daughter of the moon goddess, a fantasy retelling of the legend of chang’e, was one of my most anticipated releases of 2022, but it turned out to be quite a disappointment.

i’ll start with the positives: the world-building was brilliantly done, and i loved the positive mother/daughter relationship. xingyin’s loyalty to and love for chang’e (and vice versa) were really lovely.

as for the negatives: i found the characters frustratingly flat compared to the vivid, beautiful world they occupied. the entire book relies too heavily on telling and not enough on showing—there was very little build up to significant events and revelations and the relationships felt underdeveloped. the battle scenes were particularly lacking and disjointed, and i would have liked more insight into xingyin’s training too (because she was somehow good at just about everything).

i really wanted to love this, but at the end of the day i just didn’t.

I loved this book! I loved the Chinese mythology incorporated into the story, the magic, the immortal beings, and the dragons. The thread of romance is also woven into the story as well as the growth experienced by a young girl. I loved the imagery in the book which describes the Chinese culture. I look forward to reading the sequel.

So, let’s start by calling this book what it is: One of my favorite reads for 2022!!
I honestly don’t think there’s a single thing about this book that I dislike, and I can not wait for the second part of this Duology.

Let’s start with the world building. Whenever I read magical realism, I look forward to how the author builds out the visuals as well as the rules of magic within their realm. This world was well-described and easy to follow while also allowing space for creative interpretation by the reader. The magic was consistent across the book and also followed my own spiritual beliefs.

This story follows Xingyin who is forced to flee from her home due to the new found knowledge of her lineage and magic as well as the Empress threats against her mother which ironically ends with her at the Empress’s home to serve as her son’s Liwei companion. From there, we see the budding romance between Xingyin and Liwei before their first twist or should I saw twists enter their relationship. I don’t want to spoil anything, but let’s say it’s juicy!

Xingyin then vows to herself to get back to her bigger goal of freeing her mother which leads her to serve as the First Archer in the Celestial Army under Captain Wenzhi which leads to one of the best Love Triangles I’ve ever read. I will say that my favorite quote came from Captain Wenzhi. “Why would a falcon want to be a nightingale?” This quote spoke to me on so many levels, and I loved how this entire scene played out.

The plot twists weren’t complete secrets, but the story did it in such a breadcrumb way that you felt rewarded by it. I finished this book in one sitting while saying things like, “She’s giving us more!” “Sis wrote this book!” And numerous screams of “What?!” There’s love, drama, intimacy, great action scenes, consistency across characters, romance, actual character development/growth. There’s also development of honor, journey to self-worth, and dragons.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a book I have been anxiously waiting to read. I had hoped to read it in early January, but alas, I was unable to get to it until recently. This book was quite the ride. There were several plot lines involved, and a lot of action. Overall, I did like it, though I feel it could have benefitted from being a little shorter.

While Daughter of the Moon Goddess was certainly not bad by any means, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would have. Had I been in a different reading mood, I might've felt differently, but unfortunately, this one fell a little short for me. The story itself was interesting and my favorite part. Watching Xingyin navigate an uncertain world and come into her own made for a fun ride. So much happens in this book. There are smaller plots inside of the larger plots, and there was so much adventure. While this created an edge of anticipation and kept me wondering where the story would go next, I never felt fully drawn to the characters, which is probably where my biggest disconnect to the story comes from. Xingyin was an interesting protagonist, and my favorite character of the bunch. She was the most compelling, in my opinion, as she is stubborn in the way that she'll always fight for what she believes in, but is compassionate, too. Liwei was the second most interesting character, but unfortunately, I felt less and less connected to him as the book went on; otherwise, I might've really liked him.

My other issue was the love triangle. I enjoyed the buildup of the first romance plot, because I thought it was well done and the most developed character arc. But then there was another love interest introduced, and I lost a bit of interest. I will say, though, that the love triangle was not done poorly. My dislike for it stems from my general dislike of the trope. This was certainly less aggravating than most of the love triangles I’ve read in the past, and it made sense to me why Xingyin would fall in love with another person. Like I said, I’m simply not a fan of the trope, so I had a hard time getting into that part of the plot.

Despite all this, the world building was excellent. Drawn from mythology, I thought the imagery was stunning, and I had no problems envisioning the intricate places. This had to have been my favorite part of the book, and was what kept my interested for the majority of it.

I feel, had Daughter of the Moon Goddess been shortened and more focused on character development and the development of the various relationships (not necessarily romantic ones), I would've enjoyed it a lot more. Still, I did like parts of it, and I don't regret having read it. I'm glad a lot of people love this one. I just wish it had been more for me.

This was a fun retelling of the mood goddess story. I enjoyed the story and was glad they wrapped up the main quest while also leaving open the possibility for a sequel.

So, I have been really getting into Folklore, Mythology and legends retelling recently and Daughter of the Moon Goddess did not disappoint. Daughter of the Moon Goddess in inspired by the legend of Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess. The story follows the journey of Xingyin, daughter of the immortal Chang'e, who is currently banished and her fight to free her mother and live in peace. Overall, this is a fantasy novel that is packed with beautiful imagery, epic adventure and a heroine we love to root for

When thinking of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, the setting and background compliments so much to the story. The mystical aspect of it allows the reader to dive into a beautiful world, watching Xingyin travel away from the moon on a cloud. It allowed me to escape into a world that felt like a song. It was lyrical and magical. It’s been a while that I devoured a story so quickly before diving into this story. Back to the background, I was appreciative of how the author was able to create the kingdoms in a way where the reader could visualize it but still have a sense of mystery to fill in. The story flowed so naturally and well. It never felt like an info dump to me. The author did a fantastic job in creating a celestial adventure, rich in culture and enchanting realms.

As mazing the setting and plot was, the characters, especially the main character Xingyin were phenomenal. I really loved how much Xingyin valued the value of honor. I also appreciated the relation she had with her mother, the Moon goddess. It added to the different forms of love and relationships a character can experience in a story. When Xingyin trained with the prince, and worked for the royal army, you knew she did it with the upmost value of honoring the promise she made to free her mother.  Xingyin’s relationship with her mother isn’t the only relationship that was executed well. Without much spoilers, there is a love triangle between Xingyin and two men that was *chef’s kiss* so good. To wrap up why I loved Xingyin as a character – Xingyin is loyal, honorable, takes chances, and is not perfect. Having a character that relatable in some sense is important and I tihnk readers reading Xingyin can appreciate how relatable she can feel.

Have you ever just wanted to read a book because the cover was just so dang beautiful? Then when you get said beautiful book, it turns into the most epic action filled fantasy you’ve read in a long time?

Well this is that book! And to say it’s this author’s debut novel.. man it takes you on a wild ride.

It has everything a well written folklore book should have: tragedy, betrayal, love, hate, lovers to enemies, redemption, and so many twists and turns that it keeps you coming back for more. This book is part of a duology, but if doesn’t leave you hanging off the edge of a cliff. I cannot wait for the second installment of this book, I mean how much more trouble can our heroine get into?

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions of this book are my own.

This book is amazing. The start is a bit slow, but as soon as Xingyin is out on her own and befriends the Prince of the Celestial Kingdom things really kicked off. I read some reviews after finishing that didn't like that passage of time was mentioned in passing. "I spent years studying by his side..." and so forth. But I wager that those events were less important to the overall story. Sure it would have been nice to really see her and Liwei grow closer rather than be told they did. But I didn't hate how it. This book was about her journey with finding who she is.

I didn't really care for the love triangle. I didn't really care for Wenzhi, but that might be more to me being a sucker for friends-to-lovers romance, regardless of how things went for them. Xingyin and Liwei were friends who fell in love.

This book did, just a little bit remind me of another mythology I read late last year, and this book had what I felt was missing a little from that book. More agency from the MC. While at times still a little unsure of herself, Xingyin knows exactly what she wants and is doing what she can to achieve it. She gets sidetracked a little with the romances, and that might be why I didn't really care for them much. I felt that it detracted a bit from what she wanted to achieve.

I loved the atmosphere in this book, the world was so vivid and I can't wait to read the sequel.

The legend of Chang’e has long been a great favourite of mine and I was so excited when I discovered the retelling by Sue Lynn Tan.
In the legend, Chang’e drank the immortal elixir that was gifted to her husband Houyi and started ascending to the heavens. She chose to settle on the moon in order to be as close to her beloved Houyi as possible. Daughter of Moon Goddess focuses on their child - Xingyin.
In this debut, Xingyin (‘X’ is pronounced as ‘S’ FYI. So, Sing Yin) is forced to flee from her home as the gods become suspicious of her existence and she is determined to free her mother captivity. She escapes into the Celestial realm and disguises herself as a maid and through her quick-wittedness, wins a place as study companion to the Crown Prince.
I just adored this book! It combines beautiful lyrical writing with fast-paced action and intrigue. It was an ode to Chinese high fantasy, xianxia, and I really appreciated the care and details the author included. There were some familiar touchstones that those familiar with the genre will spot and I really loved that touch.
If you love mythology, friends to lovers to enemies, mutual pining and magical shenanigans, this is absolutely the book for you!
 
I cant wait to read the next book in Xingyin’s adventures!
 
This book is available now!
 
Thank you to the publishers for the arc.

**Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC!**

Just, wow. I realized recently that I love anything with Chinese lore. This was no exception. The entire book felt like a fairytale in its own. I loved seeing the journey of Xingyin. The magic, romance, and the entire setting was just wonderful. I can't wait for more!!

https://littlecreekblog.com/2022/02/07/%e2%9d%80book-review-daughter-of-the-moon-goddess-by-sue-lynn-tan%e2%9d%80/

Daughter of the Moon Goddess is the first book in an adult fantasy duology called the Celestial Kingdom Duology by debut author Sue Lynn Tan. This book absolutely blew me away. The writing and the story are some of the best I have ever read, and this entire book felt so incredibly magical and special. Sue Lynn Tan has an instant fan for life in me. Daughter of the Moon Goddess grabbed me from the first page and has stuck with me long after I turned the last page. I can’t wait for the next (and sadly last) installment in this du9ology because I am so captivated by this story and this world. I need to know what is going to happen next!

In Daughter of the Moon Goddess, we meet our main character Xingyin, who is the secret immortal child of a famous mortal archer hero and her mother, the immortal moon goddess who stole her immortal life. Xingyin leaves home to try and make a life for herself when she was almost discovered at her mother’s moon palace and she finds herself at the Celestial Kingdom where she befriends the Prince. This sets her on a whirlwind course on a quest to free her mother and learn about her magic along the way. Xingyin is a fantastic heroine. I absolutely loved her soul and spirit. The magic of this book is the writing. Sue Lynn Tan has a way with words that worm their way under your skin and stick deep inside of you.

I also loved the romance- there is a wonderfully done love triangle. I will share my thoughts on the triangle characters after I read the next book, but I am sooo intrigued and more than a little conflicted. If you are a fan of books based on folklore and mythology, look no further than Daughter of the Moon Goddess. It is based on Chinese myth, and it is one of the most magically captivating fantasies I have ever read. This book stole my heart!

When Xingyin, daughter of the moon goddess Chang’e, is almost discovered at the Pure Light Palace by the Celestial Empress, she makes a vow to free her mother after learning that Chang’e is imprisoned there. Xingyin must journey across the realms to figure out a way to free her mother, and she will do whatever it takes.

This book is long, but don’t let that deter you from reading it – I was engaged and gripped throughout the whole story despite its length. Like many fantasy novels, it takes a while to learn all the details of the world, but once you know then the book speeds up. The plot, the characters, the world building – I’m so impressed by all of it, in a debut novel nonetheless. This book gave me Iron Widow vibes, except a bit less intense. I loved this intricate story and the book had some great twists and turns I didn’t see coming. I don’t know if there is a sequel coming or if there will be, but I will definitely read more books by Sue Lynn Tan.

Thank you to HCC Frenzy and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess, Chang’e. Her daughter, Xingyin, is forced to run from the moon and blend in to the Celestial Kingdom. She has no money and no powers and does whatever she can to survive.

My biggest problem is again the MARKETING. Based on the blurb, you would expect the fight for her mother’s freedom to take the majority of the story. Nope: the plot is unrelated to her mother for the first two thirds of the book. And it’s even worse when you then realize the blurb gives away two thirds of the book!

This is written in first person, which I don’t mind, but I found Xingyin’s internal monologue to be very detached and boring. I read this on a plane and fell asleep multiple times while reading and that’s impressive because I have trouble sleeping on planes 🤭

I also feel like we never saw any character growth. Xingyin has been through traumatic events and at the end of the story, which spans over years, she feels like the same naive and sheltered teenager that she was in the beginning of the book. There was a missed opportunity to change her inner voice and thought process based on the people she’s around and the trauma she’s been through.

This was advertised as a book that was borderline between YA and Adult but it read more like middle grade. It might be a sweet book to share with a mature middle schooler.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted eARC!

“I had been lauded for my bravery, yet I knew the truth—that I had done these things /despite/ my fear. Because not doing them frightened me more.”

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this through Harper Voyager and Netgalley and a physical copy with Turn the Page Tours. My opinions and thoughts are my own.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess follows Xingyin, the secret daughter of the moon goddess Chang’e and her mortal lover, who has grown up on the moon and only ever known her mother and a loyal attendant. Before she can be discovered, Xingyin must flee to the Celestial Kingdom, where she vows to spend her life finding a way to free her mother from being bound by enchantments to the moon. Along the way, she encounters many adventures, struggles, dangers, and fantastical creatures. Will she ever be able to save her mother?

I thoroughly enjoying many parts of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, but my absolute favorite aspects are the magical atmosphere and Sue Lynn Tan’s BEAUTIFUL writing. There were far too many quotes from this book I’d love to write on my mirror to remember daily.

I struggled to follow the pacing of this book, although this could have been solved with even a “Six years later” sort of time mark after time jumps. My largest struggle of all though was the love triangle! I don’t mind love triangles, but this one felt like I suffered through the entire Stefan/Elena/Damon series in one book, and I.... am 85% sure it won’t change in book 2. I actually really liked both love interests, but the back-and-forth gave me enough whiplash to lower my intrigue.

Overall, I still really liked this book and will continue this duology. I would recommend to people who like mythology, love triangles, and atmospheric fantasy!

This is such an incredible and beautiful book. I loved the historical references and Tan’s writing is lyrical and mesmerizing! I absolutely loved this book!

So, this one was another one that was high on my list and it mostly lived up to the hype, but the one thing I think of and remember about this is that it was amazing and I loved it, but it was a bit long. I felt like the ending dragged a bit, but other than that I loved all of it.
This is a great story inspired by the legend of the Chinese Moon Goddess where a young woman sets out to free her mother and she has to go against the most powerful immortal in the realm. This puts her on a dangerous journey where a lot is at risk.
Xingyin lives with her mother on the moon until her magic starts to show and then she has to leave because her existence is discovered. She ends up going to the Celestial Kingdom to make her own way where she hides her identity so she can learn alongside the Crown Prince. where she learns and masters magic and archery. There is also a flame and swoon-worthy romance that comes between the Crown Prince and Xingyin. She goes on dangerous quests and confronts legendary creatures to make her own way and ultimately to achieve her dream. In the end, though, she has to go up against the Celestial Emperor himself to get her dream. She also has a romance with another and that brings an interesting perspective into the story with her having feelings for both the Crown Prince and the other.
This is full of adventure, love, betrayal, romance, myths and legends and so many awesome things that are my favorites in stories. I can't wait to read the conclusion in the next book. I would recommend checking this one out if you haven't yet.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager/Harper Voyager for letting me read and review this magical, mystical and wonderful tale. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Come for the gorgeous cover and Chinese mythology; stay for the gorgeous writing and epic scope. This book has been on my radar since it was first announced, so naturally, I was thrilled when Turn the Page Tours presented me with the opportunity to read it for their blog tour! This book is romantic, heartbreaking, and beautiful, with lush details and a strong heroine who grows from naivete into her own person.

Fans of mythology, epic tales, and lyrical writing, rejoice: this book is beautiful, inside and out, and packs its 500+ pages with everything you could want from such a story, from magic to romance to action to intrigue to So Many Feelings.

This book’s lush imagery helped elevate it from merely a moving tale to a beautiful tapestry of words. In fantasy, it is easy for descriptions to become overwrought or to feel out of place. Yet the author here, by framing the narrative through the eyes of Xingyin, a girl who has spent her whole life in one place, is able to infuse her scenes with a wonder that easily passes on to the reader as well. And oh, what beautiful visuals she describes! The swirling colors of the book’s cover (at least, the US cover) are reflected in her descriptions of this world full of immortals, where the ground is blue and reflective, palaces perch on clouds, and vibrant hues of flowers and silks abound. And this imagery never bogs down the narrative; though the pace is not breakneck, the story never feels slow, instead unfolding its epic scope like a fairytale on a grand scale (or, perhaps more accurately, an epic woven of multiple fairytales, subsequent adventures of one indomitable heroine).

Speaking of an indomitable heroine: let’s take a moment of appreciation for Xingyin, a girl of complex emotional depth whose narrative arc follows a classic hero’s journey. She makes mistakes, and sometimes is a little sassy, but her convictions are firm, her values strong, and her heart constant even when she is forced to choose between her love and her entire world. She is fierce without being an over-powered trope-fest, and her earnestness makes her a lovable narrator you can’t help but root for.

From a plot perspective, many elements of this book reminded me (in a good way!) of Six Crimson Cranes, which was one of my favorite reads of last year. Both books featured girls in disguise, full of deep love for their families and hidden magic, winning the notice of nobles unaware of their identities, ultimately taking on legendary creatures and sinister forces far beyond what they expected. These similarities did not make the two books identical, but rather demonstrate their respective authors’ skills: both books are gorgeous, unique, and vibrant in their own rights, and had I read them both in the same year, there is a strong chance I would have placed both on my favorites list.

If you want powerful emotions, a rich mythological world, and a story that will live rent-free in your head while you impatiently wait for the sequel, this is the book for you.

Rainbows and Sunshine
January 31, 2022

I am a mythology nerd and as soon as I saw that it's a Legend of Chang'e retelling, I was excited for this! Also that cover is absolutely stunning!!!

I really loved it so much, especially the Chinese mythology and culture. The writing is so beautiful and it just flows so well. Xingyin is badass archer and I find it incredible how she can shoot arrows at flying objects, blindfolded. I mean, do I need to say more????

It's divided into 3 arcs and I found the third part to be the most interesting. I am really curious about Wenzhi, he's a great character. Hopefully we'll know more about him in the next book. Liwei, on the other hand, was more interesting in the beginning. As we neared the end, I just found him to be lackluster.

Overall, I really enjoyed it and I'm excited for the sequel!

*ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review

There are books where the writing is just words on a page that you consume in passing with the hope that they'll make a home in your heart. Then there are books where the words become artwork and paint masterpieces on your soul. This is one of those books.

What an incredible debut - so rich and deep, steeped with passion, devotion, friendship and heartbreak. I was absolutely swept away with Sue Lynn Tan's lyrical writing style and I could feel the essence of the Celestial Kingdom leave the page.

The story follows Xingyin, the daughter of the moon goddess Chang'e. They live isolated in the Pure Light Palace - no visitors attend to them and they are not permitted to leave. This is punishment for Chang'e's deception in stealing an elixir of immortality. In return for this deceit, she is banished to eternal solitude, forever ruling the moon as a new immortal. No one knows about Xingyin's existence as she acts as a stowaway in her mother's isolation. When Xingyin accidentally uses her elemental magic, the Celestial Emperor gets suspicious of Chang'e and decides to make a visit to ensure that she is respecting the terms of her exile. Reacting in fear, Xingyin flees to the Celestial Kingdom below and immediately disguises herself in fear that she will be punished. She finds work and meets an unexpected acquaintance which launches her in a quest to clear her mother's name and end her banishment.

Chinese folklore is a large contributor to this effervescent read. Following the story of Chang'e, it stays fairly true to the tale of her theft of the elixir of immortality from her lover, Hou Yi the Lord Archer. Intertwined with Hou Yi's mythos, sunbirds, the importance of archery and mid-autumn festival. It's filled with other Chinese myths and legends and this just adds to the awesome factor of this book.

The biggest theme throughout is family loyalty. Despite continuing her own deceit by hiding her identity, Xingyin is constantly loyal to her cause. Everything she does, she does it in an effort to fulfill her desire to free her mother, and virtually no one can stand in her way.

Another strong theme is breaking the constraints of gender expectations in a world where the gender divide is strong. As Xingyin discovers her passion in archery, and eventually moves into being a part of the Celestial Army, she isn't the only woman to enter a man's world. Throughout the novel, you see evidence of other strong women being part of this army, especially when compared to other regions in the immortal world (ie no female warriors in the Eastern Sea).

Of course there's romance, but unlike most YA novels, it acts to support the story instead of becoming the main focus. I really enjoyed the fact that, during her initial encounter with her first potential love interest, it doesn't immediately launch into that trope. They become friends and confidants, working together to learn and better themselves. There isn't overpowering lust. No quickening in their breath the instant they see each other. It's soft, natural and beautiful.

I'm not going to go too much into revealing other themes throughout the book, as I truly wish for people to experience this whole story for themselves.

I honestly can't find any part of this book that I disliked. It was so well thought out and I enjoyed every second of my journey with Xingyin. I cannot wait for the duology to be complete - brava, Sue Lynn Tan, for a stunning debut.