Absolutely loved this audiobook. I worried I was in for a slow start but was soon thrown into such a mesmerizing world. The narrator had such a lovely soft voice that fit the story and main character perfectly. I always appreciate fantasy more when listening to it, so the narration really did help immerse me into the story.

I thought the story itself flowed along nicely and a lot is packed into one book but nothing felt rushed. I was surprised by a few things that happened and caught completely off guard too. The ending was wrapped up but with chance to expand on the story/world more.

Excited to read the next book, will definitely be listening to it again and hope the same narrator is used.

OMG I BLOODY LOVE THIS BOOK! Yes, so much that I had to shout it. When I think of the kind of books which help me escape reality and let my imagination run free, I’m pretty much after this folks. I was devastated when it finished and still kinda have a book hangover.

Xingyin has no idea that her mother, the Moon Goddess, was exiled by the Celestial Emperor years ago for a terrible mistake. And she’s only just finding out that her sheer existence could put her mother in danger, and the only way to protect her is to leave and try to live anonymously within the Celestial Kingdom. Except it’s hard to stay anonymous when you catch the young Prince’s attention, and begin an adventure which could either save or destroy you…

There’s just too much within this novel to try and sum up here, so just believe me when I say you need this book in your life if you love epic fantasy, or epic love triangles, or just generally brilliant storytelling. Oh, and total kick arse female hero leads who defy all the odds and prove themselves just as brave as the male warriors around them. There’s basically an endless list of reasons why I loved this book so I’m just hoping my enthusiasm carries you all along into buying it - and if not, will you LOOK at that cover?! 😍😍

The easiest five stars ever!

A gorgeously descriptive and utterly entrancing story. A whirlwind of emotions were experienced listening to this book. A really enjoyable experience!

Have I found my favorite book of 2020, yet? It’s too soon to say but this is definitely a perfect candidate.

The protagonist has this nostalgic aura that always attracts me. I think it’s peculiar of Asian/Chinese inspired stories. I find them so whimsical and interesting that I can never resist!

The story is amazing, even if sometimes it jumps a little bit too fast between events (the plot twist though 😱, I’ve not recovered yet). In any case the love story(ies) are very involving but at the same time they are not the main focus. Because what drives this book is Xingyin’s determination and her immense love for her mother.

I know the writing style may result slow sometimes, but if you like it you are just going to devour the book and I really recommend it to fans of Strange the dreamer, the raven cycle and The Poppy War.

Since I had the chance to listen to the audiobook through NetGalley, let me just say that the narrator was really able to give life to characters and it’s been an amazing listening.

This review is unfortunately quite late - I underestimated quite how long this would take me to get through. Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a visually stunning book, almost impossible not to pick up and flick through when you see it displayed in a bookshop. It's a cover that promises a lot for what lies inside.

This book delivers on the setting, for sure. Tan's worldbuilding is beautiful, piecing together a world with a solid political structure whilst still being full of the wonder and magic of Chinese mythology. I feel that this book is best thought of as an epic in the classical sense - an episodic hero's journey with monsters, lovers and deceit. Treating it more as a mythology than a fantasy adventure made it's length feel more manageable.

However, this book is long and feels that way. I'd often listen to a chunk of it, feeling like I'd made a good innings and then realise I'd only chipped 1% off the total run time. This is mostly due to the fact that Xingyin's internal monologue is more than a little overwrought, constantly poring over the emotional reaction to and moral implications of every action every character takes. in a way that tends to make the story feel like its pulling all of its punches. It also has the effect of making Xingyin feel a bit worthy - she always has enough reaction time, even in battle, to consider her emotional response; she always does the right thing; she picks her battles wisely. It has the effect of flattening her character.

Overall, a good read for anyone who fancies a proper sweeping epic, but perhaps not for those looking for emotional depth and interpersonal intrigue.

Wow. What an immersive and rich story this is. This was my first read focussing on Chinese mythology and I loved following Xingyin’s story as a young woman teen with her mum on the moon and then her voyage of self discovery as she leaves to find her own way in the Celestial Kingdom. She really does kick ass! She becomes a warrior and comparable to the captains in the celestial army as first archer. I loved the mythology and the beauty of the story.

This story has got everything in it - relationships (familial and romantic), a love triangle, the true meaning of friendship, deceit, espionage, magic, dragons, honour and so much more. I really enjoyed it!! And this is the first in a duology - so I’m looking forward to where Xingyin’s story takes her next.

The audiobook was a great listen - that narrator Natalie Naudus does a cracking job. Thanks to NetGalley, the team at Harper Collins Audio, and the author for the opportunity to read this review copy.

What I was looking for: For a while, I have been reading more books by Asian authors and stories inspired by several Asian cultures, both contemporary and fantasy. So I was looking forward to another story, this time Chinese inspired.

What I liked: A lot is happening in this book and I liked that. There is not one quest and a clear path but many steps on the way for Xingyin towards her goal. Xingyin has a lot of perseverance, is strong minded and determined but I still felt she remained true to herself. Even while pursuing her goal, there were lines she would not cross. And I like it when author manage for a heroine to have different love interests without at least one being obviously the “wrong” choice.
I liked that the ending was quiet and you do not, in my opinion, need to read the second instalment to get closure even though the ending is open in some ways.

What I did not like: Although the romance tropes and romances in this books are not my favourites (especially the one girl – two boys – who will she chose) – and yes, it is marketed as romance so I have nobody but myself to blame – but it was well done and because she has more agency than most YA heroine (it felt like YA though I am not sure if it is marketed as such). Still, it was overall too much romance for me, especially when pretty much every young man she meets seems to fall for her. That got tiresome. (also, what did the parents think would happen if they let the prince have a female companion sharing their every life for several years?)
Narrator: I liked Natalie Naudus as a voice actor. She did not overdo the different voices (often, female narrators make men’s voices too deep while male narrators make women’s voices to high and breathy). And because I know nothing of Mandarin and Chinese names, I really appreciated listening to these words and names pronounced correctly (hopefully).

Conclusion: If you like romance and fantasy yet want a heroine with more agency and motivation outside of romantic love, this book is worth checking out. Additionally, so far I have not heard any criticism regarding the Chinese representation but I cannot myself comment on that, not having enough knowledge in that area. The characters apart from Xingyin could have been fleshed out more, but on the other hand, the book is very fast paced and hardly drags. There is a lot of story packed into this one book, and in the end, some fewer plot points and a little more development would have done the story good.

#DaughteroftheMoonGoddess by #SueLynnTan is an absolute epic. Where to start when describing this book? So many different facets. Hard to believe this is a debut novel. The story if I am correct is born out of a chinese myth. Xingyin is the daughter of Chang’e, the Moon Goddess. Her mother has been imprisoned by the Celestial Emperor for becoming an immortal, and when the Celestial Army threatens her mother, Xingyin is forced to flee from the palace of the moon and fulfil her diestiny as a warrior. It is a story of self discovery Many thanks to #Netgalley and #HarperCollinsUKAudio for gifting me an #ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have a full review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCGHKpfE-60
but short story this is one of the best books i have read this year!

I absolutely loved this audio book. It follows the story of Xingyin, the daughter of the Moon Goddess, as she is dispelled from her home into the celestial kingdom. All alone, she has to rely on her strength to start a new life, fighting towards gaining honour to try and eventually work to free her imprisoned mother. She has to learn who she can trust and stick by her morals to do the right thing, even in the face of opposition.

I loved the female representation within the book, with strong female characters everywhere, just accepted as being part of the army, and no male pride when the female soldiers showed as much skill, if not more than the male soldiers.

The romance aspect kept me intrigued, but I loved that Xingyin never let the men in her life decide her fate.

The prose was beautiful and descriptive, and I particularly liked the magical aspects as they were dark and portrayed in an interesting manner. I believe that this is part of a duology and I will definitely be looking out for the second book, and have already ordered the physical copy of this book for my shelves.

Wonderfully atmospheric. Simply magical!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for my feedback.

A wonderful audio experience of this beautiful story! I was so immersed into it. The narrator's voice is so soothing that it really lulled me into sleep. The story was beautiful, intricate and full of emotions and strengths.

Magical, mystical myth/folklore stories are my happy place and Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a mesmerising tale that I could read over and over again. It had me gasping out loud in shock at the plot twists and had my heart genuinely hurting for this compassionate heroine’s suffering, but alongside the heartache and betrayals was the humour and warmth. Xingyin was a charming, resilient and inspiring heroine in this tale. She was bravery in all its forms and it was impossible not to empathise with her story and celebrate her successes.

Over the course of several years, we see Xingyin's narrative unfold and those years are full of the different people she meets along the way. Hers is a character that inspires loyalty and earns the friendship of others, whether it’s a palace maid or the son of an Emperor. The world that Tan built is pure magic and her characters and their relationships draw you in with their realism.


Sue Lynn Tan has woven a certifiable masterpiece full of emotion and wisdom. I can’t wait for the release of the next book in the duology and whatever comes after that!

I ADORED THIS

that's it - that's the review

I don't even have much coherent thought to put into a review for this book. From start to finish there was action, twists and turns, It was definitely my first time having such an in depth Chinese mythology-based plot and it was executed to PERFECTION.

I’m a sucker for a retelling and a gorgeous cover, so I’ve been wanting to read Daughter of the Moon Goddess for awhile, and was super excited to receive an ARC of the audiobook from NetGalley and HarperCollins Audio UK in exchange for an honest review.

At a high level, this story is about Xingyin, the daughter of the moon goddess who has to flee her home on the moon and make her own way in the Celestial Kingdom without being discovered.

While attempting to free her mother from her exile on the moon, she is lead down a path of self-discovery, experiences first (and second) loves, and heartbreak.

Not only is the writing style beautiful and flowing, but the narration was wonderfully immersive. I do think I enjoyed this book more in audio form, than I would have reading a physical copy, as the narrative style really brought the lyrical writing to life.

Though I enjoyed this story overall, the pacing was uneven at times. Some parts of the story would move very quickly with time jumps or glancing over seemingly important events, while other scenes seemed to drag on for a comparatively long time.

But I will definitely be reading the second book in the duology (I mean I HAVE to know what happens with the two love interests, and yes I prefer the one who is probably less popular).

I was provided an arc of the daughter of the moon goddess in exchange for an honest review.
I've been loving Asian mythology retold, so I was really looking forward to read this book. And it did not let me down.
I loved the setting, the writing and the characters. I liked Xingyin as a character, and her POV. The plot was good, but sometimes it felt like it was beating around the bush, like I wasn't sure if it was moving forward and why these things were happening and how it contributed to the development of the story, but in the end, I think it all clicked together.
It was interesting to see Xingyin grow up, and her journey since she is forced to flee her home in the moon, through her life in the celestial Kingdom and all her adventures. I also liked the love interests, both of them, and the way their relations grow, although I do prefer one to another.
I feel that the story as more to give and grow, and it has come to my attention that this is a duology, after finishing the book, to which I am grateful since I want to know more of this world, and some more developments in some parts of the story, like the power to control minds and their kingdom, the war, the dragons, and also the romance part.
The arc that was provided to me was an audiobook, and I really enjoyed it.
The narration and flow were good, and I found myself wanting to read to another chapter each time. The narrator changed voices between characters, I think it was always the same person voicing them, but it was easy to distinguish between characters.
Real ratting: 4,5 stars.

This book was mesmerising! Sue Lynn Tan constructs a powerful narrative where we meet a young Xingyin who is living with her mother (The Moon Goddess) on the moon, no one knew of her existence and she lived in solitude on the moon until one day when her magic flares and she is discovered. Xingyin flees and begins her life in the Celestial Kingdom where chance places her as a companion to the Celestial Prince. During her companionship she learns great skills which benefits her greatly.

The narrative has been carefully crafted where you think you are reading (or in my case listening to) three books instead of one. We follow Xingyin as a juvenile working to master her magic and knowledge, Xingyin as a soldier and all her feats in the Celestial Emperor's army and then the conclusion with many twists and turns.

There are some great themes explored in this book included loss, grief, coming of age and first loves and heart break.

I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants an enjoyable and fun read :D

Daughter of the Moon Goddess is the exciting, colourful, past faced story of Xingyin, her mother has been punished by the Celestial Kingdom to attend to the moon and can never leave, hiding her daughter as a secret until one day Xingyin must escape being caught. Fleeing to the kingdom, Xingyin meets Liwei, the Crown Prince, and she endeavors to do everything she can to free her mother from her punishment.

It's pretty hard to breakdown the plot of this book as so much happens, what I have described is just part. The pacing of the plot makes this interesting, there’s not a lot of filler, it travels fast to take the protagonist through quite a journey, however I felt like the book tries to do too much, the distance this book goes in feels like this 1 book should have been the duology. Stepping stones in this plot, from Xingyin fleeing the Empress soldiers and her home, to working as a maid, to studying with Liwei, to becoming the First Archer with Wenzhi, to monsters and dragons and love triangles and politics and betrayal … these are (mostly) interesting points that I felt weren’t covered enough, I would have rather had a few plot points supporting the book that were bulked up that you could feel and digest much better.

For example the love triangle. This is a 500+ page book but it just glides over building up the romances, personally I didn’t get why Liwei and Wenzhi fell in love with Xingyin or vice versa, you don’t experience that journey, it just happens. Liwei is the crown prince, he meets Xingyin when she is an attendant, there’s a brief conversation and then the 2nd time they meet he’s already making exceptions for her, changing the rules of the competition established to find his study companion just so that she can enter, the next time he’s fixing the result of the competition so that she can pass one of the challenges … Why is he defying his parents and the order of things for a girl he just met who, actually hasn’t been that nice in return? Then as the 2 study together, time is sped up so it covers a very small part of the book and we just have to take the author’s word for it that they fall in love during this time. It sometimes feels like the author wants things to happen and just makes them happen rather than you experiencing them develop on the page. This love triangle flip flops, you think you know where Xingyin’s heart lies and then you get whiplash, I suspect more of this in book 2!

The world building is amazing, Xingyin’s adventures introduce a variety of characters, of various worlds and origins, monsters, dragons, you have magic, characters riding clouds, you are taken to different settings that are colourful and deep and it’s what makes books so wonderful – that escapism. The writing too is very beautiful, it’s easy to read, how it flows on the page

My main issue though is Xingyin herself, I just didn’t particularly like her. Now I fully appreciate that you don’t always have to like characters in a book to appreciate a book, however the author does not hide how much you, like apparently near everyone who meets this girl, is supposed to love her, and the people who don’t love her are bad people. The 2 most handsome men in the palace fall in love with Xingyin (despite her saying she is ugly), she’s incredible at the flute, she goes from never using a bow before to becoming the ‘first archer’, she can fight like the Crown Prince, she can defy and speak back to her superiors and the royal and face no consequences, she can make demands on how she works … For many reasons this book is amazing but Xingyin did not feel real, she didn’t grow or develop, it just happened and I couldn’t get behind her because she was just too amazing at everything.
And that’s not to say she was perfect, it’s just that she’s never held accountable for how she treats people, how she lies to and uses people she loves, how she’s a hypocrite embracing Wenzhi in front of Liwei and her mother is her motivation but she can’t bear to see him honour a betrothal set by his parents, how Liwei wasn’t even allowed to be hurt when he finds out she effectively used him, when she maintains she created her own success when Liwei literally changes the rules and rigs a challenge … There is no humility to her, there is no compromise, she is competitive and challenges people for the sake of it, and people just accept it.
Liwei and Wenzhi had the potential to be more interesting characters, as would her mother, but they literally exist in this story to tell Xingyin’s story, Liwei is the moon eyed love interest, Wenzhi has potential but his primary characteristic is her … For a book with fantastic world building, I just wish the world wasn’t completed built around Xingyin.

I tried this story both as an audio book and standard. The writing does compliment listening to this story as opposed to reading,, it’s relaxing and beautiful to hear it, although due to the pacing it wasn’t hard for me to get a little lost at times.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange of an honest review. I don’t know where the 2nd installment in the duology will take us but I’m intrigued to find out.

An amazing, touching, imaginative and well-written novel. I'm so happy I got the chance to listen to the audiobook, which was also very well performed. We follow the journey of the daughter of the moon goddess as she tries to rescue her mother from her forced exile. It's a coming of age adventure, a love story and a quest for greatness and justice. Based on Chinese folklore, it's such an enchanting tale and I highly recommend it. It's the first in a duology and I, for one, cannot wait for the second book to come out!

A retelling of a Chinese legend, “Daughter of the Moon Goddess” tells the tale of Xingyin, who grew up on the moon but is forced to flee her home and ends up in the Celestial Kingdom, the same kingdom whom she was running from.
Full of bargains and battles, Xingyin attempts to gain her mothers freedom.

This is a beautiful story, with wonderful writing. The characters were fully developed and the pace was smooth and somewhat soothing. I was gifted the audiobook and it was beautifully narrated.

Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.