Reviews

Black Water Sister by Zen Cho

emreads0's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I feel like this could have been a common story that pushed the envelope but fell flat instead. The family dynamics are SPOT on as Jess, our mc, is post college in the US and helping her aging parents move back home to Malaysia with the rest of the family. Aunties, Uncles, and other extended family being overbearing and overwhelming was so accurate, it was triggering haha. 

When Jess starts hearing a voice in her head, she thinks she is going crazy. It is her grandmother, Ah Ma, who is aggressive and stubborn to say the least. Jess is sent on a wild and dangerous journey to learn more about her family, fighting people and gods to find out the truth.

Jess being gay was the most frustrating part of the story, for good and bad. The author wanted to show how homophobic older generations can be, but it was used more as a plot device more than anything. We see that Jess is scared to come out because of how her family will react. It is even an issue the god, Black Water Sister, points out to Jess in a nightmare. So why the fuck is it never answered in the story? We are left to wonder about it even though it was a huge part of Jess's fears and area of possible growth.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Homophobia

Moderate: Sexual assault

mh_books's review against another edition

adventurous informative mysterious relaxing tense medium-paced

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

4.0

sunny_r's review against another edition

4.0

interesting. not what i usually go for, but still enjoyable.

garbanzo_garbage's review against another edition

Will return!!

cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition

3.0

This was giving me more of contemporary vibes than fantasy. Family dynamic is kiss chef, romance was fine but it dragged quite a bit.

danicats's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault

abissette's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

Enjoyable but inconsistent emotional engagement for me, and a few supporting characters are quite flat.

particularly the queer/coming out story within the book felt perfunctory and predictable - protagonist's girlfriend acts like a plot device, not a person

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Toxic relationship, Biphobia, Death, and Sexism

Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Body horror, Mental illness, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Medical content, and Drug use

alyssa2012's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexism, Misogyny, and Murder

Moderate: Death, Grief, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping

Minor: Racism, Rape, Domestic abuse, and Xenophobia

jaxness's review against another edition

2.0

Sadly, 2.5/5 ⭐️

mpereira's review against another edition

slow-paced

2.75