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theespressoedition's review against another edition
3.5
Just some quotes I loved:
What use were adventures when there was no one to share them with?
Today, I had finally dared to gaze at the sun, allowing its radiance to blaze through me unhindered, spilling through my veins until I was aglow. Never did I imagine such luminous joy existed, and never again would I be content to remain in the shadows. and never again would I be content to remain in the shadows.
kings were not always as just as in the stories, and the mercy of gods was sometimes flawed.
Not everyone’s past was a path through sunlit fields. We each had our own corners that we preferred to leave in the shadows.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Blood, Gore, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual harassment
pastelmeganes's review
adventurous
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really REALLY enjoyed the writing style of the author but felt the story and how it unraveled was a little lacking. I thoroughly enjoyed the world the author paints with their words but i felt some characters really fell flat. I didn’t find Liwei too likable to be the main love interest but i really liked Wenzhi! I felt Wenzhi had the most depth in character in my opinion. Xingyin was hmmm okay. Almost boarding marysue-esque territory. She did have some character development but not to the extent I personally would want for a main character. The story was definitely more plot based than character driven. Im giving a lot more points to the book for writing style, scenery/imagery than really the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent
momma_needs_to_read's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I absolutely loved this book! This is such a beautiful story. It’s the perfect combination of fantasy, romance and action. I loved all the Chinese mythology, it was so fun and interesting to read about. This book is also full of magic, which is a huge selling point for me. I love magical books and this was exactly what I wanted.
The writing of this was done fantastically. I felt like I could close my eyes and see exactly what she wanted us to envision. The characters were also so well written and developed throughout the story. Xingyin is such a fierce badass, not only because of the way she always fights for what she believes in and never gives up hope of helping her mother, but because she literally went from nothing to becoming a phenomenal warrior all through incredibly hard and exhausting work. Her personal character development was amazing. I was very torn over her romances. I won’t spoil anything but I will say I have a clear favourite who I want her to be with.
This is definitely a story of love. Love of a mother. Love of a daughter. First loves. New loves. From the very beginning, you know, this is a story driven by love. What Xingyin is doing for her mother and what her mother did for her.
I definitely recommend this book. If you love Chinese mythology, or any mythology, a friends-to-lovers-to-enemies trope, or a fierce female warrior and magic, this book is for you!
The writing of this was done fantastically. I felt like I could close my eyes and see exactly what she wanted us to envision. The characters were also so well written and developed throughout the story. Xingyin is such a fierce badass, not only because of the way she always fights for what she believes in and never gives up hope of helping her mother, but because she literally went from nothing to becoming a phenomenal warrior all through incredibly hard and exhausting work. Her personal character development was amazing. I was very torn over her romances. I won’t spoil anything but I will say I have a clear favourite who I want her to be with.
This is definitely a story of love. Love of a mother. Love of a daughter. First loves. New loves. From the very beginning, you know, this is a story driven by love. What Xingyin is doing for her mother and what her mother did for her.
I definitely recommend this book. If you love Chinese mythology, or any mythology, a friends-to-lovers-to-enemies trope, or a fierce female warrior and magic, this book is for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Gore, Blood, Death, Kidnapping, and Bullying
Minor: Alcohol and Sexual harassment
samchase112's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This vivid fantasy is the definition of a whirlwind! It raced through (and I mean raced) Xingyin’s development from naive teenager to confident, powerful warrior. Her transformation was wonderful to witness, but I wish time was allowed to stop down and explore how she was feeling in each moment, and what built the changes to her character — not just the big moments that define her life, but the little things that made her who she is by the end of the book. I’ve seen many comparisons to Chinese historical dramas, and that definitely tracks. I enjoyed the adventure, romance, coming of age, and incredibly well-done world building — and flipping the pages became compulsive — yet I’m also still reeling a bit by how fast everything happened. All that to be said...I’m looking forward to book 2 to discover how Xingyin’s story wraps up!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Violence, and War
Minor: Alcohol
eleanorefiore's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I've met the new love of my life, and it's Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan.
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Bullying
Moderate: Sexual assault
amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, Murder, War, Blood, Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Torture
clairew97's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Misogyny, Animal death, Blood, Medical content, Slavery, War, Alcohol, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Kidnapping, Confinement, and Violence
maregred's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, War, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Violence
solarel's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
At the end of part 2 I was ready to say this fell in a 2 star range. The main character reads like a YA heroine, quick to swoon and quicker to anger. Her perspective was repetitive, and this grew very little as the book went on. She stars out angry about her mother and her own honor disrespected, and she ends that way too.
I loved the world, though. It was fun and I found it immersive. It felt rich and saturated, though at times repetitive.
What bumped it up to 3 stars for me was a twist that I had misread the signs for as overused tropes. I was delighted about this turn in the plot and it was a lot of fun to see it play out.
Overall I think this book is very charming and worth a read. Parts of the plot felt like they floated by without enough weight, and others felt as if they were drawn out far too long. I’m looking forward to the second one.
I loved the world, though. It was fun and I found it immersive. It felt rich and saturated, though at times repetitive.
What bumped it up to 3 stars for me was a twist that I had misread the signs for as overused tropes. I was delighted about this turn in the plot and it was a lot of fun to see it play out.
Overall I think this book is very charming and worth a read. Parts of the plot felt like they floated by without enough weight, and others felt as if they were drawn out far too long. I’m looking forward to the second one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Classism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Murder, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity
ong's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Reading this feels like reading poetry. How Sue Lynn Tan describes everything is just 100/10 spectacular beautiful amazing stunning. As one of chinese descent, it’s nice to finally read a fantasy book with familiar lores. From the tales to the food, the dresses and action scenes which I can easily picture in my head from years of watching asian dramas, my heart was filled with warmth the entire time.
Now onto the characters. Xingyin. Our 小星。At first so untouched by the realities of the cruel world out there, now a warrior, survivor, savior and more. Very in theme too that she was never shown what healthy love & relationships looks like so when she was thrown in a ‘love triangle’ she couldn’t made up her mind ever and felt unworthy.
Liwei. What can I say. 10/10 best of all of us.
Fuck people in power by the way.
Now onto the characters. Xingyin. Our 小星。At first so untouched by the realities of the cruel world out there, now a warrior, survivor, savior and more. Very in theme too that she was never shown what healthy love & relationships looks like so when she was thrown in a ‘love triangle’ she couldn’t made up her mind ever and felt unworthy.
Liwei. What can I say. 10/10 best of all of us.
Fuck people in power by the way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, and Death
Moderate: Gaslighting, Bullying, and Violence
Minor: Classism, War, Murder, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Kidnapping, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, and Torture