Daughter of the Moon Goddess
by Sue Lynn Tan
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.
With such a stunning cover and an enticing synopsis promising a lush, exciting story built upon a foundation of Chinese culture and mythology, Sue Lynn Tan’s debut novel, Daughter of the Moon Goddess, caught my attention in a way the YA fantasy genre hasn’t in quite some time. In a sea of stories with too similar characters and storylines that melded together and wore down my love for the genre and turned it into a thing of the past, Daughter of the Moon Goddess stood out for all the right reasons.
From the first page, it was obvious Tan’s writing would be beautiful and impactful, but just how lovely this world was still took me aback. The world of Daughter of the Moon Goddess is lush and vibrant, defined by a mix of beautiful and almost whimsical elements grounded in Chinese mythology and culture. Xingyin, the main character, is the daughter of the Moon Goddess—a mortal woman made immortal and handed the punishment of eternal banishment to the Pure Light Palace—the moon—where she’s responsible for lighting the lanterns responsible for the moon’s glow each night. It is here—on the moon—that Xingyin grows up in near isolation and it is from here she must escape when her mother’s life is threatened by the Empire of the Celestial Kingdom. With nowhere else to go, Xingyin finds herself within the Celestial Kingdom itself, where everyone else is also an immortal and where her own life (and her mother’s) would be forfeit if anyone discovered her true identity. Reading about this world, where immortals with magic travel on clouds spun from thin air, merfolk have a kingdom beneath the Eastern Sea, and dragons once lived free was an immersive, delightful experience. The world building was rich and alluring, inviting readers to delve into the beauty of Chinese culture and mythology with evocative, lyrical language and the most imaginative ideas. Daughter of the Moon Goddess was a breath of fresh air with its richly woven tapestry of Chinese culture and mythology, elemental magic, and realms in the sky. It was almost dreamlike, the sense of beauty and wonder that permeated this story. I was completely enchanted.
Tan’s writing was fantastic. Immersive and rich, the most wonderful elements of the world of Daughter of the Moon Goddess were made all the more enjoyable by the undeniable beauty of her writing. I wanted to sink into each lovely description, to get wrapped up in her words. Besides the lyrical quality of the writing, Tan conjured a fantastic, nuanced depiction of emotions through her characters, especially Xingyin. She was a compelling main character, one whose voice was familiar yet unique within the genre. She was bold and daring, but almost quietly so. While I love a confident, somewhat cocky female main character as much as anyone, there was something refreshing about Xingyin’s quiet confidence and boldness. It was born of a sort of desperation—if she didn’t take certain risks and put herself out there, she’d always regret it. Though there were moments where I found myself frustrated with her actions and reactions, they were understandable and certainly realistic. Secondary characters were just as well written. I really enjoyed the friendships and romance within the novel, as well.
The story of Daughter of the Moon Goddess follows Xingyin’s journey as she cultivates her power and skills in the kingdom that exiled her mother. She is willing to do anything to free her mother and for much of the novel, there didn’t seem to be much of a defined plot beyond that simple goal. There was no constant, pressing issue driving the plot, just the knowledge that this overall goal is what drove all of Xingyin’s efforts and decisions. While much of the story lacked a sense of urgency, I enjoyed the pacing and tone quite a bit. It took its time, but didn’t lack intensity and remained engaging throughout. From the unexpected path of the romance to twists I couldn’t have predicted, Xingyin’s story was absolutely compelling. I was intrigued by every element of the story, however there were several occasions where resolutions came too easily and the story felt a little too simplistic. This is Young Adult, so some of that simplicity can be understood, but some important plot points felt brushed over in a way that detracted from them. While it was still entertaining, I would’ve preferred feeling fully immersed in these important moments and wish they had a bit more impact. Overall, the story was unique, compelling, and very well written.
This novel was engaging and beautifully written. There’s a romance to the story itself, in the dreamy way it unfolds and the lyrical language with which this world is conjured. Immersive and exciting, Daughter of the Moon Goddess was a gorgeous novel.