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savvyrosereads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really loved the story and the mythology here, but struggled a bit with the writing style and feeling disconnected from the characters. Ultimately, I switched to audio and really enjoyed that format! I’m looking forward to reading book two soon. Full review to come!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, War, Violence, Blood, and Death
mybookishlife2's review against another edition
4.0
There wer something’s a bit everywhere, but it’s her debut. I love the world, the mythology, the dragons, her fmc, it’s so good.
tehmichi's review against another edition
Slow. PAINFULLY SLOW.
There’s no age progression on the female lead so I have no idea how old she is when she has to flee from home.
I barely made it 40 pages in because it felt like there was no way the main character was going to get depth.
Beautiful prose though.
There’s no age progression on the female lead so I have no idea how old she is when she has to flee from home.
I barely made it 40 pages in because it felt like there was no way the main character was going to get depth.
Beautiful prose though.
syddo'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? Yes
4.0
sanrio_sammie's review against another edition
started reading a different book for book club and never went back to this one
isabelrose730's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
yeppenny's review against another edition
4.0
(4.5) Inspired by Eastern folklore, this action packed, enchanting novel offers a fantastical world of immortals from different realms. Xingyin, the secret daughter of Chang'e the moon goddess, goes on a series of adventures to free her mother from magically-bound imprisonment and gets tangled up in love along the way.
Pros:
- The beautiful incorporation of real Eastern folklore.
- This novel builds a dreamy and exciting world.
- Clear main objective.
Potential improvements:
- The mc, Xingyin, does not have great character depth or development. She makes the same stubborn, immature mistakes over and over again in an effort to portray the "defiant" heroine. Ultimately, she gets propelled through the plot on the wings of good luck more than anything.
- The novel introduces the concept of each magical person having elemental inclinations, but this is not developed further.
Pros:
- The beautiful incorporation of real Eastern folklore.
- This novel builds a dreamy and exciting world.
- Clear main objective.
Potential improvements:
- The mc, Xingyin, does not have great character depth or development. She makes the same stubborn, immature mistakes over and over again in an effort to portray the "defiant" heroine. Ultimately, she gets propelled through the plot on the wings of good luck more than anything.
- The novel introduces the concept of each magical person having elemental inclinations, but this is not developed further.
katarina_nowicki's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
okevamae's review against another edition
4.0
Xingyin was raised in a shining palace on the moon, with only her mother the Moon Goddess and their servant for company. What Xingyin doesn’t know is that her beautiful home is a prison, and her existence is a dangerous secret kept from the highest levels of power in the immortal Celestial Kingdom. As she grows older, her magic grows as well, and when it’s no longer safe for her to stay on the moon, her mother sends her out into the kingdom to hide. It is difficult for her to adjust, but through a lucky twist of fate, she soon finds herself living and serving in the household of the very Empress who imprisoned her mother – and taking lessons alongside the Crown Prince.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a fantasy novel heavily inspired by Chinese mythology and culture. It’s really beautifully written, and rich with descriptive details and packed with fast-paced action sequences. The author has a great way of making the characters come to life with tangible emotions, and the story really pulls you in. The plot meanders a bit, but there are some fantastic twists (although a few of the “fortuitous coincidences” were a bit too convenient, to the point that I wondered if there would be some magical explanation for it.)
The book is a good crossover novel between adult and YA fiction. It’s an adult novel with a distinctly YA feel, due mostly to the age of the protagonist at the beginning of the novel and the strong romantic subplot. The romance is part friends-to-lovers, part star-crossed lovers, part love-triangle, and it is a major part of the book, but it isn’t so dominant that Xingyin loses sight of who she is. She has greater goals and a fully formed personality, and never gives up those goals or her personality in favor of her love interests. Still, those readers who don’t care for romance might find it a little too much for their tastes.
Overall, a really excellent fantasy book (especially for a first novel!) and I’m very much looking forward to the second half of the duology.
Representation: Asian characters written by own-voices author
CW: gaslighting, torture
I received an advance copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a fantasy novel heavily inspired by Chinese mythology and culture. It’s really beautifully written, and rich with descriptive details and packed with fast-paced action sequences. The author has a great way of making the characters come to life with tangible emotions, and the story really pulls you in. The plot meanders a bit, but there are some fantastic twists (although a few of the “fortuitous coincidences” were a bit too convenient, to the point that I wondered if there would be some magical explanation for it.)
The book is a good crossover novel between adult and YA fiction. It’s an adult novel with a distinctly YA feel, due mostly to the age of the protagonist at the beginning of the novel and the strong romantic subplot. The romance is part friends-to-lovers, part star-crossed lovers, part love-triangle, and it is a major part of the book, but it isn’t so dominant that Xingyin loses sight of who she is. She has greater goals and a fully formed personality, and never gives up those goals or her personality in favor of her love interests. Still, those readers who don’t care for romance might find it a little too much for their tastes.
Overall, a really excellent fantasy book (especially for a first novel!) and I’m very much looking forward to the second half of the duology.
Representation: Asian characters written by own-voices author
CW: gaslighting, torture
I received an advance copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.