Reviews - Legend of the White Snake

577 reviews for:

Legend of the White Snake

Sher Lee

3.93 AVERAGE

eliza_cat's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

me2023's review

3.0

This book was pretty good in parts, but quite lacking in others.

I loved the first half of the book - the world building, the characters and the plot, despite not loving one of the narrators. I could picture the beautiful Chinese architecture and surroundings, finding this listening experience very relaxing.

However, from about 60% into the book, the plot seemed to change direction. Things happened very quickly, but resolutions happened quickly too, so it hardly mattered. I felt disconnected from what was going on and grew tired of the drama.

I feel the epilogue was a cop out and wish it just ended beforehand - while I know this would've been sad, it would've left a lasting impact and given some sense of finality.

The romance I liked, but the constant reminder of them being "boys" made me feel uncomfortable. Especially with all the spicy scenes.

Overall, so much potential and a lot of great elements, but not what I'd hoped for

peachmangoshy's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

bookrecsplease's review

4.0

Here’s the thing - as a fantasy book, I think this isn’t very good. The magic just pops up as it’s helpful and never established ahead of time. There’s instalove, and I don’t ever feel any stakes for any conflict. BUT all these things that I dislike actually work so well as a fairy tale, which this ultimately is. So as a cozy fairy tale retelling, these elements can really be expected and appreciated.

aezar's review

3.75

emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Really sweet story, if a bit frustrating at points for the lack of communication between the characters, but that may be on me lol

Kind of would have preferred for Zhen to stay dead, for the sake of a good tragedy, but it was nice and sweet either way

drakoulis's review

5.0

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

A magical, swoony fairytale retelling!

Legend of the White Snake quickly pulls you in a land out of China's past and its mythology, with Taoist and other mystical influence, where Prince Xian is embarking on a quest to find the white snake who shaped his childhood and is the key to save his mother.

The worldbuilding is solid, but it's the characters who will make you fall in love with the book: Xian and Zhen are kind souls, who click with each other and fall for each other instantly. Xian's sass and spirit and Zhen's kindness and devotion lead them to a delicate dance full of care and affection...even when machinations pit them against each other.

The story has twists and turns...and then more...and then even more when you think you reached the climax, Sher Lee will have you laughing and sobbing and vice versa in a rollercoaster of emotions!

majaleah's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous emotional mysterious

Loveable characters: Yes

a classic fantasy love story🙂‍↕️

19wongfo2's review

3.0

There was actually a lot about this book that I loved. The Chinese folklore and historical aspects were so well written and incorporated into the story, and the characters and interactions were wonderful. However, I thought the plot would have worked so much better in a middle grade novel as that aspect was more - best word I can use to describe it is juvenile - not in a bad way at all, but just in comparison to the romance which was more adult and read as incongruous with the main storyline and ages of the characters. For me, the romance was not convincing as the feelings developed way too quickly and I thought Zhen was much too forgiving. The ending was what made this a 3 star instead of 4 star because in my opinion there was an unwillingness to commit to certain plot points which removed the majority of the emotional impact the book was intended to have.