There some things I really liked about this book, and some things that were a draw. Overall, it’s a fun and thoughtful retelling of a myth we don’t see over and over again, which I appreciated.

The world and setting are lush. I enjoyed following the cast to different places, each one immersive and beautiful. The themes of friendship, teamwork, and resilience are strong and consistent, which I feel like many modern YA releases have lost sight of such coming of age themes, and for that, Legend of the White Snake will definitely be one that I recommend to my students. Queer norm is not something I look for or expect in a book, but when I find one, I’m always happy to add it to the mental list where I keep track of such titles for readers who are looking for queer norm.

My biggest draw is that the dual POV made this book drag in some parts, rush in others, and overall I just didn’t think Zhen’s POV was necessary or even good for the narrative. It felt like his POV repeated and confirmed everything from Xian’s POV, and I think the tension would have been much better if we just had Zhen’s POV.

Thank you to author Sher Lee for thinking my dog is cute and then asking if I wanted NetGalley access to her next book. I loved her first book, Fake Dates and Mooncakes, and was super excited to dive into another queer Asian romantasy book after The Emperor and the Endless Palace by Justinian Huang. Although this book is a completely different feel and storytelling style compared to her first book, I was immediately hooked by this story and its characters and world. I would be super interested in reading other retellings of Chinese legends, especially if reframed from a queer viewpoint.

If you have an intense fear of snakes, this may not be the book for you. There are a LOT of snakes. However, after reading this book I will never look at a snake the same way again and will be much more friendly towards this animal which has been given a bad representation in media.

This is a retelling of the Chinese legend told from alternating points of view of the two main characters. Xian and Zhen were so wholesome, and there were many classic romance tropes reframed in this romantasy setting. A beautiful tale of star crossed lovers with an act three twist I did not see coming. I found the story very narratively satisfying in how it unraveled, and the ending brought me to tears. This is definitely a recommendation for fans of romantasy, folklore retellings, queer romance, and books with absolutely gorgeous cover art. I can't wait to read more from Sher Lee!

I liked the concept of this book a lot! I think the writing style wasn't entirely for me but I'm glad I gave it a shot. Thank you for the early read!

Okay, this book is officially my new literary obsession! I can't wait for it to be published in October in english, and I hope it'll arrive in Italy too, one day. If you like historical fantasy and mythology retelling, you'll love this queer version of the famous chinese legend of the white snake! 🇨🇳

First of all, the cover is freaking beautiful and it perfectly shows the delicate and magical vibes of this book. Asian folklore always comes with this aethereal aura, and I find chinese myths particularly elegant and full of grace. 🐍

My favourite character is Zhen, the White Snake that swallows a legendary pearl and turns into a boy. His personality's extremely charming: he's kind, curious and generous, and he always puts the others first. He has so much love to give. But I ended up loving also Prince Xian, the other main lead of the story, and I didn't expect to like him so much, honestly. He's the kind of person (like Zhen) that would sacrifice himself for the people he loves, but his personality's different from Zhen's: Xian is bold, flirty, ready to fight. The chemistry between these two is like a bomb ready to explode. I also loved the other characters, both the good ones and the evil ones. 🦪

The plot is full of twists, especially in the finale. I GAGGED. It was soooo good to be surprised like that! I had a lot of theories (I also talked about them with the author in her instagram dms and she was so kind and friendly with me and listened to all my comments on the story) but none of them were right. 🤣

I don't know if this book is a standalone or the first of a future series, since some little problems remained unsolved, but I know for sure that if this book will turn into a series of books, I'll read them all!🏮

Thank you, NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books | Quill Tree Books, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

When Prince Xian was young, a white snake bit his mother, condemning her to a slow and painful death. The only cure is a spirit pearl and so Xian has tried to look for it. When the oracle predicts he will find and capture a white snake in Chiangle, the prince travels there.
Seven years ago a young snake swallowed a spirit pearl, making him able to transform into a boy and special powers. When Zheng meets the prince, he doesn't have the courage to reveal his true identity, being the snake the prince is hunting. What will happened to them and their blossoming romance?

Legend of the white snake is a romantic retelling ot a traditional Chinese folktale and I loved reading it. Told by two POVs, Zheng's and Xian's, the story is intriguing and romantic and so well written.
Zheng is a young spirit snake, travelling with his sister Qing, when he meets the prince and become involved in his life and search for his mother's cure. On the other side, Xian is a prince willing to do anything to save his beloved mother and with the help of his advisors and guards he's looking for a white snake, without realizing he's closer than he thinks.
Romantic, lush, funny, Legend of the white snake is a book you will devour in a very short time, because it's intriguing and well written, captivating and filled with twists you can, and can't, expect.
It's a story about loyalty and fierce love, about magic and spirits, falling in love and protect those we care about.
A lovely book.

For newcomers to the genre, especially YA readers, Legend of the White boths introduces and offers a refreshing take on the famed Chinese legend. There're countless of cultural facts and annecdotes in here in regard to Ancient China, and yes, they could become grating after a while (I would trade them for more narrative/character development in a heartbeat), but they're not without their use, some are even interesting besides. Lastly, I adored that cover and I adored the fact that this is a queer retelling (more of this please!) -- I thought that it was very appropriate of the author to choose White Snake as her canvas, something about snakes being able to shed their skin/be fluid and take on a new identity just resonated with me as a queer person.

I don't have much to say about the rest of the book because overall, it was just an okay read for me. I was indiferrent to the characters, their causes and their blight. I couldn't connect to the romance (that developed down to the beat; I could feel no chemistry from them, except that they were "fated"). I must admit that I expected more out of this book than the predictable story that I got, but I was also decisively not the intended audience for this book. Like my opening point, I would recommend this to any teen and or reader who is looking for something new in their reading diet; this book is an excellent introductory to ancient China and there's even a tender queer romance in the center of it. It would be worth your while to give this a try. If you're a tempered veteran, do pick up something else.

Thanks to Netgalley and Quill Tree Books for the E-ARC!

I received a free E-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair review. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins.

I really enjoyed this book. Both Zhen and Xian were sympathetic characters, and I loved reading about how their relationship developed. I was unfamiliar with the traditional legend of the white snake, so while I was in the middle of reading the book I ended up looking it up, which I think made it more impactful reading experience, though readers don't need to come in with an understanding of the tale.

The prose was also really well-written and evocative, with plenty of detailed descriptions. I felt that the setting was very believable, and easy to imagine.

I think people who like gay romances or cultivation stories will enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.

I love various mythological books, even more so when it’s BL. I really enjoyed this from start to finish. I love the ending, but I loved seeing the characters develop. The interactions were sweet at times, intense at others. It’s very much a YA read. I already have my copy preordered.

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.

Sher lee is an amazing author! After having read fdam, I got very exited to read more works from her. And she didn´t dissapoint! I loved the place and time the book took place and emediatly fell in love with the main charachters zhen and xian. The story didn´t go to slow or to fast wich made it very pleasant to read. I really liked the last chapters of the book and am kind of sad the book has ended. I´m very exited for the official release so I can get my physical copy and read it all over again!

Xian is the prince of Wuyue and the son of the woman the king loves more. His mother had been in bed for seven years because of a snake’s bite. For that reason, Xian has dedicated his life to hunting snakes in search of a cure. Zhen is a white snake who thanks to a white pearl can transform into human form. His only worry is taking care of Qing, a snake he saved from death. Xian and Zhen don’t meet until Xian travels to Changle to hunt snakes. Therefore, the two of them feel attracted to each other without knowing their love was doomed.

The first chapters of this book were slowed because the main leads didn’t know each other. Once they met, the book rhythm changed, and it was difficult to put down. The chemistry between Xian and Zhen was tangible and, even though Zhen was keeping secrets, you could see that both had honest feelings for each other. I like that Xian wasn’t the one who made the first move because it demonstrated that for Xian, Zhen wasn’t like the other boys. Even more, in the book they describe how Xian doesn’t see Zhen as someone who he can toy with. At the end, it was Zhen who initiated they relationship. Also, Xian feeling Zhen’s honesty, even though he knew the lies, demonstrated how genuine it was their love.

One thing that surprises me in this book is the love between the king and his sons. Usually, in Asian historical dramas or books, the royal families don’t have a good relationship. However, in this book, except for Wang, Xian’s brother, everyone is good. In fact, the king is very affective with his sons. He protects them and believes in the best of them. Even more incredible was that he didn’t question Xian’s feelings for Zhen. In any other plot, the king would punish Xian for falling in love with the enemy and with someone of the same sex. However, in The Legend of the White Snake that doesn’t happen. The king clearly trusted Xian’s decisions and you can confirm that with the last chapters. This concept of family that Sher Lee presents us is very important, not only because she left out the unnecessary clichés, but because she demonstrates how families should be. Families should protect and love each other always.

The Legend of the White Snake is a light and entertaining reading which you can read in one day. It tells us the love story of two boys who come from different worlds. Also, it teaches us that everything feels right with the right person. Throughout the reading, you would laugh, fall in love and cry. In addition, Sher Lee would leave you with your mouth open with the villain’s identity. This is the second book that I have read by this author, and, without any doubt, I can’t wait for her to release her third book. Her first book is Fake Dates and Mooncakes, and you can find it on my blog. Moreover, remember that Legend of the White Snake would be released on October 15. This is today’s review! Hope you like it! See you in the next review!

This is a queer fantasy with Chinese mythology retelling! I had not heard of this myth before, but I enjoyed the tale. The two main characters, Xian the prince, and Zhen the snake quickly become friends, with Xian falling in love really quickly. We then go to enemies back to lovers again. This was very fast paced and I do wish it had slowed down a bit on the romance so the reader would feel as betrayed as Xian. The ending also went downhill for me. The epilogue made me feel relieved/satisfied but I didn't fully believe the reasoning behind it. I'd recommend if you enjoy queer fantasy, or mythology retellings!

3.5 stars

What a fun, quick, sweet read! Reading this felt almost like watching a TV show, in terms of the pacing and plot beats. I really enjoyed the two main characters and their developing relationship, and also loved the bits of relationship we get to see between Zhen and Qing. The villain reveal took me completely off guard, which was refreshing (I called one part of the reveal, did not catch on at all to the second part).

I am not personally familiar with the original legend this is based on (although I did study the wikipedia page for it), but this book has encouraged me to go find more adaptations of it. I appreciated the author's incorporation of Chinese culture, and her explanations of things that were potentially unfamiliar to her audience.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review! Also thank you Sher for sending me a link!

I was a huge fan of Sher’s debut book. This was such a pleasant surprise and perfect timing that Sher reached out for me to read and review her sophomore novel.

I’m unfamiliar with the original story this was adapting, but it seemed like a very interesting tale. This was a quick read and I was thankfully able to finish it in a day.

I went back and forth on Xian. In the beginning he was so sweet but he still had moments that made me question him. After a while I was frustrated with him. The way he and Zhen flip flopped gave me whiplash. Zhen was the same throughout the whole book so I appreciated that. He was so cute and forgiving almost to an infuriating degree.

I expected the villain but the twist about it was very well done. Didn’t see it coming at all.

I’m always here for a queer historical romance, so this was right up my alley. Thank you so much again!

I’M CURRENTLY WEEPING SO HARD OVER THIS BOOK SKDNSKXNSKXN

It got me hooked from the very beginning, I couldn’t believe that I was halfway through just an hour and a half into reading it. The writing is just so beautiful, it truly feels like reading an ancient tale from an old book. I could feel the magic in me as I read it.

Just like in Fake Dates and Mooncakes, author Sher Lee makes us connect with both the characters and the story. The plot and characterizations are balanced perfectly, one not overshadowing the other. I could feel the characters’ feelings as mine as I read it.

In the middle of the book, I paused and went to read the Chinese legend of the white snake to understand the story better-which only broke my heart even more while reading the story so I’d recommend for you to do the same.

I don’t know why, but I could imagine this book like some sort of an animation movie in my mind. It had that mystical atmosphere to it that felt out of this world. I feel like I was flipping through the pages of a beloved book of myths rather than something that’s happening at that moment as I read, and I feel as if it fits the atmosphere of this book more.

It was an amazing book overall that messed with my heart palpations. Seriously, it got too intense sometimes and too emotional and I adored it.

Oh my gosh this book tugged on my heartstrings. This book had just the right amount of sass, humor and heartache which is the perfect recipe for a great love story. Reading how Zhen became a human, and found his family in Qing, was a different take on fated partners. It was also refreshing to read a book where the main lead was no ashamed of his attraction to the other lead, and was a setting that homophobia was not present. The friend and sidekick was also a fun dynamic to experience, and THE VILLAIN?? Yeah did not predict that one. That one got me good. I did a little gasp at that reveal. Whew. Ugh, nothing but love for this book. I want more! This was a fun and comfy read. This was a 5 star read for me! Thank you NetGalley for this, I will cherish this one!

Had a blast reading this one!

Our backdrop is ancient China, and the story is a twist on a popular legend. The pacing of this story is breakneck. Something is literally always happening and consequences are fleshed out fast. I think that makes it a perfect read for teens who get intimidated by the length and accessibility of fantasy. There arent dull moments. I never felt like the story dragged. There is worldbuilding, there is attention to detail, but it is all woven in so carefully along with characterization that it is conveyed simply and naturally.

There are emotional moments of anticipation, both in the romance and the action, that really tie this book together very neatly into a sweeping story that is quick and easy to read.

Would recommend for teens looking for queer fantasy, epic romance, emotional punches and fairytale retellings.

A magnetic connection, an unresistible pull, soulmates. That’s how I’d describe the way Xian and Zhen felt about each other from the moment they met.

I’m not a huge fantasy reader; I’ve said it before. Most and for all, I’m a contemporary lover. But sometimes, a fantasy book pulls me in, and I can’t let go. Legend of the White Snake is such a book. It reads like a historical (YA) romance set in ancient China with some fantasy elements added.

The start of this story, told from a dual perspective, blew me away. Xian and Zhen are both wonderful MCs, Xian the resilient, headstrong prince, and Zhen, the gentle, calm boy/white snake—two boys who immediately feel a bond with each other.

I loved the interaction between those two, the pulling and the pushing, and the tropes used (there’s only one room/bed!). Legend of the White Snake is on the lighter and sweeter side, just like Sher Lee’s debut Fake Dates and Mooncakes, especially in the first part of the story. My lips curved up in a smile so many times. The second part got a bit harsher, there are fights and people die, but that bond between those two boys was always palpable. And isn’t that cover stunning? It fits the softness of this story so well!

Thank you, Allison, from HarperCollins, and of course, dear Sher, for this ARC! I can’t wait to have the book in my hands!

This book starts off really strong, but does not finish off as strong. The book is billed as danmei inspired, and while I do think it hits some of those points superficially, I feel like it does miss the mark in more substantial ways. The setting and characters are not really fleshed out, and there's not a lot of space given for meaningful character growth. The romance aspects also felt rushed and a bit haphazard, it really didn't make sense for them to make the choices they did given how things panned out, or at least not as quickly as it did. I also felt like the explanations were a little out of place and not always needed. I get wanting readers to understand what's being described, but unless it's really crucial, I feel like we don't need to get descriptions of all the inane things. Particularly since the way things are described often was not organically introduced and felt jarring. It also felt like there were too many ideas included, especially in the last half of the book where things need to get tied up but more and more obstacles are introduced. I think this book could have benefited from some better focusing of plot details and giving the characters more growth and interest.