Daughter of the Moon Goddess is the captivating and heartwarming tale of Xingyin. Xingyin lives on the moon with her mother Chang’e, the moon goddess, trapped for taking her father Houyi’s immortality elixir. This is a beloved and well-known tale; I was ecstatic to receive it as an ARC! Of course with retellings, everyone recalls the story a little differently. Sue Lynn Tan makes compelling and unique choices about where she draws inspiration from the legend of Chang’e.

When Xingyin learns the truth about why her mother cannot leave the moon, she decides to embark on a quest to free her mother. Xingyin’s quest is filled with obstacles such as uncovering her magic, hiding her identity, and avoiding the wrath of the Celestial Empress. Along the way, there’s a touch of romance as Xingyin grows closer to the crown prince and the mysterious captain of the guard.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess is such a lyrical and imaginative book. The writing paints stunning pictures of the scenery, food, and epic battles. There are many scenes of heartbreaking beauty in this book. Sue Lynn Tan has a talent for gorgeous writing and creating sensory descriptions that immerse readers in the story. Overall, my favorite scenes were the quests that Xingyin goes on while working to free her mother. They were an excellent combination of old fairy-tale magic with fast-paced action. Xingyin is forced to adapt quickly to a new world and seeing her character growth was fantastic. I particularly enjoyed watching her hone and utilize her archery skills.

This story has dragons, betrayals, fascinating magical artifacts, and romance! The pacing flows well, creating a great magic system through intricate world-building. While Xingyin ends up having two competitors for her heart, I do have to say that one completely stole mine! The romance is achingly slow-burn and filled with pining. I can’t wait to see how things progress in the sequel. I’m so happy that we get to return to this magical world and see how Xingyin's story concludes. Daughter of the Moon Goddess is one of my new favorites! Thank you so much to Sue Lynn Tan, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.