A quick links page for Pondathon II readathon participants. Learn more. Tan captured the xianxia vibes perfectly , She did!! Beyond the novels plot, what I liked the most was how it dwelled on and indulged in jealousy and love. Duty and freedom are at odds with one another in Xinyins story, forcing her to decide what she really wants. Although I love fantasies, every time I see one with this level of world-building and imagination I get excited and intimidated as I know Ill have to invest time to get immersed in the story. Furthermore, as the protagonist, Xinyin, is Changes daughter, this offers more depth and a fascinating perspective to the story, particularly in Xinyins motivations and her perceptions of the Celestial Kingdom. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Think twice if: Youre looking for a complex story with complex themes. I found it very approachable as a fantasy and even if you dont know the original legend, you wont miss anything because of it. Like xianxia stories, Daughter of the Moon Goddess has all the elements of a fantasy and adventure storyline, but at its heart is a story about love, romance, and loss which is why I would call Daughter of the Moon Goddess a romantic fantasy. The first half of the book opens with the promise of upward mobility and ambition fulfilled. The storytelling and the world created by Tan glistens and glows, and is a feast for the senses and yes, Daughter of the Moon Goddess contains indulgent food descriptions that will make your mouth water (as it did mine)! Im so excited for this to become available at my library Love the format of this post super informative and easy to read, Thank you so much!! Love is a significant theme of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, but duty and freedom and how they conflict and work in tandem with one another is intertwined with its story as well. At the very heart of this book, Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a story about love. So yes, for anyone familiar with Chinese art history and iconography, the immortal characters do ride clouds in Daughter of the Moon Goddess.. Perfect for: Readers who love/are curious about C-drama fantasies and want a book equivalent; readers who love visual and vivid worldbuilding; readers who love simple yet rich adventure stories. Xingyin, through romance and friendship, takes ownership of her skill and, eventually, her own identity and parentage. Im so excited to get my hands on this book and this made me EVEN MORE EXCITED. Daily Arts Writer Elizabeth Yoon can be reached at elizyoon@umich.edu. It had a slow beginning with awkward phrasing that could have been overhauled by a sharper editor (while I would like to attribute Tans rocky start to necessary worldbuilding exposition, the setting is not the culprit). I got too much joy from reading this book. 734-418-4115, Edited and managed by the students at the University of Michigan since 1890, Daughter of the Moon Goddess has pining lovers and dragons. I hope you love it!! , Totally agree! Though Xinyins quest is about fighting for her mothers freedom, her journey is also entangled with different duties and obligations. Much happens in this 500-paged fantasy and readers will delight in seeing the many corners of the realm alongside Xinyin. However, as the novel progresses, the overall messaging becomes murkier. As above, Daughter of the Moon Goddess may be a xianxia fantasy, but Xinyins quest for strength is not about personal gain or transcendence, but all she does is for her mother exploring how far as we would go for the person that we love. (LogOut/ The threat of exposure hangs over Xingyin. Trigger/content warning: violence, blood, gore, alcohol consumption, death, separation, attempted assault (brief), kidnapping, bullying (from the authors Goodreads). But also theres romance! Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperors son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince. Im glad you found the review informative and easy to read. The bulk of the novel is set on the Celestial Plane, away from earthly squabbles. However, Daughter of the Moon Goddess isnt perfect: The novel takes some 30-odd pages to hit its stride. To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies across the earth and skies. Premise in a sentence: The moon goddesss daughter embarks on a quest to save her mother from exile and punishment. Don't miss a magical moment. The novel prods at the issues inherent in a monarchy. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. . But when treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dreamstriking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos. The legend of Change is beautiful and romantic, and is personally one of my favourite stories. I have few hopes that the sequel will suddenly manifest a revolutionary plot line where the first novel did not, but I eagerly await it nonetheless. Have a question, comment, or concern? It makes me want to explore more xianxia media tbh. Xingyin moves through the book attempting to create a stable life for herself, but she is effectively the fantastical equivalent of an undocumented citizen in this celestial realm. Thus, when celestial agents come to investigate the Moons palace, Xingyin is forced to leave her mothers side and is spirited away in the dead of night. Tan, though, tells her own version that retains the heart of Changes story but also gives it new life and depth. Im drawn in by the promise of an original story inspired by a legend I dont know about. Dont hesitate to send us an email. Pondathon II: Prologue Were Going to Save the Forest! As befitting her parentage, Xingyins fantastic skill with the bow helps her quickly start attracting recognition. Inspired by the Change legend, or the goddess of the Moon, Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a romantic fantasy adventure that will transport readers to a world where immortals reign, dragons and monsters dwell, and high-stake battles between realms take place. This book sounds amazing; youve definitely convinced me to put it on my TBR and order it immediately!! [ReadathonInformation], Book Review: Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie Questioning, Identity, and Friendship Coalesce in this Tender Queer Coming-of-AgeContemporary, Five Reasons to Read: Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan A Sweeping Xianxia Fantasy Inspired by the ChangeLegend. . Tans novel, straightforward in its literary offerings, delivers on all fronts: adventure, romance and xianxia (Chinese mythology/fantasy) genre elements. Tan evokes stunning imagery that will set imaginations alight, with shells that hold a lovers music, bows that ignite its arrows with magic, and gemmed tassels that glow when their twins bearer is in danger. It is the perfect book to accompany a hot pot of tea and a steady stream of snacks you will read it in one sitting, I promise. Daughter of the Moon Goddess feels like a sweeping xianxia story in which, for those who arent familiar, typically contain a protagonists quest to attain power and strength with gods, immortals, monsters, and magical treasures. 2022 One hundred and thirty-one years of editorial freedom. The protagonist is trapped in a hierarchical world where the upper echelons are erratic and vengeful. . As the title declares, the main character is Xingyin, a daughter born of the Moons union with a legendary human archer. Tan spins a story in which skill and talent do not necessarily make for a good life and abiding by the oppressive whims of a celestial monarchy does not ensure long-term security. Change). It is about and explores different kinds of love from romantic love, the intertwining force of first love, and also the love between parent and child. More, Daughter of the Moon Goddess is also about the loss of love and the pain of separation. Genre: young adult/adult (crossover) fantasy adventure with romantic elements. Amazing!! However, because the governing celestial beings have punished and mandated that the Moon Goddess remain solitary, Xingyins existence must be kept secret. (LogOut/ At the conclusion of the book, I thought that Tan had resolved the question. While similar books might induce headaches in their portrayals of yearning, Daughter of the Moon Goddess elicited sympathy in part because the pining lovers (their reunion, their separation) embodied bigger issues facing the protagonist. Enter your email address below and receive updates of new content. I hope you enjoy it when it arrives. 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. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. If she ever were to reveal her parentage, she and her mother would be horribly punished. However, the clunky writing does abate after the first couple of chapters. Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. The novel was not afraid to portray pining lovers, miserable in their separation. Lush, vivid, and thoroughly gorgeous, Daughter of the Moon Goddess will please readers who love worldbuilding in their fantasies. But when Xingyins magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind. (LogOut/ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Friend, welcome toThe Quiet Pond,a book blog dedicated to book reviews, book recommendations, art, and the magic in your heart. The novel Daughter of the Moon Goddess diverges from the growing body of Asian fantasy series by covering heavenly immortals rather than the archetypal mortal protagonist. One hundred and thirty-one years of editorial freedom, The first installment of Sue Lynn Tans duology, Daughter of the Moon Goddess, remains engrossing until the final page. Every second Monday, we share the latest issue of The Pond Book News, where you can find the latest cover reveals and book announcements. This novel was so self-contained that I only found out that it is the first part of a duology when I looked online. 420 Maynard St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Id seen plenty of people talking about this book but was a little hesitant about buying as there were no reviews but I think youve convinced me this is one to add to the TBR. Her best recourse for security becomes a question of romance and the heart: Does she join the ruling party and uphold the oppressive system that denigrated and orphaned her, or does she join a morally-destitute revolution? She is bound by duty to the prince that she serves but is not free to love openly, shes bound by duty to the army, to the kingdom and also to her mother. At the center of it all is a girls years-long quest to free her mother, Change, from exile and her sentence on the moon, and the many tribulations and challenges that she endures and overcome as she fights for her mothers freedom. Please consider donating to The Michigan Daily, Stanford Lipsey Student Publications Building It sounds like it has all of the things which interest me in a book. Today, I share my five reasons on why you should pick up this splendid debut, a story that will dazzle and sweep readers away on an whirlwind and action-packed adventure. Away from home for the first time, Xingyin assumes a new identity in a major Celestial city, where she comes into the orbit of the prince of the realm, accompanying him to his lessons and to his military practice. There are many variations of Change story and different people will tell it differently with different details. Find this book on:Goodreads|Bookshop|Indiebound|Amazon, I definitely didnt need any more encouragement to read this! Daughter of the Moon Goddess is worth picking up because of how deftly the author blends xianxia fantasy elements with romance. Read the latest issue here. 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The story takes its readers across the Celestial Kingdom and all its beauty and glitter, inhabited by powerful mortals and ruled by the Celestial Emperor and Empress, but it also ventures into the Mortal Realm as well.