Daughter of the Moon Goddess

A Novel

#1 in series

by Sue Lynn Tan
Natalie Naudus

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The acclaimed national and international bestseller

"Epic, romantic, and enthralling from start to finish."—Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Caraval series

"An all-consuming work of literary fantasy that is breathtaking both for its beauty and its suspense.""—BookPage, starred review

A captivating and romantic debut epic fantasy inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess, Chang'e, in which a young woman's quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm.

Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin's magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.

Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperor's son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince.

To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies. But when treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dream—striking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess begins an enchanting duology which weaves ancient Chinese mythology into a sweeping adventure of immortals and magic, of loss and sacrifice—where love vies with honor, dreams are fraught with betrayal, and hope emerges triumphant.

Creators
- Sue Lynn Tan
  
  Author
- Natalie Naudus
  
  Narrator
Series

Celestial Kingdom
Publisher

HarperCollins

Edition: Unabridged
Awards
- Alex Award
Release date

January 11, 2022
Formats
- OverDrive Listen audiobook
  - ISBN: 9780063031340
  - File size: 432584 KB
  - Duration: 15:01:12
Languages
- English
Reviews
- Publisher's Weekly
  
  Starred review from October 18, 2021
  Tan’s remarkable debut and duology launch transports readers into a stunning world built from Chinese legend and replete with mythical creatures, magical artifacts, and mortal entanglements. The moon goddess, Chang’e, is imprisoned in her palace where she hides her secret, half-mortal daughter, Xingyin. When Xingyin’s existence is exposed to the Celestial Emperor, she’s forced to flee her home—but rather than laying low, she sets out on a mission to free her mother. She disguises herself in order to navigate the devious workings of the Celestial imperial court, hoping to gain enough status to bargain with the Celestial Emperor himself. Along the way, she becomes companion to the Crown Prince, finds a confidante in the Captain of the Celestial Army, and follows in her mortal father’s footsteps to become a renowned archer. But Xingyin’s coming-of-age adventures inevitably force her to choose between the people she loves and the fate of the world. Tan paints a lush, sparkling world in her inventive reimagining of the age-old Chinese folktale. The result is a riveting page-turner that will leave fantasy lovers satisfied and eager for more. Agent: Naomi Davis, Bookends Literary.
- AudioFile Magazine
  
  Natalie Naudus narrates a sweeping romantic saga inspired by Chinese mythology. Xingyin, who was raised on the moon by her mother, Chang'e, makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom to try to obtain her mother's freedom. Xingyin initially struggles to find her place, and Naudus portrays both her fear at being alone in a new world and her determination to succeed in her quest. When Xingyin is ultimately made companion to Crown Prince Liwei, Naudus captures her blossoming confidence and continued determination. Secondary characters from a variety of unique and distinct backgrounds are performed with finesse, most notably Crown Prince Liwei and Captain Wenzhi, the two main competitors vying for Xingyin's attention. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
- Library Journal
  
  June 1, 2022
  Xingyin grows up in a lonely whitestone palace on the moon, watching her aloof mother, who is still grieving her banishment for a decision made long ago that granted her and then-unborn Xingyin immortality. When Xingyin's existence, hidden until now, is threatened, she is forced to leave the only home she's ever known and sets off on an epic journey that will take her to imperial courts and demon realms, experiencing both love and betrayal, in order to set her mother free. While some truly beautiful descriptive passages help bring the setting to life, a convoluted plot is further slowed by repeated exposition about Xingyin's emotions, a drawback not aided by Natalie Naudus's somewhat melodramatic narration. VERDICT Tan's debut is a bit too long, but is a good fit for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Sabaa Tahir, along with those who like romantic and mythic fantasy retellings.--Chrystopher Lytal
  
  Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
- BookPage
  
  Xingyin has never met her father, a mortal archer who saved the human world from destruction. She is also the daughter of Chang’e, the infamous moon goddess who became immortal after drinking a potion that was given to her husband in recognition of his heroic deeds. Xingyin has lived a lonely life, hidden away in her mother’s sky-bound prison. That changes when she accidentally accesses her own magical powers and is forced to flee to avoid detection by the Celestial Emperor and his court. While on the run, Xingyin is thrust into the uncomfortable role of learning companion to the Celestial Prince, the son of the very man who imprisoned her mother. As she trains and learns alongside the prince, Xingyin is torn between loyalty to her new friend and the desperate desire to free her mother from her eternal prison. Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Sue Lynn Tan’s debut novel, is filled with intricate world building, heartbreaking romance and mind-bending intrigue. Tan’s story is mythic in its scope yet personal in its execution. At times, she steps into a writing cadence reminiscent of a storyteller recalling a well-trod tale, as when Xingyin describes her childhood in her mother’s otherworldly prison or when she faces down monsters as First Archer of the Celestial Army. At other times, Tan’s prose is close and personal, pulling readers deep into Xingyin’s fears, drives and desires. The result is an all-consuming work of literary fantasy that is breathtaking both for its beauty and its suspense. Daughter of the Moon Goddess starts out slowly. Indeed, the first quarter of the narrative seems to exist in an entirely different time zone than the rest of the novel, which careens from one adventure to another as Xingyin fights for her mother’s freedom. However, don’t let the languid pacing of the early scenes of Xingyin’s life with her mother fool you into thinking that this is a book where nothing happens. On the contrary, so much happens in this first installment of the Celestial Kingdom duology that it’s hard to imagine where Tan’s imagination might take Xingyin and her friends next. Wherever that road leads, however, it is sure to be one of boundless invention.