Fantasy books have never really been my thing, but Daughter of the Moon Goddess changed all of that for me. Not only did this leave me guessing the whole time, but the twist at the end really threw me for a loop.

The story is based on a Chinese legend, about the daughter of the Moon Goddess Chang’e. Chang’e became the Moon Goddess by drinking an elixir meant for her husband. The elixir was a gift from the Celestial Kingdom. Because of a troubled pregnancy, Chang’e took the potion, angering the Celestial Kingdom. Her punishment was to stay on the moon permanently never to leave. Her daughter Xingyin is hiding with her on the moon as her birth is a secret. Once the Celestial Emperors get to close to learning that Xingyin exists, Chang’e sends her away. Xingyin leaving does not go as planned and she ends up in the Celestial Kingdom, which was not the plan.

As the story progresses we follow Xingyin on her journey to free her mother from her imprisonment on the moon. Her journey truly gets started when she meets Liwei and she endeavors to be his companion. When she aggress to the task, she did not know that Liwei was the son of the Celestial Emperors who had imprisoned her mother on the moon. Xingyin did use this to her advantage however, she trains and learns with Liwei and ultimately decides to join the Celestial Army.

Xingyin becomes an archer in the Celestial Army, which is ironic as her father was an archer and was awarded the elixir from his use of his archery skills. In joining the army, Xingyin’s goal is to win the Crimson Lion Talisman, only to those who have won the Celestial Emperor’s favor. Xingyin asks for her mother to be released from her imprisonment on the moon. In doing so she makes it known who she is, and causes those in the Celestial Court to become angry with her.

Without giving away the best part of the book (in my opinion) I will note that Xingyin does free her mother, but getting there is where this got interesting. I encourage you all to read part one of this duology. I’m looking forward to reading Heart of the Sun Warrior when it comes out later this year.

Four moon read for me, but I can’t change the rating symbol.