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abissette's review against another edition
- 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
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
- 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
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
bumblebeewhisper's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Rape
justinethereadingqueen's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Rape
433c's review against another edition
Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
Minor: Rape
sierrarottier's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
Minor: Rape
aidymoose'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? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Rape
yazzy_annalise's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
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.
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Murder, Rape, and Sexual violence
lukests'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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
Minor: Lesbophobia and Homophobia
robiok's review against another edition
- 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
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
Moderate: Rape, Racism, and Homophobia