Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?
A gorgeous gender-bent M/M retelling of the classic Chinese White Snake legend - a snake spirit who transforms into a boy falls for the very prince hunting him, and the push-pull of forbidden love against a backdrop of Chinese mythology and palace intrigue is absolutely magnetic.
book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden
At a Glance
Sher Lee weaves Chinese folklore, palace politics, and queer love into something genuinely special here. The worldbuilding is steeped in yin and yang philosophy, filial piety, and divine prophecy in ways that feel organic rather than decorative. Zhen and Xian's dynamic has this wonderful tension between duty and desire - the fact that one is literally the prey the other is hunting adds real stakes to every stolen moment. Perfect for when you want a lush, mythological romance that's more about yearning and sacrifice than steam.
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Book Details
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Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?
Romantasy
PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.
M/M
POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).
Dual POV
Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.
Insta-love
CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.
reveal ending
AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.
AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.
Yes
FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.
Dual Narration (same Gender)
NarratorThe voice in your ears.
David Lee Huynh and Andrew Grace
TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.
Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.
World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.
mythological
Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.
Ancient China-inspired kingdom with palace courts, spirit realms, and West Lake
Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.
RepresentationIdentity representation in the book. LGBTQ+, race/ethnicity, disability, neurodivergence, body type, age and more.
gayAsian MCAsian LI
Reading Context
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.
