We might be legends to the mortals, but the dragons are legends to us all.

 isbn: 978006303130 | pages: 512
     publication date: January 11, 2021 | source: tour
     genre: fantasy, adult, asian mythology, retelling
     rating: 8/10 

    A M A Z O N    |    G O O D R E A D S    |    B O O K S H O P * 
    B O O K D E P O S I T O R Y    |    B A R N E S A N D N O B L E S

the sacrifice for family
Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a stunning debut novel that explores the boundaries of duty for family, love, and kingdom amidst the gorgeous prose and wuxia imagery. Xingyin is the daughter of Chang'e and the hero Houyi and has lived her entire life on the moon. Unbeknownst to her, Chang'e has hidden her existence from the rest of the Celestial Kingdom, and her life begins to unravel when the Empress arrives. Xingyin finds herself on a journey that pushes her limits as she trains alongside the emperor's son, masters archery and magic, and embarks on quests to break her mother's enchantment.

Those in love often make promises they can't keep.

This story is immersive and magical with characters that grow on you as their journey unfolds. It took me a minute to place why this read differently before I belatedly realized that we are reading from Xingyin's perspective in first person. After that, it became almost second nature to slip into her point of view and experience all that she's goes through on her journey to reunite with her mother. The novel itself is broken into three parts and while the pacing sometimes felt inconsistent when furthering the plot, it personally didn't bother me because I was so enamored with the world. I loved how Xingyin was determined in her actions and despite all the curveballs that the Celestial Kingdom might throw at her, she doesn't lose sight of her family and her goals.

We will do things for our family - our loved ones - that we would not do for ourselves. Some might call us fools, Those who don't understand, never will.

the sacrifice for love
While I've only watched a handful of Chinese historical dramas, Daughter of the Moon Goddess made me feel like I was watching those beautifully choreographed scenes come to life in the pages. The little nods to the cinematography and stunning fights made my heart so happy to see them unfold in a fantasy novel. Like the wuxia dramas that I watched with my mom, there's treachery and betrayals, political manipulation and dangerous bargains, all of which made me gasp every time. At the end of the novel, I can truly say that I was 110% invested in Xingyin's story and watching her relationships develop and how she learns to harness her powers and her love for her family and friends (and a certain prince?) made her a relatable character that blossomed under all the hardships she experiences.

We should appreciate the flower, regardless of its roots.

It almost pains me to be finished with this story because it was truly a magical experience. I can only wait anxiously for the sequel as I cannot wait to be reunited with Xingyin and go on more magical journeys with her.

Don't blame the instrument, but the one who directs the tune.

thank you so much to Turn the Pages Tours for allowing me to participate on this fantastic tour! be sure to click on the banner image or here to check out the other amazing stops!

-  M  O  O  D  B  O  A  R  D  -

images from: unsplash & google image: moon | girl with flute | girl with bow | imperial palace

-  A  U  T  H  O  R     B  I  O  G  R  A  P  H  Y  -

Sue Lynn can be reached on Instagram @SuelynnTann, or on her website: www.suelynntan.com