Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Sue Lynn Tan’s debut novel Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a sensational story of a daughter leaving her home for the first time and trying to earn her mother’s freedom from the very Emperor that punished her. It is a retelling of the Chinese myth about the moon goddess Chang’e, filled with romance, angst, magic, action, betrayal, and honor. The cover is just as stunning and magical as the story. I know they say do not judge a book by its cover, but in this case…do it.
Xingyin is the daughter of Chang’e and the mortal warrior Houyi. She led a tranquil life on the moon with her mother for years. Still, Xingyin’s hunger for adventure would never make her truly happy living a sedentary life. After she is forced to leave her home, Xingyin’s story really begins. I loved how Xinygin could adapt to new environments and soak up every new skill and knowledge learned like a sponge. I enjoyed reading about Xingyin’s adventures after joining the Celestial Army. It was amazing to see Xingyin become a talented warrior that could take on mythical creatures and win the respect of her fellow soldiers. I loved how honorable Xingyin was. Even when she was tempted to go down a different path and give up her morals, she never did. She was tested emotionally, mentally, and physically and pulled through, showcasing Xingyin’s strength in her body and character.
The romance between Prince Liwei and Xingyin and later Captain Whenzi and Xingyin were pretty realistic compared to other fantasy novels I’ve read, which I liked. The foundations of friendship between Liwei and Xingyin were the key to their relationship. I wanted more romantic moments from Liwei and Xingyin, but unfortunately, a stupid betrothal to a princess got in the way. My chest tightened the moment Liwei’s betrothal was announced. Xingyin deserved better than that. But their story wasn’t over, which I had warring emotions about. Part of me wanted Xingyin to completely cut him off, and the other part wanted them to fight for their love. And then Whenzi entered the scene. I loved him much more than Liwei…at first. A love triangle always spices up a story, and this one was no different. I felt that Whenzi could challenge Xingyin and fight for her like no other. Also, Whenzi wasn’t the son of the Emperor and Empress, who hated Xingyin’s parents, so that was another point for him. However, Liwei loved her just as much and, in the end, proved that. Sigh. I don’t think the love triangle is finished quite yet, even if certain events at the end of the book tried to make me believe otherwise.
The Chinese culture and mythology displayed in Daughter of the Moon Goddess had to be one of my favorite parts of the book. It’s always exciting learning about another culture. Tan took every opportunity to embed Chinese customs, clothing, music, art, and more into the novel. I loved every word!
Oh. Did I forget to mention there were dragons? There were DRAGONS! That was enough to make me fall in love with the novel.
What I hated: the Celestial Emperor, the Celestial Empress, and Minister Wu. They were the absolute worst. I wanted to jump into the story and punch them whenever they were mentioned.
I adored Daughter of the Moon Goddess and recommend it to anyone that loves reading fantasy. You will not want to miss this gorgeous book.
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