Book Review | Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan

Seems only fair to end 2024 reviewing a book that quickly became an all-time (again), right? Well, in my last review of a book by Sue Lynn Tan, for Heart of the Sun Warrior, I wrote the following:

‘I had the highest of hopes for this book, and after finishing it I can safely say that I wholeheartedly trust Sue Lynn Tan to continue writing beautiful stories that make me connect to the characters so much that I cry my eyes out.’

I’m happy to report that this trend has continued for Immortal, a standalone set in the same world as the Celestial Kingdom books. Full review below!

About the Book

Title: Immortal
Author: Sue Lynn Tan
Publisher: HarperVoyager
Release Date: January 16th 2025
Pages: 480
Source: Physical ARC gifted by the publisher (this in no way affects my review which is honest and unbiased) And I’ve preordered multiple copies!
Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★

Synopsis

To win the God of War’s favour was wise – to fall in love with him would ruin me.

Liyen, heir to Tianxia, has grown up knowing she must serve the immortals who once protected her and her kingdom from a vicious enemy. When she is poisoned, her grandfather steals an enchanted lotus to save her life. Enraged at his betrayal, the immortal queen commands the powerful God of War to attack Tianxia.

Upon her grandfather’s death, Liyen ascends a precarious throne, vowing to end her kingdom’s obligation to the immortals. When she is summoned to the Immortal Realm, she seizes the opportunity to learn their secrets and to form a tenuous alliance to safeguard her people, all with the one she should fear and mistrust the most: the ruthless God of War. As they are drawn together, a treacherous attraction ignites between them-one she has to resist, to not endanger all she is fighting for.

But with darker forces closing in around them, and her kingdom plunged into peril, Liyen must risk everything to save her people from an unspeakable fate, even if it means forging a dangerous bond with the immortal…even if it means losing her heart.

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, a breathtaking new romantic fantasy filled with dangerous secrets, forbidden magic and passion.

Review

Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan broke me, in the best way, again. From the very beginning, we’re thrown into a world on fire, as humans are being attacked by the immortals. Our main character, Liyen, quickly makes her feelings about the immortals clear, in particular by stating that the God of War has a heart of ice. Liyen has been raised by her doting grandfather, and is his successor to the throne of Tianxia, a mortal land that has been blocked off from the rest of the mortal world and tasked with duties for the immortals.

Liyen has been poisoned and in an effort to save her, her grandfather betrays the immortals, causing their wrath to fall upon Tianxia. The events at the beginning are very fast-paced, and Liyen becomes the Lady of Tianxia after her grandfather’s passing, encountering the God of War himself very quickly.

As part of her role as the Lady, she has to visit the immortals in their realm, the Golden Desert. Much to her dismay, she has to live with the God of War, Zhangwei, for a short time during this once-in-a-lifetime visit.

Honestly, I couldn’t help but fall in love with Zhangwei from very early on. I had the same experience with Liwei and Wenzhi in the Celestial Kingdom duology; but I honestly adored Zhangwei so much more. As with the other men, Zhangwei is (seemingly) not without his faults/scheming, but all I’ll say is that he’s absolutely my favourite of the three. At times I actually wanted to give him a hug after things Liyen said to him.

Vengeance is a running theme in the story, with a long series of ‘this happened, so they did that, which meant they did that to retaliate’, essentially it’s mostly the immortals but even Liyen follows by wanting to cut ties with the immortals, after her grandfather’s passing. Sue Lynn writes this in an impeccable way, with a little history just drip fed in throughout. By the end you really get an awakening of just how complex this standalone story is.

The ending itself is perfect for a standalone and reading the final line alone invokes all of the emotions built up throughout the beautiful story.

I apologise for how vague this review is, but if you’re a fan of complex stories with amazing worldbuilding and beautiful writing, then just be sure to pick this up!

“We cannot help how the dice fall, but it’s our choice whether we keep playing.”

I’d also like to add that I’m exceptionally excited as I’ll be attending an event with Sue Lynn Tan next month, January is looking to be an amazing start of 2025!