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flyingryndeer's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Blood, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Medical trauma
Minor: Gun violence and Police brutality
leannanecdote's review
- 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
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
anaccbram's review
- 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
Graphic: Outing, Gaslighting, Blood, Sexual harassment, Murder, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Rape, Medical trauma, and Homophobia
traa's review
- 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
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
liormaleficent's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.5
Graphic: Bullying, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Homophobia
stubbornlybookish's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
Black Water Sister follows Jess, a closeted, recent college grad who moves back to Malaysia with her parents, to find herself maybe haunted by her incredibly difficult (and deceased) grandmother. Jess unwillingly finds herself roped into a plot involving mob bosses and vengeful gods with potential massive consequences.
I don't think this was done poorly. Frankly I think Zen Cho is successful with what she sets out to accomplish. Her themes discussing family, culture, immigration, queerness, and how they intersect was great. I honestly wouldn't have minded if she leaned into them even more.
I didn't love the plot. Anything to do with the divine I was down for. But a lot of the story just had us waiting around for things to happen and the mob stuff wasn't leaned into enough. The plot just left me indifferent and a little bored.
Jess was a fine MC. I didn't have any real complaints. Her struggles were compelling and her character arc was mostly satisfying.
I wasn't in love with the writing style. Maybe that is where my disconnect comes from. I found the description to be lacking in places. And overall the prose just wasn't my favourite. I think there was an opportunity to really develop some atmosphere in places and I wasn't a fan of how Zen Cho chose to execute that.
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Medical trauma