Daughter of the Moon Goddess

Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Book One of the Celestial Kingdom Duology, is Sue Lynn Tan’s debut novel, an international bestseller, and a nominee for both the Goodreads Best Fantasy (2022) and Goodreads Best Debut Novel (2022) awards. It is a retelling of the Chinese myth of Chang’e from the perspective of Chang’e’s daughter, Xingyin. The book is considered young adult fantasy romance. Tan was born in Malaysia and currently lives in Hong Kong. She is an avid reader of mythology and mythology-inspired fantasy novels.

This guide references the HarperCollins first edition of the book, published in 2022. It explores the novel’s themes of familial duty, romantic love, freedom, and honor, loyalty, and honesty and their influence on interpersonal relationships. Important symbols include the moon, music, and certain accessories.

Plot Summary

Xingyin is the secret daughter of Chang’e, the Moon Goddess who is imprisoned on the moon. Xingyin grows up sheltered and happy on the moon, but accidentally draws the attention and ire of the Celestial Empress, who comes to investigate. For Xingyin’s safety, Chang’e sends her away from the moon, but Xingyin is waylaid during her journey and ends up in the Celestial Kingdom. There, she becomes a mistreated servant in a noble household. She meets Liwei, the Celestial Crown Prince, who enables her escape from her poor living conditions. She becomes his companion, studying and training with him at the Jade Palace. They begin as fast friends and eventually become lovers. Xingyin also discovers a proficiency for archery, music, and magic, known as “Talents.”

Their youthful paradise is shattered when Liwei comes of age. Xingyin is torn between remaining with Liwei or joining the army in the hopes of earning the Crimson Lion Talisman, which she thinks she could use to free Chang’e from imprisonment. At Liwei’s birthday banquet, the Celestial Empress announces Liwei’s betrothal to a neighboring princess, devastating Xingyin. She is comforted by her new acquaintance, the dashing army captain Wenzhi. Heartbroken, Xingyin decides to enlist, but she requests the flexibility to choose her own missions, bypassing the typical military hierarchy. Her request is granted.

Xingyin often joins Wenzhi on missions, as he is assigned dangerous tasks that are more likely to earn her the talisman. They battle a nine-headed serpent, during which Xingyin discovers the Jade Dragon Bow. They then journey to the Eastern Sea Kingdom to put down a merfolk uprising; there, Xingyin encounters a forbidden Talent—Mind Talent—for the first time.

During their travels, Xingyin and Wenzhi grow closer, and he asks her to go home with him when he resigns from the military. She agrees, hoping for a new chance at love. However, upon returning to the Celestial Kingdom, she finds out that Liwei’s betrothed has been kidnapped. She reluctantly joins the rescue mission at Liwei’s request. During this quest, she is attacked by a mysterious archer, and Liwei is kidnapped. When she rescues him, she also encounters the former Flower Immortal named Lady Hualing, who uses Mind Talent to force Xingyin and Liwei to fight to the death. Liwei almost dies, but they defeat Lady Hualing together, and Xingyin realizes she is still in love with Liwei.

Xingyin’s rescue efforts earn her the Crimson Lion Talisman. She reveals her identity and asks the Celestial Emperor to free her mother. Many arguments ensue, both for and against her request, and the emperor refuses. Instead, he offers her a deal. Xingyin must bring him the pearls from the dragons he once banished; only then will he free Chang’e. Xingyin agrees. Liwei and Wenzhi, always jealous of each other, accompany her. They travel to the Mortal Realm and release the dragons. However, they discover that the pearls hold the dragons’ spiritual essence—the emperor’s true goal. The dragons refuse to be enslaved by an emperor they don’t recognize; upon seeing Xingyin’s Jade Dragon Bow, they offer her the pearls instead. She takes them and learns that her father, the legendary mortal archer Houyi, is dead. She is stunned. Wenzhi uses this opportunity to kidnap her.

Wenzhi takes Xingyin to the Cloud Wall—also called the Demon Realm—currently the enemy of the Celestial Kingdom and home to many Mind Talents, including him. He reveals his true identity as the second prince and the mysterious archer who attacked her. He also explains his plot to overthrow the Celestial Kingdom, using the pearls and the Jade Dragon Bow, and become heir to the Demon throne. However, he still loves Xingyin and wants her to join him. Xingyin is disgusted by his actions; she engineers her escape by pretending to ally with him then drugging him and summoning a dragon to spirit her away. She takes the pearls and bow with her.

Xingyin reunites with the Celestial Kingdom army at the Cloud Wall border. They believe her to be a traitor and a spy for the Demon Kingdom. Fortunately, Liwei believes her, as does Xingyin’s friend Shuxiao. Xingyin reports the Demon army’s plot to incite a war, but battle ensues before they can leave. The Demon army eventually retreats. Rather than return to the Celestial Kingdom, Xingyin and Liwei first return to the Eastern Sea Kingdom where the dragons are. They, along with Eastern Sea Prince Yanxi, perform a ritual to return the spiritual essence to the dragons. They succeed, but Xingyin is greatly weakened. Their journey back to the Jade Palace is interrupted by Wenzhi, who tries to claim both the pearls and Xingyin, but after learning the pearls are empty—and that Xingyin spared his life during her escape from the Cloud Wall—he leaves with neither. When presented with the empty pearls, the Celestial Emperor is furious and punishes Xingyin with Sky-fire lightning. Her friends and allies—including the entire Celestial Army—come to her defense, forcing him to uphold his bargain and free Chang’e. He does so reluctantly.

Xingyin returns to the moon and is reunited with her family. They visit Houyi’s grave and pay their respects. During Xingyin’s time on the moon, she receives visits from friends, foes, and lovers. At the end of the novel, despite rumors of growing unrest in other realms, she is happy, surrounded by loved ones, and optimistic for the future.