Off the Shelf: Daughter of the Moon Goddess

Summary: 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 across the earth and skies. 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.

A captivating debut fantasy inspired by the legend of Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess, in which a young woman’s quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm. Daughter of the Moon Goddess begins an enchanting, romantic duology that weaves ancient Chinese mythology into a sweeping adventure of immortals and magic—where love vies with honor, dreams are fraught with betrayal, and hope emerges triumphant.

~~~<>~~~

Do you ever start a book but just aren’t feeling it? That’s how I felt when I picked this one up. I wasn’t in the right mood for it, and let it sit for a while, but as soon as I picked it up for the second time I wondered why I had stopped. The story drew me in with how it portrayed a daughter trying to do whatever she could to be reunited with her mother. It was a refreshing change to see a mother-daughter relationship portrayed in a novel that wasn’t one of pressure and hate, beginning the main character’s journey of fighting her way back home.

While the world depicted in the book isn’t one that is necessarily unfamiliar to fantasy readers, it has enough of its own lore to make you wonder how all the pieces will fit together. Throughout its pages, the story weaves myths, immortals beings, and subtle threats, adding to the narrative.

The romance aspect of the story was a bit complicated and hard to follow at times. Personally, I wasn’t a fan of the love triangle, however, I did like the characters on their own, and the plot twists their relationships brought. Each character had a past that intertwined with the main storyline, and I would have liked to have delved deeper into their histories while still maintaining an air of mystery to keep us guessing.

I enjoyed the author’s writing style and the creative elements she put into the story. She brought to life characters that were broken and struggling, yet determined to overcome their hardships. One of the things I liked about this story was that the main character’s personality didn’t drastically change by the end of the story. Many times the “chosen one” starts as a meek and humble figure and by the end they seem to be a completely different person. But in Daughter of the Moon Goddess, the authoress handled the character’s growth quite well. Xingyin started off not knowing everything she would face, but her journey and character development were done naturally, showing a female lead growing not only in herself but also in confidence. She was still the same person, but stronger and more sure of herself by the end.

From hidden identities, magical realms, and a history of lost dragons, Daughter of the Moon Goddess, takes you on a journey of identity and overcoming the obstacles that stand in the way of both love and family. Will Xingyin be able to confront the challenges when it seems everyone has left her?