4.5/5 Stars

The Legend of the White Snake by Sher Lee is a mesmerizing reimagining of the classic Chinese folktale, filled with lush descriptions, unforgettable characters, and a touch of romance that’s both tender and bittersweet. Lee brings a fresh perspective to the beloved story of forbidden love between a serpent spirit and a mortal, weaving in themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and identity with grace and nuance.

The writing is poetic and immersive, transporting readers into an enchanting world where magic feels palpable, and the line between good and evil is blurred. The character dynamics are beautifully explored, especially the relationship between the White Snake and her human love interest, which is complex, vulnerable, and achingly heartfelt.

While the pacing may feel a bit slow at times, particularly in the early chapters, the rich atmosphere and emotional depth make this a journey worth taking. Lee's reinterpretation is both respectful to its origins and inventive, making The Legend of the White Snake a must-read for fans of folklore-inspired fantasy.

All in all, this is a hauntingly beautiful story that lingers in the heart long after the last page.

[arc review]
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Legend of the White Snake releases October 15, 2024

3.75

Prince Xian is on a journey to Changle to hunt down a white snake in order to create an antidote that would cure his dying mother’s snakebite.

When Zhen and his sister acquire temporary jobs at the palace in Changle coinciding with Xian’s arrival, their intentions are to only stay long enough to gain the provisions that would help them make it to Mount Emei. But an encounter at the stables leads to Xian unexpectedly choosing Zhen as his personal attendant over one of the chosen courtesans, all while being completely unaware that Zhen is a snake spirit and the same white snake whom he encountered several years ago.

I really enjoyed the blend of tenderness, betrayal, and sacrifice in this story.
Something I wasn’t expecting was for Sher Lee to dip into fantasy after debuting with contemporary romance, but she did so effortlessly, and I'm eager to see what she writes next!

I really loved this one. It even made me cry! It was both so beautifully written and had so much action. Such a quick read that pulled at my heart strings. I am in a romantasy mood (words I never thought I would be putting together in a singular sentence) and this story fulfilled my need for a sweet and beautiful story. I own another book by Lee, Fake Dates and Mooncakes. I am convinced there is nothing by Lee that I won’t absolutely love. I highly recommend if you’re looking for a gorgeous romantasy, look no further.

This book was quiet but really lovely. I loved the journey that we went on within this, and the characters within all felt so special. I really liked the plot of this, and found the writing lovely as well, I think that the concept was really unique and interesting, and that it was well executed. I definitely need to read more from this author because this was so good!

This is a queer retelling of a Chinese myth with the same name, but I had not heard of the legend prior to reading this story. I didn't even realize it was supposed to be a retelling until after I had finished, so I don't think not knowing the source material was a detriment at all. I also don't read a lot of Chinese fantasy, so it was also pretty cool being able to read about some Chinese traditions alongside a famous legend. I also really liked the spirit guardian idea.

I think the relationship between Zhen and Prince Xian is pretty cute, albeit I agree with other reviews that it didn't take much for them to fall in love. There was some physical attraction, but I feel like it was too quick. We didn't get a lot of moments where they could just coexist and learn more about each other. It was mostly Zhen waiting on Prince Xian, them thinking the other was cute, then they slept together. This wasn't a deal breaker for me, it was cute but not much more than that.

If you like cute/fluffy M|M romance then you'll like this!
Thank you to Sher Lee, HarperCollins Publishing, & NetGalley for the eARC!

I was interested from the description of the book for a while and saw that there was an arc and I knew I had to read it. The story is paced pretty well in my opinion and I loved our main characters. Xian and Zhen are so cute together and I loved their sweet and tender moments. The plot it self was interesting and the moral dilemma than our main characters have to go through was interesting to read through. I found this book just a fun little read to pass time. Although at times I felt myself skimming the text, I still had a dun time. Overall this was an okay book to read for the past time.

Thank you, NetGalley, and the publisher for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Sher Lee's sophomore novel, I was not disappointed in the least. She is a new leader in queer historical literature and brings such a fresh air of non-european, Singaporean stories to mainstream media.

I have read other tellings of the White Snake, and this one is by far my favorite. I also gave me some Heaven's Official Blessing alfon with the adventure and humor of The Princess Bride.

Please please Sher Lee, keep writing, I love reading your stories. Your characters make me so happy, and the world needs more Queer Singaporean literature

This was a very sweet book and I’m glad I read it. I was not familiar with the folklore this tale was based on. The love story was a bit rushed, but not cheesy or cringeworthy. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC!

I had never heard the original folk tale, so I was very intrigued by the plot. The writing was well done and I felt like everything moved seamlessly. I loved Xian and Shen and was quickly invested in their relationship. I enjoyed the action scenes and the tender ones. The ending was sweet and I am so glad I now know this story.

A fast-paced, fun read overall! Very sweet, with a great buildup and some truly masterful plot twists.

Prince Xian’s mother has been sick for as long as he can remember, having been bitten by a white snake, and each year it gets worse and worse. The coughing, the weakness, the lethargy; and each year she gets closer and closer to death. When Xian was a child, he had a chance to present his mother with a white pearl, a magical item that would hopefully cure her and bring her back to full health. Instead, he was kidnapped, almost rescued, and in the resulting confusion, tossed into a lake to drown. Even now, years later, Xian doesn’t know how he survived. He only knows that he lost the pearl.

However, there’s a new hope now with a prophecy saying a white snake will be found in Changle. Xian’s teacher and his father’s advisor, Fian, thinks he can use the living white snake to create an antidote, so Xian — along with Fian, and Xian’s bodyguard and best friend, Fang — head off to catch a snake.

Seven years ago, Zhen was a snake living in a lake. When he found a child drowning, he decided to save him, only taking in return the glowing spirit pearl. With the power of the pearl, Zhen was able to take a human form and live as humans do; it even gave him the strength to save another snake from being killed, turning her human. The two of them now travel together as brother and sister, and have taken work in the city of Changle to earn some human money with which they will buy horses in order to make travel easier.

When the Zhen and Xian are unknowingly reunited, they cannot help but feel a spark of attraction. But how long can Zhen go before revealing the truth to the prince hunting for a white snake? And what will the prince think of Zhen when he realizes the magic pearl he lost all those years ago was taken by the very snake standing before him in human form?

This story is a queer, young adult retelling of, well, the Legend of the White Snake, featuring a young prince searching for a cure for his dying mother and a snake demon who just wants to know what it’s like to be human. The author explains certain Chinese customs, clothes, teas, and foods in a way that should make it easier to understand for a Western audience, doing so in a very simple, well-written way. However, I think so much time was spent making this book approachable that the characters ended up suffering. Xian and Zhen never develop beyond “Prince” and “well-meaning snake demon.” They become friends almost instantly, fall into bed just as quickly, and the truth is revealed within the next few chapters, leading to an inevitable breakup. Despite the book being almost 400 pages, everything moves by so quickly and yet so shallowly and I’m left with not much of an impression.

The writing is solid and smooth. The book is well plotted and it’s nice to see elements from the familiar legend in a new adaptation, but overall I’m left feeling like I read a book that won’t linger in my memory. However, that’s just my opinion. There will be other people out there who read this and love this, and if you choose to give this book a chance, I hope you’re one of them!

This was a fun read! The characters fall in love pretty quickly, without much buildup, but I felt the romance had a good balance between sweet and angsty. There's some nice worldbuilding, but it's mainly character focused and I was fine with that because sometimes fantasies can be overwhelming as you're learning the world. This is a retelling and I know nothing about the original, but I was able to understand the story just fine without that knowledge. I enjoyed this and will definitely be reading more from this author!

4 stars.

This wasn't something that I would normally pick up; don't get me wrong I love both YA & Fantasy, just am not all that familiar with the legend that it is based on (and generally speaking -- I like to go into books such as this with at least some sort of knowledge). However, I absolutely adored this book - the weaving in of Chinese mythology as well as culture made this book truly speak to my soul. It was a delicious fast paced, witty, and oh so romantic journey and I absolutely adored every single page. The pacing was incredible, and really helped you to become engaged quickly.

The characters were well developed considering the story line, and pacing. I adored Qing as her humor was delicious and I just loved how she kept the storyline rolling. Zhen and Xian had such adorable moments and the tension was an absolute delight! The angst, the tension, the romance was all incredibly well done.

The world-building, though it was not the main focus of the book, felt extremely well written and I was able to imagine myself there - not usually a characteristic I often feel!

The ending - oh that ending! How powerful, and what an emotional ride. It was a whirlwind and it will take some time before I am able to truly express the vast variety of emotions that I felt, but I will say that it ended perfectly and beautifully. Super grateful to Sher Lee and NetGalley for this e-Arc in exchange for my honest review!

Prince Xian's mother was bitten by a white snake sending her to a slow death. Seven years later he goes on a journey to find the cure predicated by an oracle. Seven years ago Zhen, a white snake, ate the spirit pearl that could have saved Xian's mother gifting the ability to turn into a human. The two meet on Xian's quest to find a cure and immediately are attracted to one another. Zhen discovers that he is the white Snake Xian is looking for and his idenity could tear them apart.

This book pulled me in almost immediately. The interaction between the two was fantastic. Zhen is gentle while Xian is headstrong that made the push and pull between them addicting to read. The tension between these two just jumps off the page.

The first half of the book is sweet getting to know each other while the second half is a little harsher as the story progresses. That ending stressed me out so much. It was a good hurt.

I am so glad I got an ARC of Legend of the white Snake. Thank you to Net Galley and publishers for a copy for an honest Revieu

This was such a great read! The folklore was beautifully depicted and the character development felt natural. I found it a little bit difficult to keep up with who was who but the magic and lore was really well done. I love Sher's writing and how she describes the cultural elements of this story. There was a deep underlining moral of the story that was woven seamlessly throughout.

My heart! Sher Lee you broke it and put it back together. I loved the debut book Fake Dates and Mooncakes by the author and couldn't wait to read this one. Sher Lee is not going to disappoint you.

Step into a world of myth and magic with Sher Lee's enchanting novel, Legend of the White Snake. This book weaves ancient folklore with contemporary storytelling, creating a captivating tale that is both timeless and fresh.

Top 5 reasons that you need to read this book:
~ Lee's writing is lush and poetic, breathing new life into an age-old legend while exploring themes of love, sacrifice, and the eternal struggle between duty and desire.
~ It is a mesmerizing read for anyone who loves folklore, fantasy, and romance. It also has me shedding tears. What an emotional ride!
~ Xu Xian and Zhen's love story is filled with trials and tribulations, set against the backdrop of mystical China and rich with cultural references.
~ The secondary characters were amazing and each of them played it so well.
~ There are twists and turns that will keep you hooked. It is all just beautifully done.

Favourite Quotes:
🩵 One justice can overpower a hundred evils.
🩵 “Someone wise once told me why each half of the yin-yang circle has a small dot of the opposite color,” he said. “It means that in every choice, we have to consider the good of the other person in some small way. Only then will things turn out well.”
🩵 Xian smiled. “Zhī jǐ, you mean?”
“I’ve heard of that,”Zhen said. “But I’m not sure what it means.”
“It’s a little hard to define,”Xian replied. “It’s someone who knows everything about you, maybe even knows you better than you know yourself, and who will stand by you no matter how dark or ugly you feel inside. You’ll get mad at each other sometimes, but you can imagine spending the rest of eternity with this person, because you know the two of you will never get tired of each other . . . or stop loving each other.”

For once, I enjoyed the romance. I’m happy when authors aren’t afraid to make their characters feel lust not just for 30 seconds before a fade to black scene. Though, nothing more than kissing was really shown. The characters were definitely a highlight too. I was so glad the characters had friends and healthy relationships. Out of all the fantasy romance I’ve been reading lately, this one is the most normal and healthy. The plot was pretty well structured and paced. It did contain some of my favorite troupes. My only real criticism is one of the mains was a complete doormat. I believe some people might have the ability to forgive and forget but not for what this guy goes through. Not an ounce of anger or self righteousness for what he goes through. But maybe that’s personal problem and not really something that will bother everyone. Overall, I think it’s one of the better romance fantasies.

Unfortunately I was not a fan of this story. I attempted to read it multiple times as the premise was promising and I had been looking forward to it after it was announced. I DNF’d at 20% through the story and am unable to give a complete review as such. Thank you to Net Galley HarperCollins and author Sher Lee for generously giving me an arc. I hope this book finds its perfect audience

Legend of the White Snake by Sher Lee - ARC REVIEW 

✨️ Queer retelling of traditional Chinese folktale.
✨️ Magic
✨️ Royalty
✨️ Hidden Identities

Prince Xian's mother has been slowly and painfully dying over the last few years after being bitten by a venomous white snake. When an oracle foretells that the cure can be found in the city of Changle, Xian insists on retrieving it himself.

Zhen, a white snake spirit, is on his way to the sacred mountains when he finds himself working in the palace of Changle. Feelings blossom when Zhen finds himself chosen as Prince Xian's personal attendant.

With danger lurking in the truth, will Xian and Zhen find what they've been searching for?

🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍

Y'all, this was such a cute read!

I absolutely loved the chemistry between Xian and Zhen.There is a bit of instant attraction between them, but with the way the story is told, it felt like more time had passed than really had. I was initially worried about the power imbalance between the two, with Xian being a prince, but Lee does a great job negating that with Xian's personality and the little things he says and does to show he's not pressuring Zhen into doing anything.

There is a great cast of supporting characters. I especially loved the platonic flirting between Xian and his bodyguard/bff, Feng, and the protective sibling dynamic between Zhen and Qing. Also, I'm going to start a fan page for Zhaoye, Xian's horse, I love him.  

As with Lee's first book, Fake Dates and Mooncakes, Legend of the White Snake has such beautifully descriptive imagery, and I spent half the book wanting to eat all the food.

Watching this story unfold had me smiling,  wringing my hands, holding back tears, and about to bite someone myself by the end.

Legend of the White Snake released October 15th - definitely go check it out!

Thank you to Sher Lee, HarperCollins Children's Books, and Quill Tree Books for the digital e-galley copy in exchange for an honest review.

when prince xian was a boy, a white snake bit his mother, causing a slow, painful death he’s still hoping to save her from. now, he sets out to find a spirit pearl, the only thing that will save his mother. he meets zhen, a white snake that consumed a spirit pearl years ago, allowing him the power to transform into a human. the two are immediately drawn to one another, but zhen soon realizes that he’s the white snake xian is hunting, and their relationship gets trickier.

i adored fake dates and mooncakes last year, so i was really excited for sher’s fantasy debut! this had so many elements i love to see in fantasy books: angst (i definitely shed a few tears), a retold legend, romance, and even a dual pov! i can see myself rereading this within the next year and recommending it to anyone and everyone i can.