Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Black Water Sister by Zen Cho

69 reviews

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

emg3's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense 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

4.5

This book was such a journey to read! Each of the characters were intricate and believable. The author manages to talk about issues of clashing cultures and generations in a way that was both fantastical/unbelievable and entirely realistic

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Sexual assault

Moderate: Domestic abuse

lilifane's review against another edition

challenging dark funny 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

I was in the mood to read a light-hearted YA Fantasy between two very intense books and thought this would actually be perfect. LOL! Nope. 
First of all, this is definitely not YA. I don't even know why I thought it was? And then after a lighthearted and funny beginning, the story gets pretty dark and intense and violent. But also in a good way. I really liked the characters, the protagonist was very relatable, the dynamics between her and the ghost hilarious. The writing style, especially the dialogues, might need some time to get used when you're not the child of immigrants. But since I am, it felt familiar (even if the languages are totally different in my case). 
Loved the atmosphere and how ghosts, spirits and gods played such a big part in the plot and every day life of the characters. Also, loved the themes that were explored in a raw and brutal way. Like having an identity crisis, being torn between your family and your own life, coming out to a traditional Chinese family, violence against women, sexism, generational trauma, unresolved hate and revenge. But there are some hard scenes towards the end, so I recommend checking trigger warnings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Racism, Police brutality, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Kidnapping, Cancer, Medical content, and Outing

Minor: Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Murder, Outing, Car accident, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Terminal illness

lukests's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Domestic abuse, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

Minor: Lesbophobia and Homophobia

leannanecdote's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Murder, Gore, Violence, Racism, Grief, Xenophobia, Blood, Body horror, and Religious bigotry

kurumipanda's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense 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

Jess is already dealing with the stress of meeting her family’s expectations, hiding her secret girlfriend, and job hunting, when she realizes she’s also being haunted by her dead grandmother. Solid story with grounded characters and relationships, a tense supernatural plot, and a good balance of humorous and heartfelt moments. Some dialog felt slow, some themes felt thinly incorporated, and a couple plot points seemed to trail off, but these seem to fit with the realism of the setting and resolution. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Homophobia, Murder, Kidnapping, Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Drug abuse

Minor: Car accident, Classism, and Racism

invaderday's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.5

hmmm the first half was incredibly boring. the second half was exciting but i still didn't feel all that invested in the resolution. the narration was excellent tho

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Violence

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Homophobia

rach_reads_books's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Violence, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse

miaaa_lenaaa's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

The premise of the was good and it was well written there was just something about it that just dragged a little slow for me

‘Maybe that was what true love meant: a bitterness that stayed on the tongue when everything else faded.’

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Cancer, and Death

poetsofsweetpea's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

3.0

This was an interesting idea for a story but I didn't connect with it.  The pacing was erratic and the MC could be indecisive and often just let things happen.  It was a unique snap shot of a family and introduced me to some interesting religious lore.  It's contrast and in some cases correlation with Christianity provided a rich backdrop for the story to unfold.  Not a bad story for sure, just not for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, and Lesbophobia