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.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan was one my most anticipated books of the year. A high fantasy inspired by Chinese mythology, expanding on the myth of the Chinese Moon Goddess Chang'e, a young woman fighting to save her mother, trapped on the moon? Absolutely right up my street! Except this might turn out to be the biggest disappointment of the year. I didn't enjoy it at all.

First off, Daughter of the Moon Goddess is marketed as an adult high fantasy, when it feels very much like a YA novel. There is obviously nothing wrong with YA high fantasy, I read a lot of it, but the majority of the time, the two are very different in regards to tone, the scope of the world building, and the complexity of politics, etc. So what I was expecting, what I was in the mood for, I didn't get. However, as I read and enjoy YA high fantasy, I kept on reading anyway. But there was a lot about this book that just wasn't enjoyable for me.

It's a super easy read, and I flew through the pages quite quickly, I just didn't care very much. I never warmed to Xingyin, and I wasn't emotionally invested in her story. And I think part of that has to do with the passing of time. At 512 pages, Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a pretty long book, though fairly typical for a fantasy novel. But so much is fit into these pages that we don't actually get to see enough. Time moves too quickly for me to get emotionally invested. I feel it probably would have been better as a trilogy instead of a duology, to give more times for things to unfold. We don't get to see Xingyin's character develop and grow. We don't really see much in the way of the lessons she has with Crown Prince Liwei, and as such we don't see her learn how to use her magic, which I'll come to. Two years pass between one chapter and the next, leaving the romance between Xingyin and Liwei to feel very much like instalove. Before those two years pass, she's only with Liwei on page for a handful of days. But again, after those two years, the months go by ridiculously quickly, so we don't get to see the relationship between them grow, so I just didn't find it very believable. And the case is the same later in the book with Captain Wenzhi, who she works under as an archer of the Celestial Army; feelings appear out of nowhere, because the time goes by far too quickly for anything to have page time to develop.

While the focus of the story is supposed to be on Xingyin trying to save her mother, it takes her a hell of a long time to be in any position to do so. She can't simply rescue her mother, she can't destroy the magic that holds her there. The only way for her mother to be freed from the moon is for the Celestial Emperor to free her. So the reimagining of the myth plays only a small part in the story. The focus is much more on the love triangle romances. Because of this, there is a hell of a lot of internal monologue. Xingyin drove me mad with her constant questioning. How does she feel? How do Liwei and Wenzhi feel? Was it possible for her to be with either of them? Could they have this? Oh no, it's not possible, it will never happen. On and on and on, and she gets so repetitive.

But she can't be pining all the time, right, or that would just get boring really quickly. So she also goes on various missions with the Celestial Army, and has to fight mythical creatures or opposing forces. For a lot of the book, a lot of this just felt completely unnecessary. She goes where she's needed, does what needs to be done, and returns. These various missions take up a few chapters, and they just felt so pointless. It turns out in the end that very small details of each mission become important, which just made those missions feel too convenient. They only took place so a smaller thing could happen that matters a hell of a lot later in the book. So at first I would be questioning why they were happening other than as an excuse to have Xingyin do something other than pine, and then later, once I realised the actual point of those missions, they felt very contrived.

On top of this, the world building leaves much to be desired. While we're given enough about who's who and the hierarchy of the characters, and various beings from Chinese mythology are included, the magic system was explained very briefly. An immortal's power is dependent on their life force. The stronger their life force, the stronger they are. But how it works is unexplained. Xingyin reaches for her life force and creates wind - but how? What exactly does reaching for the life force mean? How does doing so bring about wind or fire? How exactly does her life force create the wind or fire, or it's strength? These questions aren't answered, which is what I expect from an adult high fantasy. Xingyin just reaches for her life force, and what she wants to happen, happens.

I was really, really disappointed in Daughter of the Moon Goddess. It just wasn't for me at all, and I really didn't enjoy it. But a hell of a lot of other people have loved it, so it's possible it's a mismatch between book and reader. As such, be sure to read other reviews before deciding whether or not to read it.

Trigger/Content Warnings: This book features blood, bullying, and attempted sexual assault.

The imagery in this book dances off the page, Sue Lynn Tan's descriptions and worldbuilding are so lovely and detailed and vivid. I can see this working well as a tv show, especially for fans of things like Heaven Official’s Blessing.

That being said although I really wanted to like this, it just didn't work for me. It definitely leans more romance than it does fantasy, which isn't a genre I read.

I found the pacing so strange, even though it's over 500 pages, when the big events & battles happen they're over very quickly. I'm talking like one 15 page chapter kind of quickly.
Meanwhile, A LOT of time is spent with our mc constantly reiterating about how plain & untalented she is—while still turning every head in the room (one of my least favourite tropes) and managing to get out of situations, especially fights/battles with some almost deux ex machina style plot armour.
Not to mention a love triangle throw in for some angst? Again personal preference but I'm not really into that sort of thing.

Like I said although I wasn't a fan of the characters I loved the world and the lore and mythology behind it, I just wish we got more of it. It kind of took a backseat, which is a shame.

I also didn't realise until I had finished and logged it that it's apparently book one in a duology—I'm not sure how considering the story kinda wraps itself up by the end?!
I don't think I'll end up picking up the sequel but I know although it wasn't for me, it's definitely going to tick a lot of boxes for other readers.

This book was my first 5 star read of the year. Everything about this book is beautiful, from the cover to the whimsical storytelling. Would absolutely recommend!

In this dream-like fantasy romance based on the myth of Chang'e, Tan presents a dazzling story sure to captivate all readers with enchanting narrative and dramatic storytelling.

Xingyin is the daughter of the Moon Goddess, living in hiding to protect herself from breaking the rules of her mother's imprisonment. However, upon testing the limits of her magical powers, Xingyin must flee the threat of the Celestial Empire and live in hiding until she can return home to Chang'e. This journey leads her to meet many different characters - some kind, some cruel and some more secretive than others - as she searches to prove herself worthy of being the daughter of the moon goddess.

I loved the way Tan presented the world of Xingyin on the pages; the blend of magical fantasy and raw, tender emotions made this a compulsive read that had me equally invested in action and drama. Stylistically, the story is whimsical and episodic and I loved that we followed the journey from the first-person perspective through such a gorgeous authorial voice.

Very much a story of growth, Xingyin is both a political and a physical fighter which allows her to persistently reach for her goals, taking the reader across the Celestial Empire and showcasing the magical myths surrounding her. The action sequences in this way had me reading with bated breath and, due to the swaths of beautiful writing and exciting action, it was a compulsive read throughout.

However, ultimately this is a story about love - for a mother, a lover, for friends and country. Even in a world where dragons are real and battles fought, Xingyin's internal battle is relatable for all readers. The framing of Xingyin's loyalty to her mother particularly spoke to me as a differing motivation than some other contemporary novels of the moment. I really appreciated the fact that she tries to not lose sight of her promise to herself, even when potentially better offers become available. It's a beautifully heart-warming story.

An easily given favourite book of 2022, I cannot wait for the next part of this duology!