First off - WOW.

Secondly, before you even read what I have to say about this beautiful book - PREORDER IT. TRUST ME.

After receiving an eARC from NetGalley for my honest review, I was left with so many thoughts and feelings upon finishing, Daughter of the Moon Goddess. This story follows the tale of Xingyin, the daughter of Chang'E, the legendary goddess who was banished to the moon after imbibing an immortality elixir once meant for her husband, in order to save her unborn daughter. The cover alone made me request the eARC and when I read the excerpt, I was hooked. This is an absolutely beautiful tale introducing the reader when Xingyin has to flew the moon where she has been raised by her mother in secret. She then travels to the celestial realm where she undergoes trials to become the prince's companion. The reader follows her as she tries to find a way to save her mother from her imprisonment on the moon by getting into the celestial emperor and empress' good graces. There is also a friends-to-lovers trope between Xingyin and the Prince, Liwei.

I just highly recommend you pick up this book when it releases and dive in. It is absolutely beautifully written and I was shocked to learn this is Sue Lynn Tan's debut novel. CONGRATULATIONS! This book was incredible.

I simply loved this book. I don't think anything could have been written better in it. The love story? Fantastic. The mythology? Fascinating. The adventure? Had me sitting on the edge of my seat!! This was entirely too beautiful for words! 5⭐

“I shivered, not from the cold, but the heat surging through my veins. Clutching his shoulders, I held him closer to me still. We fell onto the ground, the carpet of petals softer than any bed…my body alight with a thousand glittering sensations”

WOWOWOWOW

As a little girl, I was in love with the Andrew Lang rainbow fairy books. I’ve always loved fairytales, and I loved his collections because they featured stories from around the world that I hadn’t heard of before and because they took me on a thousand magical journeys I couldn’t have imagined.

This book feels like being dropped into one of those fairytales. I’ve never read anything like it. A lot of books are described as fairytale retellings, but few books feel like an actual fairytale for five hundred pages.

Xingyin grows up on the moon in peace with her mother, the moon goddess, until she finds out a terrible secret and must flee her realm. She finds herself in the realm of the Celestial Emperor, her mother’s enemy, and finds herself the closest companion of his son, Liwei. Eventually, she is put to the test and must decide what choice to make.

I am not an own voices reviewer, and I can’t speak to that aspect of this book, but like She Who Became the Sun, this book does feel distinctly non-Western to me, and I loved that.

For that reason, it may feel a bit different for many of us who expect nothing more than a dark forest and a sexy, growling man when we hear “fairytale retelling.” This is so much more. It’s enchanting and romantic and gorgeous, and it just feels like the most beautiful imagination brought to life.

Sue Lynn Tan’s writing is magical, each setting more beautiful than the last, each romantic moment feeling like it should be accompanied by sweeping strings. If you wanted to describe the setting of the most beautiful fairytale, you couldn’t do it as well as she does here.

This is a beautiful jewel of a book, dizzying and intoxicating and breathtaking. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In conclusion…I think we can all agree that Chinese inspired fantasies >

Thank you to @netgalley and @harpervoyagerus for this copy! I was so thrilled to get it!

This is one of the most jam-packed books I've ever read. I'm so surprised this is the first in a duology because I feel like there's enough content for two books in this alone. So I'm super excited to see what else this series is going to give.

I mean, what a wild journey this is. From Xingyin hiding away on the moon, then training with the prince, to her service in the royal army, and her quest to search for the missing dragons, all while trying to free her mother, this story is a rollercoaster. I loved the magic, the setting, the plot that keeps on giving, and the asian mythology. It's such a cosy fantasy tale that is rich in culture.

What a wonderful debut and such a captivating start to a series.

There are some novels where the writing is so beautiful it overwhelms the story. The Daughter of The Moon Goddess is, I am happy to report, NOT that kind of novel. Instead, the delicate, evocative voice of the author, Sue Lyn Tan, is the perfect complement to a heart pounding adventure and a gorgeous love story.
Being unfamiliar with the mythology behind the tale, I was enthralled by the idea of a Xingyin, the secret child of her mother who has been imprisoned on the moon. Xingyin sets off to free her mother and thus begins an epic tale where she finds herself the object of intense fascination by the crown prince of the realm, becomes a member of the Celestial Army and makes some deadly enemies. There is, of course, magic involved, but it is essential to the story and does not feel forced or over the top.
While the novel is fantasy based on mythology the characters are multidimensional and skillfully drawn. I was unprepared for and completely relished Xingyin’s evolution from a pampered prisoner to a student to a warrior. Xingyin comes of age during this tale and has her heart broken again and again but perseveres and grows into herself as the story progresses.
I highly recommend this novel to all fantasy readers but especially those who appreciate accomplished prose alongside their heroine’s journey.

First, thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow this was unbelievably beautiful. I loved all the aspects of this book: the Chinese mythology, the magic, the setting, the dragons, the quests, the love stories, the friendships, just everything. There was so much heartache and heartbreak, but it was all so beautifully done; you really FEEL everything that Xingyin is feeling and struggling with. The relationship between Xingyin and Liwei is so real and heartfelt. Also, yes there is a love triangle, but it's actually really well-done.
While the book ends with everything almost resolved, you get enough closure that it's not at all a cliffhanger, but still leaves you wanting to see where the story will go next. I for one can't wait for the next book.
Highly highly recommended

4/5 stars

thank you to netgalley and harper voyager for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

the only aspect of this book i wasn't the biggest fan of was the romance/love triangle. for characters who are decades-to-centuries-old immortals, whenever the main character so much as looks as a man who's described as young and handsome, her love interests turn to petty squabbles that was frustrating to get through. i understand that despite the ages of xingyan and the rest of the cast this is still a coming of age story, but i couldn't get myself to enjoy the hesitant will-they-won't-they dynamic that permeated each romantic scene in the story.

other than that i loved everything else! daughter of the moon goddess is full of heart, well-realized characters, and an episodic-like plot that culminates into a satisfying conclusion with enough loose ends to leave me eagerly anticipating the last installment in the duology. the writing was ornate while still being grounded enough in its limited perspective that i grew extremely attached to xingyin in a way that's rare for me with this type of imagery-heavy and verbose prose; her drive to succeed being fueled by her love for her mother and her own personal ambitions was a joy to read. what a great fantasy debut!

It just feels so right when a book that looks so beautiful on the outside is just as stunning on the inside. This was a vivid, unputdownable debut which effortlessly whisks us into the celestial realms of Chinese high fantasy. Tan magnificently conjures the romantic yet dangerous dazzle of this immortal world, but never loses track of the shining human heart of her tale. A captivating treat for lovers of Chinese fantasy dramas and newcomers alike.

This book is so rich in world building and strong in character development!! Everything I could ever want in a fantasy book and more! While I am not familiar with the Chinese legend of the moon goddess, this book has me all the more intrigued to learn more about Chinese mythology. The main character in this book, Xingyin, is such a strong and brave female character that I believe will impact readers and leave a lasting impression. The romance was so-so in comparison to the world portrayed in the book. Overall, I strongly recommend this read!

I loved this book! It was so good and I plan to read it again. Xingyin is such a great character. I loved following her journey. I love that it was inspired by the Chinese legend of the Moon Goddess. The cover is beautiful, too. I’m so excited for the next book!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Avon, and HarperVoyager for providing me with an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

TW: Attempted sexual assault, blood, death, violence.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess follows Xingyin, daughter of Chang’e, who was sentenced to eternal solitude as the moon goddess by the Celestial Emperor as punishment for drinking an elixir that would make her immortal. But when a flare in her magic puts her under the Celestial Empress’s radar, Xingyin flees her home and vows to eventually free her mother. In this first book in The Celestial Kingdom Duology, Xingyin sets off on a dangerous quest that pits her against the realm’s most powerful immortal. She must learn to make tough choices and bear their consequences, all while never losing sight of her mission.

Based off of Chinese mythology, Daughter of the Moon Goddess a beautifully woven and exhilarating tale of magic, family, love, and friendship.

It’s very rare that while reading books, I’ll come across one that just tugs at the heartstrings and leaves me wanting for more. Daughter of the Moon Goddess did just that.

This was one of my most highly anticipated reads of this year and it did not disappoint. I loved every bit of it - from the beginning to the very end. It has three of my favorite tropes - a badass female warrior, friends - lovers - enemies storyline, and a morally gray villain. I’m usually not a big fan of love triangles, though, but because of the way it’s written in this story, I could tolerate it. And for the three nights that I read this book, I felt fully transported into the world Sue Lynn Tan created.

Xingyin. In some ways, she reminded me of Jude Duarte from The Cruel Prince series. Jude knew what she wanted and would stop at nothing to get it. Xingyin is the same. Though she does waver between her heart and her mind, she always remembers why she even stepped foot into the Celestial Kingdom in the first place. Which brings me to my next point - her relationship with her mother. Oftentimes in fantasy novels, a villainous or dead parent is the protagonist’s motivation. But to see a strong mother-daughter bond be the driving force behind Xingyin’s journey was a breath of fresh air.

And the plot twists. AHA. I could not have guessed at them even if I tried, which is an indicator of just how great the story was written. Also, though the book is on the longer side, Sue Lynn Tan wastes no time diving right into the plot, which made for a more engaging read and left me invested from very early on.

Also, the way the story ends wraps it up very nicely. If I didn’t know better, I never would’ve guessed that there was going to be a sequel to the book.

Also...can we talk about the cover??? Gorgeous. I can't wait to get a physical copy of it.

All in all, I don’t think I’m going to stop talking about this book for a while. This is the perfect debut! And if you haven’t placed a preorder for the book yet, do it. Now.

I will be sharing a mini copy of this review on my Bookstagram/Goodreads, @saras1ibrary this week and then the complete copy again closer to release date. I have been sharing some reading updates of this book while reading it on my IG stories.

Thank you so much to Harper Collins for sending a advanced copy of this my way in exchange for an honest review.

i actually really enjoyed this. I’ve always loved the story of Chang’e and to read a story about her “daughter” was fantastic. The writing was so beautiful and i ended up crying more than once. I can’t reccomend this enough.

The only thing that didn’t make this five stars was the latter part of the book probably could’ve been condensed but I still really enjoyed it.

Huge thank you to HarperVoyager for providing me with an arc through Netgalley! This did not impact my rating nor review.

This has been one of my most anticipated books of the Winter! It releases on January 11,2022 and I highly suggest preordering it!!! This book is going to release around the time the industry expects book shortages, so preordering has never been more imperative!!

Daughter of the Moon Goddess starts off seeming like a standard YA fantasy (note, this is an adult novel, but I do think it has fantastic crossover appeal and is incredibly accessible to a YA audience). The main character, Xingyin, is a young child living on the moon with her mother, The Moon Goddess. One day, the Celestial Empress pays a visit to the moon and warns the Moon Goddess that if she has any visitors or anyone hidden on the moon, she will face dire consequences. This is when Xingyin learns that she has been hidden from the Celestial Emperor and Empress and that her mother is imprisoned on the moon by the Celestial Empire. In order to save Xingyin's life, her mother makes her leave the moon immediately.

The rest of the book follows Xingyin as a young woman, who is also an immortal, and her adventures, challenges, and relationships within the Celestial Empire. It's much more intriguing and action packed than it sounds! There are deep connections between Xingyin, the Prince of the Celestial Empire, and a prolific military captain. The story includes political intrigue, romance, betrayal, deception, DRAGONS, magical creatures, immortals, battles, and much more.

The writing was very atmospheric and beautiful, which made this book stand out from many other fantasy stories. I recommend this for fans of Caraval, City of Brass, Circe, The Bear and the Nightingale, and even ACOTAR (the stories are nothing alike, and Daughter of the Moon Goddess has much stronger writing, but I can see ACOTAR fans enjoying it too!).

I can't wait for this book to release, as the book is stunning and the cover matches the story so so well!

Highly recommended, I gave it 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars. This is going to be a huge release of 2022!

TW/CW: very brief attempted sexual assault, use of expressions "falling on deaf ears" and that a was "deaf and blind" to concerns/warnings, battle scenes, off page death of parent(s), betrayal by romantic partner/friend.

I will also be sharing a copy of this review on my Bookstagram, @monstrouslybookish, closer to the release date. I have been sharing some reading updates of this book while reading it, on my IG stories.

My feelings on this novel are somewhat mixed, but overall I enjoyed it a lot! I loved following an immortal main character, and it was really great to see a full cast of Asian characters.

While the last 40% of this book are really intense, engaging, and thrilling, the entire beginning portion was slow paced and dragged on. There wasn’t much plot or character development/exploration during this section, which made it hard to get through. I can barely recall a single event that happens in the first part of this novel. I will say that the world building was excellent, and I think it’s because the author really took the time to give readers information, but for me personally, the easy to understand world might not have been worth the weird pacing issues.

HOWEVER, the last act was truly amazing, it was exactly what I was looking for at this time. The twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Even though it took me about 5 days to read the first two acts, it only took me a few hours to read the third, that’s how entrapped I was with the finale. The writing was beautiful, the action scenes were incredible, and the drama between characters was riveting. The conclusion is satisfying, and everything that I wanted to happen, happened. I won’t say that the ending wraps everything up with a bow on top, but the author leaving some questions unanswered actually makes a lot of sense for this novel, and I’m happy with where things ended.

I can see how some readers may not be able to reach the third act, but I believe that it is completely worth the read. There are a few things that I wish had been fixed before it reached me, but I would say that the book as a whole was amazing. It's enjoyable, it's entertaining, and if you’re looking for a great fantasy to read next, you should definitely pick this one up!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy! All opinions are my own.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess follows Xingyin, who is on a quest to free her mother from exile. Her mother, Chang'e, also known as the Moon Goddess, has been exiled by the Celestial Emperor after taking an elixir of immortality.

Xingyin disguises her true identity while trying to figure out how to release her mother from her captivity. She stumbles upon the Crown Prince, and a friendship begins. She becomes his companion and works her way into the kingdom. While there, she learns archery and how to improve her magic. Although a close friendship is developing between her and the Prince, Xingyin never forgets her mother and is determined to help. The question is, will the secrets about her identity catch up to her? What will the Prince say when she finally reveals herself? Will he help or turn her away?

This book was fantastic! The story was told beautifully. Xingyin showed such bravery and willpower throughout the novel. I didn't see anything coming and was shocked by how everything played out. Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a remarkable debut by Sue Lynn Tan, and I can't wait to see what's next.

I am so thankful to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for this eARC of Daughter if the Moon Goddess. This is my honest review of the book.

So, I’m just going to say right now I’m going to gush and gush about this book. I’ve been reading fantasy books since forever. Lately, many fantasy books have felt the same. They all have been good, don’t get me wrong, just they have all had the same feeling and formulas. However, when I read the synopsis of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, I had the feeling I was in for something very different in the best possible way.

Xingyin is the Daughter of the Moon Goddess Chang’e. She has spent her life alone on the moon save for her mother and their attendant. Though in solitude, she has been mostly content, unaware she is actually being hidden from the Celestial Emperor. That is, until one fateful day when her power alerts the Celestial Kingdom there is more to the moon than just her mother. She is forced to flee the only home she has ever known leaving her mother behind ending up alone, no friends, no money, no training in a completely new world. However, she manages to hide her identity and win a spot next to the crown prince where she will train by his side. Xingyin has one goal, to free her mother and be reunited. Though, she will face many trials on her way.

Right from the beginning of the book I was emotionally invested in the lives of these characters. I really began to feel as if Xingyin was my person friend and I wanted to jump into the book to protect her with everything I had.

For the few days I spent reading this book I felt fully transported to the world Sue Lynn Tan has created. Everything was so vivid in my mind that I actually dreamt about the Celestial Kingdom. This world was so exhilarating and so magical. I truly appreciate the storytelling in this book, the story moved quicker in a very well paced manner. I was never bogged down with “info dumps” the reader is given just the right amount of details as the story goes to keep the story moving and keep the reader engaged yet knowledgeable about the world and characters.

Xingyin is my new favorite MC. I fell in love with her as she struggled alone being harassed by people who had no idea who she was. She grows and earns the respect of the crown prince. But, nothing is as it seems and the twists and turns kept me glued to the pages. Xingyin faces many trails and sometimes it feel like the hits just keep coming. The book had the perfect balance between being intense and whimsical: a good character driven story and a good plot driven story.

One reason I really was so involved in this story was the quest of Xingyin to save her mother. I’m so tired of mother’s either being killed off or being flat, overbearing, or evil in ya fantasy books. It’s so rare to see the love of a mother and daughter being so highlighted and treated as the special relationship to is. While I’m a fan of Disney, I am tired of women being represented as being so willing to throw over their family for a man they just met.

I really appreciate the relationships in this book, be it friends, romance, or family. We see many layers and complications. The romance is so well done. I don’t want to say too much, but the struggle, tension, and build up is chef’s kiss!

This was defiantly a 5 star read fo me. I’ve already preordered two copies of this book. I already want to re-read it and experience this world again. I am not ready for it to be over.

I didn’t grow up on a ton of Chinese folktales, but I’ve always been fascinated by them. And as someone who loves retellings and Asian rep, I’m so excited Asian mythology is starting to get some love in the YA Fantasy world. As you’ve probably noticed from my blog/socials, I’ve been hyped about Daughter of the Moon Goddess since I’ve heard about it and even more hyped since both of the cover reveals. I was a little nervous that it wouldn’t live up to my expectations, but overall, Daughter of the Moon Goddess was a solid debut.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess is reminiscent of those historical Chinese dramas that have been in the background of so much of my childhood. I personally was never a fan of them (I like the aesthetics though,) but maybe that’ll change with my new obsession with xianxia-inspired fantasy?

There’s a dreamlike, almost lyrical quality to the storytelling, and Tan manages to capture the tone of old Chinese folktales so well. The story has a little of everything: adventure, betrayal, romance, and heartbreak; there are heroic feats, fierce battles, magical creatures, and perilous journeys. It’s almost as if the essence of an epic tale has been distilled into a single book.

The world, the aesthetics, the vibes are all reminiscent of Asian myths. The descriptions of the immortal realm are vibrant, and I was instantly transported to the world of The Celestial Kingdom. The elaborate descriptions of the clothing, the detailed pictures of the palaces, and the vivid depictions of the creatures made it so easy to imagine the breathtaking world Tan created. Seriously, I want to live in the Celestial Kingdom. I can totally picture how stunning an adaptation would look. And the food! There’s just something about seeing the food you’ve grown up eating represented in a YA Fantasy without being strange or exotic 🥺 . My only complaint in relation to the worldbuilding is that I wish the magic had been explained and developed more.

I wish Xingyin’s relationship with her mother were developed more, especially given the title of the book, but I enjoyed this variation on the legend of Chang’e. At its heart, Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a story about relationships–familial, platonic, romantic. It’s a tale of sacrifice, loyalty, duty and honor and explores the themes in a nuanced way. I’m particularly impressed by how Tan balances the romance. It’s an integral part of the story but it never feels like it’s taking over the plot. It’s a story about love but never feels like its just a love story, if that makes any sense. There is a love triangle, but it’s actually handled pretty well. I actually cringed when I spotted the second love interest and realized where this was headed but surprisingly didn’t find it grating or unnecessarily dramatic. The dreaded trope never feels clichéd or over-the-top and manages to avoid being a focal point of the story despite playing a pretty big role in the plot. I recently came to the realization that my love for angsty romance might be because I’m Chinese.

I just love a good tragic romance, and Daughter of the Moon Goddess has the kind of yearning and heartache I love in a love story. It’s full of melancholy and heartache, with forbidden romances, betrayal and despair. It’s everything I love in a sad romance.

I don’t think Tan utilized the romance to its full potential, though. I liked Xingyin as a protagonist but had a hard time relating to her on an emotional level. I wish I’d been able to connect with the characters more which would’ve made the angst even more heartbreaking. (I just wanted more feels, okay?) I also think deeper character development would make the relationships–platonic and romantic–that much better.

There are a few loose ends that need to be tied up, but Daughter of the Moon Goddess stands on its own as a complete story. Even though it’s part of a duology, the story is perfectly contained in a single book. No giant cliffhangers here! It’s so refreshing to finish a YA fantasy with a satisfactory ending. That being said, I can’t wait for the sequel and hope it’ll bring richer character development and more feels.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess has one of the most stunning book covers that I've seen in a long time. Once the cover was released, I knew that I had to read this book. If the prose and story were anything like the beauty of the cover, I knew it would be worth it, and it did not disappoint at all. This beautiful story magically draws us into the Celestial Kingdom and the vivid world of Chinese immortals. An absolute delight for anyone who loves fantasy, fairy tales, and beautiful prose.

I found myself wrapped up in the Celestial Kingdom but yearning for her to save her mother along with Xingyin. To me, this story shines so bright in the balance of emotions of Xingyin wanting to save her mom and living in the kingdom that tore them apart. How do you live in country that is responsible for tearing you away from your mother? How do you deal with yourself when this country becomes important to you? When we live somewhere, that place slowly becomes part of your home. But how do you balance the deep desire to stay true to your family while knowing that your home and the people that you are close to are the very thing that tore you apart? This book doesn't answer these questions, as there is no right or wrong answer to any of them, but it does really spotlight the complexities of that situation.

The beautiful writing of Daughter of the Moon Goddess whisks you away into the land of magic and wonder. The writing is as luscious and as vivid as the magic and it is purely stunning. It helps ease us into the complicated situation that Xingyin finds herself in by flowing from one conflicting feeling to the next. Figuring out what is the right thing to do is more complicated than we ever know and this gorgeous story uses the writing to pull you from one side to the other trying to decide with character. The ebb and flow of the prose is a constant reminder of each side of the internal conflict, and that reminder is showing us that there is no one single way to bring honor to your family.

Sue Lynn Tan does a beautiful job giving us the simplicity of life alongside epic stories. We get the delight of living in the palace, caring for the prince, and falling in love. But we also get the big, epic, magical tale of retrieving pearls from a dragon. The balance and seamlessness between the simple beauty of life and the epic adventures is a wonderful reminder that even the simple things in life are grand as long as they are lived.

This is apparently the first in a duology, which is great, because I want to read the next book right now.

This book has if not it all, darn near close.

Strong female protagonist. Check.
Chinese mythology as the basis for the story. Check.
Great adventures, with more twists and turns than you can anticipate. Check and check.

The original myth is that the moon goddess was born a mortal, but stole the potion that made her immortal from the great archer that shot the sun birds.

In this telling, the reason for why she did so was not from greed or spite, but because she was told she would die in childbirth, and she wanted to save herself and her unborn child.

For that offence, she was sentenced to the moon, never to see any of the other immortals again. But they didn’t know about her child, and so she hid with her mother on the moon, until she came into her power, and the Celesia beings sensed her, and she had to flee.

And the story that follows is the adventures she had while being incognito, and yet trying to rise in the ranks enough to free her mother with a boon from the Celesian Emperor.

What I love of this story is that Xingyin doesn’t let a little ting like being with parents or a name to get into her way, and trains hard, first with the prince, and then with the army. She suffers, and tries harder.

There are dragons, there are demons, there are mortals, the whole thing. It was such a good story that when I was done, after of course staying up until 2:30 in the morning to finish it, that I couldn't’ read another fantasy, even though I had one lined up. The next book I am reading is a romance, just so I can get the taste of this amazing fantasy adventure out of my mouth, and then go back to another fantasy.

You should definitely put it on your tbr list.

<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. </em>

First off, let me just say that one of the things that drew me to this title in the first place was the beautiful cover. Secondly, I really loved the premise of reimagining an old folk tale. Before reading this novel I had a really limited novel of the myth of Chang'e, but this novel did a great job of expanding on the original myth in an interesting way. I loved how detail-oriented Tan was when creating the Celestial Kingdom. Tan's writing had a lyrical quality to it and I enjoyed the main character Xingyin. I could have done with a bit less focus on the love triangle in the novel as I felt that it did get a bit repetitive and distracting at times. I also agree with some other reviewers in the fact that the pacing threw me for a loop at times. The novel seemed to go extremely fast-paced in certain areas (almost too fast-paced in my opinion), and then in others it seemed to creep along. Overall, though, I really enjoyed this novel and I am really looking forward to what Tan is going to bring in the sequel.