Book Review: "Single Sashimi" by Camy Tang

Camy Tang's Best Book to Date

Venus Chau is a lead developer for a gaming company. She's in prime position to being promoted until her unethical coworkers cause her to start looking elsewhere. She finds herself at another company headed by CEO Drake Yu. There's tension between the two because in the past, Drake used Venus to benefit his company. Venus is still touchy about that especially since she's still uneasy about the dramatic weight loss she had a few years ago. She has to suck up and gain some self confidence however if she plans to help Drake and his new company AND stop her old one from stealing her work.

In my opinion, this was the best book of the series. I have never read any fiction book, secular or non fiction, that has a woman in charge at a video game industry. Most people do not think that girls like to play video games so it was wonderful to see that stereotype broken in this book. Also for once it was so nice to see a female lead in a chick lit book be bossy and taking charge but not being snooty about it. Venus is a professional and it shows in her work ethic. I applauded the way she treated the people at the new company. One cannot start up a new company where everything is a free for all and Venus showed them the correct way to succeed. I loved reading about her relationship with Drake. Right from the get go you could feel the zing in the air between them. This book had some of the sleaziest bad guys I've read in a while. I think what makes it worse is that people like Yardley and Edgar really do exist, with their abhorrent unethical ways. I wanted bad things to happen to them from the beginning. Thank goodness, Grandmother has toned down in this book. If you've read my previous reviews of the series, you know that she was one of my major complaints. Whether Venus is her favorite out of the four, or whatever other reason, she has mellowed out a lot and her demands are almost reasonable. On the other hand, Venus' mom must take after her own mother with the pushy and annoying way she treated Venus. Luckily there's redemption in the future for her.

I would say out of the three books, this is the least Asian-y in the series. There is splashes of Asian American culture thrown in but the focus is mainly on Venus and the video game companies. Personally I much preferred this. It was nice seeing in the first book, Asian culture in full force. However it's also nice just to have an Asian American character just be, without drawing too much attention or making a big deal that she is a minority.

I'm sad to see this series ending. Unfortunately we won't see Jenn getting her own full book but she should be showing up as a short story soon. This has been a breakthrough series in the Christian fiction industry and I am so glad that it was written. I shall miss these cousins, it's pretty much like reading about my own family! HIGHLY recommended.

Single Sashimi by Camy Tang is published by Zondervan (2008)