What an epic fantasy novel inspired by the legend of the Chinese Moon Goddess.

This debut novel is so much more than its beautiful cover.

Xingyn is the secret daughter of the Moon Goddess. To avoid discovery, she is forced to flee the only home she ever knew and the safety of her mother. She befriends a prince and begins training with him. She discovers a way to earn favor and aims to use that to free her mother. She goes on a quest, there is a love triangle, there is betrayal and it’s all written so beautifully I was so engaged with the story and it flew by.

The YA fantasy is perfect if you like bad ass females fighting for their family, Friends to lovers, Friends to enemies, Mythology and magic.

I still think about Xingyn’s journey and I want to spend more time in this universe the author has created.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

I love mythical retellings, but one area that I don't really know much about is Asian mythology. I've recently read some books that delve into that area of mythology and I am loving it so much.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess is an amazing debut novel by Sue Lynn Tan. It is a spin on the story of Chang'e, the Chinese Moon goddess. From the outset, the world is completely real and the story immediately immerses you. The story follows Xingyin, the daughter of the moon goddess as she is forced to flee her home on the moon after her magic draws the attention of the Immortal Emperor. Unaware that her mother kept her identity a secret, she leaves, and is catapulted into the conniving intrigues of the Celestial Kingdom. While there she learns her own strength and seeks to find a way to free her mother.

I absolutely adored this story. It does have some of the typical YA tropes that we all know (and mostly tolerate as necessary) like the secret identities, love triangles, and kick ass heroine. However, it's all so well done with the rich storytelling that it is really easy to ignore the tropes. Xingyin is self-aware and doesn't constantly whine about her predicament. She owns her story and it's a joy from moment one.

The Daughter of the Moon Goddess is the first in a duology, so keep an eye out for the next book (hopefully in 2023?!). It feels self-contained enough to stand on it's own but leaves the door open to finish the story out.

Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess draws inspiration from Chinese mythology, and pulls off the execution in grand style. It’s epic, evoking the feel of those classic epic poems in prose form.
The world is so well-conveyed and immersive, and I love the little tidbits of Chinese culture and myth that make up the layers of this story. It all feels so alive and drew me in.
The writing is gorgeous. This is Sue Lynn Tan’s debut, and she perfectly manages all the elements to keep the reader engaged, in particular plot and pacing. I did balk a little at the high page count, but I almost didn’t feel it with how much was going on. Even in the quieter, subtle moments, I didn’t feel bored.
Xingyin is a lovely character, and it was great watching her growth over the course of the story, as she faces down challenges to save her mother. And while that relationship is the most central to Xingyin’s arc, it’s not the only one. She forms valuable bonds with others which I became invested in pretty easily. This does include romance, and a bit of a love triangle with two different people. While love triangles aren’t my favorite, I appreciated the way this was executed, making both love interests viable candidates for Xingyin’s love.
I adored this book, and am excited for the next book and anything else Sue Lynn Tan writes in the future. If you’re looking for a beautifully written Chinese mythology-inspired romantic fantasy, I think you’ll like this one.

Thank you so much to Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Daughter of the Moon Goddess was such a great fantasy and debut from Sue Lynn Tan! I'm still sitting here in shock after everything that happened. Sue Lynn Tan is such a good storyteller--Xiangyin's journey was an absolutely wild rollercoaster ride and I literally feel so winded after watching everything play out. If you love lush storytelling, intricate magic systems and world building, badass heroines, plot twists and betrayals of the highest order, friends-to-lovers-to-enemies, and more, I highly suggest picking up Daughter of the Moon Goddess!

I am not sure that I can recommend this book enough! I am not sure how to describe it except it feels both epic and also light and airy. Sometimes it feels sort of dreamy, but other times you're in the midst of a dark battle. I would say it feels like a Chinese folktale (from someone without much experience with those). I loved it and can't wait to see what happens next!

Let me begin with this: I enjoyed this book. I found it to be atmospheric with a fairytale like magic system that felt cozy and intriguing. Tue romance was good and don't we all love a harass with a bow? My issue is that I feel like this could be been an astoundingly wonderful collection of shirt stories that would have provided the ability to flesh some of the battles and relationships throughout this book. While I think it did a great job, I just found myself wanting more. However, I don't feel that speaks overly negatively of the book or writing - lets say it as I loved it so much I wanted more.

I knew I had to read this book the second I saw the gorgeous cover on Twitter and rushed to request it on NetGalley when it became available. I'm glad I did because this story was as beautiful inside the cover as on the outside. The writing was absolutely stunning with a wonderful lyrical quality to it. Reading it felt like I was transported into this mythological world on one of the fluffy clouds the immortals used to get around the Celestial Kingdom. I couldn't get enough of Tan's descriptive genius and was enthralled by the setting and world-building. Xingyin was a really great protagonist with good characterization. I enjoyed reading her perspective and getting her thoughts on love and honor as she worked stubbornly toward the goal of freeing her mother. The rest of the characters were a bit flat, but I didn't mind it much because I liked their interactions with Xingyin. Surprisingly, I didn't hate the love triangle, and it turned out to be one of my favorite things about the book. I liked both of the love interests and appreciated how each of them represented a side of the internal struggle within Xingyin. The pacing of the book was a bit uneven and it became somewhat repetitive in the middle with the main characters going off on several quests one after the other. However, it all came together well in the end in a satisfying way, and the writing, world-building, and relationships kept me engaged even when the pace was a bit off. If you are looking for an Eastern mythology re-telling with court intrigue, magic, plenty of action, beautiful writing, love and betrayal, and a well-developed female protagonist, look no further. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

I loved this! I would give it a 4.25 or 4.5. The writing flowed beautifully and was very immersive. I loved the culture and the setting. The plot was interesting! But my favorite would have to be the relationships - I loved seeing the development between various characters. I loved the fantasy aspects!

(Mild spoilers) while there is a love triangle in this, I actually enjoyed it! It made sense, I liked the relationships between the characters, and I loved the conflict that sparked! I’m not a love triangle person, but I did like this - and the way it ended up!

Why this isn’t a 5:
It’s kind of predictable - not horrifically so, but there were things I saw coming
The pacing - some segments drag and then we time skip around. It’s a little jarring.
I could have used a little more characterization of each major character!

Overall I thought this was beautifully written and very captivating. I read it slowly to savor the experience. So thankful I got the chance to read this as an ARC!

The Daughter of the Moon Goddess takes the myth of Chang'e from Chinese mythology and spins a new tale around the invented character of Chang'e's daugther. Sue Lynn Tan did a wonderful job weaving this Celestial world that felt like it was ripped straight out of the pages of myth and legend.

Plot wise this book was split into a few sections of plot, almost like a collection of short stories. Because of this I did find myself a little more interested in the short term plots of the book than the overarching long term plot.

This book also has a strong romantic subplot that I really enjoyed. It was a love triangle, and honestly it was probably the most well done love triangle I have read in a while. Both love interests had unique relationship dynamics with our heroine and both were well developed and realistic and so I couldn't figure out who she was going to pick.

The writing of this book was very well done and had the same kind of tone to its prose that I would expect to encounter when reading myth or legends and so it was very fitting for this book. But as a result it's also the kind of prose that feels a little distant from the characters so depending on how much you need a close connection with the characters this could be a hit or miss for you from that angle.

Overall a very enjoyable read! And I'm very intrigued as to what direction the sequel is going to go in as this book did not end where I expected it to.

Wow, I loved every minute of this book! The world building was amazing and beautiful! It was very fast paced and I did not want to put it down! It had my emotions are all over the place! It was heartbreaking and yet sometimes heartwarming. The main character Xingyin was amazing..She was brave, fierce, cunning, loyal and fought so hard for her family and what she believed was right! I also loved Liwei’s character from the moment we met him! He never treated Xingyin as if she was beneath him and always showed her respect and support. I loved watching Xingyin grow into a fierce warrior and go on an amazing yet perilous quest to help free her mother! Her journey definitely had me on the edge of my seat scared to read what would happen next! I loved how the book had a pretty satisfying ending, but I cannot wait to see what is next for Xingyin and the others!

Sue Lynn Tan’s debut novel, DAUGHTER OF THE MOON GODDESS, is a beautifully written, young adult quest/romance based on Chinese mythology.

Xingyin has grownup on the moon, hidden by her imprisoned mother, the moon goddess. When Xingyin’s magic flares, it draws the unwanted attention of the immortal emperor. To keep her safe, the moon goddess sends Xingyin away from the quiet confines of the moon. Now Xingyin is determined to learn how to use her magic and to free her mother.

This has all of the young adult tropes - a love triangle, a righteous quest involving a powerful adversary, and lots of self-discovery and growth.

I loved watching Xingyin develop from the quiet, reserved girl on the moon to the young woman making difficult decisions.

The world-building and magic system were complex yet well thought out. The descriptions were beautiful and lush.

The cover is absolutely gorgeous - but the contents are even better. Xingyin is the sheltered daughter of the Moon Goddess, Chang'e, but she will be forced to grow up in a hurry when she is forced to leave the moon, and make her own way in the Celestial Kingdom. Without betraying her origins, lest the mother, whom she misses deeply, be punished further for bearing and hiding her, on the moon.

Disclaimer: I received a free ARC via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Disclaimer 2: I'm a white American woman, unfamiliar (up until now) with legends of immortal beings from Chinese culture. This did not subtract from my enjoyment of this work at all, but I suspect that this book is even better if one IS familiar with said legends.

The writing is exquisite, poetic, the characters distinct and compelling, and the danger to Xingyin and her mother, ever present. She also has allies, in a friend, and in two young men who are both romantically interested in her. Loved this. Can't wait for the next one.

I was intrigued by the overall premise of this book, but the voice of the book didn't quite draw me in as much as I was hoping it would. I'm not quite sure what it is. I think maybe if it had been written in first person, that might have helped? There was a bit of a formality to the writing style that just didn't quite work for me. Overall a clever tale, but just didn't quite fall in love with the writing enough to totally immerse myself in the story.

Things I Enjoyed: The author does a great job of transporting us into the world of Daughter of the Moon Goddess. I can imagine myself inside the palaces and the clothing and jewelry are amazing.

In terms of the protagonist, I really liked Xingyin. I found myself sympathizing with her struggle to save her mother. I also could relate to her struggle with the prejudices of others due to her assumed lowly station and her gender.

In my opinion, the plot was a good mix of adventure and romance. I thought that the love triangle in this one was very well done. Both Wenzhi and Liwei were well developed and they each had a unique relationship with Xingyin making it hard to choose between the two early on in the story.

Things I Didn’t Enjoy: The pacing was off for me. The first third and the last were great, but the middle felt almost like a filler

Overall Thoughts: This was 3.5 star read for me. The pacing proved very detrimental with regards to my enjoyment of the story. However, if you enjoy a slower paced story and like YA fantasy then consider giving this book a try.

<i>Daughter of the Moon Goddess</i> is one of the most impressive debuts I've ever read, and one I won't soon forget. One of the highest compliments I can give a book is that while I was reading it I forgot about the outside world, and such was the case with this novel. I was easily swept away into this whimsical fantasy, and when it ended I found myself sad to be saying goodbye–though I anxiously await the sequel.

Sue Lynn Tan is a phenomenal talent, and her skills are on full display in this book. Her writing, world building, lore, magic system and characters were fully realized. Even when the characters made decisions that frustrated me, I couldn't truly fault them because they felt like real people. I experienced a range of emotions over the course of the novel and shed a fair amount of tears, but it was a journey I genuinely loved. Sometimes it gave me whiplash, as the pace of this book is breakneck at points, but there was truly never a dull moment. Romance, dragons, battles, politics, magic–there's seldom a second to catch your breath, but it kept me on my toes.

The only thing that truly wavered for me was the romance. There was a lot of back and forth between the two options, which made my opinion flit around as well. But given that Xingyin is struggling with two hot men pining for her, can I really fault her? I'd be the same. As the book went on, I also found that the romances grew on me and, by the end, I thoroughly enjoyed the direction they went.

When I look at the moon at night, I wouldn't be surprised if Chang'e and Xingyin come to the forefront of my mind unbidden, and I will be glad to see them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for my honest review.

It's breathtaking, really. The world she crafted based on Chinese mythology feels truly magical and immersive. While a lot of the worldbuilding is never laid out for you verbatim, I felt as if I really got to experience the world. There are many twists and turns in the plot, some of which I'd never expected, and just OH SO much content! I feel like most books would pick 2-3 of the plot elements for a single book, but we're blessed with 6. And even better, I have no idea what's going to happen in the sequel (i.e. there's NO cliffhanger thank goodness!). I'd classify this book firmly in the NA fantasy camp, purely due to its inherent readability. A 500 page book seriously flew by just due to how clear the writing was.

Basically I loved it and you will too.

*Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
“There are many legends about my mother…” “Whichever story you believe, my mother, Chang’e, became immortal. As did I.”
~~~
This book was good. I loved the world building, the detailing of it. The determination of the main character was outstanding. I loved the characters' descriptions and their developments. This was an amazing retelling; and Tan is a phenomenal writer. If there is another book after this I absolutely can’t wait to read it. Thank you so Sue Lynn, Harper Collins Publishers, and NetGalley for the eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

DNF @ 34%
I hope to give this another try in the future, at which point I would update this review. For now, though, I just can’t find the motivation to get through this.

This book falls into what I’ve taken to calling the Addie LaRue category: the prose itself is beautiful and quotable and whimsical, but the characters and plot are less developed. Books like this tend to be pretty divisive, because your enjoyment rests entirely on what you enjoy as a reader. I, personally, need a bit more focus on character development or plot development to get into a book.

What I loved about Daughter of the Moon Goddess was the world building. The myth of Chang’e is a personal favorite, and the author builds such a stunning world of immortals and magic around it. He world building is pretty detailed and extensive, and I didn’t mind it one bit. As mentioned before, the prose is beautiful too, and I appreciated the lyrical quality of it.

Unfortunately, though, the characters and plot fell flat. I couldn’t tell you a single trait of any of the characters; Xingyin’s characterization varied wildly, changing to fit each new plot point, and while the prince was endearing enough, the character overall was a bit too bland for my taste. Pacing in the first third is another huge issue for me; I see a lot of reviewers calling it action-packed, and it is, but to the extent where it feels as if nothing is happening. The layout and pacing of this book, in my opinion, would’ve lended itself amazingly to a novella or series of novellas—which is to say, in a different format I am sure I would’ve enjoyed this a lot more.

All of the overwhelmingly positive reviews gave me high expectations for this book, and to me it just failed to live up. Maybe after the first third the book improves, but with how little I enjoyed the first part I wasn’t really inclined to stick around and find out. I truly hope other readers have better luck than I did, though; this was one of my most anticipated releases and although I didn’t like it, it’s still beautifully written.

Unfortunately, I could not get into this book, though I tried multiple times. The premise is so fascinating, but I did not find myself engaged by the style of the writing, and the characterization came across as fairly bland. I did like the mythic world-building, but it wasn't enough to pull me through the story in the end.

dnf @ 25%

I am pretty disappointed about this one. I simply could not get through this one. The characters were bland. There was very little plot development, and many things that happened were way too coincidental. The world-building was interesting, but I just found myself feeling bored. I did enjoy the author's writing style, though, so I'm hoping that her later books improve since she is a debut author.

I'm giving this two stars because, as I stated above, I did enjoy her writing style. Also, I do think this book would appeal to a slightly younger audience and maybe I am simply too old to enjoy some of the story. The world-building and mythology was really interesting, but the plot needed to be streamlined.