I enjoy folktale retellings and this was pretty good. It's nothing ground breaking or filled with twists but a simple charming love story. I'd recommend it if you're interested in a short and sweet read.

4.75 Stars

When Prince Xian was a child, a white snake bit his mother and condemned her to a slow death. Unfortunately, the spirit pearl meant to heal her was brought as ransom when the Prince was kidnapped. The Prince managed to escape with the pearl, but both fell into a river, where he was rescued by a large white snake who then ate the pearl. Ever since, Xian has been hunting snakes in search of the pearl. An oracle has recently predicted that the cure will be found in Changle and Xian is determined to be the one to find it, or the snake, in order to make an elixir. In Changle, Xian meets the intriguing young Zhen, who is kind, smart, and compassionate. The Prince asks him to be his consort, but more so to be his hunting guide, even as he is attracted to Zhen. But, as Zhen becomes closer to Xian, and begins to develop feelings for him, Zhen is having a hard time hiding that he is the very white snake Xian has been searching for his whole adult life.

I really enjoyed this fast paced, mythological retelling. These two had an immediate attraction to one another, and while I usually cringe at insta-love, this was not that. They actually form a bond of friendship first, with Xian helping Zhen to learn basic courtesan tasks. It is especially sweet when he teaches him how to make tea. The two clearly have feelings for each other, but are reserved. Xian because of his reputation as a charmer and Zhen because he is a snake, and learns he is the one who stole the cure for Xian's dying mother. But, as they work together, they become more and more enamored with the other.

Zhen is a good character who experiences lots of growth throughout the novel. He wants to help other snakes, so they are not killed, and even took one in as a sister. Together Zhen and his adopted sister Qing are so funny. Their love for each other, their care and kindness, and their obliviousness to humanity makes them so endearing. Zhen also works hard to repay the privilege he was given when he swallowed the pearl. He desperately wanted to know what it was to be human, but also is deeply tied to his snake form. He feels guilt over taking the power to save Xian's mothers life, but when he was a snake he had no idea that is what he was doing. He would give anything for his friends, sometimes even his enemies, as he tries to make up for the gift he received.

Xian also has a good back story, tragic in that his mother is slowly dying and he is defenceless to stop it. He has an older brother who is awful to him as his mother is only a concubine. While Xian is kind, he also shows great promise as the next leader of their Kingdom, and his brother cannot stand that fact. But while his brother lusts for the throne, Xian is determined to find a cure at all costs for his mother. However, what if the cure turns out to be the death of someone else you love? And, being betrayed by the one you thought you loved, and who you were sure loved you back, is a very cutting truth that eats at Xian. It sours his heart, stops him from seeing the truth. But, his love for his mother often blinds him. Also, his father and him not telling Xian's mother the truth, or letting her make her own decisions, infuriated me. What if she did not want Xian sacrificing his happiness and chance at true love for her?

The plot was propulsive, with Xian racing against time to find a cure for his mother. However, there are always obstacles to saving someone's life in a fantasy novel. First, meeting a love interest when you are trying to finish your assigned duty. Then Xian must contend with an overzealous advisor that seems to be working for his own interests and a backstabbing power hungry brother. All this while dealing with being a Prince in a different court, trying to remember all protocols, and trying to save a mother you love dearly.

It was very well written and captivating. I did not expect some of the twists and turns the book took. I also felt it was important that it showed the cruelty of this historical kingdom and that protocol demands the Prince must seek punishment for disobedient servants. Even as Zhen would not wish pain on a servant boy who hurts him, Xian must punish him or risk appearing weak or disrespectful to their customs. So, he is lenient where he can be, because these servants are trying to stay in the palace to avoid becoming destitute and in order to send money to back to their families.

This book really took a look at the depth of devotion between a son and his mother, familial obligation, found family, the promise of new love, and finding strength to combat prejudices one might have for another. Overall, a deeply romantic friends to lovers fantasy story that involved a shape shifting snake and the greed of men. Highly recommend.

A combination of YA and Chinese fairy tale, this book felt underdeveloped and I struggled to connect with the characters. The plot pushed me along without letting me enjoy the ride and the insta-love was very reminiscent of the YA genre, which is okay except. I was hoping for more character depth.

I feel like I would have enjoyed this book more if I were not an experienced danmei reader. Nothing here is particularly innovative, but it does get the job done. I would recommend to anyone who is interested in danmei but is intimidated by the length/complexity of danmei. As a fantasy, this book falls short. As a fairytale, it's charming and sweet. A sweet book, but not anything I'll find myself returning to.

I enjoyed Legend of the White Snake for what it was – a YA retelling with a lot of heart. I really liked the characters and their interactions, especially seeing how their relationships developed over time. My favourite part of the book was definitely how it wove Chinese mythology and culture throughout the story. Learning about different legends, customs, and beliefs added so much richness and made the world feel atmospheric and almost magical.

One thing I really appreciated was how the LGBTQ elements were handled. I liked that in this world, being gay wasn’t treated as something unusual or a problem – it was just normal. Their love story could simply be a love story without fear or shame attached to it, and I think that’s really important to see in books, especially for younger readers looking for safe, affirming representation.

The romance itself was sweet and had moments that made me smile, but it did feel slightly rushed, especially towards the end. I wanted more time for their connection to build and deepen so that the emotional moments would land even harder. Similarly, the character development felt a bit thin in the second half. There was so much potential for both of them to grow, but the pacing didn’t quite allow for those deeper shifts to happen.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators did a good job. Their voices suited the characters well and added a lot of personality and emotion to each scene.

Overall, while this wasn’t a standout favourite for me, it was still an enjoyable read with beautiful cultural elements and a sweet, affirming romance. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a light mythology-based YA book with gentle LGBTQ representation woven seamlessly into the world.

I've loved seeing the rise of Asian-inspired fantasy take off, and I love seeing more representation here! This was lush and romantic, and perfect for people who love Elizabeth Lim!

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children’s Books/Quill Tree Books, and Sher Lee for an advanced copy of Legend of the White Snake in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a fun read, but I don’t think it really had staying power for me. Even having just finished this book a few days ago, I’m struggling a little to remember the minor plot points. Something was missing from the overall storytelling and it failed to fully capture my attention for long periods of time. I did enjoy it while I was reading it, though. I loved the worldbuilding and the magic system. And I loved watching the relationship between Zhen and Xian grow (even if it did feel a tiny bit insta-lovey). The twist at the end did get me, so that’s also a plus.

Legend of the White Snake is a romantic retelling of a traditional Chinese folktale, reimagining the ancient story with a fresh twist. The story centers on a young white snake spirit, Zhen, who has the ability to transform into a human after consuming a powerful spirit pearl. Seven years prior, Zhen gained these abilities and has been living quietly as a stable boy in the city of Changle.

Prince Xian, driven by a haunting memory of his mother’s painful death caused by a white snake’s venom, arrives in Changle in search of the snake and its life-saving pearl. A prophecy leads him to believe that he will find the elusive creature in this city.

When Xian meets Zhen, neither is aware of the dangerous connection that ties them together. As their attraction deepens and turns into something more, Zhen realizes that Xian is unknowingly hunting him. Torn between his growing love for the prince and his need for self-preservation, Zhen faces an impossible choice.

Tropes
✨ headstrong prince x stable boy
✨ forbidden love
✨ LGBTQIA representation
✨ Identity and Transformation
✨Mythology and Fantasy

This book is perfect for the fans of:
🐉Asian Mythology and Folktales: Readers who enjoy retellings of classic myths, such as Six Crimson Cranes
🐉 Fantasy Romance:Fans of stories blending magic, destiny, and star-crossed lovers, reminiscent of The Song of Achilles and The Priory of the Orange Tree
🐉 LGBTQ+ Romances: For readers seeking heartfelt LGBTQ+ love stories within a fantasy world, similar to *The Tiger’s Daughter or Red, White & Royal Blue

Legend of the White Snake is a beautifully written retelling of a beloved folktale, blending romance, fantasy, and cultural mythology in a way that is both fresh and timeless. With rich characters and a poignant love story, this novel is perfect for fans of reimagined classics and emotional, fantasy-driven narratives.

This was so beautifully written and absolutely packed with emotion. The world was rich, the romance was tender, and the story pulled at every heartstring. It’s one of those reads that sneaks up on you—and yes, it will make you sob. A stunning retelling with depth, love, and magic woven through every page.

I really enjoyed this book! The author’s writing is stunning, and the world-building? Perfection. I felt like I was right there, wandering from Hangzhou’s scenic West Lake to the elegant pagoda and the iconic Broken Bridge. The level of detail in the setting, architecture, and magical systems made everything feel so vivid and real. I’m a sucker for stories that dive deep into the mechanics of a fantasy world, and this one delivered.
And the MM romance? So tender, so well done—it hit all the right emotional notes without ever feeling forced. If you're into Asian MM romances, Chinese folklore retellings, or just love a well-crafted fantasy with supernatural elements, this one’s a must-read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

❝ “Do you know how it feels when you can’t stop thinking about someone but you can’t do anything without messing everything up?” ❞

This book fit in nicely with my current xianxia mood, especially with The Legend of the White Snake being one of my favorite Chinese tales. I really enjoyed this retelling. It was fun, cute, and I found the characters endearing. The angst and drama in the second half had me in tears.

My only real complaint is how abrupt the ending felt. The epilogue was able to take away some of the sting and end things on a positive note, but that final chapter was really devastating.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great mythical story. I really enjoyed the relationship between Zhen and Xian. They were great characters and the story was lush and lovely.

This is cute! If you like xianxia and danmei, you’ll probably like this. I will say it reads a little young, even for YA. There’s also a bit of insta-love but their relationship is sweet and good enough to not have that be a damper.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quill Tree Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins tor this ARC! This book was very sweet, even when sometimes it felt a bit predictable and cliche. This book reads very simplistic, however considering it's a YA book that isn't a complaint on my part! Overall I think I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a cute dash of queer historical fiction and some folklore mixed in.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collin’s Children’s Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was not for me. The cover of this book was beautiful and drew me in and the plot sounded cute. Unfortunately this book had many of the issues that I have with YA novels.

The characters had no personality and the relationship was instantaneous. The dialogue was incredibly flat and modern taking away from the story. Lastly descriptions read more like a series of definitions rather than being woven into the story.

This book was fantastic! I loved the storyline, I loved the characters, I cried at the end. This book hit my emotions all the way through in all the right ways. It shows the power of family love, romantic love, and friendship love. There is backstabbing and betrayal. Plus magic. What more could one want!

unfortunately this did not work for me and I feel like it should have been at least new adult instead of ya. However I do see potential for others to enjoy it.
a dnf.

DNF @32%

I usually like Chinese folklore retellings. But I didn't like the pacing of this story or the instalove.

I received a free copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

(rounded up from 3.5 stars)

first of all, the cover is absolutely beautiful.

secondly, i found this book to be an overall quick and cute read! the story was easy to follow albeit fairly predictable, but its good if you want a simple fantasy read. i do think the main romance was insta-lovey, since they barely interacted and already, they were attracted to each other. i usually prefer more of a slow burn, but i thought it was fine for this story.

i thought the dynamic between zhen and qing was amazing, and how much they cared for each other as family.

two things that were kinda lukewarm for me were xian as a character and the ending. maybe i just don't like time jumps right at the end and xian made a couple of choices i questioned a little.

Ahhh l'm a huge lover of Chinese myth retellings and this one was my favorite one! I absolutely loved the author's spin on the classic story and the amount of cultural elements/representation that was included. I watch a lot of xianxia dramas and this felt like one - the worldbuilding was very detailed and very well done! The one thing I did wish there was more of was more of a slow burn between Xian and Zhen but thought this was great overall.