I loved this book!

Anything Sue Lynn Tan writes is one of my must-reads. This was a phenomenal read after the Daughter of the Moon Goddess duology. Liyen is the strong female protagonist that I've come to expect from Tan, even despite her illness at times.

When she is swept away to the world of the gods, she meets the God of War, who vows to protect her no matter the cost. But the god has a past love that Liyen is jealous of, despite her not wanting to be. After all, she is just playing along to win back her people's freedom.

As the story progresses, her relationship and ties to the world of the gods become more complex than we could have imagined, and her love for the God of War deepens as they spend more time together. But evil encroaches on the land, and there are sacrifices to be made.

With time being scarce, Liyen will have to decide if she is going to sacrifice her people or her heart and freedom.

I genuinely devoured this book, and I wish it weren't a standalone. I cannot wait for more of Tan's storytelling. If you haven't picked this up, I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley for this e-ARC.

Sorry I'm posting this so late. I got sick and lost the notes I made for this review.

The book was a joy to read. The beginning gripped me, describing the downward spiral of the immortals' vengeance upon Tianxia, Liyen's home. As heiress to its throne, she must navigate politics and courtly intrigues with her sharp wit and keen intellect.

However, the devastation at the start of this book makes any survival all the more difficult.

I absolutely loved this beautiful book! Sue Lynn Tan does an amazing job of painting a world I want to step into. It's great escapism. Perfect for fans of kdramas and cdramas.

3.5 mixed-feelings stars.

I rarely ask for a standalone to not be a standalone, but I think this is a book that could have benefited from being a duology, simply because the world needed to be built SLIGHTLY more. Or...at least a longer book.

Let me explain.

The story is actually well crafted and I'm impressed by how much ground we cover in such a short period of time. But...that's exactly the problem. By the time we're done with Part One - the characters are already very intertwined. It all happens very quickly and it's kind of...well...lame. It feels a bit like instalove, cheap writing. Now LATER in Part Three, we actually learn why all of this happens and why everything is connected so quickly, but my concern is people reading this book without that knowledge are not going to be happy about that, and might possibly DNF because it feels abrupt and, frankly, annoying. Especially if you're someone who wants character development. Now...let's be clear, a lot of character development does happen, but again, you don't really know that until later when all of the pieces fall together.

It doesn't help that literally the day before I picked this up I read Flame & Sparrow, which follows a similar storyline - a girl gets swept away to live in a God's realm - in this one, it's the God of War, in Flame & Sparrow, it's the God of Fire. Flame & Sparrow was also TWENTY-TWO hours long and has a second book, so there's a lot going on there, which again, I do think this book could have benefited from.

It's an interesting concept, and in theory, a great story. But again, I wish we got more. There are also some marriage trials that are proposed and I thought YES, this will be great, but then that's very quickly done away with. Like, they aren't even part of the story.

Which is a huge let down.

Sadly I don’t think this authors writing is for me. The characters in this and prior books feel two dimensional to me.

I wanted to like this so much more than I did. I just didn't connect to the characters, but I was overall invested in the world. I also felt like the pace really dragged at the start only to pick up for a solid finale.

A very frustrating book that I considered DNFing. Very much felt like a first draft, and one that did not respect the reader's intelligence. I found the characters annoying, and the instalove more so. I'm sure there is an audience for this book, but I did not enjoy the experience.

I was immediately committed to this book. It was also a faster pace than The Daughter of the Moon Goddess and I was very happy for this. As I felt her previous biology was a bit slow for my taste. I enjoyed the chemistry between the God of War and Liyen. I rooted for them so quickly. The storyline was predictable but it was still nice to read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Newly appointed to the throne, Liyen carries with her the secret that her grandfather died to save her life, vowing revenge on the God of War who killed him. But upon being summoned to the Immortal kingdom, the God of War seemed determined to keep her out of harm’s way. As threats to her kingdom mount, Liyen will need to determine where her priorities fall.

While there was a lot to like about this standalone, I did not enjoy it as much as Daughter of the Moon Goddess. Tan’s lovely writing was still very much present, and I enjoyed the plot twists, but the plot overall seemed a little scattered.

Content Warnings: violence

This is a 6 star read. I've loved all of her books so far, and this one is just as amazing. If you love Chinese myths, C dramas, enemies to lovers, and sweeping romance. highly, highly recommend

I really enjoyed Immortal! It was such a treat to return to the same world as the Celestial Kingdom series, even though the characters were new. Sue Lynn Tan does a great job of expanding the mythology and bringing fresh perspectives to the universe she created. Her writing is just as beautiful and captivating, and I loved getting to explore more of this magical world from different angles. A must-read for fans of the series!

***Thank you NetGalley, Sue Lynn Tan, and Harper Voyager for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

DNF at 10%

Plot: ★
Characters: ★

I really couldn't with this one.

I stopped midway through chapter 4, so I can't give a review of the book in its entirety. I can, however, give you a list of reasons why I decided to put down this book. If these things bother you while reading, I would not suggest picking up Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan.

1) A terrifying immortal god romantic interest who the female protagonist instantly has the balls to argue with (at the risk of her life and her entire country, of course)
Example a)
"I should be afraid of him-terrified, even-yet anger sparked at his intrusive stare."

Example b)
"How dare he lecture me? I wanted to strike this unfeeling mortal."

2) Moving from wanting to strike/verbally assault the god (who kind of killed her grandfather and could kill her and her entire country at his whim) to maybe lusting after him (within a chapter)
Example a)
"I followed the minister's gaze toward the back of the hall, where my "suits" lounged. Some wore expressions of indifference, a few smiling broadly. Most were likely hauled here by their family elders in hopes of whetting my appetite. They were handsome in the forgettable way, dressed in fine garments, with the languid air of the prosperous. None had the presence of the God of War-an unwelcome thought that I furiously buried."

And that's where I called it quits. I could already tell this book wasn't for me. However, if you are looking for a simple romantasy where you don't have to think too much, or would enjoy the male love interest saying "Who hurt you?" within three chapters, you might like Immortals.

Thank you Sue Lynn Tan, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 1 star.

I literally loved this book so much that I went out and bought my own copy. Yeah, that's how much I loved it.

The story between the two main characters had me intrigued the entire time, especially since they were kind've an enemies to lovers romance (and I am a sucker for that). I loved their banter, and that it had an actual plot instead of relying entirely on the romance to carry the book. I also appreciate the fact that this was a stand alone book set in a already established universe, but I could follow it without having to have read the series that came before it. It is a stand alone that can actually be understood *on it's own*.

10 out of 10 stars, would recommend and am looking forward to more books from this author.

Also sorry this took so long to get to you - but regardless, I heavily enjoyed the book and have a new favorite author to add to my list!!!

Felt rushed. Where Daughter of the Moon Goddess was a full meal this felt like a snack you would grab at the gas station.
Bummer.

what a fun time i had reading this fantasy romance! we follow liyen, the heir to the kingdom of tianxia, as she ascends her throne. her grandfather risked everything to steal and give her the divine lotus, which would cure her mysterious ailments, but this act betrays the immortal queen. liyen’s kingdom is beholden to the immortals and this conflict puts her in the path of the god of war. but liyen finds the god of war may be more than what is said about him, as they find themselves forming an alliance.🤭

i loved reading this story so much! we have an unpredictable plot, paired with a tension-filled budding romance and a struggle for power. i also really loved following liyen’s journey as she finds her footing in her new role, and in turn, finds herself. the romance is top tier too, with their constant push and pull and banter, but also their soft, vulnerable moments too. ugh, is it already time for a reread?

With the beautiful imagery I've come to expect from Sue Lynn Tan, we're introduced to the small kingdom of Tianxia. They are the mortal guardians of the gateway into the Wuhan mountains, and their city is walled beyond any attack. Or any freedom for them to leave.

When her grandfather risks everything to save her life using a divine lotus, Liyen is swept into a world she's thought too weak to navigate. Her counselors expect her to marry soon, and seek to control her through their betrothal prospects. First though, she must go to the immortal realm, and reaffirm her dedication as Lady of Tianxia. Liyen's anger burns at the immortals, for keeping her people trapped, for claiming to protect them when any conflict between immortals means the lives of her soldiers.

She finds an unlikely ally in the God of War, but can she trust him? Can she fight the draw she feels toward him, and put her kingdom and people first?

This one is so beautiful, the Chinese mythology told in a way that's captivating and mesmerizing. While there were parts already established from Daughter of the Moon Goddess, this blend of the mortal and immortal realm gave us such a new landscape. And the distrust and careful alliances between the mortals and immortals, and how Liyen navigates the world as she discovers it, was so flawlessly done. I feel like the romance is a little more at the center of this story, and I loved watching it develop.

Sue Lynn Tan’s newest book is full of the beautiful, lyrical writing that made me a fan of her work. I love that this book was set in the same world as Daughter of the Moon Goddess so we got to see the world again with new characters.

Both of the MCs were incredibly well written & well-rounded. I loved the growth of the FMC, Liyen, throughout the story as she becomes more confident in herself. Zhangwei, the MMC, was a great counter to her, and I enjoyed seeing him let down his guard and become more relaxed throughout the story.

The plot was complex and rich with its twists and how emotional it was. I loved the political intrigue and watching the politics develop throughout the story.

This was a great standalone from Sue Lynn Tan!
Thank you to Harper Voyager & NetGalley for a copy of this book!

Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan is such a beautifully written story—it feels like stepping into a myth. The characters are layered and emotionally real, especially the way their relationships shift and grow over time. The world is magical and lush, full of celestial courts, ancient powers, and epic stakes, but it still feels intimate and personal. I loved how the story blends action, romance, and mythology without ever losing its heart. It’s the kind of book that leaves you dreaming about its world long after you’ve turned the last page.

Dnf at 41%. I’ve tried to finish this books for months and I just can’t do it. I’m bored. I loved her other series, the Celestial Kingdom, but for whatever reason I just did not vibe with this story.

Another absolutely beautiful story from Sue Lynn Tan. If you enjoyed the Daughter of the Moon Goddess duology, you will fall in love with this one too. This is a standalone book set in the Celestial Kingdom universe. The setting was very atmospheric and dreamy. It brings in various elements of Chinese mythology and philosophy. It is more heavy on the political side than the adventurous side of the fantasy genre. The plot kept me interested but I was here for our main characters. The banter between the FMC and MMC (chef's kiss).

While this was full of classic romantasy tropes that I love ("who hurt you," "touch her and die"), it still felt very unique. We need more standalones like this, I am so burnt out on long series, so this was refreshing.

The cover art- stunning. I purchased the first edition with the pink edges, so beautiful on my shelves. Thank you to NetGalley and for providing a digital ARC of this book.