DAUGHTER OF THE MOON GODDESS-AN NEW FAVORITE OF ALL TIME

 

It feels like this book was written just for me!

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan is a fantasy novel inspired by Chinese folklore. Xingyin is the daughter of the moon goddess, Chang'e, and she grew up in isolation with her mother and her maid Ping'er in the Pure Light Palace (the moon). Her mother is being held prisoner by the Celestial Emperor and Empress for drinking an elixer that was actually for Xingyin's father, a mortal who slayed a bunch a sunbirds. One day when Xingyin's magical powers awaken and she uses them, the Celestial royals sense her magic and come to her house wondering what is going on. Luckily they don't see Xingyin, but her mother Chang'e tells her it's not safe for her to stay in her own house and has to go out into the world. 

Xingyin then finds herself in the Celestial Kingdom for the first time, and develops the goal of freeing her mother from imprisonment. She then goes on a long journey where meets both many wonderful and awful people along the way who will all change her life forever. She also becomes a skilled archer and gets a high ranking position in the Celestial Army, and learns a lot more about the Celestial Kingdom and even the Mortal Realm. 

This book was just so perfect, and beautiful, and everything I look for in a fantasy and romance story. Sue Lynn Tan's descriptions of the world the story is set in is so lush and vivid, and just so magical. All the characters are great, too, and I went through so many emotions while reading this book. It's just so evocative!

Well, I guess you can tell this book was so beautiful words can't even express it. A pure 5 star read. I recommend everyone should read it! I also look forward to the sequel, Heart of the Sun Warrior. 

Also, this Barbie doll that I have I think fit the theme of the book pretty well! It's a Lunar New Year Barbie. 

Have you ever read a book that you felt was written just for you?