ARC Review: Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

Title: Daughter of the Moon Goddess
Author: Sue Lynn Tan
Series: The Celestial Kingdom Duology #1
Genre: Fantasy/ Romance/ Mythology/ Historical Fiction
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publication Date: January 11th, 2022
Edition: Kindle Edition, 512 pages
Source: NetGalley
Purchase: Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | BAM | Book Depository | Bookshop | Powell's | Thriftbooks

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

   Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the powerful 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, untrained, 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 Crown Prince, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the emperor’s son.
   To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies across the earth and skies. When treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, however, 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. 

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This book is amazing. The start is a bit slow, but as soon as Xingyin is out on her own and befriends the Prince of the Celestial Kingdom things really kicked off. I read some reviews after finishing that didn't like that passage of time was mentioned in passing. "I spent years studying by his side..." and so forth. But I wager that those events were less important to the overall story. Sure it would have been nice to really see her and Liwei grow closer rather than be told they did. But I didn't hate how it. This book was about her journey with finding who she is.

I didn't really care for the love triangle. I didn't really care for Wenzhi, but that might be more to me being a sucker for friends-to-lovers romance, regardless of how things went for them. Xingyin and Liwei were friends who fell in love.

This book did, just a little bit remind me of another mythology I read late last year, and this book had what I felt was missing a little from that book. More agency from the MC. While at times still a little unsure of herself, Xingyin knows exactly what she wants and is doing what she can to achieve it. She gets sidetracked a little with the romances, and that might be why I didn't really care for them much. I felt that it detracted a bit from what she wanted to achieve.

I loved the atmosphere in this book, the world was so vivid and I can't wait to read the sequel.