A review by hellobookbird
Black Water Sister by Zen Cho

4.0

"Why you always want to talk to Ah Ma in the bathroom?"

Jessamyn Teoh is closeted, broke and moving back to Malaysia, a country she left when she was a toddler. So when Jess starts hearing voices, she chalks it up to stress. But there's only one voice in her head, and it claims to be the ghost of her estranged grandmother, Ah Ma. In life Ah Ma was a spirit medium, the avatar of a mysterious deity called the Black Water Sister. Now she's determined to settle a score against a gang boss who has offended the god--and she's decided Jess is going to help her do it.

Drawn into a world of gods, ghosts, and family secrets, Jess finds that making deals with capricious spirits is a dangerous business. As Jess fights for retribution for Ah Ma, she'll also need to regain control of her body and destiny. If she fails, the Black Water Sister may finish her off for good.

She braced herself for scoldings, guilt trips, emotional blackmail—all the tools with which Asian elders were wont to apply pressure to their wayward descendants.

Per the author's Twitter: “A stressed zillennial lesbian fights gods, ghosts, gangsters & grandmas in 21st century Penang.” I dunno about you but I was sold.

Honestly, Ah Ma carried this book. Her attitude was legendary...lemme share a couple quotes to really sell you:

If you overhear everything I hear, said Jess, why would you need me to tell you what Kor Kor’s friends were saying about Ng Chee Hin?

Sometimes I don’t pay attention lah. You think your life is so interesting meh?

AND

“Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“Like that also must tell you?” said Ah Ma. “I thought you’re so clever, went to university. I have to tell you Malaysia is hot and chili is spicy also, is it?”

AND

You experience everything I experience? said Jess. Don’t you, I don’t know, sleep sometimes?

I’m dead already. Why I have to sleep for what?

Honestly, this is worth the read just for the attitude. That being said, it was also a really good read to explore Malaysian culture and a really great window into familial dynamics that are so different to me as a white, American woman.

Throughout the book was also an underlying subplot for Jess discovering herself which is reflected in her opinion on the temples at the end: "I think it should be what it is. [...] It doesn’t have to be anything else. It’s OK if it fades away. But it shouldn’t be torn out and it shouldn’t be made over.”

Recommended for fantasy fans with a love of humor or Malaysian culture.