This feels very reminiscent of Sue Lynn Tan's Daughter of the Moon Goddess's duology. Her writing is very unique and I feel like her protagonist in this one feels a little younger than the main character in DOTMG. However even though she read a little younger I could still feel how much emotions were put into this novel. The love interest in this one being the God of War we get a different side of the gods then we did in DOTMG and yet it felt really similar, even including the way they traveled on clouds. If you liked her other books you will like this one as well, for me it kind of didn't peak my interest enough to give a higher rating but was still really well written and kept me engaged throughout.

I am kicking myself for waiting until release week to read this one!

After the Celestial Kingdom Duology, the bar was so high for Sue Lynn Tan that I avoided this arc for fear of disappointment.

I’m thrilled to report that it did in fact exceed all my expectations. The romance was full and gut-wrenchingly beautiful. The plot and the romance were the perfect balance for me (which is really hard to do, especially for romance-centric fantasy like this one).

I loved how and when everything developed, but mostly I will be holding onto this relationship forever. Definitely sexier than Daughter of the Moon Goddess but in a way that felt more real than a lot of romance in fantasy.

I loved it. Will be rereading it asap once my friends get their copies.

Such a good book! I think I enjoyed this one even more than the Daughter of the Moon Goddess. It did get a little confusing towards the end with the similar names, and new characters being added, but overall, great book!

7.57 Cawpile

This latest standalone book will give you all the vibes of Daughter of the Moon Goddess with a more passionate enemies to lovers romance. The reader is taken into the world of immortal gods named demons as we follow Liyin’s journey to end her kingdom’s obligation to the immortals. The world is filled with magic and feels straight out of a period Chinese drama. I enjoyed the exploring another part of this world with a cast of new characters.

The story follows our brash and wise Liyen and our honorable god of war as they meet and have to learn to trust each other. There is some character growth but it felt very secondary to the romance that brews between the two characters. I liked seeing the relationship develop between the two characters. The writing did feel very romance focused and character focused rather than plot focused. There is quite a bit of inner monologue from the main character to show the reader the wide range of emotions Liyen is going through. The story feels very plot driven and points of intrigue were sprinkled throughout very subtly.

I would recommend this read to any fantasy readers looking for a more emotional/passionate romance with no spice. Or anyone who has read the authors other series and wanting to spend a little more time in the magical world of immortals.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was so gorgeous. The romance, the writing, the banter, the enemies to lovers vibes. I love the mythology of it all. This is my first book by the author and it will not be the last!

I was so excited to be back in Sue Lynn Tan's world of immortals! I loved her other books, and this one was SO good as a stand-alone!

The world is so vivid and gorgeous, with so many fascinating details. The characters are stunning, with a level of intensity and depth that had me drawn into their stories. The story is the perfect blend of mythology, action, romance, and plot twists! Once I started reading, it was hard to put it down!

Thank you to NetGalley, Sue Lynn Tan, and Harper and Muse Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Sue Lynn Tan’s Sweeping New Romantasy ‘Immortal’ is Going to Run Away with Your Heart

Liyen is the heir to Tianxia, a mortal kingdom pledged to serve the immortals and guard the precious Divine Pearl Lotus, an enchanted flower with healing powers. But when she is poisoned, Liyen’s grandfather gives her the lotus to save her life. This unleashes the immortals’ wrath and throws her in the path of the mysterious and ruthless God of War, Lord Zhangwei. Liyen finds she must ascend to the throne much earlier than she anticipated and vows to free her people from their pledge, even if that means losing everything…but her fate might just lead her to what she’s been missing all along.

Immortal immediately transports you into its fantastical and epic land filled with Chinese mythology, gods, and monsters. The writing is stunning and the worldbuilding is rich and expressive, blending high fantasy with romance so seamlessly you can’t help but admire Sue Lynn Tan’s skill. The chapters fly by as Liyen and Zhangwei dance a delicate tango of life and love while trying to prevent a war that threatens both immortals and mortals alike.

Liyen is an excellent protagonist who doesn’t sit around and wait for the plot to happen to her; she chooses to make her own fate, every time. Strong and empathetic, she seeks to right all the wrongs she sees and strives to learn more about her world and its different realms. The God of War is the romance hero you’ve been looking for; powerful and protective, he sees Liyen for everything she is, challenging her and moving mountains just to be by her side. Their love story is bewitching, making your heart race with every magnetic encounter.

This is one of the best romantasy novels I’ve read in a long time; the world and its politics are always dynamic and never too heavy-handed, while the fantasy aspects light up the narrative. And the romance, ooh, the romance, it sets this novel on fire. The action scenes are all at once brutal and poetic, always showing the cost and grief of bloodshed while adding to the tension that keeps the narrative flowing. Exploring what it means to be human and how love transcends all, Immortal’s wonderfully poignant observations about family, friendship, and duty will take your breath away.

Starting the year off with finesse, Immortal is a novel I want to shout about from the rooftops—multiple times while reading, I had to sit back and squeal over just how fantastic it is. This is a must-read for any romantasy fan; Immortal takes the genre into the skies for an unmissable and truly unforgettable adventure.

Such a great book I loved the world building and the characters! I think the FMC transformation was insanely good! I could not put this book down

Sue Lynn Tan has done it again! Daughter of the Moon Goddess is one of my favorite books so Tan set quite a high standard but I was still so excited to read her new standalone fantasy. While set in the same Celestial universe as her previous books, you don't need to read them (even though you absolutely should!). After her grandfather dies, Liyen becomes the new leader of her kingdom where she vows to end their obligation to the immortals who she blames for murdering her grandfather and who refuse to let any of the mortals leave the borders of their kingdom. In order to go against the immortals, Liyen teams up with the ruthless (and handsome) God of War.

As typical with Tan's books, there are betrayals that made me gasp and vivid fight scenes that had me at the edge of my seat. I truly never knew where this book was going and it made for such a fun ride. I was so worried about Liyen, a headstrong and stubborn character who ultimately will do anything for those she loves. Some of the plot points were similar to those in Moon Goddess, but I still had no idea about any of the twists and turns. I really love Tan's straight forward way of writing which is so vivid for how stilted in some ways it is. It's descriptive but not over the top and vivid and real and I am forever a fan.

Than you SO much to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

In Immortal, Sue Lynn Tan brings readers back to the world of Daughter of the Moon Goddess for a new adventure set in the Kingdom of Tianxia. When her grandfather suddenly dies, Liyen ascends to a precarious throne and is summoned to the Immortal Realm to get their blessing over her rule. There, she forms a tenuous alliance with the God of War, Zhangwei, to protect her people. But when darker forces, and an undeniable attraction, complicate things, Liyen must risk everything to protect all she is fighting for.

I loved this book so much. It was great to explore a new corner of the Celestial Kingdom (and the mortal world below). This book is deeply romantic, but it's also packed with adventure and conflict. I love that Liyen draws upon her own strengths in the face of adversity, staying true to her character and relying on her knowledge of leadership, politics, and diplomacy rather than letting those fall to the way-side in favor of fighting with a sword or using brute strength.

Tan is an expert at creating tension between characters, letting us see how close two can get before one or both of them steps away. There is obvious mutual attraction between Liyen and Zhangwei, but she makes you wait for it, and it’s delicious. It’s a slow burn, but the embers are definitely throwing sparks the whole time.

I also grew so attached to the wider cast of characters as well! Without spoilers, Aunt Shou and Chengyin’s plotline made me cry much more than expected.

This book is for anyone who loves the Daughter of the Moon Goddess, but also for anyone who watches fantasy C-Dramas! It reminded me so much of “Eternal Love” and “Love Between Fairy and Devil”. If you’re looking for a fast-paced story of intrigue, secrets, betrayal, and love, then this one is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

ARC Review:
3 ⭐️ for Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan

Summarizing this book in just a few sentences is too challenging! I enjoyed this stand-alone fantasy romance ok, but there was so much packed in it’s hard to describe all that happens. In fact I would have enjoyed it more had the plot been clearer. The beginning was fantastic at hooking me in, and I really enjoyed the romance between Liyen and Zhangwei. Just when I would start loving the world and vibing with the characters, the plot would be flipped on its head and it felt like starting all over again. The pacing was off with it being a stand alone, and the twists too frequent. The payoff was rushed at the end. Now despite all this, I definitely will be picking up Sue Lynn Tan’s Celestial Kingdom duology because it is set in the same world, and I found her world building to be immersive, interesting, and easily understood.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this arc. Immortal is out today(January 7th, 2025)!

3.5 stars

Immortal is set to be published on January 7, 2025. Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Immortal tells the story of Liyen, a mortal and heir to a Kingdom, whose grandfather gives her the divine pearl lotus to save her from an illness. The flower was meant for the immortal queen, and he faces her wrath, dying in the process (this is the first chapter or so, so not really a spoiler). The book then follows Liyen as she invokes the protection of the mercurial God of War, and the two go on a dangerous journey to the skies and underworld.

As to things I didn’t love about the book, the pacing was off - some parts were great, others took too long to resolve, and then some conclusions were too short without adequate explanation. Without giving away spoilers, there are some fact questions about some of the plot twists that weren’t adequately explained or mentioned. I had to go back and re-read chapters to see if my questions had been answered, which was frustrating. I think, with a little more development, I would have rated this closer to 4 stars.

I did really like the enemies to lovers angle, the memories, the YEARNING, the God of War (love him!), the travel to the different celestial realms, and I think Sue Lynn Tan created a really great and lush world. I also really liked the plot, including the twists, but I wish they’d been better executed. Overall, I neither loved nor disliked Immortal. It was a good book, that I think many will love based on the reviews.

Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan is a romantic fantasy about Liyen, the ambitious Lady of Tianxia, and the God of War. Their story is is one of secrets, passion, vengeance, and love and bonds in many forms.

This story and this world left me feeling breathless. Every twist, every turn had me gasping aloud, sometimes needing to put the book down to take a walk or just sit and hold space for what I’d just read. Admittedly, part one (and then some) had me questioning the quickness of the romance, but as the story unfolded, BOY WAS I SOLD. If asked to summarize this story to my friends, the first thing I would say is, “Now *that’s* what I call romance.” Liyen and Zhangwei are the epitome of loyalty and finding their love in every lifetime and every world, and honestly what more could anyone in deep romantic love ask for.

Upon finishing this book, I had to lie down (positively). It honestly feels like a privilege getting to read the world that Sue Lynn Tan wove together. This world is beautiful and enchanting and (while simultaneously standalone as well as set in the same universe as Daughter of the Moon Goddess) continually captivates me across different stories and characters. Immortal is told in three parts, and there is something so beautiful in reading Liyen’s steadfast loyalty and dedication for her people as she learned to see beyond the prejudices and grow compassion for all those she’d been taught to believe were her enemies. Across every realm, across every life, her journey to self-discovery— *chef’s kiss.*

Sue Lynn Tan has a way of writing stories that make me want to revisit the world and characters she created again and again and again. [Insert Hadestown reference here.] I have been a loyal reader since finishing the Daughter of the Moon Goddess, and I will continue to lay my readership down at the pen in her hand. Thank you, Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager, for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Avon and Harper
Voyager for the eARC
This is my first Sue Lynn read and it won't be the last. This is a standalone romantic fantasy. Loved this fantasy romance, I was enthralled to the setting, the characters, and the romance so much!
Sue Lynn Tan's writing is absolutely gorgeous, the world building was easy to follow which I obviously loved from the beggining. The magic system and mythology were so interesting. Fell in love with Liyen and Zhangwei that I had to purchase the physical book already.
Out now on all platforms

An epic enemies-to-lovers tale set in the universe of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Immortal follows Liyen's quest to free her kingdom from the rule of the distant Celestials, all while working alongside the God of War to face the darkness lurking at the edges of her lands.

If you've read Tan's work before, you'll recognize her lush writing and magical worldbuilding, but there's an extra emphasis on the value of family in this book that I really enjoyed. Liyen tends to be honest to a fault and at times reckless, and I'd reprimand her more if she wasn't also quite good at getting out of her scrapes. The main romance had some great banter, although it did falter in the later stages when things got more melodramatic (but I must say that one exchange at the end regarding widowhood had me howling). The plot twists and turns, fraught with betrayal and heartbreak, before delivering the reader to the final climactic end. If you know your cdrama tropes, you might be able to recognize a few of the plot beats as they come.

A special shout-out to the best of boys, Chengyin.

Immortal is a solid read for anyone looking for some of that cdrama magic, with the epic romance of gods and men amidst the backdrop of a battle for the future of the mortal realm.

RATING: 4.5 rounded to 5 stars

Thank you to Sue Lynn Tan, Netgalley, and Harper Voyager for an opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

As a reader who has yet to read the Celestial Kingdom duology but was promised that this book could be read without prior knowledge of her previous series, I'm pleased to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience that "Immortal" took me through.

The story follows Liyen, a mortal who recently acquires the throne of Tianxia following the unexpected death of her grandfather. Before her grandfather's death, he entrusted with her the safekeeping of the Divine Pearl Lotus - a rare flower that heals her from a physical ailment. As she deals with her new political power, she must also contend with her growing feelings for Zhangwei, the God of War, and her role in the increased strains between the mortal and immortal realms.

I love the balance between world-building, romance, political intrigue, and plot. Time is taken to explore the fantasy world and power system that the author created. Liyen and Zhangwei's romance is a well-crafted romance, having both the space to build their individual character progression as well as their development from reluctant allies to lovers. The main plot never seemed to stagger, delivering emotional impact on a particular revelation during the second half of the story.

My only critique lies in the pacing. While I don't mind setup in the beginning of a narrative, I noticed the slow pacing around the first 30% of the novel may deter readers from pushing forward. I also wouldn't have minded a few chapters with Zhangwei's POV since the aforementioned revelation could have delivered a stronger emotional impact if we had a bit of insight in Zhangwei's thoughts.

Nonetheless, I highly recommend picking up this book if you enjoy Asian inspired fantasies, forbidden romances, and a romantasy plot that isn't reliant on spicy content.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC for my honest review.

If you loved Sue Lynn Tan’s Daughter of the Moon Goddess, then you will love Immortal. This story is a standalone story that is set in the same world as Daughter of the Moon Goddess. Immortal is a beautiful fantasy of love, betrayal, and adventure.

This story begins very quickly with throwing you into the action as the protagonist, Liyen ascends the throne. The book was very well paced and never felt slow. While there are several very action-packed moments, Tan knows how to write a beautiful, slow burn romance. There were some points in the story that I was trying to piece information together, but that is because your knowledge is limited as the protagonist is also learning new information. I felt that the author did a pretty good job with explaining certain questions that I had while reading the story. Without giving any spoilers, if you have read Tan’s other series, there are elements that will feel very familiar. Overall, Immortal was a captivating story that kept me hooked.

Well either I dont like it or this book is just plain as the bread. I am bored in the middle so I DNF.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager

Immortal is a standalone fantasy romance told in first person that centers on our protagonist, Liyen, the heir to the throne of Tianxia. The story follows Liyen as she fights to end her kingdom’s obligation to the immortals, who once protected Tianxia from a dangerous enemy. Along the way, Liyen encounters the God of War and, as their bond and attraction grows, Liyen finds that Tianxia’s freedom might not be the only thing worth fighting for. Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for this ARC!

The book was a bit of a slow start and I wasn’t very invested in the characters or the story until around the 10-15% mark. The story is medium/fast-paced, which I enjoyed, but it didn’t necessarily “hook” me as other novels have.

Although the storyline felt a bit choppy in some parts, I thoroughly enjoyed the chemistry and banter between Liyen and the God of War. I thought the character development was strong and appreciated Liyen’s strength and stubbornness. I loved watching her grow and was touched by her heart and sense of morality as the story progressed.

While there was some foreshadowing to potential twists early in the plot, I did not see them coming! They helped bring the story full circle and it was helpful to better understand the previous interactions between some characters now that I had a better understanding of their past.

While we do revisit the world Tan so beautifully curated in the Celestial Kingdom duology, I felt that I was able to better envision the aspects of this world based on the world-building and vivid imagery in the Celestial Kingdom duology (highly recommended reading if you enjoy this novel). I was elated to come back to that world in this novel!

Immortal invokes aspects of mortality, just leadership, family, and friendship to explore the central theme of what it means to be human. I found myself underlining several insightful passages and felt that the story came together well in the end.

Tan has the ability to imbed a comfort and coziness within her stories, even amidst the conflict and politics in her plot lines. As someone who does not enjoy “cozy” books, it is slightly unusual that this is what makes me keep coming back to Tan’s novels and makes her one of my favorite authors. I will continue to read anything Sue Lynn Tan puts on paper because it always feels like coming home.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5⭐️
Starting out 2025 strong with a fantastic read by Sue Lynn Tan! This was my first time reading a book by this author, but I’ve had some of her other books on my TBR for a while. After reading this book, I’ll definitely be moving them up my list!

This was such a well-written story about destiny, ambition, self-discovery, vengeance, compassion, friendship, family, and love. I really enjoyed it! The world-building was beautiful and rich . The prose was lovely, lyrical, and even profound at times. I had so many highlighted lines throughout! The story itself was fairly fast-paced and action-packed while also being very moving and romantic. It had a great balance of plot, romance, action, politics, character development, and fantasy elements. It was full of unexpected twists and turns, reveals, and betrayals! I always applaud books when they have twists that I didn’t see coming and this one had several!

I really liked our MCs! Liyen was headstrong and deeply loyal to her people. I did get a little frustrated with her stubbornness and with how she treated Zhangwei at times. I liked her compassion and resilience though. I appreciated how much she seemed to grow throughout the book! Zhangwei was such a great MMC. He was fiercely protective, a strong warrior type, as The God of War; however, he also had kind of a gentleness, kindness, and playfulness to him as well. I loved how devoted he was to both his Queen and to Liyen. I enjoyed their banter and chemistry!

One of my favorite things is when a story shows that there are two sides to every story…that the world is not as clear or simple as just good or bad. In this story, we the author does not shy away from exploring complexities. We see that those viewed as villains have reasons for the way they are, that both sides have valid reasons for anger and vengeance, that there can be goodness in their enemy’s people and their soldiers even with opposing causes, that magic can come with a cost, that sometimes difficult choices must be made for the greater good and that does not necessarily make someone a bad person for making the choices they made. (Mild spoilers:) It would’ve been so easy for the author to have Liyen choose love or immortality over her people, it would’ve been easy for Liyen to hate those who lied to her and betrayed her trust, it would’ve been easy to turn her back on her enemy’s people and leave them to their fate, it would’ve been easy to simply paint the villain as just a “bad guy” and leave it at that without exploring the experiences and core beliefs that made him that way, but this author did not shy away from exploring the deeper complexities of all these situations and relationships and I really appreciated that. I was very impressed with how well she was able to add that level of depth in this standalone novel.

SPOILERS:
My only complaints were that I wished less of the storytelling had been done through dialogue at times. I also wished that more had been done with her previous memories and that we had a better sense of resolution with Liyen as far as knowing whether or not she would regain her immortal lifespan and if negotiations were successful in allowing her to be able to return to the immortal realm.

* Immortal is a standalone set in the same world as her Celestial Kingdom books. You don’t have to read the other books to read this one though and it does not spoil anything from that series.

Thank you to Sue Lynn Tan, NetGalley, and HarperVoyagerUS for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!