Long ago, the Celestial Emperor exiled Chang'e to the moon for drinking the Elixir of Immortality, so in order to free her mother, her daughter (Xingyin) embarks on a quest to infiltrate the Celestial Kingdom and gain the emperor’s favor. However, there she catches the eye of the crown prince and he selects her to become his tutoring companion. As love starts to blossom between the two of them, she finds herself torn between her feelings for him and the guilt of betraying her mother.

Based on Chinese mythology, The Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan is an emotional and spellbinding tale about immortals, dragons, and the enduring bonds of love.

First off, the romance is well set up and slowly unfolds. I didn't even mind that there is a love triangle in this one between Xingyin, the prince, and the captain because both sides of the relationship were allowed to develop and the drama it caused had actual plot significance.

Overall, this is a sappy and melodramatic comfort read—filled with betrayal, heartbreak, court intrigue, and grudges that have lasted hundreds of years, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes in the second half of the duology because I'm fully invested in the characters at this point.

I don't even know why I loved this book so much, only that I did! The imagery, the worldbuilding, the sheer emotion. It's beautiful and funny and...I don't even know how to put into words. It's just beautiful!

Xingyin is the daughter of the moon goddess, Chang’e, who was exiled to the moon after becoming an immortal. No one knows of her existence, so when soldiers of the Celestial Kingdom notice something wrong, she must flee her family.
Alone and powerless, she must settle into a land unknown to her, disguising her identity and trying to find a way to free her mother from her exile.

"Daughter of the Moon Goddess" is a beautifully written fantasy novel, that delves into the relationships between mother and daughter, and the sacrifices they are willing to make for each other. The author is able to show it all, as well as magical worlds and realms, with fast-paced writing and amazing visuals that keep you invested in the story from start to finish.
I particularly enjoyed the relationships between the characters and how they reacted to the realities they were inserted into, though some parts - especially the start of the book - went by too fast, and the reader couldn't acknowledge everything that happened. Despite that, I was still able to love and understand the characters and their motivations.

Considering everything, it was a great book and a fantastic debut, and everyone should give it a try and keep
an eye out for the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the e-ARC in return for an honest review.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a beautiful fantasy novel about Xingyin, a girl on a quest to free her mother from the moon. It is lyrical and stunning and just breathtaking. Xingyin is smart and bold and is fully herself. She is so brave and her journey is harrowing and wonderful. It is a world of immortals with some feels of Mulan, as Xingyin becomes the companion of the prince of the Celestial Emperor and begins training her magic and as skills. The prince Liwei is kind and patient and challenges her. I loved their moments of training and growth. The magic system is interesting too. The story felt reminiscent of Tamora Pierce’s Alanna in a way. Xingyin is a hero, fully competent of saving herself. There were times that the romance aspect, while charming and beautiful, felt a little distraction, but at the same time Xingyin is a warrior and the romance aspects throughout gave her a vulnerability that made her feel more real as a character. At the same time, it was frustrating at times when she would say keep she’s not beautiful; it just didn’t seem to fit the tone. She’s a wonderful character though, and each side character was so genuine and alive. And the twist!! So good. This book is breathtaking and unique, and I really just loved it!

Sue Lynn Tan makes her debut with upcoming YA fantasy release Daughter of the Moon Goddess, which is already a contender for most beautiful cover of the year. As the title itself indicates, this first half of a duology tells the story of Xingyin who lives an isolated existence with her mother the Moon Goddess until events force her to flee and hide her immortal identity in the Celestial Kingdom.

“Tells” is a critical word here. Because this book really does read like a fairytale in which the story presented to the reader as a long-forgotten tale unearthed and shared with a kind of quiet reverence. As such, there’s a certain sense of distance from the story I felt as I was reading it that made it difficult to fully immerse myself in a narrative. However, the attention to detail in the aspects of ancient Chinese culture - from the music to the food - were expertly crafted. And the author never skimped on minute aspects of laying out the setting for a scene. Rather than worldbuilding, it was the narrative style resulting in a distance from the characters that prevented this from being a five-star read for me.

There’s a type of reader that will fall into this story and be swept away by the high stakes and quick-moving action scenes. But as someone who is drawn more to character–driven stories instead of plot, I do think this contributed to my enjoyment. I never felt a true attachment to any of the characters, perhaps because we didn’t spend much time watching their interactions outside of training montages and battle scenes. The love triangle is a reinvigorated staple of YA fiction that has been hyper-scrutinized despite being mostly harmless fun. Here, it was noticeable but not distracting even if I never felt like I really got a true sense of the character or motivations from either male lead.

Instead of a YA fantasy romance, Daughter of the Moon Goddess works best as an exploration of the bond between a mother and daughter and the sacrifices that each is willing to make for the other. It’s Xingyin’s mothers actions that both saved and doomed her daughter for a lonely existence on the moon. Similarly, Xingyin is willing to upend her own life to work towards a chance to free her mother. And the dynamic between these two, despite never given much page time, ultimately drives the novel and was the most distinguishing aspect of the story besides its lush fairytale-esque design.

I do recommend this for fans of YA speculative fiction, particularly those looking for a read outside the basic landscape of an western European fantasy setting. And if you want a dash of romance and an unshakeable relationship between mother and daughter, even better.

Thank you to the publisher Harper Voyager for the e-ARC provided via NetGalley for an honest review.

I am so glad this is my first finished book of the year! I loved it so much and it was a joy to read! This story has everything: friends to lovers, lovers to enemies, stunning world building, action, twists and turns and betrayal! There was a lot that happened but it never felt like too much. The story felt finished at the end and not over done despite how much ground this book covers! My favorite part of this story is the world building. It was completely immersive and enthralling. So beautifully done. The kingdoms and their politics, the magic system, everything was perfect. Also, the romances (yes romances plural!) felt authentic and so sweet…until they weren’t of course! But I loved the complicated web of emotions weaved between the love interests. The writing really conveyed them well and let the reader feel the pain and uncertainty. I loved how vividly Xingyin’s emotions leapt off the page.

I will say, this felt more like a standalone than the first installment in a duology. I’m really curious to see how the next book will continue the story! Is it too soon to say? Probably, but I think this will be a favorite read of 2022!

Initial Thoughts
When I saw the description (and cover) of this stunning debut, I knew I needed to read it. It sounded right up my alley and was a loose retelling of a myth that I wasn’t yet familiar with.

Some Things I Liked
Romance and relationships. I love love loved the themes of friendship and relationships in general in this story. I loved the love triangle (which is super rare for me) and I loved the way Xingyin’s romance plot played out.
An epic fantasy saga. This book had all the action and adventure I’d expect with an epic fantasy and I loved the way it read like an epic poem. Xingyin is the perfect epic hero and I loved her journey.
References to mythology. This story draws a lot of references from Chinese Mythology and it really sparked an interest in me to learn more about it. I loved the story of the Four Dragons and I am so excited to see what the sequel will be about.
Rich world building and descriptions. Every word of this story was so purposeful and I felt like I could see the scenes as they played out. The writing is nothing short of magical and transportive. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Series Value
I can’t wait to read more from Sue Lynn Tan as well as the sequel to this story. I loved that the ending was both satisfying and also open-ended. I would love nothing more than more of Xingyin’s adventures but could also see myself loving seeing just more set in this world but with new characters.

Final Thoughts
This is easily one of my all time favorite books. This was a masterpiece.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I went into this with pretty high expectations just because I’ve only been hearing good things and also the premise sounded amazing. Honestly though I was pretty let down by this. There was just so much jam packed into one book and it all just seemed rushed in my opinion. Also I didn’t care for the love triangle, sometimes I don’t mind one as long as they are done well and in my opinion this was not. Still all in all this wasn’t a terrible book I just think things could have been stretched out more so it didn’t feel like so much was being rushed

This was definitely an epic sweeping tale, and I was surprised when I remembered that it is actually the first of a duology- this story is a hefty adventure that can hold its own weight. If you're wondering, I would say this could be read as a standalone and you can decide when finished if you want to read book 2 when it's here, but it won't leave you hanging. The writing and imagery was beautiful, and it didn't slow down too often as I had feared it might, though the writing style was more distanced as it took on a fairytale vibe, and though it did suit this story well, that normally isn't my favorite. I loved Xingyin, she was such a not-going -to-take-shit bad ass lead while remaining realistic and humble. And the other main characters, ugh I adored them too. The map and the world are so whimsical as well, it really is an escape to read. For those uncertain about this one, I'd say try a sample chapter if possible, and if the writing style/narration of the story works for you, go for it!

This advanced reader copy (ARC) was provided by the publisher. This does not influence my review of the novel.

With an enthralling synopsis, a dazzling cover, and an intriguing title, I knew from the beginning that Daughter of the Moon Goddess was going to be a tale of magic, romance, and finding one’s place in the world. I had high expectations for this book when I first read the synopsis, however, this book far exceeded my expectations.

A hero’s tale through and through, Sue Lynn Tan takes us on an adventure of love and loss, of friendship and betrayal, and homecomings and new beginnings.

Xingyin, the daughter of the Moon Goddess Chang’e, has her comfortable yet monotonous immortal life turned upside down after the Empress of the Celestial Kingdom visits her mother. She learns that her existence has put her mother in danger, and leaves in haste in the middle of the night. Her life-and existence-is committed to freeing her mother and returning home to the moon to be with her. She is offered a chance to pursue this goal after meeting Liwei, the Crown Prince. Within the lion’s den of the Celestial Kingdom, home of her friends and the immortals who imprisoned her mother, Xingyin learns, grows, and becomes her own person. She learns that being free comes with a heavy price to pay and that the truth isn’t always pleasant.

I really enjoyed Sue Lynn Tan’s writing, as this story was well-paced, beautifully descriptive, and honestly, has a lot of great life advice. If you’re looking for a mythology-inspired/fantasy novel that takes you on an adventure this year, I recommend this book. I finished it in the span of 2 days, unable to put it down, with my thoughts and heart racing at every turn of a page. It’s got everything you need: romance, adventure, mystery, magic, betrayals, and a heroine who grows in front of our eyes.

There are a lot of things that I pulled from this story: it’s a coming of age; it’s about falling in and out of love, and the meaning of love in general-for your friends, family, lovers and ultimately, yourself. It’s a story about being faithful to yourself when it’s so easy to take the easy route and fall in line.

However, one thing I pulled from this that really resonated with me the most: it’s a story about action and reaction.

The story centers around Xingyin trying to get her mother free and get back to her, but there are a lot of internal and external forces preventing her from doing so. The characters are all well-rounded and flawed in their own ways. Again, Tan’s writing is great, and she really knows how to make you love and hate everyone all at once.

A lot of things are a result of another person’s actions, causing a reaction from someone else, which leads to a lot of problems for everyone else to deal with. What I liked about this story, and about Xingyin, is that she understands that a lot of things are happening because she’s aware that her goals are ‘selfish’; and that she does put some thought into her next decisions (for the most part). And we see this development of her and her maturity, so it is a gradual thing; she does get tempted with many easy outs but she does put herself first. She does her best to just be a person (or being, as she is immortal) that she can live with at the end of the day.

There is a romance within this novel, but it doesn’t take away from the story; everything in this story works hand-in-hand. Although personally, I do think Xingyin and Liwei’s back and forth was annoying (I just wanted a solidified endgame and wanted her [Xingyin] to choose so I can commit to a pairing and not have my heart broken), I cannot say that it could’ve done without.

The story is left on a cliffhanger, as this is part of a duology. The story is wrapped up nicely and leaves you wanting more. There is a lot of unfinished business at the end of the novel, but I will say, where it ended did give me some sense of peace.

There is a lot I can say about this novel but it would take me forever to get the right words out. All I can say is that this is a great book to read. 2022 reads started off strong with DOTMG. This is a 4.5 out of 5-stars novel. Please read it so we can all discuss it (please - I need someone to bounce theories for book 2 with me).

This book follows Xingyin, the daughter of a mortal women who stole an elixir of immortality and was punished by being exiled to the moon as the Moon Goddess. No one knew that the moon goddess was pregnant when she took the elixir, granting immortality not only to herself but to her unborn daughter. Xingyin is almost discovered and has to leave her solitary life but she swears she will do whatever necessary to free her mother.

I typically don't like Chinese based fantasy due to the "destiny" trope often used where people have little to no control over their own fate and everything happens by chance. This story does not contain that, maybe because we're dealing with the immortal gods instead of humans. This story is interesting and beautifully told. What is does have that annoyed me was a very typical 2010s YA "love tringle" trope. The romance in this book reminded me of the romance in the Red Queen series and took away most of my enjoyment. Xingyin was also "not like other girls" in the fact that she didn't think she was pretty and didn't try to impress guys but all the guys always fell in love with her (barf noises).

I'll probably still read the 2nd book in the series but I could have done without the romance part of this book.

The legends!
The love!
The betrayal!
The magic!
The fighting!

Thank you @suelynntan for such a captivating story!

I was enamored page after page.

This story had a satisfying ended so I am curious about book 2 🤔

Thank you to #netgalley and #harpercollins for allowing me early access to this masterpiece.

Thank you, Harper Voyager & Net Galley, for an e-ARC of this book!

Wow, the moment I saw it was based on Chinese lore and mythology, I had to read it. As an ethnically Chinese/Taiwanese individual, it's incredible to see the representation coming through in new novels. I'm so glad these are becoming more mainstream.

The cover is beautiful, the story is a crazy journey, and it's hard to believe this is a debut novel. I'm so excited to see where the rest goes in the future. This novel is reminiscent of the same vibe for anyone who watches Chinese historical fantasy dramas. Xingyin discovers a secret about her family history and thus begins this epic adventure of fighting to save her mother. It's packed elements of romance. While it's not heavy on thematic elements, the story will grasp and take you on a journey.

5/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for giving me a copy of this book! This is my honest review, all views are my own.
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Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a modern epic filled with beautiful imagery and moving storylines. Xingyin is determined to free her mother, who is imprisoned on the moon for her act of drinking the Elixir of Immortality when it was meant for her husband. Xingyin leaves the moon and finds her way to the Celestial Kingdom, where she earns the opportunity to study alongside the Crown Prince. It is there she learns of a special token given out by the Emperor for exceptional feats of bravery and loyalty to the kingdom—a royal favor. She knows this is her chance to lift her mother’s imprisonment, but she must face many trials of the mind, heart, body, and soul to reach her goal…
This is a fantastic story! I’ll admit, I was slow to get into it purely due to my own illiteracy, but I warmed up to the flow of the story quickly. I love the way the story is split into three distinct parts which show Xingyin’s growth and progress through her journey. I enjoyed how the book read similar to a fantasy drama, especially with all of the entanglements of her heart. Entertaining and emotional, but with a touch of dramatic flair! As for the story it’s self: I think that the first part of the story does a very good job of building the setting and character motivations, while the second part is the thick of the journey, and then the final part is utter chaos in the best way. To be honest, this can read as a standalone with a somewhat open ending that can lead to more—it’s a satisfying conclusion with brief glimpses of the second book set in place. To say much more would be a spoiler, so I’ll leave it at that. As for the main character, Xingyin: she reads like a strong warrior heroine with romantic tangles and emotional impulses. Perhaps she reads a bit too perfectly, considering she is portrayed as one of the most naturally skilled soldiers in the army, but part of that comes from her lineage, which works well within the story, so I’ll let it pass. The Prince, Liwei, is very heartfelt with his love, complete with the yearning and chafing against his princely duties. Captain Wenzhi, on the other hand? A fine challenger to the fair Xingyin’s heart. It’s a roller coaster with these three, but I would only loosely call it a love triangle; Xingyin is not trying to string either of them on and she truly holds them both in high regard. As for who she ends up with? Well, it becomes apparent by the end of the book, that’s for sure!
This book is an adventure filled with love, heartbreak, betrayal, loyalty, and sacrifice. A stunning debut. 5 stars.

This was such an incredible work of high fantasy, I am in love! The world building was exquisite and the pacing of the book was top notch! I highly, highly recommend this book!

This was a disappointment. I liked it at first, was interested in the story, and though I wasn't 100% sold on the writing style it was at least well-written, even if it was rather passive. But then after about 30% it just... dragged. And dragged. As I kept reading I lost more and more interest in the story and the characters, until I was actively avoiding picking it up. Then when I did bring myself to pick it up I very quickly put it down again. I ended up DNFing at 55% which was disappointing but it was starting to send me into a bit of a slump.

The descriptions and mythology were beautiful, though there were rather too many descriptions and there was no urgency to the story -- it definitely meandered. The thing that bothered me the most, and probably a large part of why I didn't like it, was the two love interests for the main character. The romances were forced, unbelievable, and bland, and the love triangle was just unconvincing. I would have preferred both as friendships as that would have made more sense. The main character also has a definite "all the boys fall in love with me" thing going on.

I can definitely recommend it to people who enjoyed Elizabeth Lim's books (Spin the Dawn, Six Crimson Cranes) although at 512 pages it's rather longer than those. And maybe that's my main problem with it -- it's just too long. In style and content of story it has quite a few similarities to Elizabeth Lim's work. It also reminds me of Marissa Meyer's Gilded -- though that may be because I found them both too long.

So if you enjoyed Gilded, Spin the Dawn, or Six Crimson Cranes, give this one a try.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for providing an e-arc for review.

This was one of the best fantasy books I've read in a long time. Sue Lynn Tan's retelling of the legend of Chang'e, the Chinese moon goddess, has everything I love in fantasy: nuanced, interesting characters, fantastic world-building, and an action-packed plot. Daughter of the Moon Goddess follows Xingyin as she struggles to find her place in the Celestial Kingdom while fighting for a chance to win her mother's freedom. I really can't gush about this book enough. I was rooting for Xingyin from the opening pages. The tension and the dynamics of her relationship with both Liwei and Wenzhi and their rivalry were fantastic.

I truly loved everything about this book – the beautiful setting and lush language, the magical world, and the magic systems. If I could rate it more than five stars, I would.

Highly recommend for fans of lush fantasy and slow-burn romance – such as SA Chakraborty, Katherine Arden, Tasha Suri, and Andrea Stewart.

I enjoyed reading this book which is about a young woman who goes on a quest to free her mother by going against the power powerful immortal. This book brought me on a wonderful journey where there are many twists and turns in this new world. I enjoyed how this book was based on a Chinese legend as I love to learn about new cultures instead of reading retellings. The author's writing is beautifully written with a great story plot line. The setting was written beautifully and I would just look at the cover at times just to see how it plays in my head. Though I have to say that at times the pacing would be a little too slow for me but at least there was a lot of conflicts to keep me on my toes.

The main character in this book is Xingyin who is such a fierce character that tries to get her mother back. I just enjoy her relationship with her mother and how she would do anything for her family. She develops a lot throughout the novel and you can see how much she learns about her true self. There are some amazing side characters in this book like Xingyin's love interests, her teacher and also the antagonist of course. I enjoyed how involved the side characters were in this book because it keeps the story more alive. There is also a love triangle in this book which let me say is one of my least favorite tropes because the MC ends up with the opposite person I shipped them with just like this one.

You would expect this type of book to end in a cliffhanger, but don't worry it didn't. This was truly such an amazing book which was very close to getting all the stars. I just had some minor problems with some parts of the books but overall such an amazing read and I can see where the hype is coming at. I totally recommend reading this book if you enjoy Six Crimson Crane and The Girl who Fell Beneath the Sea.

‘Thank you NetGalley and publisher for E-copy’

Daughter of the moon goddess is one of my anticipated releases this year and it did not disappoint. From the very beginning I was immersed into the story. We follow Xingyin, daughter of the moon goddess, who has been chased from her home on the moon. After escaping to Celestial Kingdom she finds an ally in Liwei. After discovering his true identity she quickly realized telling him the truth about who is could put her and her mother in grave danger but becoming his companion is the only way to save them both and give them their freedom. Xingyin is a steadfast and immovable heroine who truly would do anything for those she loves. She refuses to sully her honor and for that she will forever be one of my favorite heroines.

Oh my goodness. I never wanted this book to end. A captivating heroine, who chooses to always move forward in the face of impossible circumstances, who uses what she is given to work for a beautiful life. I love the portrayal of a woman who is self sacrificial and yet also maintains a strong belief in self-love and avoids losing her identity throughout the whole novel. For women, this is a tricky balance, so I think readers will find a lot to admire about this fiery daughter of a moon goodness. Book 2 please!