Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan starting on April 15, 2023.


Happy Reading!

I'll probably haunt this thread and jump in on the sequel :)

I’ve tried this one once…would love to try again…. :)

I'll probably be starting on this either tomorrow or Monday! 😊

Tonari no Emily wrote: "I'll probably haunt this thread and jump in on the sequel :)"

Dittoing this... I'm thinking of rereading even though it's only been six months... but I do want to read the sequel.

This one had an iffy start for me but I ended up enjoying it and the sequel.

I can see how it's a bit of an iffy start! I can't quite put my finger on it atm, but I feel like I had to be in the right mood for this kind of writing even though I'm having fun with it this time around. Last time I tried, I also ended up putting it down too, but I'm glad I find myself actually reading it at a faster pace this time!! Might've helped that I recently finished some wuxia/xianxia-inspired reads earlier including (Song of Silver, Flame Like Night and When Lightning Strikes) and that primed me for this. 🤣

I really love the description with the food and environment and stuff, and it's making me pretty hungry!! 👀 The tea parts defintiely had me pulling out my teapot too.

I really loved the beginning with Chang'e and I'm so curious as to where this will go! I do know the lore with her and Houyi (for once!!!! There are quite a number of retellings where I'm like shoot, I actually don't know too much about the lore 😂) , so I'm definitely excited.

Ch. 2 - (view spoiler)[ I really hope Ping'er is okay!! 😭 It's a relief she was able to get away and I hope we get an update about her soon. (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 4-6 - (view spoiler)[ OMG the tea brewing scenes had me so stressed. 😂 I absolutely enjoyed these scenes during the competition though! I also appreciated the Chinese along with the English forr the poems and building names. Although I can't read it, it just really adds to vibes for me!!

I also really like Prince Liwei so far and his interactions with Xingyin, and I like her rising to the challenge of making her place in the palace when she's definitely got lots of people who don't want to see her succeed. (hide spoiler)]

Mei ☽︎ wrote: "I can see how it's a bit of an iffy start! I can't quite put my finger on it atm, but I feel like I had to be in the right mood for this kind of writing even though I'm having fun with it this time..."

Those sound good, especially When Lightning Strikes.

Mei ☽︎ wrote: "I can see how it's a bit of an iffy start! I can't quite put my finger on it atm, but I feel like I had to be in the right mood for this kind of writing even though I'm having fun with it this time..."

Re 4-6 (view spoiler)[ I really liked the competition part :D And I can just see the prince's face trying to mask how bad her tea is lol (hide spoiler)]

I went ahead and zoomed through this on audio yesterday even though I'd only just read this the first time in November. I enjoyed it more on eyebook read than on reread--but possibly only because it was too soon for a reread--I remembered everything, and was even more annoyed at the bad guys (and good guys) than I was originally. Still had fun though! But I think I agree about being in the right mood--and not being able to put my finger on it. Last November I was in the right mood--and this was a nice breath of fresh air!

Mei ☽︎ wrote: "I can see how it's a bit of an iffy start! I can't quite put my finger on it atm, but I feel like I had to be in the right mood for this kind of writing even though I'm having fun with it this time..."

re: through 6--(view spoiler)[I also love the competition, and I love "seeing" the Lady's face when her "serving girl" is first championed by the prince, and then joins--and wins--the competition!

I also really appreciate the Chinese too--since I can read them, lol! The translations of the pavilions have a bit of poetic license--for example, 玉宇天宫 is "Jade Heaven Pavilion" but doesn't have an "eternal" or "immortal" in it--and it is "heaven" as in THE heavens, space! "Immortal" sounds good though, and there could be a cultural connotation I don't know about that makes it sound immortal. I like that Xingyin's name: 星银 does mean "silver star"--but the Chinese puts it backwards, as "star silver."

The character 永 is really cool because of what they said--it one each of the 8 different strokes possible in calligraphic writing---so it's usually what folks practice with when their just learning... I did a calligraphy day with my students a month ago and we had fun botching that character horribly. ^^

The couplet is really pretty--I also find it interesting that the characters used in the book are all traditional--used in Hong Kong & Taiwan--rather than simplified--used in Mainland China. The 4x4x4x4 character composition is common in classical Chinese, and it also kinda rhymes:

花瓣凋零，芬芳褪尽
huaban daoling, fen fang tui jin
曾映骄阳，却落泥霜
zeng ying zhao yang, que luo ni shuang (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "I went ahead and zoomed through this on audio yesterday even though I'd only just read this the first time in November. I enjoyed it more on eyebook read than on reread--but possibly only because i..."

I enjoyed the audio quite a bit but I hadn't already read it. I thought the narrator did a great job!

Ann-Marie wrote: "I enjoyed the audio quite a bit but I hadn't already read it. I thought the narrator did a great job!..."

Ditto that! I'm always happy when a narrator knows how to pronounce the language correctly too! Only the pronunciation of Wenzhi bugged me a little--I'm used to Beijing standard pronunciation, where it should have been "When-jer" but I think it was pronounced more like "When-juh." Already forgetting though!

Got storm stayed last week, so I’ll be picking this up now that I’m back in my apartment and have access to my copy.

Yay! Glad you're back home safely with book!

Finished the first chapter and hard agree with the iffy start.

I'm hoping this style changes as we get into the story, because right now I don't feel like I'm getting a lot of depth in the story telling.

The plot is humming along, but we haven't had any chance yet to connect with the main character or her mother or even the world really.

The first chapter feels like a novelized version of a plot-point synopsis you might get at the start of a TV episode ("Last time on...."). Like the author just wanted to get the bare facts of her story concept out of the way as quickly as possible.

Nirkatze wrote: re: through 6--

Wow, thanks so much for typing that all up!! I LOVE stuff like this and appreciate the time you took! 😍

-----
I'm back at it finally and up to chapter 10 now, and oho~~! Some things definitely surprised me!

ch 8-10: (view spoiler)[I LOVED the scenes in the marketplace and the two of them looking at all the trinkets and knick knacks and also the mention of the tea from KKunlan Mountain. Once again it made me want to bust out my teapot, lol. 🤣

I must admit I did not expect there to be kisses between the two already. 🤣 I do like their dynamic in this buildup, and I guess we are about a third into the book, but it still felt a bit sudden to me. But I'm definitely interested in how things will go from here!! I think I saw a minor spoiler for this duology before picking it up tropes-wise, 👀 so I'm even MORE curious how their dynamic will develop over time!

So much is stacked against them too, which will be interesting to watch in upcoming chapters. I really do love how Xingyin acknowledges that she's lying to him and how she hates it, and that it's not a good foundation for friendship and even worse for anything more. I definitely feel for her! (hide spoiler)]

Alexis wrote: "Finished the first chapter and hard agree with the iffy start.

I'm hoping this style changes as we get into the story, because right now I don't feel like I'm getting a lot of depth in the story t..."

I could see this being a lot like a Chinese drama TV show...

I do think it picks up after Xingyin leaves, but it definitely has the feel of a first book, from an author that could earn more polish with experience.

Mei ☽︎ wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: re: through 6--

Wow, thanks so much for typing that all up!! I LOVE stuff like this and appreciate the time you took! 😍

-----
I'm back at it finally and up to chapter 10 now, and ..."

Glad the language info is useful! Feel free to ask any questions. :) I am happy to delve & share.

I'm very curious about the nature of spoilericious tropes-information you stumbled across... do share. :) (view spoiler)[I also loved that market scene! The music-in-a-shell idea was really cool. I also really liked the dynamic between Liwei & Xingyin, which made some things that happen later all the more annoying to me, especially on reread...

I also kind of have to wonder how Moon Goddess and daughter thereof figure into the whole Celestial Kingdom hierarchy. She's not the servant girl Liwei originally took her for--but I don't know if she'd actually qualify as royalty. Could she be a potential match for Liwei on her own merit? Though she doesn't exactly bring a powerful family clan alliance with her. (hide spoiler)]

Re: trope: I have heard that it's a (view spoiler)[love triangle!! (hide spoiler)] 😂 and also that there's maaaaaaaybe some (view spoiler)[betrayal of some kind!? (hide spoiler)]? Not 100% sure on the second one. But yeah, I don't know much beyond that, hahha!!

Alao that's such a good point!!! (view spoiler)[I didn't really think about that much until now, and all that on top of the history lesson that we get about the Empress/Emperor and the moon goddess and Xingyin's dad as well. Then there's mortal realm in general. Like if he is mortal, how does that affect her power, and how much of that is tajen into consideration with Celestial Kingdom hierarchy? (hide spoiler)]

I just finished chapter 13 so I'm glad my aformentioned light spoiler didn't take too long to show up, but at the same time I don't really like it since I guess I wish that this wasn't (view spoiler)[Wenzhi's introduction. The fact that she immediately found him insufferable made me go YUP, THERE HE IS. LOVE TRIANGLE IS A-GO. 🤣 But it did definitely add to the Chinese drama vibes Nirkatze mentioned!! I get that the triangle needs to be established, but I'm just not really a fan of this pacing with the romance -- nor the focus in this case, since I kind of want to know like what her plans are to figure out what to do about...y'know, helping her mom, and also trying to find Ping'er again -- so I was a little relieved to turn the page from the end of ch. 13 to see "Part II", as I was like wanting more of things outside of the romance, lol!!!

I also forgot that there was a time skip in ch 9 (whoops), so I was a little surprised by Liwei saying that he loved Xingyin until my friend reminded me about that. 😂 I definitely forsaw the marriage announcement coming up, and I do appreciate that he tried to explain to her even if it was after the fact. Definitely curious to see how things will develop from here!! (hide spoiler)]

Oooh--that trope makes sense! I think I would have liked the same forewarning going in. And I really hope those hierarchy questions are addressed in the next book!!

Totally agree about the romance pacing... >.<

Yeah I'm glad I knew too because I would've been more upset I think 😆 I usually avoid books with it, lol!! Sucks that the hierarchy stuff it isn't touched upon more in this book as much!

Up to ch. 16 now!! (view spoiler)[ and glad to see things FINALLY going and that she's reflecting on her promise. I also found some interesting passages.

Immortals had little need for material wealth apart from ornamentation or vanity. Magic, rank, and bloodlines—these were the true determinants of power in the Celestial Kingdom. -- obviously bloodlines not as much for the army, seeing as both Wenzhi and Xingyin are able to be in the army and Wenzhi is able to get places as Xingyin mentions.

I felt a sense of shared companionship with Captain Wenzhi, knowing both of us were forging a new life for ourselves here. While he was far more capable than I, it gave me hope for my own ambitions—that an unknown could rise to prominence in the Celestial Kingdom. Though I could not help thinking, even he had not won the Crimson Lion Talisman.

But i guess that was also kind of apparent when she was able to train with the prince earlier. Just makes me wonder what she thinks she'll accomplish in doing all this and gaining rank. 'Cause what the heck does a "royal favor" even entail in this land? 😆

I also don't like how Liwei and Wenzhi already have a rivalry over her. Just once again not liking the initial pacing/setup so I don't see that improving much as the book progresses. It's sweet Liwei showed up and healed her though!

Although Xingyin is hurt he didn't tell her about the bethrothal, uh....she doesn't have that strong a leg to stand on as obviously STILL hasn't told him like the most important thing about her so that's, y'know, prooobably not going to go well when that comes crashing later. 😅

I definitely feel bad for Liwei as royal marriages are obviously his duty and all, and if he does keep pursuing her instead it'll be tough for him. Just not entirely sure how they're well-suited with what we got and wish there was a bit more?? Maybe that's just nit-picky of me because this obviously isn't the first time I've seen a royal/not-royal forbidden romance plot. I guess my gripe here is that Xingyin did touch upon how bad it is to start a relationship with a bad foundation and lies, and it's still hanging over them.

I am getting a feeling for some reason that at least some of what I talked about here touches upon what made you annoyed, Nirkatze, lol!! Hopefully I'm wrong because this kind of stuff annoys me too. 🤣 (hide spoiler)]

Through chapter 18 - omg I know I shouldn't just assume everyone we meet is romantically interested in her, but I couldn't help but feel that way with (view spoiler)[Prince Yanxi being intrigued by a female soldier and asking her questions 🤣 Especially as Wenzhi obvs didn't want her alone with him too anf Yanxi complimented her flute skills, etc. Etc.

I also feel like it was kind of weird of her to bring up the bow to him. Like what if he's untrustworthy??? Shouldn't she ask these questions to Wenzhi instead? Not someone you just met?? Even if he is knowledgeable, now you've got someone who knows you know of its existence and is asking around...

The mermen plot and dragon stuff is interesting!! (hide spoiler)]

re: Chapter 16--definitely into some of the stuff that bugged me--(view spoiler)[the whole court thing bothers me a lot more later on, when you get near the end. But the whole pissed off at Liwei for not telling her about the betrothal? First off, glass houses. Second off--he didn't really have the opportunity, did he? THIRDLY--what, did you think a prince WOULDN'T have to deal with arranged marriages? Naive much? Back off Xingyin. (hide spoiler)]

re: Chapter 18--(view spoiler)[LOL I actually find it the opposite--why is she trusting Wenzhi about keeping the bow secret? I distrusted that stickface from the start... I wouldn't do anything he asked if he paid me... (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "Mei ☽︎ wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: re: through 6--

Wow, thanks so much for typing that all up!! I LOVE stuff like this and appreciate the time you took! 😍

-----
I'm back at it finally and up to chapt..."

The scene you mentioned is the first time that I really felt any inkling that the two of them could be any more than friends. Before, I was kind of dreading the idea that they'd be paired off together, because I loved their relationship...but as friends. I was getting "brother/sister from another mother vibes" rather than any chemistry.

Also, I'm glad that things have deepened up a bit. I'm still not in love with the pacing, but now it feels like the author is actually trying to write the story of the characters, rather than the first part, which kind of felt like she had written up all the plot points first and then gone, "okay, now I need a character to do these things."

Yeah, I can pick up that vibe too between the two!! I really wish the romance wasn't the focus of the novel so the build-up felt more natural, but alas. 😭

Alexis wrote: "Also, I'm glad that things have deepened up a bit. I'm still not in love with the pacing, but now it feels like the author is actually trying to write the story of the characters, rather than the f..."

I definitely feel this too!! I'm on ch. 26 now and not entirely loving the pacing (or romance, still unfortunately😆), but it is an improvement to part 1! (Helps that there's like things outside of the main characters happening now, lol!!)

First, I wanted to say I appreciate you guys being here and responding to my ranting when I've been so late on this BR! 🤣Second, I want to apologize for being repetitive, LOL!!

Nirkatze wrote: "re: Chapter 16--definitely into some of the stuff that bugged me--[spoilers removed] re: Chapter 18--[spoilers removed]"

Re: ch 16 -- with comments through ch 26: (view spoiler)[OMG YES, that really bugged me too! And she gets so easily jealous of everyone who interacts with Liwei when she both constantly rejects him AND is like "oh, but I'm in love with Wenzhi now and that relationship is less tarnished/it's a lot easier or whatever" AND I'M LIKE WHAT?? This whole triangle is a mess, lol. How could she proclaim she loves him and is like but I can't change my mind btw. And also him kissing her then IMMEDIATE follow-up is her and Wenzhi having their romantic scene?

I also don't really like her justification/thought process when it comes to both of them that this is makIng it hard to read, lol. The writing is nice, but man, the pacing (and the time skips make it jarring) with the heavy focus on her relationships is tough. I also don't get how so many people are so interested in her (that governorr who was like I'll have you by my side when I win!!) and then Liwei and Wenzhi getting jealous of the prince talking to Xingyin.😩 (hide spoiler)]

THIS IS TRUE @ ch 18: (view spoiler)[He really hasn't proven himself to be trustworthy and we don't know much about him even up through where I'm at now that it's like so WHY does he know about the weapon in the first place and why is his inclination to hide it from everyone else and keep it a secret with her?? Now I'm suspicious if he knows more about Xingyin! (hide spoiler)]

Just into part 2 and I have a couple of thoughts:

1) The author is a lot better at heart break than romantic tension. (view spoiler)[ I didn't believe Xingyin and Liwei as a couple at all until she was in the process of leaving him. The farewell scene, I actually thought was pretty good. But I was still getting best friend vibes from them right up until the point that they kissed, to the point that it actually squicked me out a bit when it happened. (hide spoiler)]

2) Anyone else mentally humming the Mortal Kombat theme during the first chapter of part 2? (view spoiler)[ I dunno, just something about the way this guy is describing the nine-headed serpent and its weaknesses, I'm having trouble seeing it as anything other than a video game boss. (hide spoiler)].

Finished book 1!! I definitely agree that she's better at heart break than tension, lol!

I know I'm kind of harsh with my 2.5 star rating since I did like Tan's writing style diction-wise, but I was kind of annoyed with all of the characters/romance, and the pacing never improved for me so that soured my experience, lol!!!

Sorry again for getting repetitive. (view spoiler)[ The worldbuilding felt like it was more concentrated in the second-half and I still didn't really connect with Xingyin and her guys after everything. Such a huge focus on lying but EVERYONE lied except Liwei's lie was hung over him for all of the book when it was out of his control.) So how could Xingyin and Wenzhi both get super offended? 😂

Seems like I was right on betrayal after all! 🤣I definitely could have seen that coming with how little we knew about Wenzhi at first, but I still had the feeling that he just kind of exists to be the foil of Liwei and that's it. So much of the romance was: cut to scene with Liwei then immediately followed up with scene with Wenzhi or vice versa that it was really jarring. Like sometimes while finishing up kissing/hugging/whatever, the other guy would literally show up and be like, "hey can I talk to you" and I'm just like why???

I also hated how basically as soon as Wenzhi was revealed to be the bad guy, she essentially was like, "Wow nope, I definitely can't be with him anymore because I'm a good guy, so I'm going to go be cozy with Liwei again!!" Nice of Liwei to break the bethrothal, and interested in how that will affect things in book 2.

I did like the reunion with Chang'e though and thought the pearl stuff and dragon stuff were really interesting. (hide spoiler)]

I probably will try book 2, but not yet since I don't want to be even more harsh atm since I feel I've been reading a string of books I didn't enjoy. 🤣 Alexis, I love the Mortal Kombat theme so I'm excited to hum that in my head when I pick this up later, lol!

I have so many complaints about how this book is written.
I never believed the romance...either of them. Xingyin's training and skill trajectory felt Mary-sue-ish. There was a weird drop of tension in some of the action scenes.
...but at the same time, I sped-read through the entire back half in a single night and I didn't dislike the book itself once I put it down.

Maybe it's because I did like the two of them as friends...quite a bit actually. Maybe its because author did do the parts with emotional conflict pretty well.

Either way, it's like the opposite of the last book I read (which was Ulysses). That one had all the craft and none of the reading enjoyment. Here, it's kind of the other way around.

Mei ☽︎ wrote: "Finished book 1!! I definitely agree that she's better at heart break than tension, lol!

I know I'm kind of harsh with my 2.5 star rating since I did like Tan's writing style diction-wise, but I w..."

Sorry for the confusion, I meant "part 2," not "book 2." I had just gotten through ch 15 or so when I wrote this.

I loved reading y'all's comments and rants!!! Same thoughts on reread--I really have to wonder how I missed all this angsty stuff on the first read... I really enjoyed the book on first read but second time through I just wanted to strangle everyone...

Definitely down for book two--though I'm really hoping (view spoiler)[that the love triangle calls it quits and any kind of Wenzhi tension is cut out. I'm ok with redeeming him, but please no kissing, or desiring of kissing... or anything. (hide spoiler)]

Anyone have a time frame for book 2?

Nirkatze wrote: "I loved reading y'all's comments and rants!!! Same thoughts on reread--I really have to wonder how I missed all this angsty stuff on the first read... I really enjoyed the book on first read but se..."

(view spoiler)[ Agree on your point on the love triangle Nirkatze. (hide spoiler)]

I'm pretty tied up on books now until about July. How does that line up with everyone else?

Ohhh, I'm not sure how I mixed that up, tbh, lol!! I did love the opening to part 2 and can hear that, for sure!

I'm glad we're in agreement too because I definitely feel bad as I'm sure some people do love the triangle and I'm happy it works for them, but oof, I was salty, LOL. 😂

July or later sounds good to me too!!

July works for me. As long as it's not the 1st! Too many 1sts!

Love triangles are definitely not enjoyable for me either. Unless it was a true triangle maybe, but it never is, alas

Also I'll join in on Book 2! :)

If there are no objections, I’ll request a BR for July 15 for the second book.

Alexis wrote: "If there are no objections, I’ll request a BR for July 15 for the second book."

Sounds good!

@Emily--re: Triangle--was in the The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms BR last month--that has a Triangle... though the arrows go multiple directions...

ohhhh you're right about that!!

Hey y'all! Just letting y'know the sequel link is up! Get your bookmarks in!

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...