Daughters of the Sun and Moon: A Novel
Scribner, 2026
Agent: Sandra Dijkstra
Beloved New York Times bestselling author Lisa See draws on the vibrancy and turmoil of post-Civil War Los Angeles to tell the story of three Chinese women who managed to survive and, eventually, thrive, despite all odds.
In 1870, three Chinese women arrive in the small, dusty, and violent pueblo of Los Angeles. Dove, the bound-footed daughter of an imperial scholar, is entrancing and innocent. These characteristics should bring her great rewards, beginning with her arranged marriage to a much older merchant. Petal, the big-footed daughter of peasants, has grown up hungry and with dirt between her toes. In a moment of desperation, Petal’s father sells her to buy money for rice seed, and she is loaded onto a ship to the Gold Mountain—America—where she is once again sold. Moon is married to a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine. She is educated, speaks fluent English, and has been endowed with a face of great beauty, yet her failed footbinding as a child has left her with a limp that lessens her value in the eyes of many.
Each woman has her own desires. Dove wants to love and be loved, Petal desires freedom, and Moon seeks justice. Together they face a larger society that wishes them not one ounce of good will. Anti-Chinese sentiment is strong in Los Angeles, and this eventually leads to the Night of Horrors during which all three women are challenged in ways they could not have imagined. Brought together by hardship and heartbreak, they must use their bravery, endurance, and ability to “eat bitterness” to discover their voices, find freedom, and connect through solace and friendship. Together they are daughters of the sun and moon.
Accolades:
- A New York Times Bestseller
- Most Anticipated Book of the Year by Today.com
- Most Anticipated Book of the Summer selection by Zibby Owens
- Most Anticipated Book of the Summer selection by Amazon
- An Alta Most-Anticipated book of the Summer 2026
- Publishers Weekly Summer Reads 2026 Staff Pick
- LibraryReads Pick for June
- One of The Skimm's Best Summer Beach Reads
Reviews:
"See offers a stunning piece of historical fiction based in truth. It will touch readers with the characters’ resilience, heroism, and devoted friendship."
—Library Journal, starred review
“I’ve been a huge fan of See ever since I ripped through Snow Flower and the Secret Fan 20 years ago. She brilliantly mashes up history and fiction into character-driven page-turners that bring to life ordinary women doing extraordinary things to survive in a harsh and oppressive world that underestimates them. I’m intrigued that this novel about three Chinese women who are immigrants to late-19th-century Los Angeles is based on See’s own family lore.”
—Claire Kirch, PW Summer Reads 2026 Staff Pick
“Stirring…See builds a taught story from precise details…Without minimizing the period’s racism and misogyny, See offers an inspiring vision of female resilience.”
—Publishers Weekly
“See excels at the ‘worldless communion of women,’ portraying three disparate personalities drawing strength from and helping each other survive. Moments of beautifully rendered heartbreak will have tremendous appeal for fans of women’s fiction and historical fiction readers interested in Chinese culture.”
—Booklist
"See’s narrative brims with historical detail…Poignant and fascinating, Daughters of the Sun and Moon is a heart-pounding frontier narrative and a tender tribute to female friendship."
—Shelf-Awareness
“In Daughters of the Sun and Moon, Lisa See once again delivers a luminous, deeply affecting novel. With her signature blend of historical richness and emotional depth, she brings to life women from vastly different social classes who are nonetheless bound by the shared realities of anti-Chinese discrimination and the constraints placed on them as women...This is historical fiction at its most powerful—intimate, unflinching, and unforgettable.”
—Bookmiser
“Heartwarming, yet affective...by the end, you feel deeply connected to each of their stories and their strong friendship.”
—Margo Ghertner, The Skimm
“A really fine historical novel shares truth and expands the reader’s perceptions of world and those we share it with The Daughters of the Sun and Moon does just that with memorable characters, careful research and strong storytelling.”
—Becky Milner, Vintage Books
“The history has been well documented in works such as Michael Luo’s Strangers in the Land and Lisa See uses those accounts and her own family history to put a fictional face upon the bigotry and violence...Their story is powerful and resonates on every level, from their era until the present.”
—Bill Cusumano, Square Books
“Lisa See has written another exquisite novel...Steeped in fact, infused with true-to-life characters, I hung on to every page. This novel is historical fiction gold.”
—Donna Staub, The Well-Read Moose
"One of my favorite reads of the year so far.”
—Erik Daniells, Pleasant Pheasant Books
“Wow. This was my first Lisa See book, but it will not be my last...The story is haunting, the writing poetic, and the bravery of each woman unforgettable.”
—Georgia Sprague, Country Bookshelf
“As we have learned over the years, Lisa See has a gift. She tells stories about Chinese and Chinese-American women who carry forward the strength and persistence that add so much to our history."
—Linda Bond, Auntie’s Bookstore
“No one writes about the Chinese/American experience like Lisa See...Thoroughly researched, and beautifully executed, Daughters of the Sun and Moon illustrates the fortitude of these women in dire circumstances. Forced to face a future beyond their choosing, they survive unbearable odds and forge their own destiny. This is another impressive and riveting work of historical fiction.”
—Pamela Klinger-Horn, The Valley Bookseller
“Lisa See and all of her titles have been a staple for BookTowne over the years. She’s been one of the most pleasant authors to work with! (She Facetimed (pre ZOOM) with our book club years back) and shared tea with us! This book will do extremely well for us.”
—Peter Albertelli, Booktowne
“We are BIG fans of Lisa See and excited for Daughters of the Sun and Moon.”
—Polly Buxton, Buxton Books
“Lisa See has another great book!”
—Barbara Wojcik, Page 158 Books
“I was so excited to see a new Lisa See book coming out and I am not disappointed!...If you like character driven historical fiction, I highly recommend this book!”
—R. Stafeil, Sidetrack Bookshop
“A beautiful exploration of how community, friendship, and collaboration can overcome exploitation.”
—Travelin’ Storyteller