4.25 stars

Ok I really enjoyed this one! The narrator was incredible! I loved following along with my eyes as well though connecting how to say names and with the spelling! I’m such a fan of mythology and Sue just writes it all so well!

I loved returning to the Celestial Kingdom world. This one is a complete seperate standalone though! There were so many twists and turns that blew my mind, and gah! I loved Zhangwei so much! I loved him and Liyen together. They had wonderful chemistry and banter!

I loved how everything connected and the stuff that kind of didn’t make sense in the beginning all came together. It was such a great fantasy romance!

3.5⭐ rounded up to 4.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record: I have mixed feelings about this one as well! I thought about DNF’ing about 30% in, because it felt like a total rehashing of tired popular tropes, and I couldn’t stand the FMC (she reminded me of Diem Bellator, which is NOT a good thing). Some unexpected plot twists and reveals piqued my interest halfway through the book, and I enjoyed the second half. I’m giving this book 4 stars mostly for the writing, the unexpected plot twists, and the fast-paced second half. However, I really feel like the twists and reveals should have happened sooner---my mind was already made up about the book once I got to it. I loved the political intrigue and meddling gods, the strong influence of mythology, the high stakes, and the frequent pearls of wisdom, but I just couldn’t stand the FMC or root for her and the MMC. Also, character development that comes from regained memories is *not* true character development. Liyen sucked until the end, there I said it.

The audio version was great, but the voice actor mixed up character voices more than once, and that made some dialogues confusing.

❤️ The second half
❤️ Flowy, poetic, and evocative writing style
❤️ Pearls of wisdom
❤️ Unexpected plot twists
❤️ Stunning cover
❌ The first half
❌ Confrontational and rude FMC
❌ FMC/MMC relationship dynamic
❌ Rehashed popular tropes
❌ Lack of character development
❌ Info dumps

Tropes to expect: enemies to lovers, stuck in another world, amnesia, the chosen one, burn the world for her, betrayals and heartache, big reveals.

Trigger warnings: violence, death and grief, amnesia, war, kidnapping and confinement, torture, injury and injury detail, blood and gore, war, misogyny, toxic relationship, gaslighting.

Natalie Naudus is one of my favorite narrrators, and it's an easy borrow/add whenever I see her narrating a book. And the fact that she narrated one of my fave duologies of all time (DOTM/HOTSW) is a huge plus. This was one of my most anticipated reads and it did not disappoint. While I didn't love it as much as I did The Celestial Kingdom duology, I did love this all on its own. Sue always writes such good banter between the leads, and the tension in this one!!! The world-building was exquisite and magical. The romance superb. <3

🐉 "Immortal" by Sue Lynn Tan: 🐉

This audiobook is a thrilling blend of action, adventure, and romance, all steeped in the rich tapestry of Chinese mythology. Prepare to be swept away by a fast-paced plot, unexpected twists, and a captivating love story.

While the names might take a moment to grasp (a common challenge with audiobooks, especially those with unfamiliar terms!), the story itself is easy to follow and utterly captivating. The steamy, closed-door scenes are reminiscent of old Chinese movies, adding a touch of classic romance to the adventure.

Narrator Natalie Naudus delivers a stellar performance! Her inflection is perfect, she distinguishes voices with ease, and her pacing keeps you hooked. The audio quality is top-notch, making this a truly immersive listening experience.

✨ Perfect for: ✨

Fans of Chinese mythology and historical fantasy 🐉
Those who enjoy action-packed adventures with a touch of romance ❤️
Listeners who appreciate strong female characters 💪
Anyone who loves a good dose of mystery and intrigue 🤫

#Immortal #SueLynnTan #NatalieNaudus #Audiobook #ChineseMythology #HistoricalFantasy #Romance #Adventure #StrongFemaleLead #Bookstagram #BookReview #MustListen

Sue Lynn Tan’s enchanting romantic fantasy, Immortal, transports you to a magical world akin to The Daughter of the Moon Goddess. It combines political intrigue, intricate magic, and a spellbinding love story. Natalie Naudus narrates this audiobook expertly, making it a must-listen.

I loved the narrator of this audiobook because the narration really brought the Sue Lynn Tan's fictional world to life.

First and foremost, I was absolutely drawn to this book because of the gorgeous cover art. The colors and flow of design are incredibly aesthetically pleasing to me. Once I really got into the story, I was pretty hooked. It is a bit slower in the beginning but I found it picks up pretty quickly once establishing most of the groundwork we, the reader, needs.

Liyen must become the heir to the throne after his grandfather's death. However, before he passed, he saved her life by sharing a sacred flower with her which was intended for the Gods of their land. She is determined to severe her kingdom's ties with the immortals and their selfish ways. And she works to try and learn all the secrets she can to use as weapons against the gods. However, there is significant attraction between Liyen and the God of War, who Liyen blames for her grandfather's passing.

Liyen is a fierce, determined leader for her people as well as in her own right. She is strong and stubborn, and sassy but she also has a bit of a habit of brow-beating The God of War, Zhangwei.

I enjoyed this romantasy, and found the world rich and engaging. I think I need to read Daughter of the Moon Goddess next since it seems this one fits into the same world but is a stand alone.

Thanks to HarperAudio for the gifted audiobook!

IMMORTAL by Sue Lynn Tan is a riveting standalone(!!!) romantasy. Sue does an amazing job with worldbuilding that includes gods, kingdoms, political intrigue, battles, and a forbidden romance. This book really has it all! I loved the MMC - the God of War, Zhangwei - as soon as he entered the book. He and Liyen had instant sparks, and I love how their relationship developed over the course of the book. If you loved her Celestial Kingdoms series and are looking for more celestial romance, this book is for you.

I have been wanting to experience Sue Lynn Tan’s writing and was so excited to see this new book of hers pop up on NetGalley. I was immediately gripped by the plight of the main character Liyen, and the story was full of twists and turns while it explored family relationships and politics. While at times the pacing felt awkward and I almost wished it was longer to fully flesh out some of the character relationships, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it! Natalie Nardaus does a WONDERFUL narration as well.

Thank you HarperAudio Adult for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 rounded up. Immortal tells not only a sweeping love story full of longing, but also an epic battle between mortals and gods rife with political intrigue, battles, fantastical creatures and beings, all set in a lovely chinese mythological setting. It does have a bit of a slow start, but the payoff is worth it! It is a beautifully written and well-balanced romantasy, and the narration was fantastic! This is my first book by Sue Lynn Tan, and I immediately put her other books on my priority TBR.

If you love romantasy, you will not want to miss this book!

This is not my usual genre, and it started very traditional romantasy. However, the further into the story you dive, the more expansive the world, the plot, and the main character get. I thought I knew where the story was going, but I was very wrong.

Some of the writing felt simplistic, but I found that to be part of the charm of this book. If you are a fan of "True love conquers all" and strong female characters, then this book is for you.

The narrator of the audiobook was very good, but I didn't connect with her voice.

Overall, this was an intriguing romantasy with a lot of unexpected twists and turns.

This book was really good and thought provoking. It held the appeal and gravitas of a mythical story but still felt applicable to modern issues of grief, family, and the struggles of figuring out who you are. All themes that transcend time but are highlighted beautifully in this story.

Immortal reminded me of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh but with characters who are slightly older, and the whole book was set in a world of a myth making it more immersive.

Book 007 of 350 ~ 2025

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I was so lucky to score not just the ebook but the audiobook as well.

For those who have followed me long enough, you will know I tend to do either one, then when it gets even more intense, I love listening and reading together.

@suelynntan - firstly, congratulations on your pub day. Second, this book is an absolute masterpiece.

I was so sucked in this entire mythical world and I just couldn't find enough pockets of time to either read it or listen to it.

Admittedly, I love reading the ebook. But the audiobook was so brilliantly narrated I couldn't stop myself from listening to it either. Kudos to the brilliant @natalienaudus - you brought these words to life.

I spent the last 10 chapters reading and listening. Absolutely glorious read and definitely one of my faves not just for the year but in my list officially.

Bravo!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book and audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#book007of350 #amreading #tbrpile #netgalley #instareads #readstagram #reading #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover #booksAreLife #booksForTheWin #thisbookfairyisreading #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookish #bookworm #goodreads #booklovers #theSGbookfairyReads #theSGtrekkiereads #bookaholic #bookaddict #bookchallenge2025 #reviews #lovebooks #booknerds

as the heir to tianxia, liyen has been raised knowing it is her duty to one day ascend to the throne and continue serving the immortals who once protected tianxia from an enemy. however, when she’s poisoned, her grandfather angers the immortals by stealing a lotus to save her life. now, when liyen ascends to the throne, it’s not with the pledge to serve the immortals, but to end this obligation. she’s invited to the immortal realm, where she takes the opportunity to learn their secrets. she even makes an alliance with the god of war, though he has been commanded to attack tianxia. liyen will do whatever it takes to save her people, though, even as doing so gets harder by the minute.

i loved sue lynn tan’s celestial kingdom duology, so i was very excited to read more from her! this had the same beautiful writing as those books, which really swept me away. i loved the fantasy aspect, which involved the aforementioned immortals and all the fantasy politics that brought. even more than that, i loved the romance aspect between liyen and zhangwei (the god of war)! they really took me on an emotional roller coaster.

narration: natalie naudus did a wonderful job narrating this audiobook! she’s one of my favorite narrators, so i was excited when i realized she narrated this. i highly recommend this audiobook!

Sue Lynn Tan weaves an exciting and winding tale through fantastical worlds sprinkling in a little romance along the way. Characters were well thought out and the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole way.

Natalie Naudus' narration is dynamic and captivating as usual.

Immortal was such a wonderful audiobook to listen to, filled with themes of love, self-discovery, family, and friendship.

Liyen is the mortal heir to the throne of Tianxia. She was unfortunately ill and weak throughout her life. When someone poisons Liyen, her grandfather takes the drastic step of defying the immortal Queen by stealing the Divine Pearl Lotus to heal her. His death leads to Liyen's immediate ascension to the throne. She goes to the immortal realm to pledge her loyalty to the immortal Queen; however, Liyen desires change for her people, and if the Queen disagrees, Liyen will be unable to pledge her loyalty.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I loved this book. The entire story progressed into so much more than I anticipated. The story takes place in three separate realms: Tianxia, the immortals' realm, and another. The imagery and world-building were beautiful. I truly felt immersed in each of these worlds alongside Liyen and the God of War. The romance between Liyen and the God of War was well-written. There was so much in this book that was unexpected, from the betrayals to Liyen's self-discovery. There wasn't a single moment I didn't enjoy.

Natalie Naudus fit Liyen's character well. She was the perfect narrator.

I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy romantasy and magical Asian literature.

romantasy • chinese mythology • asian literature • star-crossed lovers • magic • self-discovery

overall this is more of a 2.5 than a 3.

I found this book to be really hard to get through at the begining. I was not a huge fan of MCs character and her whims just seemed baseless. She is irrationally angered at the immortals because her grandfather had a heartattack. I get it, like in a way its tragic but it wasn't murder and they tried to help him. This anger stays with her a long time and while i understand the irrational feelings of a grieving individual this just felt like she was a hater only to make this more 'enemies' to lovers style. The god of war is nice to her most of the time and she is just mad at him to a point.

When he actually gave her a reason so hate him i could get behind it but she folded so quickly. Ultimately i felt like this book was too long and could have had improved pacing. I.e. if they wanted her to fall in love with GoW than he shouldhave trained her before the incident to strengthen their bond instead of after i think it would have done better to building up her affections instead of having 2 falling in love arcs.

the villians also could have had more depth and been involved way sooner allowing more breathing room and interest in their world in the finale.

I just wasn't a fan of the execution and struggled to finish and write this review. Book is not for me i guess.

This book was recieved for free via netgalley - i appreciate the patronage

"We each shone brightest in our own lives, unless we allowed out light to be dimmed. Our differences did not make us weaker; we were strong in our own ways."

Liyen is weak and has been poisoned by those that do not want her to ascend to her grandfather's throne. When they are attacked by the immortals, her grandfather gives her a cure, the very cure that the Immortal queen is attacking them for. Liyen vows vengance, hoping to free her mortal land from the isolation that keeps them from the rest of the mortals. However, as she travels to the immortal realm to try and plead her case, she finds herself drawn to the handsome God of War. There is more to the situation than she understands.

This book felt like it was several books in one, making for one long book with several related plot points throughout. It was long but well written. The scenery felt lush and realistic.

The narration was excellent, immersing the reader right into the story.

The romance was well done and added to the story. There was a lot of slow burn to it.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Audio Adult for the DLC. All opinions are my own

2.5 stars. I loved Daughter of the Moon Goddess and was extremely meh about Heart of the Sun Warrior and Tales of the Celestial Kingdom, so I wasn't sure what to expect from this. I think in the future I will be waiting to hear reviews before diving into more of Tan's work.

A lot of the lower-rated reviews seem to have an issue with the 'insta-love' of this. I will admit I was frustrated by this, but it was explained later, so I give that a pass. However, the main character's internal dialogue is extremely annoying and not helpful to the reader. She had the typical "I hate him but I need to be near him" vibes during the enemies part of the enemies to lovers, but we didn't have any real understanding of why she would feel that way to him. And his behavior was weird, even though it was later explained, during that portion.

This book has a LOT of 'telling' of the plot, and not in the most interesting of ways, so the plot felt convoluted and random. We start with the main character being poisoned and it's something that is very important to the plot... so I didn't understand why we weren't given the poisoning more explicitly? I initially thought the main character had a chronic illness because it was unclear. I was unsure what the different types of creatures (?) were, and the explanation was never really given. There was a back history/politics between these creatures (mortals, immortals, and wuxin... creatures feels like the wrong word but I don't knwo what the proper one would be) that was very much told in a non-interesting way. The plot could have been handled much better than it was.

Finally, the pacing was off. Part one and two were significantly slower paced than part three. Some have argued that the first half drags on and the second half races through - my issue is more that the pacing just doesn't match up. Nothing happens and then EVERYTHING HAPPENS. Let's just make it more evenly paced throughout?

Natalie Naudus can do no wrong, and she does this book as good as it can be done.

Thank you to HarperAudio Adult and Netgalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Picture this: you’re poisoned, your kingdom’s in trouble, and the literal God of War is on your doorstep—both a threat and, annoyingly, an extremely attractive one. Welcome to Liyen’s life. I, for one, would have curled up in a ball at "poisoned," but Liyen? Oh no, she’s out here plotting alliances, resisting forbidden romance, and taking on immortals like it’s just another Tuesday.

Sue Lynn Tan has crafted a world so lush and immersive. The stakes are sky-high: betrayals, secrets, ancient grudges, and the looming threat of everything collapsing if Liyen doesn’t keep her wits about her. Which she does—mostly. There’s a slow-burn romance with a certain God of War that had me yelling, “Don’t trust him!” one moment and “Okay, but maybe just a little kiss?” the next.

The pacing felt like a dance: sometimes an elegant waltz, other times a chaotic conga line. The first half builds like a storm, with Liyen’s world expanding beautifully (and ominously). By the second half, it’s all high-stakes action and emotionally charged confrontations that had me gripping my book as if my Kindle would betray me.

Liyen is a delight—brave, flawed, and so relatable in her stubborn refusal to catch a break. And the God of War? Let’s just say he’s an infuriating mix of “dangerous enemy” and “ugh, why are you hot?” Their dynamic is tension-filled and swoon city, though I did roll my eyes at how often they avoided saying what they actually felt (classic).

If I had one quibble, it’s that the ending wrapped up a little too quickly. I wanted a touch more resolution, especially after everything Liyen went through. Like, she deserves a long vacation or at least a very fancy tea party.

Overall, Immortal is a romantic fantasy with everything: forbidden magic, political intrigue, broody gods, and a heroine you can’t help but root for.