bajemna's review against another edition
4.0
A very different story from anything I've ever read. Wonderful relationships between the characters. Looking forward to more from Cindy Pon. I think my only, very minor, knock is Skybright's relatively easy acceptance of her demonic side. I would've expected more denial and more freaking out. Otherwise a wonderful, original story.
ginnikin's review against another edition
2.0
This didn't really engage me. I don't think Cindy Pon is for me, which makes me sad because her stories seem like they really should work.
hrjones's review against another edition
4.0
Serpentine is a young adult fantasy novel with a historically-inspired Chinese setting that revolves around two major themes. The first is the domestic story of the protagonist Skybright, a foundling who is handmaiden and companion to the well-born Zhen Ni, as both of them stand at the edge of womanhood. The external peril is an invasion of supernatural creatures who have found an opening into the mortal world and are being fought off by a martial order of monks. A major theme of the several braided plot lines is the consequences of concealing your inner nature from those closest to you. Zhen Ni's secret is her romantic love for other girls, first turned toward Skybright and then toward a visiting friend who returns the interest more enthusiastically. But Zehn Ni's fate is to marry well and produce children, and she can only conceal her desires for so long. Skybright's secret is more drastic: she is a serpent demon, with a tendency to shift between human and demon form at unexpected times. And the young man she's feeling a growing attraction to is currently fighting demons with the monks...
I enjoyed the book, particularly in how it incorporated issues of sexuality within a historic culture, and realistically portrayed the various social power differentials between the characters: Skybright's anomalous relationship to Zhen Ni as both "like a sister" yet with no future except to be her servant; the conflicted relationship between Zhen Ni and her mother (who it is hinted may have had a "special friend" in her own past that she had to give up); and the relationship between Zhen Ni and her lover Lan. Zhen Ni is frustratingly self-centered in all of these, but realistically so, given her status and upbringing, though I felt that her actions in the latter part of the book felt more plot-driven than character-driven. But this is Skybright's story, so the major conflict is in her growing understanding and acceptance of her demon heritage and her decisions about how to use that to fight for and protect the people she loves.
I don't think it's fair to note that I was a little put off by some aspects of the prose, because I'm not the target audience from that point of view. The language was a bit simple and did a bit too much explaining, but the setting was well rendered and vividly imagined. If the girls spend a lot of time agonizing over situations that could be resolved with some clear communication and a willingness to compromise...well, that's something in the nature of being a teenager, I suppose.
The story concludes with no happy endings for any of the various romances (no tragedy, but no happiness) and with a large handful of pending plot threads that are presumably taken up in Sacrifice, the sequel.
I enjoyed the book, particularly in how it incorporated issues of sexuality within a historic culture, and realistically portrayed the various social power differentials between the characters: Skybright's anomalous relationship to Zhen Ni as both "like a sister" yet with no future except to be her servant; the conflicted relationship between Zhen Ni and her mother (who it is hinted may have had a "special friend" in her own past that she had to give up); and the relationship between Zhen Ni and her lover Lan. Zhen Ni is frustratingly self-centered in all of these, but realistically so, given her status and upbringing, though I felt that her actions in the latter part of the book felt more plot-driven than character-driven. But this is Skybright's story, so the major conflict is in her growing understanding and acceptance of her demon heritage and her decisions about how to use that to fight for and protect the people she loves.
I don't think it's fair to note that I was a little put off by some aspects of the prose, because I'm not the target audience from that point of view. The language was a bit simple and did a bit too much explaining, but the setting was well rendered and vividly imagined. If the girls spend a lot of time agonizing over situations that could be resolved with some clear communication and a willingness to compromise...well, that's something in the nature of being a teenager, I suppose.
The story concludes with no happy endings for any of the various romances (no tragedy, but no happiness) and with a large handful of pending plot threads that are presumably taken up in Sacrifice, the sequel.
kellsway's review against another edition
5.0
This is my first read from this author and I can safely say that I will definitely be reading the sequel to this book plus her other works.
This story had a little of everything that I love to read in a novel and I couldn't put it down once I started it. I need to fine out more about Stone ( my badboy immortal crush ), Skybright, Zhen Ni and Kai Sen. The characters were rich and full of depth and I found myself wanting to know more about the world and there own personal struggles.
Cindy Pon did a fantastic job of weaving a lot of life truths, questions and struggles in the pages of the book. It made me stop and think and question the decisions that we make and the consequences that arise due do those decisions.
I would definitely recommend this read to anyone looking for a Chinese, erry but very complaining type of read.
This story had a little of everything that I love to read in a novel and I couldn't put it down once I started it. I need to fine out more about Stone ( my badboy immortal crush ), Skybright, Zhen Ni and Kai Sen. The characters were rich and full of depth and I found myself wanting to know more about the world and there own personal struggles.
Cindy Pon did a fantastic job of weaving a lot of life truths, questions and struggles in the pages of the book. It made me stop and think and question the decisions that we make and the consequences that arise due do those decisions.
I would definitely recommend this read to anyone looking for a Chinese, erry but very complaining type of read.
libraryofdreaming's review against another edition
1.0
I feel like I can safely give this book a solid thumbs down. I was under the impression I was reading a diverse mythical fantasy book for middle schoolers but the result was something much more mature and definitely blah. The plot is just... boring. The mythological elements are not very exciting. The romance felt rushed. The book ended oddly (and anti-climactically) but I don't care enough about the characters to invest time in the sequel. I'm sorry to say it since one of my favorite YA authors recommended this on Goodreads but it's just not my cup of tea at all. Perhaps someone else would find it interesting but it was not for me.
directorpurry's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, and Homophobia
abigailbat's review against another edition
2.0
This was okay - an interesting concept, but I just was never really drawn into the story and ended up skimming a lot in the second half of the book. Maybe huge fantasy/romance fans who are looking for something a little different will like this better than I did?
plumeriade's review
3.0
a strong 3.5 but not quite a 4.
i didn't care for the main romance, and i think all the supernatural monster stuff could have been done way more spooky/creepily. actually, honestly, as much as i LOVE monster girls, i was more interested in the normal domestic parts of the story.
but the friendship between Skybright and Zhen Ni is lovely, and HEY, UNEXPECTED LESBIANS! Skybright's romance is with a boy and starts after they've met like, twice for all of 10 minutes. but Zhen Ni falls for a girl. details:
i didn't care for the main romance, and i think all the supernatural monster stuff could have been done way more spooky/creepily. actually, honestly, as much as i LOVE monster girls, i was more interested in the normal domestic parts of the story.
but the friendship between Skybright and Zhen Ni is lovely, and HEY, UNEXPECTED LESBIANS! Skybright's romance is with a boy and starts after they've met like, twice for all of 10 minutes. but Zhen Ni falls for a girl. details:
Spoiler
Zhen Ni gets caught and her mother ends up physically punishing her, with Skybright stepping in to some some of the lashing. Zhen Ni's love interest Lan is sent away. however, by the end Zhen Ni is able to return to Lan to get a proper goodbye, and i hope that she gets some form of a happy ending.veryreaderie's review against another edition
4.0
A fantastic read. The setting was incredibly vibrant (I don't think you could read a Kingdom of Xia book without falling in love with the setting) and our heroine—the endlessly practical handmaiden Skybright, who occasionally turns into a snake-woman—was the perfect change of pace for a fantasy book. Her emotions were as genuine and compelling as a heroine's should be, but her loyalty and practicality stood out as just that bit different. An excerpt:
[[Nanny Bai gave a low chuckle. "You have always been practical to a fault."
Skybright kissed Nanny on the cheek before she left, wondering how practicality could ever be a fault.]]
This made me laugh, as Skybright's internal dialogue did tend to be pretty "well this is just how it has to be".
Other things to love: the concept of platonic jealousy explored without real judgement (what do you do when your best friend falls in love with someone, and you can feel that person slipping into territory that used to belong to just the two of you?), a sweet romance that would have been cliché if the 'telling you I don't care so you leave' ploy had worked, except it totally didn't and all is well (at least in that arena), SNAKE-WOMAN, mysterious immortal being whose morality is fairly questionable despite continuing benevolent acts. Skybright's dual identity as both a human girl and a monstrous predator was beautifully set down. The book suffered from occasional not-sure-where-this-is-going-ness (as in, the fantasy elements often seemed impossible to predict/random) but that doesn't matter very much in context of all there is to enjoy.
[[Nanny Bai gave a low chuckle. "You have always been practical to a fault."
Skybright kissed Nanny on the cheek before she left, wondering how practicality could ever be a fault.]]
This made me laugh, as Skybright's internal dialogue did tend to be pretty "well this is just how it has to be".
Other things to love: the concept of platonic jealousy explored without real judgement (what do you do when your best friend falls in love with someone, and you can feel that person slipping into territory that used to belong to just the two of you?), a sweet romance that would have been cliché if the 'telling you I don't care so you leave' ploy had worked, except it totally didn't and all is well (at least in that arena), SNAKE-WOMAN, mysterious immortal being whose morality is fairly questionable despite continuing benevolent acts. Skybright's dual identity as both a human girl and a monstrous predator was beautifully set down. The book suffered from occasional not-sure-where-this-is-going-ness (as in, the fantasy elements often seemed impossible to predict/random) but that doesn't matter very much in context of all there is to enjoy.