I admit I don't think I was in the mood for this one. While this type of story is generally right up my alley, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. The story itself was interesting and I enjoyed most of it, especially the second half. However, I had a hard time with Liyen. I did not like her very much and thought she was pretty annoying in the first half of the book. I feel like the inciting incident just didn't hit hard enough for me, and therefore I didn't have very much empathy for her as a character. I did like Zhangwei, the God of War, and his character was ultimately why I finished the book.

I also feel like the pacing could have been a bit better--the first half really dragged for me and the second half felt rushed. The book felt both too long and too short, and I think splitting it into two shorter books would have improved it. I think having more time with Liyen in both parts of the story would probably have made me like her more, though who knows.

Anyway, I found this book to only be okay, and that might have just been because I was not in the mood for it. Still, I want to thank Avon and Harper Voyager, as well as NetGalley, for the eARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Voyager, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book, as it was full of vivid scenery and powerful characters, with plenty of action to keep me on my toes throughout the story. Right from the first page, the author dives us into the chaos (which I love!) and we quickly have to learn of the main character, her backstory, and meet the soon to be love interest, God of War. I had a great time reading this book, and I loved all of the plot twists and action that happened. I liked the romance as well, but the one part I wish was a bit more fleshed out was the emotional connection to the characters. I loved them as characters on the page but didn’t quite get as invested as I could have.

Nevertheless, this is a stunning book and I highly recommend it! I have yet to read the authors previous books (though they sit on my shelves) and I have heard this is in the same world with new characters. I have always looked forward to reading her other books but the world building in this makes me even more eager to pick those up.

I wish I can read Immortal for the first time again. Everything was written beautifully. It was so immersive that I could imagine being in that world. The plot was amazing! It hooked me right from the starts. There was so many scenes of angst, betrayal, heartbreak and so much more. I could not put it down! Once again, Sue creates another beautiful work of art that exceeds my expectations!

This book is a Romantasy set in the same world as Daughter of the Moon Goddess with lots of myth. The story blends romance and mythology in a way that feels both magical and exciting. The characters are relatable, and I loved how the myths were woven into the plot, making the world feel vibrant and alive. Overall, it’s a wonderful, engaging read.

I adored Tan's Daughter of the Moon Goddess duology, so I knew I needed to read this one as well. Her imagery and writing is beyond beautiful. Her world building fully immerses you in the story. Her characters are lovable, flawed, and human (even when immortal!), and they are easy to connect with. One thing I didn't love her previous story was the love triangle (just not a favorite trope of mine) so I was glad that this did not follow that same pattern. Some of the pacing is a little off. Some events happened too quickly, others too slowly.

Overall, Tan is a must read author for me. I love this world, and I am hopefully to read more stories from it - maybe even with a small cameo from some of our beloved characters?!

Thank you Netgalley, the wonderful Sue Lynn Tan, and the publishers for this book.
See more at my bookstagram - @bookish_starry_skies

3.25 ⭐️ the premise of this book was really good and i love fantasy books based off of other cultures and i also think sue lynn tan is a wonderful writer!!! however this book fell a little short for me. the flow was a bit choppy at times and plot points weren’t always clearly explained. i did think the plot twist was cool, but i think the immediate synergy of before and after didn’t really make sense. the characters were enjoyable and i loved watching liyen find herself through confidence, love, and strength + was a big fan of zhangwei as well. again, could have used a little more oomph with them as they got slightly bland at times. there were sections where i just lost interest because i think so much time was spent trying to make the writing flowery and lovely that i stopped caring about what was happening. overall, this is an interesting fantasy and especially the last 40% kept me super engaged, it just could have done some things differently to keep readers enraptured.

Rating: 3.5
***Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ebook. (Contains spoilers)

Things I really enjoyed about the novel: Very in depth and lush atmosphere; wonderful world building, interesting and great political plot twists. Our FMC, Liyen is fierce and determined and a fighter--can't help but root for her most of the time.

Things I didn't enjoy: The romance; it was just not well timed and felt forced. Liyen and the God of War meet briefly (***stay tuned) and there's an instant "connection," that Liyen is trying to avoid. The plot twist that comes reveals a previously established and serious relationship to the both of them. I felt like the author was really trying to have Liyen be deeper and feel things at a soul level often--but these moments just felt flat and not precious or quite where it may be was to be at.


I think is the a wonderful novel, a unique read, and very well done overall. But it did lack depth/feeling for the plot twists that come up; esp. involving Liyen and the God of War.

I had high hopes for this book but unfortunately I ended up DNF’ing it. The writing didn’t flow well for me. Every time I picked the book up and started reading again I just felt a bit bored tbh.

Immortal - a spell binding and spectacular sequel in the Celestial Kingdom!
Sue Lynn Tan reveals her mastery in weaving a story of a young, weakened heir ,who grows into power, and consolidates her destiny in this epic tale of magic, love and what immortality truly means. Liyen is the heir to Tianxia, a human kingdom in the footholds of Kunlun which pays obeisance to the Queen of the Golden Desert, enforced by the ruthless, God of War, Zhangwei.
After her grandfather's sacrifice saves her from a cruel poisoning, and she is expected to pledge devotion to the Immortals. She strives against the magical forces and struggles against the secrets shrouding the Immortals, and is intrigued by the God of War. Liyen soon realizes that all is not what it seems, either in the Celestial abodes nor in the Netherworlds. Plagued by heartache, forgotten memories and political intrigue, Liyen comes to her own and finally embraces her choices. The romance between Zhangwei and Liyen unfolds mellifluously, struck by the notes of uncertainty and percussioned with beats of scorching looks and exchanges.
Tan's understanding of the human nature and it's conflict between mind and heart comes to fore. As a flawed heroine grappling with powers beyond her understanding and a political landscape with undercurrents of loss, freedom and vengeance, Tan builds a masterful tale of enchantment, sorcery and ultimately love in all its forms.
A million thank yous to Harper Voyager, NetGalley and the author herself for the ARC! I certainly devoured this tale and hopefully, you will too!

Immortal is a new installment in Sue Lynn Tan's Celestial Kingdom world, which was established in [book:Daughter of the Moon Goddess|57789637] (which I have read) and its sequel [book:Heart of the Sun Warrior|60461898] (which I have not read). You do not need to have read either of those books to read this one!

The book starts with our protagonist, Liyen, fleeing her burning palace with her grandfather, who is the ruler of the realm of Tianxia. The palace is burning because the immortals to whom Tianxia owes allegiance/fealty ordered Liyen's grandfather to get a McGuffin, which he did, and then he didn't give it to them. The pacing at the beginning is VERY weird. It's this big action scene, with huge consequences for the characters, and yet it keeps stopping to info-dump for paragraphs at a time. Reworking the beginning of the book could have led to a better set-up for this, and a smoother flow of the action without having to constantly stop and explain what was going on. However, once this scene is over, the writing does even out and stays even for the rest of the book.

The book is in three parts. The first part is pretty bland YA romance for most of it; it really hits its stride in Part 2 and gets into the real plot of it all in Part 3. For those who read the other Celestial Kingdom books, the writing is substantively similar. I noted that in DotMG, Tan's writing has a certain distance to it. I thought that fit DotMG fairly well because it's based on a folk tale and had a fairytale-like quality to it. I'm not sure it works as well for what is supposed to be a more straightforward fantasy romance, but if you liked the writing in DotMG, you will like it here, too.

The story wraps up pretty neatly. Not all the problems are solved forever but the characters have completed their immediate goals and are in a good place. There's not a deux ex machina that comes in and solves everything for them, which I appreciated. While I wish Tan's writing had more of an emotional immediacy to it, I think people who have enjoyed her previous books will enjoy this one as well, and I always do appreciate a standalone book in a sea of series.

“Immortal” is a standalone fantasy set in the world of Tan’s popular Celestial Kingdom duology. Liyen is the granddaughter of the Lord of Tianxia, part of a family that rules over a nation divided from the rest of the mortal world as part of an agreement to defend the kingdom of the immortals. The immortal queen Caihong seeks the Divine Pearl Lotus, a powerful treasure which Liyen’s family has carefully hidden. At the start of the book Tianxia is attacked and Liyen is poisoned, and her grandfather places the Divine Pearl Lotus inside her body to heal her as his final act. Liyen is then installed as the unstable ruler over a cracking kingdom, then sent to discuss Tianxia’s ongoing alliance with the immortals in the residence of the God of War.

There were several issues I had while reading this book. The first was the writing itself; it just didn’t seem to flow very well. I also felt that the Divine Pearl Lotus could have been a really interesting plot device, but was somewhat clunkily utilized in very predictable ways. The plot itself wasn’t particularly entertaining, and most of the characters fell flat. I was particularly disappointed that since so much of the story hinges on the relationship between Liyen and the God of War, I just really didn’t buy it. The chemistry between them was forced and I could not for the life of me actually understand why they were interested in each other, from a personality standpoint.

I think it’s very possible that people who were fans of the Celestial Kingdom duology will like this more than I did, and I hope that’s the case. It wasn’t all bad, it just really didn’t hit the mark for me.

First and foremost, thank you Sue Lynn Tan and Harper Voyager for an ARC. I will cherish this copy always and it already has a special place on my shelf. I also received an extra copy on Netgalley that I am also immensely grateful for and will be re-reading on my kindle in the future.

I have been eager to slip back into Tan's etherial and stunning world. At times the pacing was a bit quick for me, but maybe some scenes needed to be rushed since this was a standalone. I think if we had another 50 pages it would have evened out the pacing a bit more.

Liyen, though frustrating at times, was a brave and sharp. She was so very human with her quick temper and flaws. She wasn't what I expected and while it peeved me in the beginning, it was something I grew to enjoy about her.

Zhangwei, the God of War. Where do I even begin? Tan captures his ferocity and loyalty effortlessly. (Though he will never take the place of Wenzhi) I fell in love with him quickly. "The God of War was famed for three tinged: His unrivaled might. His devotion to the immortal queen. And his heart of ice, devoid of all mercy."

The prose in which Tan describes things: the tension between Liyen and Zhangwei, the betrayal, the courtship, the longing- it's immaculate. Even while I suspected one of the big reveals, it was still crafted in a way in which I was surprised.

Anyone curious about this book, about all of Tan's books, do it. Pick them up and read them. I adore her world because it is so magical and light-hearted, but there is also depth, fierceness, darkness, and characters that would burn the world for those they love. Her words are captivating and you are truly missing out on a masterpiece by passing these by.

This is the kind of fantasy heave romantasy that I live for!!! From page 1 we were transported into this world and the characters and magic system felt so well thought out and described on page. I loved how all the side stories were woven together and came full circle in the end. And the way Liyen would plot and scheme and always put her people first. It was empowering and inspiring.

I love Sue Lynn Tan so much and this just further solidifies her as an autobuy author for me.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Voyager for the ARC

This novel is an absolute gem—an enchanting standalone that bursts with beautifully crafted imagery. I’ll admit, there were moments when I found Liyen, our main character, a bit frustrating. But honestly, the author’s unwavering commitment to keeping her true to herself, even through the wildest twists and turns, completely won me over.

I adored Daughter of the Moon Goddess so I was all in for another fantastical read by Sue Lynn Tan, and Immortal was a sweeping adventure of a standalone read! After her grandfather dies, Liyen ascends to the throne with a vow to end her kingdom’s obligation to the immortals, but as darker forces rise, she must risk everything—even her heart—to save her people. The writing in this book is so beautiful and elegant. The world building got a little dense for me and there is a lot going on, it is a great and unique story. I loved the tension of Liyen and the God of War and their banter and chemistry! And Liyen is just such a striking heroine. She is ambitious and brave and I was constantly rooting for her. This romance fantasy is vivid and beautiful and a very original story.

Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful! Sue Lynn Tan is such a talent and I can never put her books down. I was holding off reading this book because I knew I would devour it and then have to wait for her next book and I couldn't hold out any longer and read it. It didn't disappoint! It's Sue Lynn Tan! I love her books and this was no different.

I DNF around 1/3 way in, the book is simply not for me. I enjoyed Sue Lynn Tan Daughter of the Moon Goddess duology which is why I had requested this book. Her writing style is very descriptive and flowery which makes the plot move pretty slow. I wasn’t invested in our main character or the god of war, they both feel very generically built romantasy couple and even the beginning stages feels very predictable. I found myself not caring about the characters or the plot which why I choose to go ahead and dnf.
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HOWEVER, if you enjoy writing that is very beautifully picturesque written you will likely enjoy since it creates a very vivid image in your head. If you consider yourself as someone who enjoys the romantasy genre you will probably enjoy this book, it feels very familiar.

I'd like to extend a huge thanks to the author, Sue Lynn Tan, the publisher, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the immense pleasure of being able to read an advanced reader copy of Immortal. I will share my review to Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble upon review.

Sue Lynn Tan delivers such a rich and lush world around characters that pull you in and hold you there. Amongst the court intrigue and forbidden love, there is some beautiful world building including political forces vying for power and magical mystery. The world is so beautiful, I loved getting lost there. When her wise and kind gradfather passes, Liyen takes over the throne with a plan to protect her people and face fears she didn't even know she had. The character of Zhangwei was a lovely addition to her story, forcing her to confront her emotional fears while she was facing more physical ones. The slow burn of their dialogue and romance had me dying to see how their love story would play out. Zhangwei's own past haunts him in ways that create a wall between them and despite their barriers, they must work together to accomplish the ultimate goal of severing the bond with the Immortals. The story's major themes of sacrifice, loyalty, and balancing love and duty are played out with such depth and thrilling events that I couldn't get the story off my mind. I just love Sue Lynn Tan's writing style that reminds me of mythology, as if I'm experiencing something happening in a time where humans and gods clashed.

The cover pulled me in immediately - the bold colors and flowing art style is reminiscent of the writing itself. I think the cover gives a great tone for the overall feel of the novel and it's gorgeous. I think it fits well with the others in the Celestial Kingdom series but has enough of its own feel to set it apart. If you love the other books in the Celestial Kingdom series or you are into romantic fantasy with enemies to lovers tropes, political intrigue and adventure, and nuanced character growth alongside thrilling romantic tension, this one will be for you!

An amazing Asian fantasy romance that deserves a tv series of its own! I hope there will be more, I would like to see Liyen’s transformation.

Sue Lynn Tan has done it again with her amazing world building and wonderful characters. This book had me intrigued just by the cover and synopsis alone and it did not disappoint at all. Immortal deals with our main character Liyen and her being the main ruler of Tianxia. The beginning of this book honestly made me shed a tear because of her grandfather, but when the God of War appeared I knew right away this was going to be such a fun story to watch unfold. I think both characters have amazing chemistry with each other. The way their love story happens throughout the book is slow at times, but it makes sense with what is happening. Theres tons of twists in this book also some I wasn’t necessarily expecting which I enjoyed!
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.