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Amanda Lee Koe’s latest novel offers an engaging and energetic reimagining of a classic Chinese fable. While the narrative occasionally veers into sentimentality and bursts at the seams with its exuberant energy, it remains faithful to its source material and delivers numerous moments of genuine beauty and charm, particularly around same-sex friendships.

Having previously encountered Koe’s work in Ministry of Moral Panic, I was familiar with her dynamic and evocative prose. This novel retains much of that same energy, propelling the plot forward with a lively pace. The narrative traverses two vibrant metropolises: the gritty underbelly of New York City and the dazzling landscape of Singapore, reminiscent of the “crazy rich� aesthetic. There’s a distinct vein of insider humor that will resonate particularly with Singaporean readers, and it’s commendable how Koe seamlessly integrates vernacular elements while maintaining accessibility for a Western audience.

I particularly appreciated the nuanced portrayal of the Green Snake, often relegated to a secondary, almost impish role in traditional retellings, frequently referred to simply as “Xiaoqing� or “little green.� Here, she is given depth and agency. The novel also boasts a diverse cast of characters, although at times, this diversity feels somewhat contrived, perhaps reflecting a tendency in Singaporean narratives to foreground politically correct representation while overlooking other, more subversive forms of diversity.

While the plot’s fantastical elements, involving a snake incarnated as a human with superpowers, require a degree of suspension of disbelief, the narrative embraces this premise wholeheartedly. However, I felt that a greater sense of restraint in certain instances, a tempering of the “wow factor� and feel-good moments, could have allowed for more compelling character development. Overall, though, the novel is an enjoyable and imaginative read.