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 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.

This was my first time reading Sue Lynn Tan’s work, and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The blend of mythology and political intrigue instantly drew me in.

The world-building is incredibly well-crafted, and the writing style is both beautiful and easy to follow, which made it a quick and enjoyable read. One of the standout aspects for me was Liyen, the flawed yet strong protagonist. She’s a realistic and compassionate character, caring deeply not just for her people but even for her enemies. Her character development is excellently handled throughout the story. However, Zhangwei, her love interest, fell a bit flat for me. He lacked the depth and backstory that would’ve made the romance more compelling. While I did enjoy some of their moments together, the romance overall felt a bit underwhelming. The tension, banter, and betrayal in the first half were captivating and kept me hooked, but the second half lost some of that momentum and felt slower in comparison. Despite this, I was still pleased with how everything wrapped up, and the ending left me satisfied. Even with its pacing issues, the conclusion made the journey worthwhile.

Still, I would recommend this to anyone seeking a compelling fantasy romance with intricate world-building and a well-developed, complex heroine. As a standalone, it's easy to jump into and offers a magical, fulfilling story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a captivating read from start to finish! I went from reluctant to put it down to being completely absorbed in every page.

Liyen, though frail and vulnerable, emerges as a remarkably strong female lead. Her resilience, self-discipline, and caring nature are truly empowering. Despite the heart-wrenching loss of her grandfather, she harnesses that grief to guide her in her mission to support her people and put an end to the pledge her kingdom has to the immortals. Zhangwei, the God of War, is such an enjoyable character who adds depth to the story.

The world-building and character development are flawlessly executed, and the plot twists were incredible and made the book completely unputdownable. I’m impressed by how this standalone novel left me both satisfied and eager for more.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Sue Lynn Tan for this extraordinary e-ARC. I need the physical copy of this book, yesterday! Obsessed and can’t wait to reread this one once it’s out in January.

I think I will be somewhat alone in my viewpoint but this one did not work for me. I was very excited for the forbidden love slow burn aspect. Except this was more insta love feeling. I did not understand at all why the god of war was into Liyen or vice versa. Thank you to netgally for this opportunity.

i was sadly unable to finish this one…i gave it my best shot but unfortunately i had to dnf about 30% in. to put my finger on what exactly was not working for me is difficult- i felt as if there was a disconnect from the writing and the characters themselves. either something wasn’t fleshed out enough, or to feel sterile took me out of the story.

Okay so I loved DOTMG and HOTSW and I LOVED THIS ONE EVEN MORE! The tension of enemies to lovers, the attitude, the secrets, the betrayal. It was all perfect. And I loved so much more, but I'm not going to say because that would be spoilers.

⭐️ 4.5 (4.5 stars rounded up to 5)

Immortal brings us back to the richly woven world introduced in the Daughter of the Moon Goddess and I believe it is Tan's first adult fantasy novel. This standalone follows Liyen, heir to Tianxia (a kingdom enslaved in servitude to the Gods), as she battles immortals for its freedom, navigates forbidden magic, and, of course, the magnetic pull the God of War. From the very beginning, we're dropped into a high stakes scene with a heartbreaking family sacrifice that frames the rest of the book nicely and the book continues to sing from that moment on. Given how much of a fan I am of Tan's work -- reading this book was a continual comparison to how much I loved DoTMG, but MY did it live up to expectations.

What I Loved:

💖 Antihero FMC: Liyen was a breath of fresh air. Where Xingyin from DoTMG avoided conflict and took a more cautious approach, Liyen charges into the fray with zero hesitation. She’s impulsive, reckless, and impatient—but that’s what made her story so fascinating and so distinct from Xingyin's. Watching her bold (and often wrong) decisions play out against Zhangwei’s calculated nature created such an interesting dynamic. The contrast between Liyen and Xingyin really showcased Tan's ability to craft complex, flawed FMCs who are also incredibly bada$$ and compelling.

💖 Zhangwei as an MMC: Zhangwei was the PERFECT morally grey MMC. Unlike Wenzhi or Liwei from DoTMG, Zhangwei is selfish, driven by his own agenda, and far more morally grey. Yet, somehow, he made the chemistry with Liyen all the more delicious. His "touch her and die" behavior and moments of jealousy had me giggling, and the tension between them was so THICK. It was a constant push and pull, both emotionally and physically.

💖 Family and Sacrifice: The emotional beats in this book hit hard, especially when it came to Liyen’s relationship with her grandfather. Tan excels at portraying familial sacrifice, and the opening scene destroyed me 😭😭

💖 Zhangwei's Handmaidens for the Win: Shoutout to Zhangwei's handmaidens because they were comedic gold and the in-character shippers I didn’t know I needed. Their banter added a layer of fun to the story, breaking up the intensity of Liyen and Zhangwei’s relationship and will-they-or-won't-they dynamic. I loved them lmao.

Areas that fell short for me

😞 Slow Start: The start felt a bit slow for me after the first chapter. I didn't feel like the pacing truly picked up until about 35% into the book. It dragged again between 40-55%, but the last third of the book more than made up for the earlier lulls. The rollercoaster pacing could have been more consistent, but when it was good, it was incredible, breathtaking, and had me sobbing my eyes out.

😞 Trope Overload: While I enjoyed many of the tropes included, some of them felt like they were thrown in just to appease the booktok masses. The "fake dating" trope, in particular, felt unnecessary, and I think the book would have been stronger without leaning so heavily on some of these "trendy" tropes. Immortal had enough strength in its core story to stand on its own without relying on these elements.

😞 Exposition Overload: The beginning of the book had a lot of information to absorb, which made it feel like it dragged. There were moments when I felt like I was wading through too much detail and minutia, which slowed the momentum of some of the scenes. That being said, the payoff by the end made it worth it.

😞 No Epilogue: My biggest disappointment with this book was the lack of an epilogue. After such an intense emotional journey, I wanted like... a little more closure. While the ending was satisfying, I felt like we were robbed of a perfect final moment that could have really tied everything together.

In summary, Immortal is a beautifully crafted, emotionally intense standalone that delivers epic fantasy with deeply flawed and compelling characters. Liyen is a completely enthralling, imperfect FMC, and her dynamic with Zhangwei created such a satisfying tension that, despite the pacing issues and trope overload, I couldn't put down. If you loved the world of DoTMG, you’ll love the way Tan expands it here with an equally rich, if not more dangerous, and slightly more adult narrative. Just be prepared for some slow moments before the heart-pounding climax hits.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for this ARC!

[star rating: 3.75/5]
I'm a big fan of Sue Lynn Tan's writing, setting, and descriptions—but I've always been a bit harder to please with her plots (though this is totally on me!—I'm a plot driven reader). So it's no surprise that with IMMORTAL, my favorite part of the story was indeed Tan's writing style, which is just as addicting as her debut. I did enjoy the setup as well—the use of myth and fantasy is so well done here! I liked the main characters as well—with the FMC being dearer to me than Xingyin was. I adored Liyen's voice and the way she handled everything in the book. The prince, I found a bit difficult to fully be invested in—and hence the romance fell a bit flat for me. I also had issues with the pacing, where it felt slow, then lightning-fast, then slow again—I almost felt like the plot was letting the characters breathe at the wrong moments. However, despite my issues with the book, Tan's writing style remains unmatched, and I will read anything she writes. Plus, Liyen is such an amazing MC!

You don't get it. This book was so insanely good I think it's ruined me from reading all other books. YOU DON'T GET IT. This book is on a whole other level. Every single action of every single character has a reason. It is so well through out and so well written it deserves a standing ovation. I read Daughter of the Moon Goddess a few years ago and it became an instant favorite. But this my MOST favorite book. The main character is kind, witty, bold and so smart. She just emanates with such good energy. She knows how to run the court, she knows how to respond to everyone even people that she should be terrified of she knows how to sneakily put them in their place. Now, THE GOD OF WAR. He just matches her energy so well. He knows how to push her buttons but also he does it because it makes her a stronger person. I love everything about these two. They are so well written and so perfect for each other. Both would go to the ends of the earth for each other. You guys this book has so many twists and turns I literally was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I love a book that keeps you engaged the whole time through and makes you feel so much for the characters.

i am now a Sue Lynn Tan fan for life. Liyen is officially my favorite FMC I have ever read. I felt like the book started off slow but by the middle i truly couldn’t put it down.

Sue Lynn Tan delivers a rich story with beautiful prose once again in her standalone fantasy novel, Immortal. I came into this read with high expectations and wasn't disappointed. This novel has solidified Sue Lynn Tan as an "automatic buy author" for me.

This story follows the protagonist, Liyen, heir to the Tiaxiana throne, on her journey to fight for her people's freedom from the Immortal's they are bound to serve. An incident that takes place very early on in the story finds Liyen at odds with the powerful God of War, Lord Zhangwei. Though she is resigned to hold a deep hatred for the God of War, Liyen finds that she may need to make him an ally in order to strike a deal with the immortal queen her kingdom is bound to serve.

Their alliance with one another breeds a journey together that forges a remarkable tale filled with twists you won't see coming (I definitely didn't). The pursuit of happiness is not an easy journey, and this story takes the reader through that difficult journey.

"Life is often a chain of small events with large consequences." -Zhangwei

Thank you Netgalley and Sue Lynn Tan for an eARC in exchange for an honest review

3.7

"There are lies of necessity and those of malice. Those you choose to tell will define your character"

As someone who read the Celestial Kingdom Series, I am familiar with Sue Lynn Tan's eastern drama genre of writing. Some aspects were predictable, such as certain character betrayals, yet some were fresh and exciting. Our main character LiYen is a breath of fresh air compared to our previous main leads. True, they were headstrong, but Liyen showed a level of maturity, wisdom, and cunning that I was drawn towards. Most similar types tended to have a bleeding-heart character, and although both can be true, I liked the way she was quick on her feet, not reckless. She values every advice given, and with her weak constitution, she did not grow bitter, but pragmatic.

Not a fan of our love interest, as part of their romance functioned off of miscommunication, and I had hoped that with her headstrong "my kingdom and people come first" ideal, she would cast him aside and move forward without him (but I understand it wouldn't be a C-Drama book without some romance!) Since this is a standalone, it felt like a lot of information, but it resulted in a complete drama all in one

Taken in with the side characters, I loved Chengyin, Aunt Shu, and countless others. There was no unnecessary love triangle with the dark Wuxin, and not anybody was completely good or bad. Platonic and familial relationship dynamics were explored, and valued as much as the romance. It also explores themes of war, and how often times its just preservation of your own people that could lead you to make brash decisions. Finally, destiny and fate is never the master of your life/lives.

Sue Lynn Tan is a master of sweeping quests and magic that leaves you enraptured. This romantic fantasy will leave you swooning.

The Celestial Kingdom duology was my gateway back into reading early last year, so when I heard about a new title from Sue Lynn Tan, I knew I had to get my hands on it. I was eager to return to her lush, magic world, vivid writing, and her very lovable, very human characters.

The first 30% of the book left me a bit winded and disoriented. The plot was rough, and I didn’t feel a connection to the world or characters the way I did with Xingyin’s story. However, as the plot opened up and we spent more time with the characters, things began to feel a lot more familiar. I was very satisfied with the worldbuilding, the magic system, and the personalities, relationships, and dynamics of the supporting cast. I need a Chengyin in my life.

Liyen is written very well - she is strong and fierce but knows her weaknesses, she is eager to learn and begrudging in admitting her mistakes, and she is honest with herself (and the audience) about her feelings towards the God of War. Her mental back and forth became a little annoying at times, but I think that was fitting for a girl who was thrust into a situation that flipped all her expectations on its head.

The dynamic between the two protagonists is delicious. The enemies to lovers banter had me giggling behind my hand - mutual hate, tension, and flirtatiousness from the very start. The training sessions together with a Big Situation looming over them? Perfection. We never get Zhangwei’s POV (reasons), but we see so much of his emotions through Liyen’s eyes. I thoroughly enjoyed re-reading their early interactions after finishing the book with the new context.

This book is an excellent read for lovers of romantasy and enemies-to-lovers, and a good standalone addition to the tales of the Celestial Kingdom. If you’re looking for a new fantasy and lush world grounded in Chinese Mythology, look no further :)

Thank you Avon/Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the eARC and for the opportunity to read Immortal before its release!!

I loved the Celestial Kingdom series so I have been really excited for this! I loved the world building, the characters, and the romance. I couldn't put this one down! It was a wonderful romantic fantasy and I hope that Sue Lynn Tan has more standalones set in this world up her sleeve!

3.5 stars

When I learned that Sue Lynn Tan was writing a new book, I was like, “sign me up!” My love for the Celestial Kingdom duology cannot be put into words. So naturally, the second I found out I could request her newest book on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance. While I enjoyed the book as a whole, it wasn’t as captivating as I thought it would be.

The first 30% of the book was rough, I’m not going to lie. The plot felt extremely rushed, and I, as the reader, didn’t have enough time to get to know the world and the cast of characters. However, once we got over that hurdle, Immortal became the book I expected from Sue Lynn Tan. The world was lush, the characters were electric, and the romance was addicting.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Voyager, and Avon for gifting me an e-ARC of Immortal before its official release.

Spice: 0.5/5
Romance: 5/5
Single POV
Enemies to lovers

From the very first chapter you are immersed in such a rich and beautiful story. It is paced perfectly to keep your attention but not get over boarded with excitement. I found myself tearing up in the first chapter when she loses her grandfather, someone I wasn’t even attached to, because of how powerful Liyen is written. As someone who has NOT read anything else from Sue Lynn Tan, I was afraid I would feel left out and confused but this book is truly a standalone. It does a perfect job of explaining the world, the characters, and the magic system so that you don’t feel like you need to do research before reading it. And now I have to binge read every single book she wrote because of this stunning book.
What can make or break a book for me is how realistic the author can write a female character. Liyen is the golden standard of what you want your FMC to be; she is strong but accepts her weaknesses, she makes mistakes and acknowledges that it was her fault, and most importantly she is realistic in her emotions towards the God of War. She doesn’t just look at him and swoon and forget everything she felt, she stays angry and emotional while trying to understand why she starts to feel something towards him.
As for the romance – I was truly kicking my feet and giggling like a little kid. Their banter was exactly what you want from an enemies to lovers, it’s hateful but filled with soooooo much delicious tension. Their feelings toward each other felt very natural and paced perfectly and in the end it was better than I could have ever hoped. While you don’t get his POV, you still see so much emotion and get so much from his character that you also end up falling in love with him.