Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

8 reviews

krumanda's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Toxic friendship, and War

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Confinement

sarahb919's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It’s in first person POV. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Self harm, Sexism, and Sexual content

booksthatburn's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

The worldbuilding unfolds slowly, with early mentions of the various kingdoms supplemented later on by more detailed descriptions once Xingyin actually travels there. The descriptions are evocative but not overwhelming, tending to focus more on her thoughts about what she observes. There’s a strong focus on Xingyin’s internal life, as her relationships get more complicated but she’s still keeping her parentage a secret. She’s the daughter of the moon goddess, having grown up in secret since her mother was exiled to the moon after claiming the immortality meant for her husband, Xingyin’s father. 

I like the first third and I love the second half, in between those sections the pacing gets a little weird though it’s still pretty good. Mid-book events which in some other story might be a training montage instead are collapsed into a very brief mention as several years are skipped at once. Xingyin ends up in the Celestial palace, surrounded by people who despise her for her class and who would detest her if they knew who her mother really was. After spending several years as the prince’s companion, she tries to make her own way by excelling at arms, becoming a formidable archer. Her goal is to earn a favor from the emperor in order to request her mother’s freedom. 

Once place where this excels is in relationships, specifically the way that Xingyin’s relationships with Prince Liwei and Captain Wenzhi change over time. It is a love triangle, but one which at each stage feels like there are good reasons for the choices Xingyin is making. She proceeds as well as she can while figuring out who she wants, if anyone. I love the ending, it pulls things together in a fantastic way and lays the ground for what the sequel might cover while still letting this first book feel complete.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Torture, Vomit, Grief, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexism, Sexual content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment

rnbhargava's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This book is a very fun and emotional adventure. My biggest gripe with the book is that the protagonist has the most abundant plot armor around, even in situations that should be seriously harming toward her. Minor quibble I guess for essentially a chosen one type fantasy action adventure.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

There is violence throughout this story but the characters are immortals so that can undercut some of the tension a tiny bit. The author specifically has to write in that something is limiting their natural resilience but then there are healing magics to help characters recover. It leads to more emotional tension when paired with the action. I quite liked this novel and will read the follow up. That said the protagonist’s plot armor is abundant and strong. If that bothers you perhaps stay away. It’s a fun mythological adventure otherwise

kbairbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a whirlwind. A wild ride. I listened to this as an audiobook at the same time that I read it in physical and I noted some… changes. I don’t know if the audiobook narrator was given an unfinished copy of this book to narrate or what but my copy did not have ableist language that hers did. I’m grateful mine didn’t but at the same time it was rather disconcerting to hear these ableist and noticeably different sentences than what I had in front of my eyes. Story wise I enjoyed it. It was really interesting seeing the growth and years pass for the main character and the traitor was not who I expected. There was a lot of romantic back and forth and a lot of angst. Nearing the end there was so much going on I was confused about the storyline. It felt like the author was throwing shit in there just for the sake of adding trials but when it all added up I totally understood. Also this author is very good at making villains and Liwei is such a cinnamon roll!! Excited for book two

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Ableism

sunsetcity's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and War

anapthine's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Deadnaming

Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol

amelianotthepilot's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

an epic tale filled with many tropes. although you knew what was gonna happen it was enjoyable nonetheless. reminded me of historical drama which are my favorites.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and War