I could probably write a page on this book. But I'm not going to, because as several voice notes to friends have said. I loved this book. I loved the plot, the world-building, the characters. Liyen and Zhangwei are perfect, I'm going to be thinking about this book for days. I loved the yearning, the tension, the will die for each other, like say less Sue Lynn Tan you write bangers and Immortal is no exception. I love this book, it's the perfect way to start 2025.

I will probably come back and write a more detailed review but there is simply no need, I loved this book.

Thank you HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, HarperVoyager and Sue Lynn Tan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Danger grows in the immortal kingdom which impacts Tianxia. It forces Liyen to face the immortals to help her people. We follow her journey as she tries to seek balance between both realms.

I really enjoyed the worldbuilding, it felt lush and well developed. The plot is intriguing, filled with twists. Liyen is a headstrong character but also very likeable and easy to get attached to. I liked the theme of family and belonging, it was heart-warming to see some of the character development from this. The romance development felt a bit rushed in places but the tension of enemies to lover kept me invested.

Overall, I loved this story, a very enjoyable read. Fans of wuxia would adore this.

<i>Immortal</i> is a standalone romantasy set in the same world as <i>Daughter of the Moon Goddess</I>, which I have not actually read yet. However, I think this novel stands really well on it's own and at no point whilst reading this did I feel like I needed to have read the other series. I was also relieved to have a standalone to read as these are becoming few and far between! The world buidling was beautifully done and one of the strong points of this novel. The author has created such a rich and interesting world and I really need to read more from it!

Having said that, overall this book was just ok. The first section of the book had me hooked. As mentioned, I loved the world building and was really drawn in by the characters - particularly the <i>God of War</i>. The plot was set up really well and I was engrossed up until about a third of the way in and the first major <i>plot twist</i>, which - like all the plot twists in this novel - you can see coming a mile away. After this the pacing just got completely lost. For most of the middle section of the novel, everything moved too slowly, then at the end, there was too much happening all at once. There were characters and basically an entire people introduced towards the end, that I just didn't care about as there was no real development of these characters. It might be because this is a standalone novel, or maybe they could've been introduced earlier, but I just didn't feel connected to them and so the ending fell a bit flat.

I feel disappointed by this book. The writing was gorgeous and the world building incredible and I really loved the beginning. There was so much promise in this novel that it just didn't live up to. It's not that it was bad - more that it could have been amazing. I will definitely be reading the series set in this world though.

Wow! This was brilliant and so much more romantic than I had expected. I’m glad I was able to read this early.

Our FMC is what I would describe as ballsy, she is confident and strong willed, but not arrogant. She is strategic in her dealings with the immortals and her people, I really commend her fierce loyalty throughout, she could’ve wavered during all turmoil she faced but she stuck to her morals.

Also, the god of war… yeah, I’m obsessed. He is so strong but shows a refreshing level of vulnerability and honesty with his interactions with the FMC, I really adored this duo.

I am happily rating this 4.25, it’s magical and adventurous with high stakes and some fantastic romance.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader's copy.

Sue Lynn Tan has long been on my radar, with glowing reviews of her previous works. The upcoming release of Immortal gave me the perfect opportunity to explore her writing and the world of the Celestial Kingdom through a standalone novel. Unfortunately, this book did not live up to the expectations set by the praise.

The story itself is straightforward: a mortal girl falls in love with a god she "hates." While the premise has potential, the characters and plot felt flat. The lack of depth made it hard to invest emotionally or care about the outcome. An example from the first chapters of the novel, there’s an attempt at political intrigue—an assassination plot against a future ruler—but it’s described with such minimal detail that the stakes never feel real. Instead, the plot line fizzles out without resolution and we wonder why it was introduced.

The writing itself contributes to this lack of engagement. The narrator spends much of the time telling rather than showing, such as repeatedly explaining how she "hates" her love interest but feels attracted to him. The most emotionally charged moments of the romance become distant and disconnected.

Repetition is another issue. The same points are reiterated unnecessarily, breaking the flow of the story when the reader is already aware of the information and ready to move on.

That said, Tan’s writing is clear and easy to follow, which kept me reading despite the issues. The novel did not left me lost and I found it engaging enough to finish. While Immortal didn’t impress, I’m still curious if this is a mishap in her body of work. I am still curious to see if Daughter of the Moon Goddess proves to be a stronger entry into her world.

This is my second book by this author, and I actually prefer this one because the character development and writing style are better. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

DNF 41%

To start the year with a DNF is something I did not want to do, but I cannot hold out any longer.

While I really did enjoy the Daughter of the Moon Goddess, I find that all the aspects I like about that book are lacking from this one. I don't like the characters, I don't like the worldbuilding, I don't like the plot. Liyen, the MC, has just the most inane internal monologue (again proving why I just find 95% of first person books god awful). She is constantly talking about how she should hate him but doesn't, how she shouldn't say these things she doesn't mean and how she regrets them 5 secs later. The God of War isn't any better. After the twist I held out for, he just started using manipulative language that felt real sus. All these "How could you?!"'s, when the call is coming from inside the building.

In addition, there is a severe lack of sustentative plot and worldbuilding, which it desperately needs to ground these characters in something, anything. Without it, the MC just gives blank-state video game protagonist designed for the reader to project themselves onto. What are those of us who read like they are watching a movie (not as the character but watching the characters) supposed to do?

If this book took itself less seriously as a romance (pulp, camp, comedic, mass market), I would 100% be able to just sail along happy as a clam but nope.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

“Where you go, I go”

3.5⭐️

I quite enjoyed this one! Although it was very predictable and not anything I felt like I hadn’t read before sadly, which is a shame as I really wanted to LOVE it!

I liked the relationship between Zhangwei (the god of war) and Liyen, as well as the writers take on mortals/immortals and all the nods to Chinese mythology - I think all of which were done well! Just in general, I found the book itself fell a little flat for me, which is a shame as it is a solid romantasy!

It’s my first time reading this author, I do own her duology which I look forward to reading as her writing style is very enjoyable. I feel maybe this one just wasn’t for me, but I am super judgy and picky when it comes to romance and fantasy…I have no clue what I am looking forward really? But I am clearly particular!

Thanks so much as always to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC

Immortal is a standalone fantasy romance set in the same world as the Celestial Kingdom duology. The story follows Liyen who is heir to the Tianxia throne. When her kingdom is facing danger she finds herself working with the God of War Zhangwei to protect her kingdom. There is great character development for Liyen and Zhangwei and I loved the twist in their relationship. I struggled a little bit with the pacing at the beginning of the book but absolutely loved the second half and am so glad I stuck with it.
Overall a beautifully written romantasy that has lots of excellent world building, intrigue and betrayal as well as romance.

This is a wonderful standalone story. Liyen and Zhangwei's story spans realms, Sue Lynn Tan weaves an intricate web. I struggled with the pacing at times but I absolutely loved the characters. This was a fantastic first read of the year.

*ARC review - 4,5 ⭐️*

“Immortal” is a standalone romantic fantasy, set in the same world as “The Celestial Kingdom” series.
The story features new characters and there are no spoilers to the series.
This is the first book from Sue Lynn Tan that I read. From the beginning I was convinced to keep reading by the beautiful descriptions, good writing and the world building.

The main themes and tropes are:
* enemies to lovers
* vengeance
* mythology
* political intrigue
* magic
* legendary creatures
* star crossed
* found family

Liyen is the heir to the Tianxia throne and she needs to make an alliance with Zhangwei, the broody God of War. I liked Liyen from the beginning and she has a great character development during the book. Even if she is young and was not prepared to take over the throne, she fights for her people.
As we only have Liyen’s perspective, the God of War is a mysterious character in the beginning. But he is so protective of her and she feels an attraction from the start. There are so many moments when he makes such sweet declarations.
Still, there is slow burn full with tension, banter and a betrayal that I did not see coming. During the book there were a few twists that surprised me and there is also a lot of action.

Overall I enjoyed reading this book a lot and have many paragraphs highlighted. The book convinced me to finally read the Celestial Kingdom series.

I received an advance reader copy from HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

ALL HAIL OUR QUEEN OF ADULT ROMANTIC FANTASY, SUE LYNN TAN. The rumours are true, readers; she has crafted us another 5-star book straight from the celestial heavens.

I must enter the confession booth and divulge a hideous sin before I start this review. During the first third of this book, I succumbed to the whispers that Sue Lynn’s new book, Immortal, was just a one-dimensional enemies-to-lovers romantasy. To be fair, that is also sort of how it was marketed.

However, by the time I came to the end of Act 1, I humbly repented and reaffirmed and swore my eternal allegiance to Queen Sue Lynn Tan. Immortal had me in an absolute chokehold the entire second and third acts, so much so that by the time we arrived at Act 3, I realized how expertly Act 1 had been crafted to set us up for the real journey we were about to embark on.

At the end of the book, I was a mess of tears and exhilaration. Right now, I'm angry that this book will be kept from the rest of the world for another two months. It is clear to me Queen Sue Lynn will have a long and wealthy reign over adult romantic fantasy (she transcends romantasy, in my opinion) and I am going to outline below exactly why Immortal deserves to be on everyone’s pre-order list if they liked the Daughter of the Moon Goddess.

Liyen, Heir of Tanxia, and Zhangwe God of War

*proceeds to sob hysterically and fancast Dylan Wang and Esther Yu*



Liyen and Zhangwe. Zhangwe and Liyen.

These two had to work for my heart, but once they got it, they held onto it, abused it, and will now be holding a piece of it at ransom for the rest of their immortal souls. Like watching reflections on the water and mistaking them for the real human beings, the first few chapters I was very confused at the dynamic between Liyen and Zhangwe. But Queen Sue Lynn knew exactly what she was doing because as the chapters progressed, I realized that I had misjudged these characters and their relationship. The evolvement of their relationship and how they navigated their conflicting duties was so beautiful to watch unfold. I really appreciated that Liyen and Zhangwe were so different from the Daughter of the Moon Goddess characters and that we were given a proper ending to their story.

Additionally, I adore the fact that all her side characters are morally complex; no one is simply good or bad, not even the main characters themselves. Time was taken to flesh out the complex relationships between all the secondary characters. Therefore, even when the plot twists were revealed, I never felt that previous characterizations were out of place; everything made sense.

Worldbuilding and writing

Lush and evocative world-building is Queen Sue Lynn’s domain, and this book was rife with it. I truly felt immersed in the world she created, and the balance between dialogue and description was perfectly struck. She has such a beautiful mind; I truly want to escape into the divine world she has created, even with all its monsters and villains. Queen Sue Lynn also has an expert ability to write tiny details into the world that we initially think are benign, only for them to become incredibly important in the plot. There are so many details, but it never descends into purple prose. Everything has a purpose.

Plot



I read a lot, but I truly couldn’t’ predict where this book was going. I literally had my hand to my mouth the entire time because I was so shocked throughout the book. I envy anyone who gets to experience this book for the first time, yet my re-reads are going to be incredibly lovely because now I know the plot; there are details and characterisations that are going to hit differently. If you watch C Dramas and K Dramas, the plot points might be more predictable to you. However, the inner thoughts and reflections that Queen Sue Lynn intersperses throughout the text are so unique and complex, you still will feel like you are reading an original story. She can subvert common expectations that come with romantic fantasy with a finesse few authors possess.

This is a plot where you are not sure if it ends on a happy ending until the last chapter. It makes the stakes more tangible and invests your heart into the torturous ordeal in a magnificent way.



Conclusion

I’m excited for the world to read this book and fall in love with Immortal. I can already tell this is going to be one of the best books of 2025, hands down. Queen Sue Lynn has a lot of ideas and stories left within her and is not recycling things from her previous successful duology. That only makes me more excited for the new books and characters we will be introduced to in her Xianxia universe.


Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for providing me early access to Immortal in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

“There is a hole in my heart. I don’t know if it will ever close or if anything will fill it, but I also don’t want it to. I want to miss him, to never forget."


“Was this love? I cast those questions aside, suddenly afraid. To win the God of War’s support was wise; to fall in love with him would ruin me.”

3 stars.
Liyen’s grandfather chooses her life over any obligation to the Immortals (essentially gods) and it kickstarts a tale of betrayals, love and war.
I really wanted to love this but the execution was off. The plot, however, is great; the story is told in three parts, I was more invested in 2 and 3 but part 1 was too fast paced. The scene transitions and time changes were poor. The relationships between the characters were emotionless. I couldn’t care about Liyen at all, she was very temperamental. It’s hard to empathise with a character that you don’t like.
If the first part was more fleshed out so we had a bit more of a back story I feel like this would have been a five star!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the opportunity to read this eARC.

I really enjoyed reading this book, I felt that there was really strong descriptive writing and the world building was immersive and easy to follow and understand. The author created a really enjoyable reading experience with this.

The characters were written strongly as well, and I enjoyed the dynamic between Liyen and the God of War. I think this was written really well and I liked the twists and turns between their relationship.

I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy reading about Chinese mythology as this is a book which is done really well.

This book was my first book by Sue Lynn Tan and it was everything I hoped for!

The world building was beautifully crafted, together with the names and kingdoms in a Chinese mythological inspired world. Despite this book being set in the same world as the author’s previous series, Daughter of the Moon Goddess, IMMORTAL can be read as a standalone, and it is also a standalone novel. I really enjoyed the lush prose in this book, together with the world of Tianxia (which means under heaven in Chinese) as well as the inclusion of the Heavens and Kunlun Mountains (which is an actual place in real life!)

The relationship between Liyen, Lady of Tianxia and the God of War, also known as Lord Zhangwei was electrifying right from the start. It was a slow-burn story with a well-written plot twist about 2/3 into the novel.

Can't wait to read more of Sue Lynn Tan's books.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of IMMORTAL!

Sue Lynn Tan’s Immortal is an enchanting tapestry of myth, magic, and intricate relationships that left me utterly captivated. As a first-time reader of this author, I found myself deeply invested not only in the characters but also in the richly imagined world they inhabit. This book is a masterful blend of lush prose, compelling storytelling, and profound emotional depth, making it an unforgettable journey for fantasy enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
The characters in Immortal are a true highlight, each one multifaceted and imbued with a sense of authenticity. The characters are vivid and relatable and Sue Lynn Tan has a remarkable ability to create protagonists and supporting figures who feel as real as they are extraordinary. Their motivations, struggles, and triumphs resonate deeply, making it impossible not to root for them—or, in some cases, to begrudgingly admire their cunning. Their relationships are intricately woven, layered with tension, loyalty, and moments of heart-wrenching vulnerability. I found myself wholly invested in their journeys, eager to follow their paths and see how their stories intertwined.
The world-building in Immortal is nothing short of spectacular. Sue Lynn Tan constructs a realm steeped in mythology and wonder, brimming with vivid landscapes, intricate cultural nuances, and an atmosphere that feels almost tangible. The lore of the world is seamlessly integrated into the narrative, enhancing the story’s depth without ever overwhelming the reader. Every setting, from celestial courts to shadowy forests, is described with a painterly precision that transports you directly into the heart of the story.
Sue Lynn Tan’s writing is poetic yet accessible, balancing lyrical descriptions with sharp dialogue and gripping action. Her prose has a rhythm that mirrors the ebb and flow of the story, pulling the reader along with ease. The emotional beats hit hard, from moments of joy and triumph to scenes of sorrow and heartbreak. This is a book that lingers in your mind long after you’ve turned the final page.

Immortal is a stunning introduction to Sue Lynn Tan’s work, and I am eager to dive into her backlist to experience more of her storytelling magic. I also look forward to seeing what she creates next, as this book has firmly established her as a must-read author for me.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Harper Voyager, Sue Lynn Tan, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader’s copy of this book. This is an honest review of a novel that has truly enriched my reading experience.

Immortal von Sue Lynn Tan hat mich neugierig gemacht, weil ich Geschichten liebe, die in mythischen Welten spielen und von alten Legenden inspiriert sind. Das Buch basiert auf chinesischer Mythologie, speziell der Geschichte von Chang’e, der Mondgöttin, und das Setting hat mich sofort angesprochen. Die Welt ist wunderschön und detailreich beschrieben – fast wie ein Gemälde, das vor meinen Augen zum Leben erwacht ist.

Trotzdem hatte ich beim Lesen immer wieder das Gefühl, dass etwas fehlt. Die Protagonistin, Xingyin, ist zweifellos mutig und entschlossen, aber ich konnte keine richtige Verbindung zu ihr aufbauen. Ihre Entwicklung war mir oft zu sprunghaft, und einige ihrer Entscheidungen wirkten nicht ganz überzeugend. Es war, als ob sie immer nur von einer epischen Herausforderung zur nächsten sprang, ohne dass ich wirklich spürte, was sie innerlich bewegt.

Auch die Handlung hat mich nicht völlig überzeugt. Es gab spannende Momente, vor allem am Anfang, als Xingyin gezwungen ist, ihre Heimat zu verlassen und sich in der Welt der Unsterblichen zurechtzufinden. Doch nach einer Weile fühlte es sich an, als ob die Geschichte zu viele Elemente aufgreifen wollte – Liebe, Verrat, epische Schlachten – ohne einem davon genug Tiefe zu geben. Die romantischen Verwicklungen haben mich leider auch nicht gepackt. Sie wirkten eher wie eine Pflichtaufgabe, als dass sie wirklich emotional mitreißend waren.

Was ich allerdings wirklich geliebt habe, war der Schreibstil. Sue Lynn Tan hat eine wunderschöne Sprache, die fast poetisch wirkt. Ihre Beschreibungen der Monde, Paläste und himmlischen Landschaften waren absolut beeindruckend. Das Buch hat mich visuell begeistert, auch wenn die Handlung und die Charaktere nicht ganz mithalten konnten.

Alles in allem ist Immortal für mich ein Buch mit viel Potenzial, das aber nicht ganz erfüllt wurde. Es war okay, aber es hat mich nicht so emotional berührt, wie ich es mir gewünscht hätte. Ich würde es Leserinnen und Lesern empfehlen, die asiatische Mythologie lieben und sich vor allem in atmosphärischen Beschreibungen verlieren möchten. Wer allerdings eine tiefgründige Story und komplexe Charaktere sucht, wird hier vielleicht enttäuscht sein.

This book was an emotional rollercoaster. I was laughing, I was crying, I was smiling at some really cute scenes, and then bam – something happened. I could not relax, but there were definitely scenes I didn’t want to leave. There was one part in particular that had me blubbing, and it wasn’t even a sad scene!

It’s a standalone book, set in the same world as the Celestial Kingdom duology, but you don’t need to have read that to enjoy this book. In fact, none of the characters from the original duology are even mentioned, which did make me a little sad because I wanted a cameo or two, but I can also understand why it didn’t happen. It’s much faster paced than Daughter of the Moon Goddess, which is good because I slipped into this world easily. It gripped me right from the start then continued to hold my attention throughout. The world building was seamlessly blended into the story itself.

This book follows Liyen who became ruler of her people after the immortals attack her kingdom and her grandfather dies. Her kingdom has always served the immortals, but she wants out. She wants her kingdom to be able to rejoin the mortal world again, where they belong. So when she has to go with the God of War to the pledge her fealty to the Queen of the Golden Desert, she decides to do a little investigating, to try and find a way to break the immortal’s hold. The only problem is, she’s stolen something from the queen, and the queen wants it back. Another added complication is that she is staying in the God of War’s house, and she’s starting to realise everything she thought about him might not be entirely true, and he is annoyingly attractive. There were twists upon twists that I did not see coming. This is an enemies-to-lovers romance, but there is even a twist on this, too. Forget everything you think you know, because you will be wrong, and just enjoy the ride.

If you like sweeping fantasies with an underdog heroine that fights for her people because she knows it’s right, despite what it might cost her, you will love this book. If you liked Daughter of the Moon Goddess but wished it was a little faster paced, pick up this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this e-arc!

Sadly I had to end this book. The FMC was so childish and back and forth in her actions. She’s say something and be so rash with her decisions that I couldn’t get on board with her. I’m sure this is marketed as adult but her choices seemed so child like and she was very melodramatic


She thanked him for her people but she continuously stated that she didn’t think he done well so why say it?

I think dual pov would’ve been better for this book as the mmc wouldn’t been fun to deep dive into!

Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Heart of the Sun Warrior were two of my absolute favourite books of the last few years so I was delighted to get the chance to read and review this newest book from Sue Lynn Tan.

As with her first duology, the world building is beautiful and the way she evokes a sense of place is stunning. Her writing truly does feel magical, it brings you to another place so completely.

I would have maybe preferred slightly more time spent on the developing relationship between Liyen and Zhangwei, the downside of this being a standalone was that their romance felt quite insta-love and I missed the slower and deeper development of previous books. That said, I loved the way the plot developed and their relationship shifted and changed with betrayals and revelations, and that later development made up for the speed that they seemed to fall early on.

All in all another stunning book from this author, I thoroughly enjoyed diving back into this magical world.