11 new science fiction and fantasy book releases to make your May magical
By Lacy Baugher
May 2021 release: Black Water Sister – Zen Cho
A reluctant medium discovers the ties that bind can unleash a dangerous power in this compelling Malaysian-set contemporary fantasy from award-winning author Zen Cho. Known primarily for her Regency-inspired fantasy stories, Black Water Sister is a very different lane for Cho as a writer, but its roots in Asian folklore help the story stand out.
Black Water Sister follows Jessamyn Teoh, who’s closeted, broke, and moving back to Malaysia – the country she left when she was very young – to live with her parents. However, when she gets there, Jessamyn learns the voices she’s been hearing in her head aren’t actually stress-related – it’s the voice of her grandmother, Ah Ma. In life, she was a spirit medium, who channeled a mysterious being known as the Black Water Sister, and she’s got some plans for revenge.
The official synopsis describes the story as follows
"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."
Black Water Sister is available on May 11.