Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this Advanced Readers Copy of Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan!

While I was very excited to get the arc of this book, especially when I also received the audiobook in advance, I had no reason to not read it before release except apparently I have no time these days. But as soon as I found some time for myself, I tried my best to read as much as I could, and as expected from this wonderful author, I had a hard time putting this book down.

I’m not 100% sure coz I haven’t really been following social media or author updates much these days, but I think this standalone novel is set in the same universe as my favorite Daughter of the Moon Goddess - so this book felt familiar right from the get go. We are introduced to new realms in this one - mortal, immortal and more; and they all felt wondrous and dreadful and well fleshed out. The author is as usual amazing at evoking our emotions through her exquisite descriptions and I just wanted to remain in the world that she created. She is also an expert at angst, creating a powerful push and pull romance that transcends lifetimes.

I liked the character of Liyen, a mortal born with a weakness, who never thought she will have to one day fight for the safety and survival of her people from immortals - but when she is thrust into such a situation, she rises up with all the strength she can muster and never gives up. She is met toe to toe by Zhangwei or the God of War, who maybe has more shades to him, and their instant connection is only intensified by their divided loyalties - and we are left to find out if each of them can overcome their differences, trust each other fully, and work together to save all their people. The side characters have pretty small presences in this book, but I have to say that some of them still feel quite memorable.

As someone who hardly reads anymore, I’m always glad when a favorite SFF author writes a stand-alone novel, coz that makes me feel less guilty about abandoning series. And what more can I ask than an immersive, emotional and unputdownable book like Immortal, which only cements Sue Lynn Tan as an auto buy author for me. If you’ve loved her previous books or enjoy xianxia/xuanhuan cdramas, you can’t miss this.

I loved this! An incredible standalone romantasy that has tension, action, and some incredible quotes. The characters are complex and lovable. This man will destroy anyone who threatens his love. Sue writes some beautiful lines in this book. So much passion. I absolutely recommend this book!

Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for this ARC in return for my honest review. My opinions are my own

Once again, a tale that needed to be told! From the beginning of pure entertainment and world building, Sue Lynn Tan had another hit on her hands. From the FMC to her journey from being sick to the end is amazing and a tale as old as time. A classic and I am buying a copy on my shelf ASAP!

Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan was excellent! I would give this all the stars. The world building was so well executed and so immersive, and I was completely captivated and entranced. The romance was perfect as well. Absolutely breathtaking!

3.50 stars.

This story is about Liyen who has just taken the throne among the mortals. However the true rulers are the immortals and she needs to learn to keep her kingdom safe. Enter zhangwei the god of war a she needs to forge an alliance with him.
It was a good book but the romance fell a little flat and unbelievable

IMMORTAL
RATING: 3.5
GENRE: Romance, Fantasy

Sue Lynn Tan is back with a standalone Chinese romantasy. The story is broken up into three parts. The first part is action-packed and very interesting to read as our female protagonist, Liyen, fights to free her mortal realm from servitude of the immortals. However, she learns that there is more going on than explained to her. She encounters the God of War and they play into the enemies to lovers troupe. However, the second part of the book falls flat for me and is very slow making the final part feel rushed. Overall, it is a fun fantasy read and would recommend to those who enjoy Chinese folklore fantasies. Thank you for Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for sending me an E-ARC of this book for an honest review!

2 stars. The plot of this book was confusing and sort of unnecessary. The FMC was honestly annoying and whiney. The romance was supposed to feel whimsical and yearn-y but it read like every other love story that was written a thousand times over. The only plus was the authors writing style! I loved her descriptions of the world and the way she portrayed the mythology/culture was done very nicely. I wanted to love this. :(

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!

3.5 stars

immortal had the beautiful storytelling sue lynn tan is known and beloved for with her daughter of the moon goddess duology. i do wish i read this directly after i finished that series, as i feel i would have been more connected to the world.

i also listened to the audio, and the narrator for sue lynn tan’s books always does a wonderful job.

not to mention, my fl edition is gorgeous! i still wish i had the other fl editions tho 🥲

Nobody does immortal beings like Sue Lynn Tan!!! She's excellent at giving you plot, romance, angst, and longing and tying it in with legends and stories from her culture. I truly, truly love everything she's published so far and I will continue to buy her stories in the future!

A huge thank you to Libro.fm and NetGalley for the ALC/ARC copies. This is my honest review and opinions.

Choosing 3.75 based off guessing the major plot twist towards the end.
I loved Daughter of the Moon Goddess, so I wanted to give this one as try.
I did enjoy the writing style and being immersed into another fantasy world by Tan.
The mythology and lore surrounding the Immortal's is what drew me in.
Liyen is a mortal who is thrown into reigning her kingdom when her grandfather dies.
Zhangwei is the God of War. Their paths cross when Liyen wants to do anything to save her people.

The romance was good for a romantacy! There was definitely some swoon worthy moments.
Over all would recommend.

Thank you so much to Net Galley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book, and HarperVoyage for sending a physical copy for me to read in exchange for my honest opinion.

Ok, firstly, I don’t know why I was just not enjoying this book as much as I thought I would. There was just so much going on and so many plot lines that felt distracting. For example, Liyen starts off with her land in war, and then gets sent to the land of the immortals, somehow falls for the God of War, and gets betrayed all in the first 100 pages. I was just feeling very confused and unfocused in regard to the plot.

Also Liyen was supposed to be so weak, but she comes back from the land of the immortals so changed like girl how??? Also you’re telling me the God of War and Liyen fell for each other within the first 100 pages??? I don’t know it felt so forced that I couldn’t even process that their feelings were real the whole book.

I really wanted to appreciate this and enjoy this because it sounded like something I would have really enjoyed, but it just was not for me. Now this is not to say that you won’t enjoy this because books are different for everyone, so take my review with a grain of salt. There was nothing intrinsically wrong with the book. It was just the pacing and the many plot lines that threw me off.

Thank you again to Net Galley and Harper Voyage!!

There wasn’t really anything I really disliked about this book, I just found it difficult to get into. The relationship wasn’t very believable, especially at the beginning. There was no build up going into that early “betrayal” so it didn’t hit very hard. I wasn’t particularly invested in any of the characters or plots so it took me quite a while to get through. Overall it was just alright.

I received a Netgalley ARC in exchange for an honest review. I also ordered the beautiful hardcover book when it was released. Sue Lynn Tan is one of my new favorite authors after the gorgeous Daughter of the Moon Goddess duology. Her latest book is equally as well-written and intriguing. I started this a while ago but got quite sick, so I had to take a reading break. This break may have shaped my thoughts about the book, but I felt like the beginning was slow. However, by the middle, I was utterly hooked. I especially love that as the story unfolds, all is not as it seems--the plot twists are engaging and unexpected but logical and plausible. More details about past events arise as the book progresses, making me want to read the book all over again now with this new knowledge. The Lady of Tianxia is physically weak but possesses a strong moral core as she tries to care for her mortal citizens. The God of War is an immortal deity, and their lives are entwined in more ways than one. The Lady of Tianxia possesses a Divine Lotus Pearl that has healed some of her physical ailments. With its magical properties, the pearl is coveted by many, including the God of War and the Wuxin, who I think of as demons living in the Netherworld. And yet, all is not as it seems.

Ultimately, the Lady of Tianxia balances choices and competing viewpoints in a realistic, feminist way that I loved, taking charge of her path and abandoning the idea of fate and destiny. This book is a beautiful mythology and is excellent for anyone who loves romance, mythology, c-dramas, and fantasy. While many authors are beginning to write in this space of Asian fantasy and romance, Tan's work stands apart from others. Her books have complex, layered plots, multi-faceted characters, and relationships, and her writing--the actual choice of words--is polished and eloquent, making it a joy to read. Sue Lynn, if you ever read this: thank you for your work, and never stop writing. I eagerly await each new release. Your books are some of my favorite books, and I reread them frequently. I secretly hope they will be turned into c-dramas, but perhaps they should stay in their written form because of the fantastic world-building. I don't know that any production could do them justice. Thank you for sharing your gifts with the world.

A Mythical Masterpiece

"Immortal" by Sue Lynn Tan is a breathtaking debut that weaves mythology with a compelling narrative of love and destiny. Tan’s brilliant world-building and rich, poetic language immerse you in a realm of gods and magic, where every page thrills with adventure and emotion. The characters are deeply crafted, making their journeys resonate profoundly with the reader. This book is a must-read for any fantasy enthusiast looking for a story that combines epic storytelling with heart-touching depth. A truly enchanting read!

Immortal was such a fantastic standalone fantasy novel! I loved getting lost in the world of the Celestial Kingdom and will absolutely be reading Sue Lynn Tan’s backlist after this.

This is enemies-to-lovers at its finest, and Liyen and the God of War’s relationship was absolutely swoony. The girls said bring back yearning and Sue Lynn Tan DELIVERED. I loved the political plotline and loved how it intertwined with the romance. Highly recommend!

Thanks to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the ARC!

This was a beautifully written vibrant world, full of fantastic twists and turns. The world building was well thought out, and our characters go on a fascinating adventure through realms and their own inner selves.

Wow. I actually don't know what to do with myself. This was one of my most anticipated books of 2025. I've even included it in my 25 or 2025 with me labeling it as a five-star prediction.

I hated this.

Where did all the magic go from the Daughter of the Moon Goddess duology??? Where did the immaculate writing scurry off to? I am so beyond baffled as to what happened. The writing was poor, the plot was paper thin, the insta-love was cringe, and the characters were caricatures. I felt like I was reading a soap opera and that's insulting to soap operas. Everything was just so over-the-top and absurd along with a plot that barely was holding itself together. I know the ending was supposed to be like "THIS EXPLAINS THE INSTA-LOVE," and it did, but it was still horrid.

I also despise that this was marketed as being in the same world as ADOTMG. There was a WHISPER in this book basically relating to that old series. That was such a gimmick and unnecessary to market it that way.

I actually am just absolutely stunned and questioning my entire life right now.

Absolutely stunning. Sue Lynn Tan books are an instant-buy for me. On top of beautiful prose and charming storytelling, the physical books themselves are GORGEOUS. Even the typesetting is flawless.

This book though? UGH! (In a good way.) Zhangwei?? UGHH! (ALSO in a good way). Every moment I wasn't reading, I was thinking about what was happening in the immortal/ mortal/ netherworld realm. I never expect where Sue Lynn Tan is going to take a story and I'm pleased every time. My only complaint with this one is how foolishly naive Liyen is during the first half of this book. Zero critical thinking skills on her part.

I fell deeply in love with this book and was swept away into this story about forbidden magic, dangerous secrets, and passionate romance.

From the beginning, I was instantly enamored by the beautiful storytelling, vivid descriptions of the multidimensional world, and poetic prose.

I loved all the elements woven into Liyen’s story, from the complex character dynamics to her adventurous journey with the God of War at her side to their quick-witted banter and chemistry-filled connection. Every aspect continued to draw me in, and savoring each chapter of the story.

This novel truly felt like an enchanting, magical reading experience, and I can’t wait to read more books by Sue Lynn Tan.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*