Welcome to Litsy!

Weekend reading. I don‘t know how we‘re halfway through 2025, but I‘m going to keep reading even though my retention is crap!

I was surprised by how invested I was in this book considering the protagonist is quite young and comes across very young. Also, it's the trope of naive girl locked up in the moon her entire life but once released can slay the baddies, I'd usually eye roll at this trope but I didn't mind it here.

This is a retelling of the Chinese Mid Autumn Legend. I know very little of Chinese legends but that didn't impact my reading enjoyment.

I keep getting these books because of the gorgeous covers and I'm generally disappointed in the book itself. It was okay, and I finished it. Not enough dragons to keep me really interested though,. Romance a bit much to believe.

#stunningcover #aboutabook @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

This book was jammed pack with content. I can't believe this was only book 1.
I loved all the characters and the plot. There was so much deception. It was hard to know which characters to trust.
Xingyin was an amazing fmc. Her only goal was to free her mother from imprisonment and see her again. She accomplished so much in this book.
And, of course, there are dragons!
I am excited to see what the rest of the series brings!

Wonderfully written and a beautiful tale.

Currently listening this this book. My ninth book of the year which I think is pretty good 😊. Any one on fable?

A beautiful mix of folklore, heroes, and love triangles, this book was truly wonderful. The writing was lyrical and the lore within the world felt *so real* I ached for it to be true. I love how Lynn Tan weaves in bits of mythological tales within the story. Gorgeous 5/5!

This was just a beautiful book, rich with history and story and magic. Beautifully told, with a depth of description and character that made for an engaging and engrossing read. With action, reflection, a little romance, and so much growth, I just loved it. Big recommend if you‘re a fantasy fan, for sure.

#AutumnPlease Day 27
#Moon

@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#ScarathlonPhotoChallenge #Day13 #Moon With both a moon on the cover AND in the title, this book is perfect for today‘s prompt. #Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub 6pts

Current (re)read in prep for Book 2!!

Won‘t be reading book 2. I liked this but don‘t care enough to finish the story.

Edit: Just wanna add that I really don‘t like love triangles. I knew that there‘s a LT in this book before reading but I still read it because I thought maybe it would be executed in a way that I‘d be fine with it. It was OK but I still don‘t like it.

I also read a summary of book 2 and I‘m really fine with the decision of not reading it entirely.

Beautiful and sweet, full of action, adventure, and romance. What‘s not to like? Though the setting is very fanciful, the characters are real and dynamic. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

I love that the main character takes responsibility for her actions, recognizing that she has to learn and grow, even if she‘s not the best at it. The world building was good, and I liked how the ❤️ triangle was handled, as those things normally irritate me.
Having hidden her whole life, Xingyin devotes her new life to trying to free her mother. She must decide the best path forward on her own.
4/5 stars, I hope the sequel is just as good!

How I LOVED this book! So much so, I already preordered the sequel (it comes out in a couple of weeks). It has all the elements that make for my favorite kind of read. Likable and sympathetic characters, strong female characters, love and betrayal, forgiveness and folly. There‘s a lot of action and magic along with interesting dynamics between the characters. The plot is entertaining and held my interest with every page. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“For those that came after, one tread a little slower, a little warier—after hearts had been bruised and promises broken.”

Me time with breakfast 🥰😋

“Time to an immortal was as rain to the boundless ocean.”

I love this cover. This one has been on my TBR list for a while and I finally got myself a copy.

#SummerSpecial
Day 19. Moon Day
#MoonDay

I took Harper Lee to the bookstore with me for the first time today. One of the tasks she‘s trained to do for me is carry items while walking next to me so I can keep both hands on my crutches and use a hands free leash. She wasn‘t into holding things she isn‘t familiar with today, but walking next to me through the whole bookstore is a step in the right direction. Books probably taste bad anyway. The tagged book is the one I purchased today.

It took me a while to finally get to this book, but I enjoyed it a lot. The world building is very vivid, mythology and action are abundant. The story flowed nicely. I am looking forward to the second installment of this story, and wondering how things turn out.

I really liked this. The world that the author created is beautiful and mystical. I can't decide if this is adult fantasy. It did feel rather YA, but either way, I loved the battles with the mythical creatures. It felt a bit like her own labors of Hercules. I could have done with less focus on the love triangle, but overall, it was a great read and I look forward to more in this world.
#52bookclub23 #Readyourtbr #Serieslove2023

Wonderful fantasy novel. The world building was great and the connections to Chinese mythology and folklore added so much depth to the story.

The love triangle made me roll my eyes a few times, but I can understand why the author used it in this storyline.

I'm excited for the second book to see what other adventures await.

#SeriesLove2023 @TheSpineView @Andrew65

I was so impressed with the world building and writing in this fantasy based on Chinese mythology - It really doesn't feel like a debut novel! I got so much cleaning done over the last couple days because I wanted to keep listening!

This started as an #audiocleaning title this afternoon… yet here I am still listening past midnight… It‘s so good!

I loved this book! The imagery is beautiful and the story/plot is well thought out. The fact that this is a debut novel makes me super excited for any more books she has written.

#12BooksOf2022

October was a great month for reading with 3 books in my Top 10 of the year. Tagged book was a fun story inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess. I expected to enjoy it but was surprised by how much I loved wallowing in the court intrigue, family secrets, betrayal, jealousy, romance…all the things. The other three were also excellent with Fairy Tale the only one that didn‘t make my Top 10.

@Andrew65

My July pick is also my favorite book of the year. Plus that cover is just gorgeous. #12BooksOf2022 @Andrew65

Thank you to the person who sent me this #jolabokaflodswap package. I didn‘t see a Litsy handle anywhere on the package, so I‘m uncertain who sent it to me. However, I‘m looking forward to the tagged book and all the tea (plus the pretzels are a perfect snack for me!). Thanks for hosting @MaleficentBookDragon

I enjoyed this even though it had a dreaded love triangle. I mean I can't stand them but it worked in this because it helped evoke a certain style of story that wouldn't have been realized as well without it. The main character read a little young for me but I enjoyed following her adventures as she tries to save her mother from imprisonment.

Omg I‘ve had to do some math to see if I‘ll be able to conquer my #bookspin backlog before the year is over. I estimated 1k pages for the December draw because of chonkyboi curse but it looks like I only need to read 140 pages a day to make it! Wish me luck lol.

This debut very much read like a debut at the beginning—pacing & writing issues, a story more MG than YA—but it improved & when it did, the story, inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess Chang‘e, really grabbed my attention. Desperate to free her mother, Xingyun, sets out to achieve the impossible. The story has it all—danger, adventure, romance, courage, betrayal, love, & friendship. This first in a YA fantasy duology is a fun read.

Why are fantasy books so long 😩😩 This book would be so much better if it was shortened. That‘s my only complaint. Otherwise good book. The middle is a slog to get through.

Starting this one today…

"Grief was a luxury I could ill afford after wallowing in it for half the night" ?

The writing was very engaging. I was hooked from the beginning. The Celestial Kingdom is separate from the human world, with everyone being immortal and magical. There are wars between rival kingdoms constantly trying to amass power. I was very happy with the ending and don't know that the story needs to continue on. However, I will most likely read the next volume to spend more time with Xingyin and her friends.

#OminousOctober #Day9 #Moon This gorgeous book is a YA retelling of a Chinese myth about the Goddess of the Moon & her daughter with another god. #Scarathlon #TeamSlaughter 6pts

I have down right horrible taste in men. How did I manage to fall for the villain so hard that his betrayal broke my very soul? I am appalled by my choices.

In other news: this book is amazing and I loved it.

My current reads. Both are YA books. Both are good so far. One contemporary romance, one fantasy.

This was a beautiful book. An original fantasy with Chinese fairy tale inspiration. The beginning of the book feels very straightforward YA/NA fantasy (think SJM). However, as the story continues we are introduced to the very cool magic system and mythology. I definitely recommend this for people new to adult fantasy or fantasy in general as it‘s very approachable and not overloaded with characters. 4⭐️

This book definitely had the most exquisite writing I've ever read. Truly a lovely tribute to Chinese fantasy. The worldbuilding is where this book excels. The characters, on the other hand, required a lot of patience from me to care about them, making this not a new favorite. I would still recommend this to younger readers though.

⭐: 4

(Photo in the background belongs to kit sanchez)

Was this where all paths to love led? Heartbreak, whether through separation, betrayal, or death? Was the fleeting joy worth the sorrow that came after?

(No idea where this story is going yet, but the writing is truly lovely.)

A beautiful story weaving together myth, fantasy and legend. Dragons, evil emporers, demons, valour and love intertwine to create this truly enjoyable fantasy. It reminded me of watching Mulan with tge kids but in prose with greater development. Everything about this story was just lovely - right down to the cover itself.

I greatly enjoyed this book! It kept me engaged the entire time and had some unexpected plot twist that I really enjoyed. Definitely a pick for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5/5)

It felt like it took me forever to finish this one. The beginning started off slow and it honestly didn‘t pick up until about halfway through. I‘ve never been one for love triangles, so I wasn‘t too keen on the romance in this story and I found the main character mildly annoying. I enjoyed the world and the overall story, but I found this book to be just an “okay” read.

This is my new favorite book of the year. It‘s an epic fantasy inspired by the Chinese myth of Chang‘e - the Moon Goddess, filled with princes, warriors, demons, love, betrayal, and quests. #Booked2022 #MythologyRetelling #AlmostAChunkster (512 pages) First book finished for #JubilantJuly @Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage @TheAromaofBooks @Andrew65