Book Review
Feb. 19th, 2024 06:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariDaughter of the Moon Goddess
by Sue Lynn Tan
This YA fantasy novel is based on Chinese myths and legends. Our heroine, Xingyin, is the daughter of the imprisoned Moon Goddess, forced to flee her home when her existence is discovered. She makes her way to the Celestial Realm and earns a place at the court as Liwei, the Crown Prince's fellow student. Xingyin becomes proficient in archery, music, and magic and embarks on a series of quests and adventures in an attempt to earn enough honor and renown to free her mother. She and Liwei also fall in love even though a relationship is impossible.
I enjoyed this novel a lot - the plot and its twists were engaging and the characters were really interesting. Xingyin was very relatable. She is honorable, talented, and hard-working. I liked how she keeps her spine straight no matter what and remains focused on her goals, but not to the exclusion of her feelings or friendships. She's not without her faults but is someone I always rooted for. The other characters were equally complex, even the villains. The story and action all felt beautifully cinematic as well. There was something almost old fashioned about the plot, action sequences, and romance, but in the best way.
by Sue Lynn Tan
This YA fantasy novel is based on Chinese myths and legends. Our heroine, Xingyin, is the daughter of the imprisoned Moon Goddess, forced to flee her home when her existence is discovered. She makes her way to the Celestial Realm and earns a place at the court as Liwei, the Crown Prince's fellow student. Xingyin becomes proficient in archery, music, and magic and embarks on a series of quests and adventures in an attempt to earn enough honor and renown to free her mother. She and Liwei also fall in love even though a relationship is impossible.
I enjoyed this novel a lot - the plot and its twists were engaging and the characters were really interesting. Xingyin was very relatable. She is honorable, talented, and hard-working. I liked how she keeps her spine straight no matter what and remains focused on her goals, but not to the exclusion of her feelings or friendships. She's not without her faults but is someone I always rooted for. The other characters were equally complex, even the villains. The story and action all felt beautifully cinematic as well. There was something almost old fashioned about the plot, action sequences, and romance, but in the best way.
