Soaring into "Daughter of the Moon Goddess": A Journey Into Chinese Mythology
Galaxies and Goddesses: A Sci-Fi & Fantasy BookcastShow Notes
Join hosts Andrea and Elizabeth in this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses as they discuss Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan. They explore the book's setting, plot, and connections to Chinese mythology, and offer their thoughts on whether it leans more towards young adult or adult fiction. They also share personal reflections and library anecdotes, and touch on themes like dragons in fantasy worlds and the inclusion of meditation. The episode concludes with their ratings and invites listeners to their next episode about favorite summer reading activities. Tune in for an engaging and informative book discussion!
Other books mentioned in this episode: Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty Circe and Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
00:00 Welcome to Galaxies and Goddesses 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:31 Book Discussion: Daughter of the Moon Goddess 02:08 Themes and World-Building 04:41 Character Analysis and Final Thoughts 18:27 Telepathic Dragons and Mythical Creatures 20:07 Exploring Chinese Mythology 24:02 Meditation and Mindfulness 33:03 Book Ratings and Final Thoughts
More from Galaxies and Goddesses: A Sci-Fi & Fantasy Bookcast
Andrea and Elizabeth return to Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy to discuss Assassin’s Quest, the epic conclusion to Fitz’s journey. They explore Fitz’s search for purpose, the role of prophecy, and how his growing circle of companions helps him along the way. They also debate whether the ending feels rushed or satisfying, consider the mysteries left unanswered, and share their ratings for the final book.
What actually makes a book horror? In this spooky season episode, Andrea and Elizabeth explore where horror, fantasy, science fiction, and literary fiction start to blur together. They discuss unsettling books without traditional monsters, monsters that aren't necessarily scary, and the horror of human behavior and systemic injustice. Along the way, they discover that horror can take many forms, and perhaps the genre is harder to define than they thought.
In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth dive into Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb, the second book in the Farseer Trilogy. They talk about Fitz's growth from a young assassin into someone with deeper relationships, stronger alliances, and a much bigger role in the politics of Buckkeep. As the enemies seem to be at every turn, who is the biggest threat and are we really seeing the whole picture?
In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth wrap up Summer Book Bingo by sharing some of their favorite reads from the challenge. They talk about books that they couldn’t put down, the strange ways a Bingo category can change how you look at a book, and some thought provoking weird little books. A few are sci-fi, a few are fantasy, and some are just really great stories about community and character.
In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth dive into books on their TBRs for years, or even decades. This week, they're talking about the books and authors they've read a book or two and want to keep reading, from Margaret Atwood and Brandon Sanderson to Stephen King and George R.R. Martin. They discuss intimidating series, unfinished stories, forgotten books on their shelves, and the many ways book logistics influence what they actually read next.