I really wanted to like this one. I have heard such good things about DOTMG duology - i really thought this would be an easy bare minimum 3 stars. unfortunately, it was not.

I feel like the author was writing words, but the "story" was lost on me.
Everything felt so flat and superficial, there was nothing to the characters. There was no chemistry between the mmc and fmc, it was insta- love and extremely boring. Everything was a stereotype and i felt like the author put no effort into making the characters unique. The worldbuilding was cool, other then that i was pretty let down.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc!

I was a big fan of Sue Lynn Tan's "Daughter of the Moon Goddess" duology – she writes such vivid scene descriptions and her magic system seemed really well done. While this is a standalone from the previous series, since it’s based in Chinese mythology it does have a mention of the Celestial Kingdom from her other books.

I’m a big reader for anything related to mythology/folklore, so that series and this novel are right up my alley. Her excellent scene writing skills continued in this book; her writing is so vivid and she really excels in lyrical scene descriptions.

As for the main point of the story, the romantasy, I think it felt like a very typical portrayal of an enemies-to-lovers love story. I think it felt relatively predictable about what was going to happen with the plot. I wasn’t really surprised by anything in the book, which isn’t a bad or unusual thing with this genre, but I think it was a little more predictable than her previous books. It was steamy at parts but not over the top, probably a little tame for the romantasy crowd. I did feel like the characters fell flat at times – I didn’t always follow their thoughts, and Liyen specifically seemed prone to a thought process that felt young and immature.

Overall, though, this was pretty enjoyable. The characters were likable and the banter between Liyen and Zhangwei made for some fun moments. If you’re into the romantasy genre, this will be a great read.

This book was amazing! I could not put this down; I stayed up till the late hours needing to know the outcome. I cried and loved each moment getting to know these characters. The author did an incredible job bringing this story to life. When this book comes out I will definitely be picking up a physical copy. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an ARC.

5 stars and my gratitude to Netgalley and the Publisher and Ms Tan for the eARC.

"I know you." My gaze searched his with aching certainty. "I know you even before we met."
He looked into my face, his eyes shining as the stars at dusk. "Welcome back, my beloved."
Beloved.
The word resonated through me, healing wounds I didn't know existed, making me whole once more. There was no doubt left in me, all of that had cleared away like the clouds after a storm.
This was happiness.

I AM GOING FERAL FOR THIS STORY. Look. I loved Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Heart of the Sun Warrior. I loved them. But nothing could have be prepared me for Liyen and Zhangwei.

I was expecting the type of story we got with Daughter and Heart, but I'm so glad we didn't get the triangle trope. Just a semi-unreliable narrator that made complete sense. I'm going to be thinking about this book for a long time. Please grab yourself a copy when it is released in January. You don't even have to have read the previous books (though y'all should anyway!)

A mortal ruler, Liyen, is sent to the immortal realm to plead mercy for her kingdom. The immortals' games have freaked havoc on her lands and the people are suffering. But there’s more at stake. Liyen, the leader of Tiaxania, has taken the Divine Pearl Lotus given to her by her grandfather the former ruler of Tiaxania. Injecting the lotus cured Liyen’s ailments she had been suffering as a child, but it was not hers to take. The flower belonged to the ruthless immortal queen, and her grandfather's punishment for “losing” it resulted in his death. When Liyen is spirited away to the immortal realm by the God of War, she is adamant about keeping her secret. But there are far too many anterior motives behind the scenes, and what started as a trip to plea for her people ends up altering her life as she once knew it.

This book was incredible! Sue Lynn Tan’s work is gripping and her imagery is beautiful. The world-building is so in-depth you feel you have stepped into the books. Liyen’s character is strong-willed and selfless, and the self-discovery of her character throughout the story is beautiful. If you like Daughter of the Moon Goddess, you will absolutely love Immortals.

Immortal has a lot of potential. It just doesn’t seem to work in its execution. It feels like it’s either too long in some places and not long enough in others and ultimately it leaves me unsatisfied. It’s not just a pacing issue, but how the book is segmented and how details are revealed. I can appreciate that this is a standalone, but with the amount of telling not showing that had to happen to wrap things up in the end had me feeling like it would have been a better as a duology.

Still I enjoyed the world building and characters and the romance- I just wish it was less clunky of a read.

Craving an escape to an entirely new world?
Sue Lynn Tan’s dreamy storytelling is always a treat to consume, and her newest novel, “Immortal” was no exception-from start to finish, this book was immaculate. From her ethereal landscapes to the depth of storytelling, Immortal is a stunning romantasy standalone. I was ecstatic to return to the same world as the Celestial Kingdom but experience an entirely different story.
The story begins with the tragic death of Liyen’s grandfather, pitting her disdain against the immortals. Liyen becomes the sole heir of Tianxia and the bearer of an immense secret, the divine lotus. Bound to visit the immortals to prove her fealty to the queen and Tianxia’s stringent job of protecting the realm from the Wuxin, she’s met with an unexpected escort: The God of War. Fraught with political intrigue and brimming with adventure, Liyen finds that not everything, including the world Immortals and the Wuxin, is how it appears. All the while, Liyen finds an unexpected pull towards the ever-present God of War.
Liyen is not only a captivating heroine, but she’s beautifully complex. As the story unravels, so does her character. From her innate care of her kingdom to a balance of her own personal desires, her voice is truly an encapsulating narrator throughout. She’s incredibly in tune with her emotions- the pages of Immortal come alive with her compassion, longing, and curiosity, driving the story. And so many adventures are to be had in this novel!

Tropes that romantasy readers will indulge in:
- Romance
- Plot twists
- Secrets, so many secrets!
- Dense worldbuilding
- Complex characters/development

Readers of the Celestial Kingdom will adore this return to a familiar world, rife with new perils and a fresh lens to experience it through. This is a must read for epic fantasy readers everywhere—I’m thrilled to be sharing in the excitement for the release on January 7th. Thank you to Harper Voyager for this thrilling arc!

I adore having a book that is Celestial Kingdom adjacent, that can be read as a standalone, and that has such a beautiful cover, to match the other covers from this author.

It took a lot longer than it should have to grow to like Liyen. I didn’t like how she was to Zhangwei at the beginning. She was often mean for the sake of being mean. It was very childish. But her personality always came shining through. I liked how she cared for others and fought for what was right.

I didn’t really make any notes while I was reading this. The world building was so much fun that the outside world just melted away. Overall, this was a fun read from one of my favorite authors.

Please, bring back more fantasy standalones! It was such a relief to read a story that started and ended all in the same reasonable length novel.

To me, this showed growth and development from Daughter of the Moon Goddess. Liyen was very likable and I enjoyed being in her head throughout this story, which had all of the twists and turns of a high drama soap opera. There were a few times I thought I knew where this was going and was proven wrong, much to my delight.

I wanted to give Sue Lynn Tan another try after DOTMG (I wanted to love the duology, but hated it by the end due to the love triangle lmao) because I like the ideas and potential here and Tan's writing style is really nice! Unfortunately, I found myself frustrated all the same with Immortal as I did with DOTMG. While I like the God of War, the pacing of the romance here made it hard to believe, and the POV of the FMC made it really frustrating as well.

A lot of things seemed surface level in a way compared to the world of DOTMG. I was somewhat invested in certain parts of the plot, but overall, this was a miss for me.

4.5 stars! ✨ Big thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC of Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan, and to HarperAudio for the audiobook ARC! 💖 Huge shoutout to NetGalley for making this magic happen! 🌟

Okay, guys, this book was EVERYTHING! 😍 Immortal was like diving headfirst into a world of magic and mystery and not wanting to come up for air! 🌬️ It’s the perfect mix of fantasy, romance, and political intrigue. The writing is SO beautiful, the world-building is next level, and let me just say, the chemistry between Liyen and Zhangwei? Scorching 🔥 I couldn’t stop flipping the pages (or hitting play on the audiobook)! 📖💥

✨ Tropes that gave me life ✨
✧ Enemies-to-lovers 💘
✧ Forbidden romance 💋
✧ Morally grey MMC 🖤
✧ Political intrigue 🏰
✧ Betrayal and vengeance 💔
✧ Forced proximity 🏠
✧ Impulsive, bold FMC ⚡
✧ Slow burn 🔥
✧ Fated mates 💫
✧ "Touch her and die" 😤

Where do I even begin?! 😅 Liyen’s journey from unsure heir to fierce ruler is SO captivating. She’s bold, impulsive, and makes decisions that will have you rooting for her even when she’s messing up (lol, same). 🙈 And Zhangwei, the God of War?! WOW. He’s ruthless, calculating, and SO magnetic. The tension between them? Literal fire. 🔥🔥

The romance? Deliciously slow-burn (my fave!). Every “will they or won’t they” moment kept me on the edge of my seat. And when they finally give in?! SWOON-WORTHY. 😍 The back and forth between Zhangwei’s cold exterior and Liyen’s fiery determination was EVERYTHING. The “touch her and die” energy? Can’t get enough. 😤💥

The world-building? Chef’s kiss 💋 The magic, gods, betrayal—it’s all so lush and atmospheric, and I was 100% here for it. Buttttt, I gotta admit, the first part was a tad slow for me. 😬 The political drama took over for a bit, and I was just waiting for things to get exciting. BUT, once the action picked up around 30%, I was hooked. The tension, the stakes—it all had me gripped for the rest of the book. 🙌

And the climax?! OMG. I was literally gasping, crying, and had my heart in my throat the whole time. 😱❤️ It was everything I didn’t know I needed, and totally worth the build-up. The ending might not have been crazy wild, but it was deeply satisfying and made me smile through the tears. 😢

Also, let’s talk about the audiobook—Natalie Naudus did an AMAZING job narrating this story! Her voice really brought the characters to life, and the tension between Liyen and Zhangwei was even more intense with her narration. I loved how she captured all the emotional highs and lows, especially in the more dramatic moments. She absolutely nailed it! 🎧✨

Overall, I’m SO glad I got to read this early. Immortal has ALL the magic I love: betrayal, love, politics, and characters you can’t stop thinking about. If you’re into epic fantasy romances, this is your book! ⭐️

CW:
- Blood
- Death
- Violence
- Death of a loved one

I can’t wait to see what Sue Lynn Tan does next! If you’re a fan of epic fantasy romances, you NEED this one! 💖

Thank you Net Galley for providing the eARC for an honest review!
Sue Lynn Tan has done it again and even better. This book has the perfect balance of romance and political struggle that you will leave you satisfied. The character's dynamic is perfection and I was choking on my tears at the end because the book was over. She is an autobuy author for me and if you have ever wanted to read anything by her or mythology fantasies. THIS IS IT!!

This book was everything I didn't know that I needed. I adore everything about Sue Lynn Tan's writing. It's done so beautifully that you just cannot help but get lost in the pages.

In this book you will find:
*Found Family
*Broody MMC
*Enemies to Lovers
*Angst
*Who did this to you

What I love the most about this book is that in true Sue Lynn Tan fashion, I wasn't expecting any of it and I got all of it. The twists, the build up, the romance, the angst and all of the world building. I cannot wait for the release of this book. Thank you for letting me recieve the ARC of this amazing book and leave this review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the arc!

If there is one thing you should know about me, it’s that I love a good enemies to lovers book!

I was so excited to read this as I’ve heard nothing but good things about the Daughter of the Moon Goddess series and they are actually sitting on my bookshelf ready to be read!

The world building in this is magical, the romance is beautiful, and the writing is stunning.

I think it really picked up around halfway through, the beginning of the book felt a little slow but once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down! Will definitely be picking up their other series now!

Tropes featured:
Enemies-to-Lovers
Found Family
Legendary Creatures
Political Intrigue
Forbidden Love
Revenge

I thoroughly enjoyed Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan—especially after the 60% mark! Zhangwei, the God of War, is an exceptional character, and I found myself completely captivated by him. The relationship between Zhangwei and Liyen was beautifully developed—simply perfection.

Sue Lynn Tan's world-building continues to impress. The vivid and magical settings transported me to mystical lands, one of my favorite aspects of her writing. Her ability to craft such immersive environments is truly remarkable.

The side characters were well-developed and added depth to the story.

The themes explored in this story also felt particularly relevant to contemporary times, encouraging reflection on deeply ingrained prejudices. Liyen’s journey of self-discovery and growth as she confronts her biases was compelling and thought-provoking, prompting readers to examine their own perspectives.

While I adored the story overall, I found the pacing at the beginning a bit slow, and the time jumps were occasionally confusing. Additionally, the repetition of Liyen’s thoughts in the first half felt slightly overdone. However, once I reached the 60% mark, the narrative truly hit its stride, with fresh revelations and answers that made the journey all the more rewarding. Liyen’s character arc, in particular, was a highlight of the story.

Overall, Immortal is a fantastic read with stunning world-building, memorable characters, and meaningful themes. It’s a story that lingers in your mind long after you turn the final page.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager US for this wonderful ARC for an honest review~

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Sue Lynn Tan has done it again! She’s once again crafted a stunning, immersive Asian-inspired romantic fantasy with Immortal. While it’s set in the same world as her prior Celestial Kingdom duology, it’s a standalone following all new characters. However, as a returning reader, I loved the mix of mythology and C-Drama-like political intrigue.
And there’s a lot to love here. Liyen is morally complex, being guided by her impulses to make bold, reckless choices in an attempt to strive for what she wants. Her choices don’t always work out, and seeing her reckon with the fallout is especially entertaining. And she’s contrasted by an equally morally gray love interest, Zhangwei, but he contrasts her in his calculated nature, which makes their enemies-to-lovers dynamic compelling.
And combined with the aforementioned intrigue in the external plot, there’s quite a bit going on to keep the story interesting. However, it’s somewhat let down by uneven pacing, with the beginning in particular being rather slow to start. But it’s also complemented by lush writing, and once the story picks up, the payoff is worth it.
In spite of these minor issues, I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to readers interested in Asian-inspired romantic fantasy.

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

Oh, how I missed Sue Lynn Tan's writing style.

Atmospheric and romantic, Immortal reads like a fairytale, leaving the reader caught up in a haze of enchanting descriptions and dramatic conflicts. Between the lush world-building and the whimsical prose, Sue Lynn Tan's novels are always as beautiful as their covers - this one being no different.

Despite my eventual enjoyment, there was a moment when I was worried I wasn't enjoying this as much as I'd hoped. This was because I struggled to connect with the book at first, due to a few elements I can't discuss here because of spoilers. What I can say is that if you're struggling with the beginning of the book, (most likely) those aspects have a purpose and will be explained.

Like Daughter of the Moon Goddess this book was a fantastical experience, transporting me to the events taking place and leaving me feeling the way a beautiful movie score does. I loved being back in this world.

Overall, I had a fantastic time reading this and I'm still so incredibly grateful for chance to read an ARC. While I don't think this book will work for every reader, I recommend it to anyone that loves romantic fairytales and books that feel like magic.

I received a copy through NetGalley for review.

Sue Lynn Tan has wrote another beautiful love story based on mythology. This one is while located in the world of her other series, this one can very easily be read as a standalone.

Liyen is the heir to the throne of Tianxia, both of her parents have passed, raised by her Grandfather. As a sickly child, mostly ignored by the court, they assumed she would not survive to adulthood. She may have made a weak ruler physically but held her own had someone not poisoned her, setting off a series of events, the first starting with her Grandfather, using the Divine Pearl Lotus -a sacred item the ruler of Tianxia was due to protect, to save her very life.

Tianxia is in part controlled by the Immortals, cut off from the rest of the mortal world to protect and watch the entrance to the Netherworld, and make sure the gate to the Wuxin stays closed forever, because they would destroy the human world, feeding off strive, fear and sadness- literally. They have a treaty with the Golden Desert Immortals, giving their fealty to Queen Caihong, and giving her their most treasured possession in return The Shield of Rivers and Mountains.

Liyen now Lady of Tianxia must pay fealty to Queen Caihong and navigate the court of the Immortals, all while dealing with the infuriating and handsome God of War, all while hiding the fact that she is now one with the Divine Pearl Lotus, concealing it from them. Hoping to free her people from the treaty thousands of years in length from a threat that hasn't been seen since. She's hoping to convince the Immortal Queen to forge a new treaty, rejoin the mortal world and get back the Shield and its magic for her people.

Liyen is smart and tenacious, and while she didn't have the physical strength when she was younger, she gains much back from the healing power of the Divine Pearl Lotus. She's willing to fight and defend her people, to charge ahead if she must. She has so much character growth.
And much about herself that she has yet to find out, and remember.

I really enjoyed this one! It's a beautiful story of love and strength, enduring things for others, and sacrificing for the one you love and waiting as long as it takes. Of complicated family and forgiveness.

3.5 stars, rounded up.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess is one of my favorite books ever. So when I saw this standalone from the author, I knew I had to read it.
While the overall concept was super intriguing with a couple twists I didn't see coming, the pacing of this book was all over the place for me, which made it easy to walk away from during the slow parts. Our MMC has no flaws. Absolutely zero. So while the romance was delicious, the pace and depth of it wasn't believable for me.

Thanks to Netgalley for my complimentary e-arc. All opinions here are my own.

REVIEW: Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Standalone fantasy books are particularly hard to pull off because you typically need a LOT of world building to make everything work. You need time to build up the magic systems and the character arcs, so when you don’t have that, it can leave a lot left to be desired.

Liyen was pretty insufferable for a lot of the book and she never really grew on me. Zhangwei was a little too perfect for my taste and almost immediately jumped into the “touch her and die” type of possessiveness that is FINE, if you have the build up to match that. Not caring for either character made the romance really rushed and unbelievable. There is a line where Liyen mentions that Zhangwei’s feelings didn’t feel wholly earned and I completely agree but for pacing reasons. Our main villain was also extremely childish so I never really felt threatened or scared by them in the grand scheme of it all.

A lot was thrown at this book, almost feeling like something was just trying to stick, which is unfortunate because Daughter of the Moon Goddess felt extremely deliberate so this was like a polar opposite. The twist around the 70% mark was the best part of the book and it’s hard that it takes that long for a good payoff.

I will say that this was still really well written and did keep my interest, even if it didn’t end up being a favorite. Sue Lynn Tan can weave some genuinely beautiful prose and that’s something to applaud.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy of Immortal which releases on January 7, 2025!