Amazing story, poor characters.

Listening to this book was a sensory experience. The settings and the way the author writes is, for the most part, beautiful. The story, based on Chinese myth, was also interesting and dense. However, the protagonist isn’t as complex and I lost count at the number of times I rolled my eyes at her. She is motivated by her love for her mother and then later by her love for men. I say motivated but actually mean obsessed as it’s all she thinks about, all she talks about and all she does anything for. She has magical powers but there is no exploration of this in any detail and her use of them seems weak and vague. Her internal monologue is repetitive and actually becomes quite annoying. If there were a prize for most rhetorical questions in a novel, this one would win. She questions things the reader already knows and quite frankly she should know the answers as well. By the end of the book I was happy for it to be finished as if I had to listen to the verb ‘spill’ one more time I might have died from irritation. The lover turned antagonist of the plot held promise yet he quickly became a cliche. The love triangle was also a banality, as if choosing the ‘good’ guy was ever particularly enthralling. All in all, the book was okay, if the characters had been more complex, the concepts of magic fully developed and the narrative less repetitive it would have been a masterpiece.

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3 people found this helpful

This book is AMAZING

It's been some time since I liked the book so much. I know nothing about Chinese myths, so I had no reference for this retelling. Is it accurate? No idea. But I loved every minute of it!
Writing - so beautiful.
Characters - vivid, complicated, amazing.
Esthetic of this book brings to mind Crouched Tiger, Hidden Dragon (my favorite movie of all time), with beautiful Mandarin names, reserved but powerful manner.
I just wanted to stay there forever. Thank you, author, for this extraordinary experience.

Many thanks to the narrator. Her beautiful voice only enhanced all the emotions. She was perfect for this role, and I am going to seek out her other performances.

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3 people found this helpful

Unbearable to listen to...protagonist sucks!

The overall story and concept had so much promise. Eastern mythology and magical creatures intrigue me. I thought the book had so much promise.

Unfortunately the characters suck. The protagonist has no character development whatsoever. She is supposed to be a a teenager( a baby celestial) yet she's just so talented and good at everything without really working too hard for it. All the good looking guys just have a thing for her and it's all she thinks about! It's written in first person perspective so I understand that it's all based on her thoughts and experience. The way she thinks about things, her decisions, brash actions and temper is understandable given her age and lack of previous interactions with people but what annoys me is the fact that everything just works out for her! She never learns anything!
It doesn't help that the story reader is unbearable to listen to.

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1 person found this helpful

A well crafted story

Well written and brilliant narration this unique story will transport you to a mythical yet believable world full of action and twists. I’ve bought the next book - can’t wait !!

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Recommend this book

I had read a previous review and decided to give this book a try. I was not disappointed. Is a lovely story that held my interest and was full of interest from beginning to end. I have now bought the second book. Give it a try.

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1 person found this helpful

BRILLIANT!

I couldn’t stop listening… so compelling, so magical, so beautiful. The narration was also flawless. I cannot wait to listen to the next book.

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1 person found this helpful

good read

How lovely is this telling of the daughter of the moon goddess. Xingyins having to leave the only home ahe knows because her magic has come into power. Her mother tried to conceal her from the celestial kingdom. He goes to remain hidden and starts working a job as a servent in a house. Then comes across the celestial prince. She then ends up in the celestial army.

She ends up in a love triangle. But finds her seld in a postion to ask for her mothers freedom. I love the way this story plays out. Through everything, she keeps her hopes she always finds a way to get what she wants to help her mother. To free her from her prison on the moon. She found away to iver cime and conquer everything.

If you've not already give it a read

brilliant to listen to

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An Incredibly Beautiful and Well-Performed Story

This story had me gasping, laughing and crying all the way through. It is so full of depth and beauty at every corner. The characters will captivate you and the world itself is mind-blowing. Dragons, merfolk, celestial worlds - a fantasy lovers dream! The narration was also done impeccably, pulling you into the story and its world.

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Captivating

Great performance by the narrator, and the story is captivating. It is a YA storyline, so romance and love triangles are to be expected.

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Epic of love and loyalty

Beautiful and engrossing this story is a multi layered gem. At its heart is love, the love of a Daughter for her Mother. She is aided and sometimes thwarted by the two Men who love her.
The performance is superb.

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