Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
Narrated by: Natalie Naudus
HarperCollins Publishers Inc. | Harper Audio
Release date: January 11, 2022
ISBN: 9780063031340
Xingyin grew up on the moon, the secret daughter of the Moon Goddess who was imprisoned on the moon by the Celestial Emperor. One evening, Xingyin’s world shatters when she is discovered and she is forced to flee her home. Left with nothing, she becomes a servant in a noble house, and vows to do everything she can to free her mother. Her promise leads her on a perilous quest and pits her against the most powerful ruler in all the realms–the Celestial Emperor.
This retelling of Chinese folktales brings to life a mythological realm full of beauty and mystery while expanding on mythology that hasn’t really been explored in much depth. It provides an opening to new stories in an engaging way. The narrator creates a “classic fairytale” atmosphere that works well with the story.
Perfect for fans of The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden and The Star Touched Queen. The Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a fantasy full of court intrigue and royalty.
-Josie Snow
The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.
Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.
