Skip to main content

Member Reviews

Sue Lynn Tan’s Immortal delivers an enchanting blend of political intrigue, romance, and mythological fantasy, set in a richly imagined world where mortals and immortals are intricately entwined. As the heir to Tianxia, Liyen is thrust into a perilous position after being poisoned and saved by her grandfather’s desperate act, leading to the wrath of the immortal queen and a subsequent attack by the formidable God of War. With her grandfather’s death, Liyen ascends to a fragile throne, determined to break her kingdom’s servitude to the immortals. Her journey to the Immortal Realm is both a quest for knowledge and an opportunity to safeguard her people, despite the dangerous allure of the God of War, who becomes both ally and potential betrayer.

Tan’s writing is as lyrical and evocative as ever, creating a melodic narrative that sweeps readers into the intricacies of Liyen’s world. The characters, particularly Liyen, are strong and compelling, navigating complex loyalties and forbidden desires. While some may find similarities between the characters in Immortal and those in her Celestial Kingdom series, the unique storyline and the romantic tension between Liyen and the God of War distinguish this standalone novel.

Sue Lynn Tan’s ability to craft strong, multidimensional characters and an immersive world kept me engaged from start to finish, cementing her place as one of my favorite authors. This book is a testament to her talent and a must-read for those who appreciate beautifully written, character-driven fantasy tales.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Sue Lynn Tan has brought forth another wonderful book. If you enjoy fantasy C-dramas that involve gods and romance then you will enjoy this book. It hits all the classic tropes - the stoic male lead, the fierce and stubborn female lead, and the twists that come along with it. The story examines the choices we and our parents make and how that affects the world around us.

Was this review helpful?

I really wanted to love this book, but it ended up just being okay. The lore and atsmosphere is beautiful, and the plot kept me coming back. But the romance felt off. Once we learn of the memory loss, things make sense. But that didnt make for an enjoyable romance plot.

Was this review helpful?

I have read about 80% of this book and recently purchased it in store. So far, I have really enjoyed this book. I loved the influence and inspiration of Chinese mythology into the story. I have another Sue Lynn Tan book and am really looking forward to picking it up after reading this!

Was this review helpful?

Sue Lynn Tan: you will always be famous.

Tan yet again shows she is a master at her craft--in this luscious new tale, the ambitious new ruler of a mortal realm is forced into a reluctant alliance with the mysterious immortal, the God of War, to achieve her goals for saving her realm once and for all in exchange for protection for her kingdom that has been suffering at the hands of immortals for ages.

I looooved the dynamics at play here. I had an inkling where it was going but I was truly shocked at some of the reveals. I think the relationship between Liyen and the God of War was so much fun to read about. They play games with each other to achieve their goals and it's delicious!!! There is angst and longing! And tension!!!! It was great. Liyen is also a great main character, which is no surprise because Tan always creates strong leads that are full of heart. The plot is riveting and, as always, the writing is superb.

This book was a blast and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Immortal is a standalone, fantasy romance set in the same world as Daughter of the Moon Goddess. If you’ve read Sue Lynn Tan’s previous work you know how vivid her worlds are, and Immortal is no exception. Not only does Immortal have a rich world, but the characters are fleshed out and interesting and there are also a handful of delightful twists I did not see coming. I truly enjoyed this story and can't wait to read more from Sue Lynn Tan.

4.25 stars

Tropes include: who hurt you, enemies to lovers, and he falls first.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I thoroughly enjoyed Immortal! There is something so enthralling about Sue Lynn Tan's writing that sucks you in and has you eager to read more. I loved going back into the Celestial Kingdom and meeting new characters and learning about different parts of the world. I truly did not know what to expect going into this book and I was so surprised with each twist and turn. And also the ROMANCE!!! Something about her enemies to lovers tropes are just so good and I was obsessed! Such a beautifully written story, I wish there was more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review!

Was this review helpful?

This was my most anticipated book of the year, and I am so let down. This was the definition of mid romantasy. i love this author, but this was a HUGE miss for me

Was this review helpful?

Thank you netgalley for this eARC!

Absolutely breathtakingly romantic. I devoured this. Sue Lynn Tan took everything I loved about the Celestial Kingdom Duology and doubled it into this book. Her writing is some of the most beautiful I've ever read. The romance was spectacular and the tension between Liyen and the God of War was just...perfection. Not to mention the twists through out this book?! Just amazing.

Was this review helpful?

This book pulled me in from the very first page. I loved the vivid world-building. The descriptions of the settings, from the lush landscapes to the intricate cultural details, were absolutely enchanting and made the world feel real and immersive.

The twist regarding one of the main character's ifentities took me by surprise—it came out of left field, but once revealed, it was a satisfying and clever addition to the story.

One of my favorite quotes: It's easier to hate than to understand.

The pacing was a bit slow in certain parts, which is why I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5, but overall, *Immortal* is an enjoyable read with rich world-building, an intriguing plot, and characters that I quickly became invested in.

Was this review helpful?

A beautifully written return to the world of the Celestial Kingdom. Tan did a phenomenal job at keeping the lore consistent with the other stories set in this universe while still blessing us with something new and fresh. I loved seeing the Mortal - Immortal pipeline from the other perspective (if you know you know).

4.5 Stars

Was this review helpful?

Immortal is a beautiful stand alone fantasy that immerses you in the world with stunning prose and a unique story. Liyen has been ill as long as she can remember and after her grandfather defies the gods by healing her with the eternal lotus she finds herself caught up in the web of the gods. Liyen seeks to free her people from the influence of the immortals but she begins to see a new side of them after the mysterious god of war saves her from a new threat and hosts her in the realm of the immortals.


There is a fun twist that was pretty predictable but I enjoyed the development of the love story. Liyen was a bit hard to understand at first but as the novel continued her choices and personality made more sense. I really loved the development for Aunt Shou as well and the complexities of the relationship they have with each other. I would be happy to explore more of this author’s work and her series that is set in this same world.

Was this review helpful?

If there's one thing Sue Lynn Tan knows how to do, it's create a wonderful, in-depth world. I adore the way she writes, and I can genuinely envision our characters going through their lives. I just feel it's really important to explain how impressive it is that I can see her books so clearly in my mind's eye.

I don't know what else to say about this, except absolutely read it. It's a wonderful story about love, fate, destiny, and so much more.

Our story starts with our main character and her grandfather fleeing from the immortals because the king of the land (grandfather) is going to give the (healing) magical lotus flower meant for one of the immortals to his granddaughter to heal her. When confronted by the immortals, the grandfather passes away and our main character, now healed, is now the leader. However, her people are not happy. Her court doesn't respect her (they see her as weak) and her lands are trapped behind a wall, by the immortals, because they are meant to be the first line of defense for the immortals against the Wuxin- enemies of the immortals.

Liyen, the current leader of Tianxia, must go to the Immortal lands and pledge her loyalty but while she is there, she tries to convince the God of War to speak for her people in front of the Queen of the Desert and convince her to let her people go. More than this, there are secrets that the Immortals are keeping from Tianxia and she fears they know she has the lotus flower. On top of that, the Wuxin are breaking the barrier between the worlds and want Liyen too!

An absolutely stunning romantasy that I could have read an entire series about- which is maybe the highest praise I can give to a book. Ten out of ten.

Was this review helpful?

First off, thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

I loved reading this book a lot. I have read Ms. Tan’s other works, the Celestial Kingdom duology, before so I half expected it to be drawn out like how that story was. Nope, it was more fast paced, things developing at a quicker pace than I anticipated.
World building was vibrant and colorful, I felt like I was right beside Liyen and Zhangwei through the onslaught of monsters and demons, to piecing together the truth of what happened years ago, to their own hearts.
Reading this book was a delight and I highly recommended it!

Was this review helpful?

Immortal is a beautiful story that follows Liyen, a young woman, who’s life is spared by the sacrifice of her grandfather, ascends the throne of Tianxia. This sacrifice enrages the Immortals, and Liyen must travel to their land to receive the blessing to rule her land. With her kingdom under threat, Liyen must confront the Immortals and unravel their secrets.

This story has beautiful world building, and a an incredible romance any reader will fall for. Liyen is stubborn and hot headed and beautifully human as she navigates the world of the Immortals. The chemistry between Liyen and the God of War is warming and hopeful, leaving me aching for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me this ARC in exchange of my honest opinions!

Was this review helpful?

Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan is a breathtaking tale that beautifully weaves mythology, magic, and emotion into an unforgettable story. Tan’s lush, lyrical prose brings the world and its characters to life, making every page feel like a work of art. The protagonist’s journey is both epic and deeply personal, filled with twists and heart-wrenching moments that kept me hooked. A stunning continuation of her storytelling mastery, this book is a must-read for fans of myth-inspired fantasy. Highly recommend!

Was this review helpful?

Book Review: IMMORTAL ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Sue Lynn Tan
Publisher: Avon/Harper Voyage

I must admit that I do not typically read romance fantasy, but I thoroughly enjoyed Sue Lynn Tan's book.

Llyen, the young ruler, fights to protect her kingdom. After being saved by her grandfather's sacrifice following a near-fatal poisoning, Llyen sparks the wrath of the immortal queen. Determined to survive, Llyen embarks on a journey to confront the immortals and uncover their secrets. Along the way, she encounters numerous challenges and unexpectedly meets the God of War, whom she was meant to fear but does not. As their chemistry and passion grow, they form an alliance to defeat the immortals. Will they prevail, and can their relationship survive? The book is filled with unexpected twists, making it a fantastic read. I highly enjoyed the story.

Was this review helpful?

This book had me kicking my feet and giggling! I love the dynamic between the couple and their breathtaking romance. I also love how complex the conflict with the antagonist is. A definite must-read for romantasy fans.

Was this review helpful?

I'm going to be totally honest here, I wasn't very impressed with the first 20% of the book, not with the plot or the characters or anything that was happening. But around the 30% there's a twist that changed my perspective on the book and from there it just kept getting better and better, and even getting to the last 150 pages I thought I knew what was coming but Sue Lynn Tan completely surprised me.

The way the plot unfolds had me completely captivated, it was an adventure very much in the style of what the author has already accustomed us to, super magical, ethereal and romantic. Liyen's story was one I was not expecting at all but I deeply loved along the whole star-crossed lovers theme with the god of war.

In all I feel like it's a book that in a single installment presents us with a great adventure, a beautiful romance, action and political intrigue in the same portions and so much magic ❤️

Was this review helpful?

4.5 stars

Immortal is a standalone romantic fantasy set in the same world as Daughter of the Moon Goddess, one of my FAVORITE duologies of all time. It does not have any spoilers for that series and can be read on its own if you've not yet read the duology (although you definitely should).

Immortal tells the tale of Liyen, heir to Tianxia, who must save her people from the wrath of the Immortal Queen and the other gods. To do so, she must find a way to break the treaty her kingdom has with the Immortals, which once protected them from vicious enemies outside their walls, but now is just as dangerous.

Upon her grandfathers death, she ascends the throne and is summoned to the Immortal Realm. There, she is determined to find a way to learn their secrets and end the treaty, but to do so she must form an alliance with the ruthless God of War.

As dark forces continue to threaten and with the fate of her kingdom on her hands, Liyen must risk everything to save them from danger, even if it means losing her heart in the process.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

This book is filled with fierce characters, a high paced plot, and phenomenal world building! I am convinced everything I read from SLT is her best work until the next thing comes out and then I'm floored again!

Liyen and Zhangwei are everything to me. I loved their tension and hatred and how it blossomed into a love that surpassed worlds. Tan always manages to give me the warm and fuzzies with her love stories, and this one was just another to add to the list of favorites.

I listened to this one on audio and Natalie did as superb a job as ever. She is one of my favorite narrators and she always brings Sue's stories to life! Between Sue's beautifully lyrical writing and Natalie's soothing voice, you cannot go wrong with doing this on audio!

I strongly recommend reading this book and her Daughter of the Moon Goddess duology. She's a favorite of mine for a reason and I can't wait for everyone to get to meet Liyen and the God of War!

Was this review helpful?