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anxiousnachos's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I recently did a video on TikTok about messed up 20 somethings who have no idea what they’re doing. Well this is that, but make it ✨fantasy✨
This is a fast-paced, deep dive into Malaysian culture and family history when Jess starts being haunted by her grandma. The family dynamics in this were so complex. Jess is both a closeted lesbian and a member of the diaspora, having grown up in the US, and this colours her relationships with the ghost of her grandmother and her living family.
We also get ghosts beating up shitty men, a controlling ghostly grandmother, and a chance to explore the world of Malaysian gods. A wonderful read!
Content warnings: possession, ghosts, emotional abuse, domestic abuse, assault, violence, strangulation, homophobia, racism, graphic attempted rape scene (page 322-324), rape (past, mentions)
This is a fast-paced, deep dive into Malaysian culture and family history when Jess starts being haunted by her grandma. The family dynamics in this were so complex. Jess is both a closeted lesbian and a member of the diaspora, having grown up in the US, and this colours her relationships with the ghost of her grandmother and her living family.
We also get ghosts beating up shitty men, a controlling ghostly grandmother, and a chance to explore the world of Malaysian gods. A wonderful read!
Content warnings: possession, ghosts, emotional abuse, domestic abuse, assault, violence, strangulation, homophobia, racism, graphic attempted rape scene (page 322-324), rape (past, mentions)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence
funkylitchick's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Homophobia and Sexual assault
soupstix's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-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
i went into this book with zero expectations aside from the fact that it would be a fantasy novel set in modern-day malaysia—and i was totally blown away.
“black water sister” by zen cho already has all the elements of stories i would typically be drawn to. a contemporary family drama featuring a closeted asian-american lesbian who moves back to malaysia with her parents would’ve been enough to sell me on this novel alone. but coupled with the fantasy plotline of gods and gangsters, this book was everything i could’ve wanted and more.
being set in malaysia, there were a lot of cultural references i missed. this, i didn’t mind because now i have the basis to go on a google search deep-dive, which is going to be a lot of fun for me. these references as well as the author’s decision to use “manglish” and pidgin dialects for the characters that did not have american english as a first language—rather than unrealistically polished english—made the entire world feel really immersive. there was no handholding and dictionary-level definitions/explanations, and as a reader i appreciated not being coddled.
as a fellow asian diaspora lesbian, jess’ story was extremely relatable to me. as i’m younger than her and our family situations are markedly different, i can’t say she felt like any sort of representation of my life, but the beats of her story in her “past life” are familiar—which made her character journey deeply satisfying.
overall, this book has it all. family drama, plot twists, #representation. whenever i had to step away from this book to do other things i felt myself itching to come back for more. i desperately want this to have a sequel—i NEED resolution for whatever sharanya and jess have going on. and i will definitely be checking out zen cho’s other works after this!
“black water sister” by zen cho already has all the elements of stories i would typically be drawn to. a contemporary family drama featuring a closeted asian-american lesbian who moves back to malaysia with her parents would’ve been enough to sell me on this novel alone. but coupled with the fantasy plotline of gods and gangsters, this book was everything i could’ve wanted and more.
being set in malaysia, there were a lot of cultural references i missed. this, i didn’t mind because now i have the basis to go on a google search deep-dive, which is going to be a lot of fun for me. these references as well as the author’s decision to use “manglish” and pidgin dialects for the characters that did not have american english as a first language—rather than unrealistically polished english—made the entire world feel really immersive. there was no handholding and dictionary-level definitions/explanations, and as a reader i appreciated not being coddled.
as a fellow asian diaspora lesbian, jess’ story was extremely relatable to me. as i’m younger than her and our family situations are markedly different, i can’t say she felt like any sort of representation of my life, but the beats of her story in her “past life” are familiar—which made her character journey deeply satisfying.
overall, this book has it all. family drama, plot twists, #representation. whenever i had to step away from this book to do other things i felt myself itching to come back for more. i desperately want this to have a sequel—i NEED resolution for whatever sharanya and jess have going on. and i will definitely be checking out zen cho’s other works after this!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Racism
asphodelashes's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Homophobia
Minor: Xenophobia
rachelreadsrelentlessly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault
ashlee_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
larkken's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Homophobia
offbrandclubsoda's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia
Minor: Death and Outing
asha_m's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Gore and Homophobia
misties_magical_journey's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
5.0
Love, Love, Love!!
The book has a bit of a slow start, but once the journey stars happening it's great!!
I definitly recommend reading this book!!
I have also learned that I can like open-ended books, they just need to be well written, so I can give nothing but applause to this book.
The book has a bit of a slow start, but once the journey stars happening it's great!!
I definitly recommend reading this book!!
I have also learned that I can like open-ended books, they just need to be well written, so I can give nothing but applause to this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Violence