A review by sashahc
Black Water Sister by Zen Cho

adventurous emotional funny mysterious 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

5.0

"Black Water Sister" by Zen Cho is about "gods, ghosts, gangsters, and grandmas".  Jessamyn Teoh is a closeted queer zillennial who moves with her family back to Malaysia after graduating college.  She is soon haunted (literally) by her bossy dead grandmother, Ah Ma, who used to be a medium for local deity Black Water Sister.  Ah Ma cannot cross into the afterlife unless Jessamyn takes revenge on a real estate developer with plans to demolish Black Water Sister's temple.  Antics abound!  The #book has a lovely dry sense of humor and explores the complexities of generational politics and being an outsider in one's own country.