Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan Pages: 498
Published by Harper Voyager on January 11, 2022
Series: The Celestial Kingdom Duology #1
Genres: adult, Fantasy & Magic, Folk Tales Legends & Mythology, Romance
Source: Finished Hardcover from Publisher
A captivating debut fantasy inspired by the legend of Chang'e, the Chinese moon goddess, 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 across the earth and skies. 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, romantic duology which weaves ancient Chinese mythology into a sweeping adventure of immortals and magic—where love vies with honor, dreams are fraught with betrayal, and hope emerges triumphant.
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!
Natalie+Aguirre
I’ve heard this one described as YA as well as adult. Glad you enjoyed it so much. I have it on reserve at the library. Natalie @ Literary Rambles