Sue Lynn Tan became an overnight legend after her lush writing in daughter of the moon goddess. Sadly this is a fake enemies to lovers romantasy with none of that lush prose or creative spirit. The concept isn’t bad, but the execution isn’t great. A plucky and confident defiant main character
whose just so darn “real” that the overpowered boyfriend character instantly is weak for her. The miserable dark handsome misunderstood leading man who’s actually a super great guy that the MC had wrong all along. We have read it before. This is so boring.

SYT please go back to writing good books girl!

I'm not sure how to write a coherent review for Immortal. Partly because it deserves better than I can provide, and partly because I loved it so much that I can't think of words to describe it.
It's a beautiful story about the different forms of love, but it's also an excellent adventure through a fantastical world. The world-building was some of the most enjoyable I've read, and the pacing was immaculate. The action was expertly interspersed with quiet, emotional moments of reprieve, and the characters were given so much opportunity to grow. Overall, this book was a joy to read. It was exciting, romantic, emotional, and beautifully written. I consider it one of my top reads this year and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the ARC.

5/5! ★★★★★

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Okay. This cover was too beautiful to pass up.

♡ I have been meaning to dive into the world of Sue Lynn Tan, I might be committing a crime by reading this before DOTMG, but hear me out. This was SO good. Mythology, lovers to enemies to lovers, political war and conflict, a dreamy atmosphere, wild plot twists....this was sooooo so so so good.

♡ Liyen and Zhangweis story was one for the books. I loved both characters, and the romance was filled with tension, banter and pure bliss. Liyen is headstrong and determined, but still longing for something to fill the void after her grandfathers passing. Who better than the powerful, immortal, God of War? He is not the killer everyone made him out to be, and Liyen struggles with her conflicting feelings for him. Watching this love story unfold was magical. The plot twists. ”My beloved”. Iykyk. This is the power couple we've been waiting for.

♡ The world building was perfect, and the descriptions of the whimsical places we get to visit were absolutely dreamy. Send me there, immediately.

♡ I will most certainly be diving into DOTMG asap and looking out for anything else Sue Lynn Tan writes.

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Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

"You are all I need, whether we are together a year or a hundred." He stroked the hair from my face, looking into my eyes. "Never doubt my heart. I have loved you since we met--as I will for the rest of our days."

I'll start by saying the beginning of this book was lit. Starts off with a bang and then the God of War's entrance was 🤌

But then the problems started. I think my biggest issue was the pacing. It was just weird, and some things just happened really quickly or like too easily and then we're moving on to the next thing. Seemed like there were some plot holes too, a couple of things that weren't explained very well or resolved very well. I just wasn't detecting a lot of logic that was happening. Also some questionable decisions being made, like poontang at a very dangerous and awkward time 👀

But there were a lot of really enjoyable parts. Anything with the MMC was great, especially when he leaned more into his God of War persona. A handful of laugh out loud moments with some of their dialogue and some pretty cool action sequences, but this one ended up falling short for me 😩

4 stars! Some of the plot points were a bit repetitive of Tan’s previous books, but I still found it very enjoyable. The FMC was a bit of a hedgehog — getting defensively prickly when she felt threatened, but I still liked her character overall. The plot was really well-paced and there was never a lull in the story. Also, the cover is absolutely gorgeous. It does take place in the same world as the Celestial Kingdom duology, but there isn’t much overlap and it can easily be read as a standalone.

Thanks so much to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC!!

First, the world building — which is rich and detailed. Based on Asian mythology rather than European, the immortals aren’t angels and the villains aren’t demons. Instead, they’re near immortal beings of immense power and all-too human desires: power, adoration, vengeance, and love. Both the mortal world and the magical are well explained and explored, with the politics of both balanced together in a very satisfying way.

The romance is also well done, with both banter and barbs, with lying and betrayal and the slow falling into both friendship and love. Liyen is a a three dimensional character with the expected flaws (temper, impulsiveness, the ability to pick up weapons and magic with an ease granted by being the protagonist) but the writing keeps her grounded. Zhangwei, the God of War, has a sense of humor — which I do love to see in a romance — as well as a selfless devotion worthy of an immortal being for whom love is a rare and valued emotion.

The ending, with Zhangwei’s miffed pride and confidence coming up against Liyen’s self-righteous arrogance and pride was a perfect conclusion. I enjoyed the world building and the plot more than the romance, but it is a solidly built romance. I hope you give this book a try, and I hope you enjoy it if you do.

Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publisher for granting me an ARC of this book!

I read Daughter of the Moon Goddess and loved it so much that I just knew I needed to read this- I was not disappointed in the slightest. The cover caught my eye on netgalley but the description grabbed me. I really enjoyed the characters, I could relate alot to Liyen in multiple aspects and just loved her so much. I didn't do much of a deep dive into this book like I typically do because I wanted this read to be more of a vibe read. It took me alittle bit longer to read than I would have liked due to falling into a reading slump- I will probably reread and update this to a better review at that time.

Thank you so much for the ARC copy - I truly appreciate it.

Thank you NetGalley, publisher, and author for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I want to start off saying that I have been meaning to read her other novels that are in the same universe. When I saw this ARC I knew that it was my chance this time. I loved everything about this novel. I would give it a 4.5/5 stars. If the third part towards the end felt like it resolved too quickly and easily. The interaction with Lord Dalian fell flat a little bit and the short reunion with her mother was resolved too quickly. That being said, the writing was perfect. The plot and pacing were incredible. The characters had a lot of depth and emotion and growth. It has been a while since I have read a book that I have enjoyed so thoroughly. The choice of having three parts was done perfectly. There was a lot of description and depth of the story, and sometimes that can feel like it's too dense and long, but this novel did not fall into that. All the betrayals, love scenes, interactions between Liyen and the God of War I loved. It was very sweet that they had been lovers in her previous life, and his relief when he found her was heart warming. The ending with her Aunt was I think the best outcome despite everything that had happened. I will be purchasing this novel when it comes out to stores!

This was a beautifully written story about a girl losing everything and fighting to keep the legacy left to her. I enjoy this story SO MUCH. Sue Lynn Tan does such an amazing job with wanting you to keep rooting for the protag, even when they make decisions, that as a reader, is infuriating lol

I lived for the betrayals and plot twists. Next to the romantic moments, these surprises MADE the book for me. It was exciting to see how she took the story. Romantacy has become predictable, and this was not! I adored the unique points.

The romance is tricky because it’s a trope you will and won't expect. She pulled it off perfectly. My DNFing friends will need to be patient, because the answers will come later in the book.

I LOVED the steamy moments. Sue DELIVERED on the tension, yummy dialogue and memorable scenes. I mean….
“I think of it, too. How you feel. How you would taste.”

The MC/lover boy was dedicated like no other and I felt romanced by his loyalty and determination towards their relationship. If you want a warrior who protects his woman, then you will love this.
The Chinese mythology was exciting and one of my favorite aspects to the story. I would have loved more explorations into the many characters etc.

THOUGHTS:
The romance needed more backstory. I was LIVING when the romance hit, but I wasn’t as invested as I know I could have been.

There was an aspect to the plot that felt unnecessary and pulled down the story and the romance.
The main bad guy felt like a rotten child and not a true villain (this could have been the intention, but it didn’t work for me)

The MC/lover boy was too perfect. He always had the right thing to say and while I loved him, I also felt him to be a bit one note, not as impressive as his title suggests and didn’t have much growth.
The FMC/Liyen was all over the place at times. I liked her character and didn’t mind her quirks, but she had a moment at the end that didn’t make sense and felt juvenile.

The pacing wasn’t my jam. It started rather slow, sped up, slowed down, sped up, slowed down and sped up again. I prefer the steady rise to the top of a mountain instead of rolling hills.

The dialogue was extensive and droned on at times. I think this came down to trying to do a standalone fantasy and attempting to put everything into one book. This should have either been a duology or simplified.

OVERALL:
Standalone fantasy books are difficult to pull off and I think it was done well, but not my favorite. Her previous duology was fantastic for me. Read this if you love Chinese mythology and romantacy.

‘A stunning, standalone romantic fantasy filled with dangerous secrets, forbidden magic, and passion, of a young ruler who fights to protect her kingdom, from bestselling author Sue Lynn Tan and set in the breathtaking world of Daughter of the Moon Goddess.’

“What the gods did not give us, I would take”

Sue Lynn Tan’s Immortal was such an unexpected and delightful romantic fantasy. The writing was sophisticated, vivid and just lovely. And I am now overly eager to get my hands on her previous works! Definitely recommend.

Thanks NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this arc in exchange for review.

Pub date: 1.7.2025.

*an advanced digital copy was received from NetGalley in return for an honest review*

Sue Lynn Tan is one of my favorite authors to read, and I was very excited to be able to get an ARC of this book. I love the world building behind Sue Lynn Tan's books, and this book was another great fantasy book to add to the collection.

The story is about a young woman, Liyen, who ascends her kingdom's throne and must pledge fealty to the immortals who saved the mortal realm, however she wants to break the obligation and free her people. Along the way she has to make an alliance with the God of War in order to fully free her people. What they soon learn is that even darker forces are at work against them.

What I most loved about this book was the fantasy and world building. What was really nice about this book is that it is a standalone book, and great for readers who might not want to commit to a very in-depth world system. There is a very interesting dynamic between the three worlds and people in those worlds, and I appreciate how we got to see the perspectives from Liyen's time in each.

The character Liyen, I think was very relatable. Through the story I also really enjoyed watching her progress in her relationships and in her confidence. She was put into a position of power under sad circumstances and had her rule questioned numerous times, so I loved reading this main female protagonist stand her ground. But, it was relatable in the way that she was nervous about this position and questioned if what she was doing was the right path. Zhangwei, the God of War, was very interesting to read over time. As we learned more about his character and his motivations we really fell in love with him. I can say, the chemistry and slow burn between the characters was worth the wait.

This book was a great, fast read, and perfect for readers who need a mythological, fantastical, romantasy to add to their TBR.

Thank you again NetGalley for the ARC!

Daughter of the Moon Goddess is one of my favorite books. I loved it so much and so I was extremely excited to see that Immortal was going to be set in the Celestial Kingdoms world. I wanted to learn more about this world that Tan created.

I didn't love Immortal as much as I loved her previous books. I think this is because it focused more on the romance aspect. There was a moment where Liyen said she thought she was in love after a very brief time that had me rolling my eyes. There is a lot that happens in this book over a very short period of time.

There is no lack of action in this book, and Tan's writing is still fantastic. Liyen is a strong FMC who wants to protect her people and keep those she loves safe. Most of the book is set in the mortal world in a kingdom that's cut off from the rest of the mortals. The book really picks up in part three. That was the most enjoyable point for me.

This didn't live up to the hype that I had for it, but I still really enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed this book!! The plot was so interesting and full of adventure that I was never bored. The author did a great job with character development because I was full invested in there stories. I will be recommending this book to all of my friends and family.

I am a big fan of Sue Lynn Tan’s Daughter of the Moon Goddess duology.

Immortal is a standalone that takes place in the same universe as the Celestial Kingdom. The plot is simple enough, a human kingdom caught between two sides of an immortal world. The human main protagonist contains the power of a Divine Pearl Lotus, which the Celestials are seeking to heal the God of War. Liyen, our FMC, must go on a quest to free her kingdom, while guarding both the lotus and her heart from the formidable God of War.

The concept had all the makings of a lovely romantic tale, with some feet kicking, blushing moments- but the prose does fall flat. The writing is very monotonous and not a single line of dialogue stood out to me at the end. I would describe this book as “fine.” I do think the God of War’s character was the highlight of the book.

Thank you SO much to Avon, Harper Voyager and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC!

As expected, Sue Lynn Tan has written another masterpiece. Set in the same lush, beautifully-crafted world of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Immortal is a breathtaking romantic fantasy rife with political intrigue, complex magic, and and an absolutely immaculate romance.

Liyen's family rule over the kingdom of Tianxia and serve the immortals. When her grandfather steals a magic lotus flower from the immortal queen to cure Liyen of a fatal illness, the queen sends the God of War to destroy their home. Liyen eventually ascends the throne with the goal of freeing Tianxia from the immortals and begins to work with the God of War with increasing danger and peril mounting around them.

Liyen is an amazing character--calculating, intelligent, but if you peel back the layers, vulnerable and yearning for connection after the loss of her grandfather. I felt her loneliness to my core, and her grief is so heartbreakingly realistic. Liyen loves so deeply and cares for her people even when there are many among them who oppose her on the throne.

The God of War. I instantly knew I was going to Zhangwei when I read the fourth--yes, the fourth--sentence in the book. I applaud Sue Lynn Tan for that brilliant character introduction. He is so much more than he seems on the surface, and I adored the relationship between him and Liyen. There's kind of an enemies-to-lovers vibe, though I'd say it's more like star-crossed lovers. This book is a literal emotional roller coaster and I can't even describe how badly I was rooting for them.

For those who haven't read her previous books, I want to emphasize how skilled of a writer Sue Lynn Tan is. Her imagery and prose is lyrical and lush--each scene she weaves together is enchanting. Even in action-packed scenes, Kwan's ability to immerse readers into the moment is unmatched. It's just her thing. I sank my teeth into this book. The plot, world, and romance are captivating! I fell in love with Liyen and Zhangwei and reading Immortal was such a beautiful journey.

I enjoyed this book for the imagery, I felt whisked away into the world itself. I think that the plot dragged on for too long and it took quiet a bit of time to get to the conflict that the immortals and mortals truly faced. I feel like I didn't know much about the characters themselves, Liyen and Wenzhi felt a bit superficial to me especially for them being in love. I wanted to know more about the main characters far more than things that the reader can already infer. I felt like bombs kept dropping towards too much at the end of the book, I do enjoy bombs of truth to be dropped but it felt like too many kept happening that I didn't know what to focus on. At times it's rather safer to focus on less big points and go crazy on the details, it felt vice versa for this book. I think it would be really beneficial to not have everything be such a secret, There was so much happening that I got lost in it all, I wanted to the book to be done.

Ok I have to admit what drew me to this book was the cover. I had to find out what was inside and boy what a wild ride it was. Liyen is a princess in a walled kingdom that serves an Immortal Queen. She has a white streak in her hair due to a poisoning that made me think of Rogue from X-Men. She is very sickly and as she escapes her burning home (blame those immortals), her grandfather, the Lord of this mortal kingdom offers her a special magical Lotus flower to heal her. Her escape leads her to the God of War who rescues her. (Ok, he’s very handsome) The thing is, this flower is desired by the immortals and they will do what it takes to get it. Liyen cannot trust anyone as she maneuvers through this. (He’s cute but is he also a murderer? Good question Liyen.)

The story jumps from the mortal realm to the immortal realm, to magical mountains, and to the Netherworld. There is a secret that slowly unravels over three Parts and things I had issues with are resolved by the next Part. I couldn’t believe how much happened in just a short amount of time in this book and felt like I was reading an epic. Be patient and you will find satisfaction.

The fight scenes were a bit hard to follow and the dialogue was very formal. I think it was just a mythological/fantasy world I was not used to. It heavily pulls on Chinese mythology and I googled the different creatures to get a better visual of what they look like. There was romance and it was closed door. I was shocked by some of the twists and turns that happened and I have to say that the ending was not as happy as I wanted. It’s happy but I wanted MORE. I need perfectly happy endings and that’s just me. You angst lovers will do fine. Will this be part of a series? I need closure.

I was provided this book so kindly from NetGalley and the publishers as an ARC. It’s coming out January 7, 2025 and this was worth my time and I suggest you check it out.

First and foremost I received an e-arc from NetGalley.

Finally!! A book with meaning, magic, love and, a profound finale.

eARC Review: Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan 🪷

. . . What can I say about this book without spoiling it in its entirety? For now, I’ll just say this is how I want romantic fantasy to be from now on, and Tan: how did you give us a man even more swoon worthy than Wenzhi?! ❤️

I loved Liyen as the main character. She’s feisty, thoughtful, and cunning. Her story throughout the book progresses well, though I can see how some people might not enjoy her thought process. I thought she was a great foil to Xingyin from the Celestial Kingdom duology, and I really enjoyed getting a mortal’s perspective of the immortals that we primarily saw in the duology. And her budding relationship with the God of War, Zhangwei. . . . I’m deceased with giddiness. 😍

Zhangwei was an INCREDIBLE love interest. While outwardly cold, he hides a wonderful depth of emotion that not many would link to a deity of warfare. His banter with Liyen was FANTASTIC and honestly it had me laughing out loud a few times because of how low and petty they could go at each other and yet still be drawn back to each other. 😂

Their relationship sends the reader in for a RIDE, but man is it so worth it. I wish I could go into more detail about my love for these two and their time together, but I’d be revealing some MAJOR spoilers. 🤐

Honestly, I was kicking my feet with giddiness while reading this, and won’t lie when parts of the book left me teary eyed. This should be on your radar whether you are already a fan of Tan’s work or are looking for something to dip your toe in first before diving into the duology. It is a standalone in the same world as her first two books, so be prepared to only have one book with these wonderful characters. 🥲

My IMMENSE and forever gratitude goes to Harper Voyager (psst, could I get a physical galley to cry over till my preorder arrives? 🙏🏼🤙🏼call me 🥺) and NetGalley for accepting my desperate plea to read this in exchange for an honest review, and to the author, Tan, for once again ripping my heart out in the most incredibly way possible. I really hope we can get some little short stories about these two in the future. 🫶🏼

Shoutout to @lookmairead and @thebooksthekindleandi for the fun nuddy read via @storygraph !

Publication date: January 16!

Overall: 5/5 (if are you honestly surprised by this, hi! Welcome to my account!)⭐️