As you all know, I was really excited for this one. After seeing the cover I instantly fell in love. I’m not going to lie, I’m disappointed I didn’t love this one as much as I had hoped. There isn’t anything wrong with the book but I just don’t mesh well with the writing style and it reminded me a lot of Elizabeth Lim’s books which I had a hard time with too. Obviously there will be a lot of people who don’t have this issue so I think you should still try it out!

The book is told from one point-of-view, Xingyin. She has grown up isolated from the world as she shares a palace on the moon with her mother and a couple servants. The setting does change throughout the book and because of that we also see how much Xingyin changes and grows. She is a very strong woman!

Besides quests for freedom and other plot twists along the way, there is a hint of romance as well but it really is a hint. It’s not a large part of the story so if you want more than this book may not be for you. I did like the journey between the two characters as its friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers again.

The book does end with no cliffhanger so I’m not sure what the sequel will be about and if it will have the same characters. Maybe it will be more like a spinoff? I don’t know if I would pick it up just because I do have a harder time with the writing.

Overall, this was good but just not for me. I know that there will be many fans of this one and I can see it doing quite well especially if you like the author Elizabeth Lim.

A stunning retelling of legend of Chang'e. Daughter of the Moon Goddess is the perfect blend of whimsy and ferociousness, with twists and turns that will tug at your heartstrings.

I can't believe this is Sue Lynn Tan's debut novel this s seriously impressive. Daughter of the Moon Goddess deserves a huge amount of hype and i really hope it gets it!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for an honest review.

Xingyin is the secret daughter of Chang’e and Houyi, living sheltered on the moon and protected away from the Celestial Imperial Court as her mother lives out her exile for taking Houyi’s immortality elixir. When their safety is threatened, Xingyin is sent to live in the Celestial Kingdom under a secret identity, where she learns to master her powers as she swears to free her mother. Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a story of love and loyalty: for her friends, her mother, and most importantly, herself.

This story is told in 3 parts: falling in love with Prince Liwei, his betrayal and her journey to make a name for herself, and her final task. This story honestly left me breathless as each moment left me in so much pain and I wanted more. I am weak for angst, and it was woven into the storyline to be so intriguing, and yet never do you feel pity for Xingyin. She always uses these moments as teaching lessons to grow as a character without losing sense of who she was. Her character development was gradual, but it was a delight to see her grow into herself. Her relationship with Liwei was not as gradual, and I enjoyed watching their friendship turn into something more as their interactions and banters always made my heart melt. Liwei was a cinnamon roll for Xingyin, but honestly, I would be weak for her as well.

I can’t express how much I adore Xingyin. She starts off with no control over her new-found powers, and puts up with being abused by the lady she attends in order to survive. We understand her motivation and reasoning behind her every move and it’s so refreshing to see that she sees her own value without debasing other girls. Most of the time when reading about bad-ass girls, I am often left wondering where the humility is. I like girls with confidence. I just wish that confidence didn’t come from disrespecting other girls, where sometimes I feel like I have been looked down upon as well. With Xingyin, every moment of hers was also my own. I cried for her, I wanted justice for her, and she is everything I would want in a role model.

The world-building is complicated. Although the author described the setting in detail, it may be difficult for those unfamiliar with wuxia films and novels. The concept of flying on clouds and the imperial court is more common in Asian media, but not quite so much for a western audience. Regardless, the world is incredibly immersive and shouldn’t be too difficult an obstacle to overcome.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a stunning take on the Chang’e legend, about reflecting on one’s self-worth, and the risks one must take to achieve their dreams. This quickly became my favorite read of 2021, so it was a huge surprise to see that this is author Sue Lynn Tan’s debut novel. I can’t wait for the sequel!

This gorgeous cover is what initially pulled me in and I’m so happy to say that the story was just as gorgeous. Tan paints a fantastic world inspired by Chinese mythology and takes a spin on the Moon Goddess, Chang’e. Xingyin, the daughter of Chang’e, is forced to escape the comfort of her home and is thrown into Celestial Kingdom when her mother fears her being discovered. Leaving the only home she’s ever known, Xingyin must work her way up to earn the Celestial Emperor’s favor in hope of freeing her imprisoned mother. Along the way she finds love and discovers her own power.

The Daughter of the Moon goddess is magical and so enchanting. Every detail is like a poem. Xingyin is relatable and so clearly affected by the other characters around her while still holding her ground and fighting for what she believes in. I feel that what makes Xingyin such a great character is that, although she is young and still learning, she never loses sight of what’s most important to her. She cares about those around her while still putting herself first and making sure she finds her own happiness along the way. I feel many young people would find comfort in her character.

The story is so romantic, from Xingyin’s relationships to the details describing every scene. Tan brings in the perfect balance of young love, action, and adventure.

I loved this book. I felt for Xingyin every step of the way. Some scenes between her and Liwei really hit home for me.

I’d recommend this book for young adults and adults alike, whether you need a story of strength and determination or if you just want something comforting.

Thank you so much to Avon and Harper Voyager for this e-ARC.

Thank you so much netgalley and the publisher for providing an arc!
This book was such a comfort and a utter joy to read.
I really like the worldbuilding, and how the author can create a world that has the capability of making us vicariously live through it. I feel like the introduction was a bit too slow-paced for me. The characters are fairly interesting.
Henceforth, it was quite a good read.

*Spoiler free*

I’ve wanted to read this book since the first time I heard about it and found out it was about a girl who lived on the moon, and went on a quest to save her mother, who was imprisoned there. It sounded absolutely incredible, and I had seen so much love for it online. I was so stoked to read it.

This book was quieter than I expected, but absolutely enchanting.

Everything about it is so vivid, from the storytelling to the imagery to the scenery to the characters. It's told through sweeping motions, but it doesn't make it any less gorgeous.

At it's core, it's a story about love. The pain it can cause, how much it aches to hold it in your hands, how it can wash over you in the greatest of waves, and how willing people are to fight for it. It's a fight for love, romantic, familial, friendships. It blossoms and crests and sometimes it pierces straight into the heart. There's sacrifices made in the name of love, and there are questionable decisions made in the name of love. But, it is love that keeps Xingyin going, and what she continues to fight for.

Another thing that I loved about this book were the monsters and creatures that inhabited the world of immortals. I loved seeing Xingyin meet them and sometimes fight them and just pretty much all of them were so freaking cool. Like, there are dragons. Dragons are so freaking cool, and these dragons take it to a whole new level. The way mythology was weaved into this story was stunning, and I was absolutely fascinated with all of it.

The writing was another thing that I loved. It flowed so smoothly.

I also adored all the characters, and I wasn't expecting to love them as much as I did. They blossomed right along with Xingyin. And gosh, the romantic yearning and the love triangle and friendships.

All in all, I really, really enjoyed this book even though it was a lot different than I expected. Everything about is gorgeous and it's truly vivid and I adored all the characters. It's amazing.

Thank you Avon, Harper Voyager and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow just wow. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that was this enjoyable. Hands down an all time favorite read. This book spoke to my soul. It is beautiful. The writing was exquisite. Full of luscious details, I felt like I had climbed on a cloud and entered the Celestial Kingdom myself.

I absolutely love the story of Chang’e and this retelling blew me away. The beginning starts off with a bang and the pressure never lets up. At any point Xingyin could be discovered and every relationship she makes plunges her closes to losing her original goal of freeing her mother.

I love the overall theme of this story. It is steeped in loyalty and duty and how far would you go for family and those you love. Xingyin character is inspiring. Her tenacity and motivation drives all of her decisions yet she remains kind and virtuous throughout the adventures. She might have been born into a quiet isolated life but after she is thrust into peril she owns her fate and learns to master her magic and her archery skills become legendary.

This story really hit all of my favorite tropes. I love the relationships Xingyin makes. Especially with the crown prince. The conflict between their parents adds wonderful tension and a forbidden love aspect between Xingyin and the prince. On top of forbidden love there was enemies to lovers, slow burn, enemies to lovers back to enemies and the absolute best, the only one bed situation.

The imminent peril and twists and turns never stop. I couldn’t put down this book. Also as a Chinese American reader it was so wonderful seeing a story I grew up hearing turned into a breathtaking retelling. I can’t even put into words how much it means to me. Seeing characters that look like me who are strong and brave and courageous is everything. Overall I would hands down recommend this book to anyone even if you are unfamiliar with the story of Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess. My only low point is that now I must wait until book 2.

Xingyin, the daughter of the moon goddess, is in a quest to secure her mother’s freedom, who is sentenced to a life of solitude and imprisonments on the moon. Keeping her identity a secret, Xingyin becomes the companion of the prince, the son of the person responsible for imprisoning her mother. Xingyin works hard to become the best archer and win a favor from the celestial emperor.

I really loved this book. The adventures she goes on, the people she meets, mastering her powers, and of course romance! are all great. Highly recommend.

I was so excited to read this book and it did not disappoint! The main character was very relatable and interesting which I really love. I was never bored while reading this book and I can not wait to recommend this to all of my friends.