Ever since her mother left, Dusty has always been a little withdrawn. Eschewing crowds and sticking with her younger sister Opi and best friend Mali, her books and the beautiful wilderness that surrounds her mountain home are enough for her.
But one morning Dusty wakes with dirt on her feet, and no recollection of how it got there. Her senses are suddenly heightened, her body stronger and faster. The thought of eating makes her queasy, and the thrum of people at school, their emotions swirling around them and blood coursing through their veins, is almost too much to bear. She may not want to eat, but Dusty is suddenly thirsty. And one night, at a bonfire party, she finally admits what it is she’s thirsting after – and finds out that she’s not the only one in Black River who has changed.
Black River is the debut novel from Sydney-based author Ruby Jean Cottle. It’s an intoxicating paranormal YA; blending family drama and teenage romance with a gorgeous wilderness setting and vampire (ish) mythology. This combination of themes might well summon the Twihards, and they’ll surely find plenty to love here. But, as someone who skipped that particular teen obsession, I can confirm that Black River is uniquely Dusty’s story, exploring her new power, her relationships, and all the murky grey moralities that come with it.
Cottle’s writing is atmospheric and immersive, and more than once I found myself gasping out loud at a twist in the tale. The forest and river come to life on the page, rich landscapes that offer sanctuary and danger in equal measure. The natural world becomes the town’s secret keeper; it’s where Dusty can test her limits, and keep her thirst at bay, but it’s also where terrible things happen, and, indeed, where they all began. It almost feels cliche to say that the world around Dusty becomes a character all itself, but in Black River it truly does.
Of course, Cottle weaves bonds between the human characters beautifully too, building everyone up enough that it’s easy to spot when someone is behaving strangely, planting a little seed of worry in the minds of Dusty and reader alike. The result is a novel that brims with tension, from Dusty’s growing bloodlust to burgeoning teenage romances, and from devastating secrets to the mystery at the heart of the disappearance of Dusty’s mother. It’s almost unbearable – in the most perfect way.
There’s a slight repetitiveness to proceedings, with Dusty’s fight against her new compulsions explored over and over again, until you’re practically willing her to just take a bite. But with Black River packed as it is with twists, turns, and delicious tension, and with a finale that I certainly did not see coming, you’ll likely be thirsting after the next in this stunning series.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Ruby Jean Cottle’s Black River is out now through Atria Australia/Simon & Schuster.
