Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
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.
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
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!
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!
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
Loveable characters:
Yes
a classic fantasy love story🙂↕️
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.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Painful ending and then saved by the last few pages
4 stars.
Legend of the white snake is a story about a white snake turned boy who has a connection with a prince and they develop a relationship. The prince is trying to find a cure for his mother; who has been bitten by a snake and he needs to find a white snake to develop a cure.
I loved the plot of this, the way the romance unfolds as we go along and the mild angst of keeping secrets. There were twists that were unexpected and plot twists that weren’t but didn’t in my opinion detract from the good storytelling. The pacing was just right, arguably the way the romance developed was fast but it worked in the era it was in.
All the main characters were very likeable, one minor “flaw” I suppose, was that Zhen was incredibly selfless. Maybe trying to make him too perfect. The relationship between the two was fast but very cute, so I was shipping them.
I think if you’re a lover of danmei and yaoi you would like this.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillian UK Audio for letting me listen to this early.
Legend of the white snake is a story about a white snake turned boy who has a connection with a prince and they develop a relationship. The prince is trying to find a cure for his mother; who has been bitten by a snake and he needs to find a white snake to develop a cure.
I loved the plot of this, the way the romance unfolds as we go along and the mild angst of keeping secrets. There were twists that were unexpected and plot twists that weren’t but didn’t in my opinion detract from the good storytelling. The pacing was just right, arguably the way the romance developed was fast but it worked in the era it was in.
All the main characters were very likeable, one minor “flaw” I suppose, was that Zhen was incredibly selfless. Maybe trying to make him too perfect. The relationship between the two was fast but very cute, so I was shipping them.
I think if you’re a lover of danmei and yaoi you would like this.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillian UK Audio for letting me listen to this early.
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed Legend of the White Snake for what it was – a YA retelling with a lot of heart. I really liked the characters and their interactions, especially seeing how their relationships developed over time. My favourite part of the book was definitely how it wove Chinese mythology and culture throughout the story. Learning about different legends, customs, and beliefs added so much richness and made the world feel atmospheric and almost magical.
One thing I really appreciated was how the LGBTQ elements were handled. I liked that in this world, being gay wasn’t treated as something unusual or a problem – it was just normal. Their love story could simply be a love story without fear or shame attached to it, and I think that’s really important to see in books, especially for younger readers looking for safe, affirming representation.
The romance itself was sweet and had moments that made me smile, but it did feel slightly rushed, especially towards the end. I wanted more time for their connection to build and deepen so that the emotional moments would land even harder. Similarly, the character development felt a bit thin in the second half. There was so much potential for both of them to grow, but the pacing didn’t quite allow for those deeper shifts to happen.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators did a good job. Their voices suited the characters well and added a lot of personality and emotion to each scene.
Overall, while this wasn’t a standout favourite for me, it was still an enjoyable read with beautiful cultural elements and a sweet, affirming romance. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a light mythology-based YA book with gentle LGBTQ representation woven seamlessly into the world.
One thing I really appreciated was how the LGBTQ elements were handled. I liked that in this world, being gay wasn’t treated as something unusual or a problem – it was just normal. Their love story could simply be a love story without fear or shame attached to it, and I think that’s really important to see in books, especially for younger readers looking for safe, affirming representation.
The romance itself was sweet and had moments that made me smile, but it did feel slightly rushed, especially towards the end. I wanted more time for their connection to build and deepen so that the emotional moments would land even harder. Similarly, the character development felt a bit thin in the second half. There was so much potential for both of them to grow, but the pacing didn’t quite allow for those deeper shifts to happen.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators did a good job. Their voices suited the characters well and added a lot of personality and emotion to each scene.
Overall, while this wasn’t a standout favourite for me, it was still an enjoyable read with beautiful cultural elements and a sweet, affirming romance. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a light mythology-based YA book with gentle LGBTQ representation woven seamlessly into the world.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes