What a wonderful story! We follow Xingyin (said daughter of the moon goddess) as she is forced from her quiet peaceful home on the moon and thrust into the broader world of The Celestial Kingdom. She must try to find a way to help her mother, who is still imprisoned on the moon, in a world that seems pitted against her. Xingyin is an incredibly strong and proud character that is easy to root for as a reader; you truly want her to succeed with all of your heart. She forges her own path in the world based on her own skills and determination and so, when the love triangle is introduced, it feels like an addition to the plot, rather than taking over everything (as they are wont to do). The other two points on the triangle are also wonderfully crafted characters, so you find yourself actually torn between who she should choose. If you are a character based reader like me, you will love this book.
The world is incredibly rich and I felt immersed in it the entire time. The descriptions are vivid and full of life so you find yourself envisioning the world with crystal clarity as you read. I would love to visit The Celestial Kingdom and experience the brilliant colors and bustling markets Tan writes about. Also, the plot never stops, so I never found myself feeling bored- there is always a twist or new perspective around the corner that shifts the way the reader views any given situation. Basically this book was everything it was promised to be and more and I’m here for it.
