Black Water Sister

by

Paperback, 384 pages

Published May 11, 2021 by Ace.

ISBN:
9780425283431

View on OpenLibrary

4 stars (2 reviews)

2 editions

Amazing book, not enough ending

4 stars

I really enjoyed this book. The culture of it was in some ways familiar as Jess seeks to appease her family and has to hide a lot of herself from them. But also loved reading a book set in a country not my own, about experiences and mythology unfamiliar to me. I just wish the ending had felt more... full. It was a great ending, don't get me wrong. I'm just, I like that after-bit. I want it to work out and get to SEE it worked out. The ending does make me wonder if she's planning a sequel, maybe.

A contemporary fantasy novel set in Malaysia that captures how locals (both living and spiritual) live their lives here.

4 stars

A good contemporary fantasy story set in Malaysia involving local spirits. It also serves as an introduction to the world of spirits in the region. As a former Malaysian now in Singapore, the non-fantasy aspects of Malaysian society and culture featured in the book ring true, while the fantasy aspects do have solid roots in how spirits are worshipped by local people. But on to the actual review. :-)

The book centres around Jessamyn Teoh, who is reluctantly moving back to Malaysia from the US with her parents. But from the start, strange things happens when a voice in her head begins to speak to her. This turns out to be her maternal grandmother, who has a bone to pick with a wealthy Malaysian who is developing land on which a shrine that is the home to the spirit of Black Water Sister is sitting.

Jessamyn reluctantly agrees to help …