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Sister Snake
A glittering, bold, darkly funny novel about two sisters—one in New York, one in Singapore—who are bound by an ancient secret.
Sisterhood is difficult for Su and Emerald. Su leads a sheltered, moneyed life as the picture-perfect wife of a conservative politician in Singapore. Emerald is a nihilistic sugar baby in New York, living from whim to whim as she freely uses her beauty and charms to make ends meet. But they share a secret; once they were snakes, basking under a full moon in Tang Dynasty China.
A thousand years later, their mysterious history is the only thing still binding them together. When Emerald experiences a violent encounter in Central Park and Su boards the next flight to New York, the two reach a tenuous reconciliation for the first time in decades. Su convinces Emerald to move to Singapore so she can keep an eye on her—but she soon begins to worry that Emerald’s irrepressible behavior will out them both, in a sparkling, affluent city where everything runs like clockwork and any deviation from the norm is automatically suspect.
Razor-sharp, hilarious, and raw in emotion, Sister Snake explores chosen family, queerness, passing, and the struggle against conformity. Reimagining the Chinese folktale “The Legend of the White Snake,” this is a novel about being seen for who you are—and, ultimately, how to live free.
Sisterhood is difficult for Su and Emerald. Su leads a sheltered, moneyed life as the picture-perfect wife of a conservative politician in Singapore. Emerald is a nihilistic sugar baby in New York, living from whim to whim as she freely uses her beauty and charms to make ends meet. But they share a secret; once they were snakes, basking under a full moon in Tang Dynasty China.
A thousand years later, their mysterious history is the only thing still binding them together. When Emerald experiences a violent encounter in Central Park and Su boards the next flight to New York, the two reach a tenuous reconciliation for the first time in decades. Su convinces Emerald to move to Singapore so she can keep an eye on her—but she soon begins to worry that Emerald’s irrepressible behavior will out them both, in a sparkling, affluent city where everything runs like clockwork and any deviation from the norm is automatically suspect.
Razor-sharp, hilarious, and raw in emotion, Sister Snake explores chosen family, queerness, passing, and the struggle against conformity. Reimagining the Chinese folktale “The Legend of the White Snake,” this is a novel about being seen for who you are—and, ultimately, how to live free.
9 pages, Audible Audio
First published December 3, 2024
237 people are currently reading
21198 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Lee Koe
3 books387 followersBorn and raised in Singapore, Amanda Lee Koe has lived in Beijing, Berlin and Bangkok and is now based in New York.
She was the youngest winner of the Singapore Literature Prize for the short story collection Ministry of Moral Panic (Epigram, 2014), shortlisted for the Frankfurt Book Fair's LiBeraturpreis and the Haus der Kulturen der Welt's International Literature Prize.
Her debut novel, Delayed Rays of A Star (Doubleday, 2019), won the Henfield Prize, awarded to the best work of fiction by an MFA candidate at Columbia University's School of the Arts. It was a Straits Times #1 Bestseller, and an NPR Best Book of the Year.
Her second novel, Sister Snake (Ecco, 2024), was a Gold House Book Club pick, a RuPaul’s Allstora Sapphic Book Club selection, an Amazon Editor’s Pick, a Center for Fiction December pick, an American Bookseller’s Indie Next December pick, and one of Kirkus Review’s best fiction books of the year.
She was the youngest winner of the Singapore Literature Prize for the short story collection Ministry of Moral Panic (Epigram, 2014), shortlisted for the Frankfurt Book Fair's LiBeraturpreis and the Haus der Kulturen der Welt's International Literature Prize.
Her debut novel, Delayed Rays of A Star (Doubleday, 2019), won the Henfield Prize, awarded to the best work of fiction by an MFA candidate at Columbia University's School of the Arts. It was a Straits Times #1 Bestseller, and an NPR Best Book of the Year.
Her second novel, Sister Snake (Ecco, 2024), was a Gold House Book Club pick, a RuPaul’s Allstora Sapphic Book Club selection, an Amazon Editor’s Pick, a Center for Fiction December pick, an American Bookseller’s Indie Next December pick, and one of Kirkus Review’s best fiction books of the year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 946 reviews
August 24, 2025
the surefire way to get me to read a book is to make it about sisters.
even better if the sisters in question are hot violent scary snake-women.
i had limited familiarity with the folk tale that inspired this retelling, but that didn't stop me from having a damn good time.
this book is over-the-top crazy, featuring hyperbolically beautiful and rich and charming women, and everything it does is wild. still, somehow, the core of it feels almost realistic: the way that your sister is the person you love the most who also deeply infuriates you, even if the infuriating thing is murder instead of stealing your clothes. complicated love stories. friendships and crushes. the singaporean nanny state.
it's an almost goofy book, and yet it holds itself back when it has to.
in other words, it's really fun.
bottom line: even if you're an immortal mythical creature your family gets on your nerves.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
even better if the sisters in question are hot violent scary snake-women.
i had limited familiarity with the folk tale that inspired this retelling, but that didn't stop me from having a damn good time.
this book is over-the-top crazy, featuring hyperbolically beautiful and rich and charming women, and everything it does is wild. still, somehow, the core of it feels almost realistic: the way that your sister is the person you love the most who also deeply infuriates you, even if the infuriating thing is murder instead of stealing your clothes. complicated love stories. friendships and crushes. the singaporean nanny state.
it's an almost goofy book, and yet it holds itself back when it has to.
in other words, it's really fun.
bottom line: even if you're an immortal mythical creature your family gets on your nerves.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
July 10, 2024
A darkly humorous romp! 🐍
I'm on BookTube. Come find me at Hello, Bookworm📚🐛
"And so that fateful mid-autumn night, when the moon was at its brightest, in the year 815 in the Tang dynasty, the green snake swam to an underwater cave and obtained a lilac lotus sown by a goddess."*
What I thought this book would be: An amusing journey that spans centuries, following two sisters with diametric personalities who can transform into snakes, kiss girls, and sometimes take people out with their fangs.
What it actually was: All of the above! 😀
Sister Snake had me laughing one minute and gasping in horror the next, as all dark comedies should. It primarily follows East Asian "sisters" Su and Emerald who were born snakes but spent years self-cultivating to become humans. Their wildly different personalities find them living completely different lives, one in New York and the other in Singapore.
As someone who lived in Singapore for four years, I can attest that Sister Snake gives an accurate portrayal of life in Singapore (author Amanda Lee Koe was born there, after all). Characters engage in balanced conversation on the ways in which Singapore is both a glimmering future city as well as a city state that has a lot of catching up to do with the rest of the enlightened world.
One of my favorite things about this book are the entertaining chapter titles, such as "A Self-Possessed Woman Can Turn Your World to Dust"*, "One Hundred Percent Prepared to Go Full Death Metal"*, and my top favorite: "His Erections Are as Lackluster as His Poems."*
Amanda Lee Koe's writing is so luscious! The story is adorned with rich sensory details about the loamy scent of decaying foliage, the musky smell of creatures in the undergrowth, mossy trees and wild orchids, and more.
Sister Snake is both a dazzling contemporary retelling of the Legend of the White Snake (Chinese Folklore) and a love story (in more ways than one). Beautifully written, good for a laugh, and delightfully queer. Highly recommend!
I'm exceeding grateful to Ecco Press for sending me an early copy of this book.
*Note: Quotes taken from an uncorrected proof and are subject to change in the final printing.
--
ORIGINAL POST 👇
A queer retelling of the Legend of the White Snake (Chinese folklore). And one of the sisters lives in Singapore. I'm definitely going to read this. 🐍👀
I'm on BookTube. Come find me at Hello, Bookworm📚🐛
"And so that fateful mid-autumn night, when the moon was at its brightest, in the year 815 in the Tang dynasty, the green snake swam to an underwater cave and obtained a lilac lotus sown by a goddess."*
What I thought this book would be: An amusing journey that spans centuries, following two sisters with diametric personalities who can transform into snakes, kiss girls, and sometimes take people out with their fangs.
What it actually was: All of the above! 😀
Sister Snake had me laughing one minute and gasping in horror the next, as all dark comedies should. It primarily follows East Asian "sisters" Su and Emerald who were born snakes but spent years self-cultivating to become humans. Their wildly different personalities find them living completely different lives, one in New York and the other in Singapore.
As someone who lived in Singapore for four years, I can attest that Sister Snake gives an accurate portrayal of life in Singapore (author Amanda Lee Koe was born there, after all). Characters engage in balanced conversation on the ways in which Singapore is both a glimmering future city as well as a city state that has a lot of catching up to do with the rest of the enlightened world.
One of my favorite things about this book are the entertaining chapter titles, such as "A Self-Possessed Woman Can Turn Your World to Dust"*, "One Hundred Percent Prepared to Go Full Death Metal"*, and my top favorite: "His Erections Are as Lackluster as His Poems."*
Amanda Lee Koe's writing is so luscious! The story is adorned with rich sensory details about the loamy scent of decaying foliage, the musky smell of creatures in the undergrowth, mossy trees and wild orchids, and more.
Sister Snake is both a dazzling contemporary retelling of the Legend of the White Snake (Chinese Folklore) and a love story (in more ways than one). Beautifully written, good for a laugh, and delightfully queer. Highly recommend!
I'm exceeding grateful to Ecco Press for sending me an early copy of this book.
*Note: Quotes taken from an uncorrected proof and are subject to change in the final printing.
--
ORIGINAL POST 👇
A queer retelling of the Legend of the White Snake (Chinese folklore). And one of the sisters lives in Singapore. I'm definitely going to read this. 🐍👀
December 18, 2024
I almost never review books I don’t enjoy but the positive reviews this book has received makes me feel like I should offer some perspective for readers who want something like I want from fiction.
Characters are one-dimensional. Emerald is a free spirit. Su is an uptight rule-follower. Su’s husband is a straightforward villain. Emerald’s gay best friend is a Gay Best Friend who becomes part of Emerald’s life when the novel begins and proves to be entirely disposable. Tik the bodyguard is the only character crafted with any complexity.
Worldbuilding is sloppy. Dialogue is cringe. There isn’t much in the way of plot. The ending feels like the author just got tired of writing. Most importantly, for me: The author introduces some very dark content that she doesn’t seem prepared to deal with.
Midway through this novel, I was prepared to give up. Then I thought that I might enjoy it if I thought of it as a romance novel or some other variety of genre fiction. So, I kept going and I think that I would have liked this novel more if I had given up.
Characters are one-dimensional. Emerald is a free spirit. Su is an uptight rule-follower. Su’s husband is a straightforward villain. Emerald’s gay best friend is a Gay Best Friend who becomes part of Emerald’s life when the novel begins and proves to be entirely disposable. Tik the bodyguard is the only character crafted with any complexity.
Worldbuilding is sloppy. Dialogue is cringe. There isn’t much in the way of plot. The ending feels like the author just got tired of writing. Most importantly, for me: The author introduces some very dark content that she doesn’t seem prepared to deal with.
Midway through this novel, I was prepared to give up. Then I thought that I might enjoy it if I thought of it as a romance novel or some other variety of genre fiction. So, I kept going and I think that I would have liked this novel more if I had given up.
October 25, 2024
3.0 Stars
Video Review https://youtu.be/y9h_dc_MtCo
Darkly literary satire is a tough subgenre to pull off, but when it's done well, it can be amazing. I am always on the lookout for this kind of off kilter books so I had to check this one out.
I liked this one but I must acknowledge that it didn't quite live up to my hopeful expectations. I felt it played it a little safe and didn't get as biting and dark as I hoped it would go. I instead found this one a touch flat which is disappointing, given the potential this one had.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Video Review https://youtu.be/y9h_dc_MtCo
Darkly literary satire is a tough subgenre to pull off, but when it's done well, it can be amazing. I am always on the lookout for this kind of off kilter books so I had to check this one out.
I liked this one but I must acknowledge that it didn't quite live up to my hopeful expectations. I felt it played it a little safe and didn't get as biting and dark as I hoped it would go. I instead found this one a touch flat which is disappointing, given the potential this one had.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
January 24, 2025
TW: Graphic gang rape scene early on in the book. It's snake rape but rape nonetheless.
4.5⭐ stars rounded up. Sister Snake is a queer book written by a queer Singaporean writer for other queer Singaporeans. Few stories made me feel incredibly SEEN as this one. As a queer Singaporean, it's like if every angry thought, every time you express something in righteous fury of how you as a member of the LGBTQ+ community are erased, downplayed, suppressed and stripped of certain basic human rights in this country was made into a book. Was it rather heavy-handed, completely devoid of subtlety about its politics, and even preachy at times? Very much so. But living in a country all my life where the mainstream national media upholds the establishment that contributes to queer oppression, where the freedoms of activists to speak out and call out authoritarianism are now threatened more than ever—fuck it, go OFF, Amanda Lee Koe. Speak your truth.
Overall, I enjoyed this very much and devoured it a little over a day. Emerald is unapologetically queer and outspoken on issues, which makes her my undoubted fave out of the two sisters. What especially struck me though is her love for her sister Su, that SHE was the one who initiated the process of attaining human form all because of Su's Part of Your World-esque desire to be human. 800 years of self-cultivation ... because her sister wanted it. How could I not love her.
I also found Su to be a compelling character, even with all her flaws. It's easy to empathise with her desire to assimilate, to "pass" in order to attain the safety and security in a society that hates the Other. Her snake spiritness. i.e. the ability to shed her snake form in preference for her human form, is written like a trans allegory of Feeling Like You Were Born In the Wrong Body. ALK even outright uses dysphoria to describe Su's discomfort. With the way Su is obsessed with passing for fear of having her secret being outed and being thrown into danger over it, one can't help but be reminded of the violence the trans community faces.
That said, it's not surprising that Su and Emerald will disagree on how to live with their snake/human duality. Su's even a downright terrible sister with how she's willing to throw Emerald under the bus to preserve her skin. I do find their tumultuous relationship interesting to read, and it's because of Su's inherent desire to survive in such hateful world as a trans-coded character that I don't outright despise her. I may not AGREE with nor condone her actions, like when she let Emerald take the fall back in that Victorian London Incident or when she didn't immediately stand up to her transphobe of a husband, but I can UNDERSTAND why. What I don't particularly care for is Su abandoning Emerald very early on in their lives over a MAN (heavily implied to be Xu Xian from the original myth), of all things. A man that Emerald didn't even care for nor tried to pursue. How could you pick a man you weren't even with over your sister for centuries?? That wasn't about survival.
My other favorite part of SS is the inclusion of a Malay lesbian character, Atika AKA Tik. Given the length of the novel, she didn't have that big of pagetime, but I adored the portrayal that ALK gave us, especially of her complicated relationship with her mother. As a Muslim of Malay descent, I haven't come across a sapphic character like that in the books I read till now, and I CRIED at the resolution she got. The casual racism Tik experienced as an ethnic minority was a necessary addition if you're ever writing about Singapore, given how much it likes to pride itself of how racism ~doesn't exist~ here, not like the Unruly West.
This wasn't an insta 5-star because the ending didn't quite... STICK its landing with me. While I enjoyed the feminine rage and unhinged violent chaos we got, it's unsatisfying to me that Su's shitty husband Paul got a humanizing ending. The man violated his wife's bodily autonomy, is outright transphobic AND misogynistic by wanting a woman he supposedly loved to be subservient, so I think he needed his head bitten off like that other character. 🤪 "I hope she kills her husband" was literally my vibe before that ending. I also would've liked for Su to acknowledge her fucked up mistreatment of Emerald in the past and properly apologise; saving Emerald's life isn't an apology.
Regardless, this is a new fave and I'm grateful to ALK for putting this out into the world.
4.5⭐ stars rounded up. Sister Snake is a queer book written by a queer Singaporean writer for other queer Singaporeans. Few stories made me feel incredibly SEEN as this one. As a queer Singaporean, it's like if every angry thought, every time you express something in righteous fury of how you as a member of the LGBTQ+ community are erased, downplayed, suppressed and stripped of certain basic human rights in this country was made into a book. Was it rather heavy-handed, completely devoid of subtlety about its politics, and even preachy at times? Very much so. But living in a country all my life where the mainstream national media upholds the establishment that contributes to queer oppression, where the freedoms of activists to speak out and call out authoritarianism are now threatened more than ever—fuck it, go OFF, Amanda Lee Koe. Speak your truth.
Overall, I enjoyed this very much and devoured it a little over a day. Emerald is unapologetically queer and outspoken on issues, which makes her my undoubted fave out of the two sisters. What especially struck me though is her love for her sister Su, that SHE was the one who initiated the process of attaining human form all because of Su's Part of Your World-esque desire to be human. 800 years of self-cultivation ... because her sister wanted it. How could I not love her.
I also found Su to be a compelling character, even with all her flaws. It's easy to empathise with her desire to assimilate, to "pass" in order to attain the safety and security in a society that hates the Other. Her snake spiritness. i.e. the ability to shed her snake form in preference for her human form, is written like a trans allegory of Feeling Like You Were Born In the Wrong Body. ALK even outright uses dysphoria to describe Su's discomfort. With the way Su is obsessed with passing for fear of having her secret being outed and being thrown into danger over it, one can't help but be reminded of the violence the trans community faces.
That said, it's not surprising that Su and Emerald will disagree on how to live with their snake/human duality. Su's even a downright terrible sister with how she's willing to throw Emerald under the bus to preserve her skin. I do find their tumultuous relationship interesting to read, and it's because of Su's inherent desire to survive in such hateful world as a trans-coded character that I don't outright despise her. I may not AGREE with nor condone her actions, like when she let Emerald take the fall back in that Victorian London Incident or when she didn't immediately stand up to her transphobe of a husband, but I can UNDERSTAND why. What I don't particularly care for is Su abandoning Emerald very early on in their lives over a MAN (heavily implied to be Xu Xian from the original myth), of all things. A man that Emerald didn't even care for nor tried to pursue. How could you pick a man you weren't even with over your sister for centuries?? That wasn't about survival.
My other favorite part of SS is the inclusion of a Malay lesbian character, Atika AKA Tik. Given the length of the novel, she didn't have that big of pagetime, but I adored the portrayal that ALK gave us, especially of her complicated relationship with her mother. As a Muslim of Malay descent, I haven't come across a sapphic character like that in the books I read till now, and I CRIED at the resolution she got. The casual racism Tik experienced as an ethnic minority was a necessary addition if you're ever writing about Singapore, given how much it likes to pride itself of how racism ~doesn't exist~ here, not like the Unruly West.
This wasn't an insta 5-star because the ending didn't quite... STICK its landing with me. While I enjoyed the feminine rage and unhinged violent chaos we got, it's unsatisfying to me that Su's shitty husband Paul got a humanizing ending. The man violated his wife's bodily autonomy, is outright transphobic AND misogynistic by wanting a woman he supposedly loved to be subservient, so I think he needed his head bitten off like that other character. 🤪 "I hope she kills her husband" was literally my vibe before that ending. I also would've liked for Su to acknowledge her fucked up mistreatment of Emerald in the past and properly apologise; saving Emerald's life isn't an apology.
Regardless, this is a new fave and I'm grateful to ALK for putting this out into the world.
August 28, 2025
big fan of large snakes that kill political leaders …
November 19, 2024
i feel so american (derogatory) but i also feel like a woman (uplifting)
January 26, 2025
As a work of fiction this was a fun modern take on the rich mythology of the Nagas, half-snake half-human beings (prevalent in Southeast Asia). The punk sister, Emerald, and the elegant housewife, Su, reconnect after many years.
The author is an accomplished Singaporean writer who won a scholarship to Columbia university on the back of her writing talent. What this book really does is share her take on the ruling elite in Singapore and the government’s stance on the queer community, which is pretty controversial in this city state, to put it mildly. The book shows that a public sector that is a “vector of stability” is central to the government’s strategy, and all that implies.
Despite this, today the book is still available in the public libraries in Singapore, an indication of the government’s willingness to make space for young voices to contribute to public discourse.
The author is an accomplished Singaporean writer who won a scholarship to Columbia university on the back of her writing talent. What this book really does is share her take on the ruling elite in Singapore and the government’s stance on the queer community, which is pretty controversial in this city state, to put it mildly. The book shows that a public sector that is a “vector of stability” is central to the government’s strategy, and all that implies.
Despite this, today the book is still available in the public libraries in Singapore, an indication of the government’s willingness to make space for young voices to contribute to public discourse.
December 8, 2024
A combination of feminist lit, Chinese folklore, and horror, Sister Snake examines sibling bonds/rivalries, what it means to be human. Emerald is the queer, impetuous, grab-life-by-the horns sister. Su is the trophy wife of a Singaporean diplomat. Neither sister is thriving in the human world, and after a long time apart, they reunite. Disaster ensues as Su's animal nature is unleashed and she punishes all the humans (mostly men) who've wronged her. The first half of the book took a minute to find its feet, but the second half flew by. Weird (I mean that as a compliment), satirical, and entertaining.
May 7, 2024
this book rocked !!! sisters who are snakes !!!
January 5, 2025
✨ "What do I do with you? What do I do without you?"
This was SO good, where do I even begin? Born and bred in Singapore, lived here all my life, and here comes a groundbreaking novel that has me questioning and reflecting about everything.
I was in love right from the start. The writing and plot are so compelling; the sisters and their characterisation and their backstories so fascinating, the social commentary so FLAWLESS.
All my complicated feelings about the place I call home, its many contradictions, its beauty, its evolution, its culture... I also loved the sisterly bond so much that the book made me cry more than once.
The author truly nailed it with this one. Just beautiful. Searing. Exquisite.
✨ "Having someone bear witness to your pain is risky: it takes the experience out of your hands, makes things real in a way you cannot unmake. Alone, you're free to rearrange the pieces till they sit right in your head. If no one else saw the way you cried, you can tell yourself it didn't matter that much, did it?"
This was SO good, where do I even begin? Born and bred in Singapore, lived here all my life, and here comes a groundbreaking novel that has me questioning and reflecting about everything.
I was in love right from the start. The writing and plot are so compelling; the sisters and their characterisation and their backstories so fascinating, the social commentary so FLAWLESS.
All my complicated feelings about the place I call home, its many contradictions, its beauty, its evolution, its culture... I also loved the sisterly bond so much that the book made me cry more than once.
The author truly nailed it with this one. Just beautiful. Searing. Exquisite.
✨ "Having someone bear witness to your pain is risky: it takes the experience out of your hands, makes things real in a way you cannot unmake. Alone, you're free to rearrange the pieces till they sit right in your head. If no one else saw the way you cried, you can tell yourself it didn't matter that much, did it?"
June 7, 2025
Update: Substack essay here.
Glorious writing! You could eat the descriptions they are so ripe and original. I looked for an example, but almost everything would give away a part of the story that is better enjoyed through firsthand tasting.
I'm a pop culture and fashion ignoramus so most of those references went right by me as far as literal comprehension, but that did nothing to diminish my enjoyment of the writing. It bypassed my frontal lobe and went straight to my brain stem, commonly and, for this book, accurately called the "reptilian brain." And I learned a ton about the culture and politics of Singapore.
Don't even read the publisher's description of Sister Snake. Drop in blind. Slither in and wallow. You're welcome.
Glorious writing! You could eat the descriptions they are so ripe and original. I looked for an example, but almost everything would give away a part of the story that is better enjoyed through firsthand tasting.
I'm a pop culture and fashion ignoramus so most of those references went right by me as far as literal comprehension, but that did nothing to diminish my enjoyment of the writing. It bypassed my frontal lobe and went straight to my brain stem, commonly and, for this book, accurately called the "reptilian brain." And I learned a ton about the culture and politics of Singapore.
Don't even read the publisher's description of Sister Snake. Drop in blind. Slither in and wallow. You're welcome.
December 1, 2024
Queer books often celebrate found family, understandably. Sister Snake explores how found family can hurt you just as much as biological family. Su and Emerald's relationship, built over centuries and across continents, is impossible for anyone else to equal. And yet, they can’t seem to understand each other. Every time they reach out to each other, they’re hurt. The truth is, like biological family, found family can know you so intimately that they can also wound you like no one else.
While most of the book takes place in Su and Emerald’s present life, I enjoyed the glimpses into their pasts, from their time together as snakes in Tang dynasty China to attending Hirschfield’s lectures on the rights of homosexuals in pre-WWII Germany to their disastrous attempt to live together in Victorian England.
(Emerald has some women love interests during the book, and there’s a F/F relationship between side characters, but there isn’t a prominent romance plot.)
This is such a thoughtful, layered book, and I feel like I’m only beginning to pull apart what it has to say about family, assimilation, and passing. It’s one I would love to discuss with other readers, so this is your invitation to pick it up and tell me your thoughts!
Full review at the Lesbrary.
While most of the book takes place in Su and Emerald’s present life, I enjoyed the glimpses into their pasts, from their time together as snakes in Tang dynasty China to attending Hirschfield’s lectures on the rights of homosexuals in pre-WWII Germany to their disastrous attempt to live together in Victorian England.
(Emerald has some women love interests during the book, and there’s a F/F relationship between side characters, but there isn’t a prominent romance plot.)
This is such a thoughtful, layered book, and I feel like I’m only beginning to pull apart what it has to say about family, assimilation, and passing. It’s one I would love to discuss with other readers, so this is your invitation to pick it up and tell me your thoughts!
Full review at the Lesbrary.
May 24, 2025
I have a pet snake, and his name is Aristophanes. I love him more than anything. He feels like my son, even though he is a snake and probably think of me as a weird nuisance rather than as anything at all - which is a lot like a teenager, so that's fine.
That is to say, I really hated Su at first. I actually despised her character and I actually cried tears of rage.
I actually thought I'd hate this book 30% into it, but the ending really had me. I didn't like the epilogue but I can forgive that since the ending itself felt very fitting in my opinion. It gave me "adult snake woman Carrie" vibes.
All in all, it was a very good book, and I am debating giving it a five star rating since it moved me to tears (though they were tears of anger).
Pre read:
I'm reading this on kindle, so this technically doesn't count as buying a new book, right? ... Right?
That is to say, I really hated Su at first. I actually despised her character and I actually cried tears of rage.
I actually thought I'd hate this book 30% into it, but the ending really had me. I didn't like the epilogue but I can forgive that since the ending itself felt very fitting in my opinion. It gave me "adult snake woman Carrie" vibes.
All in all, it was a very good book, and I am debating giving it a five star rating since it moved me to tears (though they were tears of anger).
Pre read:
I'm reading this on kindle, so this technically doesn't count as buying a new book, right? ... Right?
August 21, 2025
I’ve discovered ‘good for her’ books aren’t really my thing, but Snake Sister dark feminist satire take on the genre was *chef’s kiss*. I loved some of the inspirational quotes (“Humans are scum but I can make you cum”; “You can’t choose your father but you can choose your daddy”).
The book is a little unhinged and following two sisters who can turn into snakes. It was a bit like the Chinese myth of the immortal white snake meets Crazy Rich Asians with a heavy feminist tone. The story didn’t go full crazy until the very end, which was kind of fun. This being said, while I found the book fun, the characters were pretty flat and I found the structure a little messy. Fun read, though!
The book is a little unhinged and following two sisters who can turn into snakes. It was a bit like the Chinese myth of the immortal white snake meets Crazy Rich Asians with a heavy feminist tone. The story didn’t go full crazy until the very end, which was kind of fun. This being said, while I found the book fun, the characters were pretty flat and I found the structure a little messy. Fun read, though!
June 4, 2024
This was a beautiful retelling. Thank you Ecco and NetGalley for the ARC
December 6, 2024
this has an audience and it ain’t me
December 8, 2025
2025 Goodreads Choice Awards (Mai's Version) - Readers' Favorite Fantasy
July 13, 2025
I wanted so much to like this! Amanda Lee Koe has been a writer to watch in the amorphous “SingLit” scene. But overall, Sister Snake disappointed – too plot-driven (negative), simplistic, and quite cheesy (for lack of a better word). The characters are one-dimensional stereotypical shells that stand in for specific values (so don’t get me started on relationships and dialogues between them), and the plot beats are fairly predictable and shallow. Wrapped in aestheticised prose, but lacking substance that would move me, and peppered with on-the-nose messages that somewhat infantilise the reader.
But of all the over-simplistic dualities in the novel, I particularly dislike the false bifurcation of Singapore into its flashy side (MBS, Garden by the Bay, Sentosa, fancy restaurants) and “authentic” side (Minang, Golden Mile Complex, Swee Choon). Ironically, this essentialism and romanticisation (that is core to her portrayal of Singapore as a character in the novel) plays into frameworks that have been co-opted by simplistic nationalist narratives and perpetuates the same logics that propel processes like gentrification.
Overall, this was clearly written with plenty of joy, but with questionable care :(
(Side note: Reading stories where a sisterhood/female relationship plays a central role just has not been the same since MBF)
But of all the over-simplistic dualities in the novel, I particularly dislike the false bifurcation of Singapore into its flashy side (MBS, Garden by the Bay, Sentosa, fancy restaurants) and “authentic” side (Minang, Golden Mile Complex, Swee Choon). Ironically, this essentialism and romanticisation (that is core to her portrayal of Singapore as a character in the novel) plays into frameworks that have been co-opted by simplistic nationalist narratives and perpetuates the same logics that propel processes like gentrification.
Overall, this was clearly written with plenty of joy, but with questionable care :(
(Side note: Reading stories where a sisterhood/female relationship plays a central role just has not been the same since MBF)
July 29, 2024
this book was WAY messier than expected. also sadder and more violent. overall a good time, but also heavier than the synopsis or the general concept would suggest
I loved Tik and Ploy, and felt so deeply for Su; Emerald kind of annoyed me tbh but I liked her by the end.
I finished this in a day so I can confirm that it is a quick, compelling read! yay for snake women and thank you to Annie!
I loved Tik and Ploy, and felt so deeply for Su; Emerald kind of annoyed me tbh but I liked her by the end.
I finished this in a day so I can confirm that it is a quick, compelling read! yay for snake women and thank you to Annie!
February 19, 2025
Toxic sisters, actually venomous because they are snakes.
April 18, 2025
The sisters' relationship reminds me of my parents and why they divorced. (Not fitting the script that Singapore prescribes to everyone vs. Singapore is clean and convenient so why complain?)
And this... is a mood.
And this... is a mood.
June 16, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco for the ARC of Sister Snake by Amanda Lee Koe in exchange for an honest review. This book is a fast-paced contemporary retelling about sisters who turn into snakes in Chinese mythology. I enjoyed reading this book because it's funny and glamorous. While I found it a bit middle-of-the-road, it was still a lot of fun to read. I expect that changes will be made once the final book is published later this year but I'm sure it'll be well-liked by audiences. There were times when things were unnecessarily wordy and borderline mundane which took me out of the story but the good moments were great. It sags a little in the middle but being able to read about these sisters and the things they go through in their day-to-day lives was interesting. Emerald was suffering in New York and her sister Su was suffering as well in Singapore. When they came together, I felt a spark but I also liked the invisible strings that bound them. All in all it's a pretty solid book but I don't know how memorable it will be for me.
March 9, 2025
3.5 stars
The novel follows two immortal sisters, Su and Emerald, who navigate contrasting lives in modern Singapore and New York City.
The story intertwines ancient Chinese folklore with more edgy modern themes and explores the two very different paths these sisters took since turning human.
The story gripped me from the start, even though it sometimes pushed the boundaries of how far I would suspend my disbelief for a story.
I liked the original writing but not sure if the story has much staying power.
The novel follows two immortal sisters, Su and Emerald, who navigate contrasting lives in modern Singapore and New York City.
The story intertwines ancient Chinese folklore with more edgy modern themes and explores the two very different paths these sisters took since turning human.
The story gripped me from the start, even though it sometimes pushed the boundaries of how far I would suspend my disbelief for a story.
I liked the original writing but not sure if the story has much staying power.
April 25, 2025
Great start, but somewhere along the way, it just lost its spark. review to come
December 27, 2024
I really enjoyed this story as a big fan of 白蛇传 and all the period dramas played on Channel 8 day time television. It's an enduring story for good reason. Traditionally, the story is about an evil snake demoness who becomes sexually involved with a human man (always like that lah) and either he dies or they get married and then he finds out who she is and he dies. Either way, he dies, which then makes her the villainess, and the moral of the story is that spirits and mortals cannot be together. You know how it goes.
In this original retelling, Suzhen and Emerald have lived for centuries and now estranged even though they used to be extremely closer. While Emerald is living hand to mouth in NYC, shacking up with a friend, and luring sugar daddies on an app, Suzhen is living in Singapore as the trophy wife of the Minister of Education. She has completely repressed her snake form and strives to be more and more human, performing her role to perfection. She is a victim of trauma and Singapore with its rules and laws and manicured greenery and conformity makes her feel safe. Everything is going well until one day, she finds out she's impossibly pregnant and that her sister got shot. She immediately brings Emerald to Singapore, thinking to protect her, but their proximity unleashes her base instincts and soon turns her entire life upside down.
There is a subplot of a school that disallowed a transgender student from wearing the girls' uniform despite her already having the official diagnosis of gender dysphoria. The school and the ministry went so far as to harass the doctor who gave the diagnosis, restricting his ability to prescribe HRT to the student. This leads to protests outside MOE, but as expected, the ministry doubled down on its transphobia and fear-mongering. It's very true to life, isn't it? I love it when fiction holds up a mirror. All I can say is that it ends spectacularly.
In this original retelling, Suzhen and Emerald have lived for centuries and now estranged even though they used to be extremely closer. While Emerald is living hand to mouth in NYC, shacking up with a friend, and luring sugar daddies on an app, Suzhen is living in Singapore as the trophy wife of the Minister of Education. She has completely repressed her snake form and strives to be more and more human, performing her role to perfection. She is a victim of trauma and Singapore with its rules and laws and manicured greenery and conformity makes her feel safe. Everything is going well until one day, she finds out she's impossibly pregnant and that her sister got shot. She immediately brings Emerald to Singapore, thinking to protect her, but their proximity unleashes her base instincts and soon turns her entire life upside down.
There is a subplot of a school that disallowed a transgender student from wearing the girls' uniform despite her already having the official diagnosis of gender dysphoria. The school and the ministry went so far as to harass the doctor who gave the diagnosis, restricting his ability to prescribe HRT to the student. This leads to protests outside MOE, but as expected, the ministry doubled down on its transphobia and fear-mongering. It's very true to life, isn't it? I love it when fiction holds up a mirror. All I can say is that it ends spectacularly.
April 23, 2025
This is one elegant book. I love the approaches to the women. The differences, the shy one more dangerous as a snake- flip flop in human form. Sister Snake was a truly unique read of which I enjoyed quite a bit. The imagery was so much better than anything I could do. It was a masterclass. The ending was surprising and perfect as well.
January 28, 2025
“Alone, you’re free to rearrange the pieces till they sit right in your head. If no one else saw the way you cried, you can tell yourself it didn’t matter that much, did it?”
I received my lit joy copy in the mail last week and was excited to read it. I have to say the artwork and stenciled edges make this a gorgeous book. I’m a sucker for pretty books.
This is ultimately a story of found family, mixed with a strong mysticism. I read on every break I got.
For me it hits around a 3.5/5 stars. Rounded up to 4 stars for Goodreads.
I received my lit joy copy in the mail last week and was excited to read it. I have to say the artwork and stenciled edges make this a gorgeous book. I’m a sucker for pretty books.
This is ultimately a story of found family, mixed with a strong mysticism. I read on every break I got.
For me it hits around a 3.5/5 stars. Rounded up to 4 stars for Goodreads.
August 9, 2025
This is a soft DNF (maybe). There is beautiful writing to be found between these two covers. There are two engaging main characters, wonderfully described. I wasn’t quite sure what the plot was yet, but the story was playing out well. Why three stars and a sDNF? I couldn’t get into it. There was nothing wrong, the book just wasn’t for me. But if you like good writing and strong (sometimes) female characters, give this book a try. I may get back to it someday, if I’m in the right mood.
June 4, 2025
Enjoyable read. Some parts were very funny.
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