Reviews with content warning for Rape - Black Water Sister

I picked this book up because it was on a LGBTQ+ book list, and I was excited to read about a POC main character. I originally had rated this book as 4 stars, but after some thought I knocked it down to 3.75 because I needed more world building for some of the aspects of the story. The story is very solidly written! I am so happy to have read this book and broadened my horizons! I think I can say this is my first book set in Malaysia and actually explores the culture. There was so many things I got to learn just from reading this book and being inspired to Google more information. However, from a story standpoint, I think there were some points where the author should have given more detail or expanded the characters' stories.

The story really focuses on Jess, her struggles, and obviously the Black Water Sister (the main story plot), but there are a lot of off hand mentions of things that were instrumental to the story, but weren't expanded upon. As well as, ALL the focus was on Jess. Thinking back to the large cast of characters, some of them weren't needed to move the story along or in the story at all, there function could have be carried out by someone else more established in the plot. After reading the story and thinking over a couple of days, I have so many questions to the author about the decisions she made writing this book. I am thinking back to all the plot points and I feel like many were rushed.

However, Zen Cho has a writing style that I really liked and kept me engaged throughout the whole book. It did take a little getting used to (because not everyone speaks English as a first language), but I do think that made the story true to life. It was a necessary and important aspect of the story and I probably would have found it strange if it was not written that way. I liked the way Zen Cho resolved the Black Water Sister, and at the same time I wish there was more meat to the closure of that chapter for Jess. All of the fear and haunting that the Black Water Sister did of Jess and then suddenly gone.

Ultimately, I would recommend this book because it is so different and I don't think many people have read a book with Malaysian and Chinese myth basis. But, I really do wish that there was more world building and a longer timeline to the story.

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lukests's review against another edition

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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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robiok's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

4.25

I was surprised by how intense was the emotional response this book elicited in me
Theres a lot i could relate to, when it comes to my life and Jess…im white but everything else fits almost too well
Her struggle therefore felt cery visceral to me, i emphatized with her and felt very protective
Even when i knew she was running away i could not help but understand and to a point justify her decisions
Jess is a great protagonist, she loves is both the driving force and the victim of the events around her, she is and insider and yet at the same time an outcast in her own family and culture
Ah Ma was an amazing character and the interaction with Jess amazing
The bittersweet ending, wide open but also resolved worked for me
I dont think this is the best thing ever written but i am impressed by Zen Cho’s work (this is the second of her project i read) and ill probably come back to the author

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imaginingly's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad 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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poetsofsweetpea's review

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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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