This is a beautifully imaginative standalone fantasy!
The FMC, Liyen, stands up against the immortals and all their luxuries. She truly represents a FMC I can always get behind, strong willed, smart and kind.
With the God of War setup to be the enemy, and not in the typical enemies to lovers way.

This book has Angst (so much so you may need to throw something)
Then there are twist and a plot that will keep you engaged.

This is recommended for all Fantasy and Romantasy lovers.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

I was so honored to receive this arc for a review! I kept seeing this around goodreads and decided to give it a try. Phenomenal writing, great plot!

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/175449309-rmplift-rachel-phillips

@suelynntan - Immortal
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

I cannot thank Sue, @netgalley and @harpervoyager_uk enough for the eArc of this. It was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it did not dissapoint!

Once again, Sue weaved her incredible magic upon this story, creating the most picturesque scenes within your imagination, depicting every inch of a room in fine detail so that when you close your eyes, you're there.
I adored the angst in this book from the main character Liyen, angry at the immortals with their infinite years and incredible strength and power while her and the people of Tianxia suffer the wrath and live in servitude of the immortal Queen and the God of War.
This story had me wanting to SLAM the book so many times with the utter decite, secrecy and lies interwoven between a beautiful and heart wrenching romance that you just can't help but cheer for.
Also, I'd love to give a shout out to Chengyin who showed he really is the epitome of a best friend. Faking a betrothal, suffering as a Wuxin took this body and tortured him basically. He defends Liyen so fiercely and I love it.
And what I loved even MORE was Zhangweis reaction to said betrothal, his whole manner of I'll kill anyone who hurts you and ask questions later and the incredible tension between him and Liyen.
This whole book is just a masterpiece. Slightly less lyrical than the likes of DOTMG and it's sequel but on par with how beautifully written and imaginative the story is as a whole.

This was an absolutely stellar fantasy romance. I loved the setting, the characters, and the romance so much!! Sue Lynn Tan's writing is absolutely gorgeous, and her setting and plot were completely immersive. I really loved the Liyen and Zhangwei, and I thought their story was so interesting! I also loved the enemies-to-lovers vibe that was going on, as well as the added layers to their relationship. The side characters were also really well-written (Chingye was definitely a favourite). The world building was amazing, the magic system and mythology were so interesting, and the writing was gorgeous. I had an amazing time reading this book, and I would completely recommend it! I'll definitely be reading Sue Lynn Tan's other books now (and anything else she ever writes)! This is 100% one of my favourites of the year :)

If you loved Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Immortal is definitely a book you don’t want to miss. Sue Lynn Tan takes us back to that beautifully imagined world, but this time with a new story that stands on its own. Even if you’re new to Tan’s writing, there’s plenty to dive into here—between the detailed world-building, the slow-burn romance, and the twisty plot, it’s hard not to get pulled in.

The story centers around Liyen, a young ruler with a lot on her shoulders after nearly losing a family member. Add the threat of the Immortal Queen to the mix, and things quickly get intense. I loved watching Liyen’s journey as she grapples with grief, power, and responsibility, and when Zhangwei, the mysterious God of War, enters the picture, their dynamic adds a whole new layer to the story. What starts off as a relationship full of tension and annoyance slowly builds into something deeper, with just the right amount of romance to keep things interesting.

One of the best parts is how flawed and complicated Liyen is. As the narrator, she doesn’t always give you the full picture, which makes you question what’s really going on with the characters. Zhangwei, on the other hand, is stoic and complex, which made their evolving relationship all the more enjoyable. Their enemies-to-lovers arc isn’t the most original, but the witty banter and moments of vulnerability really sold me on their connection.

If I had one small complaint, it’s that the romance could feel a bit rushed at times, but honestly, the twists and emotional depth kept me hooked right until the end. While Immortal might not quite hit the same level as Daughter of the Moon Goddess for some, it’s still an immersive and captivating read filled with heart, intrigue, and enough surprises to keep you guessing.

Whether you’re here for the slow-burn romance, the political drama, or the rich mythology, Immortal delivers a story that will leave you thinking about it long after you’ve finished. Definitely worth picking up if you’re a fan of romantic fantasy, and I can’t wait to see what Sue Lynn Tan has in store for us next!

i loved chinese mythology as a kid, so i really enjoy sue lynn tan's novels. i fell in love with daughter of the moon goddess, the forbidden romance, and the deep lore that was encircled in the stories.

i enjoyed immortal, a story about a young woman who explores topics of grief, family, sacrifice, and understanding the dialectical structure of holding power.

when liyen loses a family member, she is expected to fill their role to become the leader of tianxia. many people do not believe in her because they believe she is weak, so liyen is expected to be given the blessing of the immortal queen, who liyen believes at this point is partially responsible to the death of her family member. it's safe to say liyen is *not* a fan of the immortals or the gods. it also doesn't help that her family member gave her something that was actually meant for the immortal queen. awkward...

so when liyen is basically forced to spend time with the god of war, zhangwei, she can't help but express her disgust and disdain towards him. yet over time, she warms up to him which makes us wonder, is this the best idea for our mortal lady of tianxia?

there are a few twists and turns to this book, and honestly there were parts i was not expecting. there was a lot going on at times and at first i struggled with grasping everything because i thought it may have been too much. however, there was a theme of being able to choose your own destiny and future which i think allowed the several points to unite closer to the end of the book.

while this book did not blow me away like daughter of the moon goddess did, i still liked it. i enjoyed seeing liyen's character development, watching zhangwei's icy exterior melt, and the exploration that when two options aren't right, maybe it's time to create a new one.

NetGalley Advanced Reader Copy

Immortal takes place in the same stunning fantasy world I loved from the Celestial Kingdom duology (note - you don’t have to read those books to understand this one). It was fun to learn more about the Mortal Realm and their relationship with the Immortals. The romance was so good! Lots of classic tropes but done in a unique way. It includes very light spice. I did not see the twist coming at all and definitely plan to reread when the book officially comes out! I’ve already preordered the beautiful first edition with sprayed edges.

I adore Sue Lynn Tan she has been an automatic buy author for me since Daughter of the Moon Goddess. I loved the references to Daughter of the Moon Goddess and the Celestial Kingdom world. It was fun to return to this world. This story introduces completely new characters Liyen and the God of war. Their story was fun and the plot twist while obvious given how quickly and adamant the God of War behaves was still fun. I just wish we got to see more of the history fleshed out the romance felt a little rush and stilted given we didn’t have a lot of background or anything really during the story. Liyen was very angry and while she might have had a reason the reason also didn’t feel properly fleshed out either. However the twist was fun and interesting and i wished we got to spend more time in the world of the twist and the Wuxin. Overall it was fun and I will always recommend Sue Lynn Tan however Daughter of the Mood Goddess remains my favorite.

Each time I read a Sue Lynn Tan book I'm memorized that written text can be so colorful, rich, and saturated with beauty. Just from the descriptions of the settings, the clothing, the food. Everything pops off the page. Immortal is no exception. Set in both the human world and the Celestial Kingdom the story is about a mortal, Liyen who is ruler of the Tianxia kingdom. All she wants is freedom from the gods who once protected her kingdom from a threat that is no more. Unlike the rulers before her, Liyen's grandfather has given her a bargaining chip. Something that the immortal queen desperately wants. After the death of her grandfather Liyen must pledge her kingdoms loyalty to the immortals. However she has a different plan.
From the publisher
A stunning, standalone romantic fantasy filled with dangerous secrets, forbidden magic, and passion, of a young ruler who fights to protect her kingdom, from bestselling author Sue Lynn Tan and set in the breathtaking world of Daughter of the Moon Goddess.

What the gods did not give us, I would take

As the heir to Tianxia, Liyen knows she must ascend the throne and renew her kingdom’s pledge to serve the immortals who once protected them from a vicious enemy. But when she is poisoned, Liyen’s grandfather steals an enchanted lotus to save her life. Enraged at his betrayal, the immortal queen commands the powerful God of War to attack Tianxia.

Upon her grandfather’s death, Liyen ascends a precarious throne, vowing to end her kingdom’s obligation to the immortals. When she is summoned to the Immortal Realm, she seizes the opportunity to learn their secrets and to form a tenuous alliance to safeguard her people, all with the one she should fear and mistrust the most: the ruthless God of War. As they are drawn together, a treacherous attraction ignites between them—one she has to resist, to not endanger all she is fighting for.

But with darker forces closing in around them, and her kingdom plunged into peril, Liyen must risk everything to save her people from an unspeakable fate, even if it means forging a dangerous bond with the immortal… even if it means losing her heart.

I highly recommend this book. It's beautifully written. Thank you NetGalley and Avon Harper Voyager for this e galley. All opinions are my own

Sue Lynn Tan delivers yet another masterpiece with this novel! The story stands strong as a standalone, making it a joy to read from start to finish. Her writing is truly captivating—the prose flows beautifully, and the subtle nods to mythology add depth and richness to the narrative. The characters are wonderfully crafted, each bringing something special to the story. I found myself completely immersed and enjoyed every single moment of it!

**4.5 stars, rounded up for Goodreads

All I'm going to say for now is that I'm obsessed and already rereading it. I had previously purchased the authors first duology and novella but it had been low on my tbr list(my list is ridiculously long and so it was lower on the list than I would have liked it to be) but because of this book the duo has been bumped up to within my next 10 reads so kudos to Sue Lynn Tan for gripping me in her writing claws so ferociously. After this book, she's been added to my aut buy list for sure!!!!!
*Closer to release I'll try to add a full review but for now please accept my humble short rave session lol

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. Everything in this review is my own opinion and has in no way been influenced by the writer, publisher, or Netgalley.

There have only been a few times where I get so excited about receiving an ARC of a book that I'm speechless and near tears, this was one of those cases. I apologize in advance to other authors I ARC read for, I love you guys too but some authors I have loved for years and only recently started doing this. So when I get access to their works before they are released, I get emotional. Off track too apparently, this is supposed to be a review!

First things first - this cover!!!! I love the covers for everything Sue Lynn Tan has written, but this one is my favorite. It is gorgeous and will look amazing on my shelf when I get the physical copy (pre-ordered as soon as it was available). Sue Lynn Tan is one of my favorite authors (it's a long list but still). Her world building and plots are always amazing, and I love the additions of her favorite stories and myths from growing up in her work. It makes everything she writes unique in the fantasy genre, and I love it. This book is no different.

The FMC, Liyen , is fantastic. She is strong and fierce and I love her! She faces every challenge head on and does not back down or show her fear when it matters.

The God of War, Lord Zhangwei, oof. Where can we find guys like that? So many good quotes, but one of my favorites - "Dawn would be dark without you." He smiled. "You make life more interesting." ... *swoon*

I can't recommend this book enough. I loved everything about it and as soon as I started reading it I COULD NOT put it down. I loved every second of this book. Thank you Sue Lynn Tan for another amazing work to take me away from reality for a short while.

When Liyen’s kingdom is attacked by the Immortals, resulting in her grandfather’s untimely death, she is thrust into the role of leader, determined to avenge him and liberate her people. To accomplish this, she embarks on a dangerous journey to the realm of the Immortals. During her stay, she finds herself in the company of the God of War, Liyen starts feeling an unexpected attraction to him, even though she knows she can’t trust him. Upon their return to the mortal realm, they discover that the Wuxin, an ancient enemy, have escaped their prison in the Netherworld and are threatening to conquer her land. Forced to join forces, Liyen and the God of War must stop the Wuxin before another conflict erupts. However, in the process, Liyen will uncover shocking truths about herself that will shatter everything she believed to be true.

When I say romantasy book this is what I mean. This book means everything to me, it altered my brain chemistry and I can't believe I was lucky enough to read it so early on. Thank you so much harper voyager, I adore this story with my whole heart.

I'm the marketer and publicist for Immortal! Still, I think this is a beautiful story, an epic about love — the romantic and familial kind, but also from a ruler to their kingdom.

“𝓓𝓸𝓷’𝓽 𝓫𝓮 𝓪 𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓸; 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓭𝓸𝓷’𝓽 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂 𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼.” “𝓘 𝓪𝓶 𝓷𝓸 𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓸.”

Rating ➵ 5.0 🤩
Spice ➵ 1.0

Read if you like:
🐉 Chinese mythology
💫 Forbidden magic
🐦‍🔥 Slowburn Romantic Fantasy
🪷 Rich world building + complex characters

My review:

Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan is a standalone set in the beloved world first introduced in Daughter of the Moon Goddess, however it can be read on its own!

This was the first novel I have read of this author, and I will definitely be picking up her ‘Daughter of the moon goddess’ series!

I absolutely loved the main characters Liyen and the God of War as they navigated the perils threatening the lands of Tianxia. The plot twists in this was absolutely amazing, I could hardly put the book down! The way the author spun a true slowburn and tantalizing yearning between the one she desires, or a ruthless duty to the realm of Tianxia has you rooting for love.

My only con was I felt it could have been a little less longer around the 85% mark as it slowed down, but after a few chapters I was flying through it!

Overall I highly recommend this if you loved the Daughter of the Moon Goddess series or are looking for a tale of unexpected love, destiny or desire, and page turning betrayals!

A big thank you to the author, NetGalley and Harper Collins publishing for giving me this phenomenal arc for free!

Thank you Sue Lynn Tan for this beautiful fantasy romance. I’m absolutely in love with Liyen’s story. Thank you @netgalley and Harper Collins Publishing for this kindle ARC. This is probably my favorite stand alone romantasy I’ve read period. What a beautiful story of found family and live that can truly persevere. I’m absolutely obsessed with this. I’ve preordered multiple copies to be gifted upon release. I can’t praise this masterpiece any higher, it’s just a such a diverse and scenic world built with an even more fantastic story. Huge thank you’s for this

thank you to harper voyager, avon books, & netgalley for the opportunity to review this book!!

this is such a hard review to write because i have such mixed feelings

if i’m being honest i probably would have dnf’d this if it wasn’t an arc .. the beginning was hard to get into. the romance aspect of this book was veryyyyy insta love (although this does start to make sense later).. there was really no buildup of the relationship & sometimes that doesn’t bother me if there is enough plot going on to keep me entertained but i just didn’t really care about the story ..

i started skimming it & then there was a plot twist about 70% in that had me totally hooked again & it made the end of the book pretty interesting/ enjoyable!!

i think if the action / plot twists had taken place throughout the book rather than at the end i would’ve liked it a lot more !!

i gave this one 3💫 !!!

(1.5)

despite being one of the least compelling books i’ve ever read, immortal still stands out in the sense that it perfectly represents almost everything i hate in romantic fantasy. with its cast of underdeveloped characters and its unbelievably shallow romance, getting through this was an experience that had me questioning why i even bother to read at all.

i don’t even know where to begin with my complaints, so i’ll try to keep most of them short. to start, the setting of this book, though tied to the setting of the author’s celestial kingdom series, is nowhere near as vivid. instead, it just feels like a very typical fantasy cdrama setting. the plot is pretty messy overall and full of predictable twists, which aren’t helped by the frequently melodramatic writing, and the side characters are extremely one-dimensional.

still, all of this would be fine if i ended up being invested in the main characters and their romance. i wasn’t. liyen and zhangwei are two of the most insufferable characters i’ve ever read about and a textbook example of a horribly written fantasy couple. while they’re initially supposed to be enemies, or at least reluctant allies, it’s obvious by the time you’re 25% through that they desperately want to make out despite 1) barely knowing each other, 2) having no chemistry, and 3) zhangwei being fantasy man with no personality aside from being cold and closed off #50,000,000,000. just once, i’m begging romantic fantasy authors to write an enemies to lovers relationship where both characters genuinely completely hate each other for more than ten seconds.

which brings me to my next point: i despise liyen. she has to be one of the most annoying narrators to ever exist, mainly because she’s absolutely spineless when it comes to zhangwei. though he’s nothing but rude to her for a good chunk of the book and she’s constantly telling the reader that she’ll never trust him or feel anything for him ever again, she still ends up all flushed and flustered every time zhangwei bothers to look in her direction or (god forbid) show her some basic respect. this cycle of “i know i’m supposed to hate his guts but he was nice to me for half a second so now i’m conflicted again” repeats so many times that reading about it is nothing short of pure torture.

also, even aside from her relationship with zhangwei, liyen just isn’t a good character. the author presents her as an ambitious ruler who’ll do whatever it takes to save her people, when in reality, she’s reckless, childish, and borderline stupid. she has virtually no common sense, let alone the cunning you’d expect from someone responsible for an entire kingdom, so nearly every success of hers only happens because the solution is handed to her on a silver platter. and (surprise) zhangwei is also the worst! he’s the exact type of brooding, extremely powerful (and boring) love interest that’s already been seen a trillion times before, and i rolled my eyes every time he showed up.

it’s definitely not unclear that i absolutely hated this (though i’ll admit that i did like chengyin and really appreciated that he didn’t end up falling in love with liyen, since the last thing this book needs is a half-baked love triangle). i still might read more of sue lynn tan’s books in the future, since i thought daughter of the moon goddess was okay, but i wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who wants their next read to be even the tiniest bit interesting.

thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing this arc.

I am very excited to be reading this book! My full review to follow.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. All thoughts and comments are my own.

I am a huge fan of Sue Lynn Tan’s work so when I got approved for this ARC I was ecstatic. Of course I expected no less than another five star book from her. She writes so beautifully and knows how to retell these stories.
Immortal is a single POV from FMC (Liyen). She is the sole heir to the Tianxia throne after her grandfather passes away. IMO this is also an enemies to lovers epic romantasy. If you enjoyed the daughter of the moon goddess duology, you’ll enjoy this book.