#Captain 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.

[themusesof75]

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

[harlequinideath]

Wenzhi <3

[booksandboba]

"Why would you want to look like her? Why would a falcon want to be a nightingale?"

--Captain Wenzhi, to Xingyin, Daughter of the Moon Goddess (Sue Lynn Tan)

[chiripaka]

Thinking,,,, Xingyin x Liwei fanfic idea

Book: Daughter Of The Moon Goddess

What if after Xingyin leaves for the military and defeats Xianglu. Falling asleep with her injuries and Liwei comes in and she awakens to him having healed her and Wenzhi never barges in.

So picking up the story from:

I steeled myself to ask "Has the wedding date been set?"

There it was said aloud, the bandage ripped clean from the wound. Was it better to battle the monster in the open than leave it lurking in the shadows, unsure when it might strike?

The light leeched from his eyes, "The betrothal gifts have been exchanged, though the ceremony won't be for years. Princess Fengmei and I are still young and I've asked for the time to devote myself to my studies. Perhaps then, things might be different."

Now cut. None of her ah man they already exchanged gifts and we have no chance to be together. Instead I want her to focus on Liwei's "Perhaps then, things might be different."

I want her to sulk on it to think about it and maybe reply to it. Once Liwei realizes her shield is cracking he swoops in to hold her hand. A small gesture but he must leave and nothing is decided. Afterwards she eats with Shuxiao and goes to sleep. But those words are ringing and the touch of his warm hands are still on hers. Maybe it's not all lost she thinks...

Then I'll just use the structure of the current story but write Wenzhi out (sorry Wenzhi you're good but you're not Liwei). He's still her captain and they're friends nothing more. When Liwei comes again after the sky drop tassel turns red I want him to be really worried for her like protective. I want her to be edgy still to reply realistically both wagering his status and her ultimate goal to free her mother. Their love simply cannot be.

I'm up to here on this plot in my head since I haven't finished the book. But I want there to be more to Xingyin and Liwei's relationship. In the end my goal is that Liwei rises to power that the dragons are found and free to roam. That the Empress and Emperor retire and that Xingyin retires from being an archer becoming a reigning Celestial with Liwei and aiding him. Maybe even being appointed as general due to her battle experience and talent. Of course being able to visit her mother the Moon Goddess and freeing her from her prison to visit earth and other kingdoms. Since she, Xingyin, will be the strongest immortal in the realm alongside Liwei.

[fatedefyd]

   Xingyin has.. a complicated relationship with romance. 

   when it comes to her mother, Chang’e, Xingyin has heard all of the various iterations of the tragic story between her mother and father.  she’s heard the tales where Chang’e was the greedy and vain villainess, where Hou Yi had an affair and planned to make himself and his lover ageless, and iterations where both parties were victims of terrible timing and at the mercy of the universe. 

   as for Xingyin herself, she’s only ever had two people in her life that she had ever seen romantic interest in ; however, both of these people, like her, had their own important secrets to keep.  

   Liwei, the only crowned prince of the Jade/Celestial Emperor, was not only a close friend, despite being the only son of the Celestial/Jade Emperor, but also her classmate as they tutored privately together for a handful of years.  they’ve exchanged gifts, been each other’s confidants, and developed feelings for each other through their constant closeness ; but, ultimately, it is suddenly revealed to Xingyin the day of an agreement for an arranged marriage between Liwei and another that comes from a powerful family to keep strong alliances.  the relationship between him and Xingyin was more a relationship filled with yearning and temptations, but after the fallout of their friendship, the girl throws herself into the military to put distance between her and the pain that came with the fallout.  by the end of the novel, the two become amicable enough to be friends.

   Wenzhi on the other hand, the young and accomplished Captain of the Guard, is a seemingly tight-laced man, but has nuggets of relativity that draws her in.  he’s darkly handsome, sympathetic in his own quirky ways, but treats Xingyin like he does anyone else in his unit as he departs bits of wisdom to her.  In the following years, though she is more weary of her feelings, the two grow close not just as comrades, but as friends that  ; it’s his respect and view of her as an equal that makes his later betrayal that much more heart-wrenching, especially when, at the same time, he is using the one thing that could free Xingyin’s mother from her bindings to strengthen his own personal matters.  as the novel comes to its end, he and Xingyin are on rocky terms, at best. 

[reviewsthatburn]

The worldbuilding unfolds slowly, with early mentions of the various kingdoms supplemented later on by more detailed descriptions once Xingyin actually travels there. The descriptions are evocative but not overwhelming, tending to focus more on her thoughts about what she observes. There’s a strong focus on Xingyin’s internal life, as her relationships get more complicated but she’s still keeping her parentage a secret. She’s the daughter of the moon goddess, having grown up in secret since her mother was exiled to the moon after claiming the immortality meant for her husband, Xingyin’s father. 

Full Review at Link

[alyciadebnamcareys]

“As a child, my mother had cautioned me against looking directly at the sun, telling me the brightness of its glare could blind me. Perhaps it was something her own mother had told her [...] Today, I had finally dared to gaze at it, allowing its radiance to blaze through me unhindered, spilling through my veins until I was aglow. Never did I imagine such luminous joy existed, and never again would I be content to remain in the shadows.”

― Sue Lynn Tan, Daughter of the Moon Goddess

[cendiar]

Legend of Fei Firefly AU!

After the war, the cousins and their friends decide to get a ship of their own, in the tradition of the 48 Strongholds who defend the common people and bow to no overlord.

Li Sheng is the captian, and Zhou Fei is his second. Zhou Fei is also a war veteran who is given a lot of deference, and she and Li Sheng work well together, but Li Sheng is the captain who ultimately calls the shots. (Over time, they relax enough to fall back into sibling bickering habits, which they had left behind during the seriousness of wartime leadership). Mu Xiaoqiao is the pilot. The three of them all served together during the war, and Chuchu is the mechanic who was assigned to their platoon. They name their new ship the Serenity at Mu Xiaoqiao's insistence.

Ying Hecong is the doctor, and Yang Jin is the hitter. The crew picked them up at a port and during a job, respectively, and they have been part of the family ever since.

A few years pass this way. Everyone in the shipping industry has heard of their crew, but the rumors vary based on the sector and the season. A combination of lucrative thefts, heroic interventions, and jobs for the rebellion led by the 48 Strongholds fuel their days and ways.

Through all this, Li Yan is a professional companion, who joined the Temple for espionage purposes several years back.

Xie Yun landed in the Temple after the political actors who controlled his childhood lost track of him. He has seen enough of the world to recognize and respect that Li Yan has something up her sleeve. They're friends. It's not a bad life, even if Xie Yun doesn't feel quite as called to the Temple as some of their compatriots seem to. He is good at charming people, and he is also good at maintaining the centered, distanced sense of self required to be successful in his line of work. His mastery of poetry recitations and erudite discussion is second to none.

When his past catches up with him, Li Yan helps smuggle him out.

Xie Yun is suspiciously good at keeping himself hidden. He guides them on routes that even Strongholds-trained Li Yan didn't know about, and on the Serenity, his nimble footwork let's them clear multiple search parties without detecting their extra passenger. This time around, Zhou Fei is the suspicious one. This too-lovely charmer has her desperately trying to find her footing. He teases her endlessly, flirting until she draws on him and then immediately turning it into a joke. Zhou Fei becomes terse enough with Xie Yun that Li Yan chides her, and then she avoids him until even Li Sheng reprimands her for creating tension among the crew. Her terrifically awkward apology to Xie Yun is interrupted by a violent encounter with another ship. They guard each others' backs through the fight, and are greeted with wolf whistles when Xie Yun emerges from Zhou Fei's cabin the next morning.

Meanwhile, political tensions are escalating. Opportunity strikes when Li Yan's information guides them to an inner planet during a visit by Yu Wenzhi and Shen Tianshu. No one says that it is an assassination mission, close to a suicide mission, but everyone lingers for longer than usual over an indulgent dinner the night before they enter orbit.

When the fighting breaks out, the situation is desparate. The tide of combat only turns when Xie Yun, unscathed as always, takes a deep breath and throws himself into the fray.

Zhou Fei screams. Chuchu is halfway there to join him, if dying together is all that's left to be done, but Xie Yun - their Xie-gongzi who refuses to even spar - has snatched an enemy blaster and is carving a destructive trail with all the grace that he usually uses to slip away from pursuers. There is a decisive strength to his movements that is absent from the elegant circles that he flits around the ship.

"The Cloudburst Palm?" Shen Tianshu exclaims in shock, before being caught in the back by Zhou Fei.

The remaining soldiers surrender quickly after that, Yu Wenzhi captured by Yang Jin and Li Sheng. By the time the smaller sun sets, a bewildered silence has settled over the district.

The crew of the Serenity flies out while a new government is being tentatively instated. The elders of the 48 Strongholds assure them that their involvement will not be needed any further.

"Where to next, great heroes?" Xie Yun asks, draped over the back of Zhou Fei's chair where the crew has gathered in the cockpit. "All the stars and nebulas in the dark, endless skies, and our fortune ahead of us - where should we go?"

"Aren't you the biggest hero? The legendary result of the Cloudburst Palm operation?" Yang Jin grouses.

"Ah, me, a hero?" Xie Yun says. "Surely not, Yang-daxia. You are very mistaken. I am but a hero's consort, hoping for a glance and a smile from Zhou-daxia, whose legend has far surpassed that of her forefathers. A courtesan to keep her company, and pour her tea, and warm her - " he breaks off with a laugh as Zhou Fei spins out of her chair to chase him.

"You pick, A'Sheng," Chuchu smiles. "We have all the time in world to see the stars."

"All the time in the world," Xie Yun echoes softly, for Zhou Fei alone as he stops and catches her. "The past behind us, and just the sky ahead, together." 

[angela-samuel]

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

Disclaimer: This is not a review or rating. I automatically give a high score on goodreads because this is not my job. I read for fun. This is supposed to be fun. Sometimes. Also, I do not know a lot. I am very uneducated on lots of things, so please do not read this post as a way to learn something. These are just my thoughts. My lovely unorganized thoughts.

I love when fantasy is written so deeply, it feels real. The magic system along with the Celestial kingdom felt so large, so elegant. I wanted to be there, but with Tan's luscious imagery I already was. Xingyin is a strong character. It was always clear what she really wanted. She was so determined to free her mother from the moon, and she never let us forget that. Although I was happy to read the book and finally finish, I was sad to let the characters go. I seriously cannot wait for the sequel at the end of the year. I wasn't going to write anything here about this book because it was going to be a "relaxing" read for me. Until I realized there will be more! So I'm writing this to remember what mattered for the sequel.

Some questions I hope are answered:

Wenzhi. My goodness I was not prepared for his betrayal. I should have seen it coming, but I will admit I do not pick up on things very well... Although he did betray Xingyin and the Celestial Kingdom, he seemed morally correct. I love this character because he is so complicated. I was afraid he was going to be a boring match up to fill the gaping hole that was LiWei... but no! I am glad I was wrong. His loyalty to the "demon realm" is so familiar to what Xingyin feels for her family. If she were in Wenzhi's position, would she do the same? If she landed in the demon realm instead of the celestial kingdom?

Also the Mind Talents. They are forbidden for good reason, so why protect it? I thought it was interesting how this moral dilemma was presented to the readers. We want to believe that the use of this Talent is evil, but the Celestial Emperor himself is not trustworthy. He banned these Mind Talents and is successful in manipulating the public (his unjust banishment of the dragons). All he wants is power. I wonder if the emperor and empress will be overthrown or brought to justice. And this brings LiWei's loyalty into question. Where did he get his kind and generous heart?? He is so different from his parents; I wonder if at some point he will have to make a huge decision.

Characters so I don't forget them:

Xingyin: First Archer. Daughter of the moon goddess. Sacrifices half of her immortal strength to free the dragons, so she is weakened by the end of the first book.

LiWei: Son of the Celestial Emperor. His Highness. Good at art. Very powerful and nice. Was betrothed to princess Fengmei, but broke it off for Xingyin.

Wenzhi: Was a captain for the Celestial army, but was revealed as a spy for the Demon Realm. Is actually second in linefor the throne there (Wenshuang is first).

Shuxiao: A soldier in the Celestial army. Xingyin's good friend.

Minister Wu: Court advisor to the Celestial emperors. Does not like Xingyin (I have a feeling we will see more of him)

Prince Yanxi: Prince of the Eastern Sea where they worship the dragons. A nice guy, especially to Xingyin.

Houyi and Chang'e: Xingyin's parents. Houyi is deceased, but he was famous for defeating the Empress' phoenixes that tormented tohe mortal realm. Houyi was a hero, but not to the Celestial Emperors. What did they originally have planned for him? How did he actually die? was his wife who stole his gifted elixir of immortality to survive birth. A tough choice she made, but we're glad she did.

I'm sure the sequel will remind us of everything important. Tan is good at that.

Some themes:

Family: Xingyin sacrificing everything for her mother. Never losing sight of her real goal. Becoming proud of who she came from instead of hiding it. Liwei's justice versus his parents' greed.,

Loyalty: Liwei having to choose between obeying his parents or defending XIngyin. Wenzhi's loyalty to his kingdom and to Xingyin. The Celestial Army's eventual loyalty to XIngyin (even though it took a while...)

Truth: Seeing through the Emperor's lies by seeking out the truth on her own. The merpeople's false guidance by Renyu. How dangerous it can be when you don't know the real truth. Be careful where you get your information from...

This is the kind of fantasy I love. I can only dream that one day I write a book as good as this with all of its fascinating story. I wish I had more to say, but I did not take notes while reading, so my memory is iffy. If you like Chinese fantasy, this book is perfect!!

Find the book at your local library!

[anotherenglishmajorxo]

I’m truly enjoying Daughter of the Moon Goddess and, surprisingly, The Winner’s Curse. 

Both are hurting me in many ways with Arin and Captain Wenzhi’s betrayal, and I’m mad about it.