ARC review: Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan

 

Title: Immortal

Author: Sue Lynn Tan

Number of Pages: 464

Publishing Date: 7 January 2025

Available format: hardcover paperback

Genre: Fantasy Romance, Mythology, Historical Fiction, Asian Literature, Re-telling, Young-Adult

Synopsis:

“What the gods did not give us, I would take.”

As the heir to Tianxia, Liyen knows she must ascend the throne and renew her kingdom’s pledge to serve the immortals who once protected them from a vicious enemy. But when she is poisoned, Liyen’s 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.

Review:

Sue Lynn Tan returns with Immortal, a lush sequel that draws us deeper into the world of Eastern mythology with storytelling as intricate and spellbinding as her debut, Daughter of the Moon Goddess. Immortal is a tale of love, resilience, and destiny, set against a breathtaking mythic landscape that will captivate fans of fantasy and folklore alike.
Immortal follows the journey of Liyen as she confronts trials that test not only her strength but the core of her very identity. While Liyen’s earlier journey was fraught with danger and discovery, Immortal explores the emotional complexity of power, love, and loss on a whole new level. As her ties to the celestial realm deepen, Liyen faces new challenges that blur the line between duty and desire, loyalty and freedom.

What I Loved:

Sue Lynn Tan’s world-building is once again exceptional. She crafts realms that feel both dreamlike and tangible, using rich descriptions that transport the reader into a vivid tapestry of gods, dragons, and magic. Linyen’s character continues to grow with depth and nuance, making her feel even more relatable as she grapples with both personal desires and obligations that could shape the future of her world. The tension and chemistry between Linyen and Zhangwei from the start to the end is plausible.
Tan’s prose in Immortal flows with an elegance and sophistication that match the mythic tone of her narrative, weaving together not just action and intrigue but tender moments of vulnerability that make the characters feel profoundly human. This story doesn’t just rely on its fantasy elements; at its heart, Immortal is about the courage it takes to choose your path in a world that often tries to define it for you.

Themes and Impact:

Immortal explores themes of fate, loyalty, and self-discovery, betrayal and undying love, giving readers much to ponder about the choices we make and the sacrifices we’re willing to endure for those we love. Tan has a way of exploring these themes subtly yet impactfully, drawing parallels between myth and our own human experience. It’s a tale that urges us to seek our own strength while respecting the forces that shape us.
Immortal is an enchanting follow-up that will satisfy fans of Daughter of the Moon Goddess while inviting new readers into its richly woven story. If you’re a fan of lyrical, myth-inspired fantasy or just looking for a story with a strong, resilient protagonist, Immortal is a must-read. Sue Lynn Tan continues to prove she’s a master of weaving mythology and emotion into a seamless narrative that’s both heartfelt and exhilarating.
Be prepared to be swept away into a world where myths come to life and choices shape destinies.

ARC Review: The Blood Orchid (The Scarlet Alchemist book # 2) by Kylie Lee Baker

 

Title: The Blood Orchid

Author: Kylie Lee Baker

Number of Pages: 384

Publishing Date: 22 October 2024

Genre: Young-Adult, Sci-Fi, Fantasy Romance, Historical Fiction, Asian Literature

Synopsis:

Since Zilan entered the world of royal alchemists, she has learned that alchemy comes at a price. She has lost loved ones in her search for broader justice against the evil Empress and all she wants now is to find some way to bring them back. Resurrection is her specialty, after all.

In search of the myth of Penglai Island, where it’s rumored life can be fully restored, Zilan starts a new adventure. But when old threats come back to haunt her and the path to Penglai Island means facing down unpredictable, sometimes dangerous, alchemists, she wonders just how high of a price she may be willing to pay.

Review:

In "The Blood Orchid", Kylie Lee Baker picks up right where The Scarlet Alchemist left, it weaves a captivating narrative that delves into the dark side of alchemy and the true cost of playing with the fundamental forces of life and death. Zilan, a talented and determined royal alchemist, is driven by a personal tragedy that sets her on a perilous quest for resurrection and redemption.

As Zilan navigates the treacherous world of alchemy, she finds herself entangled in a web of old threats, new dangers, and unpredictable allies. Her search for Penglai Island, a fabled haven where life can be fully restored, becomes an all-consuming obsession that challenges her morals, her loyalties, and her very sense of self. 

While reading book #1 all I could think about all day long was how Kylie was feeding my Full Metal Alchemist fangirl early teenage self. And then I got the book #2 e-arc on netgalley. As soon as I read the dedication, I screamed out of joy, lol. There was a lot of banter and family moments that made me giggle and kick my feet in the air, and then there was even more betrayal and angst in The Blood Orchid as compared to The Scarlet Alchemist. The duology was completely action packed and is now in my top 5 fantasy duologies. One of the many things that I loved about this book, is the different types of alchemists we got to see who have thrown their morals out in the trash for glory and power.

Kylie's world-building is exceptional, with a richly detailed environment that draws inspiration from Chinese mythology and culture. The characters are complex and multi-dimensional, with Zilan being a particularly compelling protagonist. Her growth and development throughout the story are authentic and satisfying, making her an easy character to root for. The writing is lyrical and evocative, with vivid descriptions that transport the reader to a world of wonder and magic. The pacing is well-balanced, with moments of high tension and action expertly interspersed with quieter moments of introspection and character development. Each chapter is like as if it's ending with a cliff hanger, which keeps the reader engaged throughout the book. Every time the reader might start thinking, oh this is the biggest plot twist nothing will top this. And then wham bam yes ma'am, here comes another even bigger and better totally unexpected plot twist, right in your face.

As compared to the book itself the last chapter was lightly written, and the subtilty with which everything was described, oh my God it scratched an itch in my brain so good. "The Blood Orchid" is more than just a fantasy adventure – it's a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition. Baker raises important questions about the ethics of alchemy, the consequences of ambition, and the true cost of redemption. Through Zilan's story, we are reminded that even the most well-intentioned pursuits can come at a steep price, and that the line between good and evil is often blurred.

Review: The Girl With No Reflection by Keshe Chow

Title: The Girl With No Reflection

Author: Keshe Chow

Number of Pages: 496

Publishing Date: 6 August 2024

Genre: High Fantasy, Young-Adult, Romance, Mythology,  Horror, Re-telling

My Rating: 2.5 stars

Synopsis

A young woman chosen as the crown prince’s bride must travel to the royal palace to meet her new husband—but her world is shaken when she discovers the dark truth the royal family has been hiding for centuries.

Princess Ying Yue believed in love...once upon a time.

Yet when she’s chosen to wed the crown prince, Ying’s dreams of a fairy tale marriage quickly fall apart. Her husband-to-be is cold and indifferent, confining Ying to her room for reasons he won’t explain. Worse still are the rumors that swirl around the imperial whispers of seven other royal brides who, after their own weddings, mysteriously disappeared.

Left alone with only her own reflection for company, Ying begins to see things. Strange things. Movements in the corners of her mirror. Colorful lights upon its surface. And when, on the eve of her wedding, she unwittingly tears open a gateway, she is pulled into a mirror world.

This realm is full of sentient reflections, including the enigmatic Mirror Prince. Unlike his real-world counterpart, the Mirror Prince is kind and compassionate, and before long Ying falls in love—the kind of love she always dreamed of.

But there is darkness in this new world, too.

It turns out the two worlds have a long and blood-soaked history, and Ying has a part to play in the future of them both. And the brides who came before Ying? By the time they discovered what their role was, it was already too late.

Review:

This book is a classic case of an incredible concept falling victim to poor execution—a raw pasta of a novel that could have been so much more.

The premise, centered around a mirror world and the intriguing lore of reflection beings, initially had me captivated. The idea of an alternate universe populated by imprisoned reflections and mythological creatures is fascinating, and the world-building around these concepts is undoubtedly the book's strongest point. However, while the mirror world's lore was compelling, the rest of the plot didn’t live up to its potential. Every single "plot twist" was just simply exactly the same to what I have seen in historical dramas as a kid, same old cliches whether it comes to the plots or the tropes within. Even though towards the end, the story started to look more interesting but by than I was already so done with this book.... The chemistry between the main characters during the second half of the book was undeniable and oh so good, but separately they still didn't had much charms for themselves.

The female lead was a major source of frustration. Her behavior constantly wavered between naïveté and sheer foolishness, making it difficult to sympathize with her. She repeatedly made reckless decisions without considering the consequences, often putting both herself and her world at risk. Rather than learning from her mistakes, she indulged in self-pity, lamenting her uselessness instead of taking any proactive steps to rectify the situation. Her lack of growth and constant sobbing made it hard to root for her, leaving me more irritated than invested.

The male lead didn't fare much better, feeling more like a generic placeholder than a fully fleshed-out character. He fell into the overused miscommunication trope, contributing to the overall flatness of both main characters. The romance, too, was lackluster, marred by an insta-love dynamic that felt forced and repetitive. The female lead’s oscillation between two love interests lacked depth, making the romantic aspect of the story particularly unconvincing.

The mystery element started off strong, holding my attention for the first few chapters. However, it quickly lost its momentum. The villains were painfully obvious from the start, yet the female lead remained oblivious, blindly trusting every suspicious character she encountered. Her repeated betrayals and subsequent shock became tiresome, especially given how little she knew these characters before placing her trust in them.

The plot twists, rather than surprising, felt like convenient devices to push the story forward. The main character barely had to work for anything, with solutions conveniently falling into her lap. This predictability drained much of the enjoyment from the story for me.

That said, the book isn’t without its merits. The world-building, particularly the contrast between the powerful Eastern empire and the mirror universe, is beautifully executed. The fairytale-style storytelling, combined with elements of mythology and Eastern folklore, initially drew me in and held my interest despite the flaws.

Overall, while the book’s concept and world-building shine, the execution of its plot and characters left much to be desired. What could have been an addictive blend of fairytale, mythology, and intrigue ultimately fell flat, making it a frustrating read despite its promising start.