Daughter of the Moon Goddess Review

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Daughter of the Moon Goddess Review

I am so thankful to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for this eARC of Daughter if the Moon Goddess. This is my honest review of the book.

So, I’m just going to say right now I’m going to gush and gush about this book. I’ve been reading fantasy books since forever. Lately, many fantasy books have felt the same. They all have been good, don’t get me wrong, just they have all had the same feeling and formulas. However, when I read the synopsis of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, I had the feeling I was in for something very different in the best possible way.

Xingyin is the Daughter of the Moon Goddess Chang’e. She has spent her life alone on the moon save for her mother and their attendant. Though in solitude, she has been mostly content, unaware she is actually being hidden from the Celestial Emperor. That is, until one fateful day when her power alerts the Celestial Kingdom there is more to the moon than just her mother. She is forced to flee the only home she has ever known leaving her mother behind ending up alone, no friends, no money, no training in a completely new world. However, she manages to hide her identity and win a spot next to the crown prince where she will train by his side. Xingyin has one goal, to free her mother and be reunited. Though, she will face many trials on her way.

Right from the beginning of the book I was emotionally invested in the lives of these characters. I really began to feel as if Xingyin was my person friend and I wanted to jump into the book to protect her with everything I had.

For the few days I spent reading this book I felt fully transported to the world Sue Lynn Tan has created. Everything was so vivid in my mind that I actually dreamt about the Celestial Kingdom. This world was so exhilarating and so magical. I truly appreciate the storytelling in this book, the story moved quicker in a very well paced manner. I was never bogged down with “info dumps” the reader is given just the right amount of details as the story goes to keep the story moving and keep the reader engaged yet knowledgeable about the world and characters.

Xingyin is my new favorite MC. I fell in love with her as she struggled alone being harassed by people who had no idea who she was. She grows and earns the respect of the crown prince. But, nothing is as it seems and the twists and turns kept me glued to the pages. Xingyin faces many trails and sometimes it feel like the hits just keep coming. The book had the perfect balance between being intense and whimsical: a good character driven story and a good plot driven story.

One reason I really was so involved in this story was the quest of Xingyin to save her mother. I’m so tired of mother’s either being killed off or being flat, overbearing, or evil in ya fantasy books. It’s so rare to see the love of a mother and daughter being so highlighted and treated as the special relationship to is. While I’m a fan of Disney, I am tired of women being represented as being so willing to throw over their family for a man they just met.

I really appreciate the relationships in this book, be it friends, romance, or family. We see many layers and complications. The romance is so well done. I don’t want to say too much, but the struggle, tension, and build up is chef’s kiss!

This was defiantly a 5 star read fo me. I’ve already preordered two copies of this book. I already want to re-read it and experience this world again. I am not ready for it to be over.