★Tan, Sue Lynn. Immortal (Deluxe Limited Edition). Harper Voyager. Jan. 2025. 464p. ISBN 9780063267619. $32. FANTASY

Liyen is the heir to Tianxia, a kingdom that is protected by the immortals who saved them many years ago. Liyen has been ill much of her life. Her grandfather defies the immortals to give her an enchanted lotus and save her life, causing Tianxia to be attacked by the God of War and her grandfather to die. Ascending a throne already on tenuous ground, Liyen is determined to break the treaty that binds her people to the immortals. Time in the Immortal Realm gives Liyen a chance to find a way out through a shocking alliance with the God of War himself. When their partnership turns deeper, Liyen must decide if risking her heart, and her kingdom, is worth it. Family secrets, betrayal, and everlasting love feature in this well-paced novel. VERDICT A stand-alone fantasy from Tan’s world of the Celestial Kingdom (which began with Daughter of the Moon Goddess) provides all of the beautiful worldbuilding and heart-wrenching emotions of her previous books. Romantasy and Eastern mythology enthusiasts will find this an excellent entry into the subgenre.