Before I get into the nitty gritty of the review, I want to take a moment and discuss the age group for this book. This is officially an adult fantasy, but looking at the story and the tropes, I would personally say this leans a lot closer to YA than adult. Readers looking for an adult fantasy may be disappointed.

There is a whole discussion to be had here about whether this book was mislabeled or not, and what makes something adult or YA, and how cultural inspirations can or can't impact that. The author very clearly states this is a xianxia story, and if you're familiar with C-dramas you will definitely get that vibe. I think that is also part of the problem when it comes to the adult vs YA debate: the tropes used here are tropes that are very popular in the YA category, but also popular in Asian dramas. Asian dramas are still adult even with these tropes, so this comes down to reader expectations, which is why I'm prefacing my review with this explanation.

Now let's talk about the book.

This has a solid start, a pretty good end, and a middle part that needlessly meanders. Our heroine Xingyin is forced to leave her home on the moon when the Celestial Kingdom almost discovers her existence. While fleeing she lands in said kingdom by mistake, and eventually ends up as a companion to the crown prince. Desperately hoping to gain the freedom of her exiled mother, Xingyin is determined to prove herself to the emperor and gain that most coveted of gifts: the Crimson Lion Talisman, and a royal favor.

The story is really more about the romance than about Xingying saving her mother, and we soon forget that is what she set out to do. Or rather, Xingying does, because there is no urgency whatsoever. It's a bit hard to keep track of how many years pass throughout the book, but it's somewhere between 4-7, and for most of that time she barely remembers her mother or Ping'Er, the woman who risked her own life to whisk her away from the moon, and who got hurt during. Not once does Xingying stop to wonder what happened to Ping'Er or think that it might be a good idea to set out and find her; weird for someone who claims to be so attached to the only family she knows. There are also plenty of plot conveniences. When it suits the plot, Xingying turns from a determined person into a very passive characters. Questions like "weren't we supposed to look into this thing?" conveniently don't get asked when she probably should and would have, because then the plot wouldn't work anymore. But there are pretty men around, so I guess Xingying's distraction is understandable.

And yes, it's men, plural, but if you remove the names I'm not sure I'd be able to tell them apart. The way both Liwei and Wenzhi interact with Xingying is very similar: respectful, teasing, kind, competitive, and driven to insane jealousy as soon as she talks to a new male character. There's a lot of talking with coldness and stony faces for these two, and Xingying stands in the middle of it, blissfully oblivious. I don't really have anything against the reverse harem trope, but just once I'd like to see one where the woman calls out the men for being jealous jerks. "You don't deserve a place in my harem, get out!" Xingying told them in my imagination, but unfortunately not in the book. I did enjoy the development of the romance with Liwei though.

The writing style in general was very simplistic. There's a lot of telling rather than showing, to the point that every single thought process Xingying goes through to reach a certain conclusion has to be spelled out and explained in detail so we understand exactly why she's thinking or feeling something. However, the descriptions and the subsequent visuals in my head were a true pleasure. I could easily imagine both the outfits and the gloriously long hair, and that I truly appreciated.

This was a mesmerizing tale of a young girl's journey to learn more about her heritage and her own self. The story from Xingyin's perspective was mesmerizingly told, the prose was simple yet effective and mesmerizing - it felt as if I was listening to an old myth being recounted. Xingyin was a brave heroine, facing all her challenges in stride, and fast -adapting to an unfamiliar world. I loved how she always kept her pride and her goals above everything else. I believe Sue Lynn Tan is a brilliant storyteller who brings the best in her characters and flowery descriptions.

A more detailed review will be posted on Goodreads and social media in two weeks.

“𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 - 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦, 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦.” ― 𝘚𝘶𝘦 𝘓𝘺𝘯𝘯 𝘛𝘢𝘯, 𝘋𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘎𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘴

𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀
A debut novel inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess. This is the story of a young girl named Xingyin who has been raised living on the moon as a consequence of her Mother's exile. Determined to free her Mother from eternal imprisonment, Xingyin embarks on an action-packed adventure filled with danger, fear, love, lust and betrayal.

𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
Honestly, it's hard to believe that this is a debut. This book is truly as beautiful on the inside as it is on the out. It is so beautifully written (and that is understatement of the year)! The characters are well-developed, the world building was next level and although there are many common tropes they truly do add to the whole magic of the Celestial Kingdom and Immortal Realm. A solid 5 stars from me.
**𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝟐​​**

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲
🌸 A strong female protagonist who was impossible not to love
🐉An honourable prince and an enigmatic warrior
🤺 A love triangle that I actually didn't hate
🌸Friends - Lovers - Enemies
🐉Enchanting creatures & celestial beings
🤺 Captivating world building
🌸 Chinese Mythology
🐉Forbidden magic
🤺Court politics


Thanks so much to the publishers and to netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers for providing me with an early copy!

I always adored folklore, mythology, fairytales and retellings. This beautiful book gives Chang’E the story she deserves.

The story didn’t drag on and started in the middle of things, which I loved. I loved he we figured things out as Xingyin did.

However sometimes the story felt disjointed to me, like it was lots of little tales in 1 book, rather than 1 whole book of storyline - but in the end I didn’t mind it so much.

I loved some characters and hated others, I loved some parts of the story whilst not so much others - but on the whole, I enjoyed the book and wish I could read it again for the first time.

Cannot wait to have some beautiful special editions of this gem.

A vivid, delightable debut that spans Chinese mythology and mystery and transforms into a tale of self-discovery and adventure. 

This book is one of my most anticipated reads of 2022 and i am so glad it has lived up to the hype i gave it.

Sue Lan really pulls it out the bag with this 500 page beauty and I loved it. I am a big reader of Asian mythology retellings and this has the potential to become one of my favourites. It’s enchanting and I found it really hard to put down once I’d got started. 

The plot is fast and repetitive but no less intriguing, the characters are captivating and their relationships and interactions with each other are delights, the writing style is whimsical and almost lyrical, like a tale woven in song, and the world building is just phenomenal. 


Xingyin is a character you can treasure wholeheartedly. She is honourable and charming, and even when she struggles with her understanding of this strange new place and her naivety finds root, she is loyal and remains so. Everything she does is for her mother, which is find as devastating as it is heartwarming. She finds herself in a love triangle, and lord knows I love me some tension in a triangle, but I rather admire the way Lan handled this one. Sometimes romantic triangles can be a little overbearing and too focal but within this high fantasy debut, it was filtered through wonderfully, and I honestly struggled to choose myself (maybe we’ll find out eventually), but i felt reminiscent as their relationships progressed as it reminded me of my favourite series with my favourite triangle, and well, I’m not ashamed to say i cried at various points in this book. This romance, although integral to Xingyin’s personal development, does not detract from her quest and ultimate goal. 


This is definitely a book to add to your shelves, I promise you won’t be disappointed. If you like high fantasy, Chinese mythology, lyrical writings and a heroine to root for, this is the book for you!


I received this book as an earc from NetGalley Harper Voyager in exchange for an honest review.

CW: Content warnings include: violence, blood, gore, alcohol consumption, death, separation, attempted assault (brief), kidnapping, bullying.

Synopsis: Xingyin, daughter of the Moon Goddess, lived her life on the moon. But when she has to flee and leave her mother behind, Xingyin promises to return and save her. In her quest to save her mother Xingyin must face more than she realised, from magical threats to the Celestial Emperor himself.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess, by Sue Lynn Tan is a gorgeous fantasy read. Sue Lynn Tan’s prose is beautiful and utterly captivating, every description is dazzling and rich and so intensely vivid. I have seen a lot of people describe this book as ‘Lush’ and it is a very fitting adjective for this book, it is exactly what springs to mind with this description. Not only do the descriptions really breathe life into the settings and characters of this book but the narration is also fantastic. The book is from Xingyin’s perspective and her pov works very well with the story and flows perfectly. This book is so easy to slip into because even with the gorgeous descriptions, the prose is gentle and fluid, drawing you in and increasing with pace as you move through. The pacing is well done and this book fits a lot into it – I was actually very surprised with just how much happened! After Xingyin flees the book slows a little, but it doesn’t lull (the prose and narration balances this well) and the pace picks up again and takes you on a very fun and intense adventure.

The plot is packed with so much excitement, tension, battles and emotion. I truly did not expect all of this and I loved every second. Xingyin is an immortal, daughter of the Moon Goddess, who is disguised and hiding in the Celestial Kingdom searching for a way to save her mother. But, this is just the tip of the iceberg, from Princes to battles to dragons and magic, there are wtists turns, plots and secrets all threaded throughout the story. So much happens that its hard to talk about without spoilers but Xingyin truly goes through a lot to save her mother, and every bit is intense, magical, heart-wrenching and gripping to watch. The one thing I did not expect at all was the way the romance played out, I really wanted to give our Prince a good shake at times, and I was actually surprised with some elements here. There is a good dose of romance throughout the story, lending itself to some very tense, comical, and intense emotional scenes but it doesn’t take away from the rest of the incredible plot (Slight SPOILER for those who are not fans, there is a bit of a love triangle in this book, I don’t love them but I didn’t mind it too much in the context of this particular story END OF SPOILER).

Overall, the plot is intense, magical, brutal at times, emotional and well paced. I was surprised at how the book ended, no cliffhangers in sight, but it still left a lot of questions and leaves you excited for more!

The characters were well written and flawed. Xingyin fights a lot of battles both externally and internally, loyalties and promises are tested and she is alone but I really loved her and her story. I liked the rest of the character cast as well, from yhe Prince, to the soldiers, to the friends Xingyin makes on the way and how this all comes together at the end. Close to the end of the book is a scene I particularly loved A LOT, which I think truly showed us a lot about Xingyin and the connections she forges, as well as her bravery in the face of scrutiny. However, all the characters we meet are so interesting both in the Celestial Kingom and way from it!

Overall, Daughter ofhe Moon Goddess, by Sue Lynn Tan is a lush, beautful and packed read that is intense, emotional and gorgeous to the core. With a captivating and epic plot, and interesting characters who are tested on the field and in their hearts – this makes for an effortlessly entrancing fantasy that will delight YA and Adult fantasy readers alike.

*Thank you to #Netgalley/HarperCollins for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!*

https://kbbookreviews867789450.wordpress.com/2022/01/19/mini-book-review-daughter-of-the-moon-goddess-the-celestial-kingdom-duology-1-by-sue-lynn-tan/

Thank you to goodreads,the author and publisher for allowing me a copy of this book.

Wow this book. What is there to share this is my favourite book this year, I love it it’s beautiful heart warming amazing. I love the characters and I also love reading books with fantasy, godess and retelling with amazing story telling. This is now the best book every and I want a physical I will order now. Also can’t wait for book two.

Oh, wow! A book with a love triangle I didn't loathe! This was good. Very good. I'm excited to know what comes next and I will definitely be recommending this to my friends. I'd give it 5 stars if I wasn't so picky.

Can we also talk about the cover? SO PRETTY.

I went into The Daughter of the Moon Goddess without knowing much at all, but I was quickly swept away in the world Sue Lynn Tam created.

I absolutely loved the world, history and magic we are shown. I was a little bit lost at first but quickly caught on, and I just really really loved this world.

Apart from the world and its wonders, I absolutely loved our main character Xingyin. She was strong and human and wonderful all around, and I’m so happy to know this is a duology and we will see more of her.

When it comes to the romance, I had my issues, especially with the love triangle and the way everything went rather fast. I did like one of the main love interests but the whole thing was not really to my liking.

The story was really, really good and kept me on my toes. The last 30% were phenomenal and really surprised me more than once.

All in all, I can only recommend this wonderful book inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess.

It just feels so right when a book that looks so beautiful on the outside is just as stunning on the inside. This was a vivid, unputdownable debut which effortlessly whisks us into the celestial realms of Chinese high fantasy. Tan magnificently conjures the romantic yet dangerous dazzle of this immortal world, but never loses track of the shining human heart of her tale. A captivating treat for lovers of Chinese fantasy dramas and newcomers alike

Dnfed at 50%
I went into this book with a lot of expectations but I was disappointed almost immediately. I had a lot of issues with the book. The pacing was way off, the character development was little to none, I did not get the romance at all and the author tried to pack in way too many tropes into one book. There was way too much tell and no show which again put me off. I had to dnf at 50% after I realised I was neither invested in the plot nor the characters

I was drawn to Daughter of The Moon Goddess, because the captivating description and cover. It's the first book in a planned duology, inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess, Chang'e. It follows the moon goddess' daughter, Xingyin, as she is forced to flee her home.

Told in three parts, it moves from the present to the future. Time jumps are hard to pull off, because they can often feel rushed and abrupt, but it worked well here. Xingyin was a sympathetic main character as she went through a journey both externally and internally. Also, I don't say this a lot, but the love triangle in Daughter of the Moon Goddess didn't annoy me. I liked it because both love interests were intriguing in their own way and Xingyin wasn't mooning over them.

Although, Daughter of the Moon Goddess is an adult fantasy it has YA cross-over appeal. I loved the mythology and magic, and appreciate the fact that it's going to be a duology, because it means there won't be unnecessary filler. I'm very much looking forward to the conclusion.

I loved the Asian inspired influences in this novel, but regrettably I did not love the actual story as much as I hoped. This is a fantasy romance, heavy on the romance, and unfortunately, I wanted more plot and less angst. Regardless, I still want to finish this duology.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

A gorgeously rich and sweeping tale that will linger in your mind long after reading. The characters were complex and compelling and the plot was utterly engaging. I can't wait for the second book.

This was a sumptuous treat of a story set in the Celestial Heavens of immortality. The titular daughter of the Moon goddess has many adventures and romantic offers, is skilled beyond compare with a bow and arrow and yearns to be reunited with her mother on the Moon. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book

‘Daughter of the Moon Goddess’ is a gorgeously written debut novel with a unique premise and dream-like setting. Tan’s writing style is incredibly poetic and lush. Every time I picked up the book, it felt as though I was being transported to this otherworldly realm, as I could so clearly picture what was described upon the page.

The plot of the book is fast-moving and gets you hooked immediately. Xingyin’s unshakeable love for her mother is incredibly warming to read; I loved their relationship and the themes of family throughout this. You root for Xingyin in her mission to return to her mother and free her from imprisonment, feeling her loss and sorrow with her. I mostly enjoyed her as a main character; she was set in her morals and had a good heart. Though sometimes she did lack depth, seeming too perfect.

The fast-moving nature of the plot came with its detriments, namely in a lack of build-up where resolutions were lacklustre and came about too quickly. The same can be said for many of the characters and the relationships - a lack of foundation leading to things falling a bit flat. The romantic relationships in particular often felt as though they came from nowhere, with little development.

For the length of the book, there were periods of unnecessary dragging and I found myself skimming passages, looking for the action and progression in plot. In total, the pacing was off and could have been tightened up.

Overall, though, a well-written debut novel that is perfect for readers who enjoy getting lost in whimsical, mythical worlds.

Honest review of this is that I was so bored. Nothing really hooked my interest which was unfortunate because the synopsis did.

IT’S AN AMAZING STORY. The goddess moon kind of retelling and it’s a must read for everyone who love : dragon, archery, magic, forbidden romance.

Love the main character so badly and I wanted to thank you for the chance to read the book.

I loved this epic fantasy. The characters are well-developed, the plot itself is brilliant and I was fully immersed in the celestial kingdom. I really really enjoyed it.

Xingyin has grown up on the moon, as the secret daughter of the Moon Goddess she has had to hide all her life from the Celestial Emperor who sentenced her mother to imprisonment on the Moon. But one day her magic flares, bringing the prying eyes of the Empress to the Moon and Chang'E, her mother, knows that she has to let her go for her to survive. Now alone in the Celestial Empire, Xingyin has no hope for ever returning to her mother, or breaking the enchantment that forces her to stay on the Moon, until one day she accidentally stumbles upon the Crown Prince and sets into motion a series of events that could change both herself, and the Empire forever. Through her time in the Celestial Empire Xingyin will learn many skills, and fight in many battles, but the most difficult battle she faces may be that of the heart.

I will admit, reading the synopsis for this book I expected a certain kind of character going in, you know, the kind with revenge on their mind. The ones who will stop at nothing to right the wrongs that have been done to them, the one's who worm their way into places only to bring them crashing to the ground. And, while Xingyin certainly has no love for the Celestial Emperor, instead of trying to bring them down, she works hard for their favour, hoping they will eventually grant her wish of freeing her mother. I really loved how Xingyin never schemed or plotted, but instead used her skills to become invaluable to the Empire, coming to love the people within and I found her as a character utterly refreshing if not a little naive in parts. She isn't one to back down, and I loved how she stuck to her moral code throughout he book no matter the danger or the deceit.

There are a multitude of side characters in this book and, though they all play a back burner to Xingyin's story, they effortlessly leap off the page nonetheless. From Crowned Prince Lewei, the boy that steals her heart, to Shuxiao her first true friend, they bring with them love, friendship, betrayal and respect and all have a large part to play in Xingyin's story.

Daughter of the Mood Goddess moves at a breakneck pace, there really was not good place to stop reading, and while I enjoyed flying through the story, I did feel that the speed in general meant that some parts just lacked development. I never struggled to get my heard around any part of the book, be it who characters were or the world building but, and this is personal preference, I like a little more depth in my stories. I felt like I struggled to bond with Xingyin as a character because of how fast the plot moved. It just lacked any real stakes for me, even though she ends up in plenty of dangerous situations and, adding in the predictability of the ending I found myself coasting through the last 25% of the book.

If you've followed me for a while then you know I love mythology and boy did this book have it in spades. Add in Tan's lush and lyrical writing style and, despite struggling with the plot, I have to admit there wasn't a word wasted. The author grabs you headfirst and drags you into the Celestial Kingdom and I can't wait to see a map of it because it just sounds like it would be beautiful. The way she gives the different kingdoms different cultures and beliefs was incredibly well done and, even though the story went at a break neck pace, we never lack for world building or descriptive writing to immerse you in the story.

I didn't love the romance arc, I found it a little predictable, and it wasn't one of my favourite love triangles I will admit, but it does play a rather large part in the story. The only real times we see Xingyin veering from her goal is when she is with Liwei, she doesn't want to loose what they have, but is also determined to save her mother. At first I enjoyed seeing her internal battle, it showed the strength of her character and her beliefs, but it got overly repetitive and by the end I genuinely didn't care whether they got together or not.

This was such a difficult review to write. There was so much I loved about this book, but as a whole it just didn't work for me. I definitely think I will be in the minority when it comes to my opinions, but I do feel like this book could have been fleshed out significantly more had it ended at around 60% and kept the rest for the second book in the duology.