A review by sergek94
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

adventurous medium-paced

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

3.0

 

Xingyin is used to blissful isolation, since she has lived most of her days secluded away from the harsh realities of everyday life, as the daughter of the Moon Goddess, an immortal woman who was exiled to an eternity of isolation on the moon, as punishment for stealing the Celestial Emperor's elixir of immortality. After long years of relative serenity on the moon, Xingyin's existence is discovered by the Celestial Empire, and she's forced to leave her home and flee to safety. After her escape, she's eventually found by a noble family and becomes one of their maids, living a starkly different life than the blissful one she had back on the moon. However, after a random incident led her to meet the prince of the Celestial Empire, Xingyin attempts to make her way to court in order to somehow win the Celestial Emperor's favour and persuade him to free her mother from her eternal imprisonment on the moon, which would also lead to their eventual reunion.

This is a debut fantasy novel by Sue Lynn Tan, and I listened to the audiobook. It took me quite a bit of time to get through, since I started listening to it in January and finally got around to finishing it in May, which is a telltale sign that the story didn't really grip me as much as I would have wanted it to, not because it's badly written, but because the plot and characters themselves are quite formulaic. We have typically predictable romance tropes and a fairly straightforward plot progression, and the book didn't really feel like it did anything new. The Asian inspired world reminds me of a nicely dreamy fantasy anime seriesand Xingyin 's adventures were entertaining to listen to, but her romance with the prince felt very similar to the thousands of other generic royal court romance stories that exist out there, and the obstacles coming between their love and their conflicts were also neatly formulaic.

Overall, this is an okay read if you're looking for this specific formulaic romance trope between a prince and a girl who's the daughter of distinguished parents but is going undercover as a regular commoner. It's a safe read if you know what you're looking for but nothing complex and different. The characters didn't really stick with me personally, but it is a nicely written tale with decent world-building and a nice fairy-tale-like atmosphere. The words flow smoothly and the author did a good job making the world feel well-rounded and complete. I might check out the second book of this duology once it comes out if I'm in the mood for something light.


 “I had always thought life was a road, twisting and turning with the vagaries of fate. Luck and opportunity, gifts beyond our control. As I gazed across the endless night, it dawned on me then, that our paths were forged from the choices we made. Whether to reach for an opportunity or to let it pass by. To be swept up with changed or to hold your ground.”