciting to happen. And at 895 pages that was a long wait. Just okay. I was hoping it’d blow my socks off but alas they’re still securely on my feet.
aleesquer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Gun violence, Chronic illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Child abuse, Cannibalism, Ableism, Blood, Rape, Body shaming, Child death, Terminal illness, and Infertility
ctjmil's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
youraveragedave's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
What a fantastic reading/listening experience! This multigenerational tale of the Caskey family and the town of Perdido AL is a slow build but totally gripping story. McDowell makes you care about this family (congrats you made me care about a rich Southern family and their massive timber industry). The driving force of the inter family relationships are the women of the Caskey clan.
This brings is to Elinor, this mysterious character who shows up after a flood in 1919. This outsider becomes part of the family and leads them to prosperity. At the same time she's a freaking river monster!
The darkness and horror is sprinkled in here and there. This book is like Harper Lee with dashes of Stephen King throughout.
The audiobook gives a great performance by Matt Godfrey. The characters are given distinct voices and I think that helped with such a large cast over a large period of time.
This brings is to Elinor, this mysterious character who shows up after a flood in 1919. This outsider becomes part of the family and leads them to prosperity. At the same time she's a freaking river monster!
The darkness and horror is sprinkled in here and there. This book is like Harper Lee with dashes of Stephen King throughout.
The audiobook gives a great performance by Matt Godfrey. The characters are given distinct voices and I think that helped with such a large cast over a large period of time.
bea1745's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sea_caummisar's review against another edition
5.0
I'm giving this book 5 stars because I loved this family so many bunches?.Why? I don't know. Maybe because I spent 700+ pages reading approx 50 years of their lives. When the book ended I was sad. I wanted to immediately re-read it. I knew I'd miss this family. For whatever reason, I'm in a phase of digging books that are heavier than bricks, opposed to novellas or stuff under 200 pages.
With all that being said, monsters aren't my jam. Quiet horror isn't usually my jam. This story is full of quiet, real life stuff. Death. Grief. Loneliness. Secrets. Unhappiness despite being uber rich.
This wasn't so much about a monster, but about a woman with a secret who was capable of duality. The time frame started in the early 1900's (1919 was it?) And this woman with a horrible secret also being a good. person But it was so much more than that, with all the characters feeling so real.
I know I rated this one 5 stars, but I still have my probs with the story... I won't go into detail because that would be huge spoilers, but let's just say that I expected the ending to tie in more with the beginning.....
With all that being said, monsters aren't my jam. Quiet horror isn't usually my jam. This story is full of quiet, real life stuff. Death. Grief. Loneliness. Secrets. Unhappiness despite being uber rich.
This wasn't so much about a monster, but about a woman with a secret who was capable of duality. The time frame started in the early 1900's (1919 was it?) And this woman with a horrible secret also being a good. person But it was so much more than that, with all the characters feeling so real.
I know I rated this one 5 stars, but I still have my probs with the story... I won't go into detail because that would be huge spoilers, but let's just say that I expected the ending to tie in more with the beginning.....
rellimreads's review against another edition
5.0
Box set of the whole series of novellas. Complete series.
Historical American/Southern Gothic with an interesting horror-ish element. It did take me almost the entire length of Part One: The Flood to get into the story (admittedly this isn’t my typical genre) - but once I did, I was hooked. Just over 30 hours and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Nothing. Absolutely nothing was predictable for me.
Blackwater spans 50 years (starting in 1919), several generations of family members and their sometimes contentious relationships, southern small/rural town living.
While the description talks about Elinor’s true form/history - I found that to be just a small part of what was intriguing/compelling about following the Caskey family. It’s a wild family tree, each quirky member bringing something unique, and not everyone behaves/reacts as expected.
CW: (possible spoilers) Several characters die, some are horrific and details range from benign to fairly descriptive. Two characters are raped. While the act isn’t described, some details are and aftermath for both is long-term.
Matt Godfrey was a new narrator for me. I truly enjoyed his performance. His accents, voices, and emotions were wonderful. McDowell gave him a HUGE cast of characters to work with and he did a wonderful job. I’m looking forward to more for both of them.
Historical American/Southern Gothic with an interesting horror-ish element. It did take me almost the entire length of Part One: The Flood to get into the story (admittedly this isn’t my typical genre) - but once I did, I was hooked. Just over 30 hours and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Nothing. Absolutely nothing was predictable for me.
Blackwater spans 50 years (starting in 1919), several generations of family members and their sometimes contentious relationships, southern small/rural town living.
While the description talks about Elinor’s true form/history - I found that to be just a small part of what was intriguing/compelling about following the Caskey family. It’s a wild family tree, each quirky member bringing something unique, and not everyone behaves/reacts as expected.
CW: (possible spoilers) Several characters die, some are horrific and details range from benign to fairly descriptive. Two characters are raped. While the act isn’t described, some details are and aftermath for both is long-term.
Matt Godfrey was a new narrator for me. I truly enjoyed his performance. His accents, voices, and emotions were wonderful. McDowell gave him a HUGE cast of characters to work with and he did a wonderful job. I’m looking forward to more for both of them.
pedanticpenchant's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25