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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
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:
Complicated
this was one of my most anticipated releases for 2024 and i can’t say i was let down. truly a beautiful story.
emotional
reflective
tense
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:
Complicated
This book was so much more than I expected it to be. I went in with really low expectations as I've never read anything like this before, but it exceeded them significantly. I didn't call the plot twist and the last portion of this book was absolutely heartbreaking, it genuinely had me break down in tears and I had to put the book down for a minute. I was expecting tension, betrayal and reconciliation, but I wasn't expecting to have my heart broken.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC
Legend of the White Snake is a sweet and fantastical adventure of love, fate, secrets, betrayal, and family. Prince Xian is searching for a white snake in order to cure his ailing mother when he meets Zhen and instantly feels drawn to him. But Zhen is hiding a secret; he is a white snake spirit whose past links him to Xian.
I found this to be an engaging and fun read. I liked seeing not only the connection between Xian and Zhen, but also the depth of their relationships with their families and chosen families. Intsa-love is not my all-time favorite trope, but I think that it worked well between these two characters, and I appreciated all the little moments we got to see them bonding. I loved the way Chinese myth, culture, and tradition were woven into the story. I am an avid reader of mythical retellings and enjoyed finding one I didn't know much about before.
The twists of the story left me surprised, but I definitely kept expecting things to get even worse. However, that is more of an expectation from reading more high-fantasy than cozy/romance fantasy stories.
Overall, I thought that this was a delightful romance with a beautiful setting and interesting magic.
Legend of the White Snake is a sweet and fantastical adventure of love, fate, secrets, betrayal, and family. Prince Xian is searching for a white snake in order to cure his ailing mother when he meets Zhen and instantly feels drawn to him. But Zhen is hiding a secret; he is a white snake spirit whose past links him to Xian.
I found this to be an engaging and fun read. I liked seeing not only the connection between Xian and Zhen, but also the depth of their relationships with their families and chosen families. Intsa-love is not my all-time favorite trope, but I think that it worked well between these two characters, and I appreciated all the little moments we got to see them bonding. I loved the way Chinese myth, culture, and tradition were woven into the story. I am an avid reader of mythical retellings and enjoyed finding one I didn't know much about before.
The twists of the story left me surprised, but I definitely kept expecting things to get even worse. However, that is more of an expectation from reading more high-fantasy than cozy/romance fantasy stories.
Overall, I thought that this was a delightful romance with a beautiful setting and interesting magic.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
HS & up
4⭐️ | TikTok |
A queer romantic reimagining of the Chinese folktale, Legend of the White Snake.
Solid YA fantasy. Fast-paced. Lacked a little character depth but all around a great time.
Also, I learned I’m not really into snakes.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children (Quill Tree Books) for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
A queer romantic reimagining of the Chinese folktale, Legend of the White Snake.
Solid YA fantasy. Fast-paced. Lacked a little character depth but all around a great time.
Also, I learned I’m not really into snakes.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children (Quill Tree Books) for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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:
Yes
Loved this story. Ending made me emotional. A tiny bit predictable but had a few twists
4.5/5! ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
I am writing this immediately after finishing it, and my eyes are still watery. That ENDING. The plot twists?! I adored this book, and the only reason I gave it 4.5 stars, was because I wanted more from the ending. It all happened so fast, and I felt we easily could've added another 50-100 pages. Even so, this was incredible.
What We Get:
I am writing this immediately after finishing it, and my eyes are still watery. That ENDING. The plot twists?! I adored this book, and the only reason I gave it 4.5 stars, was because I wanted more from the ending. It all happened so fast, and I felt we easily could've added another 50-100 pages. Even so, this was incredible.
What We Get:
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I've been a big fan of Sher Lee ever since I read "Fake Dates & Mooncakes" so naturally I jumped at the opportunity to read an ARC for "Legend of the White Snake" and I can say confidently that if you thought her debut novel was good, her second novel was even better. I don't often hand out five-star ratings because a book has to meet all of my expectations before I do that, but "Legend of the White Snake" exceeded those expectations.
This novel was full of fantasy & world-building with characters that you either loved from the get-go, or learned to love in time as you journeyed with them. For me, Zhen was everything I could have hoped for in a character -- a snake spirit just yearning to find his place in the mortal realm, which echoed feelings of wanting to belong somewhere as a queer youth.
If that doesn't pull you in, maybe a slow-burn romance will. There's also royalty, fake identities, and even some magic! If you're looking for a read that's similar to "Six Crimson Cranes" by Elizabeth Lim, you won't be disappointed with this one.
This novel was full of fantasy & world-building with characters that you either loved from the get-go, or learned to love in time as you journeyed with them. For me, Zhen was everything I could have hoped for in a character -- a snake spirit just yearning to find his place in the mortal realm, which echoed feelings of wanting to belong somewhere as a queer youth.
If that doesn't pull you in, maybe a slow-burn romance will. There's also royalty, fake identities, and even some magic! If you're looking for a read that's similar to "Six Crimson Cranes" by Elizabeth Lim, you won't be disappointed with this one.
emotional
medium-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