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, Asia, Literary Fiction, Adult Fiction

384 pages, Kindle Edition

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[~☆~Autumn]

I won this book and it arrived today. I am so excited. How can I post that I am reading it?

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

so excited ! ^-^

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my third Lisa See novel and another 5 star. If she writes it, I'm going to read it.

The three main characters, Dove, Petal and Moon stole my heart. Each of their povs alternated throughout the story and I found myself equally connected to each of them. I love a strong female character!

I was unaware of this time in history and absolutely horrified by the Los Angeles Chinese massacre of 1871. The scenes in the book where this takes place were so hard to read.

I highly recommend Daughters of the Sun and Moon!

My thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for the gifted copy.

[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?

💖💖💖💖

[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!

[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!

[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

[britta ⋆˙⟡]

Review to come closer to pub date.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the ARC.

[Aishwaria Nair aka _bookstash_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

History remembers the men who built railroads. It often forgets the women who survived beside them.

Set in the volatile streets of 1870s Los Angeles, this story follows three Chinese women, Dove, Petal, & Moon, whose lives unfold against one of the darkest and least discussed chapters of American history.

During the nineteenth century, thousands of Chinese immigrants crossed the Pacific chasing the promise of Gam Saan, aka Gold Mountain, the dream of prosperity in America. But while men arrived in large numbers for gold mines and railroad labor, women arrived under far crueler circumstances, through arranged marriages, trafficking, domestic servitude, and systems of debt bondage.

Dove represents the quiet violence of obedience, the Confucian ideal of the ‘Three Obediences,’ where a woman belonged first to her father, then her husband, then her son.

Petal reflects the brutal truth of women sold and commodified, many of whom were controlled by tongs, secret societies that often blurred the line between protection and exploitation.

& Moon, perhaps the most quietly devastating character stands at the intersection of intellect and rejection, where education cannot protect a woman from being deemed imperfect by society.

And looming over the narrative is the Chinese Massacre of 1871, one of the largest mass lynchings in American history - where a mob of nearly 500 people descended upon Los Angeles Chinatown, leaving at least 18 Chinese men murdered, homes destroyed, and justice denied.

A huge thank you to Lisa See and the Scribner team for sending me an ARC of this beautiful novel before release🩷

If you love literary historical fiction that is deeply researched, emotionally powerful, and rooted in forgotten history, this is absolutely a must-read.

[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.

[Ifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for sending me an advanced reader copy of this book.

4.5 stars - This was a very hard read because it was brutal and was inspired by the real events of the los angeles chinese massacre of 1871. I felt sick to my stomach reading what these girls had to go through.

This was a very impactful story and I was grateful to learn this history I hadn’t previously known of. It was truly awful what the Chinese community in Los Angeles had faced and what those girls had to endure.

The switching of narrative styles and inconsistency of chapter POVs confused me a little, but I really love the way Lisa See writes and how she tells stories.

[Milly Virus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was enthralled with this book! So much of our history I did not know. I will be recommending this book to friends for sure!

[Carol (Reading Ladies) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intense, graphic violence toward women, and troubling content. RTC…

[Jordan Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daughters of the Sun and Moon by Lisa See
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Release date: June 9, 2026

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of Daughters of the Sun and Moon by Lisa See. The novel follows three Chinese women in Los Angeles in 1870 as they navigate their lives, prejudice, and hardships in the frontier town.

I really enjoyed Daughters of the Sun and Moon. I appreciate the amount of research that it is clear the author did on the time period and the experiences of Chinese women in early Los Angeles. I think that it is obvious the author felt very passionately about writing an accurate portrayal of the time period and the women's experiences. The book tells important stories that I think have not yet been given enough of a stage in the history of the American West.

The characters were extremely well written. Their stories were engaging and their character and motivations were all well fleshed out. Their stories were heartbreaking to read but full of hope, courage, and perseverance. The descriptions of Los Angeles in 1870 brought the setting to life and really helped to understand what each of the women was going through during the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed Daughters of the Sun and Moon. I am excited to dive into the rest of Lisa See's books and do more reading on the history of early Los Angeles and the women that lived there.

[RavenNoir]

Not yet published, giveaway entered.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man's inability to see the worth of a woman is the downfall of civilization at large.

Lisa See is a renowned author of Asian-based novels. Her books always encompass strong, effective women seeking to change their pre-destined circumstances in life. See taps into her own great-grandparents' experience of residing in the early years of Los Angeles where mixed race couples were shunned by society. Nevertheless, they went on to open a store that withstood the test of time for over forty years.

Daughters of the Sun and Moon reflects that inability of recognizing the worth of a woman. That is unless it came to bartering women in arranged marriages or simply a father selling his own daughter for servitude in the Gold Mountain (America) in order to feed his remaining family. Mothers stood stoically with no voice knowing that they would never see their daughters again.

We'll meet our three heroines aboard a ship bound from China to America. The voyage usually took months and allowed women to view one another with compassionate eyes. There was a kindred spirit knowing that each and every one of them was destined for a dire fate. Some even brought little bags of soil with them from their homeland......a sad reality.

Dove is a beauty with her styled hair and her bound feet. She is looking for love and to be cherished by her husband in this arranged marriage. Petal comes from a poor farming community. She is shocked when her father abandons her aboard this ship. They will both come in contact with Moon, a very Westernized Chinese wife of a doctor in Los Angeles. Dr. Gene is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and herbs. They will find themselves in the same orbit of existence in Los Angeles by fate during highly tumultuous times.

Lisa See introduces us to the very beginnings of the streets of Los Angeles in 1870 where there is deep anti-Chinese sentiments. The majority of the Chinese were men working on the transcontinental railroad. There were only a handful of women. These men visited Chinese women in designated houses. That was the future of these Chinese women coming from mainland China.

And at the core of all this located in this particular section of Los Angeles was the deep impact of the Chinese tongs. The tongs were incredibly powerful and that power was held by ruthless men leaning toward bloodshed and violence. Chinese women were allowed to buy their freedom from the tongs but only after excruciating years of service to the tongs.

And that boiling cauldron of events leads to the Night of Horrors in which the tongs battled one another and the white population became involved. Lisa See shines a light on a very impactful event in history. The brutalities were unspeakable. And our three formerly introduced women will find themselves in a life threatening predicament of immeasurable proportions. Their fate will be cast in the hands of one another. Brilliantly done, Lisa See. Bravo, simply bravo.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Scribner Books and to the talented Lisa See for the opportunity.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping, thought provoking, riveting, heartbreaking, moving, and full of intriguing characters, Lisa See has delivered once again. Lisa See writes captivating books about women that pull on reader's heartstrings evoking emotion while providing glimpses into what life was like for them during pivotal parts of history. In Daughters of the Sun and Moon, Lisa See writes about Dove, a woman with bound feet who arrives in Los Angeles to marry an older merchant; Petal who was sold by her father and placed on a ship to America where she is sold once again; and Moon, who is married to a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine. Lisa See provides their POV's so that readers can not only get to know each woman better their POV's also serve to pull on reader's heartstrings.

1870
Each of the woman has her own plight, her own hopes, dreams, and aspirations. But each woman lives in a time where woman has little to no rights. Where a woman can be bought and sold, forced into prostitution, married off and sent to a foreign land, or be seen as a lesser person after a failed foot binding. Each woman found a place in my heart as I read. All the women were strong. Each had to rely on being resourceful, on each other, and on themselves. I loved reading as they became friends and bonded over time.

This book begins in China and ends in Chinatown in Los Angeles. It shows what life was like back them for Chinese women living in a country far different from where they were born. They face the harshness and brutality of life and the expectations placed upon them. The book ends after the horrific Chinese Massacre where many Chinese residents were lynched. I love books that not only have me feeling all kinds of emotions but also teach me new things, Lisa See did that with Daughters of the Sun and Moon.

Lisa See excels at creating fully fleshed out characters that I grew to care about. She also provides readers with vivid descriptions, and I often felt like a silent observer in the room watching as the scenes unfolded. Lisa See also does a tremendous amount of research prior to writing her books. I had not heard of the Chinese Massacre prior to reading this book and found myself looking it up online after finishing this book.

Beautifully written, well thought out, moving, thought provoking, and hard to put down!

*Be sure to read the Author's note at the end of the book.

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

[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.

[Belle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daughters of the Sun and Moon is a historical novel set in the early days of Los Angeles, when it was still a small, rapidly changing town shaped by migration, opportunity, and deep racial tension. The story follows Chinese immigrant women navigating life in “Gold Mountain,” a place full of promise but also exclusion and violence. Through their experiences, the novel paints a layered portrait of a community often left out of mainstream history, especially the lives of women who existed on the margins of both American and Chinese society.

Going into this, I’d heard so many good things about Lisa See, and honestly, the setting alone delivered. I had no idea how small Los Angeles originally was, much less anything about the Chinese population was during that time. The details of daily life, the cultural nuances, and the realities of what it meant to be a Chinese woman in that environment were fascinating. It felt immersive in a way that made me realize how much history like this isn’t widely talked about.

That said, one thing that really didn’t work for me was the foreshadowing style. It leaned heavily on very direct lines like “if only she knew what was to come…”, which pulled me out of the story more than it built tension. Good foreshadowing should feel subtle and rewarding, something you piece together, but here it felt a little too on-the-nose, and at times, it disrupted the flow.

Where the book truly hit, though, was in its portrayal of violence and injustice, particularly during events like the Chinese Massacre of 1871 (often referred to as the “Night of Horrors”). Those sections were devastating. Reading about families being torn apart, men tortured and killed simply for who they were - it leaves a pit in your stomach.

Overall, this book is about endurance. See writes about waiting, surviving, and holding onto hope even when the world is stacked against you. It is a powerful and informative read, even if it’s not perfect in execution. The historical depth and emotional weight far outweigh the stylistic frustrations for me. It’s one of those books that expands your perspective while still telling a deeply human story.
.

[MicheleReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1870, Los Angeles was a small city predominantly populated by men. It was home to miners, immigrants from Mexico and Europe, and roughly 180 people from China. Beautiful, seventeen-year-old Yut Ho (Dove) was sold by her family and transported to Los Angeles for an arranged marriage to an older man, a successful merchant, who left his first wife and children in China. During her journey, she meets Sing Yee (Petal), who was sold by her impoverished family, sent to America (the Gold Mountain), and then sold again to the leader of a Chinese gang (tong), where she was forced to work in his brothel. After they arrive in Lo Sang, the two young women meet Moon, who is married to the local Chinese doctor. Life is difficult for Dove, who is treated like a possession by her husband, and Petal, who is planning an escape from her degrading situation. Moon wants to help the two women but knows it could put her and them in danger. As rival tongs worsen conditions in this lawless city, a horrific massacre occurs, killing many Chinese men and boys. 

Lisa See has written many enlightening books that tell stories of Chinese women through the centuries. In Daughters of the Sun and Moon, See transports us to a Los Angeles that would be unrecognizable today, with a story that culminates with the little-known Chinese Massacre of 1871, also known as the Night of Horrors. Part of the story is told in 1926 by an elderly Moon, offering a sense of hopefulness. Many characters in the story were either real individuals from that time or inspired by historical figures. While the event, which took place in October 1871, is not well known, there are numerous articles and videos available online to learn. And be sure to read the author's note, as it provides additional insights, including the impact of the massacre on the lives of her great-grandparents. 

Many thanks to Scribner for providing an advance of this moving book.

4.5 stars.

Review to be posted on MicheleReader.com.

[Neshia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As with every other book I’ve read by Lisa See, this one was a beautiful and educational look at Chinese culture and life after arriving in California in the late 1870s. Once again, history seems to have disappeared, the Chinese Massacre of 1871—much like it did for the Tulsa’s Greenwood District, where both events were suppressed for decades, yet they are essential to understanding the American identity and the recurring patterns of xenophobia.
However, there are those who remember. Authors like Lisa See share history through historical fiction, creating relatable characters that allow you to walk in their shoes. Even if only for a little while, you understand the struggle of being an immigrant and the power of friendship to help you through hard times. We are facing similar times with immigration today, and I hope this book opens people’s eyes to history and how we cannot keep making the same mistakes.

In 1870, three women arrived in Los Angeles from very different backgrounds. Dove, the bound-footed daughter of an imperial scholar and an arranged marriage to an much older man. Petal, the big-footed daughter of peasants was sold so that her family could eat. and Moon is married to a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and is educated and fluent in English. Each woman has her own desires. Dove wants to love and be loved, Petal desires freedom, and Moon seeks justice. 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.

[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!

[Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Daughters of the Sun and Moon by Lisa See follows three Chinese women in 1870s Los Angeles. Nothing like we know it (or as I know it from TV) now - no glitz and glamour, but instead a hotbed of crime, violence, racism and rival gangs.

Petal, Moon and Dove are different women who would never have crossed paths in China. In Los Angeles, they find solace and companionship in each other, in a place and time period where space was not made for women and particularly not Chinese women. Their friendship and care for each other was my favourite aspect of the novel. It felt real and their strength was admirable.

I went in to this book knowing pretty much nothing about this part of history, and came away feeling completely immersed (and shocked). I loved the beautiful Chinese aphorisms sprinkled throughout, showing how the Chinese culture and way of thinking persevered in a foreign land, consoling the women and reminding them of home.

The shifting narrative voices didn’t quite work for me. Petal and Moon speak in first person (with Moon reflecting back as an older woman), which feels intimate and showcases their resilience. In contrast, Dove’s third-person chapters felt more distant. This may have been intentional, but it made it harder to fully connect with her. There is a lot of story in this book, and it is definitely story-driven rather than character-driven.

Overall, it’s an engaging, eye-opening read, both as a story and as a window into a history that isn’t often talked about - something Lisa See is consistently good at delivering. 3.5/5.

[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.

[Davina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in 1870 Los Angeles, Daughters of the Sun and Moon follows three Chinese women—Dove, Petal, and Moon—whose lives are shaped by poverty, violence, and the harsh realities of being Chinese immigrants in America. Bound by hardship and survival, each woman longs for something different: love, freedom, justice. As anti-Chinese sentiment grows around them, they must rely on their resilience, friendship, and hope to endure a world that offers them little kindness.

I love books that stab me directly in the heart, and this one absolutely did.

This story is filled with culture, history, and the painful realities many Chinese women faced in the 1870s. Women who were forced into lives they never chose, brought to Los Angeles with little control over their futures. To become wives. To bear children. To survive however they could, even if it meant sacrificing themselves completely.

The book is dark, lonely, and heartbreaking at times, but there is always this thread of hope woven through it. That balance made the emotional moments hit even harder. There were several scenes where my eyes genuinely welled up from the grief and loss these women endured.

What stood out most was the strength of the characters. Dove, Petal, and Moon all feel distinct and memorable, each carrying their own pain, dreams, and resilience. The novel beautifully captures what women can overcome even when given so little. Their endurance, friendship, and quiet acts of survival are what make this story so powerful.

This is not an easy read emotionally, but it’s an important and deeply moving one.