Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“A great pity that it was easier to hate than it was to understand.”

Listen, if you can’t draw some parallels in this book to real life… I don’t know what to tell you.

The themes and messages in this book left me feeling hopeful? And I want to believe that was the intent, to show through Liyen that there are always opportunities to learn and improve on yourself.

In terms of story structure, this book feels like 3 separate stories all following Liyen and Zhangwei and the journey they go on. I actually don’t hate it although it definitely felt weird while reading.

I will say, the one star I docked was because this book really didn’t grab me until the 30% mark when we finished up part 1 and started part 2. I do think part 1 was to set up a lot of story lines and plot points, but I was really struggling to understand the characters and their motivations for the first third of the book.

Parts 2 and 3? Gripping, amazing, pieces were clicking together in my brain. I really enjoyed reading the last 2/3 of this book.

I would recommend this one, just push through the beginning is the advice I would give.

WORKED FOR ME.

Fantasy standalones and I don’t always see eye to eye. I did go with the audiobook route and that was the click for me. I loved the audiobook and keeping it at the pace that I do helped me move through the story.

Yes, there’s a few plot quirks and I would have loved more of the relationship background BUT for a standalone this delivered. I love love love wild twists and plot moments I didn’t see coming. This had good reveals and I thought the unveiling of the story was executed well.

The romance was heated and swoony. I loved the connection between Liyen and the God of War. Perfectly timed tension and the build had my full attention. The lore was beautiful and I just can’t get enough of SLT’s writing style. It’s magnetic and the audiobook narrator brought everything to life.

Another gorgeous story that I loved reading.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: low
Romance: fade to black
Violence: moderate

3.5 rounded up.

It was good, but nowhere near as great as DOTMG for me. There were things I enjoyed, but honestly a lot of it confused me. I never fully understood the different groups of people and their lore. I never felt a big connection to the MC or her perspectives. It was fun to read another book by her, but this one might have been too hyped in my head or my expectations too high.

It is pretty slow and the big twist was fun, but I think it should have been 150 pages shorter. I wanted to skim a lot of it.

Wonderful storytelling and narration. I fell in love with the characters immediately. Tan writes with a style that carries you along adventures and action while still keeping a tender sensation. In the midst of war and trickery, you begin to care for characters you thought you wouldn't. I loved the underlying message of justification and revenge, I'll recommend it to many!

Omg where to start, I went into this book thinking that it was going to be a duology but instead is a stand alone. But it no matter the book was so good the story flow perfectly as it is.

The world was so beautiful and with very vivid descriptions. The first half of the book concentrates more in the romance between Liyen and Zhangwei and the second half concentrates more in the politics of this book the romance is there but not a heavy as first half.

Zhangwei The God of War was just so perfect 😍 he is the very definition of the Trope “he fell first” no matter what happened he was always right behind Leyin though at the beginning there was this scene about something that he did that made me mad but later it was explained the why. I didn’t see coming the plot twist and I loved it. I enjoy so much when a book surprises me!!

Liyen had an amazing growth as a character and she is the perfect heroine. She started as a really weak character but as time when she became stronger. Her choices always were the right ones and I’’m glad for that.

The writing style of this story is beautiful I highlighted so many good quotes. Sue Lynn Tan has become one of my favorite authors.

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley for review. My opinions are my own.

5/5 stars

I looooove all of Sue Lynn Tan’s books and this did not disappoint. If I had the time, I would have finished this in a day, but work got in the way.

I was first introduced to Sue Lynn Tan because my mom bought me “Daughter of the Moon Goddess” for Christmas. “Immortal” is set in the same world. The characters are not the same but there are some things you will pick up on if you are a fan of the duology…

At any rate… this is an epic love story (and I do not use the word “epic” lightly because it is a vastly overused word). You will be sucked in and won’t be able to put it down.

Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc! 🫶🏻

Sue Lynn Tan’s world building and character development is unparalleled. I have yet to come across an author that literally makes me feel like I’m watching a movie in my mind while balancing the amount of details so it doesn’t feel like a drag.

This standalone book, set in the same universe as “Daughter of the Moon Goddess,” is just as beautiful, heart-wrenching, and packed with stunning cultural references.

While my usual fantasy preference has a bit more spice, I will never skip a Sue Lynn Tan novel ✨

Beautiful and atmospheric, by far my favorite read of the year. I would happily read 100 more books in this world. Sue Lynn Tan has a way of drawing in readers into this world and taking them on a wild ride. Will be buying multiple editions of this book.

ya'll... this one was a 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 one. immortal follows liyen as she ascends the throne of tianxia, vowing to end her kingdom’s obligation to the immortals, and finds herself forming a tenuous alliance with the god of war. and let me tell you... this 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 had me audibly screaming and giggling and blushing because 𝘰𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘥 do i adore them. the first quarter or so was slower for me, but i was 𝘴𝘰 invested once i got past that point. i'm so excited to claim a physical copy of this for my shelves because this gem deserves a spot on every bookshelf. love love 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 mr. god of war. oop. (4.5★)

“Without you, dawn would be dark”

LOVED this book (which isn’t surprising because I adored Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Heart of the Sun Warrior). The characters and the plot (and its twists) were amazing - truly everything I expected and loved. I cannot wait to get a physical copy of this book so that I can read it again on its publication date!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this incredible book!

This story had the potential to be a really great addition to Sue Lynn Tan's series. However, the magic she normally brings just didn't Ignite here. The book was simple in areas when her prose and detail should have been seen. In other areas, it was far too detailed when it needed simplicity. The two main characters felt like we had seen them many times before, creating a damper on a what could have been, great story line. The twists were seen before they arrived because we have read them before. They weren't written differently than any other trope. I had higher hopes for this book. It felt manufactured than written. I'm very surprised.

The first half of the book was drawn out and felt mismatched. The second had more purpose and tried to change the feelings of the first half but just couldn't carry the entirety on its back.

I rated it a 3 because it still had merits and was a decent fantasy book.

THE WORLD BUILDING!!!!

I really liked that this is a stand alone book, although set in the same world as her other. This book is a mix of romance, fantasy and some political intrigue. The writing was beautiful and made me want to keep reading.

I'm a sucker for a good enemies to lover + forbidden romance 😍

This book drew me all the way in. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher.

Sue Lynn Tan does it again. Her ability to paint the most beautifully worlds using nothing but words will always have me reaching for her next book. Taking place in the same world as Daughter of the Mood Goddess, it isn't surprising that Immortal offers the same vibes as her previous series. I was concerned at first that the story lines were a bit similar (love interest deceiving the main character), but Immortal took on a story of its own as Liyen's background was revealed. It was refreshing to read a stand alone fantasy, knowing that the entire story was sitting in my lap and I didn't have to worry about what kind of cliffhanger I would be left with. I thoroughly enjoyed the sparring between Liyen and Zhangwei. I also appreciated the way Tan went about showing different kinds of love and how endless a parent's love for their child can be, even when that child is evil.

A beautifully written, heavy on descriptions, tale of love and longing. I love xianxia style fantasy romance, so this was right up my ally.

That said, there's a couple of things. The FMC Liyen annoyed me fof a chunk of the book. I understood her in the beginning. But just when we are supposed to believe she is falling in love with Zhangwei and trusting him, she takes a dozen steps back. Of course, after several times of tricking him, she finally allows herself to be vulnerable. Zhangwei is obviously keeping secrets, but he's plead with her to trust him. To really trust him. And with how powerful he is as an immortal, Liyen should have. I really liked how he didn't give upon her.

I loved the twists and how Liyen ends up connected to it all. (And I won't spoil it.)

I said the prose was beautiful. The other problem is that it is soo heavy on the descriptions that it was almost to the point of distraction. Especially in a first person story.

This story also has some spicy scenes that fade to black.

That said, I did enjoy this story, so that's the bottom line. Sue Lynn Tan is one of my favorite authors,

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. I'm so happy I got to read this early.

Immortal was an enjoyable fantasy novel. Inspired by Chinese mythology, the vibrant, ethereal setting was different than anything I've read in the past. I also liked the enemies to lovers subplot, and strong heroine.

Read this if you enjoyed Sue Lynn Tan's, Daughter of the Moon Goddess, or any of Chloe Gong's novels.

Thank you Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an e-arc.

Enchanting, magical, intense and oh so romantic. I couldn’t put this book down the second I started reading. Sue Lynn Tan has such a magical way of writing and world building that captures you the minute you open one of her books. Cannot wait to pick this up once it releases and to reread it again!

It feels like I've rewritten this review about a hundred times but I'm finally going to raise my white flag and accept that I'm never going to be able to condense all the emotions this book evoked in me into coherently formed text and instead, I'll be spending the next few thousand characters showing you the pieces of my heart that now belong to Liyen and Zhangwei. Because while it's a tad unfair that one of my absolute favorite books of the year is a 2025 release, it's impossible for me not to fall in love with anything Sue Lynn Tan writes, and Immortal is no exception.

One of the things that really spoke to me about Immortal was the depiction of the female rage and the different kind of strength she portrayed with Liyen. While we might see main characters who are glorious in their explosive fury and overt displays of strength (like Xingyin from the Celestial Kingdom books), Sue Lynn veers away from that and gives us an FMC like Liyen, one who is physically frail, grieving, and motivated with a simmering anger that she hides behind intelligent eyes and a clever mouth. She is fiercely loyal to her people and every calculated move she made in this book was to protect her heart and to free her people, despite knowing that one would have to give for the other to succeed. Liyen’s humanity goes beyond just being a mortal, it's her appreciation of life—of the simple things—and her fierce will to face every challenge she can despite being terrified, despite knowing her shortcomings and flaws, for her people, it’s her compassion and tender heart, that knows unbearable pain but is willing to let herself love again; she is truly admirable. While Liyen may not be an expert with a bow and arrow or a sword, her heart and mind are weapons enough in the politics of her court and the games that the Immortals play.

I may have waxed too much poetic about Liyen but I think Zhangwei would forgive me because it’s evident that she is his favorite subject. From the get-go, the tension between them was palpable, there was a tautness to their initial meeting that spoke of possibilities to be explored. And every interaction since began with a bit of uncertainty then developed to clever quips, flirtatious nudges and the gentlest brushing of their hands, yearning for more. The burn was truly slow but each segment of the fuse they burn was bright and satisfying and when they finally reached the end of the firework, they ignited; until all that you will want to see and root for is Liyen and Zhangwei’s happy ending, especially after all that they’ve endured.

There was a point in this book wherein I had to pause, put the book down and stare at my ceiling and absorb everything that happened because I needed to process what happened and the things that were revealed. I was completely stunned and I hadn’t been that affected by a plot twist in so long so it was truly a pleasant surprise. But beyond the shock factor, I was intrigued by the workings of what was discussed and how it related to something that occurred in the Celestial Kingdom books. The logistics of it fascinated me and I would love to see the process studied one day. And while the Celestial Kingdom books are a little more fast paced and have a more epic fantasy energy to them, Immortal exudes a quieter strength that tackles a combination of court politics and field play in both the mortal and immortal realms.

Honestly, I’m surprised that I managed to not sob my way through this book but I was nearly there, I cried about more than half of this book and it left my heart a little bruised and very tender. Sue Lynn explores grief so vividly but also with so much care, and this does not just apply to Liyen, but to Zhangwei and even to side characters (whom you will get to meet). Each of them have experienced a hurt of some sort, and they’re all just dealing with these feelings the best they can in order to heal and to, hopefully, one day move on.

My biggest heartbreak was diving into Immortal, falling absolutely in love with it, and accepting that all we’re getting is a standalone novel featuring two characters I could read about for another five or so books. Liyen and Zhangwei still have so many journeys to go on and so many stories to tell and I would eat every word up if given the chance to experience another one of their adventures; but in the meantime, I will be rereading Immortal to relive all the moments that made my heart race, ache, and soar. Sue Lynn Tan has truly woven magic into Immortal because it has become the book of my heart, it feels like it has direct access to my tear ducts and chordae tendineae (aka my heartstrings), and I would surrender to the overwhelming sea of emotions it evokes in me and bask in those feelings. While I cycle between lamenting the lack of more Liyen and Zhangwei and relishing in the afterglow, I will be eagerly awaiting for my next Sue Lynn Tan fix.

While I haven’t read “Daughter of the Moon Goddess” yet, it’s been on my TBR pile for a while due to the fairly universal acclaim it was met with. That being the case, I was excited to see a stand-alone book coming out by this author this winter that I could use as a dip into this world without committing to the original duology. This can be a bit of a hit or miss plan, however, as there are only a few authors I can name who seem to produce books at the same quality level every time. Others (the normal people, one might say) will often have stronger and weaker entries in their output.

You may have guessed, from this hedging right out of the gate that I didn’t love this one as much as I had hoped. But, per above hedging, I’m still hoping to give the original duology a shot, as the author has some clear strengths that maybe just didn’t come together for this particular book. So let’s start with those positives! For one thing, I think the writing was fairly strong throughout. There was a blessed refrain from modern lingo or overly “quippy” dialogue between characters. The world was described using lush language, so much so that I think it was these descriptive moments that were the true high points of the book. However, even here, as the story continued, I felt as if I was wanting more, with some of these world-building elements and larger plot points seeming to subside beneath the weak romance at the stories heart.

As readers of this blog know, I’m a character reader. You write a great character, and I’m willing to ignore numerous other potential flaws in a book. However, the inverse is also true, where it doesn’t matter how great your world is, how high the stakes of the plot may be…if your main characters don’t hit, I’m probably going to end up not enjoying the book. And that was the biggest problem here. The book starts with a scene that is clearly meant to establish much about Liyen’s character, giving the reader the starting point to become invested in her and her travails. However, I don’t think this event really hit as hard as it needed to (I had just met most of these characters and this world, so I didn’t really care too much about any of these players.) And then Liyen was written in such a way that even if this event had worked, it would have needed to be much more powerful to combat the sheer annoyance and frustration I felt reading from Liyen’s perspective. The best I can say is that this is a very familiar character: plucky heroine who learns she’s all powerful! And, given how often I run across this protagonist, I guess there are a decent number of readers for whom that may be enough. But readers who do enjoy this character type deserve more. More of an effort to create some original and less “paint by numbers.”

The love interest was the same. Yet again, we get a dark and brooding hero who (surprise!) turns out to be misunderstood and who harbors a heart of gold. Worse, he and Liyen seem to fall almost immediately in love (seriously, I think it was around the 1/3 mark of the book that their feelings began to really take hold). And, while the book wasn’t overly quippy, there were enough cheesy proclamations of devotion (especially the ones that came early) to have me rolling my eyes. I enjoy romance, so I can get behind speeches of passion. But I have to buy it! And I didn’t here. And then, as I continued reading, the author threw in a twist towards the end that seemingly retroactively explains their instant connection. But honestly, this was the insult that really broke the experience for me. All this twist told me was that the author understood how ridiculous the characters’ love story was and that she plopped in this explanation towards the end to somehow make the entire thing plausible. Which just feels lazy. Again, romantasy readers deserve better than this.

So, I know that this got rant-y towards the end. But I think part of the problem was how much potential I saw in the general quality of the prose writing and the interesting world-building. To have all of that going for the book, and to then people it with these generic lead characters whom we’ve all read before and who fall in love immediately for no good reason (other than an obviously contrived reason given towards the end), was very frustrating. All of this said, I do still plan on giving the original duology a chance. For one thing, the fact that it is a duology and not a stand-alone book gives me hope that the romance plays out in a more extended manner. Fans of the original duology might want to check this one out, and if you’re unbothered by instalove, then definitely give it a go! But if you’re looking for something that feels fresh or pushes the boundaries at all, this probably isn’t it.

Rating 7: An interesting world and some lush prose was undone by the same lead characters we’ve read a million times before in romantasy fiction.

Link will go live on The Library Ladies on Jan. 17

DNF’d at 6%

I wanted to like this because the story sounded so interesting, but I barely got two chapters in before the writing gave me a headache.

So many descriptions of emotions choking/burning/whatevering through the main character. Interruption the flow of action to have some weird not quite flashback about the Grandfather even though we’re in the middle of introducing the aunt. A LOT of this was written in a passive voice which bugged the hell out of me. Also some of the sentences just plain did not make sense and I spent too long thinking of how to fix them rather than just reading them.

But possibly most confusing is this illness/poison situation? FMC says she’s been unwell all her life and that’s why none of the court trusts her to take over the throne. And I thought cool, I love a chronic illness rep. But then all her symptoms were attributed to her being poisoned a few weeks ago? Or at least it wasn’t made clear how this poison was affecting her differently than her general illness, if it was being exacerbated or what. And then it was just magically healed within minutes.

If the author is already struggling in the first two chapters to convey an allegedly important character trait like chronic illness, then I have no hope for the rest of the book. This is simply not for me 😵‍💫

One star for the GORGEOUS cover.

How can I possibly express the greatness of Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan? I’m not entirely sure, but I’m going to try.

Immortal is set in a world so rich and detailed, that it feels alive on the page. Tan’s world-building is unparalleled—each element of this fantasy realm is carefully crafted, infused with culture and history that makes the setting feel tangible, almost like a place you could step into. There’s a delicacy to the way the world is described, and it’s this attention to detail that truly elevates the story.

At the heart of Immortal is Lyien, the mortal queen of Tianxia, who is weighed down by grief and burdened with leading a people who do not fully trust her. Though she wears the crown, her power is limited—her kingdom is under the shadow of the immortals, undying beings who wield magic and immense strength. Lyien's people struggle under their rule, and it’s this injustice that drives her to take matters into her own hands. Commanded to pledge herself to the immortal queen, Lyien has a different plan: she will do whatever it takes to free her people from the immortals’ control, even if it means putting herself in unimaginable danger for people who don’t necessarily support her.

Lyien’s journey to confront the immortal queen is complicated by her plan to establish a connection with Zhangwei, the God of War. Known for his unrivaled might, his unwavering devotion to the immortal queen, and his "heart of ice, devoid of all mercy," Zhangwei is a formidable force. Lyien hopes to get close to him to exploit his position and gain access to the immortal queen’s ear. She intends to use Zhangwei’s trust to further her own goal of freeing her people—but she soon learns that manipulating the heart is more complicated than she expected, especially when her own heart is involved. The God of War is also not as oblivious as he seems,

This is where my review might dip into spoiler territory, but no intentional spoilers.

The chemistry between Lyien and Zhangwei is alive—vibrating off the page. Their connection is magnetic, charged with tension, a slow burn that grows from protection to trust, from attraction to betrayal. It’s enemies-to-lovers in the best way possible: complicated, layered, and intensely emotional. Their relationship is messy, raw, and real—imperfect in the way that all great love stories are. The deception at one point made me cry a little.

The plot itself is both intricate and compelling. There were moments when I laughed, when I gasped in shock, when anxiety flooded through me. Immortal is a story that evokes a whirlwind of emotions. It’s not just an adventure—it’s a book that challenges you to think, to reflect on your own heart. The themes in this book are complex and deeply meaningful. It explores bravery and foolishness, love and duty, and the line between vengeance and forgiveness. It delves into the nuances of right and wrong, sacrifice, and the personal cost of both loyalty and grief.
The novel constantly reminds us that things—people, motives, actions—are rarely what they seem. Sometimes, this revelation is a good thing, and sometimes it’s not.

“You’re not who I expected you to be,” Lyien admits. “Maybe you should look a little deeper,” Zhangwei suggests. “Don’t just see what you think you should.”

This sentiment runs throughout the entire story. Characters are more than their surface-level appearances, and the world they inhabit is far more complex than it first seems.

In the end, Immortal is a masterpiece. It is a book woven together with such intricacy and depth, full of wisdom and emotion. The world-building is immersive, the plot is solid and unpredictable, and the characters are multidimensional and unforgettable. Whether they are sharp and kind, strong and formidable, funny and light, or dreadful and tragic—this book has it all and uses it to perfection. Sue Lynn Tan has created a story that is full of magic, betrayal, romance, and life lessons. It’s everything I want in a fantasy novel—and then some.