Daughter of Moon Goddess is a beautiful story based on the Chinese legend of Chang'e and Houyi. This book is not a retelling because the story takes place years after the story of the legend ends.

The story centres on Xingyin, Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Chang'e. Due to the nature of her punishment and the empress's hatred, Chang'e kept Xingyin's existence a secret from the Celestial Empire. But one day when Xingyin's magic accidentally flares, it causes a small shift in the energy surrounding the moon. Soon after, the Celestial Empress arrives to interrogate Chang'e. She lies to protect her daughter but the empress continues to have her suspicions.

Xingyin had to run from the moon to keep herself and her mother, Chang'e, safe. Despite being untrained and alone, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, where she conceals her identity and embarks on a journey to save her mother and finally free her from her imprisonment.

The characters of the book are well thought out. I enjoyed meeting them and watching them grow throughout the book.

Xingyin's relationship with her mother is the essence of the book. It's Xingyins' love for her mother that makes her grow and become stronger. Xingyins' growth in this book was astounding. Discovering her power, becoming a master archer. Becoming a renowned soldier in the emperor's army. It is all surreal.

Prince Lewei is the sweetest and most eye-catching part of the book. Lewei and Xingyin's slow-growing relationship from friends to lovers with a twist of forbidden love is just like a delicious slice of cake.

However, the love triangle wasn't well done. While Liwei was the light, the other guy in the love triangle, the infamous Captain Wenzhi, is the dark.

There was a point where I loved them both. Both of them were perfect but then the betrayal happened. I did not expect that. I was surprised.

The plot of the book was action-packed and complex with intricate world-building. The flow of the book was steady but at times it was a bit jerky and sudden. Because of this, it felt flat and dragged in a few places. The third part of the book was the most action-filled part of the book. Compared to the third part, the other parts were a bit slow.

Overall, Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a story worth reading and enjoying. The story doesn't end in a cliffhanger but there are a few questions left unanswered. I am eagerly awaiting the release of the next book in this duology.

Absolutely stunning from start to finish. I did not want this book to end at all. It had me captivated right from the very first page and I cannot stress just how much I need the sequel right this second. Phenomenal stuff.

I absolutely adored this book!

The Daughter of the Moon Goddess is inspired by the Chinese legend of Chang’e which is used as the starting point to tell the story of her daughter, Xingyin. It follows Xingyin as she leaves the isolation of the moon and attempts to navigate the Celestial Kingdom and free her mother.

I still can’t believe how much is packed into this book, it’s incredibly fast moving but somehow it never felt rushed to me. The book gets the balance between action, character development and romance just right.

Xingyin is well developed and has a strong motivation which drives all her actions. The supporting characters are also interesting in their own right and I would have loved some of Xingyin’s friends to feature more. There are two love interests for Xingyin and I couldn’t decide who I liked more!

I loved how much this book drew from Chinese mythology and culture, it really featured strongly and, coupled with the beautiful writing, this story is incredibly atmospheric. The Celestial Kingdom and Immortal realm is a wonderful setting, different areas are explored along with their history and politics resulting in the the world building feeling truly epic.

This is such a strong debut fantasy and I’m so excited for the second part of this duology!

Daughter of the Moon Goddess was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and It didn’t disappoint.

Inspired by the legend of Chang’e the Chinese moon goddess. Daughter of the Moon Goddess follows a young woman’s quest to free her mother and how her misson pits her against the most powerful immortal of the realm.

This book is gorgeous from its lyrically written and vivid descriptions to the incredible story at its heart. Filled with Chinese mythology and starring a fierce main character who will do anything for family. I don’t know what more you could want.

Get ready , this book is maaaaaagical. The author plunges us into a universe filled with magic, Chinese legends, adventure, love and deception. The characters are endearing from the beginning of the story. Even if the beginning is a bit slow to launch, at least for me,we hang directly to the atmosphere. One of the big positive points of this first volume for me is the evolution of the characters. The difficult moment they will go through will really impact and make them grow.Concerning THE romance, it is very present from the second part of the book and what a romance! I wanted to scream more than once of frustration after their discussions and actions. The end has left me a little puzzled because it is not a real end of the book , so I’m looking forward to the continuation of this super series to know how the story of these characters will evolve.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess has a really promising set up with interesting mythology to draw from. I enjoyed how different this world felt from other fantasies with dragons being commonplace and an interesting magic system.
However I felt that the plot for the book was very cookie cutter and generic. I could predict what was going to happen at every turn and nothing really surprised me.
The romance in this book I felt wasn't really necessary and I found the love triangle a bit bland.
I'm not sure whether I'll be continuing with this duology - it wasn't anything ground breaking for me. The cover however is absolutely beautiful and I feel like this would be a good, more diverse beginner fantasy!

A beautiful book that is part of a duology but stands alone so well. A beautiful debut novel that I loved.

what a beautiful magical book that is sure to capture anyone's attention, it is sure to whisk you away to a magical land where the main character, Xingyin embarks on a dangerous quest and faces all kinds of trials along the way. I was hooked on this book straight away and I'm sure you will be too.

a big thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review

This was exactly what I expected. Lush and captivating setting. It felt like a fairytale but at the same time the plot moved fast and kept me on the edge.

I had a good time reading this one and can recommend this to anyone looking for an asian inspired fantasy 😇

What an absolutely stunner of a debut novel! This book was so beautiful from the rich descriptions of the world that exists within the novel, to the enchanting characters of Xingyin, Liwei and Captain Wenzhi. The magic that was created for this book is so breath-taking and so entrancing. I was swept up in the world of the Immortals and I didn't want to finish the book and I'm so excited for the upcoming sequel!

There were such a strong sense of loyalty throughout the novel which fuels the narrative. I loved the friendships that were built and the talismans that were used as such a beautiful symbol of connection. I was invested in the friends-to-lovers romance that was built between Liwei and Xingyin however I wasn't too sure if there was a need for the love triangle. I loved how the legend of Chang'e was incorporated into the narrative and the mother/daughter relationship which was conveyed so effortlessly and their family was so pure.

Xingyin's character was so strong and inspiring as a heroine, I found her captivating and routing for her throughout. Her characterisation was so perfectly crafted which made her character so easy to connect with. She was strong-willed, quippy and extremely intelligent. It was refreshing to see a character arc which sent a young lonely girl progress into a mighty young woman with the ability to protect not only herself but the ones around her who she loved.

(January)
I’m struggling to get into this. I either went into this with way too high expectations or it just isn’t for me.

The main character just isn’t one I find myself interested in at the moment.

(February)
Unfortunately this is a DNF for now. May try it again at some point but at the minute, it just isn’t for me.

One of my favourite reads of the year. It just swept me away. A magnificent reimagining of an ancient Chinese myth. It's gripping, atmospheric, and infused with magic. I need the next one NOW. I mean NOW. I'm also going to need the FILM or tv series.

A beautiful fantasy inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess, Chang’e. With a narrative, so dream-like and immersive, Daughter of the Moon Goddess captivates the reader into an impressive compelling tale of myth, magic and heroism.

The story follows Xingyin, the daughter of Chang’e, in her quest to free her mother from her eternal imprisonment for consuming the elixir of immortality. Whilst on her quest you witness Xingyin’s path to self-discovery as she endeavours to so save the ones she loves dearest to her.

Leading Xingyin into the heart of the very empire that punished her mother.

As Xingyin infiltrates the courts of the Celestial Empire she soon learns how loyalties can easily be divided by heart and mind. All whilst trying to survive herself.

What I love about this novel at its heart, Daughter of the Moon Goddess is ultimately a story about love and growth. I think sometimes such themes in fantasy can get overlooked quite easily but Tan does a stellar job in keeping such themes front and centre within the narrative of DOTMG. Combine with Xingyin’s distinctive and determined voice you as the reader don’t ever forget that.

Talking of Xingyin - character(s). For the leading heroine, it's refreshing to see how despite how rough around the edges she is Xingyin embraces her flaws just as much like her virtues to become an individual that stands up for herself and those she cares about. Despite the world and people that didn’t always show Xingyin the same love or kindness in return. DOTMG has a host of varied side characters. Whilst not always fully fleshed out they did stand out enough to compel you to think that DOTMG was a living breathing world filled with its own complexities and nuance.

Plotwise, DOTMG is easy to follow. The episodic-like structure of the novel felt just right.
Seeing how step-by-step seeing how Xingyin grows in her self-worth and power. In turn, showing how she decides to overcome the challenges that face her as she immerses herself into the court and military intrigue of the Celestial Empire.

For a debut novel, I was amazed at how polished Tan’s writing was. The lyrical and vivid descriptions made it as if I was watching one of the many cinematic C-Dramas my mum loves to binge-watch on Netflix. For the majority of the book, it feels as if you’re in this whimsical trance that you just couldn’t bring yourself to leave. The amazing and intricate world-building serves to add another level of grace and charm to the story. Alongside the various action scenes which struck the right balance of tension and detail, DOTMG left me buzzing at the edge of my seat keen to know what would transpire next in the story.

While it varies amongst everyone. I enjoy my fair share of romance in my fantasy and DOTMG does decently in said department. While the love triangle isn’t anything mind-blowingly revolutionary; it works as a cute add-on to the story. Seeing the tension between Xingyin and her love interests was fun to see. Plus it also serves to add a slice of angst to the story. Which never hurt to have in a story. I’m interested as to how Tan will expand upon this in the second book.

If you are a fan of high fantasies, especially ones with heavy mythological elements and a whimsical fairytale vibe, I think you will love this one. Tan is onto something great here! I can’t wait to see what more she has to offer in the future.

2022 must-read fantasy.

Star Rating 4.5

Thanks to Harper Voyager UK for an e-arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All stated above are my own opinions and thoughts

Please view trigger warnings prior to reading

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I had seen so many good reviews before reading and I can only confirm that they are correct in my opinion. There are so many vivid and mystical descriptions. The moon goddess backstory was Intriguing and there were lots of plot twists that I wasn’t expecting. I can’t wait for the next book.

DNF

Complete waste of time, thought that the book would at least have something interesting. The love triangle is pathetic and Xingyin inexplicably supports the dictators that imprisoned her mother through everything for no reason even when offered an alternative just so that she can win the favour of a man betrothed to another person? The plot makes no sense the pacing is off and the characters are dull.

3.5 stars!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book! My opinions are my own.

Before truly starting the review I'd like to take a moment to admire the cover... Both the UK and US cover are so beautiful! So dreamy with the flowers! This is definitely what drew me in and made me curious about this book. And as it turned out the cover perfectly matched the fairytale like writing style!

This book is inspired by the Chinese tale of the Moon Goddess Chang'E. After drinking the immortality elixir meant for her husband, she drifts off and becomes the moon goddess. In this book, she is imprisoned on the moon for becoming immortal against the wishes of the Celestial Emperor and Empress. What they do not know, however, is that she had a child, a daughter. Xingyin grows up in secret, until her magic is discovered and she needs to flee. Determined to rescue her mother from her prison on the moon, to be reunited without repercussions, she begins her journey to gain the emperor's favour.

This book is full of magic, archery, dragons and folklore. It's beautifully written and although there may have been a little too many descriptions of how everything and everyone looked for my taste, it did fit the story and added to the dreamy feel of it all. I loved the character of Xingyin and her deepening friendship with Liwei, the crown prince. Like I said this book feels very much like a fairytale. For me, we didn't zoom in enough into the feelings and motives of all the characters. The relationships stayed a bit flat. They were described, but I couldn't feel it all the way through. This didn't take away all that much from the story itself though - I still enjoyed reading it a lot.

If you're looking for a fairytale retelling of a Chinese legend, this is definitely for you!

A beautiful story and a beautiful book. I fell in love with it from the start and could not recommend it more.

Xingyin is a fiercely independent heroine, determined to help and reunite with her family. She has deep-rooted values of the importance of family, friendship, kindness and honour. Set in the Celestial Court, reminiscent of imperial China, with fantasy of gods, celestials and fantastic powers, this book has a wondrous essence uniquely its own. My heart broke and melted with Xingyin's. I was enraptured by the author's beautiful language and descriptions.

I was gripped by the variety of contrasting characters. Some are cruel and arrogant in their power, others kind, honourable, with a strong sense of right, and belief in helping their people. Xingyin faces petty cruelties and mocking superiority, and those with overarching ambition, or a thirst for revenge. Yet her strong values left me, as a reader, hopeful.

This is the first in a duology; I cannot wait to pre-order the second part.

Favourite quote: "In this night filled with stars, I would chart my own path to blaze across the sky.

A brilliant retelling, this is one of the most hotly anticipated fantasy books of the year and I am so glad I got to read it early!

Everything from the story to the characters was brilliant, with such lovely and magical descriptions. If you love fantasy and retellings I would recommend you pick up this book as soon as possible!

A beautiful expansion on the Chang'e legend, and one that I enjoyed greatly! It's got some gorgeous description and a real sense of place. Unfortunately the third act does feel a bit rushed, but the first two thirds of the book are a real treat and it's worth sticking with it just to see how everything turns out.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a captivating fantasy tale inspired the Chinese legend of the moon goddess.
I loved the rich world building and the enchanting language in this novel. Xingyin develops from a sheltered young girl to a fierce warrior in this coming of age and magical awakening story.

Love is central to the story – both the love for Xingyin’s two different romantic interests, and the conflicting emotions this triangle brings, and the love Xingyin has for her mother, which serves as the motivation behind her actions. This first installment in the duology leaves me looking forward to where the story will take us next, but I am grateful to Sue Lynn Tan for not making it a cliffhanger.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for providing me with an electronic copy of this book in exchange for a review.