This book pulled me in from the very first page. I loved the vivid world-building. The descriptions of the settings, from the lush landscapes to the intricate cultural details, were absolutely enchanting and made the world feel real and immersive.

The twist regarding one of the main character's ifentities took me by surprise—it came out of left field, but once revealed, it was a satisfying and clever addition to the story.

One of my favorite quotes: It's easier to hate than to understand.

The pacing was a bit slow in certain parts, which is why I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5, but overall, *Immortal* is an enjoyable read with rich world-building, an intriguing plot, and characters that I quickly became invested in.

A beautifully written return to the world of the Celestial Kingdom. Tan did a phenomenal job at keeping the lore consistent with the other stories set in this universe while still blessing us with something new and fresh. I loved seeing the Mortal - Immortal pipeline from the other perspective (if you know you know).

4.5 Stars

Immortal is a beautiful stand alone fantasy that immerses you in the world with stunning prose and a unique story. Liyen has been ill as long as she can remember and after her grandfather defies the gods by healing her with the eternal lotus she finds herself caught up in the web of the gods. Liyen seeks to free her people from the influence of the immortals but she begins to see a new side of them after the mysterious god of war saves her from a new threat and hosts her in the realm of the immortals.


There is a fun twist that was pretty predictable but I enjoyed the development of the love story. Liyen was a bit hard to understand at first but as the novel continued her choices and personality made more sense. I really loved the development for Aunt Shou as well and the complexities of the relationship they have with each other. I would be happy to explore more of this author’s work and her series that is set in this same world.

If there's one thing Sue Lynn Tan knows how to do, it's create a wonderful, in-depth world. I adore the way she writes, and I can genuinely envision our characters going through their lives. I just feel it's really important to explain how impressive it is that I can see her books so clearly in my mind's eye.

I don't know what else to say about this, except absolutely read it. It's a wonderful story about love, fate, destiny, and so much more.

Our story starts with our main character and her grandfather fleeing from the immortals because the king of the land (grandfather) is going to give the (healing) magical lotus flower meant for one of the immortals to his granddaughter to heal her. When confronted by the immortals, the grandfather passes away and our main character, now healed, is now the leader. However, her people are not happy. Her court doesn't respect her (they see her as weak) and her lands are trapped behind a wall, by the immortals, because they are meant to be the first line of defense for the immortals against the Wuxin- enemies of the immortals.

Liyen, the current leader of Tianxia, must go to the Immortal lands and pledge her loyalty but while she is there, she tries to convince the God of War to speak for her people in front of the Queen of the Desert and convince her to let her people go. More than this, there are secrets that the Immortals are keeping from Tianxia and she fears they know she has the lotus flower. On top of that, the Wuxin are breaking the barrier between the worlds and want Liyen too!

An absolutely stunning romantasy that I could have read an entire series about- which is maybe the highest praise I can give to a book. Ten out of ten.

First off, thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

I loved reading this book a lot. I have read Ms. Tan’s other works, the Celestial Kingdom duology, before so I half expected it to be drawn out like how that story was. Nope, it was more fast paced, things developing at a quicker pace than I anticipated.
World building was vibrant and colorful, I felt like I was right beside Liyen and Zhangwei through the onslaught of monsters and demons, to piecing together the truth of what happened years ago, to their own hearts.
Reading this book was a delight and I highly recommended it!

Immortal is a beautiful story that follows Liyen, a young woman, who’s life is spared by the sacrifice of her grandfather, ascends the throne of Tianxia. This sacrifice enrages the Immortals, and Liyen must travel to their land to receive the blessing to rule her land. With her kingdom under threat, Liyen must confront the Immortals and unravel their secrets.

This story has beautiful world building, and a an incredible romance any reader will fall for. Liyen is stubborn and hot headed and beautifully human as she navigates the world of the Immortals. The chemistry between Liyen and the God of War is warming and hopeful, leaving me aching for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me this ARC in exchange of my honest opinions!

Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan is a breathtaking tale that beautifully weaves mythology, magic, and emotion into an unforgettable story. Tan’s lush, lyrical prose brings the world and its characters to life, making every page feel like a work of art. The protagonist’s journey is both epic and deeply personal, filled with twists and heart-wrenching moments that kept me hooked. A stunning continuation of her storytelling mastery, this book is a must-read for fans of myth-inspired fantasy. Highly recommend!

Book Review: IMMORTAL ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Sue Lynn Tan
Publisher: Avon/Harper Voyage

I must admit that I do not typically read romance fantasy, but I thoroughly enjoyed Sue Lynn Tan's book.

Llyen, the young ruler, fights to protect her kingdom. After being saved by her grandfather's sacrifice following a near-fatal poisoning, Llyen sparks the wrath of the immortal queen. Determined to survive, Llyen embarks on a journey to confront the immortals and uncover their secrets. Along the way, she encounters numerous challenges and unexpectedly meets the God of War, whom she was meant to fear but does not. As their chemistry and passion grow, they form an alliance to defeat the immortals. Will they prevail, and can their relationship survive? The book is filled with unexpected twists, making it a fantastic read. I highly enjoyed the story.

This book had me kicking my feet and giggling! I love the dynamic between the couple and their breathtaking romance. I also love how complex the conflict with the antagonist is. A definite must-read for romantasy fans.

I'm going to be totally honest here, I wasn't very impressed with the first 20% of the book, not with the plot or the characters or anything that was happening. But around the 30% there's a twist that changed my perspective on the book and from there it just kept getting better and better, and even getting to the last 150 pages I thought I knew what was coming but Sue Lynn Tan completely surprised me.

The way the plot unfolds had me completely captivated, it was an adventure very much in the style of what the author has already accustomed us to, super magical, ethereal and romantic. Liyen's story was one I was not expecting at all but I deeply loved along the whole star-crossed lovers theme with the god of war.

In all I feel like it's a book that in a single installment presents us with a great adventure, a beautiful romance, action and political intrigue in the same portions and so much magic ❤️

4.5 stars

Immortal is a standalone romantic fantasy set in the same world as Daughter of the Moon Goddess, one of my FAVORITE duologies of all time. It does not have any spoilers for that series and can be read on its own if you've not yet read the duology (although you definitely should).

Immortal tells the tale of Liyen, heir to Tianxia, who must save her people from the wrath of the Immortal Queen and the other gods. To do so, she must find a way to break the treaty her kingdom has with the Immortals, which once protected them from vicious enemies outside their walls, but now is just as dangerous.

Upon her grandfathers death, she ascends the throne and is summoned to the Immortal Realm. There, she is determined to find a way to learn their secrets and end the treaty, but to do so she must form an alliance with the ruthless God of War.

As dark forces continue to threaten and with the fate of her kingdom on her hands, Liyen must risk everything to save them from danger, even if it means losing her heart in the process.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

This book is filled with fierce characters, a high paced plot, and phenomenal world building! I am convinced everything I read from SLT is her best work until the next thing comes out and then I'm floored again!

Liyen and Zhangwei are everything to me. I loved their tension and hatred and how it blossomed into a love that surpassed worlds. Tan always manages to give me the warm and fuzzies with her love stories, and this one was just another to add to the list of favorites.

I listened to this one on audio and Natalie did as superb a job as ever. She is one of my favorite narrators and she always brings Sue's stories to life! Between Sue's beautifully lyrical writing and Natalie's soothing voice, you cannot go wrong with doing this on audio!

I strongly recommend reading this book and her Daughter of the Moon Goddess duology. She's a favorite of mine for a reason and I can't wait for everyone to get to meet Liyen and the God of War!

Immortal
by: Sue Lynn Tan

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sue Lynn Tan does it again with her latest installment! Liyen is our leading lady and is heir to Tianxia, a mortal nation that is beholden to the Immortals for reasons that you learn in the story. When the God of War and Liyen are brought together by unforeseen circumstances, their attraction to each other is undeniable. Both the main characters are fully fleshed out and well written, making the love story just as rewarding as the main plot.

This was a gripping romantic tale of self discovery, forbidden love, and overall just an epic adventure. If you love a romance heavy plot that still delivers with the fantasy elements, this one is for you! This was Sue Lynn Tan’s most romantic book yet! ♥️


A must read if you like:
🪷 Forbidden Love
🗡️ Found Family
🪷 “Who did this to you?”
🗡️ Political Intrigue
🪷 Star Crossed Romance
🗡️ Chinese Mythology

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to read Immortal by @suelynntan, who wrote the Celestial Kingdom duology, one of my all-time favorite fantasy romances. And I'm pleased to report it did not disappoint. Immortal takes place in the same world, but you can definitely read it without reading the duology. I love Sue Lynn's writing ! It's flowery, romantic and oh so swoonworthy.

3.75! I will never say no to a book by Sue Lynn Tan. I love her writing and how she brings Chinese mythology to life. While slow at times, I liked reading Immortal and was glad to be back in the Celestial Kingdom.

If Sue Lynn Tan writes it, I’m going to read it. The Daughter of the Moon Goddess duology is in my top fantasy series of all time and this standalone in the same world DID NOT DISAPPOINT! While this is set in the same world, you can completely read on its own! So if this one calls to you and you haven’t read Daughter of the Moon Goddess, don’t be afraid to pick it up.

This story truly made me swoon. It’s deeply romantic but also ACTION PACKED from the very beginning. Tan’s world building is absolutely stunning. The way this story flows and comes together is so beautiful. Honestly, it’s one of those books that I think I could reread right awhile and loved it even more the second time. There is a deeply rooted love story in these pages and it comes together so perfectly.

Broody God of War. Need I say more?

I can’t recommend anything Sue Lynn Tan writes enough.

✨A Spellbinding Journey Through Love, War, and Destiny ✨

Wow, where do I even start? Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan completely swept me off my feet! From its stunning world-building rooted in Chinese mythology to the slow-burn romance that had me glued to every page, this book was nothing short of magical.

The story begins in the mortal realm of Tianxia, where Liyen leads her people to freedom from the Immortals. Liyen, who epitomizes stubbornness, frailty, vulnerability, and yet fearless determination, is willing to do anything to save her people and her kingdom. What makes her story truly admirable is her tremendous character growth—it was absolutely lit!

Then she meets the God of War, Lord Zhangwei, a swoon-worthy character. Everything about him is lovable. He is willing to do anything and everything for Liyen. Liyen and Zhangwei's chemistry is pure fire! Every conversation crackles with emotion. I was patiently waiting for them to give in, and when they finally did—oh my god—it was soooo worth the wait! Their chemistry is simply unmatched!

Another thing I loved about this book is the world-building! Sue Lynn Tan’s writing beautifully brought the setting to life. I could vividly picture the palace of Tianxia and fell in love with the Immortal world—the descriptions were so perfectly imaginable.

And let’s not forget those high-stakes moments! The forced deception, impossible choices, jaw-dropping plot twists, heart-pounding action, and defiance of destiny kept me on edge. The story made me laugh, brought tears to my eyes, and even made me feel giddy at times. I wish there were a sequel; this story deserves more!

If you’re a fan of epic fantasy, heart-melting romance, and heart-tugging stories, Immortal is a must-read. It’s a book that lingers long after the last page and leaves you aching for more. Sue Lynn Tan has firmly cemented her place as one of my favorite fantasy authors, and I can’t wait to see what she brings us next!

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for giving me the golden opportunity to read this swoon-worthy and unforgettable story of Liyen.

✨WHAT I LIKED:
📌 The slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance (It’s definitely worth the wait!)
📌 Liyen’s incredible character growth from frail to unstoppable
📌 The vivid, mythology-inspired world that felt like stepping into a dream
📌 Zhangwei’s protectiveness energy (urghhh, my heart 💖)
📌 The emotional, tear-jerking moments that left me reeling!

✨TROPES:
📌 Enemies to Lovers
📌 Slow - Burn Romance
📌 Forbidden Romance
📌 Strong Female Protagonist
📌 Forced Proximity
📌 Found Family
📌 A Moderate Amount of Spice

🖥️ GOODREADS REVIEW: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7180811120

💻 BLOG REVIEW: https://kimthebookdragon.com/2025/01/13/arc-review-immortal/

⭐️: 4.25
Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan was a fun and engaging read. While I love book series, it is also nice to have some standalones. Even though this would have made the book longer, I would have liked more flash backs to events of the past (being vague to diminish potential spoilers). I also felt like some of the last section was rushed. I would have liked that to be flushed out more. But then it probably would not have been a standalone.

Can we just go ahead and say book of the year? Is it too soon? It's going to be really hard to top. This needs to be on every fantasy lovers TBR immediately!

•⚡️🌸⚡️•
✨𝗕•𝗢•𝗢•𝗞 𝗥•𝗘•𝗩•𝗜•𝗘•𝗪✨

“‘𝗜’𝗱 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲.’

‘𝗪𝗵𝘆?’

I’d wondered before why he’d not chosen violence.

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

✨➳──────✨★✨──────➳✨
𝑀𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠💭:
Thank you so much to @suelynntan , @harpervoyagerus , and @netgalley for my eARC of 𝘐𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘭! This review is comprised entirely of my own thoughts & opinions, & is based on the copy I received.

This was my first read by Sue Lynn Tan but it definitely won’t be my last! Immortal was thoroughly captivating and though it’s set in the same world as the Celestial Kingdom books, this can be read completely independently as it’s a standalone focused on different characters!

This book was so beautiful - the writing and the plot and the romance between Liyen and Zhangwei was so beautifully written, I couldn’t put it down! I loved the chemistry between them, and how Liyen was never afraid to say what exactly was on her mind, even though Zhangwei is the fearsome and broody God of War. I loved unraveling the mystery surrounding them, and thought that the romance was really beautifully woven into the plot of the book!

The plot was super fast paced and there was so much intricate world building - there were gods and goddesses and mythical creatures like phoenixes - it was truly such a magical book and I loved everything about it!

✨➳──────✨★✨──────➳✨

Another netgalley win!

The land of Tianxia once stood with the immortals of the Golden Dessert against their enemies. For their troubles, they were cut off from the rest of the mortal world to help defend the immortals at any time. Liyen grew up weak and sickly, but always knowing that her eventual place would be as the leader of Tianxia and dreams of freeing her people. When Liyen is poisoned, her beloved grandfather defies the immortals to steal the cure and save her life, setting her on a journey that will change everything about her life.

Uh, this book was so good. I love a standalone so much, and this one had such a fast pace and fantastic banter that it took me along. I know my synopsis doesn't make it sound like much, but this was also a really good love story and a little spicier than the celestial kingdom duology. There so many examinations of love in this book, whether its family or friendship or romantic There so many examinations of love in this book, whether its family or friendship or romantic and i loved how liyen reflected on each of them in turn, and how special they are in a lifetime. liyen is such a strong character and quick wit, you can't help but root for her

Thanks, netgalley and avon and harper voyager for this ARC!

#netgalley #suelynntan #immortal #harpervoyager #ARC #reading