Black Water Sister

“Zen Cho’s brilliant and distinct voice brings worlds to life on the page. A sharp and bittersweet story of past and future, ghosts and gods and family, that kept me turning pages into the dark hours of the night.”—Naomi Novik, New York Times bestselling author of A Deadly Education
 
“Told with love and humour, Black Water Sister is both ode and accusation to all the ties that bind—to family, duty and home. Thrilling and terrifying, honest and hopeful, this may be Zen Cho’s best work yet.”—Karen Lord, award-winning author of Unraveling

“Zen Cho’s Black Water Sister is a perfect blend of ghosts, gods, and the eternal bonds of family ties. Set in the gorgeous backdrop of Penang, Jess reunites with her extended family and navigate the world of spirits and gangsters. This novel is perfect for readers craving an otherworldly, atmospheric fantasy.”—Roselle Lim, author of Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck & Fortune

“A thrilling modern fantasy tale packed to the brim with deliciously petty spirits, intriguing family secrets, and an achingly tender personal journey for our thoroughly relatable heroine. I absolutely loved it.”—Sarah Kuhn, author of Heroine Complex

“Ghosts, gods, and supernatural vengeance collide in vividly-depicted modern day Malaysia to create a contemporary fantasy story that’s full of voice and heart. At turns suspenseful, poignant and hilarious, Black Water Sister is an addictive tale of personal identity, family secrets, and culture clash.”—Fonda Lee, author of The Green Bone Saga

“This entertaining urban fantasy is steeped in Malaysian mythology. . . . a twisty, feminist, and enthralling page-turner.”—BuzzFeed

“A creepily atmospheric and surprisingly heartwarming tale of gangsters, family, and spirits.”—Ailette de Bodard, Nebula-award winning author of Seven of Infinities


“Cho’s multifaceted characters, like her masterful plot, are never quite what they first appear. Unpredictable twists keep the pages turning while the comic but endearing relationship between Jess and her sassy grandmother provides the story’s heart. This is must-read fantasy.”—Publishers Weekly


“Ghosts. Gods. Gangsters. Black Water Sister has it all…a wildly entertaining coming-of-age story for the twentysomething set, with a protagonist who is almost painfully relatable at times.”—Vulture

“Black Water Sister terrifyingly depicts the otherworldly and uncanny horrors of the spirit world, but it is also funny and poignant, full of the angst and irony of a recent graduate living with her parents.”—BookPage

“Zen Cho’s Black Water Sister is the diaspora fantasy of my dreams—funny, creepy, and heartfelt. Jessamyn Teoh never wanted to be haunted by her sassy, score-settling grandmother, but when she moves from America to her parents’ hometown in Malaysia, she must navigate family, gods, ghosts and old grudges in this compelling and heartwarming ghost story.”—Vanessa Len
 
  “A compelling and deftly written ghost story of a young woman’s passage through the grudges and tragedies of her family’s past to find a path into a future she chooses for herself.”—Kate Elliott, New York Times bestselling author of Unconquerable Sun

“Cho blends Malaysia’s Chinese diaspora culture with Jess’s U.S. upbringing; she lays bare the internal clash between Jess’s own identity and desires and her impulse to be a ‘good daughter’ . . . An immersive tale of family secrets, deities, spirits, and religious belief. Cho offers a complex emotional roller-coaster of a read.”—Library Journal