3.5⭐️ 1🌶️
- Enemies to lovers
- Slow burn romance
- Touch-her-and-💀
- Found Family

When Liyan inherits the throne of Tianxia from her grandfather, she is determined to break the bonds binding her mortal people in service to Queen Caihong and the rest of the Immortals. She makes an unlikely ally in Zhangwei, God of War, and finds herself increasingly drawn to the Immortal who should be her enemy. But when Liyen’s kingdom faces a dark peril she must uncover secrets in her past, face her destiny, and ultimately risk everything to save her people.

With thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

Immortal is a magical and enchanting stand-alone fantasy. The writing style is immersive and engaging from the start, and the world building is beautiful and evocative.

At first I struggled with the MCs. I felt the chemistry between Liyan and Zhangwei was lacking, Liyan came across as petulant and some bits were just plain puzzling. BUT, give it time! There are many twists and turns in the plot and once all becomes clear it casts the first half of the book in a new light. I definitely enjoyed the second half more.

The story is romantic, and I liked how the relationship between Liyan and Zhangwei evolves. 🌶️ is limited as it is predominantly a closed door romantasy - so that’s either a pro or a con depending on personal preference!

Overall I enjoyed it, the world building is beautiful and steeped in mythology. It was easy to be swept way by Sue Lynn Tan’s writing. After reading Immortal I’m looking forward to reading the Celestial Kingdom at some point in the future!

i wld read sue lynn tan's grocery list if i could honestly.

this was so well written. i loved the world building and the relationship developments but i did get a bit bored the longer the book dragged on i liked it the most in the first 100 pages or so

the main chara, liyen, was amazing. always stood up for herself and fought for what she believed in. love interest, zhangwei, was also likeable i loved him i need a man that wld go thru every world to look for me🤷‍♀️

i honestly didnt expect the reveals and betrayals like i was stunned but it made sense later on. i always enjoy a good well written standalone and this was it!!!

big thank you to netgalley, harpercollins uk, and sue lynn tan for this arc.

4 stars.

as i was reading this book, i wondered at the amount of stars i would give it. i find rating books so difficult sometimes, especially when, as this one, it excelled in certain parts while it lacked in others. so, i just went with my gut and went with four. (though on a different day, i might have gone with less.)

the author certainly has a way with words. she writes beautifully, there is no doubt about that, and i will for sure read her other books (which, i am ashamed to admit, i have not read yet. even though i own the beautiful fairyloot editions, and i should definitely elevate them on my tbr). i also loved this world and its characters. the almost claustrophobic feeling of being in a walled-in city with no escape grasped me as if i were there.

one of the weaker points of this book, to me, was the romance. the dialogue between our fmc and mmc felt forced throughout most of the book, and i just didn't feel it. this should have been a series, so that these characters could have thrived together instead of being thrown at each other. and i *get* that's the whole thing of this book, but it didn't work for me personally. it's the standalone curse, and my love for slowburns, and it's definitely a me-problem, but i can't help but remark on it regardless.

anyways, still a very good book. would i recommend it? absolutely. for its scenery, the writing, the characters. would i read it again? probably not. but i will definitely read the celestial kingdom series.

"To win the God of War's support was wise - to fall in love with him would ruin him"

Oh my, Sue Lynn Tan's books just keep getting better and better. Expect forbidden love, courtly intrigue and a dark and mysterious force about to befall the realm.

Long along Liyen's kingdom pledged to serve the immortals and since then have been cut off from the rest of the world. The alliance with the immortals should safe guard her people, but everything is thrown into the air when her grandfather takes what the immortals queen wants in order to save the life of the his granddaughter. Can Liyen save her people? And will the God of War help her in her quest?

The twists and turns will have you on the edge of your seat. The romance WELL, oh my. Is perfection.