Serpentine | 
so-soI‘m not sure how I feel about this one. This had great potential, but I don‘t think it quite got there for me. The characters felt a bit underdeveloped. Also I think there were a few too many things going on at once, so nothing really got the time it deserved. I really enjoyed the premise, though. 3/3.5 ⭐️
#bookclubpick
This one started out a little slowly, but it‘s picked up some speed now. I‘m enjoying it so far!
#bedtimereading #bookclubpick
Starting the weekend off with a slice of Lemon Bliss Cake (recipe from King Arthur Flour), a big mug of Yorkshire Gold with milk, and finally to finish this great read about a young handmaiden in the Kingdom of Xia who discovers that there is a darkness in her. Love the characters of Skybright and her mistress Zhen Ni, who is pressured to marry into a good family but isn‘t interested in men.
Pork floss sandwich + Nespresso +New-to-me author whose book Serpentine fits into one of the #asianlitbingo squares perfectly = Happy Wednesday
She found an error and needed help figuring out a sentence with no spaces 😨
Oh my god, guys. Read this now. It's YA with twin emphasis on friendship and romance. It's diverse and set in an exciting world and just plain good. It won't move literary mountains but I enjoyed the heckers out of it.
Day 13 #readingwomenmonth - YA. One of the YAs I've read more recently. An enjoyable, diverse read. I'll have to see what else Pon has out.
pickA story about half demon, half human handmaid to a willful girl who loves girls and all the trouble that comes with that. It's historical fiction set in China with a f/f relationship, there's magic and mythical creatures including the main character Skybright. It was fast paced and sometimes seemed rushed but overall a very good story. Strong friendships, a surprise ending, I enjoyed it and it was a fast read!
pickIf you like any or all of the following: YA, fantasy, diverse characters/non-Western setting, kickass young women coming into their own... then I'm pretty sure you will like this book. It was light without being slight; I could see myself picking it up again when I need a comfort reread.
this was book number 52 for the year! Finished it over the holidays on my brand new kobo :)
pickEnjoyed this novel a lot. Serpentine takes the reader on a journey into Chinese mythology as Skybright discovers her place in it, but the real story focuses on how her relationship with her best friend Zhen Ni changes as they enter adulthood (which includes plenty of self-discovery) and they each find love. There's a sequel, but this book stands on its own well. #YALit #youngadult #youngadultbooks #cindypon #chinesemythology #china #serpentine
"Was this what growing up, becoming a woman, meant? To show only certain acceptable sides of yourself to others, even to those you love?" Page 95.
Cindy Pon defines so much of what makes YA literature about the teen experience in that one paragraph. Loving this book. #Serpentine #CindyPon #youngadultbooks #ya #yalit #teenlife
For my next read, I'm diving into Cindy Pon's Serpentine. This is one of those cool times when I don't know what the book is about and I've never read anything by the author. I just know a lot of writers I like enjoy her writing, and I've read a lot of positive buzz. My only real question before I start: is it pronounced Serpen-TINE or Serpen-TEEN? #ReaderBlindDate #Serpentine #CindyPon #YALit #youngadult #youngadultbooks
pickAnother great book by Cindy Pon. I think this series is stronger than her first one. I really loved the friendship between Skybright and Zhen Ni. It gives a bit more weight to the story that I didn't think her other books Silver Phoenix and Fury of the Phoenix had. But like those other books, Serpentine has wonderful world building. A great book for any fans of fantasy and folklore.
Saw her at Nerdcon: Stories and she made it sound great! Can't wait to read it!
I can't decide if this book is supposed to be YA or Middlegrade...
pickOk, this was SO good. I bought it on a whim based on a someone's Litsy haul (who was it?!) and I read it without reading the synopsis, which I never do. Wow. Fantasy based on Chinese mythology, really complex characters, and action-packed. The depiction of female friendship was so realistic, too.
🔔 .99cent Amazon deal-- this one has been on my TBR pile a while so I snatched it up quick. Fantasy inspired by Chinese mythology = sold!
