Review: ‘Daughter of the Moon Goddess’ by Sue Lynn Tan
Daughter of the Moon Goddess
by Sue Lynn TanSeries: The Celestial Kingdom #1
Published by Harper Voyager on January 11, 2022
SubGenres: Young Adult Fantasy
Format: AudioBook, Hardcover
Pages: 503
Narrator: Natalie Naudus
Length: 15 Hours And 1 Minutes
Source: Library - Libby, Purchased
Audience: 18+/Adult
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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.
A captivating debut fantasy inspired by the legend of Chang'e, the Chinese moon goddess, in which a young woman’s quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm. 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.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Sue Lynn Tan’s debut Fantasy novel, was a highly anticipated read for me. Released in 2022, it was a fantastic start to the Celestial Kingdom Duology. I finally made time to read it this year (2024) thanks to the Romanceopoly Reading Challenge to read a fantasy that features any mythology besides Greek. I’ve always been obsessed with reading mythologies/legends and loved that this book, in particular, was inspired by the legend of Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess.
From the very beginning, Daughter of the Moon Goddess entranced me, especially with Sue Lynn Tan’s storytelling skills, rich world-building, and compelling characters. I loved the main character, Xingyin, and how much she grew as a character, especially with what she had to overcome in this book. She was forced to leave her only home on the moon with her mother due to the risk of the Celestial Emperor finding out about her. Xingyin is determined more than ever to return home to her mother, but first, she wants to find a way to save her mother from exile, and she’ll have to face the person who exiled her, the Celestial Emperor. She’ll end up working closely with the Celestial Emperor’s son, learning magic and archery alongside him, but he can never know the truth of her true identity and why she’s really there with him.
This book was full of adventures, some of them dangerous, but Xingyin was determined more than ever to find a way to save her mother from exile. Fair warning for readers who aren’t love triangle fans: this book does have a love triangle. While I’m not usually a fan of love triangles, this one was well done. I found myself torn between Xingyin’s love interests, each with their own unique qualities. In the end, though, she had to make a choice that would shape her future and not go with the one who betrayed her.
Sue Lynn Tan’s writing style is beautifully descriptive, bringing the world of the Celestial Kingdom to life. I’ll never forget this book. I can’t wait to dive into the second book, especially with how things ended in this book. She still has to deal with the one who betrayed her; plus, after what she accomplished in the end, there are people out there who are not happy with the results, and she’ll need all the protection she can get.
If you enjoy reading YA Fantasy full of adventures, magic, dragons, and hope, then check out this debut novel by Sue Lynn Tan.
Audiobook Recommendation: I borrowed Daughter of the Moon Goddess from my local library, Libby App, and definitely enjoyed listening to it. The narrator, Natalie Naudus, did a fabulous job bringing the characters and story to life.
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About Sue Lynn Tan
Sue Lynn Tan is the author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Heart of the Sun Warrior, a romantic fantasy inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess. Her books will be translated into sixteen languages, and are USA Today and Sunday Times bestsellers.
Born in Malaysia, Sue Lynn studied in London and France, before moving to Hong Kong with her family. Her love for stories began with a gift from her father, her first compilation of fairytales from around the world. After devouring every fable she could find in the library, she discovered fantasy books, spending much of her childhood lost in magical worlds.
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