Always a fan of retellings (in general but specifically) of the classic Chinese folktale of The White Snake, Sher Lee’s tale was an absolutely delightful new addition!

Lee’s queer-normative approach brought a fresh perspective with tender insightfulness to the love story aspect. One couldn’t help but to be quickly wrapped up in its enticingly descriptive coils! And the adventure! The mystery! Truly shocking serpentine plot twists! This book was 100% pure magic! A captivating must read for fans of several genres (LGBTQIA+/fantasy/AAPI).

Much appreciation goes out to author, Sher Lee, and Quill Tree Books (HarperCollins) for the opportunity to experience Legend of the White Snake in advance of its October 15th, 2024 release.

This one has a zillion reviews already, so I don't really want to add more verbiage to the river. Basically, it's a workmanlike treatment of an otherwise rich wonderful Chinese myth that has been retold many times, in many ways. This one is a queer retelling, which I thought an interesting idea, but the boys fall into insta-lust. Which is fair, given teenage boys, but I hoped for better characterization. A slow simmer, and more period detail than we found would have made this reader happier.

Thank you so much to Sher Lee for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for a review!!

I greatly enjoyed this book and the approach which Sher Lee took with it. While it is a YA book, because of the time frame and society, there are many adult themes throughout. I find that Lee consistently does really well with pacing, and I enjoyed that this book never went too fast or felt rushed. The characters are very different from one another, but you can also see how they compliment each other, and how the love is able to blossom between them.

From the retelling perspective, I think it was done so, so well. When this book is described as lush, it absolutely is. It's hard not to actually envision the story as you read because of Lee's descriptions. There are moments of high emotion all around, and it has me all the more excited to see more from Sher Lee in the future!

“Do you believe in destiny?”
↳ “I believe destiny is an excuse people give not to fight for what they really want in life.”
“Will you fight for what you want?”
↳“Always.”

mini synopsis:
Prince Xian lost his only chance to heal his dying mother when a white snake swallowed the spirit pearl meant to cure her. Seven years later, he is still desperately searching for a way to save his mother. Along his journey he finds himself crossing paths with a boy named Zhen, who he can’t help but feel drawn to. Anddd the story takes off from there 😆

review:
The way that I was not expecting to FREAKING CRY from this book. I don’t know what I was expecting, especially going into this book blind, but a face wet full of tears WAS NOT IT. I am surprised in the best way, and I always feel like that a novel truly did its job well if it’s able to pull these emotions out of me. I was straight giggling, to worried and nervous, to full on tears.

Prince Xian and Zhen were everything to me. I loved the angst, the dynamic, the torture and internal conflict they both had throughout their relationship. I apologize if my review sounds vague, but I always find it so much more enjoyable to go into books blind. I felt like I was reading a Chinese historical angsty insta-love drama, and I LOVED IT. I am not usually one who enjoys when the characters are immediately attracted to each other, but I have to say the author did an amazing job. I felt like their relationship grew so perfectly in such a short amount of time, and I was screaming and rooting for them!!!

Overall, this was a fun time. It was fast paced, but in the best way. I cried, my eyes are still a little poofy from the tears, and I absolutely adored the heck out of these two silly boys, or maybe one who is not exactly entirely a boy? (hehe) I was delightfully surprised, and so happy that I was given the opportunity to read this early.

Thank you HarperCollins and netgalley for this e-arc.

First of all, let me thank @sherleeauthor for giving me an eARC of her latest book!

After loving "Fake Dates and Mooncakes" I must admit that I had high expectations for this book

Here the author gives us a queer retelling of a Chinese legend, the legend of the white snake, and yes, it exceeded all expectations.

I must admit that at first I was a little confused, especially because the author brings us some Chinese expressions and I didn't know this legend that well.

But after the first 3 chapters I was just asking for more and more! Sher Lee knew perfectly well how to make me fall in love with Xian and Zhen, and how to break my heart for the same reason.

Xian does everything to try to save his mother, at the same time that he falls madly in love with Zhen and discovers that he will have to sacrifice one love in exchange for another.

Honestly, I lost count of how many times tears came to my eyes while reading this book. Maybe it was a very sentimental day, but the truth is that when we reached the middle of the story, it was suffering after suffering.

The author leaves us in pieces with the ending to add a patch of hope with the epilogue.

But you know, as much as I suffered with this book, now when writing about it the only thing I think about doing is re-reading it.

The best advice I give is... read this book!

A retelling of the classic chinese myth of the White Snake with queer romance?? I need it immediately. The story follows Prince Xian who has been trying to find a cure for his mother's sickness, a pearl from a white snake.... but when another snake snatches it from him when he was a boy he has been desperate to find another. Now years later he has traveled to an oracle to help him find and capture a white snake. Then there is Zhen, a white snake... or rather the white snake who consumed the spirit pearl that Xian had and now has the ability to turn into a human. Zhen has always wanted to be a human and when he encounters Xian they become immediately drawn together... but with Xian hunting down Zhen, and Zhen hiding who and what he really is... when the secrets come out will they still want to be with one another? I love the classic story of the White Snake and couldn't pass up the chance to read a queer retelling of it. I adore Sher Lee's previous book and couldn't wait to read this one. It's definitely a unique take on the classic story and the relationship definitely had a lot of ups and downs from both characters. It just didn't really hit the mark for me but I do think if you like queer fantasy mythology inspired books, I would say give this one a go.

Release Date: October 15,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books | Quill Tree Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Xian is the prince who meets a snake spirit named Zhen, who he later decides he wants to be his concubine. Xian is after a spirit pearl that has magical abilities that can help heal his mother’s sickness. Zhen tries to keep his true identity a secret from Xian once he finds out that he’s the exact snake spirit the prince is looking for. i enjoyed this more than i thought i would but the romance between these two boys was so sweet and i loved how Xian never made Zhen feel pressured to do anything he didn’t want to. i also like the side characters and the plot kept my attention with no problems. the magic was interesting and the ending is sort of bittersweet but it was just so endearing to see the lengths they’d go to in order to be together.

*I received a digital ARC from the author and Quill Tree Books (imprint of HarperCollins Children's Books) via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

4.5 stars

Legend of the White Snake is a YA fantasy romance and a queer retelling of a Chinese folktale of the same name.

We follow Xian, son of the king and his consort, whose mother fell ill when she was bitten by a white snake. It was rumoured that she could be cured by the essence of a spirit pearl, or an antidote from a white snake itself. But the only time a pearl was in his grasp, Xian nearly drowned. His life was saved by a white snake, but the snake also took the pearl.

Seven years later, Xian’s mother is dying. He’s still carrying the burden of his failure, and has been hunting snakes in hopes of finding a cure. When his father’s advisor tells of news from the oracle that a white snake will be found in Changle, he makes a point to go there himself to make things right. But it needs to be in secret, so he visits Changle under the guise of a diplomatic visit.

Zhen, a snake spirit, was gifted human form the day he swallowed the spirit pearl. He is now living in Changle with his sister Qing, working in the palace stables. He does not know what happened to the boy he saved seven years ago. But he still remembers.

This story is essentially about two people whose lives and fates are entwined. But it’s not a sweeping epic, although we do get glimpses of the bigger world and the influences of spirit powers and the gods.

It’s a romance, one that is mostly able to happen because of Xian’s privilege as a prince. But the first time he meets Zhen in the stables, he pretends to be a horse keeper and flirts with him without either knowing who the other really is. It’s actually really sweet, and the only time when we get to see Xian without the heaviness of his status and purpose.

But that heaviness does catch up to him, and as he and Zhen develop feelings for each other, the reality of their situation gets revealed, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

I really appreciated how the story was woven together, and how the fantasy elements were incorporated in a way that it seemed possible. I found the writing to be clear and direct – less sweeping scenic descriptions than other fantasy novels I’ve read, but was enough to paint the picture of the scenes without distracting me.

I loved Qing and Feng as side characters, and felt that they helped to ground Zhen and Xian as still being young and figuring out what love is, and who they want to be. There is a lot in this story about choosing to be the person who does the right thing. I feel that there are likely a lot of values from Chinese culture embedded within the story that would explain each of their decisions throughout the novel, but as a reader who is less aware of these influences, I still felt like I understood where each character was coming from. I also liked that some parts of the story surprised me, and made me question who the real villain was.

I really enjoyed this story and will definitely read it again!

I think romantic retelling of folktales but make them gay is my new favorite genre. It worked perfectly for this Chinese folktale retelling. We’ve got a snake spirit turned human and a prince searching for a white snake which he thinks will lead to a cure for his mother’s terminal illness. Only the white snake he’s searching for is actually the guy who the prince chose as his personal assistant. Their feelings develop and it leaves me on the edge of my seat the whole way to see what will happen. Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publishers, for approving me for this ARC in exchange for my honest and genuine review.

Following the complicated love story of Xian and Zhen was an emotional roller coaster for me. I tend to enjoy retellings in historical settings, and this story did not disappoint. I loved the characters even though the dialog seemed modern, which did not fit the setting. That did not deter me from finishing this book; I'm glad I did. I typically don't gravitate toward YA stories, but this one pulled me in and did not let go.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

A charming and well-paced story! I liked seeing how Zhen and Xian grew in their relationship. I can't comment on the faithfulness of the retelling as I'm not familiar with the original story. The writing style was pretty straightforward, but I think it worked since this is a folktale.

The Legend of the White Snake (15+) is the second book l've read by Sher Lee.

It's a wonderful tale about a prince, who goes snake-hunting to find an antidote to cure his mother's sickness caused by a snake, falling in love with a snake spirit who can transform into a human.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I'd sympathise with a snake but that's what happened with this book.

Zhen (snake) was a cinnamon roll who didn't want humans to hurt animals and was too kind. He and his sister transformed into humans in search of work so they could pay their journey to Mount Emei, to replenish and cultivate their powers.

Zhen tried hard to fit in as a human, and since he never read or had any education like humans, he was very observant and learned things while he served Xian (prince).

Xian was a loyal son. His mother's sickness bothered him for seven long years. He also felt guilty about losing a spirit pearl, 7 years ago, to a snake that could have cured his mother. But his father's adviser telling him there was a cure for his mother was all he wanted to hear and he was set on finding it at any cost.

Between him falling in love, trying to hunt the white snake and trying to ward off ambushes and betrayals, Xian's journey was filled with risky adventure.

If you like Chinese dramas with twists, l'd recommend this book, which will be out on 15th Oct.

Thanks to TBR & Beyond Tours and HarperCollins for the early copy of the book!

What a beautiful, heartfelt, captivating book this was! I've spent the past year or so really getting into the weeds with a few fairly popular translated danmei, and have been quite curious to see how western traditional publishing - specifically YA - would react to it. And if LEGEND OF THE WHITE SNAKE is any indication of what's out there and what's to come, I feel like I'm in for quite the treat!

I really loved how <i>tight</i> this book was. Everything was paced perfectly; nothing felt like it overstayed its welcome structurally, and every loose end was tied up nicely by the end of the book. There was even a moment towards the end where I realized something about a character and thought to myself, "No, that can't be right, they just did something else", and then quite literally on the very next page it was explained in a way that made me realize I'd caught a plot reveal right when I was supposed to. It's always so exciting and fun to read something that was meticulously written like that. I was really impressed.

This was just a fun, lovely, easy read that left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside - exactly what the doctor ordered. I think my biggest takeaway from this book is that I need to read Sher Lee's debut! I can't believe I missed it.

(Many, many thanks to folks over at Harper Collins for the ARC!)

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for access to the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars rounded up

Unfortunately, Legend of the White Snake was a bit of a let down for me. As a fan of east asian mythology and legend, I had very high hopes for a retelling of one of my favorite stories, however I was almost bored reading this. The writing was almost too straightforward, which while not necessarily a bad thing, did little to draw the reader's attention or bring to life the rich setting in which the story takes place.

in regard to the characters, they felt extremely one dimensional, with little depth given despite there being room for such depth. As for the relationship, it suffered due to that lack of depth to the characters individually, and their relationship felt too rushed to be properly believed or enjoyed. I would have preferred a bit more buildup to the attraction, and the chemistry between them left to simmer.

I think this is just such a beautiful story. Prince Xian’s and Zhen stories just flow together to weave a beautiful tale of hidden pasts, discovery, and finally love. Both characters are distinct and lovely. Together they are just the perfect pair. I think readers will just be sucked in and soak up this lovely tale. I am so excited to recommend it to patrons soon. This is one of the best LGBTQOAP+ books I have read all year.
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books, Quill Tree Books, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Wow! Such a beautiful story of found family, love, betrayal, family values and folklore. The story of Xian and Zheng is beautiful. Overcoming hate with love, mercy, forgiveness and sacrifice. I was immediately drawn in from the first paragraph. I loved the nuggets of wisdom. The imagery was clear and I could see it all in my mind as I read. I really enjoyed learning more of the Chinese culture and didn’t feel like it was confusing or overwhelming.

➸ 4 stars

“You…you gave up eternity to come back to me?”
“It wasn’t even a choice.”

𓍢⊹ ࣪ thank you to netgalley for the arc!

i really enjoyed reading this one!! two people from different words who are meant to be together overcoming odds pushing them apart and finding their way back to each other? ate it up!! i absolutely adored zhen, he deserves the world and all the happiness ever!! i thought xian was okay, when the reveal happened i wasn’t liking his character all that much and even though there was a reason for it, it still hurt! i did love zhen and xian together!! they were the absolute cutest; the stolen glances, the tenderness and the yearning was so perfectly written and i love them so much!!

“But out here on their own, Xian and Zhen weren’t a prince and a snake spirit; they were two boys who would risk their lives for each other, again and again, without thinking twice.”

the side characters were amazing too! i loved qing!! she’s an amazing friend and is loyal to her heart! i loved her friendship with zhen so much and how they’d stay by each others sides no matter what! and then there was feng, the moody and hilarious bodyguard who’s also loyal to a fault, he protected xian throughout this entire book and i loved their friendship!! qing and feng… they had something brewing and i would absolutely eat up a book about them!!

the plot twist in this book went absolutely crazy and i never would’ve expected it!! after it happened my mind went to that little throwaway comment at the beginning and the author is a genius because my jaw dropped to the floor!!

overall, i really enjoyed reading this and loved the story!!

A queer romantic reimagining of the Chinese folktale, Legend of the White Snake.

Solid YA fantasy. Fast-paced. Lacked a little character depth but all around a great time.

Also, I learned I’m not really into snakes.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children (Quill Tree Books) for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Legend of the White Snake is a beautiful and queer retelling of a Chinese folk tale. Xian was once saved and doomed by a mysterious white snake. It pulled him from a lake, but swallowed the pearl that could have cured his mother. Zhen is a white snake who has been transformed into a snake spirit after swallowing the pearl. When the two meet, an instant connection forms and Zhen is recruited to help Xian hunt down the cure for his mother. When the truth is revealed, will their relationship crumble?

Legend of the White Snake is a well-paced and captivating retelling. The stunning cover initially drew me in. I love reading LGBTQ+ retellings and also enjoyed learning about the original folktale. Xian and Zhen have a sweet and warm relationship. It was very interesting to see how Sher Lee wrote the magic of the snakes and what it means to be a snake spirit. Legend of the White Snake is an excellent re-imagining of an epic Chinese folktale. Readers who love queer retellings and magical folktales should check out Legend of the White Snake.

Thank you to Sher Lee, Quill Tree Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

Legend of the White Snake is Sher Lee's take on the Chinese folktale of the same name. The book begins with our two main characters meeting in the past, Zhen as a snake and Xian as a young prince looking for a cure for his sick mother. Zhen uses that cure to turn himself into a shapeshifting snake spirit. After jumping to the present, Xian is now hunting after this snake and fate brings the two boys back together, neither realizing who the other is. The boys quickly fall for each other before Zhen's past is revealed. The boys must overcome guilt, prejudices, and their past to realize their true feelings.
I had a fun time reading this and learning the folktale and how it differs from the original. I think this would be a good introduction to the Xianxia genre with how much explanation Lee includes for every detail.
Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC in trade for an honest review.