Daughter of the Moon Goddess: A Sweeping, Romantic Fantasy inspired by Mythology of Love, Betrayal, and Destiny―The First Book in the Celestial Kingdom Duology
The acclaimed national and international bestseller
“Epic, romantic, and enthralling from start to finish.”—Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Caraval series
“An all-consuming work of literary fantasy that is breathtaking both for its beauty and its suspense."—BookPage, starred review
A captivating and romantic debut epic fantasy inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess, Chang’e, in which a young woman’s quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm.
Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.
Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperor’s son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince.
To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies. But when treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dream—striking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess begins an enchanting duology which weaves ancient Chinese mythology into a sweeping adventure of immortals and magic, of loss and sacrifice—where love vies with honor, dreams are fraught with betrayal, and hope emerges triumphant.
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Readers say *Daughter of the Moon Goddess* offers a beautifully written fantasy rooted in Chinese folklore, with engaging world-building, adventure, a...
Originally reviewed on Cyn's Workshop
Daughter of the Moon Goddess follows Xingyin, the daughter of Chang’e, as she navigates life away from home, navigating the complications of family and love.
Characterization
The best thing about Daughter of the Moon Goddess, which is saying a lot because it was absolutely brilliant across the board, was the characterization.
Xingyin goes through such an extraordinary journey throughout the novel. In the beginning, she is very much a sheltered and gentle girl. But once the burst of magic catches the eye of the celestial court, Chang’e must send her daughter away for her own protection.
Her journey is perilous because she cannot tell anyone who she is. But that does not stop her from being herself. Xingyin proves to everyone around them that she is a force to be reckoned with. Even when her heart is broken, she does not become a shade of herself. Instead, Xingyin grows, accepts what is, and begins to forge a new path to find happiness for herself.
Xingyin is a warrior. She takes up the legendary jade bow and becomes a hero to the celestial kingdom and her mother. Both thoughtful and wise, her growth extends off the pages. The reader is reading the story to follow her journey.
Story
Now, while Daughter of the Moon Goddess is, in my opinion, a character-driven story, that does not mean the plot is lacking.
Sue Lynn Tan’s writing is magical. Her language and structure are almost poetic. It moves gracefully to build up those character dynamics and ensure the characters’ development shines off the pages.
I loved the passage of time and how the story grew from one thing and blossomed into this incredible journey. There is magic here, epic battles, romance, and dragons. Tan writes the story in a way that captures the reader’s attention, building up these plot elements to make them work together like music.
Final Thoughts
Daughter of the Moon Goddess in an incredible novel. Beautifully written and enchanting, Xingyin’s journey and adventure capture the reader’s heart.
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An enchanting new take on the legend of Chang’e, Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a brilliantly written fantasy filled with romance and adventure.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess follows Xingyin, the daughter of Chang’e, as she navigates life away from home, navigating the complications of family and love.
Characterization
The best thing about Daughter of the Moon Goddess, which is saying a lot because it was absolutely brilliant across the board, was the characterization.
Xingyin goes through such an extraordinary journey throughout the novel. In the beginning, she is very much a sheltered and gentle girl. But once the burst of magic catches the eye of the celestial court, Chang’e must send her daughter away for her own protection.
Her journey is perilous because she cannot tell anyone who she is. But that does not stop her from being herself. Xingyin proves to everyone around them that she is a force to be reckoned with. Even when her heart is broken, she does not become a shade of herself. Instead, Xingyin grows, accepts what is, and begins to forge a new path to find happiness for herself.
Xingyin is a warrior. She takes up the legendary jade bow and becomes a hero to the celestial kingdom and her mother. Both thoughtful and wise, her growth extends off the pages. The reader is reading the story to follow her journey.
Story
Now, while Daughter of the Moon Goddess is, in my opinion, a character-driven story, that does not mean the plot is lacking.
Sue Lynn Tan’s writing is magical. Her language and structure are almost poetic. It moves gracefully to build up those character dynamics and ensure the characters’ development shines off the pages.
I loved the passage of time and how the story grew from one thing and blossomed into this incredible journey. There is magic here, epic battles, romance, and dragons. Tan writes the story in a way that captures the reader’s attention, building up these plot elements to make them work together like music.
Final Thoughts
Daughter of the Moon Goddess in an incredible novel. Beautifully written and enchanting, Xingyin’s journey and adventure capture the reader’s heart.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
I loved it so much. It had everything I wanted in a fantasy romance, including a strong, bad-ass heroine, a love triangle, magic, good and evil, and most importantly, a sequel. I can't wait to read the next one. Just know it gets started slow, but once things start moving, it keeps you captivated til the last page.
Where do I begin with this book?
Honestly, the characters were written with such complexity and sincerity reading some of their choices were difficult at times. I really resonated with Xingyin as a character and I loved watching her journey from a meek girl blossoming into a strong young woman. The love triangle was juicy and laced with betrayal.
The plot was steady paced with multiple twists that lead towards the finale. I loved how we delved into the discussion of found family as well as witnessing the devotion Xingyin has for her family, expending above and beyond for her mother's safety. Despite being merely introduced to her mother for a small portion of the book, Tan developed her character so wonderfully that reading all Xingyin's hardship to win her freedom felt akin to rescuing your own mother. I'm glad they both found peace at the end.
Tan's captivating writing really drove you to loath some characters in this book, and I wonder if we will delve into more of their history within the second book. After reading her acknowledgements, you can see Tan drew influence from her own family and friends which intertwined perfectly with the style of the book.
In my honest opinion however, I'm not a huge fan of the mmc, Liwei. I know others will have differing opinions, but after his first betrayal (spoilers), I couldn't fathom any interest with him and before the absolutely devastating plot twist, I was rooting for Wenzhi.
Alas, it was a gripping read and I'm excited to see the further character developments Xingyin undergoes within the next story!
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