I knew I was in for an epic ride the moment I started Immortal, but I was not prepared for how much this book would grab hold of my heart. It’s a standalone (which honestly makes it even more impressive because it packs so much into one story!), and it has some of my favorite tropes: enemies-to-lovers, a reluctant alliance, and a slow-burn romance that will have you screaming, “Just kiss already!”

The story follows Liyen, who ascends the throne under precarious circumstances and quickly finds herself battling not only political betrayal but also the ruthless God of War (hello, morally gray love interest!). Their dynamic is absolutely electric. From snarky banter to reluctant trust, their chemistry is just chef’s kiss. The enemies-to-lovers tension is off the charts, and every interaction had me flipping pages like a madwoman.

Sue Lynn Tan’s writing is lush and immersive, and I felt like I was right there in the breathtaking world she created. The stakes are high, the action sequences are gripping, and the magic system is beautifully woven into the plot. But what I loved most was how much heart this story has. Liyen’s journey is one of self-discovery, sacrifice, and strength, and it hit me right in the feels.

By the end, I was emotionally wrecked (in the best way possible). The romance is everything I could want, the world-building is vivid, and the pacing is perfect. If you love romantic fantasy with forbidden magic, powerful heroines, and broody gods, you need this book in your life. Highly recommend!

Huge huge thank you to HarperCollins UK, and author Sue Lynn Tan for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is hands down a top read for 2025

I was so excited for this book and it managed to surpass my expectations! As with Daughter of the moon goddess, I loved Sue Lynn Tan's lyrical and visual writing style. It painted such a gorgeous picture in my head and further expanded on the world in the previous duology and while holding its own as a great stand-alone. There was a brilliant mix of epic fantasy, adventure and romance which made me melt. I was giggling and kicking my feet in parts. It was a beautiful story focusing on themes showing all different types of love and strength. Some tense moments and twists that I didn't see coming. A perfect mix of everything.

I'm pretty sure that somewhere on my shelves there is at least one previous book from this author. However, the current numbers state that I have over 900 unread physical books on the shelves, so it won't be much of a surprise that I have not yet read it. However, when I saw this book on Netgalley, and most of all the beautiful cover, I got very curious. I requested a review copy and luckily HaperVoyager granted my request.

The beginning of this book felt a little overwhelming. A lot of things were happening and everything was also happening very fast. Luckily it seems that this was mostly the introduction. Afterwards the pacing of the story calmed down and we got some more time to build a connection with the characters and to feel more at home in the world. It's not entirely my world and it are not entirely my characters, but I can imagine that another book in this world could all of a sudden click with me.

That's firstly because the book is very well written. The writing flows nicely and although the book is easy to read, it also doesn't feel too easy or simple. I also liked the descriptions and how they painted a vivid picture while the author never lost herself in too many details. It's also clear from the writing that we only get the information we need to understand this story. It's clear the world is big and there are a lot more stories to be told.

I also loved the mythology and the plot-twists. I have to admit that I wasn't entirely sold on the romance in the first part of the book, but once everything was explained I understood that I wasn't really meant to be sold at the romance at that point. I have to admit that in the end things developed a little too quickly for my taste, I won't go into details why because of spoilers, but overall I'm quite curious about the other books by this author. Let's start with finding the book I already own.

Headlines:
Stepping up into leadership
Mortals v immortals
Unwanted attractions

There's something very grounding about returning to a world you know with new characters but you don't need the world building. Immortal took us on a journey of a jarring coming of age for Liyen as she became the Lady of her land, untrusted because of her age, her gender and previous ill health. I found myself relating to her previous life of fatigue, so that was an welcome little resonnance for me.

Liyen was mortal and the God of War, Zhangwei soon interfered in this mortal land, in search of a special lotus flower. Smoke and mirrors were constantly between these two for reasons that were slowly revealed across the length of the story. Liyen's dislike of Zhangwei gave this an inital enemies to more feel, but there was so much more to their story. The connection between these two was like the most powerful of magnets.

I enjoyed the movements between the immortal and mortal lands. The plot took the reader into a world of creatures that had been long-feared and they made for avid reading. Trust was a big theme in this book and I glued my eyes to the page as these characters navigated distrust to trust. It was a worthwhile journey.

As ever with this author's writing, she paints a vivid description of lands and people, down to their wardrobe and I love the imagery that creates for me as I read. I wholeheartedly enjoyed being back in the DOTMG landscape.

I will still forever long for Liwei to get a story again in this world and I hope one day, that will come to fruition.

Thank you to Harper Voyager for the eARC.

No because what am I supposed to do with myself after reading this masterpiece???This book was everything. If you’re an angst loving reader then you’ll absolutely LOSE IT at the yearning & longing in this story. The romance was written so beautifully, I just can’t stop thinking about THEM. ♾️💫

‘At last I had learned one of life’s elusive mysteries, that the true meaning of eternity lay not in the endless years but in having someone to share them with.’ 🥹🥹🥹

🌷 standalone romantasy
🌷 political intrigue
🌷 enemies to angsty lovers (iykyk)
🌷 forbidden magic & betrayals

Thank you for the ARC HarperCollinsUK &. HarperVoyager UK 🥹🫶

"Immortal" is a standalone romance fantasy novel set in the world of the Celestial Kingdom duology, weaves themes of love, sacrifice, and the complexities of immortality into its narrative. It draws inspiration from mythology, particularly Chinese folklore, exploring the lives of its characters as they navigate a world filled with gods, spirits, and magic. The protagonist often faces moral dilemmas and personal challenges that test their beliefs and desires.

The story follows Liyen, the heir to Tianxia, who must take on the burden of leadership after her grandfather's death. Tasked with navigating both mortal and divine conflicts, Liyen faces tough decisions, particularly as she interacts with Zhangwei, the mysterious and alluring God of War.

The book features lush worldbuilding and a slow-burn romance, with an immersive depiction of the Celestial Kingdom and its unique mythological system. “Some have highlighted the novel's fast-paced third act, where the story truly picks up in excitement. However, opinions differ slightly on the romantic elements, with some readers feeling that the love story progresses too quickly, while others enjoyed the emotional depth​.”

I for one, enjoyed the push and pull of the characters feelings towards each other. As the story progressed we got to know more about our main protagonist along with the other characters. It was truly an experience to not have guessed "every" plot twist the novel had although I am not sure how I liked the ending.....I kind of wanted more.

Overall, this was a great standalone fantasy novel that will surely captivate readers to finish in one sitting.

I read this arc without any expectations and I'm glad it did not disappoint. I just wanted more of it considering it's a standalone novel but it was definitely beautifully written. I love how magically descriptive the world building was, we get to see another part of the Celestial Kingdom, aside from the duology. Will surely read more of Sue's future releases!

An absolutely stunning story, I loved the little snippets of the Celestial Kingdom and reliving the joy I felt when I read those books. Liyen was a formidable FMC and one which will stay with me forever, Zhangwei was the perfect grumpy MMC who would move heaven and earth for those he loved. The twists and turns this story took had me gripped from page one. Sue Lynn Tan has done it again and I cannot wait for more from her in the future

I have mixed feelings on this book. The plot, premise and side characters are all amazing, however the MC definitely affected my enjoyment a lot as she was prejudiced and whiny and quite annoying.

I love the concept, that the immortals rule over and our MC is suddenly trust into a position of power, and has to make life altering choices while hiding secrets and facing the wrath of the gods. I loved her relationship and dynamic with the god of wrath and he will be popular with many people for sure.

I loved the twists and turns and the way the story unfolded and the plot was enough to keep me hooked throughout, but sadly i really struggled with the first third of the book as the MC had made some snap judgments and quite prejudiced bias opinions and then refused to change or act nicely despite custom dictating one should. She came across as incredibly petulant and childish and it was very hard to read.

However, I think if her attitude doesnt bother you in the first few chapters you will 100% adore this. And even if it does its worth continuing to read as it gets very exciting later on in the story,

Huge thanks to the publisher and netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this; I loved being back in the world of Daughter of the Moon Goddess!
The Celestial Kingdom duology was among my favourite reads of 2023 and coming back to this universe felt so lovely. Sue Lynn Tan’s writing is beautiful and super evocative; she has a real talent for taking me straight into her world and that's what I'm looking for in a fantasy.
But I think where I loved the Celestial Kingdom duology, I simply liked Immortal. It was good, it was fun, the romance was nice, and I'm struggling to pinpoint what it was that made it work not quite as well as its predecessors for me. It could be that I have simply evolved as a reader. Liyen was an interesting MC but she felt too YA for me and it led me to feeling frustrated with her at times because I couldn't connect with her. I liked Zhangwei but I feel like maybe having his POV would have helped me feel much more interested in him. The romance was too insta-lovey and though I understood it better later on, I didn't really feel invested in it. It did get much better in the second half of the book though.
All that being said, the mythology and fantasy elements are once again fantastic. Sue Lynn Tan is absolutely brilliant at crafting a magical story that I can easily believe in while reading. And I loved the introduction of new divinities.
To sum it up, I loved the fantasy aspect, less so the romance/character aspect; but I think that might just be me outgrowing romantasy as a genre. I would still 100% recommend this to anyone who loved Daughter of the Moon Goddess because it's worth it if only to enjoy this magical world once more.

This was my first read by Sue Lynn Tan and I enjoyed her writing, it was descriptive without being too obscure:

“Some silences were comfortably rounded at the corners, but the one that cloaked us was jagged and sharp.”

“For that is the real meaning of loneliness, being unable to share your mind and heart freely with another without the fear of being judged or found wanting, or that they might seek to use you.”

I also loved the reveals and the action at the end of part 1, but wish there’d been a little more build up, which would’ve made it hit even harder.

However, there were some things I didn’t love and I unfortunately finished my read with an overall feeling of disappointment. I found Liyen frustrating at times, particularly in the way she interacted with the MMC, Zhangwei, and I didn’t really understand her motivations. Her character reads YA, not as an adult who’s been brought up as a future ruler. What made her redeemable was that she had enough self-awareness to acknowledge her faults:

“An apology hovered on my lips for causing his punishment, for my cruel words earlier. I’d lashed out at him because of my own guilt and fear. But I suppressed the impulse, afraid to open another window between us.”

I also didn’t really buy into the romantic relationship. Although they did spend a fair amount of time together, I can’t tell you where their interests and values align, and why they make a good match.

“The feelings that didn’t feel wholly earned from him, those I felt for him in return.”

Liyen makes this statement, which sums up how I felt about the relationship for 75% of the book. This is explained (no spoilers) later on in the book but, by then, it’s too late and I wasn’t invested. It was also single POV, so we never fully got to know Zhangwei. There was so much I wish we’d seen more of, like Red Storm, who we meet only twice, both times briefly. It may be because it’s a standalone novel but, if I was going to sum up my feelings in one statement, it would be that everything felt underdeveloped.

The fairyloot edition had an additional, prequel chapter (to read at the end of the book), which I really enjoyed and made me wish this had been a duology (with a book prior to this one that showed the events leading up to Immortal).

All that being said, I do already own Daughter of the Moon Goddess so I will definitely give Sue Lynn Tan another try.

Sue Lynn Tan’s writing is so beautiful and descriptive. I love the complex world building she creates. The Chinese mythology was beautiful and fascinating to read.

Although this book is set within the same world as Daughter of the moon goddess it can be read as a standalone. The dynamic between the fmc and mmc is fiery slow burn romance.

A huge thank you to Harper Voyager for kindly sending me an ARC of this breathtaking standalone fantasy romance set in the enchanting world of the Celestial Kingdom.

If you’ve read Daughter of the Moon Goddess, you’ll be thrilled to revisit this magical realm. If you haven’t—what are you waiting for? Go grab them ASAP!

Immortal is an absolute masterpiece that stands on its own, weaving a spellbinding tale of immortals, mortals, and winged devils. Sue Lynn Tan’s exquisite writing draws you in, evoking powerful emotions with every word. You’ll fall head over heels for the God of War and find yourself captivated by the intensity of the romance and the heart-stopping twists in the plot.

Each surprise left me absolutely stunned, and the story is so beautifully written that you’ll wish you could read it for the first time all over again.

This is a glowing 5-star read—a tale of love, adventure, and unforgettable moments that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author.

Sue Lynn Tan is easily one of my favourite authors, and this standalone romance did not disappoint.

Tan's writing is charming, beautiful and whimsical. It often reminds me of Stephanie Garber's writing style in that it is almost fairytale like but so descriptive. The world building is always incredible for me and I find myself easily imagining the worlds whilst reading. Whilst the pacing was a little slow in this novel it did not detract from the overall enjoyment for me.

If you loved Daughter of the Moon Goddess, then I have no doubt that you will love this too.

Sue Lynn Tan, author of the enchanting Celestial Kingdom duology, brings a romantic standalone fantasy set in the same universe. It’s a tale of ambitious rulers, unexpected betrayals, and dangerous bonds. As expected from Sue Lynn Tan, the world was drawn in rich pen strokes and entirely magical, and Liyen an Zhangwei were a perfect match for each other. I loved seeing her refuse to bow to the powerful God of War, and enjoyed how determined, fiery and courageous she was.

The story had plenty of unexpected twists that kept me hooked, and the novel looked at the importance of family bonds as much as it focussed on the romantic relationship. I really liked the ending – what a beautiful conclusion to another enchanting novel by this talented author. Pick this up if you enjoy Chinese mythology, rich world-building and a swoon-worthy slow-burn romance.

This book to me, is amazing. I've wanted to read Daughter Of The Moon Goddess since it came out and thought I'd actually start with this and I'm so glad I did because I loved this book so much!!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately i had to DNF this book, the pace was really slow and the story was boring.

Another stunning story from Sue Lynn Tan—she never disappoints!
Her beautiful, descriptive writing style captivates me from the beginning to the end!

The rich, magical world-building and loveable characters, combined with dangers lurking in every corner and long-buried secrets make this book unputdownable!
The story explores important themes such as self-discovery, resilience, love, and vengeance teaching us that not all matters are black and white.

I admire Liyen’s character. She’s brave, compassionate and her determination is unparalleled. Following her journey travelling to the Immortal realm and the Netherworld, facing dangers and uncovering the truth to free her people, is exhilarating.

Zhangwei, the God of War starts cold and dismissive but reveals layers that make him a man worth going to heaven and hell for. He definitely finds his match in the stubborn and fiery Liyen.
The slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance is delightful.
Their banter is charming, and the moment they finally give in to each other is worth the wait!

The last few chapters are mind-blowing, with unexpected twists and turns that really surprised me. The intense, action-packed battle scenes had my eyes glued to my Kindle.
The ending is beautifully wrapped up, a fitting conclusion to the story.

If you’re looking for a romantic fantasy inspired by Chinese mythology elements with swoon-worthy romance, strong family and friendship bond, action-packed scenes and magical creatures, look no further! <i>Immortal</i> is the book for you!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: violence, death, war, blood

Sadly, it is a DNF for me after 57%. While the plot had intriguing moments, the overall spacing fell off and rushed. The characters were fine, but I didn't buy into their romance. It was too insta-love to be enjoyable for me and the romance is one of the main themes of the book. The writing is still as beautiful as her previous series. Thank you for the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 - An amazing fantasy read with a fantastic plot and enemies to lovers that was just everything! The book itself is the perfect mix of fantasy, romance and politics.

🖤 Enemies to Lovers
💙 Strong FMC
🖤 Chinese mythology
💙 Morally grey MMC
🖤 Forbidden Romance
💙 Slow Burn
🖤 Forced Proximity
💙 Fated Mates
🖤 Beautiful World

Honestly if the tropes don’t sum up the reason for picking up this book then I don’t know what else will.

I absolutely fell in love with Sue Lynn Tans books when I picked up her Daughter of the Moon Goddess series when I first got back into read and I can safely say this book has met all my expectations.

The world building was absolutely magical. I was able to vividly imagine the world created by her words and loved that it was linked to the worlds created in the previous series. It didn’t seem too bogged down and the plot evolved with the world building instead of being so heavy.

The relationship build up between Liyen and Zhangwei was everything! Their chemistry was electric and the tension was intense.

Liyen’s character development throughout the book is amazing to read. From such an unsure seemingly young woman to becoming fierce and confident is absolutely fantastic. Watching her grow, despite mistakes, and become the ruler she had set out to be.

The slow burn romance had me screaming at the pages. I was desperate for them to realise their chemistry and it made it all the better with the tension.

I am absolutely in love with Sue Lynn Tans books and this was an amazingly emotional rollercoaster throughout. I was gripped and unable to stop desperate to read more.

Thank you so much to Sue Lynn Tan, Harper Collins and Netgalley for this early review copy. 🫶

4.25 ⭐️

What would happiness be like if passion stopped guiding your movements and only love remained; that simple, yet all-encompassing love, what would it be like?

This book has helped me define some thoughts I had about what I wanted in life, what kind of love I was looking for, if I should be looking for love at all. And there’s one paragraph that is simply perfect and would give you exactly the feeling I had while reading this book, reading about this love.

(Although this isn’t at the end of the book, it might contain a spoiler.)

“The courtyard had been our haven, away from the demands of duty. No one disturbed us there, none daring to incur the God of War’s wrath. We had played weiqi in our room, eaten our meals in the garden. I had read while he played the qin. And at night, we’d slept entwined. There were also quieter moments of simple companionship, the kind when your soul is at peace, when your heart is whole. When you want nothing more from life… content to simply exist. This was how I felt when he was with me.”

There’s nothing else I could add that hasn’t been said in this extract. Just that I’m so grateful for having authors who can put into words exactly what my messy heart is feeling and can’t express. So poetic, so freeing. It was a beautiful read. And it's definitely up for a reread.

As a lover of Asian culture, I was really looking forward to reading this book, and it lived up to the hype. And as a fan of historical dramas, this book even contains some court drama, which I adore.

I would have loved to spend more time in the Netherworld; would have loved to know more about its folk, their culture. Also, even though the side characters' personalities and personal stories were so engaging, I think we barely got to spend enough time with them or to know them any further. But, while the time spent with them is sparse, it's also intense, and emotionally satisfying. I think this book would have been fantastic as a duology as well.

I will be reading the rest of Sue Lynn Tan's books so I can visit this world again. And I’m waiting (im)patiently for my physical copy to arrive so I can show it off on my shelves.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.