I loved this Asian fantasy story. The world building was immaculate, and the main characters Liyen and the god of war are the perfect enemies to lovers. I fell in love with the god of war, his quotes were my favorites. Favorite quotes: "I will never forget you." He spoke with such intensity it bordered on fury. "You are more than my equal in every way. No one will ever replace you, whether you live for a hundred years more or ten."
"I know you." My gaze searched his with aching certainty. "I knew you even before we met."
He looked into my face, his shining as the stars at dusk. "Welcome back, my beloved." Beloved.
"Never doubt my heart. I have loved you since we met—as I will for the rest of our days."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In a word -
Asian fantasy
Gods, mortals, monsters
Enemies to lovers
Second chance
Epic journey
Standalone

I'm a little bit back and forth on this one because some parts dragged or got repetitive, but it also simultaneously cured my reading slump! I always wanted to pick it up and I haven't felt that way in a while. I loved being back in the world of Daughter of the Moon Goddess and meeting new characters. Immortal is an epic journey of loss, love, and finding one's self, and kept me mostly hooked (I did skim some parts of repetitive backstory). If you enjoyed DotMG, you'll enjoy this one!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon / Harper Voyager for the ARC.

If you have read any of Sue Lynn Tan’s books and you love them for the amazing storytelling let me save you the trouble of reading this review or any others and tell you to just go buy the book. The only thing you will dislike is the fact it is a stand alone and you will love the characters too much to want to let them go.

If you have never read this author then you should also go buy this book and just be ready for the following: amazing world building, characters who feel so real you want to meet them for coffee, a story that will capture your heart and imagination, and shedding a few tears. Sue Lynn Tan has a way of creating books based on the mythologies / stories she grew up with that are able to make you feel like you also grew up with your mother telling your these legends and it is like coming home to read them. This book is part of the Celestial Kingdom series in the sense it is based in the same world but there is no need to have read them to enjoy this book, but they should be read because they are also amazing.

I loved everything about this book. It was beautifully written and I adored all the characters. I really loved how the characters worked through problems and hard decisions, it helped make this book hard to predict! I really love this world and can't wait to read more!

This was soooooo good. Amazing writing, strong world building, interesting character development, several twists, and a very satisfying conclusion. This is fantasy romance done right. Strong plot that stands on its own without the romance, but tension, angst, and romance that adds something so special to the book. This is true rivals to allies to enemies to allies to lovers. I am impressed with the immersive storytelling and plot that had perfect pacing that kept me engaged the entire time I was reading. Definitely would recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review

This was such an emotional and beautiful romance! It follows Liyen, the sick and weak granddaughter of the Lord of Tianxia. Her grandfather and kingdom serve the immortal queen, Queen Caihong. When Queen Caihong wants Liyen's grandfather to find and give her the Divine Lotus, her grandfather instead gives it to Liyen to save her from her sickness. Upon taking the lotus, Liyen is told to run away, but she witnesses the death of her grandfather, blaming both Queen Caihong and the God of War for it. With her grandfather's death, Liyen rises to the throne. But Liyen hates that her kingdom is under the rule of the immortals, who she claims care nothing for mortals like her kingdom. When Liyen is summoned to the Immortal Realm to pledge her loyalty, she makes other plans, forming an alliance with the God of War, one of the more feared immortals.

Going into this, I honestly thought it would be a simple enemies to lovers romance, and the first 40% of the book didn't prove me wrong. But then, the twists started to come in, and then almost nothing was predictable. The story takes many turns, all of which caught me completely off guard. I didn't know what to expect anymore, but I was enticed. All the different connections amongst the characters and events led to a ton of mindboggling twists that still somehow made perfect sense.

I loved most of the characters, but especially Liyen. She was a strong leader as the Lady of Tianxia She controlled her court calmly, yet with conviction, Any officials who saw her unfit as a leader had no choice but to go along with her. And as the leader, she cared deeply for the wellbeing of her people. Not only did she hate that her people were forced to be loyal to the immortals with barely anything in return, but she also did everything in her power to change the conditions of her people's lives. She was brave when it came to taking risks for her kingdom, and caring when it came to tending to the needs of her people. In her relationship with Zhangwei, the God of War, she prioritized her duty as the Lady of Tianxia above all else, taking risks that left her life in jeopardy for the freedom of her people. Overall, she was an admirable leader.

Overall, there isn't much more I can saw without giving spoilers, but I can confidently say this was a great read!

Sue Lynn Tan's Immortal is a wonderful look at another part of her Celestial Kingdom world. She opened the door to another rich and vivid corner of the immortal and mortal realms in Immortal.

Immortal follows mortal Liyen as she unexpectedly ascends the throne of Tianxia, a kingdom serving the Queen of the Golden Desert and closed off from the rest of the mortal realm. As she seeks to set her kingdom free from immortal rule, she finds herself entangled with the immortal God of War.

I really enjoyed this story. It's a deep world that makes me wish there were more stories coming from it. The story takes lots of twists and turns and really got going for me about half way through.

This can absolutely be read as a stand alone but I would recommend reading The Celestial Kingdom series before. That series sets up elements of mortal and immortal life that are helpful to know going in.

Thanks to Sue Lynn Tan, NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC!

Enjoyed this read so very much. The heroine is such a strong character and watching her development throughout the story made it great. The God of War lover scenario is a little off but still worth reading.

“No matter where I am or who I become, my heart will always be yours.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Harper Voyager for the gifted ARC!

This book destroyed my heart, picked up the pieces, and taped them back together 😭 i just love how sue Lynn tan weaves addicting plot with the most beautiful love stories!

We are in the same world as the celestial kingdom duo, so I definitely recommend reading those first to get a good foundation! We also see mostly new areas and learn a lot about a new magic system 🤭

Liyen, heir of tianxia, is near death when her grandfather gives her the divine pearl lotus to save her life. This lotus was intended for the immortal queen and liyen must keep this a secret to avoid her wrath. I really loved seeing liyen’s strength, despite how much happens to her during this book! She just wants what is best for her people and will do what is necessary for them 🫶

“I was my past and my present—and I would forge my own future.”

Zhangwei, the God of War, is known for his loyalty to the immortal queen and the brutality he inflicts in her name. I had so much fun getting to know him! He is very broody and mysterious at first, but we start seeing how big his heart is as we go on 🤭

“If you want to see me, nothing will keep me away.”

The romance just thawed my heart into a puddle 😭 there were so many twists and turns, but the undeniable chemistry between them was so fun to see unfold!

“Where you go, I go. Now and always.”

At this point Sue Lynn Tan is an autoread author for me. This is the level of fantasy I like— based on mythology with recognizable ties and, thank the stars, not another fantasyland based on the UK. You can see elements that go back to her Celestial Kingdom books while being a completely new story in the same universe. Maybe a bit of Beauty and the Beast (do not enter the south courtyard and the library).

Liyen was a bit unlikable. Totally understandable that she needs to be a strong leader after her sickly upbringing but it felt like she swung in the opposite direction a little too hard. Bulldoze first, ask questions later, don’t consider the consequences of her actions. But that God of War had us swooning from the start. A gorgeous standalone and I can’t wait for what comes next from this amazing author. I will absolutely be gifting this to friends and family and recommending it!

A huge thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me an ARC via NetGalley 💗

I am utterly speechless. This book is a masterpiece from start to finish. Sue Lynn Tan is a master storyteller, her prose absolutely shine throughout the whole book. The story told here is so beautiful and moved me in a way few books have. I cannot properly convey into words how much I adored this. This is hands down now one of my favorite books of all time and it's going to stick with me forever. 💖

I would like to thank NetGalley, Sue Lynn Tan & Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC honest review.

"It would be a waste of eternity should one choose to stand still in life."

Sue Lynn Tan does it again. With her beautiful world building and complex characters, I was able to dive into her world and writing again, and enjoy it thoroughly. Tan sets amazing paces in her books and she did great with this one. Following Liyen through her own story was incredible and I truly felt I grew right along side her as she faced numerous challenges.

We start this book off with, Liyen ascending to the throne after her grandfather dies. In her mourning, she vows to take revenge for the wrongdoings of her people, from the Immortals. But she is summoned to the Immortal Realm. She decides to take advantage and try her best to find out secrets that will benefit her and her people. But there she learns nothing is what it seems, and there are bigger enemies out there than her own. She also finds herself getting closer to the God of War, despite all the warning signs. This story really sets you aside Liyen and how she grows as a leader to her people as well as her heart.

Immortal is filled with action packed, slow burn romance and a fast paced story. The worldbuilding is eye opening and enjoyable as well as easy to follow. Tan continues making stories that immerse you and hook you in as soon as you open the first page. It has twists and turns that I hadn't seen coming. This book truly has it all and more. Recommend for those who love slow burn romances, and against all odd romance, with an amazing plot that will not disappoint.

I have read all her other books and wow it only gets better. This was an incredible story from start to finish and i will be recommending it to everyone i know and gifting it to friends!

Favorite quote(s):

"You are you. You are all I need, whether we are together a year or a hundred." He stroked the hair from my face, looking into my eyes. "Never doubt my heart. I have loved you since we met--as I will for the rest of our days."


“When your days are dark, you forget the existence of dawn.”


Review:

This book was beautiful. The writing was incredible. I loved the world and the magic so much. I loved Liyen and her journey and her heart. She always found a way to make things work, no matter how difficult, as long as it helped others. Zhangwei was incredible. At first, I was unsure about him, and at times I wanted to throttle him, but getting to know him and how much he cared not just for Liyen but for others won me over. However, he sometimes gave me emotional whiplash. I loved getting the different realms, the Mortal realm and the kingdom of Tianxia, the Netherworld with the Wuxin, the Golden Desert, and the Immortals. There were so many great characters and even ones who angered me. This book also was so emotional in so many ways. I loved every minute of this journey, though part of me does wish for more. Still, this was a great standalone. Overall, this was an incredible read and I can't wait for what Sue writes next.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!!

I was so incredibly excited when I was approved for Immortal! I absolutely LOVED this!! Sue Lynn Tan has such a beautiful way with words! Every single book is a five star read!! I can’t wait to see what’s next!!

Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan is a standalone fantasy romance about a young ruler, Liyen, trying to forge a new alliance with the Queen of the Golden Desert. When her grandfather dies during an attack from the immortals, Liyen sees an opportunity to break Tianxia's obligation to them. She must do so through the Queen's trusted God of War, who brings all negotiations to the Queen. But there is discontent brewing elsewhere and an attack on the Immortal Realm forces Liyen and the God of War to broker an alliance based on tenuous trust.

As with The Celestial Kingdom duology, Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan has many quotable lines. They’re not so much quotable for the banter, but more so for the reflections stated by or ruminated upon by the characters. There is much wisdom interspersed throughout the story that Liyen strives to live by. The writing style remains flowy and descriptive, but I thought it less so than Tan's previous works.

The catalyst of the story is that Liyen ends up needing the God of War's assistance to protect Tianxia. They spend plenty of time together, which helps Liyen learn to trust him, first out of necessity and then from familiarity. Liyen is a strong character and, though also stubborn, learns to recognize her prejudices born from vengeance. During her time spent with the God of War, she realizes that an immortal's reputation may proceed them. However, they are more than their reputations, which do not necessarily equate to who they are as a person. Everyone must make choices and not all of them are easy.

Overall, I enjoyed Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan, but there were a few times where I found myself ready for the story to end. I don't know that I wish for a shorter story since the plot unfurled rather organically. I think perhaps I wasn't as emotionally invested in Liyen even though I sympathized with her quest.

Moreover, for a fantasy romance, this story is actually relatively light on the romance. Liyen and the God of War clearly think the other attractive, but there isn't a ton of witty banter or compromising situations. Rather, their interactions at the beginning stem from frustration and distrust and evolve to respect. The spice is also closed door and very light.

Overall, IMMORTAL is a satisfactory romantasy that veers more toward fantasy with a subplot of romance. The main storyline is about protecting Tianxia and restructuring an alliance with the immortal Queen. It is similar to Tan's previous works in which there is romance, but the main character has a mission. Immortal will please fans of xianxia with its cast of immortals and magical beasts and romantic drama amidst saving a kingdom.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book!!! It was such a c-drama coded book and I loved it. The intrigue, the plot, and the characters were all so compelling! Liyen was a great main character and she was so interesting. I loved how she had a lot of layers and was very strong without being arrogant. The god of war is my favorite I love him so much. I also appreciated the platonic friendship that Liyen had with her childhood best friend. It wasn’t unrequited love in any way and he really just saw her as a friend. I always feel that is so rare in books that there is a healthy male female friendship and neither has deeper feelings for the other. I love the daughter of the moon goddess series but I didn’t pick the winner of the love triangle so I was mad at the end. But I love Sue Lynn Tan’s writing so I gave her another chance and I’m so glad I did! This book did not disappoint and I’m so looking forward to her next books!

I really enjoyed this return to the world Sue Lynn Tan created in "Daughter of the Moon Goddess." While there is no overlap between that duology and this standalone, they do share several similar elements. At first, I didn't like how close in plot they appeared to be, but then the twists started happening and just kept coming. Honestly, I wasn't seriously invested until about halfway through, but the revelations and reveals were worth the wait. Other than the two main characters, the others don't really do much until the last third, which made it more difficult to focus on the story. However, I did like the explorations of reprisal, forgiveness, and trust, and I think that the ending was satisfying. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Sue Lynn Tan's previous duology, who likes a slow-burn romance, and who wants a magical story filled with conflict, difficult choices, and the influence of Chinese folklore.

Thank you, Netgalley and publisher for this ARC.

I was ecstatic to receive an approval for this book! I loved Sue Lynn Tan's other series, and her writing is always amazing.

I was glad to know that this was a standalone just because series can be overwhelming. I think that she wrote it perfectly for one book and it ended just right.

There were a couple of twists and turns that I really didn't see coming, so that was a fun surprise.

I would recommend this book AND her Celestial series. You're missing out if you haven't picked them up!

[3.75/5] IMMORTAL by Sue Lynn Tan is a standalone fantasy romance about a young ruler, Liyen, trying to forge a new alliance with the Queen of the Golden Desert. When her grandfather dies during an attack from the immortals, Liyen sees an opportunity to break Tianxia's obligation to them. She must do so through the Queen's trusted God of War, who brings all negotiations to the Queen. But there is discontent brewing elsewhere and an attack on the Immortal Realm forces Liyen and the God of War to broker an alliance based on tenuous trust.

As with the The Celestial Kingdom duology, IMMORTAL by Sue Lynn Tan has many quotable lines. They are not so much quotable for the banter, but more so for the reflections stated by or ruminated upon by the characters. There is much wisdom interspersed throughout the story that Liyen strives to live by. The writing style remains flowy and descriptive, but I thought it less so than Tan's previous works.

The catalyst of the story is that Liyen ends up needing the God of War's assistance to protect Tianxia. They spend plenty of time together, which helps Liyen learn to trust him, first out of necessity and then from familiarity. Liyen is a strong character and, though also stubborn, learns to recognize her prejudices born from vengeance. During her time spent with the God of War, she realizes that an immortal's reputation may proceed them. However, they are more than their reputations, which do not necessarily equate to who they are as a person. Everyone must make choices and not all of them are easy.

The story reads more like a drama than most other fantasy romances I've previously read. However, it is not over the top, which I appreciated. There are a couple of plot lines that made me wonder if the author and editors forgot to tidy them up. But it all makes sense in the end, trust me. Overall, I enjoyed IMMORTAL by Sue Lynn Tan, but there were a few times where I found myself ready for the story to end. I don't know that I wish for a shorter story since the plot unfurled rather organically. I think perhaps I wasn't as emotionally invested in Liyen even though I sympathized with her quest.

Moreover, for a fantasy romance, this story is actually relatively light on the romance. Liyen and the God of War clearly think the other attractive, but there isn't a ton of witty banter or compromising situations. Rather, their interactions at the beginning stem from frustration and distrust and evolve to respect. The spice is also closed door and very light.

Overall, IMMORTAL is a satisfactory romantasy that veers more toward fantasy with a subplot of romance. The main storyline is about protecting Tianxia and restructuring an alliance with the immortal Queen. It is similar to Tan's previous works in which there is romance, but the main character has a mission. IMMORTAL will please fans of xianxia with its cast of immortals and magical beasts and romantic drama amidst saving a kingdom.