AAPI HERITAGE MONTH SPECIAL

 

Hello friends...welcome to my space. As you might know, May is a month for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage so I decided to read books that represent them. But for this year, I more focus on reading Asian books. And...here they are!

1. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God’s bride, in the hopes that one day the “true bride” will be chosen and end the suffering.

Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village—and the beloved of Mina’s older brother Joon—may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead.

Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin—as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits—Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all.

But she doesn’t have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking… 

This book is a retelling of Korean folktale, the Tale of Shim Cheong. In the original tale, Shim Cheong becomes the true bride of the Sea God after she jumps into the sea. But, in this story, Shim Cheong doesn't jump into the sea, but Mina does.

This book, guys, is beautiful from the outside and inside. First, look out the cover. IT'S GEORGEOUS! And second, the inside, the pace is perfect, the setting is wonderful, and the characters are lovable. I think romance is not the focus of the story because it's barely there. But, when it was appeared, even for a short time, it made my heart beats faster. 

Quick information, I love Heartless by Marissa Meyer, since then I've been searching...and searching...and searching book that's similar to it and now I finally find it!

2. Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.

Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperor's son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince.

To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies across the earth and skies. But when treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dream—striking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos.

This is a retelling for Chinese mythology about Chang'e, the moon goddess. In this book we will follow Xingyin, daughter of the moon goddess, finds a way to break her mother's curse which makes her trapped on the moon.

The story is great, but the pace is too slow for me. So many things happen, so many people, and so many places. Still...it's worth the 5 stars! Actually, the writing style reminds me to ACOTAR series, so if you like those books, you're gonna love this one.

Talking about the ACOTARs, even the romance kinda reminds me to them. We're dealing with love triangle here, everyone! So, we have Xingyin, Prince Liwei, and Captain Wenzhi. I like both Liwei and Wenzhi. Beside the romantic feelings that they have for Xingyin, there is also a beautiful friendship between them. I just wish one of them not turn into "Tamlin" in the second book....

The second book, Heart of the Sun Warrior, will come out on November 22. So...we'll see where the story goes.

That's it for today. HAPPY READING!