[6]Zhao also commented that they put the lead character Zachary through similar microaggressions and racism that they had experienced at the age of twelve when they were the only Asian student in their school.

[12] Rachel Brooks, for Publishers Weekly, commented that, "Gamer Zachary Ying desperately wants to fit in outside the virtual world of Mythrealm, but as the only Asian kid in his largely white Maine town, he finds himself quietly suffering microaggressions and peer pressure to avoid standing out.

[...] Compact history lessons woven throughout guide Zack through the plot and into a greater understanding of his identity, while plentiful pop culture references root this fantastical read in the contemporary, making for a quickly paced book that's by turns educational, reflective, and thrilling".

[13] Kristin Brynsvold, for the School Library Journal, called Zachary Ying a "creative, engaging story" and highlighted that the novel appeals "to fans of ancient mythology and world history".

[14] Brynsvold wrote that "the plot will draw readers in, but what will keep them is Zach's struggle to belong, his journey to find himself and discover real friendship, as well as the highlighting of underrepresented mythologies.

[...] But these similarities are superficial: The first book is a primal scream brimming with horror at the world its young heroine inherits, while the new novel plots a tween's journey from zero to, if not hero, then someone of substance.

[...] For all their differences of mood, the novels rescue what is valuable to Zhao in Chinese history and myth, and project it forward – creating artistic acts of cultural reappropriation".

[16] AudioFile highlighted the audiobook edition in May 2022 and stated that the narrator, Neo Cihi, "switches seamlessly between English and Chinese and helps listeners feel all the tension as the high-intensity adventure ramps up".