Reviews

Black Water Sister by Zen Cho

theglossreview's review against another edition

4.0

The writing is stunning and the audio book narration is fascinating. I cannot go up to five stars because the book didn’t have a life changing impact on me, but this is a matter of personal significance. The only objective fault is that the book is too graphic. It needs many content warnings. Apart from that, the story and writing is flawless.

exlibrisphoebe's review against another edition

4.0

3.5⭐️ rounded up

svandorf's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious medium-paced

4.0

baguettegay's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Chronic illness and Domestic abuse

bibliocurl's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.0

marieintheraw's review against another edition

5.0

Gods, ghosts, family secrets and sapphics makes for a happy Amber.

 I received an ecopy of this via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.

emilysledge's review against another edition

dark 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Sexual violence

fishky's review against another edition

4.0

I borrowed this from a recommendation and didn't actually read anything about it before I started, which was good because I truly had no idea what was going to happen next at any point.

sunflower_emily98's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-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? Yes

4.0

myriadreads's review against another edition

4.0

The author pitched this one on her Twitter as: “A stressed zillennial lesbian fights gods, ghosts, gangsters & grandmas in 21st century Penang.” It was as good as it sounds!

Main character Jess is a first-generation American who moves to Malaysia with her parents after her father loses his job. She feels a bit lost—not really Malaysian or American. She has a degree from Harvard, but she’s having no luck finding a job. She has a girlfriend, but she’s afraid that she’ll hurt her parents if she tells them the truth about herself.
She’s a bit stressed, to say the least, so when she first hears a voice speaking in her head she thinks she’s going crazy. It turns out that she’s being contacted by her grandma, who died a year ago.

Jess learns that her Ah Ma was a spirit medium for a local god known as the Black Water Sister. A powerful local has offended the god, and grandma is unable to move on until the conflict is resolved. So, she’s tapped Jess to be her feet on the ground, pulling her into a secret family feud and revealing the spirits in the world all around them.

I loved the main character’s growth as she grappled with family loyalty, a longing for authenticity, and just figuring out what’s next in her life as she finds her strength and learns to trust her instincts. Pick this one up to escape to steamy, magical Malaysia for family mystery and supernatural adventure.