Daughter of the Moon Goddess: A Sweeping, Romantic Fantasy inspired by Mythology of Love, Betrayal, and Destiny―The First Book in the Celestial Kingdom Duology (Celestial Kingdom, 1)

Daughter of the Moon Goddess is the debut novel from Sue Lynn Tan and all I can say is WOW. This book was stunning and is one of my favorite books I’ve ever read. From the start, we are captivated by the story and characters and Tan takes you on an amazing journey over the next 500 pages.To begin, the characters are fascinating. I listened to it on audiobook which was really helpful for the pronunciation of names for me, as the story is based of Chinese mythology. Xingyin is the daughter of the Moon Goddess Chang'e, and is such a great FMC. She goes through a coming of age story in this book, starting with leaving her home and her mother and following her on an epic journey over different lands and through many adventures. I loved how we saw her grow and change and while this is a YA novel, I never felt like she was overly young or immature. There are a few times that her internal monologue gets repetitive, which is why I’m taking away a partial star, but otherwise I loved the writing of the character. There is a love triangle (square?) between her and two male characters, but I thought it was done well and was actually a very mature handling of it.The plot and imagery within this book was phenomenal. This is the second series I’ve read this year that is Chinese mythology inspired and both were given such rich description, it makes me want to travel there! The book is rather long, at just over 500 pages, but the pacing is done really well and the plot is complex and developed without ever dragging or becoming confusing. It moves through the different events in a well thought out manner and kept me intrigued the entire time! There is action and some romance (it is YA so this is light romance), and a great story of friendship.

Overall, I think the book is really great. I love the characters and the whole plot line. I think the book is very cleverly thought out, and unique to other books in the fantasy genre. I have no complaints and I think it’s a genuinely great book, other than it’s quite a slow moving story.In some aspects I enjoy it because I like the world building and I love to be able to imagine everything the characters are up to, and the places they go, but some parts of the story were just on the cusp of boring at times.I think there was definitely parts where it could’ve been cut back on and some other parts that really could’ve been extended.Although,I do understand why there’s a slowness and ultimately, I feel like it provided an ethereal feel that I feel would accompany a moon goddess.One interesting thing about this book is it doesn’t leave on a cliffhanger, so I could see the story moving in lots of different directions, or really just being a standalone, but I am looking forward to reading book two.I would say it’s definitely worth the read!

This book was beautifully written. I felt like I was thrown into a world I wasn’t familiar with. It took me the first chapter or so to orient myself with the characters and story, but the writing drew me in immediately. The story is written with so many emotions, it was an excellent read. Looking forward to the next one.

Loved the characters and different type of fantasy than you normally read. Sur Lynn tan paints a beautiful picture with twists and turns.

I love that the story is set within a world of ancient Chinese mythology. I find the myths and legends fascinating. However, the plot is fuelled by the same overdone storyline of the main character being loved, fought over, and protected by two powerful men while being one of the most skilled warriors in existence after only a few months of training. The descriptions of how protective or possessive they are over her are pretty cringe.Additionally, while the main character is strong, smart, decisive, and empowered, she does lack any flaws that would make her relatable. She agonizes over decisions that she made that she considered "mistakes" which were actually completely understandably made in her circumstances. It's almost as if she can do no wrong. In other words, she is the typical female fantasy protagonist that is totally righteous, lacks flaws, and therefore is not complex.I do appreciate that she has a goal of her own (to free her mother) and that gives the story a unique aspect but overall, such rich world-building would have benefitted from a more compelling story without derivative plot lines.

After watching some Chinese dramas, I tried looking for books in English that were similar but had no luck until this one. I love stories about love and the Celestial Kingdom. I highly recommend this book, loved every minute and it took me out of my reading slump.

Livro é lindo. Mas vale a pena comprar a edição em português, a capa também é perfeita. Comprei essa edição pq amo ter várias edições de livros que adoro. 💖

This was a beautiful bookcute romance and alot of great fantasy

a captivating read that will keep you hooked from beginning to end. The story is beautifully crafted with intricate details of Asian methodology and fascinating plot twists that will leave you on the edge of your seat. The romance in the book is beautifully portrayed, making it a must-read for any lover of romantic fantasy. No smut at all. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling and emotional read.

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