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sat6ru's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexism
magicalb1tch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
4.0
TLDR; Mostly good pacing, improvement of some common tropes, refreshing heroine that is fierce and compassionate, and world building that is beautiful and illustrative.
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Tan’s duology takes place in the Chinese depiction of heaven, where Immortals dwell separated from the Mortal realm. I don’t personally know much of anything about Chinese mythology, so I was really excited to get such a beautiful, intricately woven image of this world through the authors illustrative descriptions. By chapter 4 I was like, I need a comic version of this story. I need to see this world in full color! Imagining an entire series illustrated like the cover art sounds amazing to me.
Tan’s duology takes place in the Chinese depiction of heaven, where Immortals dwell separated from the Mortal realm. I don’t personally know much of anything about Chinese mythology, so I was really excited to get such a beautiful, intricately woven image of this world through the authors illustrative descriptions. By chapter 4 I was like, I need a comic version of this story. I need to see this world in full color! Imagining an entire series illustrated like the cover art sounds amazing to me.
Anyway, for the storyline we are following the life of Xingyin, the secret daughter of the Moon Goddess Chang’e. It starts off a bit cliche in that she’s chased away from the safety of her home and into enemy territory, but I do feel that our heroine’s drive and personality make her so much more than the typical “deposed princess” trope, and I do feel that the unique world building does elevate some of the other tropes used as well.
As someone who gets really, really frustrated by the “Advances Quicker Than Everyone Else” trope, the pacing for this book is really well executed. Our main characters do not progress solely because they are main characters, they’re actually working tirelessly every day for years to get to where they are, and they are trained by professionals with hundreds of years of experience (literally). Yes, their ability to access magic also helps them, but they struggle to learn that effectively as well. The timeline is well balanced in that some months just pass right by in the story, much like how real life is, and it removes the pressure of the story to invent interesting things to happen every week and then feel forced. The romantic plot in this book advances in a similarly slow, realistic pace that isn’t overdramatized.
I don’t want to spoil too much about Xingyin, but she is a fierce and sincere character who fights for herself while still showing compassion to others, even Mortals who some would see as “beneath” her. She wants to be her own champion, and live up to her own ideals. I think she’s a really beautiful character to follow in the narrative.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Body horror, Confinement, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Classism
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Self harm, Sexism, and Sexual content
aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
5.0
I had the physical book and listened to the audiobook. Although there were minor discrepancies between the two, it didn't take me out of the story.
I freaking loved this, and I'm def gonna read the next book. It is longer than most books I have read, and I think without the audio, I would've struggled getting through some parts (a lot of the building, slower parts). But it was enjoyable all the way through. No spoilers, but my heart hurts a little at all that transpired with Xingyin's personal connections. I loved seeing her grow and all the things she had to do. A great mix of supernatural, fantasy, adventure, and love.
The cover art is also beautiful.
I freaking loved this, and I'm def gonna read the next book. It is longer than most books I have read, and I think without the audio, I would've struggled getting through some parts (a lot of the building, slower parts). But it was enjoyable all the way through. No spoilers, but my heart hurts a little at all that transpired with Xingyin's personal connections. I loved seeing her grow and all the things she had to do. A great mix of supernatural, fantasy, adventure, and love.
The cover art is also beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Infidelity, Sexism, and Kidnapping
wishbea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Enjoyed the writing style, but the characters weren't interesting, our main character was insanely good at everything with very little practice and the love triangle (arrow) situation was painful to read. Very disappointing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Torture, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death
Minor: War
guessgreenleaf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Gore, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Sexism, Grief, and Death of parent
bea_reads_books's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism
killeenm18's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Torture, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
luverbyrd's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was completely a cover buy. Going into it I only knew it was fantasy and like the title insinuates, the daughter of the moon goddess trying to free her mother.
This book was a fun, adventurous and twisty ride. The romance was sweet and not rushed, years actually pass in this book to make characters grow together.
The fantastical, mythological world that this is I am completely in love with. It doesn't info dump, it guides you along with knowledge that Xingyin has grown up learning and through in book storytelling.
So many unexpected magical creatures. Political intrigue as well.
Love this book!
This book was a fun, adventurous and twisty ride. The romance was sweet and not rushed, years actually pass in this book to make characters grow together.
The fantastical, mythological world that this is I am completely in love with. It doesn't info dump, it guides you along with knowledge that Xingyin has grown up learning and through in book storytelling.
So many unexpected magical creatures. Political intrigue as well.
Love this book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and War
Minor: Sexism
modernmatilda's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-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
Wow! I don't read a lot of long fantasy books, but this one blew me away and I'm so glad I read it. The audiobook narrator is amazing, the writing is stunning, the fierce female protagonist is amazing, and there are dragons!!
Definitely one of those emotional damage kinds of books, but in the best way. So glad my book club read this book.
Definitely one of those emotional damage kinds of books, but in the best way. So glad my book club read this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail