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gracelynsreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Rape, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Car accident and Lesbophobia
Minor: Cancer
redewhurst's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
One of my most anticipated reads that, sadly, didn’t quite live up to expectations. I really appreciated the introduction to Malaysian culture - something I have not read about before - but the plot became quickly muddled with too many points.
I’d have really liked it to focus more clearly on the relationship between Jessamyn and her family.
I’d have really liked it to focus more clearly on the relationship between Jessamyn and her family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Xenophobia, and Rape
domatilla's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Violence and Homophobia
ruthjenkins's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence and Violence
Moderate: Blood and Rape
Minor: Homophobia
kimmyv's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Injury/Injury detail
questingnotcoasting's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This was much darker than I was anticipating but once I adjusted my expectations there were a lot of elements I enjoyed. I thought the setting was really vivid and found the gods and spirits very interesting. I felt it was a bit slow in the first half but then it became compulsively readable towards the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, and Rape
ode_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Sexual violence
Moderate: Rape and Domestic abuse
Minor: Cancer
liliakwolf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
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
3.25
I think that Black Water Sister was very well written and I found the plot interesting. I loved the way that Malaysian culture was told in this book and felt that I learned a lot as someone who has very little experience with Malaysian culture, and all of the other cultures inside of it. I thought that this book also addressed generational curses and trauma very well and it felt very realistic, though it is a light-fantasy book. I would have given this book a higher rating, as I felt it hit all things well logically, it's just that for the majority of the book I wasn't super invested in the plot. That isn't to say that I didn't connect with the characters, I just wasn't super intrigued to find out what happened next, so it fell a bit flat there for me. I think that someone else could definitely find it more interesting in that regard though! There is a bit of heavy stuff in this book, so I recommend looking at the trigger warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, and Rape
Moderate: Violence, Cancer, Xenophobia, Death, and Death of parent
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: Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Rape, Homophobia, Racism, and Domestic abuse
rebwenhall's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
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
3.75
I feel it went a bit slow at times, so it was hard to get through the first half of the book. I do like the intergenerational relationships. It was a really beautiful story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Violence