An absolutely lovely new romantasy “enemies to lovers” standalone by Sue Lynn Tann! It is set in the same world as the Daughter of the Moon Goddess duology, so if you are a fan of that series you will definitely enjoy this too!

To start, I received the audiobook ARC and it was absolutely well done! The narrator did a good job and it was easy to listen to and follow along. It was easy to discern which characters were speaking and follow the thoughts and mindsets of the MCs. I also like listening to audiobooks at 2x speed but it is sometimes hard with fantasy series but I am glad to report that I didn’t have any issues. If the plot gets a bit complicated or it is hard to follow the dialogue I usually lower my speed to 1.5x but I didn’t have to do that with this book.

As for the book itself, Sue Lynn Tan is a master of crafting the most beautiful settings and scenes. Immortal is everything I was expecting as a fan of the DOTMG series. This spin-off is executed well and you can absolutely also enjoy this book without having read Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Heart of the Sun Warrior. You are immersed in the story from the start and the plot moves along pretty fast. Following along the story of Liyen and the God of War was a journey! Lots of ups and downs, and some big surprises!

I love standalone books to get a break from the often long fantasy series (that are often unfinished 😥) and I am so glad this one didn’t disappoint! I will definitely be recommending this to all my romantasy fans!

Thank you to HarperAudio for an ARC of the audiobook via Netgalley!

This book (and anything Sue Lynn Tan writes) is practically perfect. It’s magical and engaging, and the writing is gorgeous. I can’t recommend it enough.

sue lynn tan knocked it out of the park with this. it was incredible! I love the world that she created. my only complaint is that it was a touch to slow paced in beginning.

*Thank you to NetGalley for an Audio ARC*

This was a beautiful story truly! I feel that I didn't connect to the characters the way one would if they were all consumed. I enjoyed this story following along learning about the world, Gods and the wars that were being fought.

The downfall was that I couldn't connect to the FMC and felt this was too juvenile for what I enjoy reading and I also felt like the characters were a little too insta-lovey

This book would be excellent for someone who loves YA Fantasy Romance that has a lot of Asian Mythology woven in. It was a beautiful world!

Such a good book! I think I enjoyed this one even more than the Daughter of the Moon Goddess. It did get a little confusing towards the end with the similar names, especially on the audio, and new characters being added, but overall, great book!

I unfortunately didn't like Immortal as much as I wanted to.

I appreciated a lot of aspects about this world, but I think I'd have enjoyed it more had I read Daughter of the Moon Goddess first. I enjoyed the magic system and parts of Zhangwei and the God of War's relationship, but parts felt too easy or rushed. Knowing the twist, it makes more sense but without knowing that it makes the story a bit less believable.

I definitely enjoyed the writing style and will be picking up from Sue Lynn Tan in the future.

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5
Narrator: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5 (Natalie Naudus)
Length: 14h26mins

Sue Lynn Tan’s Immortal takes place in the same world as Daughter of the Moon Goddess, it has completely new characters and can be read first. It is a standalone romantasy following Liyen, heir to Tianxia and Zhangwei, God of War. It is inspired by some of the elements found in Chinese mythology. As per all her book, love is the main theme.

* Self Discovery
* Family & Friend Bonds
* Vengeance
* Enemies To Lovers
* Touch Her & Die
* Slow Burn
* Forced Proximity

This was another beautifully written book. With strong plot that is completely immersive. Plot twists and not knowing how the ending will go. Amazing world and character building. I throughly enjoyed the pacing of the book. Just the right amount of tension and banter.

Zhangwei's character and Liyen's characters are strong and determined. Both have many layers to them. Watching the slow burn, enemies to lovers romance enfold, was perfect. I don’t want to give anything away but it was perfectly executed.

I highly recommend this book if you’re a fan of all her other books. She did another incredible job. This is a perfect standalone if you love adventure, swoon worthy character love story, thoughtfully written story, and just the right of emotional depth.

I was given an ALC and the audiobook was great. The narrator, Natalie Naudus, did another incredible job excellent job. Her tone and pacing was on point and helped to bring the story alive.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Audio for the chance to experience this beautiful novel.

Big thanks to @harperaudio and @netgalley for the arc copy

Immortal
By Sue Lynn Tan (@suelynntan)
Release Date: January 7, 2025
Narrator: Natalie Naudus

The world-building was somewhat hard to grasp as it was slow and felt info-dumping, and the romance had that instant-love feel. But as I loved Sue Lynn Tan's other books I kept listening

The political intrigue was engaging, and the twists truly took me by surprise! Which was pleasant because I can usually predict twists. Liyen was a strong protagonist, and I loved watching her rise to the challenges and the power that was unexpectedly placed on her shoulders.

I also appreciated how accessible the story was, especially for a fantasy, which can sometimes feel dense or difficult to follow, especially on audio. The author wrapped everything up in a way that left me satisfied but also gave me the freedom to imagine what comes next.

So I gave this read a 3.5

Thank you @harperaudio and @netgalley for the gifted copy!

Immortal
Sue Lynn Tan @suelynntan
Publishing Date: January 7, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

🎧 Narrator: Natalie Naudus 🎧

What a great standalone fantasy novel this was! Thank you to my friend and buddy reader @katycherry.reads for putting this one on my radar!

I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this one for the first third of the book, as the world building was put in place somewhat slowly, and the romance started to feel a bit insta-love. However, the author quickly put me in my place as things all started coming together in the most perfect of ways.

The writing was beautiful, the banter (in not only the romantic relationship, but all of them) was so good, the world building was vivid and well developed, the politics were intriguing, and the twists definitely caught me by surprise! Liyen was a great FMC and I loved watching her quickly rise to the occasion and situation of power that was thrust on her. Her and Zhangwei had such great chemistry and were a great couple to start 2025 with.

I loved how easy to follow this was, as fantasy can at times be dense and confusing for me, especially on audio alone. The author did a great job of wrapping things up in such a way that leaves you feeling fulfilled but also leaves room for your imagination to continue the story for yourself.

“𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴. 𝘐𝘧 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘈 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥.”

🎧 Natalie Naudus was fantastic in her narration for this one! I had this one exclusively on audio and have no regrets!

As a big fan of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, I was excited to dive into another beautiful work by Sue Lynn Tan and this did not disappoint! Tan always writes with such lush and vivid clarity, creating a beautiful and captivating world. I loved how solid and real this book felt, everything read as so well thought out that I could picture myself in the world right next to the characters.

The character relationships really had my heart, and Liyen was an amazing woman to follow on her journey to self assuredness and strength. As with Daughter of the Moon Goddess I found the pacing a bit quick, but I don't think it ever detracted from the story and still allowed natural progression of the romance.

Beautiful and breathtaking writing as always, Tan has a life long fan in me!

Natalie Naudus also shines in her narration, her voice was perfect in bringing this story to life and I truly felt that she breathed life into Liyen. She never misses, I always look forward to seeing her named as narrator!

Not for me personally but I can see this being a favorite for many fans of Sue Lynn Tan. I enjoyed the plot but felt there were a few big holes that needed more

I read a lot of fantasy and can often predict plot twists from a mile away, but Sue Lynn Tan managed to surprise me with Immortal. Some key moments caught me completely off guard, which is a rare and delightful experience for me. The rich world-building that I loved in Daughter of the Moon Goddess is also beautifully present here. While Immortal is a standalone story, it feels like a seamless extension of the world introduced in the Celestial Kingdom duology.
Sue Lynn Tan’s writing is simply exquisite. Her whimsical prose is what draws me in most, and the complexity of her characters adds so much depth. No one feels one-dimensional. Zhangwei and Liyen’s romance is truly swoon-worthy, delivering classic enemies-to-lovers vibes that feels genuine. While the romance is central to the story, what stood out to me most was Liyen’s love and unwavering dedication to her people—even when her court didn’t grant her the respect she deserved.
Just like Daughter of the Moon Goddess, this book hooks you from the very first page with action-packed scenes and keeps you engaged through a fast-paced, page-turning journey. I received my advanced copy on Friday and finished it by Sunday,I simply couldn’t put it down! Sue Lynn Tan has officially become an auto-buy author for me. And can we talk about that stunning cover? I’m hoping to add a signed copy to my bookshelf.
I was fortunate to receive both an ARC and an ALC, which allowed me to alternate between reading and listening. Natalie Naudus returned as the narrator for this book, and her tone and inflection for both Liyen and Zhangwei were absolutely perfect. Having the audiobook alongside the eBook was especially helpful for learning the correct pronunciation of the characters' names. I highly recommend the audio format, even if you typically prefer other mediums.
My sincerest thanks to NetGalley, Harper Voyager, and HarperAudio for the ACR and ACL for this masterpiece in exchange for my honest review.
#Immortal #NetGalley
@HarperVoyagerUS and @SueLynnTan

I found Immortal to be atmospheric and quite entertaining. However, I ultimately gave it three stars due to some pacing issues and the lack of depth in the characters. While the story had potential, the slower moments dragged, and I didn't feel as connected to the characters as I would have liked. With a tighter pace and more character development, this could have been a truly immersive experience.

The narrator was wonderful. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the chance to read this ARC for my honest review.

3.5 stars
This one didn't capture my attention as much as the Daughter of the Moon Goddess for some reason. I still liked it, but not as much as that series.
Like Daughter of the Moon Goddess, there was A LOT that happened in this book, it almost felt like several books! There were a lot of characters and it was hard to distinguish between some of them because I listened to the audiobooks and the names sounded similar and since I wasn't looking at them, they just kind of blended into one.
The story and writing were very atmospheric. Sue Lynn Tan really does this well. I always feel transported into the world of the book.
The audiobook narrator was really great. She enhanced that great atmosphere in the writing and brought it to life!

Immortal is a sweeping and beautiful romantasy taking place is the same world established in Sue Lynn Tan’s previous series, The Celestial Kingdom. I haven’t read any of her other work so this world was new to me. Thankfully Immortal is a standalone and Tan is a wonderful world builder. The book centers on Liyen, her personal struggles, and her relationship with Zhangwei. This is very much a slow burn romance and completely closed door, but the relationship is lovingly written. I shifted between the audio and print versions and found them both lovely. Natalie Naudus is an amazing narrator so if you prefer audio you’ll be very happy with her. While I was entertained the entire time and found Tan’s writing engaging, I wasn’t blown away by Immortal. Some moments felt a bit stiff, I didn’t warm much to Liyen as the MC, and the ultimate climax of the story felt a little rushed. But I do think if you are a fan of fantasy then you’ll really enjoy this and it would be very worth your time. .

Although this audiobook was not for me, there are a few positive things I would like to note. Natalie Naudus is a wonderful narrator, and I always enjoy listening to her. She is talented and conveys emotion very well. I tend to lean towards fantasy stories in the first person, so that helped me get into the book more easily at the beginning. The plot is an interesting concept. The visuals were also vibrant, so I did enjoy how they painted the picture of a beautiful world for me to imagine.

Unfortunately, I have more critical notes that I will list out below. I would have DNF'd this audiobook if I did not receive it as an ARC generously provided by the publisher.

Pacing:
The beginning of the book felt slow. I got the idea that the intention was to set up the world and draw the reader to Liyen, but I did not find myself invested in her story or liking her character. It also failed to set up the stakes or show me what the journey might look like for her. Later on in the book, I continued to struggle with the pacing. Characters would encounter a problem or decide to do something, then it would just be resolved easily and they would move on. There wasn't much delayed gratification that kept me wanting to see what would happen next. High stakes scenes were happening in rapid succession at the end of the book, and each scene felt like it should be a culmination or final showdown, but then more and more of them kept happening, which made me lose interest.

Characters and relationship development:
I found Liyen to be immature and lacking complexity. I'm not sure if her indignant attitude was intentional, but it did not draw me to her. When it came to the leadership of her people and her relationship with the immortals, she seemed to be ruled by emotion and spite. Her relationship with Zhangwei (even after the plot twist) felt very surface-level and perplexing to me. I could not see what drew them to one another, which made their bold claims of devotion feel inauthentic. Her initial disdain for the God of War felt very heavy-handed and overstated. The conversations between Zhangwei and Liyen felt like they were supposed to come across as witty banter, but for me it was just bickering that did not add to their story and made their relationship development take steps backward. About three quarters of the way through the book I felt like finally I cared about the characters slightly more, but not enough to make it an enjoyable read for me.

The Writing
I was surprised to learn that this was not the author's debut novel. The writing overall felt very plain to me and lacked nuance to the level that I believe it may be better suited for a juvenile level reader (minus the more adult themes). The narrator repeatedly was stating direct pointsith points that could have been woven into the exposition more naturally, allowing me as the reader to engage my thinking and draw guided conclusions. The dialogue between characters also seemed to be an attempt at world-building or cluing the reader into the motivations of characters, and that felt unnatural and cumbersome to me.

I also really struggled with the wide fluctuations in volume in the second half of the audiobook. I was continually adjusting my speaker volume to compensate.

Despite this book not being a good fit for me, I can see some appeal that I believe many readers will enjoy. I think it may be a good fit for new adult readers who enjoy “romantasy”, so I will likely still recommend it to certain library patrons.

Thank you again to HarperAudio Adult for the Audio ARC.

This book was absolutely beautiful! This is written in a way that makes it so easy to picture everything and this world is easily one of my favorites! The concept of immortals has been done many times but what I love shoot this particular interpretation is how well the dynamic/ power struggle between mortals and immortal is done. The way these relationships formed between those in power and those they rule over felt very realistic instead of choosing one emotion they felt a wide range towards the dynamic in place and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them manage everything.
As for the romantic relationship I enjoyed towards the end and I’ve always loved this type of trope, however in the beginning of their relationship it all felt rather rushed even knowing what I know of the end. The characters in the beginning felt rather juvenile for a little bit and the mood swings were off the charts. They eventually got to a place where everything felt more natural and I always loved them together (especially around like 80%). Sue Lynn Tan is definitely an auto-buy author and with writing like this is no wonder why.

Sue Lynn Tan knows fantasy! I was immediately pulled into the story. Natalie Naudus breathes life into the characters as the narrator. I enjoyed the pace of the story! The world building didn't feel tedious and I found myself immersed in the romance. The plot was equally engaging; filled with strength, adventure, and the unexpected.

4.5*

I will follow you to the ends of the earth. This book is stunning. I the writing is beautiful. I have not read any other novels by SLT, but am infinitely more intrigued and will be adding daughter of the moon goddess to my TBR. The twist in this book took me by surprise, I went in knowing nothing and not having read daughter of the moon goddess, I was very pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the romance in this book, I feel like there was enough tension and it was not an instalove (which can be much harder in a standalone). The ending didnt feel rushed, but it did feel slightly over dramatic and soapy at moments. Overall I really enjoyed this and was a great way to start off the 2025 reading year! :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

New ARC Audiobook! Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan, narrated by Natalie Naudus. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars. First, a review of the book: I loved the first half of this book, with its lush Chinese-mythology-inspired fantasy world, passionate banter between the two leads, and interesting cast of secondary characters and villains. However, the second half was a bit difficult for me--there was a huge betrayal that never felt redeemed imo, and there was a reveal that felt unearned and led to there being a large amount of ill-fitting, late exposition to try to explain the reveal and its consequences. Second, a review of the audiobook: overall, Naudus did a great job with a large cast of characters and making a lot of descriptions of the worldbuilding interesting. However (and this isn't a critique of Naudus--I love her work and am super excited for her debut novel later this year), her interpretation of the FML made her even more stubborn and antagonistic, and that was already a difficult part of her character. Overall, loved the beginning of this audiobook, but wasn't the hugest fan of the end!