Book Review #74: Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

Hello Dear Reader!

I’ve returned for a traditionally published book review, and a debut novel nonetheless! To be honest, I bought this book because of it’s cover, and the story is as beautiful as it is! This review is on Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan.

Based on Chinese lore and Mythology, Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a breathtaking coming of age story full of romance, betrayal, growth, and magic! But before I get into that, here is the back-cover summary (from Goodreads):

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.

On to the review!

I want to start this review by saying there’s a lot in it. It’s a 500-page book with a lot of story, and the pacing of the critical events mixed with scenes of fluff was executed really well! Daughter of the Moon Goddess is divided into three parts, each having its own climax and critical moment throughout Xingyin’s story.

This book is told from Xingyin’s point of view, and the story really centers on her growth as a character. She starts off as naïve and sheltered from the realities of the world, but as events of the book progress, she quickly matures and begins navigating her way through love, betrayal, fear, and secrecy. Xingyin is highly intelligent and resourceful, crafting carefully created plans to move herself forward to reach her personal goals. She’s also strong-willed and refuses to give up, not to mention witty. I absolutely enjoyed getting to know her as a character.

The cast of characters surrounding Xingyin is just as full of depth as she is, with two very different but engaging love interests, a loving mother, terrifying dictators of an emperor and empress, and a healthy number of villains with their own unique backstories. Usually I don’t like love triangles, but I found I didn’t mind this one. In my opinion, it was rather well-executed, mainly because Xingyin was able to find and establish her worth through the twisted pathways the triangle made her walk on. It worked to grow her character, and I absolutely loved that.

The world of the Daughter of the Moon Goddess is absolutely breathtaking! It’s heavily steeped in Chinese myths and legends, and I enjoyed every minute learning new things about them! From the story of the moon goddess to the intricate beauty of the Celestial Kingdom to the grand creatures of the heavens, I was captured by each and every detail. In addition, the author did an amazing job of informing me of every detail without it feeling too much like an info dump. I was well-immersed in the world throughout the entirety of the story.

Long story short, I whole-heartedly enjoyed this book. It contains a beautiful story displaying the growth of a strong character as she strives to accomplish her goals and finds herself in the process.

So, Daughter of the Moon Goddess rating:

5/5 and just highly recommend. Simple as that!

Thanks for reading!