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.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the arc!

🌟✨/5

Sue Lynn Tan made quite the splash in the fantasy genre with her phenomenal debut, Daughter of the Moon Goddess. It was hard to not fall in love with the lush worldbuilding and the high-stakes, fast paced plot, both held together by Tan's gorgeous prose. I was thrilled when another book set in the same world as the Celestial Kingdoms duology was announced. Unfortunately, this was a huge letdown.

The characterization in this book was truly awful. Liyen and Zhangwei are some of the flattest, most forgettable MCs I've ever come across. Reading from Liyen's perspective was an agonizing experience. She's adept at making horrible decisions. She's also pretty much useless. Zhangwei is your typical romantasy love interest....tall and brooding, has a fearsome reputation but is actually a nice person (Shocker, I know😱). He's the kind that makes the entire booktok community swoon and makes me want to bang my head on a wall. The 'romance' is, as is the case with most romantasy books, insta-lust masquerading as love. Reading things like 'Who did this to you?' and 'Touch her and you'll die' is even more infuriating than usual if the MCs have no chemistry. The dialogue was unnatural and awkward. The plot twist made the romance plotline so much worse. It also ended up introducing plot points that led nowhere.

The plot itself is very weak. 'Immortal' brings nothing new and exciting to the table and reads like a stereotypical fantasy novel. The worldbuilding in Tan's debut was its biggest strengths. Here, it serves as nothing more than a prop and doesn't have the same immersive feel to it. The stakes were non-existent. Liyen does nothing herself, everything is handed to her. Whatever little conflict there is, it is resolved within moments. Since we had a ruler MC, I was expecting more political intrigue but got none. Overall, the novel felt half baked and poorly put together. It felt like the author wanted to do too many things at once but ended up butchering all of them. The climax was poorly executed as well.

While I'll check out whatever SLT writes in the future, I do not recommend this book. I got nothing new from it and ended up wasting my time.

Utterly charming. Such an enchanting read.

This story follows a young mortal heir, Liyen, who has big dreams; for her people to be free of the Gods.
The Gods demand devotion in return for protection but also punish the mortals with bad weather and illness if they are unhappy.
Unexpected circumstances means Liyen needs the help of the insufferable God of War, Zhangwei…. The only problem. The God of War awakens something inside Liyen that threatens to set everything ablaze.

I could not put this book down. This is my first read by Sue Lynn Tan and she did not disappoint.
I loved the world building. I loved the characters and how beautifully it was woven together. I laughed and I cringed hard with the characters.
My only negative is I wish it was longer! I would have happily had it end on a cliffhanger and then read another book in this enchanting world.

Thank you NetGalley and Sue Lynn Tan for sending me the E arc of this beautiful story.
I cannot wait to get my hands on the hardcover on release day !

4.25 ⭐️

Once again, Sue Lynn Tan reigns supreme when it comes to building a beautiful world in which to set her story. We cross into different kingdoms, and each one has time taken to set up the details that separate them.

I fell for the love interest before the end of part one. The romance moves fairly quickly, but I had a hunch that proved almost correct that provided a reason for this. I do wish we got to see more of them forging their connection. It was a tad disjointed for me and felt a little insta-love.

Plot wise, I spent part one thinking the romance and Liyen's plot to free her kingdom was going to be the majority of the plot, and honestly, i wouldn't have minded it. Then the twists started to hit, and it was the first time in a long time that I was too excited to put a book down.

The other part of the plot revolves around the resurgence of a war and the character of our cast. How far will they go for revenge? For power? For love? This aspect took me a little while to get into because it took time from the already established plot points, but I loved the ending. The 20% of the book was very well done, I did get emotional at some points.

Overall, I would say DOTMG was a little more seamless. Hence, it's 5⭐️ rating. But Immortal is just as beautiful, and the plot twists are crazy good. I love the way the author writes, and I'm never disappointed in her world building.

I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan is a captivating fantasy novel that weaves together lush world-building, a heartfelt romance, and an engaging plot. Set in a vibrant world inspired by Chinese mythology, the novel transports readers into a realm where gods, immortals, and mortals coexist, and where destiny and love collide in unexpected ways.

One of the standout features of the book is the world itself. Tan’s writing is rich and immersive, creating a universe that feels both enchanting and dangerous. The mythology is deeply woven into the fabric of the story, and the settings—from celestial realms to more earthly locations—are vivid and atmospheric. It’s the kind of world that draws you in, where the rules of magic and immortality shape the very nature of the characters’ lives.

The romance at the heart of Immortal is beautifully crafted. It’s not just a love story but a journey of self-discovery and personal growth for both protagonists. The chemistry between the leads is undeniable, and their relationship evolves in a way that feels earned, not rushed. There’s a nice balance between romance and the larger plot, and while the romance is certainly a key focus, it never overshadows the broader narrative.

What I appreciated most was how well the book works as a standalone. It ties up its storylines in a satisfying way, offering a complete arc without leaving readers hanging for future installments. While it could have easily turned into a series, Tan opts for a more self-contained narrative, which I think works really well here.

The pacing of the story was generally smooth, though there were moments where the plot felt a bit predictable. That being said, the twists and turns kept me hooked, and the emotional stakes were high enough that it didn’t feel like a traditional, predictable fantasy. I would have liked a bit more depth in some secondary characters, but overall, the main cast is well-developed and compelling.

Immortal is a fantastic choice for fans of fantasy with romantic elements. The world-building is strong, the romance is heartwarming, and the story itself is satisfying. While it didn’t quite blow me away to a 5-star level, it was an incredibly enjoyable read, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a standalone fantasy novel with a dash of romance.

ᨳ᭬ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑࿐ྂ

“His breathing was as rough as mine, my heart pounding as his, my palms against his bared chest— his skin like sun-warmed silk. A headiness consumed me like I was drunk on wine, in a dream I never wanted to awaken from, a divine moment when reality is more wondrous than fantasy. We were so close, so intimate— we were as one.”

It was no surprise that i’m gonna like it so much, i had already read “Daughter and Moon Goddess" and absolutely loved it.

The writing style is pure magic and i can't get enough of it. Everything here was amazing especially the love story.

4.5 ✨

Firstly, what a perfect standalone - finished with everything I needed and more.

This book is inspired by Chinese mythology and is extremely easy to follow (like all of all of the authors other books her writing style is fluent and clear).

The god of war? New book boyfriend.

FMC with realistic development and weaknesses? Check.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read and I think this may be my favourite of hers so far!

This story started out fast-paced and dove straight into action, which had me hooked. I really enjoyed it to start with, but further along I started to feel like the pacing was a bit slow and the plot a little predictable. Zhangwei and Liyen's interactions felt a bit forced, and whilst the seemingly strange dynamic of how Zhangwei appeared instantly attracted to Liyen whereas she hated him was explained later on in the book, overall I felt the plot was a bit flat. Nonetheless, the writing was still very beautiful, just like in DOTMG. The author definitely has a magical way with her words! Thank you so much to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the ARC.

Immortal was my first asian-inspired romantasy.
I enjoyed following Liyen, our human FMC, freshly appointed ruler of her kingdom, and the God of War, directly coming from above. She is committed to her people but needs to learn everything, he is the greatest warrior of his Queen. It seems they have an ennemy in common, the Wuxin, but not everything is as it seems...
This is a story about love, and the tension between them was great, edging on betrayal at some point. This is a story about secrets, forbidden magic, doubts.
If you fancy descriptions, you will like this book, as it is very contemplative : I was completely immerged in this world, with jade temples, ponds with lotus, blooming trees!

Like many others, I was super excited to see another book taking us to the Celestial Kingdom that Tan created. I think I felt almost entirely opposite to some reviewers who fell on the later half of the book.

For me, I started it and thought 'Oh Liyen is going to fall in love with the God of War and blah blah blah'. I thought I could see the whole plot working out, especially when Liyen goes to the Immortal Realm. I was very smug thinking I'd had the whole story sussed out. But Tan's written a book that throws a lot of your expectations out the window.

I thought we'd had Liyen learning to overcome her hate of the gods, which we kind of did but not how you'd expect. This sudden super attraction between the Liyen and the God of War I saw as being one of those unrealistic, happens in two days and can't fight the attraction, coupled with 'There was only one safe place to take her'. I was pleasantly surprised when this was not at all the case. And it made for a captivating read as a result.

As her third full book, and fourth set in this kingdom, Sue Lynn Tan is making a very solid name for herself in her ability to craft a colourful, rich and, most importantly, magical reads. Finishing Immortal has me yet again waiting with excitement for what we'll see from her next!

Immortal was one of my anticipated reads for 2025, because I loved the Celestial Kingdom duology a lot ... but I had to DNF this one at 40%.

I knew that Immortal was a romance fantasy story, but I was still taken aback by how much of the story focused and happened because of the romance plot. Even when there's a kingdom at stake, the enmity and arguments were personal and made for the romance plot. I honestly expected more weight in the characters and fantasy aspect. I think (I may be wrong idk) this was marketed as an ADULT romance fantasy, but the MC's behavior, worldview, and narration were rather juvenile/simplistic/superficial. There were SO MANY ~my body moved without thinking / words came out before I knew it~ moments from her. Not many things happened in the first 25% of the story but the MC did a lot of TELLING such as “x & y are bad bc so & so” “i need to be x bc so & so”. Every moral conundrum or political step were overexplained in the MCs narration like I'm five ... and repeatedly.

I think I would be able to overlook the stuff above if the romance was at least interesting and/or had some chemistry, but alas it did not.

eARC provided by NetGalley and Harper Voyager UK.

I fell in love with Sue Lynn Tan when I first read Daughter of the Moon Goddess and my admiration has never wavered since. i absolutely adored every word of this book. Sue Lynn Tan has such an elegant, ethereal way of writing, I can't stop reading whatever story she puts in front of me. Her characters are flawed in beautiful ways. The dynamics between them is always something that pulls me in and of course, the story, the plot itself just never lets me go.

I can't wait to hold the physical copy of this in my hands in January. Thank you so much for the beautiful read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

WOW! This book was a positively magical and thoroughly enchanting experience!

I absolutely adored the whole cast of characters, and the settings were gorgeously described!

I highly recommend checking out this stunning book when it is released, 16/1/2025!!

I will be posting my review of this book on instagram on 27/12/2024 (Instagram.com/greenghost.reviews) and TheStoryGraph on 24/12/2024!

This book had all the makings of a fantasy romance I should’ve loved—an ambitious heroine, a ruthless God of War, forbidden love, and a world of immortals. But let me just say… it fell flat for me. 😩💔 2.5 stars, and here’s why:

✨ The Setup Had Promise… but the Delivery? Not So Much.
Liyen, our protagonist, has this huge task of balancing her precarious throne and navigating immortal politics. Sounds juicy, right? Add in a simmering attraction to the God of War? Sign me up! Except… there was no simmer. Like, where’s the chemistry, people?! Liyen and the God of War felt like two co-workers awkwardly teaming up for a corporate project instead of star-crossed lovers battling their feelings. 🫠

🌀 Plot Twists That Didn’t Twist
The major plot twist was giving heavy déjà vu vibes from When the Moon Hatched (if you know, you know 👀), but instead of feeling like a clever homage, it felt… uninspired? It didn’t hit the emotional or narrative impact that I was expecting, which left me feeling more meh than mind-blown. 🤷‍♀️

💤 Pacing Problems and Zero Urgency
I struggled hard to finish this one. The stakes were high on paper—dark forces, kingdoms at risk, immortal secrets—but it didn’t translate to the page. I didn’t feel the tension. Instead of racing to find out what happens next, I was racing to just get to the end. I hate when a book feels like a chore, but that’s exactly what happened here. 😢

⚡️ Bright Spots (Because It Wasn’t All Bad)
Okay, credit where credit’s due: Chengyin was such a fun side character. His witty lines were like little breaths of fresh air in a story that otherwise felt heavy and slow. And the moral undertones? Solid. Themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and questioning blind allegiance were woven in well, even if the execution elsewhere didn’t match. Plus, the villains were hateable in the best way—they did their job! 😈

Final Thoughts: Not My Cup of Tea (But It Might Be Yours!)
Look, I wanted to fall head over heels for this book. I’m usually such an easy-to-please reader (romantic tension and a cool world? I’m there!), but this just didn’t do it for me. That said, if you’re a hardcore fan of Sue Lynn Tan’s lyrical prose or you’re into slower-paced fantasy, maybe give it a shot. 🤷‍♀️

For me, though? Onto the next read—hopefully something with sparks that actually ignite. ✨🔥

this is my first book by sue lynn tan and i was blown, i missed reading epic fantasy book and this was the perfect standalone to get into it.

Sue Lynn Tan’s Immortal is a dazzling standalone romantic fantasy set in the breathtaking world of Daughter of the Moon Goddess. Brimming with dangerous secrets, forbidden magic, and passion, this tale centres on Liyen, the ambitious heir to Tianxia, who must navigate treacherous alliances and fight to protect her kingdom.

The story begins with Liyen’s near-death experience, which sets in motion a series of events that pit her kingdom against the immortals who once shielded them from a vicious enemy. After her grandfather sacrifices everything to save her life, incurring the wrath of the immortal queen, Liyen ascends a precarious throne with one goal: to break her kingdom’s dependence on these powerful beings. Her resolve leads her to the Immortal Realm, where she must form a tenuous alliance with the enigmatic and ruthless God of War.

The relationship between Liyen and the God of War is both thrilling and complex, driven by mutual mistrust, shared ambition, and a simmering attraction that threatens to unravel everything Liyen fights to protect. Their connection is fraught with tension and layered with emotion, making it a central thread of the narrative.

Tan masterfully weaves elements of Chinese mythology into a fresh and imaginative tale filled with vibrant new characters. The themes of ambition, self-discovery, and the power of love resonate deeply throughout the book. Liyen’s journey is one of resilience and courage, as she confronts darker forces that close in around her kingdom while navigating her own inner conflicts.

The lush prose and intricate world-building immerse readers in the enchanting Celestial Realm, though the story remains entirely accessible to those unfamiliar with Daughter of the Moon Goddess. The book stands independently, free of spoilers from the series, offering a perfect entry point for new readers while delighting existing fans with its rich, expanded lore.

With its blend of romance, high stakes, and compelling characters, Immortal is a triumph of storytelling. It is a tale of compassion and vengeance, family and friendship, and the sacrifices required to bridge seemingly insurmountable divides. A must-read for fans of romantic fantasy and mythology-inspired tales.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

2.75 stars rounded up

I really enjoyed Daughter of the Moon Goddess, so when I found out Sue Lynn Tan was releasing a standalone set in the same world, I was so excited!

Immortal follows Liyen, a mortal who ascends the throne of Tianxia and vows to end her kingdom’s obligation to the fickle immortals who once protected them. She must learn their secrets to protect her people, but to do this she will have to forge a tenuous alliance with the one she should fear and mistrust the most: the ruthless God of War. A treacherous attraction ignites. But dark forces are closing in and to save her people from an unspeakable fate, Liyen must risk everything…even her heart.

The first 30% of this book was great; I was absolutely gripped by the story and the pacing was perfect. There was a twist I wasn’t expecting, but after that, it unfortunately went downhill for me. The pacing became very inconsistent, and I felt like there was too much going on, which meant that nothing was fleshed out properly. There were also some plot holes and things that weren’t fully explained.

I adored Sue Lynn Tan’s writing in the Celestial Kingdom duology, and while there were definitely some vivid descriptions and beautiful quotes in Immortal, I couldn’t help but feel that the writing wasn’t quite as magical as I was expecting.

As for the characters, I found Liyen insufferable for most of the book. She had been primed to rule for her entire life, but she was reckless, childish and made stupid decisions. I enjoyed Zhangwei’s (the God of War) character more, but he felt like a cut-out copy of your typical tortured, dark, broody, evil-but-not-actually-evil MMC. He was a little too perfect and his character lacked depth.

I couldn’t feel any chemistry or tension between Liyen and Zhangwei, and their romance felt like insta-love. The back and forth of their relationship also really frustrated me. There is a trope used which could have worked very well, but there was no foreshadowing or enough insight, so it unfortunately fell flat.

The villain in this book was very childish and bratty, and I found their “evil monologues” more cringey than threatening. I never felt like the characters were in any real danger from the villain, so the stakes felt incredibly low and I became very bored during the final action scenes.

While I enjoyed the ending, I feel like this book should have been a duology. It would have allowed the author to develop the characters and the romance, as well as flesh out the story and its intricacies. I think there was just far too much going on that it was impossible to do the story justice as a standalone.

Although this book wasn’t for me, I will definitely read this authors next book, as I’ve enjoyed their previous work. Thank you for NetGalley and Harper Voyager for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The beginning was very promising but it all happens too fast, I would of preferred if it was more spread out and slower with more tension between our two main characters.

The revelations that come to light about 3/4 through fell flat for me. By this point I just didn't care about any of the characters or the story. I feel like there should of been more foreshadowing as it did seem as though all the problems in the first half were suddenly magically fixed by the end and it was all too easy with sunshine and rainbows.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ publishing date 16th January 2025.

I have never highlighted a Kindle book as much as this one. So many beautiful quotes.

"Life is not fair. We cannot help how the dice fall, but it's our choice whether to keep playing."

This is a beautiful story of finding courage, finding love and finding strength. The story was so well written and I'm not ashamed to say that it made me cry within the first 10%.

I haven't read any of Sue Lynn Tan's work before but I am rectifying this immediately. This story has been beautifully put together and so eloquently written.

I loved the main characters. Liyen faces grief and many tests but puts the wellbeing of her people first. She never compromises on things important to her even when her heart is telling her head to. She forges her own path.

Zhengwei is the God of War. We think he's one thing but then he shows us that underneath he is completely different. He would destroy anyone for her. He's quite lush.

"You are you. You are all I need, whether we are together a year or a hundred."

Their love story is a mix of enemies to lovers meets star crossed lovers. The tension between them is palpable and I just adored the build of their slow burn romance. The side characters were really interesting too and brought humour. It's closed door romantasy. I'd say 🌶️ /5 at best, which is great if you enjoy romantasy with minimal spice.

The world building is breathtaking. There's beautiful descriptions of nature, colours, and stunning detail, even beautiful (sometimes scary) creatures. I loved the inclusion of magic any Chinese mythology.

I enjoyed the political storyline and the division between mortals, immortals and the Wuxin.

I'll be honest there's not much I didn't like about this book. The plot twists kept me interested throughout the story and when things started to come together revealing parts of everyone's past, it just felt like it was seamless.

I highly recommend this to lovers of fantasy / romantasy and I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy for my bookshelf!

I've done my reviews across all social media except insta but I'm going to do an Instagram post closer to the release date.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the arc of this book. This is my own honest review of this book.