Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

Black Water Sister by Zen Cho

67 reviews

beetheghost's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

wonderful exploration of trauma, compassion and identity. a review on the back of the book by karen lord says “black water sister is both ode and accusation to all the ties that bind- to family, duty, and home”. this is a perfect summary of the theme of this book. loved it

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Homophobia, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cancer

templetoncecelia's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Homophobia, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer

sparklefarm's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

A very enjoyable modern ghost story. Some truly spooky moments. I am not interested in being haunted by a vengeful god any time soon. (Also, not a bad idea to consult the content warnings if you are sensitive to attempted SA.)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Death, and Blood

Minor: Cancer

traa's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, Violence, Cursing, Outing, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Cancer, Drug use, Lesbophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Cursing, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Pregnancy, Sexual content, Slavery, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, Medical content, Stalking, Gun violence, and Racism

pocketspoon's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Classism, and Murder

Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, Violence, and Cancer

Minor: Car accident

marysespieces's review against another edition

dark inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Blood and Outing

Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Cancer

piphux's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Kidnapping, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Death and Homophobia

Minor: Racism, Cancer, and Outing

gigireadswithkiki's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

"Black Water Sister" has made me realize how woefully ignorant I am of Malaysia and the Malaysian diaspora!!! I loved all the content about Malaysia from the folklore to the customs to the cuisine, expanding my knowledge of the vibrancy of the country. Jess and her grandmother Ah Ma were super interesting characters to follow along with, and I enjoyed Ah Ma's constant commentary, which reminded me so vividly of my own grandmother. The messages on intergenerational trauma were done masterfully, evoking feelings of teary-eyed healing and self-righteous justice. 

My only gripe is how the conclusion of the gentrification in the story felt way-laid in favor of the family dynamics, even though gentrification plays a very large part in the overall story, to the point where it felt the conclusion was, "gentrification is bad but some gentrification is okay to prevent even bigger gentrification from happening". This facet of the ending didn't sit too well with me, but otherwise I enjoyed the book for it's lively characters and well-paced plot!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Xenophobia, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Confinement, Lesbophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Homophobia

Minor: Cancer and Rape

scifi_rat's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Violence, Murder, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Medical content, Rape, Physical abuse, Death, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Body horror, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Lesbophobia, Gore, Grief, and Sexual violence

Minor: Classism, Outing, Self harm, Torture, Racism, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Cancer, and Cursing

cookiecat73's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Outing, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Blood, Death, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Cursing, Violence, Lesbophobia, and Murder

Moderate: Cancer, Medical content, Body horror, Confinement, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, and Stalking

Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia, Drug use, Gun violence, Abortion, and Self harm