3⭐; Something about this just wasn't right.

I think my main issue with Immortal stems from the similarity it holds to a plot point in the Celestial Kingdom duology; there's a realm/kingdom filled with evil demons who are the primary antagonists, except they're not actually evil, they're just under bad management and trying to obtain the livelihood owed to all sentient beings. Am I talked about the Cloud Wall / Demon Realm of the duology or the realm of the Wuxin in Immortal? I couldn't get past this aspect of the story, it just felt like a reused concept and made things feel flat for me.

On top of that, Liyen and Zhangwei's romance did not spark joy for me, which is definitely not good since this is a romantasy. It felt like insta-love and even when it is revealed that Liyen has a forgotten history with the god of war, there still wasn't any way for her to have known that when she went all googoo for him.

I was confused by the second half of the story and felt like things weren't really given enough time. The betrayal of Aunt Shou, but not really. The loss of Chengyin. But not really. The transformation and reclamation of Liyen's past and immortal self. But not really. It all just felt kind of like a cop-out, which I don't enjoy.

One thing I can absolutely praise this story for is Sue Lynn Tan's continued excellent writing style. Her verbage and descriptions are just as lush, lyrical, and majestic as they have been in previous titles and I think she has only improved with her prose.

Overall, Immortal falls short where it should have hit hard, and wasn't the slam dunk I hoped it would be.

I was sent a complimentary copy by Avon & Harper Voyager US through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This doesn’t affect my thoughts about the book in any way.

Sue Lynn Tan is back in this luscious romantasy standalone between an ambitious ruler and a revered God of War. Her flowery prose brings a timeless finish to the beauty of her Chinese fantasy books. The world building Is lush and rich with the elements of the widely loved Daughter of the Moon Goddess but is also thriving with her new characters’ persona and their amazing chemistry. Inspired by the aesthetic of xianxia dramas, this is perfect for fans of The Last Dragon of the East.

ZHANGWEI THE MAN THAT YOU ARE !! literally giggled so hard at every single line from this man. i could taste the tension and absolute longing :D 10/10 give me more male leads like him. for fans of sue lynn tan's books, he will NOT disappoint.

The romance between a headstrong ruler and a God of War was so beautifully-written. The action-fantasy was perfectly tied with treacherous court politics. Immortal is a stunning standalone, absolutely to die for! I am so glad that I secured an advanced copy (I cannot wait THAT LONG anymore). I cannot and will not share spoilers, but the tension between the main character and her love interest was sooooo wonderful. It reminded me so much of two people who loved each other despite all the odds (IYKYK)

PSA: Sue has told me that there might be a short story about Immortal sometime in the future!

Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan is a standalone romantasy set in the same world as the Celestial Kingdom duology. I admittedly had not read those books yet, but the context wasn’t needed for this book to still hook you from the start!

Immortal follows Liyen, Lady of Tianxia, as she goes on an adventure to save her people was learning so much about herself along the way. Accompanying her throughout the book is Zhangwei, immortal and the God of War. Liyen was cursed as a child with poison, the only cure being a flower only her grandfather was able to pick once it bloomed as the current ruler of Tianxia. However, once taken, Liyen’s life really starts taking hit after hit as she seeks to defend Tianxia against the immortals overruling them.

This book was SO GOOD! The pacing was beautiful, the mix of fantasy with romance was so well balanced. As my first novel by Sue Lynn Tan, too, I just have to praise the poetic way she writes.

3.5 stars rounded up. This book is so hard for me to rate and review, largely because there were parts of this book (i.e., the character and relationship development) that I REALLY didn't jive with. But then, you get to ~65% and the author reveals something and all of a sudden, everything makes sense and clicks. And I completely respect the author for doing it this way. Truly, I love a good surprise. Love a good twist. And Sue Lynn Tan delivered that (several times over, actually). But, it was a bit of a slag to actually get to the twist. I almost DNFed this based on the first third, and honestly, now having read the entire book, I would have been mad at myself for doing that. The writing itself is fantastic. It's lyrical and poetic. Tan also has a way of describing food that has me salivating for her to one day write a cookbook (I would totally buy it and read it just for the descriptions). Ultimately, I'm glad I read this, and I'm really glad I finished it. This is my first book from Tan, and while the book does take place in the Celestial Kingdom world, you absolutely do not need to read that duology first. That said, I did like this one enough to cycle back and read the Celestial Kingdom books, and I'm excited to see what else Tan releases in the future!

Thank you so much to Tan, Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for the ARC (physical and ebook) in exchange for my honest review.

I jumped for joy when I received the ARC for this book. Thank you so much Harper Voyager and NetGalley!

This book was wonderful. The last half of the book truly brought me to tears with all of the strong bonds made between people that should have seen each other as enemies. Liyen’s capacity for love and understanding is inspiring.

I loved that Liyen was a take no BS FMC. She was not about to let the men in her circle dictate her life. She grew up always sick/hurt and yet she did not just lay down and take it. When she lost the only family she had left (known to her at the time) my heart broke with her, but she refused to let his death be in vain. When she was given the opportunity to free her people from servitude, she fought for it. Though it wasn’t exactly working out for her initially, she didn’t give up. She definitely made some questionable choices, that ended up getting the people around her into trouble, but it all made sense in the end.

The relationship between Liyen and Zhangwei did confuse me at first. I found myself wondering why they were falling in love so fast only to realize later that they had been in love (essentially in another life) before. Knowing that made my heart ache for Zhangwei having to hold back all of his feelings for her. It was in the little things like playing weiqi and training together that tugged at my heartstrings knowing that those were things they did together when falling in love the first time. There were so many quotes that came from the two of them proving their devotion to one another and I know they will stick with me.

There was quite a bit of betrayal, though done for the right reasons that hurt my heart. I wish that there was a way to have returned Liyen’s memories without having to deceive her and without her having to be kidnapped to the Netherworld. I had a feeling Aunt Shou was going to betray her but I thought Chengyin was going to be a part of it as well. Though her betrayal cut deep, I can also understand and empathize with her. I’m so glad it didn’t come at the price of Chengyin’s life.

All in all, I loved it. I got the undying love I crave in a book, the betrayal, strong family ties, and an adventure that spans worlds. Well done

I really enjoyed this beautifully written tale! Daughter of the Moon Goddess was one of my favorite duologies, so I couldn't wait to be back in the world of the Celestial Kingdom! This story had magical world building, exciting twists and a slow burn romance! Sue Lynn Tan is becoming a new favorite author and I can't wait to read more of her books in the future!

It kills me not to give a Sue Lynn Tan book 5 stars. While this had her signature gorgeous prose and wonderful world building, I found myself ultimately a bit disappointed from an uneven story. I'm going to do a non-spoiler portion of a review and then one with spoilers.

This book is divided into 3 sections:
*The first section was a struggle! I found Liyen infuriating and insufferable. I was super intrigued by Zhangwei though. Then...PLOT TWIST and I was hooked.

*Section 2 was amazing! THIS was what I wanted! Banter and tension and chemistry! I was heel-kickingly giddy at points here. Everything just snapped into place and for me, this was what I wanted for the entire book. But plot twist #2!

*Section 3 kind of let the romance take a backseat and became a high-stakes action fantasy with danger and plotting with life-and-death consequences. And more reveals! However, I just didn't feel as invested or emotionally connected to what happened. I did like the ending, and everything wrapped up nicely.

I appreciate the fact that this was a standalone. However, I think the story could have been so much more impactful as a duology with dual POV, and I'll go into why in my spoiler section. I understand why we were limited to Liyen's POV for this, but oh I would have loved Zhangwei's.

Break for spoilers!
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<spoiler>
Ok so I think this could have been AMAZING if we had seen Liyen and Zhangwei's relationship before she became mortal. We skip a lot of the real relationship building by relying on the reveal that they've know each other before. Zhangwei even kind of admits he didn't try as hard in the beginning because he was waiting for her to remember. Seeing their initial relationship, ending on a cliffhanger of her fall, and THEN having a dual POV sequel where they find their way back to each other would have been so much better. Sigh.
</spoiler>

END SPOILERS

I'm never not going to pick up a book from Sue Lynn Tan. Her writing, imagery, and food descriptions alone keep me coming back. And the MMCs are always swoony. I think this will still find a lot of fans. I just didn't love it the way I loved her other books.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own.

Thank you harper voyager and netgalley for this ARC.

𝙄𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙡 is as much a love story as it is a tale of power, determination &political intrigue.

The story started out slow with a strong focus on our two main characters Liyen & Zhangwei and the relationship that developed between them.
The second half though, was a lot heavier on the plot and the politics, as well as the world building. The stakes got higher and the story moved a lot faster compared to the beginning.

The romance in this was absolutely stunning, so delicate and tender, full of yearning and tension (!!)
Two Star-Crossed lovers that each try their best to save and protect their people, while constantly being drawn to each other. I wouldn't necessarily call it an enemies to lovers but I do understand why some would!
I loved how their relationship progressed and how the dynamics between them changed throughout the story. Their interactions and banter in the beginning had me giggling non-stop, I love them.


I appreciated the intricate world building and just how rich the world was. If I'm not mistaken this is set in the same world as her other series, so I'm really excited to read that one next and find out even more about it!

Liyen is the princess of Tianxia on Earth. Her kingdom is responsible for guarding the border between Tianxia and Kunlun mountain, the sole pathway to the heavens and Underworld. A mere mortal, she is frail and ill after being poisoned with the waters of the Wangchuan River, from the Underworld. After the immortal queen of the Golden Desert and the God of War come to Tianxia seeking the powerful Lotus Blossom, her grandfather transfers it to her to save her life and shortly passes away. Riddled with grief and despair, she travels to Kunlun to learn of her new duties. Near the mountain she finds herself in grave danger and out of desperation, summons the God of War.

Tan’s writing is lush and vibrant. It was lovely to fall back into the world that includes the celestial kingdom. Exploring a new world, centering on Liyen and the God of War, was exciting and I was invested right away. The God of War’s health is suffering too, although it is a mystery why. He desperately needs the Lotus Blossom that Liyen holds. But it must be given freely. And there are dangerous immortals seeking the lotus. As machinations unfold, it becomes ever more imperative that Liyen protect her kingdom. But the powerful God of War may be her only hope at defeating the disgraced and exiled body-snatching Wuxin.

The book is medium-paced with plot twists, big reveals, and a beautiful fierce slow-burn romance. There is much delightful repartee and tension between Liyen and The God of War. Readers who enjoy enemies-to-lovers romantasy with political drama, magical creatures, and dueling immortals will love this book.

The only thing I was disappointed in was the title. “Immortal” seems too non-descript and simple. I was expecting a title that packs more punch for a story like this. Despite the title, Tan explores what it means to be human and the paradoxes of mortality.

Key themes that stayed with me:
Destiny is ours to write.
Humanity is so valuable because it doesn’t last forever.
You cannot be a great leader unless you value your own worth.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me an E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Immortal is a standalone set in the same world as Daughter of the Moon Goodness, and while I have not read that duology, I do not think it is necessary in order to enjoy this installment. I thought the world Tan built was so lush and vibrant and it made me immediately want to pick up the other novels set in this world.

Following Liyen’s precarious ascension to the throne after the unexpected death of her grandfather, she knows that her position, and the fate of her kingdom, hinders on the very same immortals that her grandfather betrayed. Vowing to end Tianxia’s obligation to the immortal realm above, Liyen journeys to the Immortal Realm with Zhangwei, the ruthless God of War. Yet, along the way Liyen discovers secrets and betrayals that threaten to uproot everything she has ever known and when her kingdom is threatened by external forces, she must team up with Zhangwei to save her people before it’s too late.

Tan does a remarkable job at balancing between the romance and the political intrigue and I was so engrossed in the last part of the book that I ended up staying up all night to read until the end and I was definitely not disappointed. However, I will say that I’m not particularly a huge fan of the 'enemies-to-lovers’ trope in fantasy. While I did end up very much enjoying Liyen and Zhangwei’s relationship, I had some issues with some of the 'will they, won't they' tensions in their relationship at the beginning that seemed a bit repetitive and ended up dragging down some of the pacing for me.

Overall, I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a well-crafted romantasy with a unique plot!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I am absolutely thrilled to have gotten this opportunity! I loved the Celestial Kingdom duology and couldn't wait to jump into Immortal! Immortal was super easy to get into although I felt like the world building could've used more. I enjoyed this thoroughly!

“Where you go, I go,” he whispered into my ear. “Now, and always.”
😭🫶
Is it too early to call this one of the best reads of 2025? I think not.

I was blown away by this story - and at the same time, I wasn't expecting anything less magnificent from Sue Lynn Tann. Her writing style lives rent free in my head forever.

And though I'm not usually into comparing books from the same author as they are each unique in their own way, I need to say that in some ways, Immortal was better than Daughter of the Moon Goddess. Her writing improved and while still lyrical and beautiful, it was not as superflowery this time around... Probably because this is a standalone, so shorter, but also because like I said, her writing grew and matured over time.

Immortal feels very much like an Adult Fantasy - an Asian Romantasy that takes the best elements of the both worlds. Everything is more mature, intense, hot and the stakes are higher!

The worldbuilding, descriptions, action, plot twists, history are amazing. SLT really has a way of transporting you into this faraway world and make you feel and see all the details, flavors, fragrances and touches.

Some tropes we love (though they are not as in your face here as with usual romantasy) but the magical and unique world of Asian mythology.

Then there are the characters. Ugh, my heart! The feels, the angst, the tension, the twists, betrayal, heartbreak and all consuming love!! The banter, the draw they had to each other, their character growth as the story progressed and the plot got more intense was outstanding. They are layered and strong and beautiful and their relationship kept me on the edge of my seat.

Really, I have no complaints. Superb. (Maybe only that at times, Lyien's disdain for Immortals and what they did to humans felt repetitive).

Just know that when this hits the NYT and other bestseller lists, when the special editions will be out of stock, when everyone will be obsessed with it come January, IT WILL BE WORTH IT. 💜🥹

*eARC thanks to HarperVoyager and Netgalley for my honest opinion.

Some quotes I loved:
“Who hurt you?”

If you hide, I will find you. Run, and I will catch you.”

And though I’d hoped to snare him with my words, his drew a string around my heart. I tried to cast it away, to snap it— reminding myself why I was here. These dreams could not be allowed to form; they had no right to exist. I couldn’t get caught up in this farce, pretending he was someone other than what he was: The God of War. Immortal. Cruel.

“Dawn would be dark without you.” He smiled. “You make life more interesting.”

“Because I’m a fool.” His eyes blazed like fire and moonlight. “Then I am one too, since the day we met.”

Obsessed.

Wow. Wow wow wow, this a book I won’t soon forget! The author did a PHENOMENAL job on the plot for this story, with so many layered twists throughout. It’s a story about immortals & mortals, love, grief, freedom, who we are. I couldn’t get enough of the characters and the drama and the shocking revelations that made the pieces of the story fit together with PERFECT pacing. Can’t wait to read her other books. And the cover art?!?! Gorgeous. You’re going to want to buy a copy for your personal library as soon as this beautiful gem is published next year. (You won’t have to wait long, Jan. 7 is coming up quick! Lucky you.)

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of the ebook.

I loved this novel as much as I enjoyed reading the "Daughter of the Moon Goddess" series. The characters were great, I loved this world and not to mention the beautiful cover.
I highly recommend checking this one out!

This was a fun read!

Sue Lynn Tan's writing always immediately pulls me in, though just like with the Celestial Kingdom, I find that her way of writing always leaves me feeling like I missed something. I definitely see rereads for this in my future!

The beginning and ending were beautifully written and so engrossing, though I admit my interest waned a little in the middle with all the conflicts, but the ending pulled me right back in.

Also, this cover is gorgeous.

An absolutely adorable story. SLT delivers once again. I loved the celestial kingdoms duology and I loved this too. It was a bit predictable and could have some scenes mentioned beforehand before setting up a big reveal that I was already expecting. Otherwise, it was really great and I had a fun time with it

4.5 Stars

Sue Lynn Tan could write chicken scratch on a post it note and I would still read it.

Immortal is absolutely stunning! We return to the brilliantly crafted universe of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, meeting brand new characters and exploring another Celestial Kingdom.

When Liyen’s grandfather dies after saving her life, she finds herself having to cling on tight to her throne. In a court of vipers looking for any weakness, she has to remain strong, all while searching for a way to sever her kingdom from the immortals they’re bound to serve. When summoned to the Immortal Realm, she believes this to be a perfect opportunity to search for clues and put her plan into place!

Entering a strained alliance with the God of War, who seems to act like he knows her, Liyen has to guard both herself and the divine lotus from his unknown plans. As enemies close in and she finds her heart drawing closer and closer to him, she must find a way to save her people and avenge her grandfather, even it means her life and her heart are at stake.

With an ambitious protagonist and a love interest who definitely fell first, Immortal is a fantastic, spellbinding read! Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for sending me an advanced copy! Immortal is set to appear on shelves on Jan 7, so keep your eyes peeled and your wallets ready!

Immortal is my first experience with Sue Lynn Tan, and I was absolutely blown away. I fell in love with this book the moment I saw it on Netgalley; the cover had entranced me, the premise was exactly what I love in a book, and Sue Lynn Tan absolutely delivered on all fronts. I will be diving into her other books and will officially read anything she writes because I am in love.

To push immediately into what I loved about this book, enough so that it not only is an immediate five star for me but is officially entering my all-time favorite shelf on Goodreads - 我的一切‎, including being top 3 of the best books I've read this year, I'll start with the romance. It came off as insta-love from the male lead, Zhangwei. The swiftness was there, but it was subtle. Focusing a lot of the emotional development of Liyen. It was introduced rather early, but it developed at a pace that didn't feel rushed or unrealistic.

The banter between not only Liyen and Zhangwei, but also all other characters in the book from Chengyin, Aunt Shou, to other immortals and deities we meet. It was fun, light, hilarious, and easy to read. The bonds between characters were beautiful. I will say, I do wish we had more development on the side characters like Chengyin, but we did get a lot for Aunt Shou, and there was a beautiful focus on realizing there are always 2 sides to a story, 2 sides of a war. Shedding your beliefs against one side to listen to their story and recognize that neither side was all-good is such an important lesson. Not every story has a hero and a villain. Sometimes it has two heroes, both misunderstood, or two villains chasing different yet colliding goals. It was a premise focused on heavily in this book that was very well executed.

This book is as heavy on politics as it is romance. While it IS a romance novel, politics and war play a vital part in this book, as well as the emotional and mental development of Liyen. I would still recommend this book to anyone who may not be attuned or interested in political fantasy, because the romance balances it out.

The PLOT TWISTS!!!!!! I was not expecting ANY of them!!! They had completely caught me off guard, and yet they were woven into the story so perfectly. Through the smallest details, the most intimate situations, everything was being built throughout the book that was entirely unexpected when it came to light at the end. It was so incredibly done, I wept. I fell in love with this world, with these characters, and the plot twist only deepened that, as well as opened up my eyes to everything I had read prior. I genuinely did not expect any of the twists, which made this so much more enjoyable.

I feel like it is so rare to read a book where the plot twists are completely inconceivable throughout the book, and when they all not only get revealed, but make so much sense and tie so many minor things in the story you hardly recalled together into a beautifully woven story of love, politics, and strength. Sue Lynn Tan executed this to absolute perfection. I feel nothing was left unanswered, nothing was cringe or too unrealistic (ironic, considering it is fantasy), and it left me only wishing it never ended.

I have one complaint about this book, but it is so minute and quickly over before it really even starts. The start was slow. It was a bit of a slog to get through roughly the first ~2-4 chapters, but once it started picking up around 10% in, I couldn't put it down. The writing style can make the beginning feel much slower than it actually is, which I feel may have been what caused the beginning to drag for me a little. But as we got to know Liyen and Zhangwei more, I completely disregarded the slowness of the start.

Beautiful book, beautiful story, beautiful cover, immaculate execution. I will remember this book for many, many years to come. There are not enough stars on this app or in the sky to give this book in this rating to express how deeply I love it. I wish that I could read this book all over again for the first time so that I could cry and feel the way I did all over again. 10/5 stars.

My review can also be found on Goodreads through the link provided. It is a bit more fleshed out while also keeping it spoiler free and highlighting parts of the book that had grasped my heart fully.

DNF @ 10%

I know, I know I barely read anything but I genuinely do not think the writing is for me, which is something I usually do NOT focus on but I just can't I'm sorry😭 I just could not feel any shred of interest in this story from what I read--which could be because of the writing not being my thing--but I did skim a little ahead to see if any twist/scene would change my mind on this... and yeah I didn't find anything that would renew my interest in this book. This makes me sad because the covers are absolutely just stunning?? And its supposedly going to be a book box pick for a sub I have which I just know will be gorgeous, but also I'm not so far gone (yet) to be buying pretty books I know I won't love (also it lets me save some money). Unfortunately, this just doesn't look like it's for me.


Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for sending me an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

I wanted to give myself time since finishing Immortal to review it, thinking that with some time I could put into words how I felt about the book.

Sue Lynn Tan has become one of my favorite authors after she published Daughter of the Moon Goddess series. Immortal definitely is her work. However, this standalone romantic fantasy just didn't connect for me. Immortal follows the story of the FMC who must ascend the throne of a kingdom sworn to serve the immortal goddess queen. The FMC is brought up to the Immortal Realm by the God of War, and their lives unfold entwined with one another. This story hits the following tropes: enemies to lovers, chosen one-ish, political intrigue, fated lovers, forbidden love, found family, with a dash of miscommunication.

The MC's romantic relationship felt forced, and not in the good "forced proximity" type of way. Yes, the relationship is partially rationalized later on in the book, but the beginnings did not feel organic and natural at all. No spark or chemistry between the two. If the relationship wasn't pushed in the beginning as much or had better dynamics, I think I may have enjoyed this book more than I did. It may even have been perfectly fine without the romantic aspect.

Sue Lynn Tan does very well with her imagery and further developing the immortal realms that she created in The Celestial Kingdom Series. You could also say that I am a sucker for retellings of Chinese mythology. Though I was not the biggest fan, I think many others will enjoy Immortal.

Thank you Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager | Harper Voyager, and the author for this opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

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