Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the arc!

If there is one thing you should know about me, it’s that I love a good enemies to lovers book!

I was so excited to read this as I’ve heard nothing but good things about the Daughter of the Moon Goddess series and they are actually sitting on my bookshelf ready to be read!

The world building in this is magical, the romance is beautiful, and the writing is stunning.

I think it really picked up around halfway through, the beginning of the book felt a little slow but once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down! Will definitely be picking up their other series now!

Tropes featured:
Enemies-to-Lovers
Found Family
Legendary Creatures
Political Intrigue
Forbidden Love
Revenge

I thoroughly enjoyed Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan—especially after the 60% mark! Zhangwei, the God of War, is an exceptional character, and I found myself completely captivated by him. The relationship between Zhangwei and Liyen was beautifully developed—simply perfection.

Sue Lynn Tan's world-building continues to impress. The vivid and magical settings transported me to mystical lands, one of my favorite aspects of her writing. Her ability to craft such immersive environments is truly remarkable.

The side characters were well-developed and added depth to the story.

The themes explored in this story also felt particularly relevant to contemporary times, encouraging reflection on deeply ingrained prejudices. Liyen’s journey of self-discovery and growth as she confronts her biases was compelling and thought-provoking, prompting readers to examine their own perspectives.

While I adored the story overall, I found the pacing at the beginning a bit slow, and the time jumps were occasionally confusing. Additionally, the repetition of Liyen’s thoughts in the first half felt slightly overdone. However, once I reached the 60% mark, the narrative truly hit its stride, with fresh revelations and answers that made the journey all the more rewarding. Liyen’s character arc, in particular, was a highlight of the story.

Overall, Immortal is a fantastic read with stunning world-building, memorable characters, and meaningful themes. It’s a story that lingers in your mind long after you turn the final page.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager US for this wonderful ARC for an honest review~

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Sue Lynn Tan has done it again! She’s once again crafted a stunning, immersive Asian-inspired romantic fantasy with Immortal. While it’s set in the same world as her prior Celestial Kingdom duology, it’s a standalone following all new characters. However, as a returning reader, I loved the mix of mythology and C-Drama-like political intrigue.
And there’s a lot to love here. Liyen is morally complex, being guided by her impulses to make bold, reckless choices in an attempt to strive for what she wants. Her choices don’t always work out, and seeing her reckon with the fallout is especially entertaining. And she’s contrasted by an equally morally gray love interest, Zhangwei, but he contrasts her in his calculated nature, which makes their enemies-to-lovers dynamic compelling.
And combined with the aforementioned intrigue in the external plot, there’s quite a bit going on to keep the story interesting. However, it’s somewhat let down by uneven pacing, with the beginning in particular being rather slow to start. But it’s also complemented by lush writing, and once the story picks up, the payoff is worth it.
In spite of these minor issues, I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to readers interested in Asian-inspired romantic fantasy.

“I was my past and my present—and I would forge my own future.”

Oh, how I missed Sue Lynn Tan's writing style.

Atmospheric and romantic, Immortal reads like a fairytale, leaving the reader caught up in a haze of enchanting descriptions and dramatic conflicts. Between the lush world-building and the whimsical prose, Sue Lynn Tan's novels are always as beautiful as their covers - this one being no different.

Despite my eventual enjoyment, there was a moment when I was worried I wasn't enjoying this as much as I'd hoped. This was because I struggled to connect with the book at first, due to a few elements I can't discuss here because of spoilers. What I can say is that if you're struggling with the beginning of the book, (most likely) those aspects have a purpose and will be explained.

Like Daughter of the Moon Goddess this book was a fantastical experience, transporting me to the events taking place and leaving me feeling the way a beautiful movie score does. I loved being back in this world.

Overall, I had a fantastic time reading this and I'm still so incredibly grateful for chance to read an ARC. While I don't think this book will work for every reader, I recommend it to anyone that loves romantic fairytales and books that feel like magic.

I received a copy through NetGalley for review.

Sue Lynn Tan has wrote another beautiful love story based on mythology. This one is while located in the world of her other series, this one can very easily be read as a standalone.

Liyen is the heir to the throne of Tianxia, both of her parents have passed, raised by her Grandfather. As a sickly child, mostly ignored by the court, they assumed she would not survive to adulthood. She may have made a weak ruler physically but held her own had someone not poisoned her, setting off a series of events, the first starting with her Grandfather, using the Divine Pearl Lotus -a sacred item the ruler of Tianxia was due to protect, to save her very life.

Tianxia is in part controlled by the Immortals, cut off from the rest of the mortal world to protect and watch the entrance to the Netherworld, and make sure the gate to the Wuxin stays closed forever, because they would destroy the human world, feeding off strive, fear and sadness- literally. They have a treaty with the Golden Desert Immortals, giving their fealty to Queen Caihong, and giving her their most treasured possession in return The Shield of Rivers and Mountains.

Liyen now Lady of Tianxia must pay fealty to Queen Caihong and navigate the court of the Immortals, all while dealing with the infuriating and handsome God of War, all while hiding the fact that she is now one with the Divine Pearl Lotus, concealing it from them. Hoping to free her people from the treaty thousands of years in length from a threat that hasn't been seen since. She's hoping to convince the Immortal Queen to forge a new treaty, rejoin the mortal world and get back the Shield and its magic for her people.

Liyen is smart and tenacious, and while she didn't have the physical strength when she was younger, she gains much back from the healing power of the Divine Pearl Lotus. She's willing to fight and defend her people, to charge ahead if she must. She has so much character growth.
And much about herself that she has yet to find out, and remember.

I really enjoyed this one! It's a beautiful story of love and strength, enduring things for others, and sacrificing for the one you love and waiting as long as it takes. Of complicated family and forgiveness.

3.5 stars, rounded up.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess is one of my favorite books ever. So when I saw this standalone from the author, I knew I had to read it.
While the overall concept was super intriguing with a couple twists I didn't see coming, the pacing of this book was all over the place for me, which made it easy to walk away from during the slow parts. Our MMC has no flaws. Absolutely zero. So while the romance was delicious, the pace and depth of it wasn't believable for me.

Thanks to Netgalley for my complimentary e-arc. All opinions here are my own.

REVIEW: Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Standalone fantasy books are particularly hard to pull off because you typically need a LOT of world building to make everything work. You need time to build up the magic systems and the character arcs, so when you don’t have that, it can leave a lot left to be desired.

Liyen was pretty insufferable for a lot of the book and she never really grew on me. Zhangwei was a little too perfect for my taste and almost immediately jumped into the “touch her and die” type of possessiveness that is FINE, if you have the build up to match that. Not caring for either character made the romance really rushed and unbelievable. There is a line where Liyen mentions that Zhangwei’s feelings didn’t feel wholly earned and I completely agree but for pacing reasons. Our main villain was also extremely childish so I never really felt threatened or scared by them in the grand scheme of it all.

A lot was thrown at this book, almost feeling like something was just trying to stick, which is unfortunate because Daughter of the Moon Goddess felt extremely deliberate so this was like a polar opposite. The twist around the 70% mark was the best part of the book and it’s hard that it takes that long for a good payoff.

I will say that this was still really well written and did keep my interest, even if it didn’t end up being a favorite. Sue Lynn Tan can weave some genuinely beautiful prose and that’s something to applaud.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy of Immortal which releases on January 7, 2025!

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.