Reviews with content warning for Grief - Daughter of the Moon Goddess

Quotes: “Some scars are carved into our bones—a part of who we are, shaping what we become.” pg. 4

I appreciated the character growth, particularly with our primary female character. The style of writing was flowery but easy to read, and the vivid descriptions let me envision the surroundings, actions, and characters. I appreciated and loved the tenacity and dedication that Xingyin displayed in her efforts to liberate her mother, the Moon Goddess, from isolation. The romance was exciting and at times mysterious, but the back and forth in the love triangle every few seconds was a little tiresome and confusing. I liked how the author incorporated various elements of fairytales and mythology into this book, such as fox spirits and dragons, as it gave the book a fresh and distinct spin.
The plot twist surprised me and was really well thought out by the author. The battle scenes were enjoyable, but several were overly long or lacked depth. Overall, I appreciated this book's interpretation of the Moon Goddess story, Xingyin's character growth, and her desire to not only save her mother from seclusion, but also to achieve her goals in her own unique way.

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riverrliam's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I was thoroughly entertained! I love a badass, female warrior. I loved Xingyin and her growth throughout the book. There was adventure, romance (including a messy triangle), grief, friendship, and magic. The author does a great job with visual descriptions and the scenery is often jaw droppingly beautiful.

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madamenovelist's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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weareinheritors's review

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adventurous challenging tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This is a very YA book, for decent and for worse.

The world and descriptions of locales and some people are great, I really would've loved to see more. I also liked the magic and, of course, always love me some

dragons

.

The plot feels rushed and a little too easily resolved, but intriguing all the same. I don't like how *easy* it was to resolve a lot of long-standing worldbuilding issues (

dragon pearls, really?!

). Like, I expect a little Mary Sue-ness in a YA novel, that's fine, but it was too easy for the MC. And there is ittle to no character growth, especially for the MC.

I really didn't care for any of the main characters (Shuxiao is a real one, though. I want more of her, please). The sorta-kinda rebound love "triangle" almost made me DNF (specifically the

West Lake Inn and godawful shared room, one bed trope 🤮—that thankfully didn't follow through

).

I'll read the sequel for the worldbuilding, but I'm not rushing into it.

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hmunger's review

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adventurous emotional reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

While there are valid critiques of the pacing and some plot choices, this novel never failed to enthrall me and envelope me in the world. I love the characters, as they each hold an important role in the plot and the messaging. I was truly torn between Xingyin’s choices and thought her inner dialogue, while at times extensive, was vital to the understanding of how she grew as a character and how she made sense of the world she did not grow up in. Highly enjoyed, excited to get the sequel!

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amandaboyer's review

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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aformeracceleratedreader's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

5.0

I had the physical book and listened to the audiobook. Although there were minor discrepancies between the two, it didn't take me out of the story.
I freaking loved this, and I'm def gonna read the next book. It is longer than most books I have read, and I think without the audio, I would've struggled getting through some parts (a lot of the building, slower parts). But it was enjoyable all the way through. No spoilers, but my heart hurts a little at all that transpired with Xingyin's personal connections. I loved seeing her grow and all the things she had to do. A great mix of supernatural, fantasy, adventure, and love.
The cover art is also beautiful.

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guessgreenleaf's review

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adventurous emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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