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mlkao94697's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
The good things: I thought the premise was cool and I thought that the world was described beautifully and in a way that I could really imagine myself being there. Ok… moving on to what I didn’t like. The tell don’t show style of writing really got under my skin and didn’t improve throughout the book. I didn’t feel any attachment to the characters and the relationships felt stunted because of this. Some spoiler-y criticisms:
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death and War
krumanda's review against another edition
- 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
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
katiefronk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and War
Minor: Sexual assault and Death of parent
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan is book one in the Celestial Kingdom duology. This was a fantasy romance inspired by the legend of Chang'e, the Chinese Moon Goddess, and had beautiful, lyrical prose that was almost poetic.
We follow Xingyin, daughter of Chang'e, living secluded on the moon where her mother has been isolated as punishment for ingesting an immortality elixir meant for her husband. When the Celestial Empress comes to check in on Chang'e and her punishment, it is discovered that Xingyin is there illegally. With the help of their attendant, Ping'er, Xingyin escapes on a cloud, but is dropped into the Celestial Kingdom, where her very existence is a danger to her.
Xingyin gets the opportunity to become the Celestial Prince's companion and study with him to learn more about controlling her magic. Along the way they become close friends, and eventually fall in love, ill-fated as it is with him being the prince, and she with her concealed identity. Xingyin becomes an expert archer and a badass as she fights creatures and monsters, all while trying to figure out a way to free her mother from her prison. There is also a love triangle, dragons, and lots of magic.
This was a wonderful story, but I did find it a bit slow and meandering in places as we see Xingyin doing battle after battle. I did see the twist coming from a mile away, but Xingyin was a strong character, and I appreciated that. I definitely want to learn more about the demon realm here, because it's clear to Xingyin that good and evil isn't so cut and dry when the Celestial Emperor doesn't seem to be the greatest person, and the demons (and dragons) do have a point about their oppression. This is a story about freedom and enduring love.
Looking forward to book two!
Graphic: Violence and Blood
lillygabriella's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
hue's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
The romance seemed rather. . . forced. They like each other because??? They were close? It didn't really work as well as the Author might've wanted, which was a shame because individually Liwei and Xingyin were interesting enough. Together? Not so much.
And then the addition of a rather awkward love triangle. Yeah, no.
However, I really did like Xingyin as a main character. She's strong willed and fierce, gentle and soft, and she stands up for herlsef and her choices.
It is a bit like the story itself doesn't know where the plot is going and why, which was why it felt so stilted and . . odd at times. The "missions"(?) she was sent on were so detached from the main story I wondered why they were there at all.
All in all, not a bad read just rather clunky and boring at times. I might still pick up the next volume since there is only the two. I'd like to know what happens next, especially with the Moon Goddess and Xingyin.
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and War
maraavillaa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Minor: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
loquaciousleon's review against another edition
- 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
Additionally: I got to page 100 and events were unfolding that I assumed would be stretched out over the course of the 500 page book. Sue Lynn Tan took me on an entire journey throughout it all.
It was wonderfully unexpected to have so much more packed into the story, and to have been done in a way I literally could not have imagined. Every 100 pages felt like a completely new foundation for the story to continue building upon.
Moderate: Confinement, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
natashalg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Classism
Moderate: Physical abuse and War
Minor: Bullying, Confinement, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Torture
magicalb1tch's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Moderate: Death, Gore, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Body horror, Confinement, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Classism