TW: homophobia, misogyny, mentioned abusive husband, strangulation, rape, gang violence
4.2

Jess has been afloat since graduating college- she's in a long distance relationship that's also completely secret, since she'd rather never have to deal with coming out to her parents, and she's the only person she knows without a job. So moving with her parents, back to Malaysia, a place she doesn't even remember, is a strange step but not one she has any reason to fight against. Except that apparently stepping foot in Malaysia has made the voice of her grandmother's ghost stronger. She wants to believe it's stress, but as strange things continue happening it's harder to pretend. Jess has found herself in the middle of family secrets and old gods, with nothing to help her but her belligerent dead grandmother and a degree she can't use.

This book was a lot of fun! There's a great sense of humor woven throughout the story, and a lot of unexpected moments for godliness to bleed through that made the whole experience so unique.

Jess herself is a great character. She's a very no nonsense, unshakable millennial type, and she's the perfect voice to navigate this old, tangled world of entitlement and assumptions. She's definitely flawed, and comes up short in many regards- which makes it even easier to root for her, and get invested in just what she's going to do to deal with this new responsibility and new roles.

I love the addition of the gangs, and the way the workers interact with the gods contrasted with the new world, upper class people's view of the gods. You really feel like you're getting a full idea of the world at work, and it makes the vibe something tangible.

I also love the way the dreams are presented. Jess' dive into memories and conversations inside her own head, through visions, are a atmospheric break from the real world and somehow both silkier and more brutal than anything else we see. They're such nice moments, and it makes the spiritual and physical both feel so much more defined and impactful.
Cho's writing as a whole is fantastic, actually. In the real world there are great descriptions, and in both you can get wrapped up in the way the dialogue is written. There's a great rhythm to the writing that makes it enjoyable to read.

The family dynamic is nice as well. You get to see Jess with her parents, and learn how she navigates being with these people she loves but also can't be herself around, and it feels so, so real. And then there's the extended family brimming throughout the house and the different personalities they bring.

I only wish the plot itself felt a little tighter/more focused. It isn't fast paced, and it tends to linger throughout in different places, which made it a little harder to pay attention. It felt hard to find the main focus, especially as things cycled through and repeated.

But as a whole I really enjoyed this book, and I'd happily pick up another one by Cho.