Looking for an epic romantic fantasy adventure inspired by Chinese mythology? We got you, dear bookworm! Sue Lynn Tan’s Daughter of the Moon Goddess is your next young adult read, where the world-building and Tan’s writing style will certainly remind you of the good fiction before BookTok, and all the trope-based fantasy books—don’t take it wrong, we love them all.
After you check out our Daughter of the Moon Goddess summary, come back here for a guide to its amazing characters. For more epic and strong female leads, check out our Poppy War summary and ToG summary, but if you are into adult fantasy with content warnings and lots of spice, then go to our Broken Bonds characters’ breakdown.
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Now let’s get into it, but as always, beware of spoilers.
In a retelling of the Chinese Autumn Legend, Chang’e, the Moon Goddess, is a mortal who stole the immortality elixir from her husband, and got punished by lighting up the Moon every night.
In a magical world, divided into mortal, demon, and immortal realms, Xingyin is born on the Moon. Due to her mother’s betrayal of the Celestial Kingdom, Xingyin is restricted to the palace, hiding her powers and her very existence from the Celestial Emperor and Empress. Until one day, a new window of her power opens, and the Kingdom is upon her.
Forced to abandon her mother and home, she hides in the very place her enemy lives; the Celestial Kingdom. Studying and training next to the Crown Prince, Xingyin has but one goal: gain the Emperor’s favor and free her mother.
Things get complicated when her relationship with the Crown Prince and the Captain of the Guard perplexes her feelings, and even tempts her away from her plans. A love triangle unfolding…
The main character, Xingyin, is the daughter of the Moon Goddess Chang’e and Houyi, a mortal warrior whose skill in archery saved the world, and earned him the immortality elixir. After Chang’e is cast away on the Moon, Xingyin is born in secret. Sharp-tongued, quick-witted, and skilled in music, Xingyin manages to survive after she was chased away from her mother. Her strong sense of honor and her amazing aim gain her a place in the Celestial Army, where, after countless missions and near-death situations, she is awarded a talisman with which the Emperor will grant her a wish.
As a young woman, her naive and sensitive heart leads her towards the forbidden, but at the same time, she longs for something more stable and on equal terms. A love that will feel like home. The bond between mother and daughter is the purest form of love, and despite Xingyin’s character growth, she will never forget where she comes from. Her deepest desire is to reveal her true identity with pride and not fear.
The Emperor’s son is the exact opposite of his power-hungry, cold-hearted father. He craves companionship, he is gentle and just. He helps Xingyin gain a spot next to him in the court, and he is quick to praise or challenge her to get better. He is respectful, and even though he falls first and harder, he does not press her. However, the day he officially confesses, he is forced to announce his betrothal to another princess. As a dutiful crown prince, he is obliged to go along with it, even if his heart belongs to Xingyin.
He gets jealous and possessive of her while her relationship with Captain Wenzhi develops, but nothing toxic. He even runs to heal her when the Celestial Army is attacked by rebels near the coast, and then he is willing to buy her time to run from a merciless Goddess who wants to torture and then kill them.
Don’t get us started with this one. The perfect stoic, mysterious love rival, who falls for Xingyin at first sight, and little by little gains her attention and heart. Wenzhi is a renowned warrior, very young in the Kingdom to be so accomplished and looked up to. Often, his missions are the deadliest and the most life-threatening—exactly what makes a man a legend. He is a solid presence near Xingyin, his calm, confident demeanor—and handsome face—drawing her into him more and more. Until…
Come on, guys, he was too good to be true. Some would say he got even better after the twist was revealed. He is a Prince of the Demon Realm, aka the enemy. As the mere second son, he promised his father to spy on the Celestial Kingdom and bring back something that would help the demons orchestrate a successful attack against the Celestials, in exchange for being the heir. And… he brought Xingyin. Well, technically, he kidnapped her.
We know, it hardly made you hate him, dear reader. His feelings for her are genuine, he only wants the best for his people, he has an evil older brother, yada, yada. Since he did not cheat, it is okay, right? Toxic as hell.
The Moon Goddess is a paler, more elegant, and beautiful version of Xingyin—or so Xingyin thinks. She loved her mortal home and husband, Houyi, but when the moment came, she chose to save her unborn child by taking the elixir of immortality. Locked on the Moon since then, she is often found on her balcony, chasing away memories of her beloved husband. A melancholic figure, but not a neglectful parent. She plays a great part in Xingyin’s education—everything except magic.
A maid, and a governess, Ping’er is a loyal lady’s companion and has been next to Chang’e from the beginning, helping raise the child. Ping’er is an aunt-figure, helping with Xingyin’s upbringing and discovering Xingyin’s love for music. When danger is upon them, Ping’er does not hesitate to take Xingyin and run, putting her own life in danger, as her lifeforce is weak, and she merely manages to protect Xingyin from the men who chase them. We know she comes from the Southern Sea, and actually has family there.
A warrioress and part of the Celestial Army, Shuxiao is Xingyin’s easy-going, sweet, and loyal friend. She had to join the army to save her family from a ruthless landlord who threatened them if Shuxiao did not marry him. Her father would never force her into marriage, so Shuxiao figured that being in the army was a good reason to keep any malevolence away from her family. She is close to Xingyin, and when the secret of Xingyin’s origin is revealed, Shuxiao is very supportive of her. She even offers to accompany Xingyin in a last deadly mission after making a deal with the Emperor. At the end, she brings the whole Celestial Army into the courtroom to stand for Xingyin.
A formidable warrior and a very respectful General. Even the Emperor values his opinion, as he has shown his loyalty many times. He is responsible for Liwei’s training and Xingyin’s. He is just and pushes her to her maximum potential without hesitating to praise her. Kind of a father figure. Jianyun offers Xingyin a place in the Army, and he even accepts her terms in order to have her in. At the end, he is one of those who stand for Xingyin against the Emperor.
The main villain in Xingyin’s journey; the one who locked away her mother, and he is after power that can doom the world itself. He is the type we meet in fantasy novels—and in the real world—who changes the facts to look good. A pure manipulator and cheater! Aha, the Emperor fell in love with the Spring Goddess, made big promises, you know, that he would leave his marriage for her, build her a palace for her, which, of course, he did not keep. Now, although he poses as a peaceful man, just and merciful, he looks for the dragon pearls, which can control the dragons themselves. Ultimate power, in other words. Typical.
Coming from the Phoenix Kingdom, she wields fire, and as you can guess, she gets passionate about things. Something like an Aries, more or less, but ten thousand times more toxic. She wants to see her former kingdom back to glory, so she arranges for her son to marry the daughter of Phoenix nobility. She hates Xingyin merely because of her low rank, and never misses the chance to belittle her.
Sue Lynn Tan’s debut novel certainly does not disappoint, even if it does not follow the mainstream BookTok tropes. Definitely a good pick for your book club, as there is a lot to talk about—not only Wenzhi’s betrayal. Make sure you add it to your Goodreads or any other alternative list, and let the lore of Chinese Mythology and fairy tale vibes transport you through the magic and dragons.
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Yes, Sue Lynn Tan’s Daughter of the Moon Goddess, published by Harper Voyager, is the first installment of The Celestial Kingdom duology. The second book is titled Heart of the Sun Warrior, and explores a new adventure where Xingyin is called to fight another great threat to the Kingdom.
In Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Sue Lynn Tan is clearly inspired by Chinese Legends, and particularly the one of Chang’e, stealing the elixir from her husband to prevent him from becoming a tyrant. Houyi, was indeed a great archer, who had slain nine out of ten suns that burn the earth. Xingyin’s quest to save her mother resembles the one Chang’e pulled through to reach the moon. Also, the reference to the Mid-Autumn festival is connected to Chinese legend.
Nikki Sheryee insists that she’s “up to no good” whenever she’s in the company of books. Armed with a degree in English Language and Literature, she wields the power of words like a mischievous wizard. Her lifelong dream? To be the editor who sprinkles magic dust on manuscripts! To Nikki, a book is more alive than a caffeinated squirrel on roller skates. Readers nurture it, cuddle it, scold it, and occasionally challenge it to a duel! But in the end, a book does its own thing, pulling at our heartstrings and revealing our inner human-ness. Nikki’s favorite pastime? Well, it’s none other than the noble art of daydreaming! And she wears her daydreamer’s badge with pride, sharing this delightful delusion with the crème de la crème of her friends.
