Acaptivating debut fantasy inspired by the legend of Chang'e, the Chinese moon goddess, in which a young woman’s quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm.
I love mythical retellings, but one area that I don't really know much about is Asian mythology. I've recently read some books that delve into that area of mythology and I am loving it so much.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess is an amazing debut novel by Sue Lynn Tan. It is a spin on the story of Chang'e, the Chinese Moon goddess. From the outset, the world is completely real and the story immediately immerses you. The story follows Xingyin, the daughter of the moon goddess as she is forced to flee her home on the moon after her magic draws the attention of the Immortal Emperor. Unaware that her mother kept her identity a secret, she leaves, and is catapulted into the conniving intrigues of the Celestial Kingdom. While there she learns her own strength and seeks to find a way to free her mother.
I absolutely adored this story. It does have some of the typical YA tropes that we all know (and mostly tolerate as necessary) like the secret identities, love triangles, and kick ass heroine. However, it's all so well done with the rich storytelling that it is really easy to ignore the tropes. Xingyin is self-aware and doesn't constantly whine about her predicament. She owns her story and it's a joy from moment one.
The Daughter of the Moon Goddess is the first in a duology, so keep an eye out for the next book (hopefully in 2023?!). It feels self-contained enough to stand on it's own but leaves the door open to finish the story out.
Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.