Book Review: Daughter of the Moon Goddess

Xingyin is the daughter of the moon goddess. She is proud to be her mother’s daughter but no one is allowed to know. On the brink of discovery, Xingyin is forced to leave her home and is stranded in the Celestial Kingdom. Not only must she find a way to survive on her own, she has no way of knowing if she will ever get her deepest wish, to be reunited with her mother once again.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess is Sue Lynn Tan’s debut novel, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it. This book is written extremely well with a strong mature writing style. The plot is well developed and expertly organized. I really like how Tan separated this novel into three parts that clearly define each stage of the plot. I have read many novels that have inner sectioning that don’t seem to mean anything. This novel, however, makes it extremely easy to understand what each part is focused on and why it is blocked together. At each stage, the current goal is clear and focused. Even though this book is a little bit longer (at 512 pages) it has excellent pacing and progression.

As for Xingyin, I think she makes a very solid main character. She is companionate and empathetic to those around her. She is very strong willed, and her smarts see her through her adventures. I also really like the growth she has throughout the story. At the beginning, she pushes back on the help and guidance people try to give her. She resists learning. Yet, as she experienced new and, sometimes, dangerous things, I could really see her changing into a mature and confident woman who welcomes advice and support.

As for the fantasy elements, this book is super interesting if you like mythological types of fantasy. It has a similar feeling to the telling of a mythic tale. The story revolves around a world of gods and goddesses called the Celestial Kingdom. Within this world there are monsters, dragons, and weapons reminiscent of what one might find in a hero’s journey. So, if you like those kinds of fantasy elements, you will likely really enjoy the world Tan has built.

As for my main struggle with this book, I felt the development of some of the side characters to be a bit lacking. This was especially the case with Captain Wenzhi. When Wenzhi became a prominent character in the novel, I expected to feel the connection he has with Xingyin. I expected to feel his growth and development. Unfortunately, I didn’t really connect with him until the last part of the novel. I was often confused as to what his role in the story was. Towards the end It does become clearer, but I wish it had been more gradual instead growth instead of randomly understanding him at the end.