Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC!

"Immortal" by Sue Lynn Tan is a standalone fantasy romance inspired by Chinese mythology. It follows the heartwarming love story of Liyen, a mortal ruler determined to protect her kingdom, and Zhangwei, an Immortal and the God of War. Tension, self-discovery, and compassion characterise this novel, which also features an action-packed plot.

The world-building is the most fascinating aspect of this book. I loved how the author depicted the Celestial Kingdom; her writing style perfectly portrayed this charming and magical realm and how it differed from Liyen's kingdom. An ancient pact binds the two places together, and even though it was convenient for the author, I still can't grasp how the mortals' aid could enforce the immortals' strength. However, there are a lot of choices I couldn't fully understand, and one of them relates to the plot twist.
Still, the atmosphere seeping through the author's prose wasn't enough to capture my attention. The novel was a bit patchy; the events unfolding before our eyes are sometimes devoid of pathos, even when scenes need to be more impactful. And yet, I barely felt involved in Liyen's growth or Zhangwei's suffering. Even though there are many plot twists scattered throughout the novel, I wasn't enthusiastic about my reading.

The romance led me astray. I expected a poignant love story, something that would make me flood with tears at the end. But this romance could be considered as insta-love, and I couldn't be more disappointed since they're far from being enemies. This premise wasn't met at all. Their relationship could be considered a star-crossed love, and I would have appreciated it a lot more if the lack of intensity was so striking. Even when the most crucial revelation was made, the scene sounded flat and emotionless.

Liyen's growth is significant, and I enjoyed reading about her dispassionate love for her grandfather. The author did a great job depicting Liyen's mourning and grief. She's a multifaceted character, changing from weak and self-conscious to confident and merciful.
On the other hand, the God of War didn't quite impress me. He wasn't as deepened as Liyen, and his character suffered a lot from the absence of his point of view, which would have given him a more in-depth insight.

All in all, what didn't convince me was the ending. A lot of information was served up to the reader, shifting the emphasis from the emotional impact they had on Liyen to the narration of her past. Unfortunately, my attention wavered, and I couldn't appreciate the resolution as much as I had hoped to.
I recommend this book if you're searching for an unpretentious romantasy and if you liked Jade Fire Gold and A Crane Among Wolves!

Deeply romantic and endlessly enchanting. A fable like tale that combines elements of whimsical prose, epic mastery of folklore and a sweeping adventure that will leave readers breathless. Filled with dangerous secrets, forbidden magic and passion. A young ruler will do anything in her power to protect her kingdom.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐅𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐕𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐞 𝐋𝐲𝐧𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐧

"Immortal" by Sue Lynn Tan is a captivating blend of myth, magic, and modern-day Singapore. Tan weaves a rich tapestry of folklore and contemporary life, immersing readers in a world where gods walk among us and ancient legends shape present destinies.

The story follows Ji Lin, a talented dancer caught in a web of family secrets and supernatural intrigue. Her journey intertwines with that of Siew Tsin, a mysterious woman trapped in a century-old curse. As their paths converge, Tan masterfully explores themes of identity, sacrifice, and the timeless quest for freedom.

From the very first chapter, I found myself drawn into Tan’s lush prose and intricate worldbuilding. The way she paints Singapore’s vibrant streets while layering in folklore makes the setting feel alive. The characters are deeply nuanced, each carrying emotional weight that lingers beyond the pages. Ji Lin and Siew Tsin’s stories unfold with suspense and poignancy, making it impossible to put the book down.

Beyond the magic and mythology, Immortal resonates on a deeper level—it's a story about heritage, destiny, and the unbreakable threads that connect us to the past. The blend of folklore with contemporary storytelling feels seamless, creating a reading experience that is both enchanting and thought-provoking. Fans of mythic fiction, especially those who love stories rich with atmosphere and heart, will find Immortal a truly rewarding and immersive read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sue Lynn Tan for providing me with an e-ARC of Immortal.

Sue Lynn Tan once again delivers an enchanting world, rich with descriptions that bring the scene to life. Her ability to paint a world with colour, texture and emotion remains as enjoyable as ever. The atmosphere is immersive, drawing the reader in with poetic prose and evocative imagery.

I particularly enjoyed the beginning, where you are still piecing together what is happening. That sense of intrigue and the slow unravelling of the story’s mysteries. However, compared to her other books set in the Celestial Kingdom, the pacing in Immortal felt noticeably different. This was much more hurried, perhaps due to the constraints of being a standalone. While this didn’t detract too much from my overall enjoyment, I did find myself wishing for more room for the story to breathe, especially in the final third.

Immortal remains a beautifully crafted tale, but I personally prefer Daughter of the Moon Goddess and will probably go back to read Heart of the Sun Warrior to complete the duology in the near future.

<i>I received this ARC thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.</i>

This was my 4th book by Sue, and so far there were some ups and downs (yes I'm still salty about my ship not winning the OG duology too lol), I can admit her writings have improved, but she still makes the same mistakes, so I guess there's still a long way ahead of us
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<b>"What use was a gift if it wasn’t treasured?"</b>
Liyen did have a lot of similarities compared to the heroine from the OG series (keep in mind this book is set in the same universe), but some new features have been added, for better or worse. She did give me annoying vibes every time she questioned, well, anything. Starting like a rapunzel story, moving on to beauty and the beast to finish it off as The Last Immortal-like. Which was actually FUN, yay to that. As a person who did read Heart of the Sun Warrior I did know how the things are gonna unravel from the very start, too obvious to miss that, so knowing that this book does feel like genderbent book 3 set after the HOTSW. Which is also okay, because I guess it wouldn't be as interesting if we were as knowledgeable by having the mystery unveiled from day 1, and reusing the same characters over-and-over again would feel boring (tho I was really hoping for the princeling cameo, especially that they did have some business with the celestial imperials to talk through... now I'm really hoping for another spin-off book where my boy finally gets his justice :/)

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<b>"Anything can be broken. The question is whether it can be remade."</b>
What truly annoyed me? The heroine is acting super stupid. You can't go in there? Omg, let's rush there to see why, #YOLO! He's kind to me without any good reason? Ugh, I hate him. Oh no, someone betrayed me, still having legitimate feelings toward me, maybe there's a bigger scheme going on? Nah, it was all for the game.

It was just out of character, because she was described as that super smartass ready to be Daenerys without her dragons putting her male-dominated court to order, but in the same time making the most ridiculous decisions out there. But she wasn't the only one losing brain cells out and about - I really can't understand the whole 'we gotta act cold so she wouldn't realize too soon' it was just <elongation tool> for the story which I hate. The plot was fine, simply like the author's other books, it could've been written a bit better and more reasonable considering all the books fall under the ADULT category, not YA, I would love for the author to expect her readers to a bit smarter at this point, making things more cunning rather than straightforward

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<b>"I will reveal my secrets only once. Will you learn your destiny and claim your fate—or remain in endless ignorance?"</b>
This whole destiny motive was kinda random, like on one hand we were kept in the dark along the heroine, suddenly given the chosen one wild card, in the same time keeping in mind the HOTSW shenanigans so clearly knowing who's the Immortal from the book title, making it into a strange soup of 'I knew that' and 'It doesn't make any sense'.
Idk if my review gives you some 'nah' vibes, but as I said this book was enjoyable, but mostly because I already know Sue Lynn Tan's book formula for her characters, dialogues and plot twists. For me this was much better than whatever stockholm syndrome took place in HOTSW (We don't talk about Bruno), I simply wish with the 4th book in store it would get a bit more innovative writing, age appropriate for both me and the characters.

To sum it up - fun addition to the universe, read it without thinking much and simply enjoy the chivalriness of the God of War, accepting anything Liyen throws at him renouncing any sense to attachment. Solid 4 stars

Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan is a beautifully woven tale that completely swept me away. The world is rich and immersive, the kind of setting that lingers in your mind long after you turn the last page. Tan’s prose is lush and poetic, making even the smallest moments feel magical. The characters are layered and compelling, with relationships that tug at the heart in unexpected ways. While the story is filled with twists and grand stakes, there’s also an intimacy to it—a quiet emotional depth that makes it all the more powerful. This is the kind of book that leaves you spellbound, the kind you want to savor.

Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan is a breathtaking standalone romantic fantasy that seamlessly blends forbidden magic, political intrigue, and a captivating enemies-to-lovers romance. Set in the same enchanting universe as Daughter of the Moon Goddess, this novel introduces readers to a fresh cast of characters, making it accessible to both new and returning fans.

The story centers on Liyen, a determined young ruler whose ambition and resilience drive her to protect her kingdom at all costs. Her path crosses with Zhangwei, the formidable God of War, leading to a partnership fraught with tension and undeniable chemistry. Their dynamic relationship evolves amidst a backdrop of dangerous secrets and looming threats, keeping readers engaged from start to finish.

Sue Lynn Tan's lyrical prose and rich world-building transport readers into a realm teeming with vivid imagery and intricate details. The plot is expertly woven with unexpected twists and heart-wrenching stakes, ensuring an emotional and immersive reading experience. Themes of ambition, self-discovery, and the complexities of love are explored with depth and nuance, resonating long after the final page.

Immortal is a must-read for enthusiasts of epic fantasy and romance. Its compelling characters, intricate plot, and lush setting solidify Sue Lynn Tan's reputation as a masterful storyteller.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc. ♡

Surely there’s a novella with Zhangwei’s pov right? Right?????

What do you call it when you want to reread a book immediately after reading the last sentence? Sue Lynn Tan is the perfect sweet spot for me when it comes to romantic fantasy. Not only does she write my type of romance but she also excels at fantastical world building and political intrigue. While this isn't exactly what I would call enemies to lovers it had some elements. I was able very early on guess why Zhangwei developed an immediate interest in Liyen but even so it did nothing to hinder my enjoyment; maybe I read and watch too much fantasy but I was waiting for the confirmation and when I got it I screamed in satisfaction. I will always love the destined for each other no matter what kind of plot. I live and breathe for that kind of yearning and when I finally get Zhangwei’s pov and witness his anguish firsthand I will be satisfied. (Please please PLEASE)
400 pages of his pain I am praying and my fingers are crossed 🙏🏼

Okay there is no way (I think) I can do this without spoilers.
I will keep the beginning as spoiler free as possible and then have it gradually get worse (and don’t worry I’ll put a warning in front again)

So let’s get this show going…unlike the book, which just…didn’t.

All jokes aside, this book had so much potential to be amazing but unfortunately it just fell flat.

We’ll start with the setting:
Amazing beautiful, ethereal I loved it. The concept of the setting was great, the descriptions vivid and engaging I honestly have nothing to complain.

It starts to get a bit worse when we start talking about the plot:
The book was described as „mortal goes to world of immortals to bargain for her kingdoms safety and freedom and needs to ally with the god she should fear and mistrust the most“
The concept again? Brilliant. The execution? Lacking but not bad.
One of the biggest faults for me was the really weird Pacing. It started of pretty action packed and the god of war’s entrance was *chefs kiss* perfection. And then things slowed down a bit which made sense except they kept slowing down up until almost the end where suddenly things started happening VERY quickly and BAM the end.
We were barely ever in the immortal realm which was a shame and the whole conflict… I wish I could describe it but it just felt like we were MISSING so much of the story! (More about that later too)

Now as for the characters:
I actually quite liked most of them. Chengyin was great and I wish there had been more of him. The Dublin relationship was really well done and their banter was great.
As for our two main characters. What can I say I love a brooding ass and the god if war definitely was brooding.
Meanwhile Liyen had quite the temper which I also enjoyed because often she said things in anger that she didn’t mean and that made for interesting moments.
The banter between these two was also rather entertaining.

However here we come to my biggest issue.
The romance:
It was absolutely 100% insta-love there were no enemies. Not even one sided. Yes Lyien regarded him with some hatred and blamed him for a lot of the things that happened but it was clear from the start she was attracted to him.

And this is where we get spoiler-y (like massive spoiler so please beware):

SPOILER!
I know the whole insta love thing gets explained when it comes out that she is in fact immortal and was his lover, so I get his instant-love and honestly it could have been great. The yearning of someone who’s been looking for her for YEARS desperately wanting to be reunited and then FINALY finding her but naturally she doesn’t recognize him and not being able to tell her urgh it could have caused so much ANGUISH
but we got none of that. We or him lusting after her, being jealous towards anyone and everyone in her vicinity and being downright rude to her whilst also wanting her to trust him 😀. It was painful.
When we finally get fünftens reveal and find out WHY he’s always been in love it also falls flat because of HOW it came out. It was all tell and not show. We get her remembering fragments of her memory and suddenly they’re completely obsessed with each other.
Frankly speaking those little flashbacks? I want THAT story. How they met at the academy and were rivals, the war, the sacrifice from both? Now that sounds like a brilliant story. And maybe if we had gotten that before this book would have worked better (for me at least).
But this way we were just missing so much and then we were just told and it wasn’t the least bit emotional
😭
SPOILER END!


For everyone not wanting the spoiler let me sum it up by saying: It was insta-love which HURTS BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH POTENTIAL!

All in all I did still enjoy this book even though at times it bored me a bit. The world was great and in theory so were the characters. I just feel like it would have really suited being a duology and being the second book.
Also the ending was just wrapped up too quickly and too nearly for my taste. It felt like ultimately there were no real stakes for our main characters.

Also big Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for a review.

gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. sue lynn tan's prose is just. truly superior to her current romantasy counterparts. i have a feeling she'd be the biggest in the genre if she wrote about white people

𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Immortal
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Sue Lynn Tan
𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁 + 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁: Ebook, 457 pages by HarperVoyager

💌 First of all, I would like to thank @NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ebook in exchange for a honest review. I requested this ebook on NetGalley because I loved Sue Lynn Tan’s The Celestial Kingdom duology and wanted to read more books that she wrote.

📖 Immortal is a young adult romantasy standalone inspired by Chinese mythology in which we follow Liyen as she ascends the throne of her kingdom of Tianxia and is summoned to the Immortal Realm to end her kingdom’s obligations to the immortals.

🌺 I wanted to love this book so, so much. But sadly, this book was not a five-star for me, because of one main reason, being the reading experience.
There is something wrong going on between NetGalley, some publishers, and the download onto the e-reader, which results in some paragraphs being repeated twice, a horrible formatting that cuts sentences in two without any reason, and let’s not talk about the fact that there is no separation between the chapters. All of that made for a bad reading experience where I was not really focused through the reading, and although reading on the NetGalley Shelf app is possible, the file is a PDF and I would have to zoom onto every page to read with an okay-size font.
But I went to Hell and back to read this book until the very last page, so let’s get onto the review and let me tell you what I think, independently of the formatting problem.
The world building was on point (this book is set in the same world as in the Celestial Kingdom, but fear not, you can read it without having to read that duology first as there are no spoilers), and the plot was enjoyable and full of plot twists that I had not seen coming. I struggled to get past the 50% point, but after that, I think I read it in one go because I was hooked and could not put it down. It is quite heavy on politics, which I did not like, but that is just personal preference.
The romance between Liyen and the God of War was very nice, did not feel forced at all, and I was definitely here for the banter! I would have known to learn more about some side characters like Chengyin.
Also, I love this cover soooo much!

SLT demonstrates her skilled world-building and lyrical writing style again in an enjoyable fantasy tale. Whilst I wasn't completely hooked by the plot I nonetheless enjoyed the story and am looking forward to her next book

Thank you for the eARC of Immortal

I absolutely love Sue Lynn Tan's writing, no matter what book it is it always draws you in and it is done beautifully. I loved reading Immortal. The characters are created with such a realism and you form a connection to them. They develop well throughout the storyline and the battles they faced. I really loved the direction this novel went in, I was immersed into the story and world building straight away. From start to finish I thoroughly enjoyed reading Immortal.

As a Cdrama lover, I kind of knew what the vibe of this book would be as I started it. I love premises where there’s a curse, the string of fate, lost memories etc. I really enjoyed this! The world building and premise was interesting enough that I plan to read the author’s other books. Sometimes the FMC was a bit annoying, like she would constantly ready for a fight like relax girl! Her romantic interest, the God of War was kind of weird for the first act of the book. He was just weirdly instantly attracted to and attached to Liyen. Between his instant pining and her aggressive counterattack, I didn’t know where I was going. I would almost have preferred this as just a fantasy without the romance because it felt a bit forced.
I’m not sure if it’s because I was able to pick up on the hints sprinkled throughout or because I’ve seen a lot of C-dramas, but I was able to predict the plot twist. I’m going to rate this four stars because of the reasons above.

I would recommend this book to someone looking for a fantasy filled with immortals, magic, and some love. The fact that this is a standalone is one of the reasons I like this story.

This is exactly what I look for in a romantasy - great world building, beautifully written characters, and a strong romantic plotline! The romance was so well done, with incredible chemistry between the main characters. The story was brimming with tension and yearning, keeping me hooked from start to finish!

I want to say I need more, but at the same time, I’m thrilled that this is a standalone (more standalones, please!). That ending was everything I wanted and more! I can’t wait to see what’s next from Sue Lynn Tan! After this book, I’m afraid she’s earned a permanent spot on my auto buy author list!

<b>Poorly written, no pacing, felt like the novelisation of a cheap xianxia C-Drama</b>

*Received an ARC via NetGalley in return for an honest review*

Considering this came from the same author as the 'Daughter of the Moon Goddess' which was actually fairly enjoyable to read, it is shocking that a piece of such low quality was able to make it to print. This work has never heard of the word pacing.

Despite being marketed as able to be read alone, it did no legwork to explain ANY worldbuilding, and relied heavily on not only the previous works by the author but also the blind acceptance of the reader to ignore a glaring lack of information or development for the world.

The entire citing incident happens over the course of perhaps an hour, and yet even after seeing her grandfather die the FMC seems to have very little emotional connection and is dark bantering with one of the Celestials she believes to be responsible all of six pages later. Talking of the FMC, she has literally no personality. Nothing. She instantly switches between a timid young woman knowingly breaking laws because her grandfather asked her to, to a snappy queen who can see behind her ministers actions immediately. And there is no scenes in between this where we see the change. It just happens. And it is never further explained. She is rude and grumpy with people she got along with mere pages ago only because she is now a ruler and has power, except it's passed off without explanation.

The romance is poor and insta-lovey, and takes no strain upon itself to try and bolster the weak characters development at all.

So very disappointing from an already established author.

Thank you for the ARC of Immortal.

Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this book despite hearing great things from others. It did start promisingly, but after getting to 40% I let myself give up.

Everyone felt very childish - including the immortal gods, and particularly the new queen. I’m still not sure if this was a YA book or not.

I also found that the enemies to lovers was much more like a love at first sight, but with no real chemistry, and no real heat in the supposed hatred held for the immortals. I’m not interested enough in finding out what happens to persevere unfortunately.

DNF at 50%

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

I truly cannot fathom how this book has such good reviews, it's the most generic enemies to lovers fantasy novel I've read. From the unlikeable FMC, who flips between 'I refuse to like him' to 'I long for him' in a single breath, to the shallow insta-love that appears from nowhere, this book is so tremendously bland. The pacing is all over the place, the side characters are one-dimensional and the dialogue is boring and repetitive. The only genuine emotion this book roused in me was a desire for it to end. I usually make an effort to finish arcs to give them a comprehensive review but since I found myself skimming 80% of this drivel, it was time to give it up.

The only positive I can glean from this is that the book itself (both the fairyloot and UK cover) is absolutely beautiful. Now I need to decide if it's pretty enough to be a trophy book or if the space on my shelf should go to a better book.

I’m such a huge fan of Sue Lynn Tan’s writing so I suspected this would be a five star read going in and I’m so glad I was right. Her prose is lyrical, the court intrigue and world building engaging, and I loved the fact we got to explore more of the Celestial Kingdom’s map. I particularly enjoyed Chengyin’s witty charm, and thought Liyen and Zhengwei’s chemistry was brilliantly done - especially towards the end, had me smiling at the page! I’m almost sad that this was a stand alone (and wouldn’t say no to a Chengyin spin off!)

A massive thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the e-ARC.

Another beautifully written novel from Sue Lynn Tan! It was lovely being back in the Celestial Kingdom world, this time with a standalone, which feels refreshing in a genre filled with series. I thought the characters were incredibly well developed and the imagery and scenery so easy to imagine. The slow burn enemies to lovers romance was just perfect and I would thoroughly recommend.