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adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Writing treats readers like children. Liyen is always feeling “a surge in anger”. You don’t have to spoon feed us what emotion Liyen is feeling every time, we can infer from her words or actions. Liyen is also constantly speaking before she realizes, or moving her body before she can stop it. It just comes across as an MC with no control over herself and the plot is moved forward by her impulsiveness.
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I wanted to give Sue Lynn Tan another shot after not liking Daughter of the Moon Goddess, which everyone and their mother seemed to love.
My main problem with DotMG was that both the writing and the characters felt incredibly juvenile. Considering that it‘s supposed to be an adult novel, I was severely disappointed. Unfortunately, the same problem occurred in this book as well.
At the beginning, I was quite intrigued by the characters, the world, and the setup of the plot, but after a little while I noticed that Sue Lynn Tan‘s writing hasn‘t really changed much in-between Daughter of the Moon Goddess and this book. The prose itself reads very much like a YA novel. Furthermore, the characters, even the supposedly wise and experienced immortals, had a bit of a juvenile behaviour to them. The main character was probably the worst. She was portrayed as being relatively smart and in control, but she constantly lost her temper - basically throwing a tantrum whenever something irked her -, acting very much on impulse rather than the plans she thought of in her head. After a while, her judgmental attitude got really annoying. She constantly judged others without knowing them, but then she also called out others for being judgmental at the same time. It was hypocritical.
This being a romantasy book, the romance obviously plays a pretty significant role. Disappointingly, the romance lacked proper chemistry. There was no real substance to it because we never truly saw a natural development of love and respect. Additionally, it got really annoying after a while when the main character kept thinking to herself that she hates the male love interest although she had very evidently already developed positive feelings for him.
I was really hoping to like this book and I had high hopes because the beginning piqued my interest. Alas, maybe this author just isn‘t for me.
My main problem with DotMG was that both the writing and the characters felt incredibly juvenile. Considering that it‘s supposed to be an adult novel, I was severely disappointed. Unfortunately, the same problem occurred in this book as well.
At the beginning, I was quite intrigued by the characters, the world, and the setup of the plot, but after a little while I noticed that Sue Lynn Tan‘s writing hasn‘t really changed much in-between Daughter of the Moon Goddess and this book. The prose itself reads very much like a YA novel. Furthermore, the characters, even the supposedly wise and experienced immortals, had a bit of a juvenile behaviour to them. The main character was probably the worst. She was portrayed as being relatively smart and in control, but she constantly lost her temper - basically throwing a tantrum whenever something irked her -, acting very much on impulse rather than the plans she thought of in her head. After a while, her judgmental attitude got really annoying. She constantly judged others without knowing them, but then she also called out others for being judgmental at the same time. It was hypocritical.
This being a romantasy book, the romance obviously plays a pretty significant role. Disappointingly, the romance lacked proper chemistry. There was no real substance to it because we never truly saw a natural development of love and respect. Additionally, it got really annoying after a while when the main character kept thinking to herself that she hates the male love interest although she had very evidently already developed positive feelings for him.
I was really hoping to like this book and I had high hopes because the beginning piqued my interest. Alas, maybe this author just isn‘t for me.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Best book I have read this month. Sue lynn tan never dissapoints, never ever.
slow-paced
The writing was beautiful, and the physical book itself was STUNNING. I enjoyed this, but I definitely feel like there could have been more depth and character development- the vibes were good and honestly it's a 4 star for that reason!
The ultimate “beautiful gowns” book right down to the actual gowns.
Let’s talk about what I did enjoy
1. Cute Banter
I thought Liyen and Zhangwei had fun banter. They tease each other in the most hilarious and affectionate way.
2. True enemies-to-lovers!?
I love the enemies-to-lovers trope so much. I have yet to read a book that has proper enemies to lovers and this book made me excited because I thought I found it.
I swore this was going to be the beginning of hatred between Liyen and Zhangwei with attraction and affection simmering beneath the surface. I knew they were going to end up together, so I was excited to see them overcome their conflicting desires.
3. I like the writing
I like writing that strikes a good balance between simple and embellished with some fresh metaphors and pretty descriptions thrown in. “It was a delicate balance, weaving one’s influence over a reluctant court but not yanking the threads had enough to tempt rebellion,” I really liked that!
I enjoyed learning about how the Divine Pearl Lotus was formed from the blood of a dragon and phoenix fighting over a pearl and creating this gorgeous hidden landscape described in chapter 26. Tan does a great job of weaving mythology into her work.
What I didn’t enjoy?
1. The foundation of their love was flimsy
Days ago!? I’m someone who develops crushes quickly and for stupid reasons, but measuring love in DAYS just added to my feeling that Liyen and Zhangwei were falling in love too quickly for no reason.
2. Squandered enemies-to-lovers trope and a needlessly confusing plot
I was pretty bored through part 1 until we got to chapter 14. Instead of showing us Liyen and Zhangwei going from enemies to acquaintances or allies to lovers, Tan gave us a convoluted excuse; Liyen actually used to be an immortal who was engaged to Zhangwei which is why they love each other but the Wuxin poisoned her AND cursed her AND her memory got wiped but now her memory is back and they’re in love again.
WHAT.
When that was revealed towards the end of the novel, I completely lost interest in continuing. I ended up skimming the end. That confusion paired with the slow-paced plot dampened my enjoyment of the novel.
Overall, it Immortal is certainly pretty and had potential, but I’m sad to say I didn’t enjoy it as much as I hoped.
Initial Jan 19 Review: I wish I loved this book as much as I loved the beauty of the cover!! It’s even prettier with the glossy finish and hot pink sprayed edges.
I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either.
Let’s talk about what I did enjoy
1. Cute Banter
“He was still staring at me, a slow smile spreading across his lips. ‘Have you looked your fill?’
‘Don’t flatter yourself,’ I scoffed.”
I thought Liyen and Zhangwei had fun banter. They tease each other in the most hilarious and affectionate way.
2. True enemies-to-lovers!?
“With you, I am warm.
When he’d said this, I thought it meant something more, the glimpse of a declaration – but it was the stark truth. He didn’t want me, but the power of the Divine Parl Lotus. And he would stop at nothing to claim it.”
I love the enemies-to-lovers trope so much. I have yet to read a book that has proper enemies to lovers and this book made me excited because I thought I found it.
I swore this was going to be the beginning of hatred between Liyen and Zhangwei with attraction and affection simmering beneath the surface. I knew they were going to end up together, so I was excited to see them overcome their conflicting desires.
3. I like the writing
I like writing that strikes a good balance between simple and embellished with some fresh metaphors and pretty descriptions thrown in. “It was a delicate balance, weaving one’s influence over a reluctant court but not yanking the threads had enough to tempt rebellion,” I really liked that!
I enjoyed learning about how the Divine Pearl Lotus was formed from the blood of a dragon and phoenix fighting over a pearl and creating this gorgeous hidden landscape described in chapter 26. Tan does a great job of weaving mythology into her work.
What I didn’t enjoy?
1. The foundation of their love was flimsy
“The space between us seemed to tighten. A flutter stirred in my chest, so different from just days ago, when he’d evoked dread.”
Days ago!? I’m someone who develops crushes quickly and for stupid reasons, but measuring love in DAYS just added to my feeling that Liyen and Zhangwei were falling in love too quickly for no reason.
2. Squandered enemies-to-lovers trope and a needlessly confusing plot
I was pretty bored through part 1 until we got to chapter 14. Instead of showing us Liyen and Zhangwei going from enemies to acquaintances or allies to lovers, Tan gave us a convoluted excuse; Liyen actually used to be an immortal who was engaged to Zhangwei which is why they love each other but the Wuxin poisoned her AND cursed her AND her memory got wiped but now her memory is back and they’re in love again.
WHAT.
When that was revealed towards the end of the novel, I completely lost interest in continuing. I ended up skimming the end. That confusion paired with the slow-paced plot dampened my enjoyment of the novel.
Overall, it Immortal is certainly pretty and had potential, but I’m sad to say I didn’t enjoy it as much as I hoped.
Initial Jan 19 Review: I wish I loved this book as much as I loved the beauty of the cover!! It’s even prettier with the glossy finish and hot pink sprayed edges.
I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either.