Member Reviews
Amanda Lee Koe wrote this perfectly, I enjoyed the way it showed the elements of the Chinese folktale in a unique way and enjoyed how it was used in this story. The characters were everything that I wanted and enjoyed the way this story was told. I appreciated the bond of the sisters and enjoyed getting to know everyone in this story. It was everything that I wanted and glad I read this.
Sister Snake is both beautiful, lyrical book retelling mythology and a biting, dark tale of sisterhood and vices. This is the kind of book that builds off of myth and folklore I've been craving, something that does something new and interesting while remaining rooted in themes that hit me right in the chest. I loved the strained sisterhood at the heart of the book, and I found myself highlighting quotes every five seconds.
Forget "The Parent Trap"—this is the sibling reunion you didn't know you needed, with a dash of ancient magic and a whole lot of sass. Su and Emerald, once moon-bathing serpents, now navigate the concrete jungles of Singapore and New York, bound by a secret that's both a blessing and a curse.
"Sister Snake" is a wild ride of reinvention, queer love, and family ties that are more tangled than a ball of yarn after a cat attack. It's laugh-out-loud funny, unapologetically queer, and packs an emotional punch that'll leave you wanting to hug your own sibling (or maybe hiss at them, depending on the day).
If you like your fiction with a side of the unexpected, a dash of ancient lore, and a whole lot of heart, grab a copy of "Sister Snake" and prepare to be charmed. Just watch out for those fangs—they might be hidden, but they're definitely sharp.
What a fun read! It had me laughing, while also caring and feeling deeply about the characters. The book was fast-paced and very readable.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Sister Snake.
I was so intrigued by the premise and excited when my request was approved.
First, I love narratives that revolve around a close sibling relationship and this one immediately drew me in, the bond between Emerald and Su, sisters who chose each other, as opposed to being related by blood.
And not just sisters, but snake sisters. Wow, I love the mythology behind their origins, and would have loved if if the author had delved more deeply into it.
The writing is good, and is, at times, beautifully poetic and luminous, befitting the sisters' thousand year life span.
I wish the narrative had focused more on Emerald and Su's relationship, or more so on developing Su more. She came off as a caricature of a affluent wife. I understood that's what she yearned for, but why?
Why did she want to be married and be a stereotype of a privileged wife? Did she truly love her husband?
Has she learned anything from her thousand year existence? Why hasn't she wanted to do more?
Emerald is the most honest of the two; she is who she is and doesn't make excuses for who she is.
The narrative seemed to focus more on Emerald, delving into her sex-positive behavior and blunt and strong personality.
I can't help but wonder if Emerald's characterization was just one of the not so subtle ways for the author to take a jab at Singapore's militant authority on its people and community.
I actually felt the scenes between Emerald and Tig were kind of dull and wanted more interactions between the sisters.
I just didn't care about the supporting characters enough to care what happened to them. At least, they were loyal and protective of Su and Emerald.
The premise is unique and I loved the flashbacks to the sisters' past to see how they survived and had each other's back.
There's nothing amusing about this narrative, its dark and magical and I wished the author had gotten really dark and scary with the premise.
Also, I wish Su had been better developed and not so one dimensional and superficial.
I look forward to the author's next book.
This was a fun time! Sisters in a chosen family kind of way who are also snakes AND immortal deal with the minutiae of their very different lives and relationships. I enjoyed the Chinese mythology part of the story a lot, but found myself drifting into a bit of boredom when the author focused more on the additional (mortal) characters within the book. The sisters were well written, especially Emerald, and I was interested in their points of view. I could see this becoming a popular new read when it comes out.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ecco for providing this arc for me to review.
An entertaining, if not quite mind-blowing novel that takes a feminist contemporary twist on a mythological story. A page turner.
I thought about this book a lot in the past weeks since I read it. Powerful story about female agency and found families. Highly recommend.
Amanda Lee Koe's "Sister Snake" is a beautifully written tale that intertwines myth and contemporary themes. Her lyrical prose and vivid imagery create a world where the supernatural and everyday life coexist seamlessly. The characters are richly developed and it’s easy to see yourself in both of them. They embody self discovery and transformation.
The plot is full of surprising twists, keeping you engaged from start to finish. "Sister Snake" is an enchanting, thought-provoking read that lingers long after the last page. Highly recommended.
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Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco for the ARC of Sister Snake by Amanda Lee Koe in exchange for an honest review. This book is a fast-paced contemporary retelling about sisters who turn into snakes in Chinese mythology. I enjoyed reading this book because it's funny and glamorous. While I found it a bit middle-of-the-road, it was still a lot of fun to read. I expect that changes will be made once the final book is published later this year but I'm sure it'll be well-liked by audiences. There were times when things were unnecessarily wordy and borderline mundane which took me out of the story but the good moments were great. It sags a little in the middle but being able to read about these sisters and the things they go through in their day-to-day lives was interesting. Emerald was suffering in New York and her sister Su was suffering as well in Singapore. When they came together, I felt a spark but I also liked the invisible strings that bound them. All in all it's a pretty solid book but I don't know how memorable it will be for me.
This is incredibly unique and spellbinding. I've never read anything like it and I probably will not stop recommending it to friends. The magical realism is beautiful and eccentric. The writing is incredible. I'm a huge fan of Amanda Lee Koe now.
I really enjoyed this book! It was something different than what I usually read and I’m glad that I actually picked it up. I had never heard of the folklore that this was based off of, but it made me want to look it up and learn a little bit more about it. I love how different the lives of the women were even though they shared the same secret. I have been recommending this book took quite a few of my friends and I really enjoyed it.
Endlessly readable. I breezed through this in two sittings and kept thinking about the book even later on. Highly recommended.
This was a beautiful retelling. I loved all the characters, even the ones you aren’t supposed to. Thank you Ecco and NetGalley for the ARC
This story follows two East Asian female snakes who decide they want to be human and follow a regiment of meditation and magic to become human "sisters." Their snakely ways continue to color their experiences and perspectives on human life. The storyline takes us from China to New York City to Singapore. AS someone who teaches Southeast Asian Studies, I thought this book was terrific. It was not only entertaining but well written and filled with cultural insights about Singaporean life, and Chinese perspectives on the family and mythology. I can imagine my students really enjoying this book, while learning a fair bit. I can't wait for the author's next book!
This book was beautifully written and so captivating. I loved this book and the characters, I couldn't put it down. Lee Koe has so much talent and I want to read more of her work because this book was everything I could have wanted. The writing was beautiful, the characters are captivating, and the story was engaging all the way through
I’m not exaggerating when I say I’m obsessed with this book. The premise is entirely creative, the magical realism is fantastic, and the characters are so fully realized. I’m just sad it’s over!
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the chance to read the ARC of Sister Snake. I can’t wait to read anything Amanda Lee Koe writes next.
When I first came across this title I KNEW I had to get my hands on it and BOY was I spot on. This was WILD. Never have I related to being a snake until reading this?!?!?!!!
I know of The Legend of the White Snake, and found Sister Snake to be a seamless, fresh, and interesting spin of the classic Chinese legend in a modern day setting! There is a constant, palpable tension of this push/pull, deep love/deep difference of a thousand-year-old chosen sisterhood. I read this cover to cover in one sitting!
I thought the writing was super sharp, and reads as part satire, part humor, and part commentary on Singapore’s “official”LGBTQ+ attitudes and other socio-cultural perspectives. I’m really glad that a wide range of people and lifestyles are represented here! Parts of it had me CACKLING, and her portrayal of such fierce ties of love and friendship really moved me.
I am already hoping for a sequel!
I read this like two days ago but never reviewed it! I thought the multiple perspectives were a strong point and the writing was very good. Super quick even though i wish we got more of Emerald living in the city. There was a lot of talk about how rebellious and crazy she was and I get she was kind of toned down but would have liked at least a chapter focusing on that instead of recounting past behavior. I enjoyed this and thought it was super good, especially for someone who’s not into fantasty really at all. This was very litfic with fantastical elements vs fantasy though so i think that was a factor. Definitely recommend and am interested in whatever comes next from amanda lee koe
Wow. Words cannot describe how beautifully written this book is. I genuinely bonded so much with the two sisters it brought me to tears. Love is such an animalistic feeling but so human at the same time. This book is like nothing I have ever read and I am so grateful for it.