roseybot's review
4.0
FINALLY I have finished this book. It only took me thee months. The problem wasn't the book itself, but more that I needed to read a bunch of things in between.
Interesting world, definitely awesome to be in a non-European fantasy setting. I was intrigued by the world building, and what was going on with Skybright. I loved the sister relationship, and the fact that female relationships were extremely important in this book.
I'm still... confused by the ending. But it's the first book, so it could be expected.
3.5 stars.
Interesting world, definitely awesome to be in a non-European fantasy setting. I was intrigued by the world building, and what was going on with Skybright. I loved the sister relationship, and the fact that female relationships were extremely important in this book.
I'm still... confused by the ending. But it's the first book, so it could be expected.
3.5 stars.
geldauran's review against another edition
3.0
Cool idea, but this book is just totally lacking in all tension.
finalefile's review against another edition
3.0
I finally finished this! It took long enough...the book takes a while to get going and it just didn't grab my attention enough to put a lot of effort into it.
The blurb on the cover really doesn't tell you much at all. Ghosts! Demons! Zombies! Battles between mortals and immortals! That's what this book is really about, and those are subjects I don't particularly like to read about. I don't know what I was expecting... but not that. I was hoping for a relatively happy book, but this was pretty dark. However, I did like the characters and the worldbuilding, and the shapeshifting theme was fun to explore.
I want to know what happens next but I don't feel like reading the entire next book, so I'll just look for a synopsis somewhere.
The blurb on the cover really doesn't tell you much at all. Ghosts! Demons! Zombies! Battles between mortals and immortals! That's what this book is really about, and those are subjects I don't particularly like to read about. I don't know what I was expecting... but not that. I was hoping for a relatively happy book, but this was pretty dark. However, I did like the characters and the worldbuilding, and the shapeshifting theme was fun to explore.
I want to know what happens next but I don't feel like reading the entire next book, so I'll just look for a synopsis somewhere.
lady_mel's review against another edition
4.0
This is a coming of age story, with a twist. Skybright is an orphan raised as a handmaid to the youngest daughter of a wealthy family. The girls were grew up together, and were as close as sisters.
At the age of 16, Skybright discovers a secret about herself, and it changes her life forever.
At the age of 16, Skybright discovers a secret about herself, and it changes her life forever.
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.