Daughters of the Sun and Moon

by Lisa See

Beloved New York Times bestselling author Lisa See draws on the vibrancy and turmoil of post-Civil War Los Angeles to tell the story of three Chinese women who managed to survive and, eventually, thrive, despite all odds.

In 1870, three Chinese women arrive in the small, dusty, and violent pueblo of Los Angeles. Dove, the bound-footed daughter of an imperial scholar, is entrancing and innocent. These characteristics should bring her great rewards, beginning with her arranged marriage to a much older merchant. Petal, the big-footed daughter of peasants, has grown up hungry and with dirt between her toes. In a moment of desperation, Petal’s father sells her to buy money for rice seed, and she is loaded onto a ship to the Gold Mountain—America—where she is once again sold. Moon is married to a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine. She is educated, speaks fluent English, and has been endowed with a face of great beauty, yet her failed footbinding as a child has left her with a limp that lessens her value in the eyes of many.

Each woman has her own desires. Dove wants to love and be loved, Petal desires freedom, and Moon seeks justice. Together they face a larger society that wishes them not one ounce of good will. Anti-Chinese sentiment is strong in Los Angeles, and this eventually leads to the Night of Horrors during which all three women are challenged in ways they could not have imagined. Brought together by hardship and heartbreak, they must use their bravery, endurance, and ability to “eat bitterness” to discover their voices, find freedom, and connect through solace and friendship. Together they are daughters of the sun and moon.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, China, Historical, Literary Fiction, Adult Fiction, Asia

Audio CD

Expected publication June 9, 2026

About the author

Lisa See is the New York Times bestselling author of Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, The Island of Sea Women, The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, The Island of Sea Women, Peony in Love, Shanghai Girls, China Dolls, and Dreams of Joy, which debuted at #1. She is also the author of On Gold Mountain, which tells the story of her Chinese American family’s settlement in Los Angeles. Her books have been published in 39 languages. See was the recipient of the Golden Spike Award from the Chinese Historical Association of Southern California and the History Maker’s Award from the Chinese American Museum. She was also named National Woman of the Year by the Organization of Chinese American Women. You can learn more about her at www.LisaSee.com. You can also follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Reviews

[Stephanie]

If Lisa See is associated with it, I’m in.

[Kristine]

Just Found Out Lisa See’s Latest Book is Coming out June 2, 2026. I love her books. This one really interesting as it Spans the Lives of 3 Women and Starts in 1870. Three women go to Los Angeles and this starts in 1870. California was not exactly welcoming to Asian Immigrants. The Women also must deal with the Asian Expectations of Foot Binding and whether one had it or not greatly influences their Future. More Violence is to come. Hopefully, happiness shines through.

Let me know if you are looking forward to this one, too?

💖💖💖💖

[♥︎quinn *editing reviews & shelves* · Rating 5 out of 5]

so excited ! ^-^

[Dottie Resnick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank NetGalley, Lisa See and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an ARC of this book, for my honest opinion. First, I am a big fan of historical fiction and Lisa See's writing and her newest book, did not disappoint! She writes in such a way that one can visualize the scene, feel the pain, frustration, excitement, and every other emotion, and those emotions are so visceral one is horrified, sheds tears, laughs, pouts and cheers. This book is about three Chinese women in the late 1870's into the 1920's, when Chinese workers have finished the transcontinental railroad, living in what is now the Los Angeles area. These women are vastly different and the story is told from each of their viewpoints and what they want in their lives, love, freedom and justice. The research Ms. See did is very evident (she even includes some pictures), in the descriptions of the areas, the events, fashions, and attitudes of the people. If I was not already a fan, after reading this book I certainly would be!

[Bernadette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa See has long been a major voice in Asian historical fiction, and "Daughters of the Sun and Moon" is a powerful reminder of her strengths as a storyteller. While "Lady Tan’s Circle of Women" did not resonate with me as strongly as some of her earlier work, this novel once again showcases See’s ability to create an immersive and emotionally rich reading experience.

I adored getting to know Petal, Moon, and Dove. Each woman’s life unfolds in a distinct way, shaped by circumstance, tradition, and opportunity, yet their stories ultimately come together in meaningful and moving ways. The time period felt especially refreshing, as it is rarely explored in today’s historical fiction. The Night of Horrors, is an event that, as See explains in her author’s note, has largely been erased from the historical record. Reading about it through fiction was both sobering and illuminating.

One of Lisa See’s greatest strengths has always been her ability to fully transport readers into another time and place, and she does so beautifully here. The cultural detail, emotional depth, and care with which she approaches her characters make this a standout novel. I will be enthusiastically recommending "Daughters of the Sun and Moon" to patrons who love immersive, character-driven historical fiction that brings overlooked histories to life.

Thank you to Lisa See, Scribner, and Edelweiss for providing me with the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Amanda]

Very excited for See's new book! She's easily one of my favorite contemporary writers, and she introduced me to some fascinating eras of history!

[britta ⋆˙⟡]

Review to come closer to pub date.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the ARC.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lisa See writes such amazing and powerful stories and this one is no different. One of the hardest books I have ever read but such a powerful and important story

[Paola Karmina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my most anticipated novels of 2026. Lisa See did not disappoint! Learning about the main event of this book, I was shocked Id never heard the details surrounding it. Especially considering I have lived in California for the entirety of my adult life.
Without saying too much, this book is about three unlikely friends. Each of the women have incredible yet differing strengths while also remaining ignorant and innocent. They learn to lean on each other in order to survive and move forward from each obstacle they are forced to face. Set in post-civil war California, this story magnifies the most vulnerable voices of the time, women. These women were considered “worthless” in their culture, due to their genitals, and “worthless” in California due to their race. Still they manage to rise together to become pillars of their community in a story ending with hope and resolve

Thank you Lisa See for all of your hard work, the detail and research that went into writing this book was worth the wait! I look forward to hearing more at the book event for this one!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for a review.
Like many other gentle readers, Lisa See is on the short list of authors I clamor for their new release. I’ve selected her books for many book clubs at my library, and they are often featured on my staff picks shelf.
Based on true events, we learn about the Chinese people in early Los Angeles. As one can imagine, they were not welcomed. If men weren’t welcome, women were absolutely abused. The sex trade was strong, and crimes against these people were bold and happening daily. Lured by promise of being Gold mountain men, Chinese men left their homes for a new brutal reality. Many families in China sold their daughters to be able to feed the rest of their family, which was often fruitless.
The first half of the book ,allowed us to get to know these women and the henchmen who ran the streets. What follows in the second half is brutal and hard to imagine as their reality. The book is shocking, and heartbreaking, infuriating and just devastating. It’s had to say I liked the book because if the power of See’s words, but it does shed light on a period in our history that America cannot be proud of.
I would be careful recommending it for the triggers, but in the end, Lisa See provides us with another glimpse of history that shouldn’t be ignored.
4*

[Amanda Negro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review Lisa See’s Daughters of the Sun and Moon. As readers can expect from See, this book has three strong female characters who behave as their society requires them to while also yearning for more. At times their thoughts and plans seem too progressive for the time period but these strong feelings are definitely justified. The setting in 1870s LA is new to me and the sense of place is strong. As usual, See brings into focus an important but forgotten event in history. The Night of Horrors is difficult to read but the main characters responses to this trauma are hopeful and satisfying for readers.

[RavenNoir]

giveaway entered.

[Mainlinebooker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa See is one of those rare writers whose work offers both narrative enchantment and historical illumination; with every novel she invites the reader not merely to observe the past, but to inhabit it. In Daughters of the Sun and Moon, she again demonstrates this gift, conjuring the volatile and often brutal world of 1871 Los Angeles with a textured immediacy that is at once beautiful and deeply unsettling.
Set against a backdrop of virulent anti-Chinese hostility, the novel lays bare a society structured by intersecting hierarchies of race, gender, and class. Within this charged landscape, See traces the intertwined lives of three women whose unlikely bond becomes both refuge and resistance.
Dove, only seventeen, arrives from China shaped—literally and figuratively—by tradition. Her bound feet, painstakingly cultivated as symbols of refinement and desirability, represent the narrow confines of a life circumscribed by male authority and filial duty. Yet within her persists a tender, almost defiant longing: the hope that love might transform her arranged marriage into something more humane and reciprocal.
In striking contrast stands Petal, a peasant girl whose unbound “big feet” mark her as coarse in the eyes of elite society but also symbolize resilience and latent freedom. Sold by her desperate father, she enters a world of exploitation that exposes the darkest underside of immigrant life—where Chinese women were commodified, trafficked, and stripped of agency with terrifying impunity.
Completing this fragile triad is Moon, older and steadier, whose marriage to a Chinese physician affords her a precarious measure of security. She becomes a moral anchor, extending protection and solidarity to the younger women in a community where survival often depended upon mutual care rather than institutional justice.
The novel reaches its harrowing climax in the historical massacre known as the “Night of Horrors,” when mob violence erupted and Chinese residents were lynched, shot, and terrorized. Here See’s prose becomes especially piercing, capturing not only the physical brutality but the existential precarity of being doubly marginalized—Chinese in a xenophobic America, and female within deeply patriarchal social structures.
What emerges is far more than a historical reconstruction; it is a profound meditation on endurance, female solidarity, and the quiet forms of resistance that flourish even under the most oppressive conditions. See compels us to confront a past that is often overlooked, while reminding us how intimately questions of belonging, power, and dignity continue to resonate.
It is, ultimately, a deeply affecting and necessary work—one that educates as it moves, and lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review..

[Joyce Cacioppo stein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daughters of th Sun and Moon is Lisa See’s newest book. It takes place in Los Angeles, 1870 post Civil War. Los Angeles has only become part of the state of California 12 years ago. With it has come an influx of Chinese. The men are coming to the Gold Mountain seeking jobs to send home money to support their families. The families back home are lacking jobs and food making it very difficult to live. Some of them are selling their daughters for money. Some are being sent to the Golden Mountain under the premise that they will be married and have a husband waiting. Sometimes they are resold once they arrive and never get to where they thought. This story is about 3 such women and what they have endured once they arrive in America.

Moon is a doctor’s wife. They had been married and came together seeking a life here. He practices Chinese medicine and sets up a practice. A matchmaker calls on Dove’s family and says he has a perfect husband match for her and lists all the things her future husband is willing to give the family for this match. She expects great love and is looking forward to her wedding. Petal’s family is poor and is in great need of money. Her father tricks her into thinking they are traveling to the city. She is hungry, given food on a boat and signs a paper that she thought was for a purchase. The women turns over money to her father, he leaves and so does the boat. She has been bought and is on her way to America. Her life is harder and she gets resold to the owner of a bawdy when she gets here.

The story goes on to tell of the rivalry between two Chinese groups and the things that the Chinese have endured, going into more detail of the 3 women’s lives. Because of the differences between these 2 gangs, many fights brake out. There are gun shots all the time and lynchings take place because of the corrupt legal system. The Night of Terror totally destroys the Chinese community.

Lisa See’s writing is wonderful. Everything flows nicely making you want to keep reading. The book is historical fiction but it is based on true happenings in Los Angeles back then. The main event, The Night of Terror, is not something that is ever taught in a history class. In fact many of the things that happened to immigrants in our early history are not mentioned, with the hopes that they will be forgotten. I would highly recommend reading this book.

Thank you Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all let me say that I have not read a Lisa See book that I didn’t love. When I saw this on Netgalley I jumped quickly to request an ARC. I am also a huge fan of historical fiction

Petal, Moon and Dove are all strong fascinating characters that end up in 1870’s Los Angeles when it was a lawless, unforgiving environment. Not only was it unsafe, Los Angeles was a hostile place for Chinese laborers. Men were brought in to work, build the railroad or open businesses, while white Angelenos were threatened that the Chinese were taking away their work. Looking for a better opportunity to feed their families as drought and famine hit China, the men jumped at the opportunity. Young girls from desperate families were sold to gang members (Tongs) in LA. They were bought for prostitution work or indentured servants. Some as young as 6 years old. There were far more men than women at that time in LA and with their wives back in China, the prostitution business was thriving. So many men and so few women.

I found the description of the Night of Horrors exceptionally done in the Lisa See fashion. Details so explicit you felt like you were there experiencing the horror yourself. The characters were based on what some of the women endured during that time. Being taken to America against their will, forced into unwanted situations, having no rights as Chinese in America and then experiencing of so much prejudice this story paints a sad realty of what it must have been like. Very informative and educational.

Many thanks to Scribner the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC!

[Annabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

As in past books I've read by Lisa See, the characters drive the story. They are both narrators and the points on which the plot revolves, but more than that they have a great humanity and the compassion, even personal connection, that the author feels for them is clear. The depth of these characters and the way that we are able to see the story unfold from their perspectives makes it easier to empathize and observe without judging in modern day values and views. In this book, the author has three central characters, each with a viewpoint that is relayed from a different perspective: Moon, recounting events of the past; Petal, giving her viewpoint in the present; and Dove, who's view is told in the present by a third-person narrating. At first, I thought it merely a clever exercise in storytelling but by the end the way that is was laid out was very much part of the story, and how it way relayed was as impactful as the tale. From their shared story we get a view of late nineteenth century California in a light that I have not seen explored before. It is an era that I have explored through American authors of the time, as well as other historical fiction and yet this tale feels very different. But beyond learning something new about history, I was touched by the depth of characters and enjoyed getting absorbed in their lives.
I received advanced digital access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Scribner) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

[Pam Rivera · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to preface this review by saying that I love Lisa See's writing and all the previous novels I have read of hers. This one, although it introduced me to a historical time and events I was not familiar with previously, was not one of my favourites.

It was a story of 2 young Chinese women sent to the Gold Mountain in search of a better life: Dove who is brought to Los Angeles for an arranged marriage to an older merchant and Petal who is sold by her father and ends up the wife of a hundred men. Their paths cross with Moon, who is married to a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine. Throughout the story, the three women from three very different worlds develop an unlikely friendship.

I liked that the women were all brave, strong and determined, in spite of living in a time and place where being a woman or being Chinese were challenges in themselves, let alone being a Chinese woman. I liked that they didn't allow their lots in life and the tragedies that befell them to determine their worth.

Overall, though, I found the story to be somewhat confusing. I had difficulty sorting out who all the characters were and where they belonged in the story. The differing timelines and points of view were a struggle for me through most of the story.

Thanks to Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[PrincetonBookReview.Com · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Lisa See and was so happy to see she had another book coming out. In Daughters of the Sun and Moon, she tackles a dark and largely forgotten chapter of American history - the 1871 Los Angeles massacre of Chinese immigrants - and brings it to life through three unforgettable women. Dove, Petal, and Moon each want something different, but all three are fighting the same battle: to be seen and valued in a world that diminishes them at every turn. Lisa See has such a gift for making history feel very personal.

Some of this is her strong character development - you come to care about her three main characters, so when they face or witness unspeakable brutality during The Night of Horrors, you feel their pain and helplessness acutely, which adds a profound layer of emotional weight to the story.

The courts' failure to deliver real justice will also leave you both heartbroken and uncomfortably aware of how little has changed.

This is historical fiction at its finest - well researched, emotionally engaging, impossible to put down. Lisa See never disappoints, and this book is no exception. A must-read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this e-ARC. I love getting an early peek at new books especially by my favorite authors.

Review originally posted at: https://www.princetonbookreview.com

[Katie Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a massive fan of Lisa See’s writing. Lady Tan’s Circle of Women and The Island of Sea Women are two of my all-time favorite novels. Her historical fiction is immersive and relatable, and I always come away having learned so much, yet completely swept up in the story. This novel is no exception. It is a gripping, beautifully told story that follows three vastly different Chinese women: Petal, Moon, and Dove. All three are living in what is now the Los Angeles area in the late 1870s. Lisa See is a master of character development, and I found myself deeply invested in each of these women and their journeys.

The research behind the novel is impeccable. I knew very little about the lives of Chinese immigrants during this period, and almost nothing about “The Night of Horrors,” an event that, as the author explains, has largely been erased from the historical record. Bringing this forgotten history to light makes the novel all the more powerful.

This story also feels made for the screen. We’ve seen countless Westerns, but rarely from the perspective of Chinese immigrants living in the American West. This book fills that gap beautifully and urgently. I HIGHLY recommend this one! Thank you, NetGalley, for the early digital arc.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book. Thank you.

Lisa See is one of my favorite authors, and I was beyond thrilled to receive this book, and boy it did not disappoint. When Lisa See writes her research is evident, and her stories transport you there.
This story is about 3 women, all very different, but who came together and formed a strong lifelong connection. The story takes place in the 1870's, Dove and Petal leave their home in China: Petal sold by her parents into servitude, Dove to be married off as a second wife to a wealthy merchant, her beauty and bound feet ensuring a good marriage. They head to Los Angeles. At the time Los Angeles is a small and very violent town. Although on the same ship, the two women have very different journeys, but both end up in the office of Doctor Tong, where they meet his wife, Moon.
The story exposes how dangerous facing all Chinese immigrants, and how Chinese women are just property.
The story unfolds from three points of view; Dove and Petal in the present time of 1870 and Moon, looking back 50 years later.
I found this book fascinating, I learned about women and their bound feet, women of a hundred men, and the absolute horror of prejudice and ignorance that the Chinese immigrants faced.
Excellent book.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lisa See is a phenomenal writer who painstakingly researches her books, and with this book she has stayed consistent.

Set in the late 1800's when California was still the wild west and Los Angeles was just a pueblo of a few thousand people, the story follows 3 Chinese women who came to California under vastly different circumstances. Somehow, despite their differences, Moon, Dove, and Petal all end up living on the same block in the Chinese quarter of Los Angeles. As 3 of only a few Chinese women in the whole city, they become friends and eventually their lives and fates become intertwined.

I found the history and experiences of Chinese women coming to California so fascinating, and it was something I knew nothing about. I also learned a lot about Chinese gangs at the time and the discrimination and violence Chinese immigrants were subjected to.

Overall I loved the book, but I didn't care for the way the "Night of Terror", the main third act conflict, played out for the 3 main characters. I felt their stories were compelling enough without the often confusing jumble of politics and violence that played out at the end.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

[Genevieve Hogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Daughters of the Sun and Moon” by Lisa See tells the story of three Chinese women who end up in Los Angeles. Most of the novel takes place in the 1870’s, when L.A. was not much more than a pueblo. It is a story of connection and friendship, as well as of prejudice and pain. The tension of the story builds as the reader approaches the Night of Horrors, a real historical event that pushes each woman to go beyond what they thought possible. The events of this night change the lives of the women, as well as all the Chinese people living in L.A. It is the results of this event that bring the three protagonists to the choices that create the climax of the novel. The three women come from different echelons of Chinese society and exist in different social spheres in their new lives in L.A. However, there is a bond that brings them together and their stories resonate as strongly as the friendship that comes to define their lives. I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or is interested in the history of Chinese Immigrants to the United States. I also recommend it to those who enjoy stories of female friendship and empowerment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Shuster for providing me with this ARC. The above review is my honest opinion.

[Jifu · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Note: I received an advanced reader copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley)

In a country whose history is unfortunately all-too-rich with hardships and horrors endured by many of its minority and immigrant populations, it feels like the numerous injustices that Chinese immigrants faced in the American West consistently manages to get oddly swept under the rug. Or at least, that’s how it feels to this reader who has spent nearly all his life on the opposite end of the country on the eastern coast. So I am glad for any read that gives me an opportunity to learn more about this chapter of experience. And Daughters of the Sun and Moon> didn’t merely give me the opportunity to learn about a particularly sordid episode that until now has escaped my notice (the Los Angeles Chinese massacre of 1871) but I actually got to experience it, plus a decent amount of the Asian immigrant experience in California at the time through the bonding of See’s characters Moon, Petal, and Dove .Overall, I found this to be read that was simultaneously heartbreaking, uplifting, and frankly quite educational all at once.

[Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader 2.0 · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Lisa See's best. She uses her family's stories to tell of three women in 1870 Los Angeles. Dove and Petal arrive in dusty, backward Los Angeles on the same day with very different futures in the cards. Dove is to be the wife of a wealthy man, while Petal is to be a wife of many men, a prostitute. While the town is ramshackle and sparsely populated there's already tong rivalry in the Chinese community and prejudice among the whites, many of whom fled the South after the Civil War. The perhaps most respected Chinese in town is the doctor of eastern medicine, whose wife, Moon, is also a healer. Moon is happy to have more Chinese women in town, even if Petal is an outcast. In true Lisa See fashion, their relationship develops and grows. LA is a powder keg of trouble and they are constantly on shifting ground. Daughters of the Sun and Moon is an excellent example of using family stories to create powerful fiction.

Many thanks to Scribner and Edelweiss for a digital review copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Once you turn the last page, you'll want to check out On Gold Mountain, her family history. More great reading from See.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa See never disappoints!
I really loved reading Daughters of the Sun and Moon.

The story focuses on 3 Chinese women, Dove, Moon, and Petal in Los Angeles.
Dove is a bound-foot woman who is brought to the US as a 2nd wife for a prosperous merchant.
Moon is the wife of a Chinese herbal physician who has one abnormal foot from a failed foot binding.
Petal is a "big footed" peasant girl whose parents sell her and she becomes a prostitute. (Hundred men's wife)

This story follows the build up and occasion of the LA "Night of Horrors" which took place on Oct 24, 1871.
I had never heard of this, so this was a very educational book for me, in addition to being quite entertaining to read.
Parts of it reminded me of Lady Tan's Circle of Women, due to the emphasis on Chinese medicine.

I really loved this book and recommend it highly
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC - my opinions are my own.

[Lori Emilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read so many of Lisa See's books, and am always blown away by the detail and research that have evidently taken place in order for the author to write these historical accounts of brave women. In this story, set in Los Angeles in 1870 and 1926, we learn about three Chinese women - Dove, Petal and Moon. They each have different reasons for leaving China and traveling to LA, different circumstances, different hopes and dreams. In this era, LA for Chinese people, and especially women, is a hostile environment, and the story is difficult to take at times. Sexism and racism are rampant. The Night of Horrors conjured images that have stayed with me for some time. In another time and place, these women probably wouldn't have been friends, but here they are brought together and provide comfort for one another. Great writing, fascinating characters! Thanks to NetGalley, the publishers, and Lisa See for the advanced reading copy.

[Holly (hollylovesbooks1519) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, #Partner @scribnerbooks @simonandschuster for my gifted copy. Pub date 6/9/26.

This is my first #LisaSee novel, and I immediately went and bought all her past books. Where have I been? I definitely have been missing out. The writing was absolutely incredible; I loved everything about this book! This was an eye-opener, and I learned things I knew nothing about. The three main characters literally became my friends, and I'm going to miss them so much! Add this one to your TBR list because it's a must!

In 1870, three Chinese women arrived in Los Angeles for very different reasons. Dove: for an arranged marriage to a much older man, Petal: sold by her parents and then resold again, and Moon: married to a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine. These three women are trying to survive, and then the Chinese Massacre in 1871 takes place, altering their lives forever. This book is heartbreaking, powerful, and unforgettable!

[Melodi | booksandchicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lisa See is an auto read author for me that began when I read Snowflower and the Secret Fan. I also love Tea Girl and Sea Women. Daughters of the Sun and Moon follows two young girls and their journey from China to Los Angeles in 1870, and a third woman who mostly gives a 1920 viewpoint looking back. This is how and why they left China and what their lives looked like in California.

Overall, it wasn't my cup of tea for a couple of reasons. The content itself wasn't something I like to read about, and it seemed to circle this for most of the book, which was their lives, so I get it. There was a circle of repeated life here and I found it a bit boring and I had a hard time wanting to pick the book up in general. Towards the end there is a major historic event that I think was a huge part of the reason See wanted to write this book. While valuable for me to read and understand, it felt quick, choppy, and a bit traumatic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the gifted e-arc.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa See has written another exquisite novel, this time based on her own family history during the Los Angeles Chinese Massacre of 1871. I was completely immersed in the beautiful yet tragic story of Moon, Dove, and Petal, who endure hardship, abuse, and tragedy, yet ultimately find freedom and strength together. This novel may be See’s best yet! Completely unputdownable.

Publish date: June 2, 2026

After reading this novel, I began researching the actual events that inspired it. Having lived 50+ years in Southern California (at one point, less than 20 miles away from the location of the tragedy), I had never heard of the Chinese Massacre of 1871 before this novel. Daughters of the Sun and Moon is historical fiction gold. Steeped in fact, infused with true-to-life fictional characters, I hung on to every page.

[Lorraine Lai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to receive an ARC of Daughters of the Sun and Moon by Lisa See, and it pulled me in from the first page. The story follows three Chinese women whose lives intersect in 1870s Los Angeles, each facing very different challenges as immigrants in a hostile world.

Lisa See does a wonderful job blending history with deeply human stories. Her writing is lyrical and beautiful juxtaposed with the horrific and devastating events leading up to, during, and after the Night of Horrors on October 24, 1871. I especially appreciated how the novel highlights the resilience, strength, and friendships of these women while shedding light on a little-known piece of American history.

Emotional, beautifully written, and eye-opening. I highly recommend this book for fans of historical fiction.