I think this book is the fastest I've ever read a book. In only 2 and a half days I flew through 512 pages of a phenomenal story. My first finished read of the year.

We follow along Xingyin, who is the Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Chang'e. Xingyin lives peacefully in the Moon with her mom and Ping'r (her helper), until one fateful day when she accidentally touches her magic. Xingyin is forced to leave the moon and go live with the other immortals - without them finding out she's the daughter of the moon goddess. Love triangles, deception and dragons... Oh My!! I love this spin off from the Chinese mythology of the Moon Goddess. The story pulls you in from the first page and you will find yourself reluctant to put it down. The characters are all depicted so well, you can't help but jump on their fan pages. The plot is full of twists and turns, emotional rollercoaster that a wild ride for sure. The world building was fantastic and woven throughout the book flawlessly.

This is Sue Lynn Tan's debut book, however she writes like a seasoned writer. I am definitely a fan and can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

I’m not going to deny the beauty of this book, because it is a beautiful, magical book. It’s a fairy tale in the truest sense of the word (not surprising, since the Chinese were the first to put what would become the story we know as “Cinderella” into the written record before any other civilization). But beauty alone can’t save what is, in all other ways, a pretty straightforward and lackluster book.

This book had uneven pacing that left me very engaged at times, and then so bored I dozed off at others. At times I was invested in the outcome and at others I just wished it was over. These are signs of what I know to be uneven pacing, likely brought on by my genuine opinion that this book really could’ve been about 50-75 pages shorter and still told the same story.

I’m not saying that other people can’t enjoy this book. I know a great many people have read this book and loved it. I just couldn’t lock it in and fully engage. I’ll be looking forward to the other half of this duology now, just because I’ll want to complete the mission, but once I do I don’t think I’ll look back.

Thank you to the publisher, Harper Collins Canada, HCC Frenzy, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Xingyin has grown up on the moon and her life has been idyllic, if solitary, with only her mother and a trusted attendant for company, unknowing that her mother, the moon goddess Chang’e has been exiled by the Celestial Emperor for stealing the elixir of immortality and she herself has been hidden away from the Emperor’s wrath. When her presence is accidentally revealed, Xingyin flees her home, leaving everything she has ever known behind and finds herself in the Celestial Kingdom, alone and friendless in an unknown place. Through a happy turn of events, she wins an opportunity to learn alongside Liwei, the emperor’s son, eventually rising to become a skilled archer in the army. Never losing sight of her ultimate goal to free her mother, Xingyin embarks upon a journey with many dangerous quests to gain the Celestial Emperor’s favour and break the enchantment.

“Titles are inherited, talent might be blood-bound, but true greatness lies within.”

I’m honestly shocked that this is a debut novel! As little as I know about Chinese mythology, I was especially excited to pick up this one because I was actually familiar with the myths this story is based on – the myth of Chang’e and later, the story of the Four Dragons. The world building was spectacular and immersive, and despite, in my opinion, being a rather complex world, the way it was presented made it very easy to grasp right off the bat and I never felt lost at any point in the book even though the world building was more gradual. The writing was so lyrical and beautiful, and it truly brought this incredible world to life – and in such intricate detail too! The plot itself was equally spectacular. Between the lore, the magic, court politics, forbidden romance and of course, the epic battles, there was never a quiet moment in this story and it had me glued to the pages from beginning to end.

Xingyin was an amazing protagonist and her journey was a delightful one to follow. She starts off a rather naive girl due to the very sheltered life she has led, but upon basically having her entire worldview shattered in a matter of minutes, proves herself to be smart, resourceful and brave, pursuing every possible opportunity that could bring her closer to her goal. I found Liwei to be more or less a standard YA hero, but he was a genuinely good character and in the midst of all the ruthless court politics, it was refreshing to have a contrast like him. I absolutely loved the way Liwei and Xingyin’s slow relationship was written – it was such a perfect portrayal of friends to lovers and it was beautifully depicted.

There was only really one thing I didn’t like about this book, and compared to how good the rest of the story was, it’s not even that big of a deal, but I did not enjoy the love triangle at all. From past experience, I know this trope can be done right, and while this was well written and interesting to read, it just didn’t work for me.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess was a wonderful retelling of this myth, perfectly paced and it was such a delight to read. While the ending of the book seems mostly peaceable, there are still so many possibilities for the story ahead and I can’t wait to see where Xingyin’s journey leads her next . I can’t recommend this book enough and I’m counting the days until the sequel! If you’re reading one book this month, make it this one – it will not disappoint!

Opening line: “There are many legends about my mother.”

Book thoughts: I liked this book a lot. The writing is beautifully descriptive without being overly flowery. I enjoyed following Xingyin on her journey. She is strong & determined, seizing every opportunity available to her without compromising her honor. I will always root for and love a book with a strong and fiery heroine. ❤️ Also this cover is so beautiful. 😍

This book published yesterday so get your copy now! Thank you to @NetGalley & @HarperVoyagerUS for the advanced ebook.

CW: assault, murder, battle scenes, body gore

4 stars.

Now, I had planned to read this initially because hey I love the moon. But that stunning cover just further convinced me.

Thank you to NetGalley and The publishers providing me with a digital copy in exchange for a review.

Positives: an absorbing and thrilling debut. I had trouble putting this one down. I felt the pacing moved along pretty well and Tan was good at creating atmosphere. It had a very kind of dreamy quality to it. I loved Xingyin as the protagonist and think this will resonate with YA audiences.

Negatives: I didn’t realize this was a love triangle which personally I was not thrilled about and admittedly I don’t feel like I was convinced by the romance. (

The story in Daughter of the Moon Goddess centers around the character of Xinying, an immortal whose existence has been kept secret from the higher powers in the Celestial Kingdom. Her mother is the moon goddess, but only gained that position when she drank an elixir meant for her husband - a legendary hero. She gained immortality, but lost her husband and the mortal life she had always known. The "gods" (called Celestials) were angered by her actions, and imprisoned her on the moon. She became a goddess, but at what cost?

Author Sue Lynn Tan weaves a beautiful tapestry of magic and mythology in Daughter of the Moon Goddess. The prose is lyrical and melodic, like an epic poem or ballad. But the story is also a reasonably fast-paced adventure novel. There is plenty of action with monsters out of legend rearing their heads often. Tan draws upon her own culture for this story, plucking creatures and figures out of Chinese mythology and seamlessly integrating them. The story is based on the legend of the Moon Goddess, but turns it on its head by envisioning the story from the perspective of Chang'e's daughter.

Xingyin grew up unaware of her mother's history, content to live with her mother and a faithful attendant in isolation. But when her own magic starts to awaken, the secret of her existence threatens her own life, along with that of her mother's. Xingyin flees her home, landing in the Celestial Kingdom. There she swears to find a way to free her mother from bondage, and embarks on a journey to gain knowledge and power.

It is in the kingdom of the Celestial Empire that Xingyin discovers her magical talents, along with an almost supernatural skill for archery inherited from her long-lost father. She becomes obsessed with making a name for herself, becoming a hero of such renown so she can request a boon from the Emperor. This is the only way she can think of to free her mother, and her daring exploits are a joy to read.

Every character in this book is compelling, from the mysterious Empress who hates Xingyin, to the earnest Prince Liwei who strives to do good. The world is vividly built, with complicated political struggles and a deep history that affects every character in the present. Daughter of the Moon Goddess addresses issues of identity, heroism, and love at the heart of its characters. But it also asks burning questions about imperialism, the nature of gods, and how stories can turn into legend.

The love story in the book also feels well-earned. The love triangle that emerges may be frustrating for some readers. But it actually made a lot of sense to me. Xingyin is torn between two sides of herself, and is struggling to maintain her identity while harboring secrets about her origins. Each of her love interests represent something about herself, different paths that can be taken and different people she can become. It is easy to see why she is drawn to both. But her own mission takes precedence over any matters of the heart. It is Xingyin's love for her mother, and her desire to free her that is her strongest motivation. And as such, it is the mother/daughter relationship that is the most important in the narrative.

Given the importance of the mother/daughter relationship, I would have liked to see more of their interactions in the book. But since Xingyin must leave her mother in order to save her, their time together is cut short. Instead Xingyin longs for her mother, and the simple life they shared together. She wants to free her mother out of love for her. But also out of a sense of duty and honor. Xingyin knows that what happened to her parents was unfair. And she has felt firsthand cruelty of the Emperor and Empress. Yet she must work for them, in order to achieve her goals. This leads to an uneasy divide in Xingying's heart, her love for her mother battling with her growing hatred of the Empire itself.

The narrative also gives Xingying a lot of time with her male love interests. However, I would have liked to see more of her relationships outside of these characters. She develops a couple of close friendships with other women over the course of the novel. But the scenes with her and the other female characters are few and far between. Hopefully this is something that Sue Lynn Tan will bring into the second book of her duology. The friends that Xingyin makes are compelling characters on their own, with fascinating backstories. It would enrich the world greatly to see more of their stories, and understand what life is like for women in the Celestial Kingdom.

The second book of this duology is planned for a release this year, but still has no title. I hope that it will continue the story of Xingying, and show us more of her adventures in the Celestial Kingdom. Daughter of the Moon Goddess does a great job of tying up most of the loose ends. However, there are still a few unanswered questions that could be explored further in another installment.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan is already one of my favorite novels of 2022. The author is a refreshing new voice in the realm of fantasy fiction. Her style and prose is well-developed and beautiful to read, vividly bringing this Asian culture and world to life. I look forward to seeing what Sue Lynn Tan will do next, and what other mythology she might reimagine.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess is the first fantasy novel I enjoyed in a long time. The writing style is cinematic and fast-paced. I love how the romance in the book was not overpowering despite the love triangle angle; the fighting scenes and quests Xingyin embarked on spoke to me, transporting me to my childhood when I surrounded myself with adventure books and games. That being said, I wanted more from Daughter of the Moon Goddess as a reader. This is a personal preference, but I'd have enjoyed the book more if Xingyin's relationships (romantic and platonic) were more developed. However, I'm not as picky about this when it comes to film adaptations, so I can see myself enjoying the film adaptation of Daughter of the Moon Goddess if there is ever one.

I'd still recommend this book to fantasy and even non-fantasy readers, especially if you love strong and fierce female characters. I'll be on the lookout for the second book in the series!

Thank you Harper Voyager for the ARC!

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY TO DAUGHTER OF THE MOON GODDESS!!!!!!! I know this review is technically a day late, but it's early in the day so I'm counting it as 1/11/2022. I'm SO SO SO SO SO happy I was able to read this ARC! What a BEAUTIFUL story that made me fondly remember my childhood and learning about Chinese myths and fairytales with my parents and at Chinese school. This book is seriously so good and I'm going to be telling everyone to read it! The prose is to die for -- formal, but not stilted, and deliberate and caring. The characters are amazing. I absolutely adore our main character, Xingyin. She comes across as restrained and polite but is an absolute firecracker and a queen when you really get to know her! She knows her own self worth, refuses to be anything less than her true self, always sticks by her principles, and is assertive. She knows what she wants and she gets it without compromising anything fundamental about herself, and I LOVE that. It's just so nice to see Chinese female MCs that at once embody traditional Chinese values such as filial piety and loyalty and deference and humility and respect but in ways that are not sexist, degrading, or submissive!!!!!!!!!! I loved her character arc and I'm so excited to see her in the next book. She's the kind strong woman I aspire to be!! (Also... her fighting skills.... aaaaaah. Get you a girl who can hit 10 disks in the air at once and also hit targets while blindfolded!!!!!!!) My next favorite characters were tied between Shuxiao and Liwei. Shuxiao deserves the Bestie Award, especially at the end (I screamed at that part). Get yourself a girl who supports you unconditionally like that! While we didn't really get that much of the friendship between Xingyin and Shuxiao, I absolutely devoured the times that we did. I need more of this amazing female support network in book 2, please!!!! We love to see Chinese women supporting other Chinese women, especially when both of them are badass (did I mention how they both can fight flawlessly?!?!?!?!). Liwei is THE MOST WHOLESOME BOY IN THE UNIVERSE AND MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS. To not spoil anything, I will just say that I so appreciated his support, faith, and respect for Xingyin. He's (they're??) so cute omg. I also loved Ping'er and Xingyi's mom, and how that storyline was the main thread throughout the book. As a Chinese American woman, I feel like so many stories about Chinese women and their mothers always talk about strained and tense relationships filled with regret and an inability to communicate feelings properly. It was SO refreshing to have a relationship where the MC and her mom were both Chinese and unconditionally loving and supportive!! Where home was a safe environment and saving her mom was something Xingyin did out of pure love and not obligation!! *chef's kiss* Finally, I have many thoughts on Wenzhi, but to once again not spoil, I will say that his character arc was really interesting and I was not expecting the little twist at the end. It'll be interesting to see what he does in book 2. I'm glad the little love triangle thing was resolved, though, because I was really having a difficult time choosing and wavering around a lot hahahahaha (but glad I stuck with my original pick in the end. I always liked him a lil better hehe). Anyways, I'm so so so so so fulfilled by this book. The worldbuilding, plot, character arcs, setting, retelling, and prose all work to make this one of the best reads of 2022. I feel so seen and it's like I took a very nice and nostalgic trip down memory lane. I will be recommending this to my Chinese American friends because I feel so seen and I am so grateful for Sue Lynn Tan for writing this book! I cannot wait until the next book comes out!!!!!!

Beautifully told story about a young woman trying to fight for her family and do what is right. Steeped in Chinese mythology, the story of Xingyin shows how one can persevere to save the ones they love.

While I may have picked this up purely for shallow reasons (just look at that cover!), I stayed for the amazing story told within. Daughter of the Moon Goddess is the perfect blend of action, romance, and gloriously magical mythology, plus you've got a totally awesome strong female lead!
Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a re-telling of the story of Chang’e, the Moon Goddess. The story seems to follow the basic myth where ten suns are scorching the Earth until the archer Houyi shoots nine of them from the sky. In the original tale, he’s rewarded with an immortality elixir, but Chang’e takes the elixir instead to prevent it’s theft and she becomes the Moon Goddess. In this tale, Chang’e takes the elixir because she fears she and her unborn child will die while she’s in labour and is banished to the moon by the Celestial Emperor. Unknown to the the other immortals, Chang’e has a daughter named Xingyin who she has been raising in her palace on the moon. When the Celestial Empress shows up unannounced she becomes suspicious and Xingyin flees the moon, only to wind up in the Celestial court where she then becomes companion to the Prince. She spends many years training and learning with her unlikely friend all the while keeping her heritage secret, but also yearning to earn the Emperor’s favor so that she might free her mother.
The story takes place over a surprisingly long amount of time, though much of it is fast-forwarded through since it’s repetitive training and learning. It does spend a good deal of time establishing Xingyin and Prince Liwei’s friendship and then their blossoming romantic interest in one another, which of course is promptly nipped when Liwei is engaged to a Princess of the Phoenix kingdom. Xingyin determines to make her own path from here by joining the military alongside the famed Captain Wenzhi as a special archer attache. She makes quite a name for herself slaying monsters and helping to keep the peace in other kingdoms and she eventually begins to fall for Wenzhi, though she still cannot forget her feelings for Liwei. It’s actually a rather well done love triangle despite the fact I usually find them nothing but frustrating! There are some nice twists along this hero’s journey and I enjoyed the pacing. I find that the years passing, coupled with the setting, and writing style made for an overall ethereal feel and then WHAM that last quarter of the book was action packed and bittersweet!
I’m pleasantly surprised to find that I loved this as much as I hoped I would, plus with such a beautiful cover I think I’ll pick up a hardcover to add to my bookshelves! Anymore, I only do this with my favorite books because quite frankly, I’m running out of space and have to keep donating books I didn’t love as much as others. Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a book that will easily appeal to both adult and young adult fantasy readers and would be a great bridge for those who are wanting to delve more into adult fantasy titles. This is perfect for fans of mythology or fairytale retellings, those who want to delve into more Chinese inspired fantasy, or even just someone looking for a strong female lead with a great character arc!

Thanks to NetGalley & Harper Voyager for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

A debut fantasy that follows the secret daughter of the Moon Goddess who lives with her mother during her mother's Heavenly-court ordained punishment. She escapes and is thrown into the world of other Celestials, with the issue of having to keep her parentage a secret.

It's a great epic fantasy adventure story with sweet romance mixed in. Great fleshed out protagonist, I love the core message of the story being freedom of choice. The world painted in the words is very lush and lyrical which suits the story and its characters.

Minus a star for the annoying love triangle but otherwise, the book was fantastic. I think it could've been even longer too, apparently, it's going to be a duology? I feel like this book could've easily been split into 2 books and been fine. Still, great book!

This fantasy debut was absolutely enchanting. Daughter of the Moon Goddess is the first book in a riveting, captivating, magical, and romantic duology.

Within this story Xingyin's life of solitude is shattered when her magic flares. Everything about her life drastically changes as her existence is discovered. She has to leave everything behind as she flees her home. The feeling of being afraid, alone, and powerless sinks over her as she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom.

As she disguises her identity, and seizes the chance to learn archery and magic when it precents itself her and the prince are brought together before she has to embark on a quest to save her mother.

Passion ignites, legendary creatures and vicious enemies are confronted, treachery surges, and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, and a dangerous bargain has the potential to cost her everything.

I thoroughly loved this story that weaves Chinese mythology and a sweeping adventure of immortals and magic together. The tag line at that end of the synopsis is perfect for this story. Where love vies with honor, dreams are fraught with betrayal, and hope emerges triumphant. I can't wait until the conclusion to this duology comes out. Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this fantasy.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a novel of epic proportions, literally. Inspired by Cinese mythology and folklore, this book follows Xiangyin as she tries to free her mother, the Moon Goddess, from her enchanted imprisonment. You see, long ago, before Xiangyin was born, her mother angered the Celestial Emperor and was sentenced to isolation on the moon for all eternity. Through a small mishap, Xiangyin is forced to separate from her mother and has to fight through trials and tribulation to free her mother.

One of the things I liked most about this book was how it read like a novelization of an epic poem. If you're familiar with epics, like the Tale of Genji, The Odyssey or Beowulf, you can see the similarities in Daughter of the Moon Goddess. I thought this type of writing style was really cool and made the mythology/folklore elements come alive. I love stories that feel like stories you'd be told before bed or by a campfire. Daughter of the Moon Goddess reads like that and I loved that aspect.

What I didn't really love was how much time we spend in Xiangyin's head. The amount of time spent on Xiangyin's inner thoughts instead of action or character development ruined the pacing of this book for me. When we weren't reading about her wallowing about her relationship with Liwei we were reading about her wallowing about the morality of her actions. For me, those portions of the book ripped me out of the flow of the story and made this book hard to pick up after stopping for the night. I personally would have rather stayed in the action rather than in Xiangyin's thoughts.

Another thing that made it hard to want to read this was the blandness of the characters. All of the characters felt so boring and one dimensional. I don't dislike any of the characters but nothing made anyone stand out either.

I will be picking up the sequel to this because I think the author did a fantastic job bringing the fantastical elements to life. I loved reading about Xiangyin's adventures in the Celestial Kingdom and I'm excited to see the repercussions play out in the sequel. Overall, this was an interesting debut.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review

Thank you Netgalley and Harpercollins for providing me with an e-arc for this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so incredible, and from the first page, I was hooked! The story just kept getting better and better, and I felt like it was well-written.

The characters were so amazing, I loved Xingyin’s character so much, she honestly grew so much. To see her bloom into such a strong and fierce character was so great.

I honestly can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next!

What a debut! This was an amazing story, lyrical writing, complex characters, enchanting world, friendship, romance, court drama, tons of drama, and action. It really is a fairytale.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a journey, Xingyin lives with her mom on the moon, they have a fairly quiet life, and Xingyin is happy. One day, things change, she discovers the secret of why they live on the moon and suddenly Xingyin is in danger, she will have to leave the moon, she will end up in the enemy territory, where no one can know who it’s her.

The prose was fluid and lovely, it’s a long book but don’t feel that way, always something happens, between court drama or a dangerous quest.

The world-building was beautiful and so vivid, love the descriptions of the places and you see Xingyin grow up and always search for the answer on how to end her mother’s exile.

Xingyin is a strong, intelligent, loyal character, I love her as a main character, she have a difficult path and always do the best.

I love it, is a solid debut, undoubtedly this will not be the last thing I read by the author, this novel has a little of everything: Magic, mythology, drama, action and the world is whimsical and wonderful.

Happy Pub Day to @suelynntan! #DaughterOfTheMoonGoddess is out now in the US.

This is a gorgeous epic debut fantasy, with a romantic twist! The first in a new series, and I'm already looking forward to the next installment!

If you love immersive #fantasy / #scifi, add Daughter Of The Moon Goddess to your #TBR!

Thank you to @harpervoyagerus @avonbooks & @netgalley for this gifted advanced digital e-galley.

#harpervoyager #avonbooks #sciencefiction #netgalley #bookstagram #romance #bloominchick #fiction #readersofinstagram #kindle #theeclecticspoonie #thisperfectlyimperfectlife 1/11/22

Daughter of the Moon Goddess is one of the best fantasies I've read in a very long time! I loved how well-developed the world building was and how seeped in Chinese mythology it is. Xingyin, the main character, was also such an easy leading lady to root for. She is incredibly intelligent, cares deeply about those around her, and is a total badass when it comes to her archery and warrior skills. I loved getting to follow her on her quest to both protect those she loves but also take hold of her own happiness.

This story was such a magical delight. I am very excited for the next one in the duology to come out, and I cannot recommend this enough to other readers of fantasy. It had a lot of fantasy tropes, such as the hero's journey and a love triangle, they didn't feel tired or overdone. Her journey fit so well in Xingyin's character development, and her two love interests were actually interesting! They were obviously attractive, smart, and well-versed in combat like many men in fantasy, but they didn't steal the show away from Xingyin and they both recognized how great she is on her own, without a man. Which was incredibly refreshing to read, especially in this genre!

Daughter of the Moon Goddess caught my eye with it's incredibly vibrant and gorgeous cover, and upon reading the synopsis I knew that this was going to be one of my most anticipated releases for 2022. I remember checking NetGalley every day hoping I would be chosen to receive an ARC. And this book lived up to every expectation I had for it. It felt like there was so much going on without feeling rushed or too busy.

Xingyin is a super fun protagonist. She is the daughter of Chang'e the Moon Goddess and the legendary archer Houyi. When she's forced to leave her home she has to build a life for herself among other Celestials, without revealing who her parents are or where she's from.

The imagery that the author creates with her writing is so beautiful. Many times I find world descriptions boring but not with this book. I found myself wanting to read bout every single outfit Xingyin wore or any new area she entered. Sue Lynn Tan truly has a gift with words.

This is one of my favorite books that I've read. Definitely on my top 10 list of books. I can't wait to get my physical copy now that it's been published.

5 Stars

I have to honest, it was the cover that caught my attention. It is so beautiful that I had to see what the book was about. I love mythology/fairy tales, so a book about Chinese mythology was a no brainer for me. This novel starts with the story of the legend of Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess. From Wikipedia, “In one version, in a very distant past, Chang’e was a beautiful woman who was married to Houyi, a famed archer. Ten suns had risen together into the skies and scorched the Earth, thus causing hardship for the people. Houyi the archer shot down nine of them, leaving just one Sun, and was given either two or one with enough for two elixirs of immortality as a reward. He did not consume it straight away, but let Chang’e keep it with her, as he did not want to gain immortality without his beloved wife. However, while Houyi went out hunting, his apprentice Fenhmeng broke into his house and tried to force Chang’e to give the elixir to him. She took them instead of giving them to Fengmeng. Then, Chang’e flew upward past the heavens, choosing the Moon as a residence, as she loved her husband and hoped to live nearby him”. The other gods, angry because a mortal dared to join their ranks, make Chang’e a prisoner in her palace on the moon.

Our novel begins when Chang’e discovers she is pregnant after settling on the moon. Afraid of what the other gods might do to her child, she hid her pregnancy and gave birth to a daughter, Xingyin. Being raised in secret, Xingyin is finally forced to flee her home after her magic flares up, revealing her existence. Going to Earth, Xingyin vows to free her mother, no matter the cost. While being hunted by the Celestial Emperor, Xingyin has a variety of adventures including training with the prince, serving in the royal army, and searching for the missing dragons, all while trying to free her mother.

This is an amazing debut novel. The writing itself is lovely with Tan being able to make the reader picture this world perfectly. Her world building is excellent. It feels real yet still has a fairy tale quality to it. If you are expecting the typical “character goes on quest and the events of the novel only deal with that quest”, you will be disappointed. The events of the novel spans years so the pacing does lag at certain parts and some of the characters can be a bit one dimensional. The main characters are complex, especially Xingyin. You feel her absolute love for her mother. But, Tan also lets you see her faults along with her triumphs. But, that only adds to the richness of Xingyin’s character growth. It feels organic and true to life. There is a bit of a romance , but it does not take over the story. Instead, it enhances Xingyin’s character and her journey of self-discovery.

Overall, I liked this. This book does set up for a sequel, so we do get to see the future adventures of Xingyin. I am excited to see what Tan has in store for Xingyin.

I have always been fascinated by the story of Chang'e rising up to the moon and as soon as I saw this title, I requested an ARC.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess follows Chang'e's daughter, who escapes the moon and starts on a quest to free her mother from her lunar prison. This was a beautiful story, and it's wonderful to see more Chinese mythology inspired stories being published. The unique narration, more formal than a traditional YA novel, suits the characters and setting, as even though they're teenagers, they are immortal and separated from humanity.