#Wenzhi

[littlemoondance]

I couldn’t resist making mood boards for the Daughter of the Moon Goddess duology. I loved everything about these books so much.

#Daughter of the Moon Goddess #lmdmoodboard #littlemoondance #xingyin #wenzhi #Crown Prince Liwei #prince liwei #liwei #Captain wenzhi #first archer xingyin #heart of the sun warrior #mood board #books

[harlequinideath]

Wenzhi <3

#heart of the sun warrior #daughter of the moon goddess #Wenzhi #Prince #Captain #books #demon #The Celestial Kingdom #mythology #reading #aestethic #moodboard

[checkoutmybookshelf]

Little Moments with Massive Impacts

I absolutely adored Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Heart of the Sun God, and there is something lush and comfortable and quietly gripping about Sue Lynn Tan's writing. When Tan's original duology ended, I was satisfied, but honestly this is one of those worlds where I would happily take anything more the author was willing to give us. And she has given us some new small moments and an epilogue that just wrapped my heart in a warm blanket and squish hugged it. Let's talk Tales of the Celestial Kingdom.

SPOILER WARNING!!! I am going to spoil not only TotCK, but DotMG and HotSG. BE WARNED.

This little short story collection is divided into three main sections: "Dusk," "Twilight," and "Dawn." Each section covers moments before, during, or after the main duology. The only story from Xingying's perspective is the last one; the other stories are from the perspective of other characters.

"Dusk" focuses on Chang'e and Houyi and expands their relationship before Xingying's birth. It also explores the toll killing the sunbirds took on Houyi and the choices that led to Chang'e taking the immortality elixir to save her own and Xingying's life. Seeing their relationship and their clear love for each other before decades of grief and change have colored and complicated it was a delight. Chang'e and Houyi in this version of their tale are fiercely in love, and that is ultimately what makes their story so tragic.

I also loved that, despite the brevity of the stories, the emotions were clear, complex, and communicated effectively. That can be hard to do in short form (I have always been terrible at it; I like to have a little more space to really wallow in feelings when I write) and I've never been a major short story girl; I like novel-length stuff. But I was entirely here for this reimagining of the Chang'e myth.

"Twilight" fills in spaces that were implied but not explored during the DotMG and HotSG timelines. We get a little more Liwei and Xingying as students, with a quick little adventure just as Liwei realizes he is beginning to fall in love. We also get a little more Wenzhi and Xingying in the Celestial army, also as Wenzhi realizes he is falling in love. I absolutely adore seeing Xingying through their eyes, and it was very instructive to see how they perceive their relationship with Xingying. I was ALWAYS a Wenying (Xingzhi? I dunno, reblog with your preferred ship name) girl, because quite frankly Liwei had too many Prince Jonathan of Conte vibes for me to think he was a good idea. Getting into Liwei's head just strengthened that perception, and while I can understand that he and Wenzhi were both inherently flawed characters...frankly I could support Wenzhi's flaws a lot more smoothly than Liwei's. (Honestly y'all, I might actually need to slap Liwei, especially when he's out here being an UTTER DICKHEAD).

Our boys aren't the only perspectives in "Twilight." We also get Shuxiao and Mengqi's mission to free the Celestial Emperor from Wugang. We are always here for BFF Shuxiao, and honestly if we were ever to get another short story collection in the Celestial Kingdom, I want a slice-of-life first date for these lovely ladies, because they have SUCH A SPARK. Like, we get one short story for them. It is 19 pages. And yet I am HERE for them to have a long, happy life snarking off at each other. The chemistry was just beautifully done. Give our girls their own book.

Finally, "Dawn" gives us a little more from Wenzhi in his mortal life, and Yingxing inserting herself into it. It's darling, and I appreciate the subtle nuances and differences that highlight that yes, this is definitely Wenzhi, but it's not Wenzhi the Prince of the Demon Realm. And yet he and Xingying are still perfect for each other, still love each other. And they have their first mortal date at Wenzhi's favorite tea house. It's DARLING.

What the final story does, however, is give me the ending that I desperately hoped for--but notably did not get--at the end of HotSG. The end of that book gives us the hope that Wenzhi and Xingying will have an immortal life together with Wenzhi's memories and experiences as an immortal restored to him. It was a wonderful, uplifting end to a book that had a lot to do with grief, but the thing it didn't do was make it too easy. Which I think is so important for good storytelling.

That said, actually getting Xingying and Wenzhi reuniting as immortals, and--for Wenzhi--picking up after he had just sacrificed himself for Xingying was SO. SATISFYING. We had the hope, we knew it was a possibility, and that's often what we have to sit with and exist with in real life. That's fine. But every once in a while--a very great while, it seems--we get the fruition of that hope and promise. We actually get the unambiguously happy ending and we, along with Xingying, remember that happiness is crucial.

Y'all, the end of this collection is so soft and happy, and I'm so deeply grateful that it's in the world with me.

#sue lynn tan #tales of the celestial kingdom #daughter of the moon goddess #heart of the sun warrior #xingying #wenzhi #short story collection #ya fantasy #chinese mythology #chinese literature #books and reading #books #books and novels #books & libraries #book recommendations

[from-books-i-read]

"I would welcome your friendship. I would welcome any part of yourself that you choose to give me."

Heart of the Sun Warrior - Sue Lynn Tan

#the celestial kingdom series #heart of the sun warrior #sue lynn tan #books #quotes #xingyin #liwei #wenzhi

[teartra]

The best character is the one you once despised

#should i list it oh well? #lilith clawthorne #jacks the prince of hearts #jacks #alastair carstairs #gabriel lightwood #ah puch #tdp soren #wenzhi #sasha waybright #the owl house #toh #once upon a broken heart #ouabh #the last hours #shadowhunters #the infernal devices #daughter of the moon goddess #the storm runner #lords of the night #the dragon prince #amphibia

[a-quiet-journal]

"The past can't be undone, but my hope lies in our future. Trust me with your heart again and you will find the truth in mine. For you are the reason I rise each day, for you I live and breathe."

- Wenzhi, Heart of the Sun Warrior

#quotes #book quote #wenzhi #xingyin #daughter of the moon goddess #heart of the sun warrior #I know what he did but honestly

[jessfandrawer]

Celestial Kingdom Duology character portraits

Xingyin

Wenzhi

Liwei

I finished this series (audiobook version) and felt a little sad that it was over. So I made some drawings.

Spoiler-y silliness for Heart of the Sun Warrior below ⬇️

#my art #book fanart #celestial kingdom duology #daughter of the moon goddess #heart of the sun warrior #xingyin #liwei #wenzhi #audiobooks I've finished

[thelov3lybookworm]

I love prince Yanming. He's such a cute little guy.

#daughter of the moon goddess #Wenzhi #Liwei #Xingyin #heart of the sun warrior

[nezukoo-channn]

Taylor Swift wrote midnight rain from Midnights (2022) for the love triangle in Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Heart of the Sun Warrior

#the chorus is liwei and xingyin but near the outro its Xingyin thinking about Wenzhi #FUCK SHHSSNNSNSW #I LOVSDHSNSNS #nezukoo-channn #nezukoo channn #nezukoo channn shelf rambles #celestial kingdom duology #daughter of the moon goddess #heart of the sun warrior #the dam love triangle between Xingyin Liwei and Wenzhi #i said what i said #Liwei was sunshine and Xingyin was midnight rain #xingyin #liwei #wenzhi #i am still recovering from this series

[inniminan]

Wenzhi

#illustration #Wenzhi #daughter of the moon goddess #fanart #art #Digital

[octopusoptimusprime]

i’m on part 3 of daughter of the moon goddess by sue lynn tan and can i please just say. FUCK liwei. with my entire soul oh my god??? he’s so rude to xingyin wtaf. if she doesn’t get her happy ending w wenzhi i’m gonna riot

#daughter of the moon goddess #sue lynn tan #xingyin #prince liwei #wenzhi #books

[mythosblogging]

Published in 2022, Sue Lynn Tan’s ‘Daughter of the Moon Goddess’ is set in a fantasy land inspired by classical Chinese mythology. Filled with romance, danger, and magic, the novel tells the story of Xingyin, daughter of the moon goddess, Chang’e, and her mortal husband, Hou Yi.

Hou Yi and Chang’e are two famous tragic lovers of Chinese myth. Their story is said to be the origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, which is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar.

Hou Yi was a famous archer, the most skilled in the world, good enough to even gain the favour of the gods – something that would be both his blessing and his downfall.

The world once had ten suns – the children of the Emperor Di Jun and his wife Xihe. Taking the form of three-legged crows, the suns spent most of their time resting in a mulberry tree. Each day one of the suns would travel through the sky. One day, all ten of the suns decided to appear in the sky together, flying too close to the earth and scorching it. The heat was so great that it seemed all of humanity would be wiped out. Hou Yi was called upon to save the day, and he put his incredible archery skills to good use – shooting down all the of the suns but one.

Keep Reading 

#Daughter of the Moon Goddess #Sue Lynn Tan #Xingyin #Wenzhi #Liwei #Hou Yi #Chang’e #Moon Goddess #Moon Gods #Mythical Archers #Archery #Book Reviews #Mythos Reviews #Fantasy #Fantasy Novels #Mythos Articles #Mythos #Chinese Mythology #Dragons #Chinese Dragons #The Four Dragons #YA #YA Novels #Book Recs #Myths #Myths and Legends

[checkoutmybookshelf]

Complicated Loves, Complicated Griefs

People are really complicated, and Xingying, Liwei, and Wenzhi are no exception. Families are complicated, especially in the Celestial Kingdom. The combination of independent young people, complicated families and *immortal zombies* means that the depth of emotion and lush prose had me in tears over and over again while inhaling this incredible duology.

If I had one criticism of these books--and objectively this is less of a criticsm and more of a "your mileage may vary"--it's that both are just a touch slow to start. Once they get going though, Sue Lynn Tan put the pedal to the metal and does not let up.

I know, I mentioned three names; for those of you who aren't big into love triangles, no fear! Xingying is objectively anti-triangle, and much of her arc and is squaring the love she holds for her mother with her own need for adventure and the very deep and incredibly different loves she holds for Liwei and Wenzhi. And if you don't think those things clash in every single possible way, then you have underestimated the complexity of the emotional tangles in these books.

Liwei and Wenzhi are...an interesting pair of potential love interests for Xingying. They are both integral parts of her life, but significantly different ones. What is done extraoirdinarily well, though, is that they facilitate and influence Xingying's growth into a well-rounded, nuanced version of herself. They bring out her strength and then they support her strengths--even as she is wiping the floor with them when required.

When I was at the 2/3 mark in Heart of the Sun Warrior, I had a brief moment of "The only way out of this book alive is an OT3 a la Iron Widow," but the actual way out of the book had so much more emotional nuance, leveraged the extant relationships, and really honored Xingying's desires, growth, and very real love and grief. Sue Lynn Tan exceeded my wildest expectations in this story.

I really, really don't want to give spoilers for these incredible books, so suffice it to say that Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Heart of the Sun Warrior are the most intensive, beautiful explorations of different kinds of love and grief that I have seen in a LONG time.

#sue lynn tan #daughter of the moon goddess #heart of the sun warrior #Xingying #liwei #wenzhi #chang'e #houyi #strong female lead #strong female characters #strong female protagonist #chinese mythology #books and reading #books & libraries #fantasy #ya fantasy #ya books

[from-books-i-read]

"Hate me then, for I would rather have your hatred than indifference." His eyes were the shade of wintry rivers, glints of light traveling in their depths. "The past can't be undone, but my hope lies in our future. Trust me with your heart again and you will find the truth of mine. For you are the reason I rise each day, for you I live and breathe."

Heart of the Sun Warrior - Sue Lynn Tan

#the celestial kingdom series #heart of the sun warrior #sue lynn tan #books #quotes #xingyin #liwei #wenzhi

[teartra]

Hatred ended with Wenzhi, now Wugang is my new enemy

#he’s cool now but i still want to slap him #wenzhi #wugang #daughter of the moon goddess #heart of the sun warrior

[sleepyhairpin]

HEY YALLL another crappy book review

The last few chaps were pretty bad in my opinion like I didn’t like the mc but excluding that I think this would be a 8.5/10.

So basically the main character (mc) of this story is the daughter of Chang’e.

Chang’e is the goddess of the moon but instead of being a goddess out of free will or smt, she’s a prisoner on the moon. She was originally a mortal who had a husband named Houyi and there were 9 “suns” along with the actual one. (who we later kno aren’t actually suns but something else). The suns made life in the mortal realm hella hot cuz yanno 10 fricking suns and that didn’t help the crops at all. So Houyi using a special bow, hits all of them except 1, making life better again. He was given an elixir but in this story, Chang’e was pregnant with the mc who’s name is Xingyin and Chang’e knew she wouldn’t survive without taking the elixir. Btw the elixir makes u immortal and apparently the guardian of the moon. However, there’s also this thing called the celestial kingdom who gave Houyi the elixir as an “award” but is a punishment instead. Ok I’m spoiling a bit too much but just kno that there’s a connection between the suns and the empress of the celestial realm/palace. The celestial palace basically rules over all the realms excep the mortal one.

ANYWAYS MOVING ON

Chang’e was never supposed to have a kid and no one knew outside the palace on the moon. However, once she tapped into her powers accidentally, it alerted the celestial people cuz like, AYO wtf is this power this doesn’t match with chang’e’s. In order to get away her mother sends her to live with her servent until everything blows over. However, as they were passing by the celestial palace, they were suddenly attacked and the mc landed in the palace instead of the place with her moms servant. Now her goal is to free her mom from the prison and let her be free.

She meets the prince and they fall in love but after finding out he’s betrothed to this other girl she ends the relationship but still loves him. She joins the celestial army cuz rn she’s tryna get this token that can only be obtained after doing some crazy shit for the emperor and after a bit she falls in love with the general even with lingering feelings on the prince

Ok the rest is for u to read.

Here’s my opinion now WITH SOME SPOILERS

This was great until like the last few chapters.

I feel like the mc kind of played with both their feelings a bit and that was pretty shit of her

The mc was kind of just going off at this dude (I’m not gonna say who cuz spoilers) but like girl, u more or less lied as well so maybe stfu

BITCH R U RLLY GONNA GO WITH THE PRINCE LIKE GIRL ITS CLEAR HOW MUCH THE GENERAL SHOWS HE CARES ABT U

The mc, despite disliking the celestial realm, legit hates the demon realm and for w h a t . Like yea they stole ur (admittedly hella powerful) pearls BUT DID U FORGET THAT U WENT TO GO GET THOSE BC OF THE FUCKING EMPEROR IN THE CELESTIAL PALACE?!?!? Then she’s all like, how dare u steal from me blah blah this is wrong blah blah dont u dare rage war on the palace blah blah BRUH IF THE DEMON REALM WOULDN’T RAGE WAR THEN THE CELESTIAL REALM WOULD DO IT FIRST U STUPID FUCK

Anyways, try reading it but damn this book pissed me off a lot in the last part so y e a . U can get it at chapter or indigo (if ur in Canada)

#daughter of the moon goddess #sue lynn tan #book review #xingyin #liwei #wenzhi