review ♥
immortal- sue lynn tan
★ ★ ★ ★

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the free copy to review.

Liyen becomes ruler of Tianxia when her grandfather lies to the Immortal Queen to save Liyen from imminent death. The Divine Lotus Pearl is one of a kind, and Liyen’s grandfather is tasked with protecting it. However, as Liyen’s sickness worsens, he decides to give her the Lotus Pearl to save her life. When the Immortal Queen asks for the lotus’s return, Liyen’s grandfather dies to protect her from the queen’s wrath. Liyen, now stronger than before, becomes the Lady of Tianxia and vows to protect the mortal citizens from the rule of the immortals. To provide the citizens of Tianxia with freedom, Liyen takes the opportunity to search for a way to save her people when called to the Immortal Realm. In an attempt to save her people, Liyen must live with Zhangwei, the infamous God of War. They form a bond filled with hate, spite, tension, and desire. Debating whether to trust the other or to regard them as an enemy. Will their relationship provide the strength for Liyen, a mortal girl, to fight her enemies and provide safety for her people?

Love. Loss. Betrayal. Tension. Greed. Banter. Sue Lynn Tan never fails to write a story with an internal message of cherishing life and recognizing the things that matter most. This story is one of falling in love. Falling for a person over and over again, falling in love with the people of a nation, and falling in love with every version of yourself. Liyen is forced to make selfless decisions and must learn about the beauty of mortality. She learns how special memories are and the bond of a found family. When faced with difficult decisions, she leads with her heart and fights to write her own ending. This standalone fantasy is full of all the emotions. It is the journey of self-discovery, filled with many trials and tribulations that push Liyen to make the most difficult decisions.

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Sue Lynn Tan’s world from Daughter of the Moon Goddess returns! Though this novel is a stand alone and can be read without reading the Celestial Kingdom duology, it was so much fun being back in this world!!

This novel is nothing short of whimsical and enthralling. Betrayal, unexpected love, a tale of destiny, forbidden magic and political intrigue are all wrapped up into a bundle of exhilarating adventure! Tan’s writing is so beautifully done and I will forever recommend any and all of her books!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
.5🌶️

“I swear on my life, you can trust me with yours—I will guard it better than my own.“

Immortal is a lush romantic fantasy that follows Liyen, a mortal heir, and Zhangwei, The God of War. Their paths cross in an unexpected way at the start of the story.

Sue Lynn Tann creates such a beautiful and complex world. Her writing is lovely and manages to build in tension and angst.

Thank you to Harper Voyager for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.

“With you, it doesn’t matter if I win or lose.”

Sue Lynn Tan has done it again, everyone! I laughed, I cried, I kicked my feet, I screamed, and even punched the air—this book had it all.

This is a heart-wrenching tale of staying true to oneself and carving your own path. Liyen must save her kingdom and free it from the Golden Desert, all while trying not to fall for the God of War 🫦

Reading this made me so happy; it felt like coming home. I love being in this world, and these characters remind me of those in the Celestial Kingdom Duology—yet they’re unique, with their own trials to face. Sue’s beautiful, flowery prose and the romance she brings to her stories are everything!

I will admit, the last 75% felt a bit heavy on the world-building, which made it hard to stay fully engaged, and the ending was a touch anticlimactic for me.

Still, I absolutely loved it and had such a great time with this story!

The Vibes:

—moral ambiguity

—lush prose

—kind of a YA fantasy vibe?

—enemies to lovers lite

The Basics:

Compelled to the Immortal Realm after she ascends to the throne, Liyen decides to make the most of the opportunity and ally herself with the dangerous God of War.

The Review:

Here's what I can say about this one: The prose is lovely. It has an evocative style that lends to the overall worldbuilding and creates a sense of being spellbound. I can see why people enjoy Sue Lynn Tan (I'd personally never read anything by her before) and I feel like people who love fantasy, multiple realms, and heavy mythology are going to enjoy this. All that is to say—it's not a bad book.

But it wasn't for me, either. I'm a big character/relationship reader, obviously. Beautiful prose and good worldbuilding is important, but it's not going to hit me as hard if I feel like the relationships are underdeveloped. And that's what I felt here. The relationship was rushed, and I didn't really get the true enemies to lovers vibes I thought I would.

It did feel a bit YA, and not just because it was pretty heatless (which isn't me referring to my opinion on how hot it was; it's a kissing book, not a sexy~ book). It's more the lack of commitment to the enemies to lovers that really got me. I really felt like we were heading somewhere there, and it ultimately felt like something really easily resolved, and that in itself seemed a bit immature to me, all things considered. And I can't help but wonder if some of that relationship fragility led to the sense of plot holes.

Again, not a bad book, and in many ways a book with pretty writing. But not for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Yall... Daughter of the Moon Goddess is on my shelf. I know, I can't believe I haven't read it yet. But reading this was fantastic! It's so romantic! And the plot is so good too! The mcs are both everything you could ever ask for. I love love love the setting, I love ancient magical beings and times and places. Please give this a read! Thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for the arc!!

I loved the daughter of the moon series and was so excited to read this one. So many plots twists but the love story between Liyen and zhangwei was so great and my favorite part of the story.

Queen Cai Hong’s name made me smile just purely by the fact that I think it’s the translation for Rainbow haha

Thanks NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for giving me this ARC! I enjoyed it very much

Once again, Sue Lynn Tan delivers magic and complexity! A rich world of immortals, mortals and monsters and the real human question of “can we forgive?” Just absolutely brilliant and a standalone!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc of this book.

I love Sue Lynn Tan's work, and Immortal was just added to the list! We follow Liyen, whose family rules over the kingdom of Tianxia, and serve the Immortals who are God-like people. Liyen's grandfather steals a magical lotus flower to help cure her of a fatal illness, and this angers the Queen of the immortals whom her grandfather was working for. The Queen then sends the God of War to destroy their home, and we embark on a journey of deceit, mysticism, political advancement, and romance.

I did like the slight nods to Beauty and the Beast noted throughout the book, however some elements did remind me of her previous books, which is not necessarily a bad thing, just not completely original either. I did enjoy all of the characters, especially Liyen, as we see her tough side stepping up to the plate to help her kingdom while also seeing her more vulnerable side as a normal girl. The romance was a little rocky at times, but overall, it was believable and sweet at times.

This is definitely a book that I plan to pick up when it releases, especially the special edition, as it looks absolutely stunning, and I think you should give this a try as well!

I've enjoyed everything I've ready by Sue Lynn Tan, and this was no exception. The worlds she builds are always so magical, and I know i'm in for something good whenever I visit them. This book was atmospheric and immersive, with compelling characters, and a lovely dose of magic.

I’d like thank the Harper Voyager publishing and NetGalley for a ARC of one of my anticipated books of 2025. Forever thankful.
In this book we meet two star crossed lovers caught in a delicate dance that with any misstep could cause massive repercussions for the whole realm. Sue Lynn Tan is a master of her craft. She weaves such intricate tales filled with hope, romance and stunning world building. I became a stan after reading the stunning Daughter of the Moon Goddess Duology.
Going into this book I went in with pretty high expectations of what to expect and this book pretty much matched what i was expecting. I would describe this book like a blossoming flower. Started off slow but when it blossomed, it was gorgeous. Seeing this world again was just awe inspiring and this world will always be in my top 5 book universes I wish I could visit.
The romance as slow and simmering which I love. The fantasy aspects of this story had me soaking up every detail and a break neck pace. The God of War for sure is a new boyfriend of mine. His romance with Liyen for sure was the main focus of the story and stayed at its center no matter what hurricane was blowing around it. When he said,” you are my home.” Not in those words mind you but pretty much, I swooned.
So, if you love:
•swoon worthy romance
•stunning world building
•a bad guy you just wanna choke out
This book is for you. 4 ⭐️
I highly recommend this book ☺️

4.25 stars

At this point, I'm fairly certain that it's impossible for Sue Lynn Tan to write a book that I won't love.

Immortal follows the story of mortal Liyen, the heir to the kingdom Tianxia. She is poisoned, and the only cure is that of the Divine Pearl Lotus---a treasure sought by the immortal queen and harvestable only by the ruler of Tianxia, Liyen’s grandfather. To save Liyen, her grandfather betrays the immortal queen and gives Liyen the Divine Pearl Lotus. The immortal queen orders an attack on Tianxia by the God of War, and shortly after the attack, Liyen’s grandfather dies. Liyen must step into her role as the Lady of Tianxia, where she vows to free Tianxia from the immortal queen’s grasp. But can she keep her heart free from the God of War’s grasp as she fights for her kingdom?

Sue Lynn Tan’s foray into adult romantasy was a delight to read. Liyen is a headstrong spitfire, and she really comes into her role as the Lady of Tianxia. How she navigates the mortal realm, as well as the immortal realm and its inhabitants, including The God of War? *chef’s kiss* The God of War is a broody and fearsome warrior, but he melts in the presence of Liyen. Their relationship to one another is the star of this story, and I adored seeing it develop. And, let’s be real, I will *always* be a sucker for “Who did this to you?” in a romantasy novel.

Some of the plot points were quite predictable, which is the only reason this wasn’t a 5-star read for me. With that said, though, I would definitely recommend Immortal to those who want a fast-paced, magical, romantic read.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sue Lynn Tan, and Avon and Harper Voyager for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed the Celestial Kingdom duology, and am so excited that Sue Lynn is putting out more stories in this world! It was lovely to be back in this luscious and magical realm; although I didn’t really connect as much with these characters, I still enjoyed this story and getting the opportunity to learn and explore more about the immortals and their magic.

I will say that the FMC was quite a judgmental and petulant sourpuss for majority of the book. Liyen habitually lashed out with nasty, acidic words when she was scared, and was quick to anger even in situations that required her to keep a level head. For a ruler, she initially lacked the temperament and tact to be a wise and respected leader. Thankfully there was character growth and she did grew on me by the time the story wrapped up. Despite Liyen’s biasness and judgmental nature, she was able to see the good in those different from her and she valued the lives of those that other in her shoes wouldn’t.

Although the romance wasn’t my favorite, I did appreciate that it was more fleshed out than the romance we got in the Celestial Kingdom duology. I’m a bigger fan of the couple in that duology, but I did felt like we got more of a surface level look at that relationship, with very much limited dialogue and interaction. That was something I thought Sue Lynn definitely improved on with in this story- the romance was developed better and I loved there was more time spent getting to see the chemistry between the two lovebirds.

I believe Sue Lynn has another book coming out in this world next year (hopefully!), so until next time!

I've read Tan's previous works, Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Heart of the Sun Warrior, so I was familiar with her writing style. Although I did enjoy this book, I didn't enjoy it as much compared to her previous work. Despite the world building, there were parts of the book, especially near the end, that I ended up skimming. The main male character felt too good to be true with responses that were always perfect, I wish he had more depth. Overall, I liked the concept of the book, but the author failed to execute its potential.

Gosh, what a gift to be able to read books by Sue Lynn Tan. Lyrical and evocative, I found myself once again utterly enchanted by her writing. From worldbuilding to characters to romance, this was an immersive and just plain beautiful ride. My immense thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in advance!

5/5 stars
Recommended if you like: fantasy, xianxia fantasy, enemies to lovers

This review has been posted to Goodreads as of 10/20 and will be posted to my review blog on 11/12 and to Instagram on 11/2.

While this novel is set in the same universe as Daughter of the Moon Goddess, it completely stands on its own and is fantastic even without having read the other duology. It's also very careful not to spoil anything, so newcomers to Tan's work can read this and then the DotMG duology (and vice versa) without worrying about getting spoiled.

The novel is split into three parts, which roughly take place in three different locations. The first part takes place split between Tianxia (the mortal realm) and the Golden Desert (the Immortal realm). The second part takes place in Tianxia while the third part takes place almost entirely in another Immortal realm that isn't the Golden Desert, though bits of it still take place in Tianxia.

Tianxia is in a precarious position. They needed aid when the Wuxin attacked and were feeding on the emotions of the people, aid that the Golden Desert provided. However, generations have passed and the queen of the Golden Desert has grown tempestuous, resulting in violent storms and droughts, both of which threaten the lives and wellbeings of Tianxia's people. Liyen's grandfather served the queen well as ruler of Tianxia, believing he'd eventually be given Tianxia's freedom, but he was forced to betray the queen, putting Tianxia in an even more precarious position than usual. Liyen, naturally, inherits this political mess and is determined to make things better for her people.

We get the history of the Golden Desert and Tianxia pretty early on, and it definitely does not make the Immortals look good. Rather, they look exactly like the uncaring overlords Liyen thinks they are. Every new ruler must visit the Golden Desert to get the mandate to rule from the queen, and Liyen's visit does little to dispel her thoughts on their cruelty and uncaring nature. To be fair though, there are some moments of kindness and beauty, both with Zhangwei and with other Immortals.

The idea of biases and stories is a big one throughout this novel. Liyen's preconceived notions of the Immortals and of Zhangwei in particular are challenged at several points (again though, they behave kind of terribly). Likewise, a story about the Wuxin has been built up by both the mortals and the Immortals, and it's one that paints them in a bad light. But given the opportunity, it seems not all Wuxin can be painted with the same brush, even in heated moments of battle. As the book unfolds, Liyen has a chance to examine the stories people tell themselves, as well as the greater stories that are told as part of a nation's history--particularly ones that justify or flatter.

I really love Liyen. From the get-go she's very dedicated to her family and to her people. She takes her task as ruler seriously and genuinely seems like the kind of person who deserves to rule because she cares about her people. While there's a minute there where I worried she was leaning into tyrant territory (which admittedly would've been interesting too), she has a level head and is cunning, able to figure out the best way to get what she wants out of a situation, or person.

I enjoyed reading her relationship with Chengyin, her cousin. The two grew up together and so still act like friends, and sometimes kids, rather than ruler and minister/advisor. I wish Chengyin was in the book more because it's clear he cares deeply about Liyen. He's also funny and provides some levity to dark situations.

The War God was a trickier one. While the book is told from 3rd person, we're limited to Liyen's POV and so the narrative is clouded with her bias, both the good and the bad. Our first introduction to the Zhangwei is not great, to say the least, and his gruff demeanor paired with Liyen's already-present dislike of the Immortals means he's not the most likeable character at first. As the book progresses, however, it's clear there's more to him than his gruff demeanor and warrior talents. He too has a desire to protect those he cares for, and loyalty clearly means a great deal to him.

Despite a somewhat...speedy start, I enjoyed Liyen and Zhangwei's relationship. While the two are attracted to each other pretty early on, Liyen is naturally suspicious of the Immortals and so Zhangwei must earn her trust. As the plot thickens (literally and metaphorically), there are more chances for the two to interact more deeply and show their true colors, which paves the way for a more natural and nuanced relationship.

I am so incredibly thankful for this ARC. The chemistry was fire from the very beginning! It was exciting, twisty, and oozed sizzling romance. I couldn't put it down!!

Thank you Netgalley 💜

I love Sue Lynn Tan’s writing. Her storytelling is so incredible I can’t put her books down, so I was ecstatic to see she Immortal, a new story, being published. While I found the story interesting, I didn’t love this book as much.

In her usual style, the story was rich and complex with flawed characters that you love and root for with every twist and turn. But in the first two parts, I found myself questioning character actions and motivation, including in the romance, which were answered after a twist two-thirds (or so) through the book. Even after everything that came before suddenly clicked into place, the action didn’t pick up, and I felt like pre- and post-twist story were not tied together well.

I wonder if I would like this better on a re-read, when I already know the key to the puzzle and can enjoy the journey of the characters in a different way. Perhaps an intro chapter alluding to the twist would provide the context needed as well.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! I am honored to read and review with an early access copy.

Immortal is a stand alone novel that follows the story of Liyen as she assumes her role of Lady of Tianxia. Liyen is a strong female character, who faces many trials during this story, but always remains true to herself. Often she is put in the position to choose one path or another, but those challenging her forget that she may still pick a third option, one of her own making. Immortal takes place in a lush fantasy backdrop with fantastical creatures, immortal species, and a villainous enterprise hungry for power. I was personally engaged deeply with this story, as it was twisting and turning from early on and through to the final pages. The sharp dialogue and deep interpersonal relationships brought about empathy, and I truly cared for the fate of these fictional characters.

Another beautiful story from Sue Lynn Tan. I feel that as a standalone, it had a bigger impact than the Celestial Kingdom series. It did take me a long time to finish this, but the payoff is unbelievable. Liyen is a great main character. The romance is everything you could possibly want from a romantasy book.