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.

thank you to the author for providing me with the arc!

i knew this book was going to destroy me but i never could have imagined how much. i was actually sobbing and screaming in my room as i read the ending. honestly when i finished the last chapter i thought my life was over; i was expecting to turn the page and see "acknowledgments" BUT THERE WAS AN EPILOGUE the joy and hope i felt then was actually unmatched.

i love everything about this whole book so much, the relationships, the friendships, the history, the writing. the plot twist actually made me stop and stare and the wall for a good fat minute. you could see the question marks over my head, i had to wait and load the information we just learned. never would have expected it. the romance was soo adorable like i loved them so much it was so perfectly paced, so perfectly written! nothing about it felt forced, they were truly in loveeeee, the chemistry was !!!

also i just adored this book as a BOOK so much. like it's been so long since i read a well written book that makes me feel so intensely satisfied. ugh i honestly wish i could read it again for the first time.

anyway, this book is at the top of my recommendation list you absolutely MUST read it!!

A huge thank you to Netgalley for letting me read and review this title.

The Legend of the White Snake by Sher Lee is a very loose interpretation of the Chinese legend of Lady White Snake. It is important to note going into this that it shares some character names and a few small details, but it is not the same overall story.

The story in this book was one that was told in a very soft and engaging manner. It kicks off following the second prince, Prince Xian, as he is looking for ways to save his ailing mother. When he hears about a fortune that says the answer will be found in a remote village 10 days ride from the castle, he immediately offers to go on this quest to find the antidote to the snake poison killing his mother.

We also follow a snake spirit named Zhen, who is trying to reach a sacred mountain for both him and his travel companion to rest and regenerate their energy. We soon find out that Zhen has quite a few abilities attributed to swallowing a pearl, which turned him from an ordinary snake into a snake spirit able to perform magic and transform into a human at will.

Soon the path of these two characters meet, and sparks fly right from the start. But little do they know that not only have they met before, but they've played a bigger part in shaping each other than they realized. But Zhao cannot reveal his true form to Xian, since the prince is hunting for a white snake to create a cure for his mother. And through all of this, there are other forces at play that might just end up killing them.

I really enjoyed this title. It was quite an easy and refreshing read. I knew about the actual historical legend before, but this interpretation is updated to modern readers. Who knows, maybe this will inspire some to go dig a bit more into the real legends.

This was my first Sher Lee book, and I really enjoy their writing style. I'll be sure to keep an eye out for more books by this author!

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:
🐍 Soulmates. 🩷
🐍 Beautiful setting/world-building. 🍃
🐍 Retelling of a classic Chinese legend. 🪭📜
🐍 MLM Romance. 💑
🐍 Betrayal. 💔
🐍 Tension. ❤️‍🔥
🐍 Found family. 💕
🐍 Plot Twists! 🙃

The Characters:

I'm not sure there's a character I did not love in this book, minus the backstabbers. ( •̀ - •́ ) Xian and Zhen were both absolutely perfect, and their growth throughout the story, both together and through themselves, was impressive. Feng was quite literally the bodyguard of our dreams, and Qing was funny and definitely gave off idgaf and I'll do what needs to be done vibes. Together, they all make the perfect group, and individually, I loved the roles they each played in this story.

The Romance:

Chefs kiss. It was just enough. There was a lot of tension, some banter, a little spice, and the scenes we do get were wholesome and heartfelt. Zhen and Xian are perfect for each other and prove it over and over again. The small side romance we get between Feng and Qing was a nice touch too, and I am impatiently waiting for a spin-off for them. (♡ˊ͈ ꒳ ˋ͈)

Overall:

If the beautiful cover, the loveable characters and the heartwarming romance isn't enough to convince you, the world-building alone will make you want to dive in and experience the beauty for yourself. There is always something so magical and serene about Asian Mythology & Folklore, and this is no exception. What a truly beautiful retelling, and I look forward to reading more from this author.

🐍 Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review! 🐍

This book was wonderful. I enjoyed Sher Lee’s debut novel, but this was even better. I think she excelled in writing fantasy.

The Legend of the White Snake takes a traditional Chinese folktale and brings it to light in this magical, and romantic, retelling.

Prince Xian and Zhen, a snake spirit, go through a lot together in this fascinating story, both as companions and enemies. I do not want to give much away, but there are some twists and turns here that took me completely off guard, and oh I always appreciate that.

I definitely recommend the Legend of the White Snake to all fantasy lovers out there, and specially if you read Danmei because the mentions of cultivations and the celestial realm made me like this book even more.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and especially Sher Lee for providing me with an eARC of this book.

Actual rating: 4.75/5

Legend of the White Snake is a beautiful, lush, and heart-shattering reimagining of a traditional Chinese folktale (one I didn't know much about before reading the book and diving into its background) and I loved it so, so much! I read Sher's debut Fake Dates and Mooncakes early last year and instantly fell in love with the characters, the sheer cuteness of the story, and also the emotional punch it packed. Legend of the White Snake is no different, despite it being a fantasy novel! We had two main characters I couldn't help but love from the get-go, a very soft and also very star-crossed love story that lowkey ruined me, and incredibly high stakes! Not gonna lie, I cried a bit at the end, take from this what you will haha. 😂😭✋🏻

Anyhow, I definitely think you should pick this one up if you adore queer reimaginings that will tear out your heart hehe (I know I do). 🫶🏻