Date of Reading: 6/11/2022
Author: Sue Lynn Tan
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publication Date: November 10, 2022
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 4.5/5
About the book:
After her perilous quest to free her mother, Xingyin thrives once more in the tranquility of her home. But her fragile peace is threatened by the discovery of a strange magic on the moon and the unsettling changes in the Celestial Kingdom as the emperor tightens his grip on power. While Xingyin is determined to keep clear of the rising danger, the discovery of a shocking truth spurs her into a treacherous confrontation.
Forced to flee her home once more, Xingyin and her companions venture to unexplored lands of the Immortal Realm, encountering legendary creatures and shrewd monarchs, beloved friends and bitter adversaries. With alliances shifting quicker than the tides, Xingyin has to overcome past grudges and enmities to forge a new path forward, seeking aid where she never imagined she would. As an unspeakable terror sweeps across the realm, Xingyin must uncover the truth of her heart and claw her way through devastation--to rise against this evil before it destroys everything she holds dear, and the worlds she has grown to love... even if doing so demands the greatest price of all.
The stunning sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess delves deeper into beloved Chinese mythology, concluding the epic story of Xingyin--the daughter of Chang'e and the mortal archer, Houyi--as she battles a grave new threat to the realm, in this powerful tale of love, sacrifice, and hope.
Review:
I would be lying if I don't admit this to be one of the most anticipated reads this year. The culmination of a wait that started last December when I finished reading the 'Daughter of the Moon Goddess'. There were no cliffhangers, for which I was grateful (isn't that one of the cruellest things that an author can do to the readers?), but the threat from the celestial emperor still looms.
The success of the first novel is often hard to replicate, but Sue Lynn Tan has surpassed expectations here. The love triangle has matured, something that didn't really leave much of an impression on me in the last book. Wenzhi made a grand comeback, stabilising his position gradually with readers, taking us unawares.
I am not really fond of this usual trope found in c dramas, especially if the second suitor presents a much more sympathetic side, endearing to the viewers. Don't we have our examples in 'Ashes of Love' and 'Boys over Flowers'? Predictably Wenzhi aroused some painful memories and soon my pity turned to anger. Why is he so foolish? Can't he see that this is a losing battle? Why should fate/author toy with him so? By the time the story neared its climax, I was on the verge of losing it. It all seemed so convenient, like Bertha Mason in 'Jane Eyre'. How foolish it all was! Or so I thought.
A wonderful ending to a captivating duology, we can rightfully say. Fickle as I am, I never expected the author to make such a bold choice, hiding a surprise towards the end. What more can I say? It was worth the wait.
Meet the author:
Sue Lynn Tan is the author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, a romantic fantasy inspired by the beloved legend of Chang'e, the Chinese moon goddess. Born in Malaysia, Sue Lynn studied in London and France, before moving to Hong Kong with her family.
Her love for stories began with a gift from her father, her first compilation of fairytales from around the world. After devouring every fable she could find in the library, she discovered fantasy books – spending much of her childhood lost in magical worlds.
Sue Lynn can be reached on Instagram or Twitter @SuelynnTan, or on her website www.suelynntan.com.
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