This almost felt like two different books, with the first half and the second half having very different vibes. The first half was a pretty trope-y, beat-specific YA fantasy romance. (I did appreciate the historical Chinese setting, even though I am completely ignorant of both Chinese culture and the folktale the book is based on.) The second half becomes much more action-y, and the beats feel “off.” Prince Xian, who I’d come to quite like over the first half of the book, becomes much less sympathetic through most of the second half. Spirit snake Zhen, who I also quite liked in the first half, starts making incredibly naïve and stupid choices that made me want to shake him by the lapels. The last quarter of the book, each chapter felt like “well, that’s one problem solved, BUT WHAT ABOUT THIS OTHER THING?”, in a way that felt kind of drawn out. And the ending tries to have things both ways. Look, I’m not saying it’s a bad book. It was fine for what it was. But my favourite part was the setting and the worldbuilding, as opposed to any of the actual plot.